More Shall Be Given
Then He said to them, "Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. "For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him." Mark 4:24-25
Jesus warned His disciples to take heed that they hear and the measure that they use to others including God. For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. The first wise reaction would be to ask God, the Great Healer, to heal us, especially our ears so that we can hear what God is saying to us; and then we are ask Him to give us a change of heart so that we can measure a proper measure to others. It’s important that we have a compassionate and understanding heart just like Jesus did so that we can help the lost and hurting humanity. As we bless others and move in compassion we shall also be blessed. The bible records:
And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee , and casting out demons. Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, "If You are willing, You can make me clean."
Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed." As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. Mark 1:39-42
Now it happened, the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd. And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her.
When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep." Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, "Young man, I say to you, arise." So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother.
Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has risen up among us"; and, "God has visited His people." Luke 7:11-16
Chapter 1
It Pays To Pray
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. James 5:13-18
Many of God’s people are needlessly sick, not healed, and defeated in the battles of life, because they don’t pray. Yet the Lord of God instructs them ‘Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.’ The word of God instructs them also to ‘Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.’
The American Heritage Dictionary defines ‘fervent’ and ‘much’ as:
fer·vent (fûr“v…nt) adj. 1. Having or showing great emotion or zeal; ardent. 2. Extremely hot; glowing.
--much n. 1. A large quantity or amount. 2. Something great or remarkable.
When people are at a sports game, especially the finals in football or hockey, they are extremely passionate, emotional, intense and enthusiastic. But when it comes to prayer they are almost dead, anemic and impotent. It must be that they are affected by their unbelief and don’t really believe that God is a Great and Mighty God who loves to hear and answer prayer and to do something great or remarkable in their lives and circumstances? But whatever we need including power, victory, richest and honor God is able to provide for those who pray as God’s word is unchanging:
Therefore David blessed the LORD before all the assembly; and David said: "Blessed are You, LORD God of Israel
"Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation." Psalm 91:14-16
God who made heaven and earth and sustains it by His mighty Power, who parted the Red Sea so that the children of Israel could get safely to the other side and destroyed their enemies in it, who raised Jesus Christ from the dead after the world, flesh and the devil, took their best shot at Him, will do great, wonderful and mighty things for those who believe and know His name. He can do anything but fail His trusting ones. He can save, heal, deliver, touch, change, bless, prosper, honor and promote them just like He has done for others. God’s word is unchanging:
On that day King Ahasuerus gave Queen Esther the house of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had told how he was related to her. So the king took off his signet ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai; and Esther appointed Mordecai over the house of Haman. Esther 8:1-2
"And the patriarchs, becoming envious, sold Joseph into Egypt Egypt Egypt
"And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death. "Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb. "But God raised Him from the dead. Acts 13:28
Yes, God who promoted Queen Esther, Mordecai, Joseph and Jesus is able to do the same for any of His trusting ones. He is the God who has highly exalted Jesus and has given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. He is the God who took David from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over His people, over Israel and have cut off all his enemies from before him, and had made him a name like the name of the great men who were on the earth. The bible records:
"Now therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts: "I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people Israel
Then Nathan said to David, "You are the man! Thus says the LORD God of Israel Israel Israel Judah
Yes, the God who anointed David king over Israel, delivered him from the hand of Saul, gave him Saul’s house and wives as well as the house of Israel and Judah, would have given him much more because He delights to hear and answer the prayers of His children. His word is unchanging:
Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. The LORD executes righteousness And justice for all who are oppressed. Psalm 103:1-6
Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying: "There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. "Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, 'Get justice for me from my adversary.' "And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, 'Though I do not fear God nor regard man, 'yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.' "
Then the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge said. "And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? "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
Chapter 2
I Will Greatly Rejoice In The LORD
"For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery for burnt offering; I will direct their work in truth, And will make with them an everlasting covenant. Their descendants shall be known among the Gentiles, And their offspring among the people. All who see them shall acknowledge them, That they are the posterity whom the LORD has blessed."
I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels Isaiah 61:8-10
God who is God made a covenant promise with Abraham and the seed of Abraham, those who would give up all to serve and follow Him where He would leads them. He has promised to bless them, make their name great and make them a blessing. But He has also promised to bless those who bless them and curse them who curse them. Also in them all the families of the earth shall be blessed. His word is unchanging:
"Get out of your country, From your family And from your father's house, To a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." Genesis 12:1-3
Now some religious ones, who dispense with things which God has not dispensed with including the power of the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit, say that this covenant applies only to the Jewish people. But God’s word does not lie and says in the new Covenant or the New Testament that it’s to all of God’s true ones:
And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, "Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you." And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. Hebrews 6;11-15
The promise is given to the children of faith, both gentile and Jew, who through faith and patience inherit the all the promises of God. For God in Christ Jesus also gives to His true ones His P’s. The P’s of His P’s of His presence, promises, person, power, protection, provision, prosperity, providence and promotion:
His Presence - God is always with His own. He has commanded them to be strong and of good courage and not to be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD their God is with them wherever they go and His presence goes with them to give them rest and victory.
His Promises – Every promise every line in the bible is theirs including that no weapon which is formed against them shall prosper and those who rise against them shall become a non existent thing.
His Person - God is a Good God who is for them, with them and not against them. He is on their side no matter what they are facing. There is no searching of His understanding and His ears are open to their prayers and His eyes are upon the righteous to bless them.
His Power – When God’s true ones have His presence, promises and power they can trust Him to use His power for their good in all kinds of circumstances and situations. Just like God did for Jesus on Calvary when He raised Him from the dead, gave Him victory over all His enemies and seated Him at His right hand.
His Protection - God is the shield and exceeding great reward of His true ones. As well as He is their rock, refuge, strength, tower security and inheritance. He will bless and promote His own and He will deliver and honor them.
His Provision - God has promised to will meet and supply all their need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus and He unlike others is able to keep His word.
His Prosperity – God is not poor or dumb and neither should His children be. He is their security and inheritance and provision in the deserts of life. He is their hiding place! He will move out every mountain and deal with every enemy and dispel every lack in their life. Their prosperity will come upon them as the dawning of a bright and new day. They will not be able to contain their joy and ecstasy at the provision and security He is providing. He will multiply back to them a hundred fold all they have done for Him.
His Providence
His Promotion – God has promised that for those who set their love upon Him He will deliver them and set them on high because they have known His name. He has promised to make them head and not tail and above and not beneath. They shall call upon Him and He will answer them. He will be with them in trouble and deliver and honor them. With long life He will satisfy His true ones and show them His salvation.
God is always with His true ones; those who fight the fight of faith and overcome all things and trust only in Him.
Some hedonistic religious ones who only want to talk about the blessing of God and how in theory God loves all men but hates their sin do not talk about those whom God hates and those whom God curses. Even though God’s word clearly states:
'Cursed is the one who treats his father or his mother with contempt.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen!'
'Cursed is the one who moves his neighbor's landmark.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen!'
'Cursed is the one who makes the blind to wander off the road.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen!'
'Cursed is the one who perverts the justice due the stranger, the fatherless, and widow.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen!'
'Cursed is the one who lies with his father's wife, because he has uncovered his father's bed.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen!'
'Cursed is the one who lies with any kind of animal.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen!'
'Cursed is the one who lies with his sister, the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen!'
'Cursed is the one who lies with his mother-in-law.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen!' 'Cursed is the one who attacks his neighbor secretly.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen!'
'Cursed is the one who takes a bribe to slay an innocent person.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen!'
'Cursed is the one who does not confirm all the words of this law.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen!' Deuteronomy 27:16-26
A person who is cursed because of his deeds described previously is not a person who is blessed by God. However God’s word also states another reason why some people are cursed. God’s word records:
"Hear the words of this covenant, and speak to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem; "and say to them, 'Thus says the LORD God of Israel: "Cursed is the man who does not obey the words of this covenant "which I commanded your fathers in the day I brought them out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, 'Obey My voice, and do according to all that I command you; so shall you be My people, and I will be your God,' "that I may establish the oath which I have sworn to your fathers, to give them 'a land flowing with milk and honey,' as it is this day." ' " And I answered and said, "So be it, LORD." Jeremiah 11:2-5
Those who do not obey God’s voice and do according to all that He commands them so that they will be His people and He will be their God and do what He has promised to do shall be cursed. It is obvious by the way some people live and act is that they have been cursed by God and not blessed by Him.
God’s word also states that Deceivers are not blessed by God but are cursed by Him.
"But cursed be the deceiver Who has in his flock a male, And takes a vow, But sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished-For I am a great King," Says the LORD of hosts, "And My name is to be feared among the nations. Malachi 1:14
The word of God says that everything which is written in it is for our benefit, profit and instructions. Unfortunately for them men who are cursed by God do not search the word of God to see why they are cursed and how they can be delivered and changed through faith and trust in Jesus Christ and obedience to His word. For Jesus in the gospel in the sermon on the mountain clearly stated those who are blessed by God and it included; the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart the peacemakers and those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake.
Jesus also told us those who were cursed by God and He did not bless them but said to them “woe to you.” This included the Pharisees, scribes and lawyers of Jesus day and our day. As Jesus had much to say about them and to them. Hence He called them liars, murderers, thieves, vipers, dead man, hypocrites, blind ones and so on.
It is interesting that Nehemiah an ordinary cup bearer whom God used to rebuild and restore the broken and burned down walls of Jerusalem
In those days I also saw Jews who had married women of Ashdod Moab Ashdod Judah
But Jesus under the new covenant taught His disciples that they themselves where to bless people and not to curse them. God’s word records:
"But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, "bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. "To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. "Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. "And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.
"But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. "And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. "And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back.
"But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. "Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.
"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." Luke 6:31-38
God, because of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the power which is available to God’s people, desires a new and different behavior from His people towards others including their enemies.
