Sept 1, 2011
Numbers 16:47-48
He stood between the living and the dead and the plaque stopped. **we are to do this with the lost.
Atmosphere:
Satan is in the atmosphere.
God is in the atmosphere.
People deep of God can walk into a room and the atmosphere changes. If the unrighteous are stronger in their sin than the righteous are in their Spirit, the spirit of darkness will prevail.
2 Cor. 4—speak it out—renounce the hidden things on purpose or you will gravitate to them. Hidden things—gossip, judgment, complaints, condemnation, control, etc. *What have you been vexing yourself with?
John 15:18
When the world hates us—does the world really hate us? Are we getting more like them? What do we watch on TV, radio, movies, other things. Sex, rebellion, murder, affairs—what do these things bring into the atmosphere? How close do you want to be to God? If you create the “atmosphere,” you will be blessed. Create an atmosphere God will dwell in.
Joshua 8:1-8, 18,19: Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid or discouraged. Take all your fighting me and attack Ai, for I have given you the king of Ai, his people, his town, and his land. You will destroy them as you destroyed Jericho yourselves. Set an ambush behind the town. So Joshua and all the fighting me set out to attack Ai. Joshua chose 30,000 of his best warriors and sent them out at night with these orders: “Hide in ambush close behind the town and be ready for action. When our main army attacks, the men of Ai will come out to fight as they did before, and we will run away from them. We will let them chase us until we have drawn them away from the town. For they will say, ‘The Israelites are running away from us as they did before.’ Then, while we are running from them, you will jump up and ambush and take possession of the town, for the Lord your God will give it to you. Set the town on fire, as the Lord has commanded. You have your orders.” Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Point the spear in your hand toward Ai, for I will hand the town over to you.” Joshua did as he was commanded. As soon as Joshua gave the signal, all the men in ambush jumped up from their positions and poured into the town. They quickly captured it and set it on fire.
So here is what I believe God is telling me. WHOOP! A mission. Haven't had one in a while.
We get some people to pray in Bank Square. We get some on each of the four main roads coming into Little Falls. We pray/warfare and when the time seems right according to the Holy Spirit, we have the people on the outskirts come into town for an ambush on the enemy and set this town on fire (in the Spirit of course). Obviously not the exact same as the Scripture but you get the idea.
I would like to present this and "encourage" people to do this with me. It's not about me, it's about "seek and save", get rid of the devil, pray in the Holy spirit. In the past people have said to me, "it's not my thing", that's for you not me....it should be everyone's thing! It's praying for the lost. we are all commanded to do the Great Commission. I believe this is a part of it. I think some leaders of teh church should be there as well. May call Pastor Bill and the pastor from the Rock church to get some involved if they want to. set a night to do it and kick us some devil butt!
So I tried to get this all organized. Had some people around the county praying. Had two people in town. One guy who stayed about 20 and left. Jen K who praying south of town for a long time. I just didn’t sense anything. It was just dead. Don’t know if it was my disappointment or what. I know God will bless those who were obedient and that our prayers did something. I guess I expected to see something big.
Friday morning while at PT I was praying and I saw a big ray of sunshine go over in an arc from west to east. Then I saw that to the south it was sunny but to the north it was very dark. And the image of God in the square was fading in and out.
7/06/06 Word/dream from God
I had a dream. It was like a movie I had seen once. Everything was black and mucky, ruined and trashy and all the people were criminals. The good people were living under the city trying to figure out how to make things right and get this back to normal.
God told me: This will be your city… if you do not accept it as it has been given to you, you will hide as darkness takes over. It is time for harvest, not for hiding. If you do not accept the healing of the land this time (I have given it to you over and over and you don’t take it) I will not be back. My hand will be taken away. I have warned you too many times and you do not listen to my word.
The visions given have come true. The prophesies are coming true. The many words I have given to you are coming to pass. If you do not harvest when the crop is ready, it will be scorched in the fire and die in my anger. You have had enough opportunities and have passed them by. NOW is the time. My Holy Spirit will fall somewhere else. Somewhere He is welcome and reverenced; to a people who will accept Him and obey Him.
What happens to the crop if the farmer does not care for it? It won’t grow. It will burn in the summer heat. It will die in the coldness of winter. In the Spring you will have to seed and sow and tend the crop all over again. You will keep plowing and seeding until you reap the harvest. Your crop will keep getting burned up in the fire if you don’t tend to it. Plant your seed in fertile soil, water it, rebuke the weeds and harvest the crop that has been waiting.
It is now up to the churches and leaders to unite to bring in the harvest—like back in the day before machinery when farmers helped each other at harvest time and the feast and celebration with it. No denominational walls. You are all my church. You will answer to your God for your prideful ways if you do not obey me.
I was typing up my journal and came across this from 2006. It is now 2011. When will God do as He says soon, later? I’d rather not risk it but I can’t do it all. It takes many people. Many who will never get out of their box and out of their comfort zone and realize this is a God thing…not a Kim thing or whatever. We are all called to pray and seek and save.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
I know
I know a lot of stuff. I have read the Bible several times. I have read a hundred books. I have been to how many Bible studies, conferences, Conventions, small groups…everything.
I KNOW a lot of stuff but I DON’T KNOW how you are going to handle it. I don’t know how you are going to get through this trial. I don’t know how long it is going to take. I don’t know what God has planned for you. I know it is something good but I don’t know what it is. I don’t know when it is going to happen but I know it is going to happen.
I know, because I know God and I know He is good and kind and forgiving and merciful, and graceful and faithful and loving. And I know that He loves us more than we could ever know or imagine. I know…because He said so.
Someone said we can’t be God to everyone…but we can be God to the people right in front of us.
I KNOW a lot of stuff but I DON’T KNOW how you are going to handle it. I don’t know how you are going to get through this trial. I don’t know how long it is going to take. I don’t know what God has planned for you. I know it is something good but I don’t know what it is. I don’t know when it is going to happen but I know it is going to happen.
I know, because I know God and I know He is good and kind and forgiving and merciful, and graceful and faithful and loving. And I know that He loves us more than we could ever know or imagine. I know…because He said so.
Someone said we can’t be God to everyone…but we can be God to the people right in front of us.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Nuggets
Nuggets
10/’02
If there is sustained, habitual sin in our lives, it will affect God’s response to our prayers. If He continued to answer all of our prayers despite our sinful conduct, He in effect would be condoning our actions and a Holy God cannot sanction sin. One of the ways God gets our attention is by withholding blessings when there is sin in our lives.
Faith looks straight into God’s promises—and steps out and conquers vast territories. Faith is the bridge connecting your present experiences with the future you hope for. It links your seen with your unseen; it brings eternity into your time. Faith is the way God travels into your present and ministers to you there.
Be filled and refilled with a source, a great spring, a roaring waterfall of newness.
Where is God?
Around you…Psalm 125:2
Above you…Deuteronomy 4:39
Beneath you…Deuteronomy 33:27
Before you…Exodus 13:21
Behind you…Isaiah 52:12
With you…Isaiah 41:10
For you…Romans 8:31
On your right hand…Isaiah 41:13
Near you…Psalm 145:18
In you…Colossians 1:27
Living with you…Isaiah 57:15
His eye is upon you…Psalm 33:18
He is all and in all.
It would seem that admission to the inner circle of deepening intimacy with God is the outcome of “deep desire”. Only those who count such intimacy a prize worth sacrificing anything else for, are likely to attain it. If other intimacies are more desirable to us, we will not gain entry to that circle. The place on Jesus’ breast (John 13:25) is still vacant and open to any who are willing to pay the price of deepening intimacy. *We are now, and will be in the future, only as intimate with God as we really choose to be. *
Worship can be wordless—David adjured his soul: “My soul waits in silence for God only.” (Psalm 62:5) The deepest feelings often cannot find adequate expression in words. Between intimate friends there can be comfortable silences. There are times when words are unnecessary or even an intrusion. So in our communication with God. Sometimes we are awed into silence in the presence of the Eternal.
Many people have been serving the Lord fervently and have come into difficult life situations because of being mistreated by either wicked men or carnal Christians. The truth is they have been treated unjustly, but to become offended would only fulfill the enemy’s purpose of getting them out of the will of God.
Anthony DeMello saw a starving child shivering in the cold. Angrily he lifted his eyes to heaven and said, “God, why don’t you do something?” and God said, “I did. I made you.”
Leadership is not using others to build your kingdom, its loving and serving them in order to build God’s.
In David’s writings, the major chords of worship, praise and thanksgiving blend with the minor chords of pentinence and confession to make heavenly harmony. The lesson for us is that our great God can take even our failures and the adverse experiences of life to give comfort to those in need and to create a beautiful symphony. Such experiences are the price of a ministry.
Love, joy, peace—harvest for ourselves
Longsuffering, gentleness, goodness—harvest—what you give to others
Faith, meekness, self-control—harvest we give to God, which is a release of His Spirit
Fruits/Gifts
Love=wisdom
Joy=word of knowledge
Peace=gift of faith
Longsuffering (patient endurance) =healing
Gentleness (or kindness) =working of miracles
Goodness=prophecy 1 Cor. 12:7, 14:31
Faith=discerning of spirits Heb 10:38
Meekness=various kinds of tongues
Self-control=interpretation of tongues
Lord, break my heart with that breaks Your heart.
Fear is rooted in our lack of understanding our security in the love of God.
When we run as far and as hard as we can, we learn that the presence of God is already ahead of us and ready to pour out His mercy and grace.
Never doubt in the darkness what God has clearly shown you in the light. Keep walking in the light of previous revelation. If it was true six months ago, it is still true. If we’re serious about our walk with God, He will test us to determine if we love Him or His blessings. He may cloud the future so we can learn to walk by faith and not by sight or feelings.
God has not left us—He has only suspended His “conscious presence” so that our faith will never rest on our feelings.
If God’s “ministry of darkness” should envelop you, keep waking in the light of the previous revelation.
Our natural tendency then it to try to do things ourselves. God will allow it, but misery will follow.
No matter how dark the night—morning comes.
Walking in the darkness is a lesson in trust.
God doesn’t show us what is on the other side of the door because we probably wouldn’t come through.
11/17/02
Something came to me today. Kurt Bush won the Nascar race today but Tony Stewart won the championship. Tony didn’t win a lot of races but he was consistently up front and that is what wins championships. It can be the same with us. We may lose some battles to the devil but if we stay consistently up front and keep up the fight we can win the championship—Heaven.
6/24/06 From Charles Stanley
Imagine going to a nice restaurant for dinner. The table is set with linens, find china and crystal glasses. The waiter delivers your plate with a flourish. In the middle of that exquisite china plate is a single marshmallow. What a letdown! Instead of receiving a nutritious, meaty meal, we are left with a puff of sugar and no satisfaction.
If we become lax, our lives can resemble that disappointing meal. Instead of being believers with a weighty message full of hope, we can find ourselves with nothing to offer but a bit of fluffy sweetness. God’s message is meant to nourish and sustain; our family, our friends, and even we ourselves cannot be satisfied by meager provisions. Our Father wants us to have such impact that people will never be the same after we arrive.
Prevailing faith reckons the victory before the battle begins. How does reckoning take place? We fight the “battle before the battle”. We reaffirm in our heart that this is the Lord’s battle, declare He has won the victory and wait for his timing. When we act, we do it God’s way, with trust in His presence and provision.
It’s not that the preacher can’t preach; it’s that you can’t hear.
Have God’s peace or go to pieces.
Are we fisher’s of men or aquarium keepers?
Our responsibility is to construct the bridge of understanding about God’s grace. The Holy Spirit ultimately walks a lost person across the bridge, but we are charged with building it in the first place. He placed His plan of salvations in the hands of each of us so we can take part in His work. Now is the time to build bridges for Jesus.
God is calling but he keeps getting a busy signal.
What was Jesus’ plan for getting His message of salvation to all people? In Matthew 28 He commissioned the saved to share the Good News with the lost. As a matter of fact, spreading the work of God through people is the only method given in the Bible.
Obedience doesn’t say I’ll pray about it. Delayed obedience is disobedience. God doesn’t owe us an explanation. Understanding can wait. Obedience can’t. Instant obedience will teach you more about God than a lifetime of Bible discussions. In fact, you’ll never understand some commands until you first obey them.
