You Are A Miracle (Sunday, January 21st, 2024)
Ephesians 5:8-12 (AMPC)
For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of Light [lead the lives of those native-born to the Light].
9 For the fruit (the effect, the product) of the Light or [c]the Spirit [consists] in every form of kindly goodness, uprightness of heart, and trueness of life.
10 And try to learn [in your experience] what is pleasing to the Lord [let your lives be constant proofs of what is most acceptable to Him].
11 Take no part in and have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds and enterprises of darkness, but instead [let your lives be so in contrast as to] [d]expose and reprove and convict them.
12 For it is a shame even to speak of or mention the things that [such people] practice in secret.
You are not who you used to be. You are light. Live like it.
Proverbs 4:18 AMPC
But the path of the [uncompromisingly] just and righteous is like the light of dawn, that shines more and more (brighter and clearer) until [it reaches its full strength and glory in] the perfect day [to be prepared].
Don’t compromise. Whatever you compromise to keep you will eventually lose. Whatever you bow down to on the way up the mountain will rule you when you get to the top.
Ephesians 1:4-6 AMPC
“Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love. For He foreordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will [because it pleased Him and was His kind intent]– [So that we might be] to the praise and the commendation of His glorious grace (favor and mercy), which He so freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.”
Ephesians 1:6 NKJV
“to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.”
Gal 3:1-5 NKJV
1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? 2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have you suffered so many things in vain–if indeed [it was] in vain? 5 Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, [does He do it] by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Psa 77:14 NKJV
14 You [are] the God who does wonders; You have declared Your strength among the peoples.
Psa 136:1-4 NKJV
1 Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for [He is] good! For His mercy [endures] forever. 2 Oh, give thanks to the God of gods! For His mercy [endures] forever. 3 Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords! For His mercy [endures] forever: 4 To Him who alone does great wonders, For His mercy [endures] forever;
Job 9:10 NKJV 10
He does great things past finding out, Yes, wonders without number.
Rom 8:11-16 NKJV
11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. 12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors–not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
It’s Your Time To Shine (Sunday, January 14th, 2024)
(Psa 119:105 NKJV) 105 Your word [is] a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
[Psa 119:130 NKJV] 130 The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.
entrance – unfolding, teaching
(2Co 4:3-9 NKJV) 3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to [give] the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8 [We are] hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; [we are] perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed–
(Eph 5:1-7 NLT) 1 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. 3 Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. 4 Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes–these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. 5 You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. 6 Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. 7 Don’t participate in the things these people do. .
anger – wrath – there is a future day when the wrath of God will be revealed from Heaven. Romans 5:9 says that we believers have been saved from that wrath. However, we have to understand that our current actions have consequences. There are laws at work in the earth.
(Rom 8:1-2 NKJV) 1 [There is] therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
The law of seed time and harvest still works. The law of sin and death still works. The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus still works.
(Gal 6:7-10 NKJV) 7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
(Pro 22:8 NKJV) 8 He who sows iniquity will reap sorrow, And the rod of his anger will fail.
(Gal 6:7-10 NLT) 7 Don’t be misled–you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. 8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. 9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. 10 Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone–especially to those in the family of faith.
(Eph 5:8-10 NLT) 8 For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! 9 For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. 10 Carefully determine what pleases the Lord
We have to take the light of the Word and the light of the Spirit within our hearts and apply that light to our actions, habits, attitudes, mentalities, beliefs, and choices. With this light, we are able to determine what pleases God and what doesn’t.
You were once darkness, you are now light. Let’s look at the darkness of Ephesus.
(2Co 3:16-18 NKJV) 16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord [is], there [is] liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
(Act 19:1-20 NLT) 1 While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions until he reached Ephesus, on the coast, where he found several believers. 2 “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” he asked them. “No,” they replied, “we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 “Then what baptism did you experience?” he asked. And they replied, “The baptism of John.” 4 Paul said, “John’s baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus.” 5 As soon as they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 Then when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in other tongues and prophesied. 7 There were about twelve men in all. 8 Then Paul went to the synagogue and preached boldly for the next three months, arguing persuasively about the Kingdom of God. 9 But some became stubborn, rejecting his message and publicly speaking against the Way. So Paul left the synagogue and took the believers with him. Then he held daily discussions at the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10 This went on for the next two years, so that people throughout the province of Asia–both Jews and Greeks–heard the word of the Lord. 11 God gave Paul the power to perform unusual miracles. 12 When handkerchiefs or aprons that had merely touched his skin were placed on sick people, they were healed of their diseases, and evil spirits were expelled. 13 A group of Jews was traveling from town to town casting out evil spirits. They tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus in their incantation, saying, “I command you in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, to come out!” 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a leading priest, were doing this. 15 But one time when they tried it, the evil spirit replied, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?” 16 Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, overpowered them, and attacked them with such violence that they fled from the house, naked and battered. 17 The story of what happened spread quickly all through Ephesus, to Jews and Greeks alike. A solemn fear descended on the city, and the name of the Lord Jesus was greatly honored. 18 Many who became believers confessed their sinful practices. 19 A number of them who had been practicing sorcery brought their incantation books and burned them at a public bonfire. The value of the books was several million dollars. 20 So the message about the Lord spread widely and had a powerful effect.