Nevertheless God did not change His Abrahamic covenant with His people to bless those who bless them and to curse those who curse them for God’s word states:
Then the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge said. "And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? "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 18:6-8
Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. Romans 12:19
For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. And again, "The LORD will judge His people." Hebrews 10:30
God will avenge His own and take vengeance on those who hurt His true ones; even if they are His people. This is something which men need to consider for it’s in the word of God even in the new covenant. For God has a covenant with His true ones which He does not have with others - a covenant to bless and to prosper them and to make them great and to make them a blessing to others.
Chapter 3
There Will Be False Teachers
But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. 2 peter 2:1-3
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. 1 John 4:1
The world by it’s wisdom has not known God for it takes the Spirit of the Lord to reveal God to man. Similarly it takes the Spirit of the Lord to reveal to men the false prophets and false teachers amongst the people. Unfortunately the devil and his wisdom is skilled in creating false ones, for he himself masquerades as an angel of light, when in reality he is an angel of darkness. Yet God’s word is unchanging:
"For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, And hewn themselves cisterns-broken cisterns that can hold no water. Jeremiah 2:13
But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. 1 John 2:20
But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him. 1 John 2:27
Yes, many of God’ people have committed two evils: They have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living waters, and have hewn for themselves cisterns-broken cisterns that can hold no water. For under the new covenant of grace God never intended nor planned for His people to be dependent or led by men but only by His Holy Spirit. God’s word is unchanging:
"Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. "And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: "of sin, because they do not believe in Me; "of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 1 "of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.
"However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. "He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. "All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you. John 16:7-15
As the adage goes ‘garbage in, garbage out.’ So many pastors, teachers and other religious leader don’t hear from God nor are the taught by Him. Hence much of what they teach and say is nothing but sheer garbage that doesn’t work in the real world. As a result their adherents are living defeated, anemic and impotent lives. The answer is quite simple each person or sheep must hear the Lord, even on a daily basis, and be led by Him. If this is not happening they should stop whatever they are doing until it happens because God’s word is unchanging:
"And the LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations where the LORD will drive you. "And there you will serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell. "But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.
"When you are in distress, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, when you turn to the LORD your God and obey His voice '(for the LORD your God is a merciful God), He will not forsake you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them. Deuteronomy 4:27-31
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; Proverbs 3:5
And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13
Jesus said to him, " 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' Matthew 22:37
Yes, God’s word commands His people to fear the LORD their God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD their God with all their heart and with all their soul, and by the Spirit of the Lord to keep His commandments of the LORD and His statutes that He will reveal to them.
God’s people must be like a watchful watchman, for a good watchman does not fall asleep, but he is fully aware of the things that are taking place round about him. He knows exactly the things that are taking place. He knows the things that are taking place round about him in the world. God’s word is unchanging:
And Jesus, answering them, began to say: "Take heed that no one deceives you. "For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and will deceive many. "But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet. "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows. Mark 13:5-8
But for God’s trusting ones if there is any time that there is destruction round about them, they can all upon the name of the Lord, who is a strong tower and He shall answer them and He shall move on their behalf, even in an instant. While we live are troublesome and dangerous times in the world, they are not for those who trust in the Lord. They shall walk in the victory that He has already made for them and they shall possess all that He has given unto them. They shall see blessings upon blessings upon blessings fill their life for there is power in the name of Jesus. The Lord is always there to quickly act upon their behalf. It’s a great time to be filled to overflowing with God’s Spirit. For God is pouring out His Spirit on all flesh. And for those who believe a mighty river gushes out of them just like Jesus promised:
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." He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." 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. John 7:37-39
Chapter 4
But Thanks Be To God
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world-our faith. 1 John 5:4
Because God is God and the devil is a liar no matter what they are going through victory is assured for God’s trusting ones for whatever is born of God overcomes the world. God’s word is unchanging:
Therefore David blessed the LORD before all the assembly; and David said: "Blessed are You, LORD God of Israel
"Then He gave him the covenant of circumcision; and so Abraham begot Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot the twelve patriarchs. "And the patriarchs, becoming envious, sold Joseph into Egypt Egypt Egypt
David, Joseph and Jesus Christ are testimonies to the fact that no matter what they have gone through God gave them the victory. They all had real enemies who were out to do them evil, not God, but thanks be to God He gave them the victory. The LORD finally had given David rest from all his enemies all around. Hence David spoke to the LORD, on the day when the LORD had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul:
And he said: "The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; The God of my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, My stronghold and my refuge; My Savior, You save me from violence. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies. 2 Samuel 2:2-4
"He sent from above, He took me, He drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, From those who hated me; For they were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my calamity, But the LORD was my support. He also brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me because He delighted in me. "The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me. 2 Samuel 22:17-21
Because Joseph had a dream of greatness his envious brothers, tried to kill him and failing to do so they sold him as a slave into Egypt Egypt
Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt
So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had in the house and in the field. Thus he left all that he had in Joseph's hand, and he did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate.
Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. And it came to pass after these things that his master's wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, "Lie with me." But he refused and said to his master's wife, "Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. "There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?"
So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her.
But it happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the house was inside, that she caught him by his garment, saying, "Lie with me." But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside. And so it was, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and fled outside, that she called to the men of her house and spoke to them, saying, "See, he has brought in to us a Hebrew to mock us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. "And it happened, when he heard that I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me, and fled and went outside."
So she kept his garment with her until his master came home. Then she spoke to him with words like these, saying, "The Hebrew servant whom you brought to us came in to me to mock me; "so it happened, as I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me and fled outside."
So it was, when his master heard the words which his wife spoke to him, saying, "Your servant did to me after this manner," that his anger was aroused. Then Joseph's master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison. But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing. The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph's authority, because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made it prosper. Genesis 39:1-23
Yes God worked everything out for good and in due season He delivered and promoted Joseph and made him second only to Pharaoh. In due season Joseph revealed to his brothers all that the Lord had done for him. The bible records:
Then Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph; does my father still live?" But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence.
And Joseph said to his brothers, "Please come near to me." So they came near. Then he said: "I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt land of Egypt
It was God who sent Joseph to Egypt land of Egypt
Now the LORD had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, From your family And from your father's house, To a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." Genesis 12:1-3
Then the Angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, and said: "By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son- "blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. "In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice." Genesis 22:15-18
There was a famine in the land, besides the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines, in Gerar. Then the LORD appeared to him and said: "Do not go down to Egypt
Chapter 5
Ten Keys To Victory
He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. "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. "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." Matthew 16:15-19
We find in the word of God certain keys to victory that if followed will give victory to each and every one. These are:
1) You must be ‘born again’:
There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him." Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God
Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"
Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God
Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? "For the Son of Man will come in the glory Matthew 16:24-27
It doesn’t matter how successful you are in life or what you have accomplished if at the end you lose your own soul. Flesh and blood will not inherit the kingdom of God kingdom of God
2) You must be continually ‘filled with the Spirit’:
See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Ephesians 5:15-20
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6:10-13
You need the power of God and the Spirit of God to overcome all that the world, flesh and the devil will throw at you. Your own flesh, talents and abilities are no match for the negative forces out there. But Greater is He that is in us then he that is in the world. God’s word is unchanging:
Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 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, 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, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 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. Ephesians 1:15-21
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, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20
Those who live, walk and yield to the Spirit are perfect candidates for God to do exceedingly abundantly above all that they ask or think, according to the power that works in them.
3) You must praise and pray continually:
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good.1 Thessalonians 5:16-21
Those who praise God continually are blessed because praise unlocks or releases the power of God to move on their behalf on earth. God’s word is true:
But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.
Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed. Acts 16:25-26
4) You Must Study and Know the Word of God:
Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. Psalm 1:1-3
Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. 2 Timothy 2:14-16
God’s word promises prosperity for those who mediate in the word of God day and night and do it.
5) You Must Forgive and be humble:
"In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. "But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:9-15
But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. James 4:6-10
Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." 1 Peter 5:5
Those who are not humble will find themselves in serious trouble with God just like Jesus warned us about:
"You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.'"But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire.
"Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, "leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. "Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. "Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny. Matthew 5:21-27
6) You must pray in tongues and prophesy:
What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say "Amen" at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified. I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; 1 Corinthians 14:15 -18
But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Jude 1:20-21
Praying in tongues is very controversial because the devil doesn’t like it and fights against it. But you build yourselves up on your most holy faith when you pray in the Holy Spirit, Just like tongues come with each shoe that you buy, tongues comes with the gift of the Spirit. God’s word is unchanging:
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" Acts 10:44-47
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21
So Jesus answered and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' it will be done. Matthew 21:21
Yes, when you prophesy or speak the words of God given by the Spirit of God, mountains are moved into the sea and negative circumstances are changed.
7) You Must Be a Giver
"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." Luke 6:38
But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written: "He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever."
Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. 2 Corinthians 6-11
For those who give bountifully will reap bountifully. And God is able to make all grace abound toward givers, that they, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work
8) You must have Faith in God at all times:
For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia : that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many. 2 Corinthians 1:8-11
9) You must ask in Jesus name that your joy may be full:
"And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. "If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. John 14:13-14
"And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. "Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. John 16:23-24
10) You must never give up:
Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: "For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him." But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul. Hebrews 10:35-39
My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord-that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful. James 5:10-11
Chapter 6
God Wants You Well
THE ELDER, To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth: Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. 3 John 1:1-4
ALL Sickness and Disease comes from Satan - whether it’s physical or mental. Hormonal Imbalance, Anxieties, Mental Illness, Anorexia, Over Eating, Dispersion, Cripples, Blindness, Heart Disease - and I could go on and on. There is NO difference in these negative things for they are all from Satan. Yes, God wants you well and Satan wants you sick and diseased. All through the Bible we find this pattern especially in the life of Job, Satan brings death and destruction and God provides healing and life. It’s not God who makes people sick and also heals them. Sickness, diseases, spirit of infirmity, poverty, and loss are the works of the devil and Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. God’s word is unchanging:
…"If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you." Exodus 15:26
"And the LORD will take away from you all sickness, and will afflict you with none of the terrible diseases of Egypt
"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. John 10:10
He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8
The word of God is very clear that although Jesus used many different methods to heal people, healing is will of God for people. When Jesus was here on earth, He healed the sick everywhere He went. By healing people Jesus did God’s will, not fight against God’s will, as God’s word is unchanging:
Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum
And Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal him."