We don’t increase our knowledge of the Lord simply by reading the Bible. We learn about Him by obeying His word. With courage and obedience, take a leap of faith. When God tells us what to do, we are not to wait until all the answers are known, everyone is in agreement and we feel secure. We are to do what He asks the moment He makes the request.
Knowing the truth—not struggling against it—sets you free. Receiving the victory, not trying to attain it, is Christ’s liberating message.
Since God is my Father and the devil is my enemy, I need to see what God sees. Then I need to deal with the enemy as God would.
God’s wisdom and truth become the greatest weapons we could ever use in counterattacking the devil. Ecclesiastes 3:18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war.
Unbelievers may talk toward heaven, but Scripture offers no hope that God will listen or respond unless they, too, receive Christ’s sacrifice on their behalf. As believers, we are welcome to pray and draw close to the Father because the Son is our permanent high priest, eternally covering us in a veil of righteousness.
You may have to live and work in a difficult situation. You may have to endure great hardships for your faith. But understand—god’s got too much invested in you to let you be destroyed! Anytime satan tries that, God will disrupt his party and say, “This vessel’s off limits; it took Me too long to teach this woman how to pray…I’ve devoted too many hours training this man how to overcome. They’ve just learned how to stand amidst the trials…they’ve suffered too much for My sake for Me to let you harm them. The party’s over—they’re Mine.” Rejoice—if you belong to God, you’re fully protected.
The fact that this world is not our ultimate home explains why we experience difficulty, sorrow, and rejection. It also explains why some promises seem unfulfilled, some prayers unanswered, and some circumstances unfair. This is not the end of the story! In order to keep us from becoming too attached to this world, God allows us to feel a certain amount of discontent—longings that will never be fulfilled this side of heaven. We’re not completely happy here because we’re not supposed to be. We won’t be in heaven two seconds before we’ll cry out, “Why did I place such importance on temporal things? What was I thinking?” The truth is, at death we don’t leave home—we go home!
The Lord is our friend, but He commands our reverence. He is our resurrected Savior, but He deserves our uninterrupted awe. How often do we carelessly enter the sanctuary, chatting with family and friends, instead of quieting ourselves to hear from God? How often, before the service begins, do we joke with each other, instead of kneeling at our pew in reverence? Do we realize we are on holy ground?
“I define revival as a period of time when people awaken to the reality of a God who is always present and always willing to work on behalf of His kingdom through His people. When people awaken to God and begin to conduct themselves as though God is truly present, things begin to happen. Schedules and priorities change, sinners are converted, saints are sanctified, people are called into ministry, church services come alive and the power of God is revealed in new and thrilling ways.” Gordon Anderson—Pentecostal Evangel, August 19, 2001.
Do you remember the television show, “Laugh in?” for a full hour your got whizz-bang antics, joke piling upon joke, one guffaw after another, action upon action.
But remember how it ended? With the applause of just one person. And then the claps getting sparser and sparser. Then one final clap. And the show is over.
The New Testament, on the other hand, begins with John the Baptist’s solitary clap for Jesus. Then it builds and builds, with more and more joining in through the Gospels and the Book of Acts, until in Revelation numberless multitudes are around the throne of heaven, giving themselves in a tumult of hallelujahs and praise. Millions upon millions applauding the Lord Jesus!
Christian, in your office or neighborhood or whatever, God is asking you to be one clap for Jesus Christ.
But don’t think that your lonely clap will be the end. Christ doesn’t program failure. He said, “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” Matt 16:18. Not everyone will join in the clapping, but multitudes will.
If you can’t control it, don’t worry. If you can control it—why are you worrying?
Shine the light of God’s glory in every nook and cranny of your church, home, work place, front door to back door, basement to attic, wall to wall. The darkness is always there but God’s light over-shines it.
There is always a wall of salvation around you. Only one gate. The devil is outside the gate. Praising God keeps him out.
I heard in my ear that God loved me but I had not really believed it for myself. I may have believed it in general, but not personally. I had the problem and I had the answer but I was not making the connection between the two. Joyce Meyer.
Word: This is exactly how I feel. I was praying about this and thinking there was a missing link somewhere. God told me that link belongs to the chain that holds me in bondage. It is because of these chains that I can’t know and receive his love the way He wants me to.
When we make the right connection, the devil is on his way out and freedom is on the way. Joyce Meyer
James 1:2 He makes us over comers even if our circumstances don’t change.
The more passion you have for God’s assignment for your life, the greater you will hinder the destructive power of the enemy.
When you are on the path, the appointed cause of a great destiny for your life and you encounter hardships from the enemy and great difficulties, know that God is preparing you for great effectiveness in your life.
The enemy is sent into confusion when the oil of gladness is in your life.
When we make mistakes in our personal lives or when relationships with others in a joint effort breakdown, the implication is either we have not sought or we have not obeyed the Spirits leading.
Prophetic Intercession with Worship
Psalm 149
1) Praise the Lord, sing a new song.
a) The hook. The line of the song that “hooks you”.
b) You can take a couple of words and make and tune and sing those.
c) Start with a few words—begins to lift you up
d) Symbolic action Ezek. Chap 4—natural things that have spiritual effects.
2) Rejoice—be joyful. God was with me in the beginning and he is already with me at the end. Declaratory songs. Ex. 15—God gave them a new song.
3) Praise with dance. Symbolic action…instruments and weapons. Dance on the devils head.
4) Pleasure—Beautify the humble. Moses—w/ arms up, Josh fighting—God sent down hailstones. Think of snowballs—God’s throwing them down at the enemy and knocking them out. Dance/worship before God with a new song and God will throw snowballs at the enemy.
5) Joyful in glory—visible presence of the invisible God.
6) High (exalted) praises of God be in the mouth—two edged sword—Word of God. Get up higher and look down on your enemy—shout down the word of God at the enemy (victory) Zechariah 3—walk around the throne of God.
Raising Up A Vision
God will birth a real vision in us and then put it to the test, all because we tend to make one gigantic mistake: We think that it is our sole responsibility now to raise up that vision. Nothing could be further from the truth. If a vision is God-birthed, it is something that God intends to do anyway. Furthermore, it is His responsibility to do it…when He chooses to do it…and by the methods He desires. All we need to do is rest in Him, wait, and do what He tells us. It will always become evident when the time has come for us to act. The way is smooth, God has gone ahead of us, and fruit falls ripe form the tree and into our hands. We look at it in delight, aware that God has been at work and has accomplished this wonderful thing. If you try it on your own, it won’t happen as quickly or as well. You will see the hand of the Lord in it and an awe of what God is doing. He receives the glory and people will be supportive and creative to assist. You learn waiting. Carolyn Tenant
Don’t worry too much about revival in the church or town. Pray for revival in yourself and God will take care of the rest. We are missing what God has for us.
You don’t have to work—just walk—in faith. God has given us where we set our feet. (Joshua)
Meekness is not weakness. (Heb 11)
To revive something it has to be dead. (Die to your flesh)
We don’t fight ‘for’ victory—we fight ‘in’ victory.
Brokenness
Deep heartache over sinfulness—deep gratitude for grace from God.
Recognition of my weakness—Dependence on His strength.
Rejection of my will—Submission to His will (Is 66:2)
Service to self gives way to service to others.
Respect and appreciate others—Know what matters and what doesn’t.
Serve God with zeal and passion from the heart.
Joyce Meyer—The Battle Belongs To The Lord
As we go through the Bible, we constantly read disastrous reports of the terrible things the devil had planned for God’s people. Then we come to this little phrase, But God…, and the next thing we read about is victory.
We must learn to look at things through eyes of faith rather than in the natural. What normally happens in a situation can be totally changed when God comes on the scene.
Numbers 14:1-5 Notice Moses and Aaron’s reaction to the Israelites murmuring and complaining—they fell on their faces. This action of falling on one’s face is found throughout the Bible. If all the Israelites had been on their faces, they would have seen miracle after miracle.
Genesis 17: [Abram] When he was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, I am the Almighty God; walk and live habitually before Me and be perfect (blameless, wholehearted, complete). Abram responded by falling on his face. When we are faced with impossibilities, we should never give up; we should worship and watch God work in our behalf. Remember, all things are possible for those who believe.
Should you continue loving your worldly lovers while God is madly in love with you? In other words, should you continue in sin that grace might abound? By no means1 Romans 6:2 says: (so to speak) God has gotten down on His knees to propose to you. Especially if you consider that He sacrificed His only Son for your hand in marriage or this covenant relationship. I liken grace to this picture. How can we turn this down? And if we accept, how could we run after another lover? This proposal from God demands a response of wholehearted love and faith from us. Remember, Scripture tells us that to God, “the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” (Galatians 5:6b)
Bottom line: When we catch ourselves being faithful to the…refrigerator, drugs, alcohol, sex, pride…instead of Him, it is like being caught in adultery. We cannot love two masters. We feel guilty when God catches us adoring something besides Him. Would you expect your spouse to allow you to love another? Then how do we expect the Father to? All throughout the Old and New Testaments, God gets upset at His children for even turning to another lover (idol), much less trying to talk Him into letting all three get into the same bed. That has always been our problem—we want it both ways.
Many will beg God to please love then but let them keep their other loves too! If we continue in sinful behavior, we will eventually become calloused and have no more guilt feelings because our conscience have been seared, which is a frightening thought.
Titus 2:11-14; Colossians 3:5-8, 12-14
When you find this grace, accept it, and receive it, you will have a response of love in your heart which will be revealed in your actions. Notice this scripture passage—if you love Him. If you do not, it will be work and He does not even want to see it. It is easy if you love Him.
Jesus came to forgive your sins and He calls you to repent of your old loves and to “marry” yourself to the Father. True repentance is foundational.
Deuteronomy 91Hear, O Israel. You are now about to cross the Jordan to go in and dispossess nations greater and stronger than you, with large cities that have walls up to the sky. 2The people are strong and tall--Anakites! You know about them and have heard it said: "Who can stand up against the Anakites?" 3But be assured today that the LORD your God is the one who goes across ahead of you like a devouring fire. He will destroy them; he will subdue them before you. And you will drive them out and annihilate them quickly, as the LORD has promised you.
Don’t look at the mountain and think you have to move the whole thing at once. Move it rock by rock.
Prayer closet—Go in victory not always apologizing and repenting. Have victory.
Acting against our conscience is a hindrance. It makes us double-minded: we feel guilty over our action but desire to continue it anyway. In this condition, we find our concentration diminishes, preventing us from putting our wealth of experience, talent and ability into the work God has assigned us. Another obstacle is laziness which is often accompanied by many excuses and yields the same result: We do not obey God. For example, the Lord commands all of us to practice the “one anothers” (Romans 12:9-16) His instruction frequently goes ignored because it takes too much effort. With the Holy Spirit’s help, we can overcome these common negative tendencies.
God expects us to operate according to His timetable, not our own. So watch our for procrastination, which can derail success. It may be the result of a rebellious spirit which does not want to be told what to do, even by the Lord.
When you achieve the gift of being alone you are really ready to share companionship with someone else.
T. D. Jakes
Those who say Lord, Lord are believers (not unbelievers). Jesus will say I don’t know you.
Deut. 9:1-3
I am a saint living under the grace of God, not a sinner save by grace.
Catholics and purgatory—this would mean Jesus died for nothing. He paid our sin debt. God’s not going to make us pay for it again or “work” for it.
When Jesus comes and the moon, stars and sun go dark—the sun outshines the stars—they are still there when the sun comes out. When Jesus comes in all His glory, the moon, stars, and even the sun will be dark because of the brightness of His glory. God will manifest in us but not in His glory—it’s too bright but God desires to dwell with us in His glory not just saved—dwelling in His “full” glory (holiness)—you have to cleanse yourself or no one will see God.
Today, God is looking for warriors—people who are ready to go into battle, to follow His every command, and wage spiritual warfare. Ask God to give you a burden for the Lost. And remember: As a soldier in God’s army, you must be ready to go wherever He leads you. Listen to His void. Pray. Give. Serve. And be prepared.
When we obey Jesus’ commands, people around us will notice that there is something different about us. Perhaps they’ll be curious about our ability to remain patient or calm in times of adversity. They may ask why we have given up popular activities or avoid certain places. We can respond as simply as the blind man did: “I was spiritually blind and separated from God by sin. Jesus, the Savior, died on the cross to pay for my sins. Through fait in Him, I know I have been forgiven and made part of God’s family. That is why I am not the same.
