Seducing Spirits (Part 3)

-The devil does not force men against their will He deceives them.

Men are often so deceived in doing evil that they believe they are doing right. 

-The devil deceived Eve.

2 Corinthians 11:3 “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”

Paul expressed fear for the Corinthians, lest they be deceived. There was danger in Paul’s time and there is much more danger today.

-The devil doesn’t demand full surrender.

He doesn’t ask that the Christian surrender unconditionally, but he works for a compromise. Little by little the enemy slips upon the Christian. At first he only asks that you neglect some duty or commit a small sin of omission.

(4) THE EFFECT OF SEDUCING SPIRITS UPON THE INDIVIDUAL CHRISTIAN.

-These spirits work against Christians in all of their righteous endeavors.

They’re forever alert and seek to discourage, depress, weaken, and turn you aside from the path

of your duty.

a.They persuade Christians against going to church.

b. Seducing spirits are opposed to Christians congregating and worshipping God and 

exhorting one another

c. They discourage Christians from paying tithes and giving offerings in their church.

* They tell Christians that the pastor lives better than the average member.

d. They cause people to talk about each other and make sly remarks to hurt people.

e. They create jealousy between members, singers, deacons, preachers, choir members.

f. They make the pastor believe the church doesn’t like him and doesn’t like his sermons and make him believe it’s time for him to move on.

-Seducing spirits have a sly way of getting at the Christian.

They tell you that the right may be wrong and the wrong may be right.

-Seducing spirits attack the most spiritual people.

Not with thoughts of murder, or adultery, or drunkenness, with smooth, persuasive influence toward neglect of duty.

For that reason I say, “Beware of seducing spirits-Don’t listen to them."

James 4:7 "Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you."

Seducing Spirits (Part 2)

(2) THE SEDUCING SPIRITS ARE INCREASING.  

Paul refers to them as a last day influence. They did their work in the early church, but Paul foresaw the day when their powers would be increased and their work more deadly and destructive.

-The Bible specially refers to the falling away in the last days as a result of the increased powers of evil.

-When you read your Bible you can see that they worked in the early church!

a. Judas was persuaded by the seductive influence of the devil to betray the Lord.

b. Ananias and Sapphire were deceived by the same power and lied to the Holy Ghost.

c. Hymenaeus and Philetus were influenced by seducing spirits and erred saying that the

resurrection was passed already.

d. Many other heresies and doctrines of devils invaded the church soon after Pentecost and these

seductive powers made great inroads into the church causing divisions in the body of Christ.

-Seducing spirits are the greatest last day threat to Christianity.

2 Tim. 3:1-5 “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!"

“Perilous” means “dangerous. There is danger of being deceived by wicked influences. The longer the world stands, the more contaminated it becomes. It’s harder to live right now than it was years ago because the devil has more methods and means by which to deceive people with.

Seducing Spirits

1 Timothy  4:1 "Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons..."

-Paul was writing about a “last day” condition-“The Spirit speaketh expressly …”

a. The Greek word for “expressly” is “rhetos” and means: “In specific terms, in plain words, or

distinctly, so that there can be no question about what is being said.”  

b. In other words the Holy Ghost spoke specifically in direct terms of the last days danger.

-Bible scholars agree that we are now living in the last days, near the time of Christ’s coming.

a. This is the period in which seducing spirits will reign.

b. False teachers have arisen within the church and continue on through our day and will do so to the end of time. The church and the genuine believer have to be constantly on guard against false teaching. 

(1) WHAT ARE SEDUCING SPIRITS? 

“Seduce” means: “To lead away, specially from the path of right by flattering promises …”

“To lead astray into an evil, or foolish, or disastrous course.”

Our world is contaminated with such evil influences. 

Seducing spirits are the powers of the devil.     

-In his kingdom there are many demons known as wicked or seducing spirits.

-These spirits are everywhere and their forces and influences are increased in the latter days.

-They work in cooperation with the devil to deceive and destroy believers.

b. They are antichrist spirits! 

1 John 4:1-3 "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world."

-We are advised to “try the spirits whether they are of God.” "Try” means: “To test, examine.” 