The centurion answered and said, "Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. "For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."
When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, "Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel
Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you." And his servant was healed that same hour.
Now when Jesus had come into Peter's house, He saw his wife's mother lying sick with a fever. So He touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she arose and served them.
When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: "He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses." Matthew 8:5-17
In the case of the Roman centurion healing came by the words that Jesus spoke. In the case of Peter’s mother healing came by the touch of Jesus. In the case of many who were demon-possessed Jesus out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick. Yes, God is the source of all healing be it by faith or by doctors and the devil is the source of all sickness and diseases be it directly or indirectly.
Jesus also told the Roman centurion "Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you." So those who believe can bind the devil by the Spirit of God in Jesus' name. They can bind the foul devil of cancer, liver or diabetes or any other incurable disease, and command him to take his r hands off God’s property. They can curse the seed and curse the root of every cancer, liver, diabetes and bad cell in their bodies and command them to die in the name of Jesus. They can speak, just like Jesus, did a new immune system or any other system into their being and speak a new blood system into their bodies, a blood system that will not accept cancer or foul cells. And in the mighty name of Jesus, which is above every name, they command all of the electrical and chemical frequencies in every cell in their body to be in harmony and in balance and to digest the bad cells. They can command everything in their bodies to be healed and made whole and to function properly for the reason it was created and to stay functioning until Jesus returns. In Jesus name they come against and rebuke anything evil, wicked, wrong, sick or negative thing in their bodies, hearts, circumstances and lives and command it to go away and never come back! God’s word is unchanging:
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world-our faith. 1 John 5:4
"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Revelations 12:11
Jesus purchased with His life on the cross of Calvary every miracle they could ever need. He redeemed them to God by His blood. He was bruised and brought healing! He was pierced and eased pain! He was persecuted and brought freedom! He was dead and brought life! He was raised from the dead and brought power! He reigns and brings Peace! All they need to do is ask, “Father, in Jesus’ name, I need my miracle now!” Then they are to do what He tells us to do. They are to stand in faith during the time of testing and THEY WILL receive their miracle. The following is a suggest MIRACLE WORKING PRAYER
I love you dear Heavenly Father, precious Jesus and beautiful Holy Spirit.
I pray now: "Dear Heavenly Father, as I cup my hands, please fill this cup with JESUS’ PRECIOUS POWERFUL BLOOD. Thank you, dear God, and now I take JESUS’ PRECIOUS POWERFUL BLOOD and by the Holy Spirit of love, power and sound mind I pour it over my head and let it saturate my body from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet. [As I pour JESUS’ BLOOD, which God Almighty put into my hands, over the top of my head I move my hands down over my body, and I see the BLOOD saturate my entire body.]
I now proclaim in Jesus' name that JESUS’ PRECIOUS POWERFUL BLOOD, which has cleansing power, healing power and restoration power now cleanses, heals and restores my brain, my conscious mind, my subconscious mind, my head and my hair, my eyes and my ears, my nose, my mouth, my tongue and my lips, my teeth and my gums, my throat, my esophagus, and my stomach, my gall bladder and my liver, my pancreas, and every organ in my body, my immune system, my upper and lower intestines, my colon and my private parts, my hips, my thighs, my legs, my calves, my knees, my ankles, my feet, and my toes, my back side, my kidneys, my spine, my spinal cord, my central nervous system, my autonomic nervous system, my back, my neck, my shoulders, my arms, my hands, and my fingers, my chest, my lungs, and my heart.
Now dear Father, I pray, fill this cup again with JESUS’ PRECIOUS POWERFUL BLOOD. With the Holy Spirit I now pour JESUS’ PRECIOUS POWERFUL BLOOD into my heart, this beautiful heart you gave to me oh Lord, which I now give to you and dedicate myself to you, to be obedient to you and my heart totally worships you, loves you and adores you my dearest God.
And now that my heart is filled with JESUS’ PRECIOUS POWERFUL BLOOD, this beautiful BLOOD is being pumped through every artery, through every vein, through every capillary, into every bone, every cell, every atom and every molecule of my brain, my body, my spirit, my soul and my blood. Thank you dear God for completely cleansing, healing, and restoring my body, my mind, my heart, my spirit, my soul and my blood, and all my desires in JESUS’ holy name. AMEN.
Chapter 7
God's Word Is Medicine
My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you. Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil. Proverbs 4.20-27
The word of God tells us to give attention to God’s word and to incline our ear to its sayings. We are also to keep our heart with all diligence and to put away from us a deceitful mouth and perverse lips far from us. We are to ponder the path of our feet and to remove our foot from evil.
Well many of God’s people confess and think on what men have taught them and as a result they are deceived and perverse and corrupt and they say and do evil things. They need to say and think what God’s Spirit has taught them. For God’s word is unchanging:
But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.' " Matthew 4:4
But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him. 1 John 2:27
Here are some positive confessions that are to checked with the Holy Spirit and are to be spoken by mouth three times a day until faith comes, then once a day to maintain faith. If circumstances grow worse, double the dosage. There are in theory no harmful side effects, but God will test people to see if they really mean what they say:
Jesus is the Lord of my life. Sickness and disease have no power over me. I am forgiven and free from SIN AND GUILT. I am dead to sin and alive unto righteousness. (Col.1: 21,22.)
Jesus bore my sickness and carried my pain. Therefore I give no place to sickness or pain. For God sent His Word and healed me and delivered me from their destructions. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers me out of them all. (Ps. 34:15-19, 107:20.)
Father, because of Your Word I am an over-comer. I overcome the world, the flesh and the devil, by the Blood of the Lamb and the word of my testimony. (1 John 4:4, Rev. 12:11.) You have given me abundant life. I receive that life through Your Word and it flows to every organ of my body bringing healing and health. (John 10:10; John 6:63.)
Heavenly Father, I attend to Your Word. I incline my ears to Your sayings. I will not let them depart from my eyes. I keep them in the midst of my heart, for they are life and healing to all my flesh. (Proverbs. 4:20-22.)
As God was with Moses, so is He with me. My eyes are not dim; neither are my natural forces abated. Blessed are my eyes for they see and my ears, for they hear. (Duet. 34:7.) No evil will befall me; neither shall any plague come near my dwelling- for You have given your angels charge over me. They keep me in all my ways. In my pathway is life, healing and health. (Ps. 91:10,11; Prov.12: 28.)
Jesus took my infirmities and bore my sicknesses. Therefore I refuse to allow sickness to dominate my body. The Life of God flows within me bringing healing to every fiber of my being. For It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing and Jesus, Himself, took my infirmities and bore my sicknesses. (Matt. 8:17; John 6:63.)
I am redeemed from the curse as Jesus had become a curse for me. Galatians 3:13 is flowing in my blood stream. It flows to every cell of my body, restoring life and health. For I have faith in God and can speak to every mountain to be moved. (Mark 11:23; Luke 17:6.) The life of First Peter 2:24 is a reality in my flesh, restoring every cell of my body for by Jesus stripes we were healed
I present my body to God for it is the temple of the LIVING GOD. God dwells in me and His LIFE permeates my SPIRIT, SOUL and BODY so that I am filled with the fullness of God daily and preach the whole counsel of God. (Rom.12: 1,2; John 14:20 , Acts 20:27 .)
My body is the temple of the HOLY GHOST and not my own. I make a demand on my body to release the right chemicals. My body is in perfect chemical balance. My pancreas secretes the proper amount of insulin for life and health. (1 Corinthians. 6:19 .)
Heavenly Father, through Your Word You have imparted Your life to me. That life restores my body with every breath I breathe and every word I SPEAK. For It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. (John 6:63; Mark 11:23.) That which God has not planted is dissolved and rooted out of my body in Jesus' name. First Peter 2:24 is engrafted into every fiber of my being and I am alive with the life of God. I REBUKE THE SPIRIT OF INFIRMITY AND EVERY SICKNESS AND DISEASE IN MY BODY IN JESUS NAME (Mark 11:23 ; John 6:63.)
Heart and Blood
Thank You Father that I have a strong heart. My heart beats with the rhythm of life. My blood flows to every cell of my body restoring life and health abundantly. For a man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth, (Proverbs. 12:14 ; 14:30 .) My blood pressure is 120 over 80. The life of God flows in my blood and cleanses my arteries of all matter that does not pertain to life. (Mark 11:23 .) My heartbeat is normal. My heart beats with the rhythm of life, carrying the Life of God throughout my body restoring LIFE AND HEALTH ABUNDANTLY. (John 17:23; Ephesians 2:22.) I have a strong heart. Every heartbeat floods my body with life and cleanses me of disease and pain. As the Lord takes sickness away from my midst (Ex. 23:25 ; Mark 11:23 .)
I command my blood cells to destroy every disease germ and virus that tries to inhabit my ' body. I command every cell of my body to be normal In Jesus' Name. (Romans 5:17; Luke 17:6.) I am redeemed from the curse of the law and my heart beats with the rhythm of life. The spirit and life of God's Word flows in me cleansing my blood of every disease and impurity. (Proverbs 4:20-23.)
Arteries and Cells
In Jesus' Name, my arteries, will not shrink or become clogged. Arteries, you are clean, elastic and function as God created you to function. For the word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. (Luke 17:6; Mark 11:23; Isaiah 55:11; James 3:2-5.)