A powerful pray that was a cry for God to be present in every was of life said: “God be in my head, and in my understanding; God be in mine eyes, and in my looking; God be in my mouth, and in my heart and in my thinking; God be at mine end, and at my departing.” This was a reminder that, every day, we need to surrender.
I firmly believe that the moment our hearts are emptied of pride and selfishness and ambitions and self-seeking and every thing that is contrary to God’s law, the Holy Ghost will come and fill every corner of our hearts; but if we are full if pride and conceit and ambition and self-seeking and pleasure and the world, there is no room for the Spirit of God; and I believe many an man is praying to God to fill him when he is full already with something else.” –Dwight L. Moody.
A part of our testimony is our conversation. As Psalm 107: 2 says, “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.” This gives us an opportunity to tell others what God is doing in our lives. Our words can be significant to an unbeliever who doubts the existence of God or he divinity of Christ. When our character, conduct and conversation fail to match who we are in Christ, we hamper our ability to reach others with the gospel. A testimony can make the difference between doubt and faith in the life of an unbeliever. How authentic is your personal testimony?
Satan wants to destroy us physically. One of his most effective attacks involves striking at our bodies. Sickness, addictions, stress, and obesity often consume a person’s entire life. The devil would much prefer that you focus on your body than on spiritual things.
“My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord or loathe His reproof, for whom the Lord loves He reproves, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.” Proverbs 3:11-12. Today, remember that God loves you. Because of His love, he will take action to discipline you and help shape your life. Welcome His discipline remembering that if you ignore reproof, you will “go astray” (Proverbs 10:17). And, as God gives you the opportunity, be a person who lovingly imparts discipline to your family and those under your supervision.
Let me send you to a place called “there.” Don’t be selfish and think about yourself—you are “here.” God is sending you “there” to meet someone else’s needs and then He’ll bless you too. Put your attention on someone else. The place of blessing is not a selfish place. You are full enough—fill someone else at the place called, “there.”
Thank you for Your forgiveness that allows me to forgive myself.
Jesus warned that some may gain the whole world but, in the process, “forfeit their soul” (Mark 8:36).
Some people’s thinking: It’s not premarital sex if you don’t plan on getting married!
God doesn't give you the people you want, He gives you the people you NEED. To help you, to hurt you, to leave you, to love you and to make you into the person you were meant to be."
Nearly all men can stand adversity but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.—Abe Lincoln.
No one can make you feel inferior without your permission.
If you can’t control it—don’t worry. If you can control it—why are you worrying?
You can be pitiful or powerful but you can’t be both.
Friends are quiet angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly.
The shortest distance between a problem and a solution is the distance between your knees and the floor.
The one who kneels to the Lord can stand up to anything.
We should learn to be joyful about our progress, not depressed about how far we still have to go.
I am not where I need to be, but thank God I am not where I used to be. I’m OK and on my way!
Before every victory there is conflict. If not, we couldn’t call it victory.
Faith is the process of unlearning your irrational fears.
The circumstances you complain about become the chains that imprison you and worship is the way out.
If you are swept off your fee, it’s time to get on your knees.
Have you prayed about your problems as much as you have talked about them?
Courage is fear that has said it’s prayers.
The cure for the fear of failure is not success. It’s failure. The cure for fear of rejection is not acceptance, its rejection. You’ve got to be exposed to small quantities of whatever you’re afraid of. That’s how you build up immunity. The best thing that could happen is for your fear to become reality. Then you would discover it’s not the end of the world. Your fear is worse than the actual thing your are afraid of.
The church is not an infirmary. It is a military outpost under orders to storm the gates of hell. Every believer is on active duty fulfilling the Great Commission.
It is an undeniable fact that usually those who suffer most are best able to comfort others who are passing through suffering.
There are two ways to get enough: One is to accumulate more and more; the other is to desire less.
Our external circumstances commonly receive the blame for our feelings of irritation and anxiety. However, circumstances are often times simply magnifiers—events that reveal what is already inside of us. Therefore, when we find ourselves becoming short tempered or easily angered, it is probably time to examine our hearts. Frustration fades only in the light of His plan four our future. (Jeremiah 29:11)
When you run out of you—you run into Him.
Worry is the interest paid on trouble before it comes due.
A cynic is a man who when he smells flowers , he looks for a funeral.
Although I tried to say things that were right and pleasing to others, by the time they passed through my soul and picked up the hardness and bitterness that are hidden there, they came out harsh.
Knowing the truth—not struggling against the lie—sets you free. Receiving the victory, not trying to attain it is Christ’s liberating message.
Do you ever feel as if God has abandoned you? Check to see if there is anything He has already told you to do. You may not receive new guidance from God until you have acted on his previous directions. How easy it is for us to complain about our problems, even to God, while we refuse to act, change and to what He requires.
( 1 Samuel 7: 2-3)
Never have a past because a past doesn’t have a future.
Never pray for longer than 20 minutes. Never go for 20 minutes to pray.
You cannot think your way to God or use wisdom alone. You must use your heart.
We are not called to dispel darkness. We are called to turn on the light.
It is not the load that breaks you down, it’s the way you carry it.
There can be no outward shining without inward burning.
Be the kind of woman that when your feet hit the floor each morning, the devil says, “Oh crap. She’s up.”
Paul saw danger as an opportunity to trust the Lord and hardship as a way to identify with the Savior.
Bravery is not what you feel but what you make up your mid to do.
We need to quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive at death safely.
You can curse it, nurse it or let God reverse it.
Fortitude is like buying a lifetime membership to an exercise club and showing up for each session.
A willingness to repeatedly bend our knee to the Lord prepares us to rise up clothed in His dignity and strength.
The root evil in idolatry is that our worship is ultimately laid at satan’s feet.
Bearing the weight of burdens we were not intended to carry not only takes a spiritual toll in us, but leaves us physically, emotionally beaten as well. Cast your burdens on the Lord.
The adversary won’t turn you against the church; he will turn you toward yourself in the church. He won’t take away your ministry, he’ll delusion you in your ministry and when the focus is on yourself, you worry and become anxious.
God is more pleased with the quiet attention of a sincere servant than the noisy service of a sour one.
What matters more than the type of service is the heart behind the service. A bad attitude spoils the gift we leave on the altar for God.
Faith is not the belief that God will do what you want. Faith is the belief that God will do what is right.
The power is not in the prayer—it is in the one who hears it.
The greater your cares the more genuine your prayers.
The darker the room the greater need for light.
The more hopeless your circumstances the more likely your salvation.
Prayer—God is more moved by our hurt than our eloquence.
The next time we feel tempted to critique someone’s behavior, perhaps we should first ask the Lord if the criticism is just about them or indicators of us.
It’s not the pain—it’s the attitude toward the pain.
Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts my be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the one who hears it and not the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference.
The most difficult journey is back to the place where you failed.
It’s just you and God. You both know what you did and neither of you are proud of it. What do you do?
Stand in God’s presence.
Stand in His sight.
Stand still and wait.
Sometimes that’s all you can do. Too repentant to speak, too hopeful to leave—we just stand. Stand amazed. He has come back. He invites you to try again…with Him.
What would cause people to prefer pigs and lunatics over the presence of God?
What would cause an alcoholic to prefer misery over sobriety?
What would cause a church to prefer slumber over revival?
Fear of change—it’s hard work.
Christ still sends the message to the unworthy and he still uses the unworthy as messengers.
Why is it that we interpret the presence of death as the absence of God? Why do we think that if the body is not healed then God is not near? Is healing the only way God demonstrates His presence?
Let’s fight fair (be kind, thoughtful and polite). We need to get to the point, not get to the person.
Let’s fight for what matters—not our rights, but righteousness; not our preferences but purity; not even beliefs, but blamelessness.
We shouldn’t confuse confidence and pridefulness. Confidence comes from a healthy understanding of our worth and capability. (Romans 12:3). Pridefulness comes from an exaggerated misunderstanding of our worth and capability. Confidence is peaceful; pridefulness is puffed up. Confidence gives credit; pridefulness takes credit. Confidence acknowledges supreme authority; pridefulness is it’s own authority.
There isn’t an act of our lives that we commit, simple or profound, whereby we aren’t actively fulfilling God’s will or opposing God’s will. Your are God’s child; obedient or disobedient. In your every thought, every plan, every uttered word. God is not on the fringe of life: He is in the dead center, at every moment, resisted or obeyed.
Jesus was not free because He didn’t sin. He didn’t sin because He was free.
A nonbeliever may be drawn to antagonize you because he senses your peace and that is missing in him. Let godly behavior put them to shame.
The New Testament does not say, “you shall know the rules and by them be bound;” but—“you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.”
Anything God uses satan abuses.
If God accepts you it doesn’t matter who rejects you—If he rejects you, it doesn’t matter who accepts you.
Suffering and pain are the raw materials God uses to give us His wisdom and joy. (James 1:2-5 paraphrase)
It is hard to cooperate with God and believe that good can come out of our raw pain but God’s wisdom comes in spite of us. He never abandons us. He is never an idle spectator when His children are in pain.
Doubt is not the opposite of faith. Disbelief is the opposite of faith. Doubt is the struggle with faith. Doubt can lead to disbelief but it can also lead to a stronger, deeper faith.
B—Basic
I—Instructions
B—Before
L—Leaving
E—Earth
Another word for fortress is stronghold, which in the context of spiritual warfare means “fortified places.” Your behavior and thinking can become strongholds for satan, hard to penetrate positions that furnish excellent ground for satan to assault your inner being. A stronghold is something you haven’t completely surrendered to God.
Never doubt in the dark what God has told you in the light.
Bitterness is a cyclic, repetitive, tightly closed circle of self-centered pain. IT carries us around and around ourselves.
On that cannot forgive others breaks the bridge over which all must pass if they would ever reach Heaven; for everyone has need to be forgiven.
God’s will won’t take you where His grace can’t keep you.
The cross shows how difficult it was for God to forgive, how far God was willing to go to forgive, and how costly it is to forgive.
Even when we don’t know what the future holds, we know who holds the future.
When we develop a pattern of accusing God of causing our pain instead of allowing it, we temporarily close the door on our spiritual growth.
Hang in there. The world’s best days are now—yours are still ahead.
Betrayal is something others do to you; bitterness is something you do to yourself.
I have to live with myself and so, I want to be fit for myself to know. I want to be able as days go by, always to look myself in the eye. I don’t want to stand in the setting sun and hate myself for the things I’ve done. I don’t want to keep on a closet shelf, a lot of secrets about myself, and fool myself as I come and go, into thinking nobody else will know—the kind of man I really am.
To live above with saints we love, that will be praise and glory. To live below with the saints we know, that’s another story.
We were born originals. Don’t die a copy.
Relax in advance! God will never fail to take care of you.
Wisdom is seeking heavenly opinions on earthly circumstances.
A six-year-old girl said, “When the devil knocked on the door of my heart, I would always answer by saying, ‘go away,’ but sometimes he would come in anyway. Now that Jesus lives in my heart, I just let him answer the door.”
Cleanness of heart brings clearness of vision. Only the pure in heart will see God. New vision follows new adjustment.
How you enter church each week will have great impact on how you exit it.
The only way to be a doer is to be an intense hearer.
A God who must be defended is one who can help us only while someone is helping Him.
If you’re not spending time with God, you’re spending it on whatever has become more important to you than Him.
A faith that hasn’t been tested can’t be trusted.
Faith can move mountains. Doubt creates them.
Fear will convince you to run from something that isn’t after you at all.
He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.
Jesus said He came “to proclaim liberty to the captives.” Good news—satan is a defeated foe. Your prison door is open; your freedom has been won at Calvary. Accept it, act on it and stop living like a prisoner.
Pray as if everything depended on your prayer.
Character is made in the small moments of our lives.
We will have all of eternity to celebrate the victories, but only a few hours before sunset in which to win them.
The tongue is like an x-ray. IT reveals what is in your heart. It can sometimes be difficult to maintain, discipline and reserve, but guarding our words—and therefore guarding our hearts—is always the best tack.
Strive each day to speak in such a manner that Christ could listen and you wouldn’t be embarrassed—because he does listen.
To live in faith is to live without fear and without foreboding. It is to stand on a rock of superb confidence amid chaos.
Be a victor—not a victim.
Get on fire for God and people will come and watch you burn!
We don’t need better buildings or even more Christians but rather mighty acts coming out of the buildings we already have and greater impact from believers who are already there.