If God can bring the Ephesians to a life of light, He can do so for you!
Peace In The Storm (Wednesday, January 7th, 2023)
[Psa 29:11 NKJV] 11 The LORD will give strength to His people; The LORD will bless His people with peace.
peace – shalom – safety, security, tranquility, welfare, health and soundness of body, prosperity, rest, wholeness. It implies nothing missing and nothing broken, but wholeness in every area of your life.
[Isa 53:5 NKJV] 5 But He [was] wounded for our transgressions, [He was] bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace [was] upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
chastisement – punishment
(Isa 54:13-14 NKJV) 13 All your children [shall be] taught by the LORD, And great [shall be] the peace of your children. 14 In righteousness you shall be established; You shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; And from terror, for it shall not come near you.
(Jhn 14:27 NKJV) 27 “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
peace – eirene – by implication, prosperity:—one, peace, quietness, rest, set at one again. security, safety, prosperity, intense happiness, “(because peace and harmony make and keep things safe and prosperous (Strong’s)”
(Rom 15:13 NKJV) 13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
(2Th 3:16 NKJV) 16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord [be] with you all.
(2Pe 1:2 NKJV) 2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,
[Psa 119:165 NKJV] 165 Great peace have those who love Your law, And nothing causes them to stumble.
[Pro 3:1-2 NKJV] 1 My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands; 2 For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you.
[Pro 3:13-17 NKJV] 13 Happy [is] the man [who] finds wisdom, And the man [who] gains understanding; 14 For her proceeds [are] better than the profits of silver, And her gain than fine gold. 15 She [is] more precious than rubies, And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her. 16 Length of days [is] in her right hand, In her left hand riches and honor. 17 Her ways [are] ways of pleasantness, And all her paths [are] peace.
[Isa 48:18 NKJV] 18 Oh, that you had heeded My commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, And your righteousness like the waves of the sea.
[Rom 8:6 NKJV] 6 For to be carnally minded [is] death, but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace.
[Isa 26:3 NKJV] 3 You will keep [him] in perfect peace, [Whose] mind [is] stayed [on You], Because he trusts in You.
[Phl 4:6-7 NKJV] 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
[Col 3:15 NKJV] 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
[Isa 55:12 NKJV] 12 “For you shall go out with joy, And be led out with peace; The mountains and the hills Shall break forth into singing before you, And all the trees of the field shall clap [their] hands.
(Mat 7:24-29 NKJV) 24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 “and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 “and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” 28 And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, 29 for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
(Luk 6:46-49 NKJV) 46 “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say? 47 “Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 “He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. 49 “But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.”
Light Will Rise (Sunday, January 7th, 2023)
(Isa 60:1-3 KJV) 1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. 2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. 3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
Light will rise in 2024.
(Mat 5:14-16 NKJV) 14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 “Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all [who are] in the house. 16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
There is a unique way that God wants to shine through you. As you discover your giftings and allow God to use them, the light He has called you to shine will shine even greater. (Make sure you take the gifts test attached to the link at the bottom of the notes.)
[Pro 4:18-19 NKJV] 18 But the path of the just [is] like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day. 19 The way of the wicked [is] like darkness; They do not know what makes them stumble.
MSG – The ways of right-living people glow with light; the longer they live, the brighter they shine. But the road of wrongdoing gets darker and darker— travelers can’t see a thing; they fall flat on their faces.
[Eph 5:8-14 NASB20] 8 for you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light [consists] in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 as you try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Do not participate in the useless deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; 12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. 14 For this reason it says,”Awake, sleeper,And arise from the dead,And Christ will shine on you.”
God has called you to shine brighter in 2024. Each of these ways enable you to shine brighter.
- God will lead you through His Word.
(Psa 119:105 NKJV) 105 Your word [is] a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
(Psa 119:11 NKJV) 11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.
hidden – store up, treasure
(2Pe 1:19 NLT) 19 Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place–until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts.
2. God will lead you through your spirit
(Psa 18:28-29 NKJV) 28 For You will light my lamp; The LORD my God will enlighten my darkness. 29 For by You I can run against a troop, By my God I can leap over a wall.