The law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death; therefore, I will not allow sin, sickness or death to lord it over me. For I have the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever I bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever I loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." (Romans 8:2; Romans 6:13,14.)
The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in me, permeating His life through my veins, sending healing through-out my body. For the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in me and gives life to my mortal body. (Romans. 8:11 .)
In Jesus' Name I forbid my body to be deceived in any manner. Body, you will not be deceived by any virus or disease germ. Neither will you work against life or health in any way. Every cell of my body supports life and health. For a good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things. (Matthew 12:25; 35a.)
Father, I make a demand on my bones to produce perfect marrow. I make a demand on the marrow to produce pure blood that will ward off sickness and disease. My bones refuse any offense of the curse. For pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones. (Proverbs 16:24.)
Enforcing Life
Mix thoroughly with faith and authority. To be taken by word of mouth as often as needed to maintain health and life.
Body, I speak the Word of Faith to you. I demand that every internal organ perform a perfect work, for you are the temple of the, Holy Ghost; therefore, I charge you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the authority of His Holy WORD to be healed and made whole in Jesus Name for the tongue of the wise promotes health. (Proverbs. 12:18).
Father, I resist the enemy in every form that he comes against me - I require my body to be strong and healthy, and I enforce it with Your Word. I reject the curse, and I enforce life in this body. For I submit to God and resist the devil and he will flee from me. (James 4:7.) I will not die but live and declare the works of God. (Psalm 118:17)
Father, I do not circulate a false report about the word of God nor do I put my hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness but speak the truth as the Holy Spirit gives me to speak. I do not follow a crowd to do evil nor testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice nor show partiality to no one. I keep my self from a false matter and do not kill the innocent and the righteous by word or deed. I do not oppress a stranger because Jesus was a stranger in the land of Egypt
You have forgiven all my iniquities; You have healed all my diseases You have redeemed my life from destruction; You have satisfied my mouth with good things so that youth is renewed as the eagles. You execute righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. (Psalm 103:2-6) Lord, because I indeed obey Your voice and do all that you speak, You have blessed my food and water and have taken sickness away from me. Therefore I will fulfill the number of my days in health. (Ex. 23:25,26.)
My weight is perfect or my height and I do not carry any excess fat because God says in His Word in. Deuteronomy 25.15 But thou shalt have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure shalt thou have: that thy days may be lengthened in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
MY DIVINE HEALTH s a great blessing, I am able to live in DIVINE HEALTH continually because God also says in His Word Proverbs 4:22,"....God's Word is health to all your flesh..." 3 John 2, "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers."
Divine health is my choice! I am building an image of a healthy body into my spirit (heart) until I am established in the fact that I am a new creation in Jesus Christ. The confession of God's Word activates my faith in my heart {Romans 10:17 }. Then as I make my confession before God, I remember He is watching over His Word to perform it {Jeremiah 1:12 Amplified Bible}, and also that no Word that He speaks will return unto Him void {Isaiah 55:11}.
"Father in Jesus' Name I confess your Word concerning healing and deliverance. As I do this I believe and say that your Word is forever established in heaven and will not return to you void, but will accomplish that to which you sent it. Therefore I believe in the Name of Jesus that I am healed according to 1 Peter 2:24, because it is written in your Word that Jesus Himself took my infirmities and bore my sickness in Matthew 8:17. Therefore it is with great boldness and confidence that I say, that I am redeemed from the curse of the law according to Galatians 3:13-14. I refuse to tolerate signs and symptoms. I command them to leave in Jesus' Name.
Satan I speak to you and in the authority of Jesus' Name and I say to all your principalities and powers, your master spirits that rule this present darkness, and your spiritual wickedness in high places they are all totally and completely bound here as they are already bound in Heaven. I am loosed from all your power according to Colossians 1:13, as God has delivered me from the power of darkness and conveyed me into the kingdom of the Son of His love which is above every thrones or dominions or principalities or power, past, present or future.
Satan you have no authority to operate against me in any realm. I advise you I am totally loosed and you have failed. I am the property of Almighty God and that He lives within me. He in me is greater than you in the world as 1 John 4:4 declares. My choice is to dwell in the secret place of the Most High I abide, I remain stable, I am fixed under the shadow of the Almighty whose power you cannot withstand.
My Heavenly Father, I worship and reverence you, I adore you and I have the assurance of your Word and the fact that your angel encamps around about me. I have wholeness and perfect soundness, in body, soul and spirit.
The Word is my medicine and it gives me life in all my flesh because the Law of the Spirit of Life sets me free from, the Law of sin and death. I have divine health now. I believe it in my heart and confess it with my mouth. In Jesus' Name. Amen."
ABOUT FINANCES!
Father, because I diligently obey the voice of the LORD my God, to observe carefully by Your Spirit all Your commandments which you have command me all the blessings you had spoken to Moses shall come upon me and overtake me and I am blessed in all things that I put my hands to including going in and coming out, I am above and not beneath. I am head and not tail because your words says so (Deuteronomy 28:1-14):
Psalm 23:1, "The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want!"
Isaiah 48:17, "Thus says the Lord your redeemer, the Holy one of Israel
John 15:7 Kenneth Wurst's Translation "If you maintain a living communion with me and my words are at home in you, I command you to ask at once, something for yourself, whatever your heart desires, and it will become yours."
2 Chronicles 26:5, "As long as he sought the Lord, God made him to prosper."
Genesis 24:40, "The Lord before whom I walk, will send His angel with you to prosper your way."
Deuteronomy 28:11 Amplified, "And the Lord shall make you have a surplus of prosperity."
Genesis 26:12-13 Amplified, "Then Isaac sowed in that land and received in the same year one hundred times as much as he had planted, and the Lord favoured him, with blessings and the man became great, and gained more and more until he became very wealthy and distinguished."
Nehemiah 2:20, "The God of heaven himself shall prosper us."
Proverbs 10:22 , "The blessing of the Lord makes one rich and He adds no sorrow with it."
Proverbs 15:6, "In the house of the righteous there is much treasure."
I am praying about my financial blessing because I first establish that it is God's plan to bless me financially. I am convinced and sure of that (Deuteronomy 28:1-14, 2 John 1:2)
"Father, in Jesus' Name I come to you today, and declare that Jesus is Lord over my finances. You already know my financial circumstances, but I bring to you your Word, where you promised that if I would pay my tithes into the storehouse, you would rebuke the devourer for my sake, you would protect the source of my income and you would open up the windows of heaven and pour down a blessing that I would have difficulty in containing. I have paid my tithes, and given generous offerings, so I now expect to receive from you as you have already promised.
You said if I built my house with wisdom and established it with understanding then all the rooms by knowledge would be filled with precious and pleasant riches. I thank you that you have given me the power to get wealth, and I know this blessing means you have given me the ability and anointing to gain wealth, that you may establish your covenant.(Deuteronomy 8:18)
I thank you that you are daily loading me with benefits, and that no good thing will you withhold from me because I walk uprightly. I am blessed because I delight in your covenant, and wealth and riches are in my house forever. Your desire for me is that I prosper and be in health, even as my soul prospers, and you said that if I loved you, you would cause me to inherit substance and fill my treasures.
I choose to shout for joy because I favor your righteous cause, and I will say continually, let The Lord be magnified, which has pleasure in the prosperity of his servants. I am no longer a servant but a son and an heir and joint heir. Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light to my pathway, and it declares that you have given riches and wealth and power to eat of it, to receive my heritage and rejoice in my labor. This is a gift from you.
Father I am renewing my mind to these facts, and know that you want to make me prosperous in all areas of my life as a Christian. I accept that there are over 200 verses in the Bible telling me this is so.
You have delivered and redeemed me from the curse of the law, and so I am free from the curse of poverty, it has no control over my life and my family. I am blessed going out and blessed coming in.
I am the seed of Abraham and you said in Genesis 13:2 Amplified Bible, '....Abram was extremely rich in livestock and silver and gold...' In Job 1:10 you say you conferred prosperity on Job, and happiness upon him in the work of his hands. I accept the fact that you want to do that for me also. I thank you that you want me to become prosperous so you can use me as a channel for your financial blessing in the great end-time harvest of this world.
Thank you Lord that you trust me with your finances, and when I am running out of mine, I will run into yours. You have more than enough, because you are El Shaddai, the God of Plenty, the One who has more than enough.
Father I thank you that you are able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that I ask or think or even dream about.
These things I pray and ask in Jesus' Name. Amen."
Chapter 8
They Have A Zeal For God?
Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel
Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel. 1 Corinthians 14:12
The American Heritage Dictionary defines ‘zeal’ as
zeal (z¶l) n. Enthusiastic devotion to a cause, an ideal, or a goal and tireless diligence in its furtherance.
Zeal can be a wonderful thing but sometimes it’s a waste of time. I say a movie once where a football player with zeal intercepted the ball and ran it into the end zone. But the problem was that it was in the wrong direction and the wrong zone. Unfortunately there are many religious ones, even Christians, who have zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. Their zeal is misplaced just like Apostle’s Paul zeal was.
Apostle Paul a very educated Pharisee. He was circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel
Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. As he journeyed he came near Damascus
And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" Then the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads."
So he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" Then the Lord said to him, "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one.
Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus
Paul in his zeal in persecuting the church which was at Jerusalem
Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus
Then Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem
But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel
And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. Acts 9:10-18
Apostle Paul, who was miraculously healed and received his eyesight, as well as being filled with the Holy Spirit, would now be used miraculously to heal others and to fill them with the Spirit. The bible records:
And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth Ephesus
So they said to him, "We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit." And he said to them, "Into what then were you baptized?" So they said, "Into John's baptism."
Then Paul said, "John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus." When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. Now the men were about twelve in all.