I would go to the depths of depression a hundred times to cheer a downcast spirit. It is good for me to have been afflicted that I might know how to speak a word in season to one who is weary. Charles Spurgeon
The Christian who is truly intimate with Jesus will never draw attention to himself but will only show the evidence of a life where Jesus is completely in control.
When you try to be somebody other than who you are, the best you can be is number two. Be yourself. After all, who’s more qualified. God made you who you are. If He’s satisfied, shouldn’t you be?
God’s word states that the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing. IT makes no sense whatsoever to them because satan has blinded their eyes to the truth. But to us who are being saved, the Gospel is the very power of God.
God isn’t behind you shouting—“Go”—He’s up front of you clearing the path and showing you the way. He promises a lamp for your feet, not a crystal ball for your future.
Fruits of the Spirit filled life—All the other qualities are really expressions of the first one—love.
Joy is love enjoying itself.
Peace is love resting.
Patience is love waiting.
Kindness is love reacting.
Goodness is love choosing.
Faithfulness is love keeping its word.
Gentleness is love empathizing.
Self-control is love resisting temptation.
I’d rather see a sermon than hear one any day. I’d rather you walked with me than merely show the way. I may misunderstand you and the high advice you give but there’s no misunderstanding how you act and how you live. People are more impressed by your actions than your words.
Obedience doesn’t say I’ll pray about it. Delayed obedience is disobedience. God doesn’t owe you an explanation. Understanding can wait, obedience can’t. Instant obedience will teach you more about God than a lifetime of Bible discussions. In fact, you’ll never understand some commands until you first obey them.
IT is a great compliment for a believer to be well-known not only to God, but also by the devil. Job was conspicuous because of his strong faith.
God’s not angry with you that you haven’t “arrived.” He’s pleased that you’re pressing on, trying to stay on the path.
When God doesn’t deliver you immediately, He’ll be your thermostat in the furnace. If He hadn’t already been there regulating the heat, you’d have burned up long ago.
Deliverance casts out—repentance destroys the demons house!
It’s easier to act your way into right thinking than to think your way into right acting.
Without purpose, life is motion without meaning, activity without direction and events without reason. Without purpose, life is trivial, petty and pointless.
Remember: It’s one thing to call yourself a Christian—it’s another when those who know you agree!
This is the true joy of life. The being used up for a purpose. Recognized by yourself as a mighty one; being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish, little clot of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making your happy.—George Bernard Shaw
What is it that you are holding onto that you would be willing to keep holding onto even if it meant missing God’s best for you through eternity?
Hearing the voice of God is not the province of a privileged and especially holy few. It is the right of all children of God in Christ who are led by the Spirit. God has longed to speak to us and heal us. We must listen with an open and rested heart expecting God to bring fire to burn up the lies that have kept us bound.
You will never be asked to forgive someone else more than God has already forgiven you!
We worry about how fast we grow—God is more concerned with how strong. We are obsessed with speed but God is more interested in stability.
You’ll never know that God is all you need until God is all you’ve got.
Your worship is not perfect when is leaves your lips; it is perfected when it enters His ears.
Saints are just sinners who fall down…and get up.
Pray, repent, be glad, rejoice.
If God was my boss and my job description is obedience, loving one another, forgiveness and worship—would He fire me or give me a raise?
God’s plan was to save a nation through Joseph. What if he’d given into temptation? Wise up! The battle is not just about you—it’s about those God plans to bless through you.
Peace is not the absence of trials. Peace is the presence of God in those trials.
Not all the trouble that touches your life will occur as a result of sin. Some hardships come as the result of our fallen world. Don’t look at the accidents of life and think God is trying to harm you. His only goal in allowing adversity is to teach you to trust Him.
It may be said without qualification that every man is as holy and as full of the Spirit as he wants to be. He may not be as full as he wishes, but he is most certainly as full as he wants to be.
They who seek the throne of grace find the throne in every place. If we live a life of prayer, God is present everywhere.
The first day of world peace is the last day of satan’s reign on earth.
Is it true O Christ in heaven that the highest suffer most, that the strongest wander furthest and most hopelessly lost? That the mark of rank in nature is the capacity for pain? That the anguish of the singer makes the sweetness of the strain?—John Miller
Nehemiah 1: 1-11
1. You will never learn to pray until you are concerned enough to ask.
2. You will never learn to pray until you are moved enough to weep.
3. You will never learn to pray until you are honest enough to confess.
4. You will never learn to pray until you are bold enough to risk.
Christ was not standing at some distant point waiting for you to catch up to Him. He was at your side moment by moment, just waiting for you to see Him.
God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him.
God sends no one away empty except those who are full of themselves.
Pain is weakness leaving the body.
You’re more than a conqueror when you know that you already have the victory before you get the problem.
If we don’t pray, the best think that can happen is nothing.
When we think of sacrifice, we must always remember that what we sow as a seed, God uses to bring harvest. When we are called upon to make a sacrifice, we should not feel deprived, but privileged. Jesus sacrificed His very life for us and we are to follow in His footsteps.
What was Jesus’ plan for getting His message of salvation to all people? In Matthew 28, He commissioned the saved to share the Good News with the lost. As a matter of fact, spreading the Word of God through people is the only method given in the Bible.
When the devil reminds you of your past—remind him of his future.
Admitting weakness doesn’t make you less effective, it just expresses what everyone around you has known all the time.
We want revival in our cities but we don’t want to hear anyone tell us that revival only comes when people are hungry, when “vicarious intercessors” repent for sins they never committed on behalf of people they never met.
The only way to avoid difficult people is to leave the planet!
If you’re looking for a place with no change, try a soda machine. With life comes changes.
Forgiveness is surrendering my right to hurt you for hurting me.
There is a difference between being a believer in Jesus and being a follower of Jesus. A believer is one who placed his trust in the Lord for salvation and has received the gift of eternal life. A follower goes beyond that and attempts to know God and obey Him.
Jesus wasn’t crucified in a cathedral between two candles, but on a cross between two thieves; on a town garbage heap; at a crossroads so cosmopolitan they had to write His title in Hebrew, the language of the religious, in Latin, the language of the barbarians; and Greek, the language of the cultured. It was the kind of place where cynics talked smut, thieves cursed, and soldiers gambled. But it is where He died and it is what He died about.—George MacLeod.
Contrary to popular belief, the most important thing about you is not even how you think others see you. As a matter of fact, someone has said, “We wouldn’t worry so much about what others thought about us…if we knew how seldom they did”. The most important thing is how God sees you.
The fact that this world is not our ultimate home explains why we experience difficulty, sorrow and rejection. It also explains why some promises seem unfulfilled, some prayers not answered and some circumstances unfair. This is not the end of the story. In order to keep us from becoming too attached to this world, God allows us to feel a certain amount of discontent—longings that will never be fulfilled this side of heaven. We are not completely happy here because we are not supposed to be. We won’t be in heaven two seconds before we’ll cry out, “Why did I place such importance on temporal things”? The truth is—at death you don’t leave home—you go home!
God is more concerned about your character than your career, because you will take your character into eternity, not your career.
Bitterness is like poison that you prepare for someone else and then drink yourself.
Defeat vs. victory is really obedience or disobedience.
Jesus promised those who would follow Him only three things…that they would be absurdly happy, entirely fearless and always in trouble!
Our responsibility is to construct the bridge of understanding about God’s grace. The Holy Spirit ultimately walks a lost person across the bridge, but we are charged with building it in the first place. He placed His plan of salvation in the hands of each of us so we can take part in His work. Now is the time to build bridges for Jesus.
Difference doesn’t mean you’re less than or more than, just different. If God hadn’t made you as He did, you wouldn’t have been able to persevere as you have. Others couldn’t have handled what you’ve been through. You are uniquely equipped to be a blessing to those around you. People are blessed because you are sincere and available—not perfect.
Prayer is the greatest gift you can give another person when you approach the throne of God on behalf of another; you are doing exactly what Jesus has done for you.
Much is gained by closing your mouth and opening your eyes.
You’ll never be free until you despise your chains.
Inner healing begins when you give up hope for a better yesterday and take the first step toward making a better tomorrow.
Just because God isn’t speaking, doesn’t mean He isn’t speaking. He is telling you to leave things as they are.
No one killed Jesus. He laid His life down—no one took it from Him.
When we pray, it is better to have a heart without words than words without heart.
Matt. 21: 43 The Kingdom of God will be taken away and given to a people who will produce its fruit.
Always bear in mind that you are not doing the binding or crushing of satan’s influence. Pride or a desire for personal power has no place in battling the evil one. Your liberation lies only in humble faith in the power of God.
I’m torn between two desires. Sometimes I want to live and sometimes I long to go and be with you, Christ. That would be far better for me, but it is better for you that I live.
Don’t inject your veins with church to get high.
You love right and hate evil, so God has chosen you from among your friends; He has set you apart with much joy.
The mark of true leadership is to serve—not strut. When you forget how it feels to serve others, you develop a sense of entitlement and become doctorial, overbearing, and down right miserable to be around.
When fear is well-developed by a soul who is trying to protect itself from future pain, it creates what is known as “control freak”. –aggressive, domineering people who must have their own way—if not, all hell breaks loose.
There’s no record of Jesus preaching a funeral sermon. Do you know why? Because He is the resurrection and the Life. (John 11:25) He broke up every funeral He attended. Death couldn’t exist around Him. The dead heard His voice and sprung to life.
How can people who believe they have awesome authority again satan meet and scurry home again without causing a ripple. When you rehash your life in the still of the night, do you feel the pain of compromise? All around us we can observe Christians who have postponed life as they binge on self discovery. What would really scare satan? To see a church shift from repairing to reloading!
Are we fishers of men or aquarium keepers?
The devil shouts a lie; the church whispers the truth.
Worship is relinquishing control. In this place we forget ourselves. We are swallowed up in His greatness.
Strength of the prayer is not the length of the prayer. It’s not how long but how strong you pray.
Decide in the good times who you are going to be in the bad times.
Betrayal is something others do to you. Bitterness is something you do to yourself.
If you’re claiming Jesus and someone else is claiming Jesus and there is friction between you—someone is lying.
You go before the Judge—you committed murder and ten years later you get caught—are you still guilty? Should you go to jail even though you are a good person now? You sin, say, two times a day for 14 years—that’s 20,000 sins. Are you guilty before the Judge?
We can have a gift that can take us somewhere but no character to keep us there if we don’t submit to God’s training camp.
How we behave in the wilderness determines how long we will have to stay there.
Anyone who is going to do the will of God must have more fear of God than of man.
Disobedience communicates to those around us that we know more than God knows.
Satan prefers to attach us when we are hungry, angry, lonely, tired.(HALT)
It is evident from Scripture that Jesus did not intend for us to be salt and light in a sealed container.
Soon you will read in the newspaper that I am dead; don’t believe it for a moment. I will be more alive than ever before. D. L. Moody
The ability to walk on water made it difficult for Jesus to swim!
G—God’s
R—Richness
A—At
C—Christ’s
E—Expense
Warfare isn’t about going to get something. It’s about the devil trying to take something. The Word doesn’t say “go”. It says “stand”.
It’s hard to love sinners when you are trying so hard not to be one.
Because Christ became sin for us all, we can preach the same Gospel in the White House as in a crack house.
If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always gotten!
Temptation is simply an enticement to take God-given desire beyond God-given boundries.
The richest prayers often arise out of an emotionally empty heart.
God is looking for really hungry people. He hopes to find them in church, but if necessary, He will bypass an entire temple filled with dainty, casual nibblers just to find a few hungry people on the street, in a bar or on the wrong side of town. Really hungry people tend to be really desperate people.
Maturity helps you walk by faith and not by sight during the dry seasons when His visitation is rare and the going is tough.
Faith and grace save us but passionate pursuit becomes our first and greater calling from that point on.
Let us recognize before we do warfare that the areas we hide in the darkness are the very areas of our future defeat. The greatest defense we have against the devil is to maintain an honest heart before God.
We will only take two things with us to eternity—ourselves and what we have done for the Lord.
Humility is confidence properly placed in God.
God loves you just the way you are; but He loves you too much to let you stay that way.
Grant me the grace to be graceful to those who refuse to chase with me or who may even try to hinder my pursuit of Your presence.
P—pray
U—until
S—something
H—happens
T—is it true
H—is it helpful
I—is it inspiring
N—is it necessary
K—is it kind
God may send you what you need in a package you don’t want.