(Pro 20:27 NKJV) 27 The spirit of a man [is] the lamp of the LORD, Searching all the inner depths of his heart.
(Rom 8:14-16 NKJV) 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
bears witness – gives evidence
(Col 3:15-16 NKJV) 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
You have to keep depositing the Word. You are what you eat.
Three main ways of leading in your spirit: the inward witness, the voice of your spirit, and the voice of the Holy Ghost
[Rev 1:10-20 NKJV] 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, 11 saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send [it] to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.” 12 Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the seven lampstands [One] like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. 14 His head and hair [were] white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; 15 His feet [were] like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; 16 He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance [was] like the sun shining in its strength. 17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. 18 “I [am] He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. 19 “Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. 20 “The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.
3. Gather on purpose
As we gather together, the light increases. Jesus refers to the pastors as stars and the congregations as lampstands. Each give off light. Together, we shine brighter.
Open Doors & Opportunities (Wednesday, January 3rd, 2023)
[Eph 5:8-17 NKJV] 8 For you were once darkness, but now [you are] light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit [is] in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose [them]. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. 14 Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.” 15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord [is].
Redeem – to buy up, to buy up for one’s self, for one’s use,
[Eph 5:15-17 NLT] 15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.
AMP - verse 17 – making the very most of your time [on earth, recognizing and taking advantage of each opportunity and using it with wisdom and diligence], because the days are [filled with] evil.
[Col 4:2-6 NKJV] 2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; 3 meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, 4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. 5 Walk in wisdom toward those [who are] outside, redeeming the time. 6 [Let] your speech always [be] with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
Moving Forward (Sunday Night, December 31st, 2023)
(Isa 60:1-3 KJV) 1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. 2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. 3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
Light will rise in 2024.
(Gen 35:19-21 NIV) 19 So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). 20 Over her tomb Jacob set up a pillar, and to this day that pillar marks Rachel’s tomb. 21 Israel moved on again and pitched his tent beyond Migdal Eder.
Jacob made a pillar, Israel moved on. It’s time to move on.
(Heb 12:1-2 NKJV) 1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares [us], and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of [our] faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
What weights do you need to leave in 2023?
(Mar 10:46-52 NKJV) 46 Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.” 50 And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus. 51 So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” The blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.” 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.
The garment represented his official designation as a blind beggar. What garments do you need to leave in 2023?
(Phl 3:12-14 NKJV) 12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
[Psa 92:10 KJV] 10 But my horn shalt thou exalt like [the horn of] an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil.
Escape The Trap (Sunday Morning, December 31st, 2023)
(Gen 14:18-24 NKJV) Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he [was] the priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said: “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And he gave him a tithe of all. Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, and take the goods for yourself.” But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth, “that I [will take] nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that [is] yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich’– “except only what the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men who went with me: Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.”
Success comes as you give God and His Word first place and final authority in your life. You give God and His Word first place in your life by starting your day in prayer, with His Word, by starting your week in church, and by your tithe. Making God first place and allowing His Word to be first place will get you out of the trap.
Before Abram went into a seemingly impossible battle, He made a vow, or a promise, to God. After his victory, he presented his tithe.
(Gen 28:10-22 NKJV) Now Jacob went out from Beersheba and went toward Haran. So he came to a certain place and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. And he took one of the stones of that place and put it at his head, and he lay down in that place to sleep. Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder [was] set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. And behold, the LORD stood above it and said: “I [am] the LORD God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants. “Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. “Behold, I [am] with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.” Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know [it].” And he was afraid and said, “How awesome [is] this place! This [is] none other than the house of God, and this [is] the gate of heaven!” Then Jacob rose early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put at his head, set it up as a pillar, and poured oil on top of it. And he called the name of that place Bethel; but the name of that city had been Luz previously. Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, “so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God. “And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.”
When Jacob fled Esau, he made a vow and God took notice.
(Gen 31:1-13 NKJV) Now [Jacob] heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying, “Jacob has taken away all that was our father’s, and from what was our father’s he has acquired all this wealth.” And Jacob saw the countenance of Laban, and indeed it [was] not [favorable] toward him as before. Then the LORD said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your family, and I will be with you.” So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field, to his flock, and said to them, “I see your father’s countenance, that it [is] not [favorable] toward me as before; but the God of my father has been with me. “And you know that with all my might I have served your father. “Yet your father has deceived me and changed my wages ten times, but God did not allow him to hurt me. “If he said thus: ‘The speckled shall be your wages,’ then all the flocks bore speckled. And if he said thus: ‘The streaked shall be your wages,’ then all the flocks bore streaked. “So God has taken away the livestock of your father and given [them] to me. “And it happened, at the time when the flocks conceived, that I lifted my eyes and saw in a dream, and behold, the rams which leaped upon the flocks [were] streaked, speckled, and gray-spotted. “Then the Angel of God spoke to me in a dream, saying, ‘Jacob.’ And I said, ‘Here I am.’ “And He said, ‘Lift your eyes now and see, all the rams which leap on the flocks [are] streaked, speckled, and gray-spotted; for I have seen all that Laban is doing to you. ‘I [am] the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar [and] where you made a vow to Me. Now arise, get out of this land, and return to the land of your family.’ “
(Gen 32:27-30 NKJV) So He said to him, “What [is] your name?” He said, “Jacob.” And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.” Then Jacob asked, saying, “Tell [me] Your name, I pray.” And He said, “Why [is] it [that] you ask about My name?” And He blessed him there. So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.”