And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God school of Tyrannus Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them. Acts 19:1-12
It’s wonderful to have zeal but misguided zeal is useless. But the word of God doesn’t expect God’s people to be zealous for good work and to be zealous and repent when rebuked and chastened by Him just like Paul was rebuked and chastened. The bible records for our profit and instruction:
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you. Titus 2:11-15
"And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ' These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. "So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.
"Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'-and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked- "I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.
"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." ' " Revelations 3:14-22
Chapter 9
Hold To Your Faith
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1
By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho
God gives to each one a measure of faith to obtain from God whatever they need including salvation, healing, deliverance, wisdom and miracles. Faith like anything else in life can be left around dormant or misused but it doesn’t change the fact that faith in God will do the impossible. God’s word is unchanging:
Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter, remembering, said to Him, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away."
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." Mark 11:20-25
Faith, not reason or logic, causes God to move mountains into the sea and bring miracles of salvation, healing and deliverances to God’s people. God’s word is unchanging:
By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace. And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again. And others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Hebrews 11:31-35
Yes through faith kingdoms are subdued, righteousness worked, promises obtained, the mouths of lions are stopped, the violence of fire is quenched, the edge of the sword is escaped, out of weakness people were made strong, they became valiant in battle and turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Faith is not just a set of religious doctrines or beliefs but it produces tangible results in life and changes negative circumstances. It brings about healing, deliverance, blessings, prosperity and miracles. God’s word is unchanging:
I will love You, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies. Psalm 18:1-3
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?- Galatians 3:5
Yes, God response to those who walk and live by faith and accept Him as their rock, refuge, fortress, deliverer, God, strength, shield, salvation, stronghold and answer in the storms of life. He is a very present help in trouble. His word is unchanging:
This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing. Psalm 34:6-10
God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God
Yes, blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing. The LORD knows the days of the upright, and their inheritance shall be forever. They shall not be ashamed in the evil time, and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry. When the righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. God’s word is unchanging:
"Behold, I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. "Beware of Him and obey His voice; do not provoke Him, for He will not pardon your transgressions; for My name is in Him.
"But if you indeed obey His voice and do all that I speak, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries. "For My Angel will go before you and bring you in to the Amorites and the Hittites and the Perizzites and the Canaanites and the Hivites and the Jebusites; and I will cut them off. "You shall not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do according to their works; but you shall utterly overthrow them and completely break down their sacred pillars. "So you shall serve the LORD your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you. "No one shall suffer miscarriage or be barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days. "I will send My fear before you, I will cause confusion among all the people to whom you come, and will make all your enemies turn their backs to you, Exodus 23:20-27
When the LORD brought back the captivity of Zion
Yes the Lord delights to do great and wonderful things for His trusting ones including delivering them from all bondages and destroying all the works of the devil in their hearts, lives and circumstances. His word is unchanging:
Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Matthew 3:7-8
Chapter 10
Guard The Seed!
"Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. "Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. "But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. "Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. "But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience. Mark 8:11-15
Jesus warned men that the devil is a liar, thief and destroyer who will steal the seed of the word of God that is planted in them and they must be guard the seed, keep it and bear fruit with patience. He also told them to beware of those who plant the seed of the word of God:
"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. "You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? "Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. "Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' Matthew 7:15-23
You can do all the right things in the sight of man, and even God, and practice lawlessness by not doing the will of the Father in heaven but by doing your own will. People do this all the time and say here Lord is my will make it thing! Many preachers and teachers of the word of God have a hidden agenda to seek and build their own kingdom and glory rather than the kingdom of God
And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel Israel
Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, Philippians 2:1-9
That is a novel concept that is not practiced in many churches – “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” This is something that Apostle Paul preached and practiced continually and was expressed in his prayers and words:
And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head-Christ-from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. Ephesians 4:11-16
It was Paul desire that we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting. Rather speaking the truth in love we are to grow up in all things into Him who is the head-Christ-from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
The phrase “ from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love” is nonexistent in most churches that are dead, anemic, impotent and out of touch with God. Even though God’s word clearly tells them:
For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body-whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free-and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.
And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 1 Corinthians 12:12-28
What a concept that God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues so that each member of the body can benefit from these things and use them to see each member be made perfect, whole and complete? Imagine the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love?” There definitely is something wrong with churches today who have allowed the devil to steal the word of God and members are not caring for one another, never mind building up one another. Yet God’s word is unchanging:
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. 1 Corinthians 13:1-10
Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 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. But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 1 Corinthians 14:1-4
Chapter 11
God Will Crush Satan Under Your Feet
And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. Romans 16:20.
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 1 Peter 5:8-9
It’s the devil, not God, who brings in sorrows, trials and tribulations to God’s people; but Jesus Christ is greater than the devil. He will destroy all the plans of the devil utterly and keep His trusting ones safe from the evil one. He will crush Satan under their feet and help them live a victorious life, just like He did for Job. The Lord Himself testified that Job was a righteous man, truthful, god-fearing and one who keeps away from all evil. There was a challenge between the Lord Almighty and the devil over the righteousness of Job. So the devil asked permission to test Job's faith. Job lost his wealth, his happiness and all his ten children in a single day. He got sores all over his body. Amidst all these sufferings, Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong. Even amidst all these sufferings, Job said,
"Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him" Job 13:15
"When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold" Job 23:10.
Because Job was faithful and obedient the Lord healed Job and gave Job twice as much as he had before. The Lord removed all the sufferings and sorrows from his life and blessed his family. Since God is no respecter of persons He will do the same for those who truly trust Him and walk in all His ways. His word is true:
"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
Yes, God is in the blessing and restoration business not in the stealing and suffering business. It’s the devil who steals and causes suffering for men using various methods including other men. But God is a good God who has come to destroy the works of the devil and to restore all things. His word is unchanging:
Fear not, O land; Be glad and rejoice, For the LORD has done marvelous things! Do not be afraid, you beasts of the field; For the open pastures are springing up, And the tree bears its fruit; The fig tree and the vine yield their strength. Be glad then, you children of Zion Israel
The promises of God are true to those who believe them and are lies to those who don’t believe them! Nevertheless Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. The Lord who says that ‘he who touches you touches the apple of His eye’ is always with His trusting ones to protect them and keep them away from all evil. Whoever assembles against them shall fall for their sake. No weapon formed against them shall prosper, and every tongue that rises against them in judgment they shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their righteous is from the LORD! God’s word is unchanging:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.
Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.
For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia : that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many. 2 Corinthians 1:3-11
No, God’s people are not exempt from trouble but the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, is there to comfort them in all their tribulation, that they may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which they themselves are comforted by God. Yes, God’s trusting ones sometimes have the sentence of death in themselves, that they should not trust in themselves but in God who raises the dead, and will deliver them just like He has done for others. God’s word is unchanging:
He sent from above, He took me; He drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, From those who hated me, For they were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my calamity, But the LORD was my support. He also brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me because He delighted in me. The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me. For I have kept the ways of the LORD, And have not wickedly departed from my God. Psalm 18:16 -21
As for God His way is perfect with the merciful He will show Himself merciful; with a blameless man He will show Himself blameless; with the pure He will show Himself pure; and with the devious He will show Himself shrewd. He will save the humble people, but will bring down haughty looks. He is a shield to all who trust in Him. He arms them with strength, and makes their way perfect. He gives them the shield of His salvation; His right hand holds them up, His gentleness makes them great. He enlarges their path under them, so that their feet do not slip. Great deliverances He gives to His trusting ones and shows mercy to His anointed. His word is unchanging:
Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, Whose hope is in the LORD his God, Who made heaven and earth, The sea, and all that is in them; Who keeps truth forever, Who executes justice for the oppressed, Who gives food to the hungry. The LORD gives freedom to the prisoners. The LORD opens the eyes of the blind; The LORD raises those who are bowed down; The LORD loves the righteous. The LORD watches over the strangers; He relieves the fatherless and widow; But the way of the wicked He turns upside down. Psalm 146:5-9
Yes, happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God, Who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps truth forever, who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. Yes, the LORD gives freedom to the prisoners. The LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD raises those who are bowed down. The LORD loves the righteous. The LORD watches over the strangers. He relieves the fatherless and widow; but the way of the wicked He turns upside down. His word is unchanging:
Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 5:5-11
Chapter 12
Giving To The Rich Shall Make You Poor
The rich and the poor have this in common, The LORD is the maker of them all. Proverbs 22:2
But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Matthew 4:4
Jesus said the way to have your needs met is to seek first the kingdom of God
But seek ye first the kingdom of God
Give, and it will be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. Luke 6:38
And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. John 6:35
Yes for those who obey God’s word and give He is able to make all grace about towards them. God’s word is unchanging:
But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written: "He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever."
Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, 2 Corinthians 9:6-12
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. Malachi 3:10
But shutting your ears to the cry of the poor or giving to the rich shall make you poor:
Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor Will also cry himself and not be heard. Proverbs 21:13
He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches, And he who gives to the rich, will surely come to poverty. Proverbs 22:6
There are many in Christendom who have a problem with prosperity and believe that suffering and poverty are the will of God. They believe that because Jesus suffered on the cross and Apostle Paul was chosen to suffer for the kingdom that they should suffer also. Some go as far as to say that poverty and riches are off the devil. It has been stated “God tailors the circumstances according to his plan for a particular individual. He's not a One Size Fits All kind of Guy.” For God’s word records:
He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep. "Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish." This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me."
Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, "Lord, who is the one who betrays You?" 1 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, "But Lord, what about this man?"