Submission deals with our attitudes; obedience relates to our actions.
I didn’t come here to make dollars; I cam to make change.
You can make a decision and still do nothing. You have to act on it.
Every saint has a past, every sinner has a future.
All living things humans and plants have a frequency. Under a microscope they can see the frequency of cells increase as they are blessed and prayed over. Our immune system is literally suppressed by bad frequencies like stress, anger, frustration and cursing; but built up by prayer and blessings!! God said that the power of life and death our in our tongue, not only spiritually but mentally and physically as well.
If being a Christian was a crime, would there be enough evidence to convict you?
Why on earth would I expect someone to act like Christ when they don’t have a relationship?
Justified…just as if I’d never sinned.
Because Christ became sin for all of us, we can preach the same gospel in the White House as in a crack house.
Our problems cloud His promises. (Kathy Tricolli)
We are as sick as our secrets. (Kathy Tricolli)
Our gifts can still be intact while we are still a mess. (Kathy Tricolli)
If you belong to Christ, satan cannot destroy you. The best he can do is to convince you that you’re destroyed.
Is. 45:2-3
I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord.
Hope is the feeling you have that the feeling you have isn’t permanent.
The Father thinks it (His will). The Word speaks it (His power). The Spirit does it.
I would rather live my life as if there is a God, and to die and find out there isn’t one, than to live my life as if there isn’t one and find out here is.
Two angels fighting every demon. Only 1/3 fell from heaven; 2/3 left.
Don’t live in someone else’s shadows and you'll never feel the warmth of the sun
God will help you be all you can be, but He will never let you be successful at becoming someone else.
If my biggest is money, shouldn’t I feel better getting rid of it?
All we have to change is everything.
10/’02
If there is sustained, habitual sin in our lives, it will affect God’s response to our prayers. If He continued to answer all of our prayers despite our sinful conduct, He in effect would be condoning our actions and a Holy God cannot sanction sin. One of the ways God gets our attention is by withholding blessings when there is sin in our lives.
Faith looks straight into God’s promises—and steps out and conquers vast territories. Faith is the bridge connecting your present experiences with the future you hope for. It links your seen with your unseen; it brings eternity into your time. Faith is the way God travels into your present and ministers to you there.
Be filled and refilled with a source, a great spring, a roaring waterfall of newness.
Where is God?
Around you…Psalm 125:2
Above you…Deuteronomy 4:39
Beneath you…Deuteronomy 33:27
Before you…Exodus 13:21
Behind you…Isaiah 52:12
With you…Isaiah 41:10
For you…Romans 8:31
On your right hand…Isaiah 41:13
Near you…Psalm 145:18
In you…Colossians 1:27
Living with you…Isaiah 57:15
His eye is upon you…Psalm 33:18
He is all and in all.
It would seem that admission to the inner circle of deepening intimacy with God is the outcome of “deep desire”. Only those who count such intimacy a prize worth sacrificing anything else for, are likely to attain it. If other intimacies are more desirable to us, we will not gain entry to that circle. The place on Jesus’ breast (John 13:25) is still vacant and open to any who are willing to pay the price of deepening intimacy. *We are now, and will be in the future, only as intimate with God as we really choose to be. *
Worship can be wordless—David adjured his soul: “My soul waits in silence for God only.” (Psalm 62:5) The deepest feelings often cannot find adequate expression in words. Between intimate friends there can be comfortable silences. There are times when words are unnecessary or even an intrusion. So in our communication with God. Sometimes we are awed into silence in the presence of the Eternal.
Many people have been serving the Lord fervently and have come into difficult life situations because of being mistreated by either wicked men or carnal Christians. The truth is they have been treated unjustly, but to become offended would only fulfill the enemy’s purpose of getting them out of the will of God.
Anthony DeMello saw a starving child shivering in the cold. Angrily he lifted his eyes to heaven and said, “God, why don’t you do something?” and God said, “I did. I made you.”
Leadership is not using others to build your kingdom, its loving and serving them in order to build God’s.
In David’s writings, the major chords of worship, praise and thanksgiving blend with the minor chords of pentinence and confession to make heavenly harmony. The lesson for us is that our great God can take even our failures and the adverse experiences of life to give comfort to those in need and to create a beautiful symphony. Such experiences are the price of a ministry.
Love, joy, peace—harvest for ourselves
Longsuffering, gentleness, goodness—harvest—what you give to others
Faith, meekness, self-control—harvest we give to God, which is a release of His Spirit
Fruits/Gifts
Love=wisdom
Joy=word of knowledge
Peace=gift of faith
Longsuffering (patient endurance) =healing
Gentleness (or kindness) =working of miracles
Goodness=prophecy 1 Cor. 12:7, 14:31
Faith=discerning of spirits Heb 10:38
Meekness=various kinds of tongues
Self-control=interpretation of tongues
Lord, break my heart with that breaks Your heart.
Fear is rooted in our lack of understanding our security in the love of God.
When we run as far and as hard as we can, we learn that the presence of God is already ahead of us and ready to pour out His mercy and grace.
Never doubt in the darkness what God has clearly shown you in the light. Keep walking in the light of previous revelation. If it was true six months ago, it is still true. If we’re serious about our walk with God, He will test us to determine if we love Him or His blessings. He may cloud the future so we can learn to walk by faith and not by sight or feelings.
God has not left us—He has only suspended His “conscious presence” so that our faith will never rest on our feelings.
If God’s “ministry of darkness” should envelop you, keep waking in the light of the previous revelation.
Our natural tendency then it to try to do things ourselves. God will allow it, but misery will follow.
No matter how dark the night—morning comes.
Walking in the darkness is a lesson in trust.
God doesn’t show us what is on the other side of the door because we probably wouldn’t come through.
11/17/02
Something came to me today. Kurt Bush won the Nascar race today but Tony Stewart won the championship. Tony didn’t win a lot of races but he was consistently up front and that is what wins championships. It can be the same with us. We may lose some battles to the devil but if we stay consistently up front and keep up the fight we can win the championship—Heaven.
6/24/06 From Charles Stanley
Imagine going to a nice restaurant for dinner. The table is set with linens, find china and crystal glasses. The waiter delivers your plate with a flourish. In the middle of that exquisite china plate is a single marshmallow. What a letdown! Instead of receiving a nutritious, meaty meal, we are left with a puff of sugar and no satisfaction.
If we become lax, our lives can resemble that disappointing meal. Instead of being believers with a weighty message full of hope, we can find ourselves with nothing to offer but a bit of fluffy sweetness. God’s message is meant to nourish and sustain; our family, our friends, and even we ourselves cannot be satisfied by meager provisions. Our Father wants us to have such impact that people will never be the same after we arrive.
Prevailing faith reckons the victory before the battle begins. How does reckoning take place? We fight the “battle before the battle”. We reaffirm in our heart that this is the Lord’s battle, declare He has won the victory and wait for his timing. When we act, we do it God’s way, with trust in His presence and provision.
It’s not that the preacher can’t preach; it’s that you can’t hear.
Have God’s peace or go to pieces.
Are we fisher’s of men or aquarium keepers?
Our responsibility is to construct the bridge of understanding about God’s grace. The Holy Spirit ultimately walks a lost person across the bridge, but we are charged with building it in the first place. He placed His plan of salvations in the hands of each of us so we can take part in His work. Now is the time to build bridges for Jesus.
God is calling but he keeps getting a busy signal.
What was Jesus’ plan for getting His message of salvation to all people? In Matthew 28 He commissioned the saved to share the Good News with the lost. As a matter of fact, spreading the work of God through people is the only method given in the Bible.
Obedience doesn’t say I’ll pray about it. Delayed obedience is disobedience. God doesn’t owe us an explanation. Understanding can wait. Obedience can’t. Instant obedience will teach you more about God than a lifetime of Bible discussions. In fact, you’ll never understand some commands until you first obey them.
We don’t increase our knowledge of the Lord simply by reading the Bible. We learn about Him by obeying His word. With courage and obedience, take a leap of faith. When God tells us what to do, we are not to wait until all the answers are known, everyone is in agreement and we feel secure. We are to do what He asks the moment He makes the request.
Knowing the truth—not struggling against it—sets you free. Receiving the victory, not trying to attain it, is Christ’s liberating message.
Since God is my Father and the devil is my enemy, I need to see what God sees. Then I need to deal with the enemy as God would.
God’s wisdom and truth become the greatest weapons we could ever use in counterattacking the devil. Ecclesiastes 3:18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war.
Unbelievers may talk toward heaven, but Scripture offers no hope that God will listen or respond unless they, too, receive Christ’s sacrifice on their behalf. As believers, we are welcome to pray and draw close to the Father because the Son is our permanent high priest, eternally covering us in a veil of righteousness.
You may have to live and work in a difficult situation. You may have to endure great hardships for your faith. But understand—god’s got too much invested in you to let you be destroyed! Anytime satan tries that, God will disrupt his party and say, “This vessel’s off limits; it took Me too long to teach this woman how to pray…I’ve devoted too many hours training this man how to overcome. They’ve just learned how to stand amidst the trials…they’ve suffered too much for My sake for Me to let you harm them. The party’s over—they’re Mine.” Rejoice—if you belong to God, you’re fully protected.
The fact that this world is not our ultimate home explains why we experience difficulty, sorrow, and rejection. It also explains why some promises seem unfulfilled, some prayers unanswered, and some circumstances unfair. This is not the end of the story! In order to keep us from becoming too attached to this world, God allows us to feel a certain amount of discontent—longings that will never be fulfilled this side of heaven. We’re not completely happy here because we’re not supposed to be. We won’t be in heaven two seconds before we’ll cry out, “Why did I place such importance on temporal things? What was I thinking?” The truth is, at death we don’t leave home—we go home!
The Lord is our friend, but He commands our reverence. He is our resurrected Savior, but He deserves our uninterrupted awe. How often do we carelessly enter the sanctuary, chatting with family and friends, instead of quieting ourselves to hear from God? How often, before the service begins, do we joke with each other, instead of kneeling at our pew in reverence? Do we realize we are on holy ground?
“I define revival as a period of time when people awaken to the reality of a God who is always present and always willing to work on behalf of His kingdom through His people. When people awaken to God and begin to conduct themselves as though God is truly present, things begin to happen. Schedules and priorities change, sinners are converted, saints are sanctified, people are called into ministry, church services come alive and the power of God is revealed in new and thrilling ways.” Gordon Anderson—Pentecostal Evangel, August 19, 2001.
Do you remember the television show, “Laugh in?” for a full hour your got whizz-bang antics, joke piling upon joke, one guffaw after another, action upon action.
But remember how it ended? With the applause of just one person. And then the claps getting sparser and sparser. Then one final clap. And the show is over.
The New Testament, on the other hand, begins with John the Baptist’s solitary clap for Jesus. Then it builds and builds, with more and more joining in through the Gospels and the Book of Acts, until in Revelation numberless multitudes are around the throne of heaven, giving themselves in a tumult of hallelujahs and praise. Millions upon millions applauding the Lord Jesus!
Christian, in your office or neighborhood or whatever, God is asking you to be one clap for Jesus Christ.
But don’t think that your lonely clap will be the end. Christ doesn’t program failure. He said, “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” Matt 16:18. Not everyone will join in the clapping, but multitudes will.
If you can’t control it, don’t worry. If you can control it—why are you worrying?
Shine the light of God’s glory in every nook and cranny of your church, home, work place, front door to back door, basement to attic, wall to wall. The darkness is always there but God’s light over-shines it.
There is always a wall of salvation around you. Only one gate. The devil is outside the gate. Praising God keeps him out.
I heard in my ear that God loved me but I had not really believed it for myself. I may have believed it in general, but not personally. I had the problem and I had the answer but I was not making the connection between the two. Joyce Meyer.
Word: This is exactly how I feel. I was praying about this and thinking there was a missing link somewhere. God told me that link belongs to the chain that holds me in bondage. It is because of these chains that I can’t know and receive his love the way He wants me to.
When we make the right connection, the devil is on his way out and freedom is on the way. Joyce Meyer
James 1:2 He makes us over comers even if our circumstances don’t change.
The more passion you have for God’s assignment for your life, the greater you will hinder the destructive power of the enemy.
When you are on the path, the appointed cause of a great destiny for your life and you encounter hardships from the enemy and great difficulties, know that God is preparing you for great effectiveness in your life.