God changed Jacob’s name from trickster to prince. As you go into your future, you have to leave the nature of the trap behind and embrace your God-given identity. You escape the trap by changing the way you see yourself and changing how you talk about yourself.
Some people have trapped themselves by the words of their mouth and I want to help you get out of the trap you created.
(Pro 20:25 NKJV) [It is] a snare for a man to devote rashly [something as] holy, And afterward to reconsider [his] vows.
(Deu 23:21-23 NKJV) “When you make a vow to the LORD your God, you shall not delay to pay it; for the LORD your God will surely require it of you, and it would be sin to you. “But if you abstain from vowing, it shall not be sin to you. “That which has gone from your lips you shall keep and perform, for you voluntarily vowed to the LORD your God what you have promised with your mouth.
(Ecc 5:1-6 NKJV) Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil. Do not be rash with your mouth, And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God [is] in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore let your words be few. For a dream comes through much activity, And a fool’s voice [is known] by [his] many words. When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; For [He has] no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed– Better not to vow than to vow and not pay. Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger [of God] that it [was] an error. Why should God be angry at your excuse and destroy the work of your hands?
destroy – to take as a pledge
When you make a vow and do not pay it, you put your success at jeopardy and also open the door for the Enemy to work in your life. Many people are trapped, held back, and suffering setbacks because of unfulfilled vows. We are so flippant with our words that we often don’t realize we are making vows.
(Mat 5:33-37 NLT) “You have also heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not break your vows; you must carry out the vows you make to the LORD.’ But I say, do not make any vows! Do not say, ‘By heaven!’ because heaven is God’s throne. And do not say, ‘By the earth!’ because the earth is his footstool. And do not say, ‘By Jerusalem!’ for Jerusalem is the city of the great King. Do not even say, ‘By my head!’ for you can’t turn one hair white or black. Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.
What vows are Jesus talking about here? Specifically from this passage, we see that people are making vows to other people and swearing by different things to drive home their point. Why is anything else from the evil one? Because Satan tries to trip you up and trap you by the words of your mouth.
(Jas 5:12 NLT) But most of all, my brothers and sisters, never take an oath, by heaven or earth or anything else. Just say a simple yes or no, so that you will not sin and be condemned.
(Jas 3:2-6 NLT) Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way. We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.
(Pro 18:20-21 NKJV) A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth; [From] the produce of his lips he shall be filled. Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.
(Pro 18:21 NLT) The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.
(Mat 12:33-37 NKJV) “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by [its] fruit. “Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
idle words – words that do not produce good effects
(Luk 6:37-38 NKJV) “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
Another trap created by our words is by unrighteously judging others. Whatever unrighteous judgment and judgment without mercy we issue, we open the same to be applied to us. This applies to gossipping as well.
(Psa 141:3 NKJV) Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.
(Mar 11:22-24 NKJV) So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. “For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive [them], and you will have [them].
If your faith won’t move your mouth, it won’t move your mountain. Another problem with rash vows and promises you don’t intend to keep, you don’t have confidence in your own words. WIthout having confidence in the words you speak, you will sabotage your faith when you speak God’s Word and when you make your requests in prayer.
Our words are vitally important to the success of our lives.
(Jos 1:8 NKJV) “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”
PTL New Year’s Eve Broadcast (Sunday, December 31st, 2023)
(Eph 5:8-14 NKJV) For you were once darkness, but now [you are] light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit [is] in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose [them]. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.”
2024 is a year of light. There are coming uncomfortable exposures to the church of the Lord Jesus Christ and to the United States of America.
My advice to you is examine yourself. Get yourself right and prepared so that the uncomfortable exposures or the day of visitation does not hit your house in a negative sense. But for all those who examine themselves and make a decision to walk in the light as He is in the light, it will be a year of promotion and exaltation.