Jesus said to him, "If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me." John 21:17-22
One of the great errors of Christendom is to take a particular prescription in the bible about a specific incident and make into a general application such as building a case that it’s not God’s will for all to have prosperity. For example, it’s hard" for a "rich man" to enter the kingdom of heaven so obviously a person should remain poor? But a person can be snared by materialism when they are poor and wealthy people do run the risk of feeling superior to others--till one day they realize they can get sick and die just like the little people. Yet God’s word states:
Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar. Two things I request of You (Deprive me not before I die): Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches- Feed me with the food allotted to me; Lest I be full and deny You, And say, "Who is the LORD?" Or lest I be poor and steal, And profane the name of my God. Proverbs 30:8-9
Speaking of lies, falsehood, poverty and riches who says, ‘prosperity is not the will of God, not God?’ God’s word records for our profit and instruction:
Now Abraham was old, well advanced in age; and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things. Genesis 24:1
"The LORD has blessed my master greatly, and he has become great; and He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female servants, and camels and donkeys. Genesis 24:35
Now the LORD had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, From your family And from your father's house, To a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." Genesis 12:1-3
Then the Angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, and said: "By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son- "blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. "In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice." Genesis 22:15-17
Yes, the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things. He blessed him greatly, and he became great. The Lord gave Abraham flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female servants, and camels and donkeys. He made of him a great nation. He blessed him, made his name great and made him to be a blessing. He blessed those who blessed him and cursed him who cursed him. And in Abraham all the families of the earth are blessed." Abraham descendants of his physical and spiritual seed are as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore. While all this was wonderful for Abraham how about others? The bible records for our profit and instruction:
"Listen to Me, you who follow after righteousness, You who seek the LORD: Look to the rock from which you were hewn, And to the hole of the pit from which you were dug. Look to Abraham your father, And to Sarah who bore you; For I called him alone, And blessed him and increased him." For the LORD will comfort Zion, He will comfort all her waste places; He will make her wilderness like Eden, And her desert like the garden of the LORD; Joy and gladness will be found in it, Thanksgiving and the voice of melody. Isaiah 51:1-3
"But you are those who forsake the LORD, Who forget My holy mountain, Who prepare a table for Gad, And who furnish a drink offering for Meni. Therefore I will number you for the sword, And you shall all bow down to the slaughter; Because, when I called, you did not answer; When I spoke, you did not hear, But did evil before My eyes, And chose that in which I do not delight."
Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, My servants shall eat, But you shall be hungry; Behold, My servants shall drink, But you shall be thirsty; Behold, My servants shall rejoice, But you shall be ashamed; Behold, My servants shall sing for joy of heart, But you shall cry for sorrow of heart, And wail for grief of spirit. You shall leave your name as a curse to My chosen; For the Lord GOD will slay you, And call His servants by another name; So that he who blesses himself in the earth Shall bless himself in the God of truth; And he who swears in the earth Shall swear by the God of truth; Because the former troubles are forgotten, And because they are hidden from My eyes. Isaiah 65:11-17
The bottom line is that having wealth is not a sin. Seeking after wealth and holding its gain above the welfare of others, and above God is a sin. But when all else is said and done, and you have not been faithful in life, if you have at least accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, then being forever in Heaven instead of Hell is the ultimate blessing. But if God should bless you with money and/or extra material things, then it is His to bless with. But wealth is nothing in God's eye's, and riches are fleeting to the Lord. So rewarding with wealth is the least of the blessings that the Lord offers to fulfill his Word. The greatest wealth that God gives to those who seek Him is His own begotten Son and His wonderful Counselor the Holy Spirit. All the rest is just icing on the cake!
Chapter 13
God Doesn’t Change
"A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:45
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8
Being raised in a very religious fundamental Baptist background we were taught that poverty and suffering were the will of God and that prosperity and miracles were off the devil. As a result we all suffered needlessly until we realized that Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday today and forever and what He did yesterday He will do today and will do tomorrow.
Jesus also taught in Matthew 9:29 the principle that according to your faith "According to your faith let it be to you." So it's very important what our faith says about prosperity, healing and health? For what we believe and say about it is what we get or don’t' get! God’s word records for our profit and instruction:
And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. For she said to herself, "If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well."
But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, "Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well." And the woman was made well from that hour. Matthew 9:20-22
There were many other people in the crowd who no doubt were sick and had heart disease, kidney disease, liver problems, or other thing but none of them used their faith to touch the hem of Jesus garment to be made well. But this woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years believed and said to herself, "If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well." As a result when Jesus saw her He said, "Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well." And the woman was made well from that hour.
If you don’t believe that Jesus heals or performs miracles today then obviously you will not believe or ask God for a miracle, and your chance of not getting one is almost one hundred percent? But the bible records for our profit and instruction:
When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, "Son of David, have mercy on us!" And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to Him, "Yes, Lord." Then He touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith let it be to you." And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, saying, "See that no one knows it." But when they had departed, they spread the news about Him in all that country. Mark 9:27-31
Nothing ventured is nothing gained! If you don’t put your faith and trust in God for a miracle be it spiritual, physical or financial, your will probably not get one. But God’s word tells us:
Now they came to Jericho Jericho
Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
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." And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus.
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."
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. Mark 10:46-52
I have seen religious people who didn’t believe in miracle, healing or speaking in tongues until they were hit with a devastating sickness or need in their lives. Then all of a sudden their theology went out of the windows and they began seeking and finding the Lord to be their Healer, Deliverer and Miracle Worker. Just like the blind man they rejected the theology of the masses and cried out to the Lord to have mercy on them and to heal or change their circumstances. And God being a good God, who loves to hear and answer the cries of His children, healed or changed their circumstances.
I also found that many people claimed to believe that the bible is the inspired word of God rejected any part of it that they didn't like be it Mark 16:15-20, Psalm 103:1-6 and 3 John 1:2 which are all part of prosperity for true prosperity begins with and comes from God. Since we are primarily spiritual beings it only makes sense that the solution to all our problems is spiritual. Once we line up our thinking and believing with the Word of God then we start to see true prosperity in our hearts and lives, body, soul and spirit. God’s word is unchanging:
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:1-2
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:23
In Christ Jesus God has made provisions for the healing and sanctification of the whole man including body, soul and spirit. It is His will that His people be healthy and wealthy until they die. No parent loves to see his or her children sick and in poverty when they have they power and resources to change things? And neither does God. His word is unchanging:
and said, "If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you." Exodus 15:26
"And the LORD will take away from you all sickness, and will afflict you with none of the terrible diseases of Egypt
Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 1 Peter 1:2-4
God’s people need to recognize who their real enemies are and it’s not God. He the God of all power and unlimited riches and resources is for them and not against them. He stand ready to meet and supply all their needs if they will only use their faith and believe and trust Him for miracles and good things. His word is unchanging:
For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, Blessed is the man who trusts in You! Psalm 84:11-12
Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Psalm 103:1-5
Chapter 14
Jesus - The Miracle Worker
And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen. John 21:25
There are those religious ones who say that they believe the bible to be the inspired word of God cover to cover but have dispensed with miracles in their lives and in the word of God. Some have stated that the miracles Jesus performed were primarily for the salvation of souls, not just because God loves to perform miracles for His friends. But nothing is further from the truth as recorded by the gospel after Jesus’ resurrection when He did not once appear to unbelievers:
After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias Galilee , the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together.
Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We are going with you also." They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.
Then Jesus said to them, "Children, have you any food?" They answered Him, "No." And He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.
Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea. But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish. Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread.
Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish which you have just caught."
Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken.
Jesus said to them, "Come and eat breakfast." Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, "Who are You?"-knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish. John 21:1-13
Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together and wre bored. So Simon Peter suggested to them that they going fishing." They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night just as once before they caught nothing. But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore and said to them, "Children, have you any food?" They answered Him, "No." And He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish. Jesus once again gave His disciples a net breaking boat sinking load of fish, just as He did in the beginning when He had called ordinary folks to forsake all and follow Him. The bible records:
So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret
Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon's, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch."
But Simon answered and said to Him, "Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net." And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.
When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!" For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men." So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him. Luke 5:1-11
Miracles happen when Jesus spoken commands to His disciples are obey. Jesus said to He said to Simon, "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." But Simon answered and said to Him, "Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net." And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.
It doesn’t matter what the negative circumstance might be that God’s people are facing be it a terminal disease, a financial loss, a loss of a loved one, a wayward son or daughter, or an gigantic mountain Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever and He is still in the miracle working business for His friends. He can and will do the impossible for those who believe. Yes, "Do not be afraid; only believe" for God’s word is unchanging:
And behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue. And he fell down at Jesus' feet and begged Him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter about twelve years of age, and she was dying. But as He went, the multitudes thronged Him.
Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped.
And Jesus said, "Who touched Me?" When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, "Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, 'Who touched Me?' "
But Jesus said, "Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me."
Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately. And He said to her, "Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace."
While He was still speaking, someone came from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, "Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the Teacher."
But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, "Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well."
When He came into the house, He permitted no one to go in except Peter, James, and John, and the father and mother of the girl.
Now all wept and mourned for her; but He said, "Do not weep; she is not dead, but sleeping." And they ridiculed Him, knowing that she was dead.
But He put them all outside, took her by the hand and called, saying, "Little girl, arise."
Then her spirit returned, and she arose immediately. And He commanded that she be given something to eat. And her parents were astonished, but He charged them to tell no one what had happened. Luke 8:41-50
Chapter 15
When Did Jesus Christ Become Poor?
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9
For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God, night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith. 2 Thessalonians 3:9-10
The American Heritage Dictionary defines lack as:
lack (l²k) n. 1. A deficiency or an absence. 2. Something needed or wanted. --lack v. lacked, lack·ing, lacks. --tr. 1. To be entirely without or have very little of. 2. To be in need of. --intr. 1. To be wanting or deficient. 2. To be in need of something.