The enemy is sent into confusion when the oil of gladness is in your life.
When we make mistakes in our personal lives or when relationships with others in a joint effort breakdown, the implication is either we have not sought or we have not obeyed the Spirits leading.
Prophetic Intercession with Worship
Psalm 149
1) Praise the Lord, sing a new song.
a) The hook. The line of the song that “hooks you”.
b) You can take a couple of words and make and tune and sing those.
c) Start with a few words—begins to lift you up
d) Symbolic action Ezek. Chap 4—natural things that have spiritual effects.
2) Rejoice—be joyful. God was with me in the beginning and he is already with me at the end. Declaratory songs. Ex. 15—God gave them a new song.
3) Praise with dance. Symbolic action…instruments and weapons. Dance on the devils head.
4) Pleasure—Beautify the humble. Moses—w/ arms up, Josh fighting—God sent down hailstones. Think of snowballs—God’s throwing them down at the enemy and knocking them out. Dance/worship before God with a new song and God will throw snowballs at the enemy.
5) Joyful in glory—visible presence of the invisible God.
6) High (exalted) praises of God be in the mouth—two edged sword—Word of God. Get up higher and look down on your enemy—shout down the word of God at the enemy (victory) Zechariah 3—walk around the throne of God.
Raising Up A Vision
God will birth a real vision in us and then put it to the test, all because we tend to make one gigantic mistake: We think that it is our sole responsibility now to raise up that vision. Nothing could be further from the truth. If a vision is God-birthed, it is something that God intends to do anyway. Furthermore, it is His responsibility to do it…when He chooses to do it…and by the methods He desires. All we need to do is rest in Him, wait, and do what He tells us. It will always become evident when the time has come for us to act. The way is smooth, God has gone ahead of us, and fruit falls ripe form the tree and into our hands. We look at it in delight, aware that God has been at work and has accomplished this wonderful thing. If you try it on your own, it won’t happen as quickly or as well. You will see the hand of the Lord in it and an awe of what God is doing. He receives the glory and people will be supportive and creative to assist. You learn waiting. Carolyn Tenant
Don’t worry too much about revival in the church or town. Pray for revival in yourself and God will take care of the rest. We are missing what God has for us.
You don’t have to work—just walk—in faith. God has given us where we set our feet. (Joshua)
Meekness is not weakness. (Heb 11)
To revive something it has to be dead. (Die to your flesh)
We don’t fight ‘for’ victory—we fight ‘in’ victory.
Brokenness
Deep heartache over sinfulness—deep gratitude for grace from God.
Recognition of my weakness—Dependence on His strength.
Rejection of my will—Submission to His will (Is 66:2)
Service to self gives way to service to others.
Respect and appreciate others—Know what matters and what doesn’t.
Serve God with zeal and passion from the heart.
Joyce Meyer—The Battle Belongs To The Lord
As we go through the Bible, we constantly read disastrous reports of the terrible things the devil had planned for God’s people. Then we come to this little phrase, But God…, and the next thing we read about is victory.
We must learn to look at things through eyes of faith rather than in the natural. What normally happens in a situation can be totally changed when God comes on the scene.
Numbers 14:1-5 Notice Moses and Aaron’s reaction to the Israelites murmuring and complaining—they fell on their faces. This action of falling on one’s face is found throughout the Bible. If all the Israelites had been on their faces, they would have seen miracle after miracle.
Genesis 17: [Abram] When he was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, I am the Almighty God; walk and live habitually before Me and be perfect (blameless, wholehearted, complete). Abram responded by falling on his face. When we are faced with impossibilities, we should never give up; we should worship and watch God work in our behalf. Remember, all things are possible for those who believe.
Should you continue loving your worldly lovers while God is madly in love with you? In other words, should you continue in sin that grace might abound? By no means1 Romans 6:2 says: (so to speak) God has gotten down on His knees to propose to you. Especially if you consider that He sacrificed His only Son for your hand in marriage or this covenant relationship. I liken grace to this picture. How can we turn this down? And if we accept, how could we run after another lover? This proposal from God demands a response of wholehearted love and faith from us. Remember, Scripture tells us that to God, “the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” (Galatians 5:6b)
Bottom line: When we catch ourselves being faithful to the…refrigerator, drugs, alcohol, sex, pride…instead of Him, it is like being caught in adultery. We cannot love two masters. We feel guilty when God catches us adoring something besides Him. Would you expect your spouse to allow you to love another? Then how do we expect the Father to? All throughout the Old and New Testaments, God gets upset at His children for even turning to another lover (idol), much less trying to talk Him into letting all three get into the same bed. That has always been our problem—we want it both ways.
Many will beg God to please love then but let them keep their other loves too! If we continue in sinful behavior, we will eventually become calloused and have no more guilt feelings because our conscience have been seared, which is a frightening thought.
Titus 2:11-14; Colossians 3:5-8, 12-14
When you find this grace, accept it, and receive it, you will have a response of love in your heart which will be revealed in your actions. Notice this scripture passage—if you love Him. If you do not, it will be work and He does not even want to see it. It is easy if you love Him.
Jesus came to forgive your sins and He calls you to repent of your old loves and to “marry” yourself to the Father. True repentance is foundational.
Deuteronomy 91Hear, O Israel. You are now about to cross the Jordan to go in and dispossess nations greater and stronger than you, with large cities that have walls up to the sky. 2The people are strong and tall--Anakites! You know about them and have heard it said: "Who can stand up against the Anakites?" 3But be assured today that the LORD your God is the one who goes across ahead of you like a devouring fire. He will destroy them; he will subdue them before you. And you will drive them out and annihilate them quickly, as the LORD has promised you.
Don’t look at the mountain and think you have to move the whole thing at once. Move it rock by rock.
Prayer closet—Go in victory not always apologizing and repenting. Have victory.
Acting against our conscience is a hindrance. It makes us double-minded: we feel guilty over our action but desire to continue it anyway. In this condition, we find our concentration diminishes, preventing us from putting our wealth of experience, talent and ability into the work God has assigned us. Another obstacle is laziness which is often accompanied by many excuses and yields the same result: We do not obey God. For example, the Lord commands all of us to practice the “one anothers” (Romans 12:9-16) His instruction frequently goes ignored because it takes too much effort. With the Holy Spirit’s help, we can overcome these common negative tendencies.
God expects us to operate according to His timetable, not our own. So watch our for procrastination, which can derail success. It may be the result of a rebellious spirit which does not want to be told what to do, even by the Lord.
When you achieve the gift of being alone you are really ready to share companionship with someone else.
T. D. Jakes
Those who say Lord, Lord are believers (not unbelievers). Jesus will say I don’t know you.
Deut. 9:1-3
I am a saint living under the grace of God, not a sinner save by grace.
Catholics and purgatory—this would mean Jesus died for nothing. He paid our sin debt. God’s not going to make us pay for it again or “work” for it.
When Jesus comes and the moon, stars and sun go dark—the sun outshines the stars—they are still there when the sun comes out. When Jesus comes in all His glory, the moon, stars, and even the sun will be dark because of the brightness of His glory. God will manifest in us but not in His glory—it’s too bright but God desires to dwell with us in His glory not just saved—dwelling in His “full” glory (holiness)—you have to cleanse yourself or no one will see God.
Today, God is looking for warriors—people who are ready to go into battle, to follow His every command, and wage spiritual warfare. Ask God to give you a burden for the Lost. And remember: As a soldier in God’s army, you must be ready to go wherever He leads you. Listen to His void. Pray. Give. Serve. And be prepared.
When we obey Jesus’ commands, people around us will notice that there is something different about us. Perhaps they’ll be curious about our ability to remain patient or calm in times of adversity. They may ask why we have given up popular activities or avoid certain places. We can respond as simply as the blind man did: “I was spiritually blind and separated from God by sin. Jesus, the Savior, died on the cross to pay for my sins. Through fait in Him, I know I have been forgiven and made part of God’s family. That is why I am not the same.
A powerful pray that was a cry for God to be present in every was of life said: “God be in my head, and in my understanding; God be in mine eyes, and in my looking; God be in my mouth, and in my heart and in my thinking; God be at mine end, and at my departing.” This was a reminder that, every day, we need to surrender.
I firmly believe that the moment our hearts are emptied of pride and selfishness and ambitions and self-seeking and every thing that is contrary to God’s law, the Holy Ghost will come and fill every corner of our hearts; but if we are full if pride and conceit and ambition and self-seeking and pleasure and the world, there is no room for the Spirit of God; and I believe many an man is praying to God to fill him when he is full already with something else.” –Dwight L. Moody.
A part of our testimony is our conversation. As Psalm 107: 2 says, “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.” This gives us an opportunity to tell others what God is doing in our lives. Our words can be significant to an unbeliever who doubts the existence of God or he divinity of Christ. When our character, conduct and conversation fail to match who we are in Christ, we hamper our ability to reach others with the gospel. A testimony can make the difference between doubt and faith in the life of an unbeliever. How authentic is your personal testimony?
Satan wants to destroy us physically. One of his most effective attacks involves striking at our bodies. Sickness, addictions, stress, and obesity often consume a person’s entire life. The devil would much prefer that you focus on your body than on spiritual things.
“My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord or loathe His reproof, for whom the Lord loves He reproves, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.” Proverbs 3:11-12. Today, remember that God loves you. Because of His love, he will take action to discipline you and help shape your life. Welcome His discipline remembering that if you ignore reproof, you will “go astray” (Proverbs 10:17). And, as God gives you the opportunity, be a person who lovingly imparts discipline to your family and those under your supervision.
Let me send you to a place called “there.” Don’t be selfish and think about yourself—you are “here.” God is sending you “there” to meet someone else’s needs and then He’ll bless you too. Put your attention on someone else. The place of blessing is not a selfish place. You are full enough—fill someone else at the place called, “there.”
Thank you for Your forgiveness that allows me to forgive myself.
Jesus warned that some may gain the whole world but, in the process, “forfeit their soul” (Mark 8:36).
Some people’s thinking: It’s not premarital sex if you don’t plan on getting married!
God doesn't give you the people you want, He gives you the people you NEED. To help you, to hurt you, to leave you, to love you and to make you into the person you were meant to be."
Nearly all men can stand adversity but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.—Abe Lincoln.
No one can make you feel inferior without your permission.
If you can’t control it—don’t worry. If you can control it—why are you worrying?
You can be pitiful or powerful but you can’t be both.
Friends are quiet angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly.
The shortest distance between a problem and a solution is the distance between your knees and the floor.
The one who kneels to the Lord can stand up to anything.
We should learn to be joyful about our progress, not depressed about how far we still have to go.
I am not where I need to be, but thank God I am not where I used to be. I’m OK and on my way!
Before every victory there is conflict. If not, we couldn’t call it victory.
Faith is the process of unlearning your irrational fears.
The circumstances you complain about become the chains that imprison you and worship is the way out.
If you are swept off your fee, it’s time to get on your knees.
Have you prayed about your problems as much as you have talked about them?
Courage is fear that has said it’s prayers.
The cure for the fear of failure is not success. It’s failure. The cure for fear of rejection is not acceptance, its rejection. You’ve got to be exposed to small quantities of whatever you’re afraid of. That’s how you build up immunity. The best thing that could happen is for your fear to become reality. Then you would discover it’s not the end of the world. Your fear is worse than the actual thing your are afraid of.
The church is not an infirmary. It is a military outpost under orders to storm the gates of hell. Every believer is on active duty fulfilling the Great Commission.
It is an undeniable fact that usually those who suffer most are best able to comfort others who are passing through suffering.
There are two ways to get enough: One is to accumulate more and more; the other is to desire less.
Our external circumstances commonly receive the blame for our feelings of irritation and anxiety. However, circumstances are often times simply magnifiers—events that reveal what is already inside of us. Therefore, when we find ourselves becoming short tempered or easily angered, it is probably time to examine our hearts. Frustration fades only in the light of His plan four our future. (Jeremiah 29:11)
When you run out of you—you run into Him.
Worry is the interest paid on trouble before it comes due.
A cynic is a man who when he smells flowers , he looks for a funeral.
Although I tried to say things that were right and pleasing to others, by the time they passed through my soul and picked up the hardness and bitterness that are hidden there, they came out harsh.
Knowing the truth—not struggling against the lie—sets you free. Receiving the victory, not trying to attain it is Christ’s liberating message.