This year 2024 will serve like a year of the door. It will open to you things that you were always supposed to walk into. In an accelerated way. It will be for you a positive year of the door if you do what He tells you to do. But for those who refuse and choose to walk in the ways of the flesh and walk in fear and doubt and follow the ways of the world, it will be a year of the door as well. But a door of where Hell will manifest in their lives in unprecedented ways. Where spirits of fear and panic and dread will drive them and lead them. Where men’s hearts will fail them for fear because what they see coming on the earth. But all who choose to walk in the light, who walk by faith, who walk in love, who follow the Spirit, and forgive everyone of everything, it will be a year of a door that opens to you things you’ve been believing for. And takes you to higher heights, higher places, and promotions that you never even thought were possible.
“There are things I have prepared for you,” says the Lord. “Things that you have been dreaming about. Things you never even thought to ask for. Things that I’ve prepared that you didn’t even know that were available. But if you do what I’m telling you to do, and you get yourself ready the way I told you to get ready, you’ll walk into it and you’ll get there and you’ll be so amazed. And you’ll be so grateful that you spent that time in prayer. To examine yourself and prepare yourself for 2024. The year of the door. The year of light. For all those who walk by faith and not by sight, it will be a wonderful year full of the majesty of God. Full of the manifestation of the glory of God.”
Do you hear what the Spirit of God is telling you? Do you hear what He’s telling you to do to get ready? There are things that are popping up right now to get you distracted so that you don’t walk into it. Don’t be distracted. What God said will come to pass even if it doesn’t look like the way you thought. You pray for something and it shows up but it just doesn’t look like you that it would. That’s okay. Because what God said will come to pass. And if God gives you something that looks different but it’s better, why complain? Trust Him. The days we’re walking into, God needs you to be in place.
(Mat 5:14-16 NKJV) “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. “Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all [who are] in the house. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Ask Yourself These Questions Before 2023 Ends (Wednesday, December 27th, 2023)
(2Co 13:5 NKJV) Examine yourselves [as to] whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?–unless indeed you are disqualified.
(Hag 1:5-7 NKJV) Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: “Consider your ways! “You have sown much, and bring in little; You eat, but do not have enough; You drink, but you are not filled with drink; You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; And he who earns wages, Earns wages [to put] into a bag with holes.” Thus says the LORD of hosts: “Consider your ways!
(1Co 11:28 NLT) That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup.
(Gal 6:4-5 NLT) Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. For we are each responsible for our own conduct.
- What do you want to accomplish in 2024? Why?
- Where are you struggling to trust God?
- What are you afraid of? Where is fear making the decisions in your life?
- Where are you settling?
- Where have you given up in your life?
- Who have you not forgiven?
- What hurt or trauma have you not addressed?
- Where haven’t you fully yielded to God?
- What are some habits and mentalities you need to leave in 2023?
- Are there unfulfilled vows in your life?
- What good things are you expecting to happen in your life in 2024?
- Where are you dreaming and believing small? Where can you enlarge your thinking and vision?
God Wants You To Have A Wonderful Life: Do You Know What Belongs To You? (Sunday, December 24th, 2023)
(Luke 19:41-42 KJV) And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.
Citizens of Heavenly Jerusalem, do you know what belongs to your peace? Jesus, the Prince of Peace, came to give you peace with God, the peace of God, and for you to experience peace as your reality.
shalom – welfare, health, prosperity, peace, completeness, wholeness, safety
In both the Old and New Testament, God is called the God of Peace. He is Jehovah Shalom. His desire is that you experience the fullness of His peace.
(John 10:10 AMPC) The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).
MSG – A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.
NKJV – The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
NLT – The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
(Philippians 1:6 NASB) For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work among you will complete it by the day of Christ Jesus.
(Heb 13:20-21 NKJV) Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom [be] glory forever and ever. Amen.
(Psa 138:8 NKJV) The LORD will perfect [that which] concerns me; Your mercy, O LORD, [endures] forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.
God Wants You To Have A Wonderful Life (December 20th, 2023)
(John 10:10 AMPC) The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).
MSG – A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.
NKJV – The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
NLT – The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
(Heb 1:13-14 KJV) But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
Ministering – they serve, they meet needs, they do good
(Psa 103:20-21 KJV) Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. Bless ye the LORD, all [ye] his hosts; [ye] ministers of his, that do his pleasure.
(Psa 35:27 NKJV) Let them shout for joy and be glad, Who favor my righteous cause; And let them say continually, “Let the LORD be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.”
prosperity – shalom – welfare, health, prosperity, peace, completeness, wholeness, safety
(Psa 91:1-12 NKJV) He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “[He is] my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler [And] from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth [shall be your] shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, [Nor] of the arrow [that] flies by day, [Nor] of the pestilence [that] walks in darkness, [Nor] of the destruction [that] lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; [But] it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, And see the reward of the wicked. Because you have made the LORD, [who is] my refuge, [Even] the Most High, your dwelling place, No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. In [their] hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
(Psa 34:7 NKJV) The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.