The word of God is quite simple and it doesn’t lie that Jesus Christ though He was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor, that we through His poverty might become rich and not be in need of something. The good news of the Gospel is that Jesus came to supply what is needed, deficient or absent in our heart and lives including salvation, healing, deliverance, wholeness and financial blessing. While they devil has come to steal or take these things away. As a result we don’t have to be poor in any sense of the word! Poverty is not the will of God but richest are for Jesus became poor so that we might become rich. God’s word is unchanging:
I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, 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." Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 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. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; 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. Revelations 1:10-16
There are those religious ones who are hung up on the idea that Jesus our Elder Brother and friend was poor and remains poor. But nothing is further from the truth. Jesus was rich before He left heaven and Jesus is rich in heaven right now. When Jesus showed up on the Isle of Patmos to the Apostle John, He didn't show up in some old poor rags but He showed up in a white garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. He was blessed and rich and powerful and wealthy, and that is the way we are supposed to be. Rich in all things just like Jesus is. God’s word is unchanging:
And the disciples came and said to Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?"
He answered and said to them, "Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. "For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
"Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. "And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: 'Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not perceive; For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.'
"But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; "for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. Matthew 13:10-17
If others don’t understand or cannot accept that it’s God’s will to be rich or the truth of God’s word that "Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. "For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him” it is their problem! Jesus, right now, is rich. "As He is, so are we to be in this world." It's God's will for us to be rich just like Jesus was and is. Jesus was never sick a day in His life until the end. Sickness, disease, death and poverty couldn’t touch Him. He was healthy, wealthy and powerful living and walking in the Spirit of the Lord!
There is nothing fantastic about poverty, sickness, diseases and needless suffering. It is a curse that has come upon mankind because of sin, and Jesus has come to remove all curses from us so that we can live and walk in abundance, just like Jesus did when He walked the earth as the Son of God and the Son of Man. Jesus wasn’t sick or poor until the end and He didn’t die before His time. He gave up His life when He decided to do so!
Prior to going out in the ministry Jesus had a place to lay down his head and was not raised up by poor parents. Mary's relative Elizabeth 10:17 - rich young man; Lazarus episode; the anointment - Mark 14:3-9; the wedding at Cana of Galilee; etc). For a peasant carpenter to be meeting so many `rich' folk -even one with a reputation as a miracle worker is a bit odd. An alternate explanation would be that he had `family connections' of some sort through either Mary or Joseph.
So we can say that Jesus was rich on earth. “You mean to say that Jesus was rich on earth? Isn’t that heresy?” No it is not! The scriptures tells us from the day Jesus was born in a stable He was rich. Money came looking for Him. God sent wealth to provide for Jesus. God didn’t send the wise men with just some kind of greeting card and a bouquet of flowers. They came searching for the newborn King with frankincense, gold and myrrh. They came with very costly, wealthy gifts for Jesus. When Jesus had needs angels ministered to Him. All throughout His ministry, many wealthy women gave into Jesus’ ministry of their substance. When Jesus had a need He used His faith and tapped into the power of God and He met those things with the anointing of God including getting gold of out a fish that was needed to pay taxes because Peter put opened his mouth and blew it. Why Jesus even had a treasurer name Judas who turned out to be a thief? Why would a poor man need a treasurer?
So when did Jesus did become poor? He became poor when He became sin, the same time He became sick, the same time He became a curse for us. The bible records:
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"), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Galatians 3:13-14
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21
Jesus became a curse on that cross. He became sick, it says in Isaiah, on that cross. All of our sicknesses was laid on Him. All of our sin was laid on Him when He was hung on that cross. He also became poor. When He became a curse, He became poor for us. He did it all for our sakes. He became poor on the cross when He became a curse on the cross, when He became sin on the cross, when He became sick on the cross. He became poor on that cross for our sakes. So now we can be rich, saved, healed and delivered because of all that Jesus did on the cross of Calvary .
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Romans 8:37
“Thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” (2 Corinthians 2:14)
As a result of what Jesus did on the Cross-, by faith everything is ours now. Jesus Christ has substituted all things on the cross for us and exchanged it there for us. Our death, defeat and poverty and curses have been nailed to the Christ. On the Cross Jesus Christ not only won real victory and redemption over sin and death and the world, but also over the wicked arch enemy Satan and all his angels who had made the Cross necessary by what he did to Adam and Eve.
For the enemy had deceived and entrapped Adam and Eve to sin against God and live a life that was cursed and full of toil and trouble. But on the Cross Jesus Christ did the great exchange. He exchanged His sinlessness for our sins, His righteousness for our unrighteousness, His strength for our weakness, His boundless supply for our needs, His stripes for our healing, His riches for our poverty, His victories for our defeats, His triumphs for our disappointments, His glory for our nothingness, His Honor for our shame, His joy for our sadness, and His fullness for our emptiness.
But all of this is also something that must be revealed to us by the Holy Spirit before we can understand and partake of it fully. Yet it is all our birthright and the blessing of the fullness of the gospel of Christ. For the message of the cross and the Gospel is not only that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. He is now is seated at the right hand of the Father with all power given unto Him in heaven and earth waiting for His enemies to be made His footstool.
But the message of the cross and the Gospel is also that as a result of the victories Jesus won on the cross, He has now given and shared all that He has with us and He is also with and for us continually. For God in Christ Jesus has literally become our inheritance and great reward; as well as everything else which we need, including our healer and deliverer.
As result of the Cross-, God said about Jesus and of us who have become strong and overcomers:
Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors. Isaiah 53:12
As a result of the cross, in Christ Jesus, we are rich, victorious and have a new life in Christ Jesus, as we walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh.
For the empty Cross now also stands as a reminder and says to the world and to all the demons of Hell “You did your worst, but God gave His best. Now things are no longer the same, because Jesus is sitting at the right hand of the Father waiting for His enemies to be submitted to Him. He has also now given us the power to subdue all His and our enemies through the use of His name and Word and dependence of the Spirit.
The Cross is also a real testimony of what God’s power can do no matter what the Hell or injustice that the world or the devil will throw at us. For Jesus’ resurrection after a cruel and awful death signifies the real possibility of total and complete victory in our lives, hearts and circumstances as well in the current time of life as we trust in God just like Jesus did.
The empty Cross now says to you and I, that for every defeat there is victory in its place, for every failure there is success, for every weakness there is grace, for every sickness there is healing, for every hatred there is love, for every injustice there is justice and for every poverty there is riches. All of this and much, much more belongs to each child of God because of what Jesus did and won on the Cross. Hence we can by the Holy Spirit understand what the Lord said to Apostle Paul:
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
Our strength and victory comes from God Himself and all the victories He had won for us on the Cross of Calvary. Although in the annuals of time and history, our Creator God died on the Cross-on Calvary , but He didn’t stay there. He arose triumphant and victorious over everything, over the worst that the devil or others could throw at or do to Him and to us.
Because of the cross of Christ, God has reconciled all things to Himself whether things on earth or things in heaven. As a result, He, not the devil rules and reigns on planet earth. Then having wiped out all the enemies of His people and especially the requirements that were against them, He has taken it out of the way having nailed to the cross.
It is when the power of Christ rest upon us, because of our weakness, that we are truly strong. For it is then that we rest upon the Lord and walk in the power of His might and Spirit and not our own. As we by faith tap into all the riches and resources of heaven which are now our by Christ Jesus because of what Jesus Christ did on the cross two thousand years ago we become more than conquerors.
The King of Kings and Lord of Lords with His unlimited and unimaginable power and riches was never poor or debased. But He chose, because of us, to leave behind his power and riches become a man and identify and relate to humanity in all its sufferings and ways.
God in Christ Jesus stripped Himself of His royalty and Kingship. He then became poor and walked with men doing the impossible such as healing the sick, raising the dead and cast out demons. Then the innocent Son of man and Son of God went to a Cross-on a hill called Calvary where He bled and died for all of humanity.
But the Cross-was not the end of Jesus Christ or life, it was the beginning of something new, a New Covenant or New Testament. It was the beginning of a new life and a new man and a new Spirit for those who would accept what Jesus had done for them. It was the beginning of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all flesh. Jesus Christ is now once again unlimited in power, riches, strength and might. It is a fact that according to the power that resides and works in us, God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think and give us one hundred percent victory, one hundred percent of the time in one hundred percent of the situations. For after all He is God, not man!
But the best news is that God wants to use all of His power, riches, and resources on our behalf and meet our needs: If we only will believe Him and trust Him to do it for us; If we will only humble ourselves and on a bent knee give Him our all and ask for His all. Then we shall know the truth of God’s word which states:
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Romans 8:37
“Thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” 2 Corinthians 2:14
Chapter 16
It Pays To Pray
Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying, "Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me? Jeremiah 32:26-27
"Thus says the LORD who made it, the LORD who formed it to establish it (the LORD is His name): 'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.' Jeremiah 33:2-3
The word of God tells us that it pays to pray for our God is a prayer answering God. And there is nothing to hard for our Lord to do. Jesus who Himself prayed often alone before the break of day and at the end of the day encouraged His disciples to pray with a promise that they will receive. The bible records:
"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. "Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? "Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! "Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 7:7-12
One interesting thing about prayer is that prayers that are not prayed are definitely not answered for God is a perfect Gentleman and He will no impose His answers on those who don’t want an answer. And then those who are too busy to pray will get answer they didn’t expect:
Too Busy to Pray
(Author Unknown)
I knelt to pray but not for long,
I had too much to do.
I had to hurry and get to work
For bills would soon be due.
So I knelt and said a hurried prayer,
And jumped up off my knees.
My Christian duty was now done
My soul could rest at ease.
All day long I had no time
To spread a word of cheer.
No time to speak of Christ to friends,
They'd laugh at me I'd fear.
No time, no time, too much to do,
That was my constant cry,
No time to give to souls in need
But at last the time, the time to die.
I went before the Lord,
I came, I stood with downcast eyes.
For in his hands God held a book;
It was the book of life.
God looked into his book and said
"Your name I cannot find.
I once was going to write it down...