-These deceptive, seducing spirits are so cunning that they often deceive good people.

-The day John was writing about is here and these dangerous influences have already invaded the church. Yet, the children of God have and can still overcome them because God within us is greater than the wicked powers of the world-1 John 4:4.

c. These seducing spirits are unseen wicked influences.

-They are unseen influences that work in the flesh and in the minds of Christians and are controlled by the devil himself.

-They are, in reality, the spirits through which the devil works to discourage and turn aside all of God’s people from doing right.

Women's T-Shirts

Women's T-Shirts

A WASHINGTON POST columnist runs a column each summer listing interesting "WOMEN'S T-shirts" seen at the Ocean City, Maryland beach. 

1. I CHILDPROOFED MY HOUSE, BUT THEY STILL GET IN. 
   
   
2. (On the front) 60 IS NOT OLD.  (On the back) IF YOU'RE A TREE. 
   
   
3. I'M STILL HOT...  IT JUST COMES IN FLASHES. 
   
   
4. AT MY AGE, "GETTING LUCKY" MEANS FINDING MY CAR IN THE PARKING LOT. 
   
   
5. MY REALITY CHECK JUST BOUNCED. 
   
   
6. LIFE IS SHORT.  MAKE FUN OF IT. 
   
   
7. I'M NOT 50.  I'M $49.95 PLUS TAX. 
   
   
8. ANNAPOLIS--A DRINKING TOWN WITH A SAILOR PROBLEM. 
   
   
9. I NEED SOMEBODY BAD...  ARE YOU BAD? 
   
   
10. PHYSICALLY PFFFFFT! 
    
    
11. BUCKLE UP.  IT MAKES IT HARDER FOR THE ALIENS TO SNATCH YOU FROM YOUR CAR. 
    
    
12. I'M NOT A SNOB.  I'M JUST BETTER THAN YOU ARE. 
    
    
13. IT'S MY CAT'S WORLD.  I'M JUST HERE TO OPEN CANS. 
    
    
14. EARTH IS THE INSANE ASYLUM OF THE UNIVERSE. 
    
    
15. KEEP STARING; I MAY DO A TRICK. 
    
    
16. WE GOT RID OF THE KIDS.  THE CAT WAS ALLERGIC. 
    
    
17. DANGEROUSLY UNDER-MEDICATED. 
    
    
18. MY MIND WORKS LIKE LIGHTNING.  ONE BRILLIANT FLASH, AND IT'S GONE. 
    
    
19. EVERY TIME I HEAR THE DIRTY WORD "EXERCISE," I WASH MY MOUTH OUT WITH CHOCOLATE. 
    
    
20. CATS REGARD PEOPLE AS WARM-BLOODED FURNITURE. 
    
    
21. LIVE YOUR LIFE SO THAT WHEN YOU DIE, THE PREACHER WILL NOT HAVE TO TELL LIES AT YOUR FUNERAL. 
    
    
22. IN GOD WE TRUST.  ALL OTHERS WE POLYGRAPH.

[ Author Unknown -- from 'Aiken Drum' (Aiken@AikensLaughs.com) -- Updated: 2013 ]

Laughter IS truly the best medicine

Steve Goodier shares this story that laughter truly is the best medicine.

I know a couple who works in the pharmaceutical industry. He is a sales representative and she is a pharmacist. When asked what they do for a living, he is quick to reply, "She makes drugs and I sell `em." 

I believe it was Lord Byron who said, "Always laugh when you can. It is cheap medicine." And researchers are finding that to be true – quite literally. 

A woman diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis wrote to me and talked about how painful the disease had become. Debra said that no drugs would touch the devastating pain. "At times I prayed to die because I did not think I could go on this way," she said. But in two and a half years she weaned herself from most of her medication, which had reached a high of 21 pills a day. This is how she did it. 

"I began seeing a doctor who gave me the most important prescription that I ever could have received," she said. "He excused himself from the room. I watched him walking back and forth in the hall; he seemed to be in deep thought." 