God Wants You To Have A Wonderful Life (December 17th, 2023)
(John 10:10 AMPC) The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).
MSG – A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.
NKJV – The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
NLT – The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
God Wants You To Have A Wonderful Life (December 13th, 2023)
(John 10:10 AMPC) The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).
John 4:13-14 (NKJV) 13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 “but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”
John 7:37-39 (NKJV) 37 On the last day, that great [day] of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet [given,] because Jesus was not yet glorified.
Proverbs 4:23 (NKJV) Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it [spring] the issues of life.
Matthew 12:35 (NKJV) “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.
Jhn 3:15-17 KJV] 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
God Wants You To Have A Wonderful Life: A New Way To Live (December 10th, 2023)
(John 10:10 AMPC) The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).
[Act 5:19-20 KJV] 19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, 20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
[Rom 5:14-21 NKJV] 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. 15 But the free gift [is] not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. 16 And the gift [is] not like [that which came] through the one who sinned. For the judgment [which came] from one [offense resulted] in condemnation, but the free gift [which came] from many offenses [resulted] in justification. 17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) 18 Therefore, as through one man’s offense [judgment came] to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act [the free gift came] to all men, resulting in justification of life. 19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. 20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, 21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
[Rom 6:1-4 NKJV] 1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
There is a new way to live. However, have we settled for only a morally modified way of living? Are we letting eternal life have its full expression in our live?
[Jhn 4:13-14 NKJV] 13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 “but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”
[Gal 6:7-10 KJV] 7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all [men], especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
God dealt with Abraham by promise. Abraham believed and he received.
[Rom 4:16-22 NKJV] 16 Therefore [it is] of faith that [it might be] according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all 17 (as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed–God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; 18 who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” 19 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. 22 And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
[Gen 24:1 NLT] 1 Abraham was now a very old man, and the LORD had blessed him in every way.
[Gen 24:1 NKJV] 1 Now Abraham was old, well advanced in age; and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.
[Gal 3:9, 13-14, 29 NKJV] 9 So then those who [are] of faith are blessed with believing Abraham. … 13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed [is] everyone who hangs on a tree”), 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. … 29 And if you [are] Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
[Eph 1:3 NKJV] 3 Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly [places] in Christ,
God Wants You To Have A Wonderful Life: Grab Eternal Life (December 6th, 2023)
(John 10:10 AMPC) The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).
[Jhn 20:30-31 NLT] 30 The disciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.
God Wants You To Have A Wonderful Life (Part 1) (December 3rd, 2023)
(John 10:10 AMPC) The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).
[Jhn 1:1-5 KJV] 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
[Jhn 3:15-17 KJV] 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
[Jhn 3:36 KJV] 36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
[1Jo 5:11-13 NKJV] 11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may [continue to] believe in the name of the Son of God.
If you believe in Jesus, you have eternal life now. Eternal life is more than a quantity of life, but a quality of life. It is the life of God. Life as God has it.
Romans 6:23 (NKJV)
For the wages of sin [is] death, but the gift of God [is] eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
This life is a gift.
John 4:13-14 (NKJV) 13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 “but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”
Philippians 4:8 (NKJV) Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things [are] noble, whatever things [are] just, whatever things [are] pure, whatever things [are] lovely, whatever things [are] of good report, if [there is] any virtue and if [there is] anything praiseworthy–meditate on these things.
Think- to reckon inward, count up or weigh the reasons, to deliberate
1 Timothy 4:12-15 (NKJV) 12 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 13 Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. 15 Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.
Meditate – think, imagine, ponder
The Ephesians 3:20 Life (Sunday, November 19th, 2023)
[Eph 3:20-21 NKJV] 20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him [be] glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
(AMPC) Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]—To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it).
power – miraculous ability, miraculous force
works – to be operative, to be efficient
[2Co 4:6-7 NKJV] 6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to [give] the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
[Eph 1:16-19 NKJV] 16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what [is] the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power
riches – abundance
[Col 1:27 NKJV] 27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
[Jhn 15:1-12 NKJV] 1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every [branch] that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 “I am the vine, you [are] the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw [them] into the fire, and they are burned. 7 “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. 9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. 11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and [that] your joy may be full. 12 “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
abide – remain, stay connected, dwell
purge – clean
takes away – lifts up and pairs with a fruitful vine
- Keep Deposting the Word In Your Heart
- Practice the Presence of God
- Acknowledge What He Has Placed On The Inside Of You
- Do What He Tells You To Do
Persistent Faith (Joseph Z Broadcast, November 13th, 2023)
“Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, 2 saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. 3 “Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ 4 “And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, 5 ‘yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ ” 6 Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. 7 “And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? 8 “I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:1-8 NKJV)
And will not [our just] God defend and protect and avenge His elect (His chosen ones), who cry to Him day and night? Will He defer them and delay help on their behalf? I tell you, He will defend and protect and avenge them speedily. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find [persistence in] faith on the earth? (Luke 18:7-8 AMPC)
Persistent Faith is the faith that Jesus is looking for in His Believers who live during the End Times. Persistent Faith always brings the power of God into manifestation. It is your job to supply the faith and it is God’s job to supply the power. God will always meet your faith with His power.