Do you ever feel as if God has abandoned you? Check to see if there is anything He has already told you to do. You may not receive new guidance from God until you have acted on his previous directions. How easy it is for us to complain about our problems, even to God, while we refuse to act, change and to what He requires.
( 1 Samuel 7: 2-3)
Never have a past because a past doesn’t have a future.
Never pray for longer than 20 minutes. Never go for 20 minutes to pray.
You cannot think your way to God or use wisdom alone. You must use your heart.
We are not called to dispel darkness. We are called to turn on the light.
It is not the load that breaks you down, it’s the way you carry it.
There can be no outward shining without inward burning.
Be the kind of woman that when your feet hit the floor each morning, the devil says, “Oh crap. She’s up.”
Paul saw danger as an opportunity to trust the Lord and hardship as a way to identify with the Savior.
Bravery is not what you feel but what you make up your mid to do.
We need to quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive at death safely.
You can curse it, nurse it or let God reverse it.
Fortitude is like buying a lifetime membership to an exercise club and showing up for each session.
A willingness to repeatedly bend our knee to the Lord prepares us to rise up clothed in His dignity and strength.
The root evil in idolatry is that our worship is ultimately laid at satan’s feet.
Bearing the weight of burdens we were not intended to carry not only takes a spiritual toll in us, but leaves us physically, emotionally beaten as well. Cast your burdens on the Lord.
The adversary won’t turn you against the church; he will turn you toward yourself in the church. He won’t take away your ministry, he’ll delusion you in your ministry and when the focus is on yourself, you worry and become anxious.
God is more pleased with the quiet attention of a sincere servant than the noisy service of a sour one.
What matters more than the type of service is the heart behind the service. A bad attitude spoils the gift we leave on the altar for God.
Faith is not the belief that God will do what you want. Faith is the belief that God will do what is right.
The power is not in the prayer—it is in the one who hears it.
The greater your cares the more genuine your prayers.
The darker the room the greater need for light.
The more hopeless your circumstances the more likely your salvation.
Prayer—God is more moved by our hurt than our eloquence.
The next time we feel tempted to critique someone’s behavior, perhaps we should first ask the Lord if the criticism is just about them or indicators of us.
It’s not the pain—it’s the attitude toward the pain.
Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts my be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the one who hears it and not the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference.
The most difficult journey is back to the place where you failed.
It’s just you and God. You both know what you did and neither of you are proud of it. What do you do?
Stand in God’s presence.
Stand in His sight.
Stand still and wait.
Sometimes that’s all you can do. Too repentant to speak, too hopeful to leave—we just stand. Stand amazed. He has come back. He invites you to try again…with Him.
What would cause people to prefer pigs and lunatics over the presence of God?
What would cause an alcoholic to prefer misery over sobriety?
What would cause a church to prefer slumber over revival?
Fear of change—it’s hard work.
Christ still sends the message to the unworthy and he still uses the unworthy as messengers.
Why is it that we interpret the presence of death as the absence of God? Why do we think that if the body is not healed then God is not near? Is healing the only way God demonstrates His presence?
Let’s fight fair (be kind, thoughtful and polite). We need to get to the point, not get to the person.
Let’s fight for what matters—not our rights, but righteousness; not our preferences but purity; not even beliefs, but blamelessness.
We shouldn’t confuse confidence and pridefulness. Confidence comes from a healthy understanding of our worth and capability. (Romans 12:3). Pridefulness comes from an exaggerated misunderstanding of our worth and capability. Confidence is peaceful; pridefulness is puffed up. Confidence gives credit; pridefulness takes credit. Confidence acknowledges supreme authority; pridefulness is it’s own authority.
There isn’t an act of our lives that we commit, simple or profound, whereby we aren’t actively fulfilling God’s will or opposing God’s will. Your are God’s child; obedient or disobedient. In your every thought, every plan, every uttered word. God is not on the fringe of life: He is in the dead center, at every moment, resisted or obeyed.
Jesus was not free because He didn’t sin. He didn’t sin because He was free.
A nonbeliever may be drawn to antagonize you because he senses your peace and that is missing in him. Let godly behavior put them to shame.
The New Testament does not say, “you shall know the rules and by them be bound;” but—“you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.”
Anything God uses satan abuses.
If God accepts you it doesn’t matter who rejects you—If he rejects you, it doesn’t matter who accepts you.
Suffering and pain are the raw materials God uses to give us His wisdom and joy. (James 1:2-5 paraphrase)
It is hard to cooperate with God and believe that good can come out of our raw pain but God’s wisdom comes in spite of us. He never abandons us. He is never an idle spectator when His children are in pain.
Doubt is not the opposite of faith. Disbelief is the opposite of faith. Doubt is the struggle with faith. Doubt can lead to disbelief but it can also lead to a stronger, deeper faith.
B—Basic
I—Instructions
B—Before
L—Leaving
E—Earth
Another word for fortress is stronghold, which in the context of spiritual warfare means “fortified places.” Your behavior and thinking can become strongholds for satan, hard to penetrate positions that furnish excellent ground for satan to assault your inner being. A stronghold is something you haven’t completely surrendered to God.
Never doubt in the dark what God has told you in the light.
Bitterness is a cyclic, repetitive, tightly closed circle of self-centered pain. IT carries us around and around ourselves.
On that cannot forgive others breaks the bridge over which all must pass if they would ever reach Heaven; for everyone has need to be forgiven.
God’s will won’t take you where His grace can’t keep you.
The cross shows how difficult it was for God to forgive, how far God was willing to go to forgive, and how costly it is to forgive.
Even when we don’t know what the future holds, we know who holds the future.
When we develop a pattern of accusing God of causing our pain instead of allowing it, we temporarily close the door on our spiritual growth.
Hang in there. The world’s best days are now—yours are still ahead.
Betrayal is something others do to you; bitterness is something you do to yourself.
I have to live with myself and so, I want to be fit for myself to know. I want to be able as days go by, always to look myself in the eye. I don’t want to stand in the setting sun and hate myself for the things I’ve done. I don’t want to keep on a closet shelf, a lot of secrets about myself, and fool myself as I come and go, into thinking nobody else will know—the kind of man I really am.
To live above with saints we love, that will be praise and glory. To live below with the saints we know, that’s another story.
We were born originals. Don’t die a copy.
Relax in advance! God will never fail to take care of you.
Wisdom is seeking heavenly opinions on earthly circumstances.
A six-year-old girl said, “When the devil knocked on the door of my heart, I would always answer by saying, ‘go away,’ but sometimes he would come in anyway. Now that Jesus lives in my heart, I just let him answer the door.”
Cleanness of heart brings clearness of vision. Only the pure in heart will see God. New vision follows new adjustment.
How you enter church each week will have great impact on how you exit it.
The only way to be a doer is to be an intense hearer.
A God who must be defended is one who can help us only while someone is helping Him.
If you’re not spending time with God, you’re spending it on whatever has become more important to you than Him.
A faith that hasn’t been tested can’t be trusted.
Faith can move mountains. Doubt creates them.
Fear will convince you to run from something that isn’t after you at all.
He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.
Jesus said He came “to proclaim liberty to the captives.” Good news—satan is a defeated foe. Your prison door is open; your freedom has been won at Calvary. Accept it, act on it and stop living like a prisoner.
Pray as if everything depended on your prayer.
Character is made in the small moments of our lives.
We will have all of eternity to celebrate the victories, but only a few hours before sunset in which to win them.
The tongue is like an x-ray. IT reveals what is in your heart. It can sometimes be difficult to maintain, discipline and reserve, but guarding our words—and therefore guarding our hearts—is always the best tack.
Strive each day to speak in such a manner that Christ could listen and you wouldn’t be embarrassed—because he does listen.
To live in faith is to live without fear and without foreboding. It is to stand on a rock of superb confidence amid chaos.
Be a victor—not a victim.
Get on fire for God and people will come and watch you burn!
We don’t need better buildings or even more Christians but rather mighty acts coming out of the buildings we already have and greater impact from believers who are already there.
I would go to the depths of depression a hundred times to cheer a downcast spirit. It is good for me to have been afflicted that I might know how to speak a word in season to one who is weary. Charles Spurgeon
The Christian who is truly intimate with Jesus will never draw attention to himself but will only show the evidence of a life where Jesus is completely in control.
When you try to be somebody other than who you are, the best you can be is number two. Be yourself. After all, who’s more qualified. God made you who you are. If He’s satisfied, shouldn’t you be?
God’s word states that the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing. IT makes no sense whatsoever to them because satan has blinded their eyes to the truth. But to us who are being saved, the Gospel is the very power of God.
God isn’t behind you shouting—“Go”—He’s up front of you clearing the path and showing you the way. He promises a lamp for your feet, not a crystal ball for your future.
Fruits of the Spirit filled life—All the other qualities are really expressions of the first one—love.
Joy is love enjoying itself.
Peace is love resting.
Patience is love waiting.
Kindness is love reacting.
Goodness is love choosing.
Faithfulness is love keeping its word.
Gentleness is love empathizing.
Self-control is love resisting temptation.
I’d rather see a sermon than hear one any day. I’d rather you walked with me than merely show the way. I may misunderstand you and the high advice you give but there’s no misunderstanding how you act and how you live. People are more impressed by your actions than your words.
Obedience doesn’t say I’ll pray about it. Delayed obedience is disobedience. God doesn’t owe you an explanation. Understanding can wait, obedience can’t. Instant obedience will teach you more about God than a lifetime of Bible discussions. In fact, you’ll never understand some commands until you first obey them.
IT is a great compliment for a believer to be well-known not only to God, but also by the devil. Job was conspicuous because of his strong faith.
God’s not angry with you that you haven’t “arrived.” He’s pleased that you’re pressing on, trying to stay on the path.
When God doesn’t deliver you immediately, He’ll be your thermostat in the furnace. If He hadn’t already been there regulating the heat, you’d have burned up long ago.
Deliverance casts out—repentance destroys the demons house!
It’s easier to act your way into right thinking than to think your way into right acting.
Without purpose, life is motion without meaning, activity without direction and events without reason. Without purpose, life is trivial, petty and pointless.
Remember: It’s one thing to call yourself a Christian—it’s another when those who know you agree!
This is the true joy of life. The being used up for a purpose. Recognized by yourself as a mighty one; being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish, little clot of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making your happy.—George Bernard Shaw
What is it that you are holding onto that you would be willing to keep holding onto even if it meant missing God’s best for you through eternity?
Hearing the voice of God is not the province of a privileged and especially holy few. It is the right of all children of God in Christ who are led by the Spirit. God has longed to speak to us and heal us. We must listen with an open and rested heart expecting God to bring fire to burn up the lies that have kept us bound.
You will never be asked to forgive someone else more than God has already forgiven you!
We worry about how fast we grow—God is more concerned with how strong. We are obsessed with speed but God is more interested in stability.
You’ll never know that God is all you need until God is all you’ve got.
Your worship is not perfect when is leaves your lips; it is perfected when it enters His ears.
Saints are just sinners who fall down…and get up.
Pray, repent, be glad, rejoice.
If God was my boss and my job description is obedience, loving one another, forgiveness and worship—would He fire me or give me a raise?
God’s plan was to save a nation through Joseph. What if he’d given into temptation? Wise up! The battle is not just about you—it’s about those God plans to bless through you.
Peace is not the absence of trials. Peace is the presence of God in those trials.
Not all the trouble that touches your life will occur as a result of sin. Some hardships come as the result of our fallen world. Don’t look at the accidents of life and think God is trying to harm you. His only goal in allowing adversity is to teach you to trust Him.
It may be said without qualification that every man is as holy and as full of the Spirit as he wants to be. He may not be as full as he wishes, but he is most certainly as full as he wants to be.
They who seek the throne of grace find the throne in every place. If we live a life of prayer, God is present everywhere.
The first day of world peace is the last day of satan’s reign on earth.
Is it true O Christ in heaven that the highest suffer most, that the strongest wander furthest and most hopelessly lost? That the mark of rank in nature is the capacity for pain? That the anguish of the singer makes the sweetness of the strain?—John Miller
Nehemiah 1: 1-11
1. You will never learn to pray until you are concerned enough to ask.
2. You will never learn to pray until you are moved enough to weep.
3. You will never learn to pray until you are honest enough to confess.
4. You will never learn to pray until you are bold enough to risk.
Christ was not standing at some distant point waiting for you to catch up to Him. He was at your side moment by moment, just waiting for you to see Him.