The doctor came back in with this prescription: he told Debra to get some funny movies and to begin laughing (the doc was a Norman Cousins fan, no doubt). If she didn't feel like laughing, then she should smile. If she didn't feel like smiling, she should smile anyway. He said that it would increase endorphins in her brain and help with her pain. In other words, fake it until you make it, like they say. 

She did just as he suggested. She laughed when she could. She smiled when she couldn't laugh. She smiled whether she felt like it or not. Her children teased her about her fake smile, but she told them that it was going to get rid of her pain. 

And here's the amazing thing: it did. Of course, not all of it, but a great deal of her pain eventually dissipated and in time, what was left became manageable – without all of the drugs. 

Today, Debra laughs easily and is never seen without her smile. She says that she would not even feel normal without it. 

It's true that laughter really is cheap medicine. It's a prescription anyone can afford. And best of all, you can fill it right now.

Malachi 2 (Part 2)

Malachi 2:4b-7 "... that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the Lord of hosts. My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name. The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity. For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts."




-Every time God calls someone there is a risk involved. Yet He continues to call imperfect people. 

a. God called Abraham and twice he was willing to give his wife up to another man to protect himself. 

b. God called Jonah to evangelize a city, yet he ran the opposite direction. 

c. God called Levi and his descendants to be priests, yet those descendants failed miserably. 

But God wants the covenant to continue. He rebukes them in order to draw them back. When you enter into God’s covenant you take a risk also. 

-The risk of being mocked. 

-The risk of being persecuted. 

But Jesus said in Matthew 5:11, 12 “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you."




-God’s covenant was initiated by Him for the purpose of bringing glory to His name. Life and peace are tied to my Covenant. Where does your life and peace come from? From having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. God has given you eternal life, and peace, that you might be in awe of Him. 

Psalm 21:4, 5 says, "His glory is great in thy salvation: honor and majesty hast thou laid upon him. For thou hast made him most blessed for ever: thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance."

The life and peace we have comes through the Son and brings God glory. He is our resource. 


-When God calls you He will also gave you the resources you need to answer the call. Hebrews 11:24-26 tells us how Moses responded: “By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward."

God knew you before your were formed in your mother’s womb. In fact, He knew you before the foundation of the earth. Malachi speaks of the true priesthood when he speaks of Levi. Levi was a good example of the Christian priesthood because, "The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity."

Remember a man’s life is always more forcible than his speech. 

-Malachi continues by describing some of the things that are expected of the priest. He said:

a. For the priests lips should keep knowledge.

The knowledge we speak of is the same type spoken of by the prophet Hosea in Hosea 4:6:

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” 

People do not perish because they are stupid. They perish because their knowledge is not in Jesus Christ. 

Isaiah 53:11 " He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities."

b. If you are speaking God’s word try speaking in a way that makes people want it. Instead of focusing on “Thou shall not…” try, “Blessed are…”. The message doesn’t change but the method might. Verse 7 says the priest is a messenger of God. This very easily takes on the idea of all believers as priests. 

Jesus said, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature…” 

You and I are a priestly people with a God given responsibility to be a witness everywhere we go for Him.


Malachi 2:1-9

Many of the people in Malachi’s time were offering defiled sacrifices. God wants your sacrifice offered with good attitudes and your offering does reflect your attitude about God. The scripture shares one of the reasons the nation of Israel had the wrong kind of attitude in worship was because their priests were corrupt. What we don’t really know is the answer to the question, “Were the priests corrupt because of the people, or were the people led astray by corrupt priests?”


What does the priesthood have to do with me? 

1 Peter 2:5 “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ."

As believers in Christ you and I are a priesthood having the same responsibilities as those of old. God wants us to live the best we can and be a reflection of Him to a lost and dying world. That's why He wants holiness or righteous living by all those who represent Him from the pulpit or in the pew.


-Religion instead of righteousness. 

Verses 1-4 "And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you. If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the Lord of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart. Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it. And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the Lord of hosts."




The Lord speaks through the prophet with words that would definitely get their attention. He speaks of a commandment. This is the thing they knew best. The priests followed the law. After all, they had written most of them themselves. They knew what it said. So when they heard that there was a commandment for them to follow they no doubt thought, "Great, we can do this." We, in our perfect hindsight, can see how the priests missed it. 