Let’s define terms!
Faith – belief, confidence, conviction of the truth, belief with the predominate idea of trust
Where does faith come from?
“So then faith [comes] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17 NKJV)
When you hear the Word, you must make a decision to believe the Word.
“Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 “And it happened, as he sowed, [that] some [seed] fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it. 5 “Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth. 6 “But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away. 7 “And some [seed] fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. 8 “But other [seed] fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.” 9 And He said to them, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” … 14 “The sower sows the word. 15 “And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. 16 “These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17 “and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble. 18 “Now these are the ones sown among thorns; [they are] the ones who hear the word, 19 “and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 20 “But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept [it], and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.” (Mark 4:3-9, 14-20 NKJV)
You must hear the Word, make a decision to believe the Word, then you must receive the Word. When you receive the Word, you grab hold of it and decide not to let it go.
Satan has five tactics:
1. Affliction – pressure brought circumstances
2. Persecution – pressure brought by people
3. Cares of this world – anxiety, worry
4. Deceitfulness of riches – lies and deception about money and wealth
5. Desires/Lust of other things – inordinate strong desires for other things
For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard [it]. (Hebrews 4:2 NKJV)
If your faith won’t move your mouth, it won’t move your mountain. Your tongue is how you mix your faith with the Word you heard.
This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare (1st TImothy 1:18 NKJV)
You must take the prophetic word you hear and put it in your mouth. It has to become what you pray and what you say. This is how you get the benefits of what was spoken over your life. The prophetic word you hear must become your prayer assignment.
Persistent faith must be fueled.
For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. (Galatians 5:6 KJV)
You must believe that God loves you and you must make a decision to walk in love.
“I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.” (John 17:23 NKJV)
God loves you as much as He loves Jesus.
Persistent faith must be charged.
[But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, (Jude 1:20 NKJV)
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1 NKJV)
Persistent faith must be paired with hope. Faith is the raw materials; hope is the blue print.
We are faith people; we are hope people.
Hope is positive expectation.
[I would have lost heart], unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living. 14 Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD! (Psalm 27:13-14 NKJV)
goodness – prosperity, good things, property, supply, provision, good in the widest sense of the word, good to the farthest extreme
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13 NKJV)
that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. (Hebrews 6:12 NKJV)
God has a wonderful plan for your life! Read through Jesus, Son of Rahab during this Christmas Season to get a jump start on the new year. God did not cancel you. Jesus, Son of Rahab: A Restorative Devotional For The Cancelled & Disqualified will help you go into the future God has for your life!
How To Effectively Pray For People (November 12th, 2023)
When praying for family and loved ones, there is usually a lot of emotions involved. Either because of your love and care for them, your past with them, your familiarity, or other reasons. Although emotions are good in their proper place, we must make sure that our emotions are not the foundations of our prayers. We should not pray our emotions. We should pray the will of God.
(1Jo 5:14-15 NKJV) 14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
(Jas 4:1-4 NLT) 1 What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? 2 You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. 3 And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong–you want only what will give you pleasure. 4 You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.
pleasure – lust – This is the same word for lust that Jesus uses in Luke 8 to share one of Satan’s tools to destroy the production of the Word in your heart. This Greek word for lust/ pleasure is always used to represents evil desires of the flesh.
Three Questions To Ask Yourself
First Question You Have To Ask Yourself: Are you praying your will or His Will?
If you are praying your emotions and your will, unless your emotions and will are lined up with God’s plan, you will not see tremendous change. Confidence in prayer comes from praying His Word which is His Will.
Second Question You Have To Ask Yourself: Are you praying from a place of offense?
If you are praying from a place of offense, the foundation of your prayer will be emotional and rooted in unforgiveness. We must pray from the place of the Word, a healed heart, and honest heart.
(Jas 3:16 KJV) 16 For where envying and strife [is], there [is] confusion and every evil work.