God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him.
God sends no one away empty except those who are full of themselves.
Pain is weakness leaving the body.
You’re more than a conqueror when you know that you already have the victory before you get the problem.
If we don’t pray, the best think that can happen is nothing.
When we think of sacrifice, we must always remember that what we sow as a seed, God uses to bring harvest. When we are called upon to make a sacrifice, we should not feel deprived, but privileged. Jesus sacrificed His very life for us and we are to follow in His footsteps.
What was Jesus’ plan for getting His message of salvation to all people? In Matthew 28, He commissioned the saved to share the Good News with the lost. As a matter of fact, spreading the Word of God through people is the only method given in the Bible.
When the devil reminds you of your past—remind him of his future.
Admitting weakness doesn’t make you less effective, it just expresses what everyone around you has known all the time.
We want revival in our cities but we don’t want to hear anyone tell us that revival only comes when people are hungry, when “vicarious intercessors” repent for sins they never committed on behalf of people they never met.
The only way to avoid difficult people is to leave the planet!
If you’re looking for a place with no change, try a soda machine. With life comes changes.
Forgiveness is surrendering my right to hurt you for hurting me.
There is a difference between being a believer in Jesus and being a follower of Jesus. A believer is one who placed his trust in the Lord for salvation and has received the gift of eternal life. A follower goes beyond that and attempts to know God and obey Him.
Jesus wasn’t crucified in a cathedral between two candles, but on a cross between two thieves; on a town garbage heap; at a crossroads so cosmopolitan they had to write His title in Hebrew, the language of the religious, in Latin, the language of the barbarians; and Greek, the language of the cultured. It was the kind of place where cynics talked smut, thieves cursed, and soldiers gambled. But it is where He died and it is what He died about.—George MacLeod.
Contrary to popular belief, the most important thing about you is not even how you think others see you. As a matter of fact, someone has said, “We wouldn’t worry so much about what others thought about us…if we knew how seldom they did”. The most important thing is how God sees you.
The fact that this world is not our ultimate home explains why we experience difficulty, sorrow and rejection. It also explains why some promises seem unfulfilled, some prayers not answered and some circumstances unfair. This is not the end of the story. In order to keep us from becoming too attached to this world, God allows us to feel a certain amount of discontent—longings that will never be fulfilled this side of heaven. We are not completely happy here because we are not supposed to be. We won’t be in heaven two seconds before we’ll cry out, “Why did I place such importance on temporal things”? The truth is—at death you don’t leave home—you go home!
God is more concerned about your character than your career, because you will take your character into eternity, not your career.
Bitterness is like poison that you prepare for someone else and then drink yourself.
Defeat vs. victory is really obedience or disobedience.
Jesus promised those who would follow Him only three things…that they would be absurdly happy, entirely fearless and always in trouble!
Our responsibility is to construct the bridge of understanding about God’s grace. The Holy Spirit ultimately walks a lost person across the bridge, but we are charged with building it in the first place. He placed His plan of salvation in the hands of each of us so we can take part in His work. Now is the time to build bridges for Jesus.
Difference doesn’t mean you’re less than or more than, just different. If God hadn’t made you as He did, you wouldn’t have been able to persevere as you have. Others couldn’t have handled what you’ve been through. You are uniquely equipped to be a blessing to those around you. People are blessed because you are sincere and available—not perfect.
Prayer is the greatest gift you can give another person when you approach the throne of God on behalf of another; you are doing exactly what Jesus has done for you.
Much is gained by closing your mouth and opening your eyes.
You’ll never be free until you despise your chains.
Inner healing begins when you give up hope for a better yesterday and take the first step toward making a better tomorrow.
Just because God isn’t speaking, doesn’t mean He isn’t speaking. He is telling you to leave things as they are.
No one killed Jesus. He laid His life down—no one took it from Him.
When we pray, it is better to have a heart without words than words without heart.
Matt. 21: 43 The Kingdom of God will be taken away and given to a people who will produce its fruit.
Always bear in mind that you are not doing the binding or crushing of satan’s influence. Pride or a desire for personal power has no place in battling the evil one. Your liberation lies only in humble faith in the power of God.
I’m torn between two desires. Sometimes I want to live and sometimes I long to go and be with you, Christ. That would be far better for me, but it is better for you that I live.
Don’t inject your veins with church to get high.
You love right and hate evil, so God has chosen you from among your friends; He has set you apart with much joy.
The mark of true leadership is to serve—not strut. When you forget how it feels to serve others, you develop a sense of entitlement and become doctorial, overbearing, and down right miserable to be around.
When fear is well-developed by a soul who is trying to protect itself from future pain, it creates what is known as “control freak”. –aggressive, domineering people who must have their own way—if not, all hell breaks loose.
There’s no record of Jesus preaching a funeral sermon. Do you know why? Because He is the resurrection and the Life. (John 11:25) He broke up every funeral He attended. Death couldn’t exist around Him. The dead heard His voice and sprung to life.
How can people who believe they have awesome authority again satan meet and scurry home again without causing a ripple. When you rehash your life in the still of the night, do you feel the pain of compromise? All around us we can observe Christians who have postponed life as they binge on self discovery. What would really scare satan? To see a church shift from repairing to reloading!
Are we fishers of men or aquarium keepers?
The devil shouts a lie; the church whispers the truth.
Worship is relinquishing control. In this place we forget ourselves. We are swallowed up in His greatness.
Strength of the prayer is not the length of the prayer. It’s not how long but how strong you pray.
Decide in the good times who you are going to be in the bad times.
Betrayal is something others do to you. Bitterness is something you do to yourself.
If you’re claiming Jesus and someone else is claiming Jesus and there is friction between you—someone is lying.
You go before the Judge—you committed murder and ten years later you get caught—are you still guilty? Should you go to jail even though you are a good person now? You sin, say, two times a day for 14 years—that’s 20,000 sins. Are you guilty before the Judge?
We can have a gift that can take us somewhere but no character to keep us there if we don’t submit to God’s training camp.
How we behave in the wilderness determines how long we will have to stay there.
Anyone who is going to do the will of God must have more fear of God than of man.
Disobedience communicates to those around us that we know more than God knows.
Satan prefers to attach us when we are hungry, angry, lonely, tired.(HALT)
It is evident from Scripture that Jesus did not intend for us to be salt and light in a sealed container.
Soon you will read in the newspaper that I am dead; don’t believe it for a moment. I will be more alive than ever before. D. L. Moody
The ability to walk on water made it difficult for Jesus to swim!
G—God’s
R—Richness
A—At
C—Christ’s
E—Expense
Warfare isn’t about going to get something. It’s about the devil trying to take something. The Word doesn’t say “go”. It says “stand”.
It’s hard to love sinners when you are trying so hard not to be one.
Because Christ became sin for us all, we can preach the same Gospel in the White House as in a crack house.
If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always gotten!
Temptation is simply an enticement to take God-given desire beyond God-given boundries.
The richest prayers often arise out of an emotionally empty heart.
God is looking for really hungry people. He hopes to find them in church, but if necessary, He will bypass an entire temple filled with dainty, casual nibblers just to find a few hungry people on the street, in a bar or on the wrong side of town. Really hungry people tend to be really desperate people.
Maturity helps you walk by faith and not by sight during the dry seasons when His visitation is rare and the going is tough.
Faith and grace save us but passionate pursuit becomes our first and greater calling from that point on.
Let us recognize before we do warfare that the areas we hide in the darkness are the very areas of our future defeat. The greatest defense we have against the devil is to maintain an honest heart before God.
We will only take two things with us to eternity—ourselves and what we have done for the Lord.
Humility is confidence properly placed in God.
God loves you just the way you are; but He loves you too much to let you stay that way.
Grant me the grace to be graceful to those who refuse to chase with me or who may even try to hinder my pursuit of Your presence.
P—pray
U—until
S—something
H—happens
T—is it true
H—is it helpful
I—is it inspiring
N—is it necessary
K—is it kind
God may send you what you need in a package you don’t want.
Submission deals with our attitudes; obedience relates to our actions.
I didn’t come here to make dollars; I cam to make change.
You can make a decision and still do nothing. You have to act on it.
Every saint has a past, every sinner has a future.
All living things humans and plants have a frequency. Under a microscope they can see the frequency of cells increase as they are blessed and prayed over. Our immune system is literally suppressed by bad frequencies like stress, anger, frustration and cursing; but built up by prayer and blessings!! God said that the power of life and death our in our tongue, not only spiritually but mentally and physically as well.
If being a Christian was a crime, would there be enough evidence to convict you?
Why on earth would I expect someone to act like Christ when they don’t have a relationship?
Justified…just as if I’d never sinned.
Because Christ became sin for all of us, we can preach the same gospel in the White House as in a crack house.
Our problems cloud His promises. (Kathy Tricolli)
We are as sick as our secrets. (Kathy Tricolli)
Our gifts can still be intact while we are still a mess. (Kathy Tricolli)
If you belong to Christ, satan cannot destroy you. The best he can do is to convince you that you’re destroyed.
Is. 45:2-3
I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord.
Hope is the feeling you have that the feeling you have isn’t permanent.
The Father thinks it (His will). The Word speaks it (His power). The Spirit does it.
I would rather live my life as if there is a God, and to die and find out there isn’t one, than to live my life as if there isn’t one and find out here is.
Two angels fighting every demon. Only 1/3 fell from heaven; 2/3 left.
Don’t live in someone else’s shadows and you'll never feel the warmth of the sun
God will help you be all you can be, but He will never let you be successful at becoming someone else.
If my biggest is money, shouldn’t I feel better getting rid of it?
All we have to change is everything.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Title
Taking Cities By Storm
Pray For Rain
1 Kings 18:41 (NLT) I hear a mighty rainstorm coming!
2 Kings 7:2 ...open the floodgates of heaven...
Pray For Rain
1 Kings 18:41 (NLT) I hear a mighty rainstorm coming!
2 Kings 7:2 ...open the floodgates of heaven...
The Battle Is the Lord's
1 Samuel 17:47
Exodus 14:13
…”Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord willbring you today.’
2 Chronicles 20:15
…”This is what the Lord says to you, “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.
2 Chronicles 20:17
You will not have to fight this battle. …Stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you.
Joshua 3:5
…consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.
Joshua 5: 14a (paraphrase)
Asthe commander of the Lord’s army, I am not here to take sides; I am here to take over.
Exodus 14:13
…”Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord willbring you today.’
2 Chronicles 20:15
…”This is what the Lord says to you, “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.
2 Chronicles 20:17
You will not have to fight this battle. …Stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you.
Joshua 3:5
…consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.
Joshua 5: 14a (paraphrase)
Asthe commander of the Lord’s army, I am not here to take sides; I am here to take over.
Scripture
Isaiah 61:1-3 (AMP)
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, poor, and the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up and heal the brokenhearted. To proclaim liberty to the [physical and spiritual] captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes to those who are bound, To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord [the year of His favor] and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, To grant [consolation and joy] to those who mourn in Zion—to give them an ornament ( a garland or diadem) of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment [expressive] of praise instead of a heavy, burdened, and failing spirit—that they may be called oaks of righteousness [lofty, strong, and magnificent, istinguished for uprightness, justice and right standing with God], the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, poor, and the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up and heal the brokenhearted. To proclaim liberty to the [physical and spiritual] captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes to those who are bound, To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord [the year of His favor] and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, To grant [consolation and joy] to those who mourn in Zion—to give them an ornament ( a garland or diadem) of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment [expressive] of praise instead of a heavy, burdened, and failing spirit—that they may be called oaks of righteousness [lofty, strong, and magnificent, istinguished for uprightness, justice and right standing with God], the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.
God's Promise
God’s Promise
Joshua 1:3-9I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I
promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from
the great river, the Euphrates…to the Great Sea on the west. No one will be able to stand up against you
all the days of your life….I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong
and courageous because you will lead these people to inherit the land…Be strong
and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you;
do not turn from it to the right or to
the left, that you may be successful wherever you go….be strong and
courageous…for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
Ownership of land is unconditional. Possession of the land is
conditional upon faith and obedience. Conflict and conquest by faith go with
laying hold of that which we have positionally in Christ.
Deliverance casts out, Repentance destroys the demons house.
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