Man cannot be saved by following commandments. We are saved by grace and not by works. We know also that Jesus’ command to us was to, “love one another.” 

These priests had a pride that was so engrained in them that they could never admit to being wrong and they missed the point. Pride often keeps us from being obedient.
 The office of priest was handed down from one generation to the next. The priesthood came through a covenant. This priesthood, who should have been blessed, was failing in several areas of their worship because: 

a. God was speaking to them through the prophets and the law, but they were not listening.

b. If they did hear, they didn’t believe it. After all, Malachi and all the others that came before him were just prophets. They were priests of God schooled in the matters of religion, but not righteousness.

c. They were not giving glory to God’s name. As a matter of fact, they were bringing reproach. What does this say to us today? As the church (A holy priesthood) we are called to hear God’s word, whether it is His voice speaking in our hearts or the word given to us to read. And then we are called to do what we hear. Proclaim His word. Live lives that are pure and holy before Him. Be an example of His holiness to those around you.


God said, “I will send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings.” I take that in two ways: 

a. God is going to curse everything that He has blessed them with. 

b. The blessings that they pronounce upon others will be cursed. 

Now why would God do that? Why would He hold others accountable for the sins of the priests? As a Christian, you are responsible to study the word, to rightly divide the truth, to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. You are responsible for yourself. You can be pretty sure that what I say to you from this pulpit is the truth, but you better check it for yourself. The corruption of the priests, then, affects those around them, those whom they have blessed, as well as their descendants. It now becomes a generational curse. Just as God’s blessing can be passed from generation to generation as in the priesthood, God is telling them that His curses can also be passed along. He is going to rebuke their descendants. The defiled offerings that they are offering up, He will throw them back in their face. Sacrificed animals still had waste in their systems, and the entrails were to be burned outside the sanctuary according to Exodus 29:14. Here, God says He will “rub their noses in it,” so that they will have to be taken outside the sanctuary. For what purpose? “Then you shall know that I have sent this commandment to you.” When you become a Christian, your life is no longer your own. You were bought with a price. You are a child of the living God. You’re expected to act like it. 


God speaks

God speaks when He speaks and exactly where He speaks for a reason. If we need to hear something from Him, then He will show up. If we aren’t ready for the details, He might stay silent. But since we are meant to do His will, we need to pay attention to God when He drops in and not push him away like some figment of our imagination or irritating distraction. After all, there are cases when God might just speak but once and it might be incredibly important. If you expect Him to enter your world at a moment's notice, then you will attune your ears to pick up God's signal.

I have gotten words of direction and love from God while standing alone my kitchen looking out the window, while getting dressed, while working in my office, even while in the middle of a service. What freedom and blessing those personal encounters from the Lord gave! They completely changed my perspective on God, my life, and myself. I wouldn’t have exchanged those moments for anything.

Perhaps you need a touch from God where you are. Then take time to remember God in your natural world. Don't be surprised if God wants to do something extraordinary in your ordinary day. Allow Him to make the natural supernatural and the mundane majestic.

Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed. (Isaiah 66:5 KJV)

What’s the main thing that’s keeping you from miracle manifestation?

 The words obstacles, hindrances and roadblocks are not in the King James Version of the Bible.  But they are stumbling blocks to your miracle manifestation.

Obstacles are things that block or hinder progress and they are things you have to overcome. Booker T. Washington said: “Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome. When it comes to overcoming obstacles remember the words Henry Ford once said: “Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.”

Hindrances are things or people who are hindering you from doing what you know to do because you’ve take your eyes off your Source and them on people or circumstances.

Harriet Beecher Stowe, the author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin said: “The real democratic American idea is, not that every man shall be on a level with every other man, but that every man shall have liberty to be what God made him, without hindrance.”

A roadblock is an obstruction designed to send people through unknown territory and delay their progress.

Michael Jordan, the greatest basketball player to every draw a breath in my opinion, said; “If you're trying to achieve, there will be roadblocks. I've had them; everybody has had them. But obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.”