(Psa 42:1-11 NLT) 1 For the choir director: A psalm of the descendants of Korah. As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. 2 I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him? 3 Day and night I have only tears for food, while my enemies continually taunt me, saying, “Where is this God of yours?” 4 My heart is breaking as I remember how it used to be: I walked among the crowds of worshipers, leading a great procession to the house of God, singing for joy and giving thanks amid the sound of a great celebration! 5 Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again–my Savior and 6 my God! Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember you–even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan, from the land of Mount Mizar. 7 I hear the tumult of the raging seas as your waves and surging tides sweep over me. 8 But each day the LORD pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life. 9 “O God my rock,” I cry, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I wander around in grief, oppressed by my enemies?” 10 Their taunts break my bones. They scoff, “Where is this God of yours?” 11 Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again–my Savior and my God!
Pour out your feelings and emotions before God. Be honest. Have emotions, don’t let your emotions have you. As your pour out emotions, choose God’s Word and choose faith, hope, and love. Forgive everyone of everything.
Third Question To Ask Yourself: Have You Limited Your Prayers By Time?
Just because you haven’t seen the change in the person you are praying for, don’t lose heart. Roll over the care and anxiety concerning them on Jesus.
- Take Your Place in Prayer
(Eph 1:20-23 NKJV) 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated [Him] at His right hand in the heavenly [places], 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. 22 And He put all [things] under His feet, and gave Him [to be] head over all [things] to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
(Eph 2:4-6 NKJV) 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised [us] up together, and made [us] sit together in the heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus,
2. Use Your Authority & Plead The Blood
(Col 1:13-14 NKJV) 13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed [us] into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
[Mat 16:18-19 NKJV] 18 “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 “And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
3. Pray The Word Over Them
Fourth Question To Ask Yourself: Are Your Words Contradicting Your Prayers?
(Mat 9:37-38 NKJV) 37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly [is] plentiful, but the laborers [are] few. 38 “Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
4. Pray For The Right People To Speak Into Their Lives
Fifth Question To Ask Yourself: Are You Praying For Their Influencers? Those that have their ear? Or Praying for godly individuals to be able to speak into their lives? Are you praying for the wrong influencers to be removed from their life?
Sixth Question To Ask Yourself: Is there a seed you are supposed to sow?
There are times God will have you pray for others, help others, or do something for someone else and that seed will unlock the supernatural results you have been praying for.
Seventh Question To Ask Yourself: Are You Fully Covering The Person and Situation In Prayer?
(Rom 8:26-28 NKJV) 26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit [is], because He makes intercession for the saints according to [the will of] God. 28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to [His] purpose.
(1Co 14:2 NKJV) 2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands [him]; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.
helps – to lay hold along with, to strive to obtain with others, help in obtaining, to take hold with another
Infirmities – lack of strength, weaknesses, limitations
uttered – not expressed in intelligible words
Through praying in the Spirit, allowing the Holy Spirit to connect the things within God to the things with in you, allowing Him to take hold of your limitations and weaknesses, will bring His power on the scene that will cause everything in your life to work as co-workers for GOOD.
Good – that which is good, that which is beneficial, that which is pleasant, agreeable, joyful, advantageous
mystery – hidden thing, secret, mystery, generally mysteries, religious secrets, confided only to the initiated and not to ordinary mortals, a hidden or secret thing, not obvious to the understanding, a hidden purpose or counsel. The secret counsels of God in dealing with the righteous.
When adding the definition of utterance from Acts 2, praying in tongues is an utterance of mysteries.
An utterance of mysteries – a dignified and elevated discourse of divine hidden things which include the plans, purposes, and counsels of God. This utterance of mysteries also includes an elevated and dignified giving thanks to God and magnifying God.
Spend time praying in the Spirit for your loved ones.
Always remember to pray for those in authority and influence!
(1Ti 2:1-4 NKJV) 1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, [and] giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this [is] good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
How To Get Your Prayers Answered (November 5th, 2023)
(1Jo 5:14-15 NKJV) Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
Confidence – free and fearless confidence, cheerful courage, boldness, assurance, freedom in speech
Petitions – request
- God’s Word is His Will. You need to make sure your request is in line with His Word.
(Mar 11:22-26 NKJV) So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. “For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive [them], and you will have [them]. “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. “But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”
Ask – Desire – What do you want?
2. Figure out what you want.
3. Believe God’s Word concerning the request.
4. Don’t allow your mouth to contradict what you prayed for
5. Forgive everybody of everything.
6. Unforgiveness will shut down your faith.
(Jas 4:1-4 NKJV) Where do wars and fights [come] from among you? Do [they] not [come] from your [desires for] pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend [it] on your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
pleasure – lust – This is the same word for lust that Jesus uses in Luke 8 to share one of Satan’s tools to destroy the production of the Word in your heart. This Greek word for lust/ pleasure is always used to represents evil desires of the flesh.
7. Check your motives. Make sure your request isn’t motivated by lust.
Kerrick Butler 