Doubt will make you question what it is you really believe.

If you make an honest assessment of where you are in every area of your life you would no doubt be able to identify what it is that’s holding you back.

The best way to overcome obstacles, hindrances and roadblocks is a direct frontal assault. Here’s where your inside information is also of enormous benefit.

Proverbs 3:26 in the Amplified Bible says: “For the Lord shall be your confidence, firm and strong, and shall keep your foot from being caught [in a trap or some hidden danger]."

Have faith-God will work it out.

Recognize and Praise Him As A Miracle Working God

If you need a financial miracle. you should be praising God for what He’s already done in your life.

Sadly, when under economic attack many believers shift into panic instead of praise mode, feeling desperate, depressed, and helpless. 

If you’ve felt that way, Psalm 34:2 offers some great advice for you:

 “. . .let all who are helpless take heart.”

To be helpless is to be without help.  If you feel helpless that’s the perfect time to begin rejoicing and praising God for His faithful promises.

How do you take heart in the middle of a storm? By praising Him in all things!

The Message Bible translation of Psalm 34:2 says: “I live and breathe God; if things aren't going well, hear this and be happy.”

In the midst of your financial storm don’t feel helpless, but be happy as you Praise Him.

Psalm 34:3 says: “O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.”

No matter what He is so worthy of all our praise. That phrase is so much more than song lyrics, it should be our lifestyle.

Actually, Psalm 34 is full of encouraging scriptures to praise God for and claim in the midst of any battle:

⁴ I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. ⁵ They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. ⁶ This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.⁷ The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. 

¹⁵ The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry 

¹⁷ The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

¹⁹ Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lorddelivereth him out of them all.

²² The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.

Psalm 35:28 in the Amplified Bible offers some pretty good advice: “And my tongue shall talk of Your righteousness, rightness, and justice, and of [my reasons for] Your praise all the day long.”

Without question, if you want to feel the presence of the Lord fast, then start praising Him.  There is a lot to praise Him for. Praising Him for what you’ve got, regardless of how meager it may seem and what He’s going to do is a giant step towards your financial miracle.

Life Is A Journey

Life is a journey. I try to prepare myself for this trip in several ways:

-Intimacy: I need some caring people in my life.

-Work & Finance: I like to work hard, pay my way and help others where possible.

-Spiritual Life: When I am spiritually centered and at peace, I can handle most things.

-Service to Others: A lake with no outlet becomes a dead sea. It's true with people, too.

-Mind and Body: Exercising my body as well as my mind helps them both work better.

-Attitude Adjustments: I really can control my outlook and attitudes.

-Emotions: I can also control my reactions, including anger.

-Relationships: I need to make sure my relationships are healthy.

As long as we are alive, our journey is not over. And in large part, the success of our passage thru life will be determined by our regular and systematic preparation.

I want to be ready for my jourmney everyday. How about you?.

Finish

A finisher is one who overcomes all that is necessary in order to finish the dream God has given. Jesus, John the Baptist, Paul, and the disciples are all finishers who overcame obstacles and challenges so that they could fulfill their God-given dream. Finishers come to a place of completion. They end the course successfully.

Seize the dream. 

Grab it with purpose and intent. Determine to do what is needed to be done. The strength to “take hold” is in the power of God, not in the might of natural people. Taking hold does not mean superior skills or forces, but faith in what God has given you and obedience to what God has called you to do.

Take heart. Do not give up. 

Grow stronger and stronger and face the challenge with an attitude to win and overcome. Multiple times in the Psalms, the author writes, “Wait on the Lord and be of good courage.” Speak to your heart. Strengthen it through hearing the voice of God. Have a holy stubbornness that refuses to listen to the enemy and chooses to strengthen its position against the enemy by fortifying itself in God.

Don’t fear and Don’t panic – God is in control. 

The enemy will try to intimidate you and paralyze you with fear. Don’t be anxious or doubtful that God will not stay with you throughout your race. He has called you and He will faithfully lead you through all the challenges that will meet you as you pursue the God dream. 

God made a covenant

Do you remember when God came to Abraham and told him that he was going to make him the father of many nations and that he was going to bring the messiah through his lineage? God told Abraham this when he didn't even have any children. God made a covenant with Abraham. He promised him thy seed and land. 

"For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered." (Genesis 13:15-16) 

"Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ." (Galatians 3:16) 

How did God establish this covenant? He established this covenant through a miracle. 

"And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations." (Genesis 17:1-4) 

"And the Lord visited Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as He had spoken. For Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him—whom Sarah bore to him— Isaac." (Genesis 21:1-3)

Now Abraham was 100 years old and his wife Sarah was 90. Was that not a miracle? It is impossible for a woman that is 90 yrs old to have a baby. But with God all things are possible. Do you see how God does miracles to establish his covenants? If God makes a covenant with you; He will perform it no matter what. 

Here is your covenant from God today:

“Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God: “Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country. “Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks. “Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. “Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out. “The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways. “The Lord will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand, and He will bless you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you. “The Lord will establish you as a holy people to Himself, just as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in His ways. Then all peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they shall be afraid of you. And the Lord will grant you plenty of goods, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your ground, in the land of which the Lord swore to your fathers to give you. The Lord will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them. So you shall not turn aside from any of the words which I command you this day, to the right or the left, to go after other gods to serve them."(Deuteronomy 28:1-14 NKJV)

Do you believe in miracles?

Since last October the devil has fought me and my family in more ways than you can imagine. Physically, mentally, and spiritually he has been relentless in his attack on us. The attacks have been so intense at times that I have had to fight doubt and fear almost daily. Satan's word to me has been, "Where is your God? Where are the miracles you have been praying for?"

I have faced physical problems, lost some very precious members to death who I did not expect to lose, and had to deal with other situations that are too complicated to explain. So have many of my family members. Someone asked me recently, "Do you still believe in miracles even facing what you are facing today?"

So I did a spiritual gut check today and asked myself, "

Do miracles still happen today?"

Yes. Miracles still happen everyday, all day long. God still has a covenant with His children. God still blesses our families. God still wants to show unbelievers that He is real and that He loves them. 

I am still praying and believing God for miracles. God still wants to show us His glory. God tells us every day; "Behold, I will do a new thing... shall you not see it spring forth?" God still loves us and wants to prove it continually.

In fact, Paul said, "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39) 

I challenge everyone who is reading this blog to open your spiritual eyes and believe God to do miracles that will blow your natural mind and take you on the journey of your life. I can tell you from experience there is never a boring day with God. He is a Father that loves to give his children good gifts. The devil may think he can win, but he can't.

God is for me, with me, in me, surrounding me, smiling on me, empowering me, encouraging me, embracing me, and loving me. My miracle is on the way!

God is for us

Romans 8:31 says that “God is for us.”  Here are some scriptures that express how He is indeed for us.

 

2 Corinthians 5:5 “He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.”  

-God does not want us to fail.  He has sent us the Holy Spirit to guide us and convict us.

2 Corinthians 5:18 “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.” 

Romans 5:8 “But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” 

-God is for us so much that He gave His one and only Son as a sacrifice to pay the full debt of humanity’s sin.  He did this to reconcile us to Himself.

1 John 4:19 “We love because He first loved us.” 

-He already loved us before we gave our lives over to Him.  He is definitely for us.

1 John 2:25 “And this is the promise that He made to us – eternal life.” 

-We are assured eternal life with God.

God is for us.  Read the Psalms. David wrote many that showcased God’s love for him as he was delivered from his enemies.

Can believers be defeated?

“Who can be against us?” The answer to this is “no one.”  

-Sure we can be persecuted and hurt here on earth, but eternally we will live and bask in the Glory of Christ forever.  

Matthew 10:28 “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.  Rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”  

-We will never be defeated eternally.  God is the only one who can destroy us eternally and praise His name that He is for us.

If you truly believe in Jesus and have made Him Lord and Savior of your life, you can have confidence in Romans 8:31.  Stay strong in the Word and prayer as you strive to live a life worthy of the calling.  

Take It By Force

Matthew 11:12 "

And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force."

To spiritually advance, sometimes we must become aggressive as a believer. So when

 do we need to practice aggressive faith? 

Philippians 3:13-15 "

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 

Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you."

You cannot move ahead until you are willing to leave the past behind you. 

Doing the same thing and all the while expecting different results has been defined as insanity. 

Satan doesn't want any transformation in your life, he wants to keep you marginalized and ineffective as a believer. 

The last thing he needs is another mover and shaker for God's Kingdom. 

We have as much of God as we want or we 

can live very close to God with out experiencing the power of God that brings revival, deliverance and miracles.

Our faith is the key to experiencing more of God’s power and presence in our life. God desires to move in our church just as much as in other churches that are experiencing real revival and growth, because He is universally the same to all men. The Bible tells us that God is in the process of moving throughout the entire earth seeking out men to whom He can show Himself strong.

2 Chronicles 16:9 "

For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars."

God blesses those that become aggressive enough and determined enough to experience His presence and power. We must not quit when things become difficult, we must rise up and conquer in Jesus name. We are soldiers in the army of The Lord and it's time to get aggressive.

Faith is a Learned Discipline

Luke 17:6 KJ"And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you."

NIV "He replied, "If you have the faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea, and it will obey you." 

NKJV "So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you."

George Muller cared for more than 10,000 orphans in his lifetime in England and was a man of astounding faith. But not everybody knows that he was not always such a faithful man. 

His early life in Prussia was marked by lying, gambling, drinking, and imprisonment for fraud. At age fifteen, he gave his attention to cards and drinking with friends, while his mother lay dying. This is also the same George Muller who, later in life, would sit his orphans down at a table with empty bowls and thank God for the food He would provide in the future. And God always did. 

George Muller's life goes to show that faith is a learned discipline. Faith does not come naturally but supernaturally. The natural man believes when he sees, but the supernatural man sees when he believes. And Jesus taught that it does not take as much faith as we might think. Faith as small as a tiny seed can see mountains moved. If you are lacking great faith today, exercise the faith you have, and then ask God for more.

Faith produces fruit, more faith produces more fruit because believing God is a self-perpetuating experience.

Ask the widow of Zaraphath if you don't believe me.

1 Kings 17: 11-16 "And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” So she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.” And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son. For thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth.’ ” So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke by Elijah." 

Don't Give Up This Close To Your Miracle

Have you ever thought or said to yourself, “Something's gotta give.” Your spirit is saying, "This is too much for me, God. I can't take this anymore. If it is not one thing, it is another and if something does not give, I'm going to give up!"

I believe there are times that life will give you reasons to give up.  There will be moments when you want to quit church, quit the ministry, quit the job, quit the business, quit the family, sit down and do nothing, but you can't.  God's word tells us to fight the good fight of faith in 1 Timothy 6:12.

Don't give up. You are on the brink of a miracle. More importantly, the Lord wants you to be strong in the day of adversity.

Proverbs 24:10 reads, "If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.” This scripture declares that your spiritual strength is revealed in the way you cope with adversity. On that note, you should not become discouraged and give up when you face challenges. When you are strong in the Lord, you can bear your burdens easily. But if you are weak in your spirit, even a small burden can be too heavy for you. Therefore, you must seek to be filled with the strength of God everyday. You must persist and persevere in order to experience the fullness of God's blessing in your life.

So enter today with a voice of triumph! The fact that you are a believer means you will suffer because all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution  according to 2 Timothy 3:12. Remember in the midst of your ordained suffering that God is moving even in the emptiest and darkest places of your life to lead you to victory. 2 Corinthians 2:14 says that God always leads His people in triumph.

I know you may not understand why God chose you for the trial you are facing right now, but God does. God is fully aware of where He has ordered your steps. And when your appointed time has come, your change will come. Be strong in Jesus’ Name. Don't give up this close to receiving your miracle.

But You Promised!

"But you promised!"

How many times, as parents, have we heard those words? Our memory of our promises often isn't as great as our kids' memories, and they can be deeply disappointed when we forget. All children crave promise keeping from the significant adults in their lives. They want to trust that we will do what we say.

I'm glad God doesn't forget His promises. He keeps His Word. When He makes a promise, He will deliver. Faithfulness is a biblical word describing those who keep their promises. It does not mean "full of faith," but rather "worthy of faith." Faithfulness says, "I will keep my word. I will not fail you. I won't quit on you." Faithfulness is the glue that keeps our actions adhering to our promises.

The faithfulness of God is foundational to our faith. If we can't trust what He says in His Word, we have no reason to believe. If He doesn't keep His Word, then our salvation is shaky and our hope is empty. But if God does fulfill His promises, then our faith is meaningful and our eternal destiny is secure.

Faithfulness is foundational to a happy, God-honoring home as well. Promising ice cream and then forgetting, threatening punishment and not following through, or singing "I Love You, Lord" in church and forgetting Him through the week all affect our children and can undermine trust. Children who have to deal with continual broken promises may find it difficult to trust the significant people in their lives including God.

Practice faithfulness and you will provide stability, security and confidence for your children. You will reflect God to them and you will instill in them the importance of being true to their word.

When your children develop faithful hearts, they will stay in a close walk with God. They will also find more success in their schoolwork, their friendships, their marriage and their career.

Remember Faithfulness is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) empowered by God. 

-So pray for it. 

-Model it. 

-Teach it. 

-Celebrate it.

God Is Faithful!

Are you tired of waiting for God to do something for you?  I too struggle with waiting on God’s timing in different areas of  my life. Some days, it is a lot harder to be patient. When we’re bringing our concerns to the Lord again and again, we grow tired of waiting. It soon begins to feel like our prayers are falling on deaf ears. Often our desire is to take control and just “do the best we can”. That is our fleshly reaction to the silence. We know Galatians 5 lists patience as a fruit of the Holy Spirit so we confess our desire to rule our own lives. We ask the Spirit to fill us, empowering and directing us even as we continue to wait on the Lord.

When you begin to feel the pressure to quit, your attitude must be as the Psalmist David who wrote in Psalm 62:5, 6, ‘’ My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved’’. Since all of your hope and expectation is from Him, determine now that you are willing to wait as long as it takes for His promises to manifest. When David says, ‘’ I shall not be moved’ ’ he is declaring: ‘’ I will not allow anything to discourage me nor distract me. I’ll keep on trusting Him until I see with my eyes the fulfillment of what He promised He would do.’’

Waiting is a common experience. All your brothers and sisters in faith, as well as all of creation know what it is like to wait on the Lord. Consider those who have waited before you. There is plenty of encouragement in the Bible concerning a need for patience and those who have excelled in it. James 5:7, Colossians 1:10-12, Psalm 40:1 and Revelations 14:12 are just a few examples of the subject.

Never stop expecting God to fulfill what He said He would do. You and I can have confidence in God to fulfill His promises. Why would you want to give up if God is the one who promised it? Since God is not an ordinary man that He would lie (Numbers 23:19), and He has never  broken His word, then  why shouldn’t  we be willing to wait for Him to fulfill what He has said no matter how long it might take?

God is Faithful! Faithful means “true to one’s word. It carries the idea of being trustworthy, dependable, and reliable. Over and over in the Scriptures, God and His Word are both declared to be faithful. Count on Him, not on your own ability.

Lord, I speak Your Word over my situations and over others. This is what YOUR WORD says:

Numbers 23:19 “God is not a man that he should lie, neither the son of man, that he should repent:  hath he said, and shall he not do it?  Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

 Malachi 4:6 “I am the Lord. I change not . ”

Deuteronomy 7:9  “Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;”

Romans 4:20, 21 “He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith [believing] giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that, what he had promised he was able also to perform.”

II Thessalonians 3:3 “But the Lord is faithful, who shall establish you, and keep you from evil.”

I Corinthians 1:9  ”God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.”

I Corinthians 10:13  “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man:  but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape.”

God is still fulfilling His promises today in your life. Continue to stand in faith and proclaim His Word as you wait on our faithful God.