But never found the time"
Jesus had a very busy schedule going about all Galilee , teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. But He always found time to pray. The bible records:
And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. Matthew 14:24
Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. Mark 1:35
Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida
So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed. Luke 5:16
True Christianity is a one to one relationship with the Father through prayer that is expressed by deeds of love and kindness to others after prayer just like Jesus did. Jesus taught that it was very important to pray and commune with God in secret on a one to one basis. The bible records:
"And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. "But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. "And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.
"Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. "In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. "But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:5-15
Yes when we pray, we are to go into our room, and when we have shut our door we are to pray to our Father who is in the secret place; and our Father who sees in secret will reward us openly. We are to pray what Jesus taught us to pray including asking for our daily bread and forgiveness of our debts as we forgive our debtors. For if we don’t forgive men their trespasses, neither will our Father forgive our trespasses. Unforgiveness is one of the main causes of prayers not being answered. Another cause of unanswered pray is lack of repentance and restitution for Jesus also stated:
"You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.' "But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire.
"Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, "leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. "Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. "Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny. Matthew 5:21-27
Chapter 17
But The Greatest Of These Is Love
And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love 1 Corinthians 13:13
One of the worst demons a person can pick up is the spirit of religion that says if you subscribe to a particular set of beliefs or doctrines you are saved and going to heaven. Such religious people are more suited for hell than heaven and it’s demonstrated by their bigotry, intolerance and lack of love from a tongue that is unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Hence James wrote:
If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. James 1:26-27
And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.
Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.3 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.
But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. James 3:6-17
Pure religion is not expressed by words from a tongue from a deceived heart but by good works of visiting orphans and widows in their trouble, and keeping oneself unspotted from the world. Doing anything because of wrong motivations or lack of love is a total waste of time as far as God is concerned. God’s word is unchanging:
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Yes faith and hope are important but the great of these is love. Graduating from a school of Cemetery and having ten earned degrees and not having love that bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things profits a person nothing. A person must have the love that Apostle Paul preached about and said:
Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor. Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Romans 13:7-10
Yes, Love does no harm to a neighbor. Love does not commit adultery," Love does not murder, Love does not steal, Love does not bear false witness, Love does not covet, Love loves one neighbor as itself. It doesn’t matter It doesn’t matter if you speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love. It doesn’t matter if you have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though you have all faith, so that you could remove mountains, but have not love. It doesn’t matter if you bestow all you goods to feed the poor, and though give your body to be burned, but have not love. It’s all for nothing if you don’t have love. In other words it’s a complete waste of time and effort. God’s word is unchanging:
And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins." 1 Peter 4:8
Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. 1 John 2:7-11
For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother's righteous. Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you.
We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? 1 John 3:11-17
Chapter 18
The Word Didn’t Profit Them
Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. 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. For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: "So I swore in My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest,' " although the works were finished from the foundation of the world Hebrews 4:1-3
It has been said that Christianity is a Religion of Confession for with out confession there is no salvation. God’s word is unchanging:
But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?' " (that is, to bring Christ down from above) or, " 'Who will descend into the abyss?' " (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved." Romans 10:7-13
If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved? For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. But what happens if you don’t believe in your heart and don’t confess with your mouth God’s word? Then there is no salvation. Now the American Heritage Dictionary defines ‘salvation’ and ‘deliver’ as:
sal·va·tion (s²l-v³“sh…n) n. 1.a. Preservation or deliverance from destruction, difficulty, or evil. b. A source, means, or cause of such preservation or deliverance. 2. Theology. a. Deliverance from the power or penalty of sin; redemption. b. The agent or means that brings about such deliverance.
de·liv·er (d¹-l¹v“…r) v.To set free, as from misery, peril, or evil. --intr. 1. To produce or achieve what is desired or expected; make good. 2. To give birth.
God, who doesn’t limit the word salvation like some religious ones do, gives to those who call upon His name preservation or deliverance from destruction, difficulty, or evil. He is a source, means, or cause of such preservation or deliverance. He brings deliverance from the power or penalty of sin; redemption. He is the agent or means that brings about such deliverance. He sets free, as from misery, peril, or evil. He has the power to produce or achieve what is desired or expected; make good or to give birth to something. His word is true:
Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul, And fills the hungry soul with goodness. Those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, Bound in affliction and irons- Because they rebelled against the words of God, And despised the counsel of the Most High, Therefore He brought down their heart with labor; They fell down, and there was none to help. Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, And He saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, And broke their chains in pieces.
Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He has broken the gates of bronze, And cut the bars of iron in two. Fools, because of their transgression, And because of their iniquities, were afflicted. Their soul abhorred all manner of food, And they drew near to the gates of death. Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, And He saved them out of their distresses. He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions. Psalm 107:8-20
It’s very sad that all through out the Old Testament when God’s people cried out to the LORD in their trouble, And He saved them out of their distresses. He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. And then we have some religious fools telling us that in the New Testament dispensation of Grace God doesn’t do such things any more. He has changed or lost His power and we are on our own as now we have the bible and churches and pastors and don’t need God to bring physical salvation or deliverance any more? But God’s word states:
For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia : that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many. 2 Corinthians 1:8-11
Yes, God, who raises the dead, who delivered Paul and Barnabas from so great a death, and continued to do so, has not changed and He is still the Deliverer and Savior for all who put their trust in Him for whatever need that they might have. His word is true:
Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16
Salvation does come by works but by faith and grace! The best and only candidates for salvation are those who don’t deserve it. The gospel of Christ is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek or gentile. And the time for salvation is now as the LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. For God’s word is unchanging:
We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says: "In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:1-2
For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10
I will love You, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies. Psalm 18:1-3
Chapter 19
And Job Believed God!
In famine He shall redeem you from death, And in war from the power of the sword. Job 5:20
For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; Job 19:25
The story of Job is a good example of the truth of the prosperity doctrine. For the Lord, who said to Abraham in GEN 12:2-3 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed" and in Genesis 15:1 "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward," is with His true servants to bless and prosper them and make them rich. And when the enemy steals things from them, including health and wealth, He is there with them to heal and help them recover all just like He did for Abraham, David, Joseph and Job for He is their Redeemer – one who sets free, rescues or ransoms. The bible records:
As for our Redeemer, the LORD of hosts is His name, The Holy One of Israel. Isaiah 47:4
But thus says the LORD: "Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, And the prey of the terrible be delivered; For I will contend with him who contends with you, And I will save your children. I will feed those who oppress you with their own flesh, And they shall be drunk with their own blood as with sweet wine. All flesh shall know That I, the LORD, am your Savior, And your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob." Isaiah 49:25-26
"And the patriarchs, becoming envious, sold Joseph into Egypt Egypt Egypt
Yes, the Redeemer, the Mighty One is with His trusting ones to fight for them and to deliver them out of all their troubles just like He did for Job. Job's reason for being in poverty was not his own. Satan, under God's supervision, stole from Job and put him in poverty. Job's poverty was his own doing. But Job's riches were his doing either He trusted in the Lord to make Him rich just like He made Abraham rich. The bible records:
And the LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing, "since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? "For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice, that the LORD may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him." Genesis 18:17-19
The rich and the poor have this in common, The LORD is the maker of them all. Proverbs 22:2
Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, And You are exalted as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You, And You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; In Your hand it is to make great And to give strength to all. 1 Chronicles 29:11-12
There was a man in the land of Uz
Job knew that His redeemer lived and when he lost everything because of the thief he trusted that the Lord who made him rich before would do it again and he was not put to shame because God restored doubled to him. Job knew God's and His word that stated:
"If the theft is certainly found alive in his hand, whether it is an ox or donkey or sheep, he shall restore double. Exodus 22:4
People do not despise a thief If he steals to satisfy himself when he is starving. Yet when he is found, he must restore sevenfold; He may have to give up all the substance of his house. Proverbs 6:30-31
"then it shall be, because he has sinned and is guilty, that he shall restore what he has stolen, or the thing which he has extorted, or what was delivered to him for safekeeping, or the lost thing which he found, "or all that about which he has sworn falsely. He shall restore its full value, add one-fifth more to it, and give it to whomever it belongs, on the day of his trespass offering. Leviticus 6:4-5
'And whoever kills an animal shall restore it; but whoever kills a man shall be put to death. Leviticus 24:21
Jesus Christ was Job's Redeemer who would restore all things to him just like He did for Abraham, David and others. Because Job was righteous He believed God and the Law of Moses teachings where Redemption and Restoration was always part of the Jewish teaching. Job believing the law of Moses knew and believed that God was and is in the recovery and restoration business and would fight for him just like he fought for Abraham and David for the bible records:
And Abraham journeyed from there to the South, and dwelt between Kadesh and Shur, and stayed in Gerar. Now Abraham said of Sarah his wife, "She is my sister." And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.
But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, "Indeed you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man's wife."
But Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, "Lord, will You slay a righteous nation also? "Did he not say to me, 'She is my sister'? And she, even she herself said, 'He is my brother.' In the integrity of my heart and innocence of my hands I have done this."
And God said to him in a dream, "Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart. For I also withheld you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her. "Now therefore, restore the man's wife; for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you shall live. But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours."
So Abimelech rose early in the morning, called all his servants, and told all these things in their hearing; and the men were very much afraid. Genesis 20:1-8
Yes king restored Abimelech Sarah to Abraham because the Lord made him do it. And when Lot was taken captive by the enemy the Lord delivered Abraham’s enemies into his hands and helped him to recover all. The bible records:
Now when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants who were born in his own house, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. He divided his forces against them by night, and he and his servants attacked them and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the people. And the king of Sodom Valley of Shaveh
Then Melchizedek king of Salem
Yes God has a track record for His true servants of delivering the enemies into their hands and recovering all that was stolen from them. His word is unchanging:
Now it happened, when David and his men came to Ziklag, on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attacked Ziklag and burned it with fire, and had taken captive the women and those who were there, from small to great; they did not kill anyone, but carried them away and went their way. So David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive.
Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep. And David's two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite, had been taken captive.
Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.
Then David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son, "Please bring the ephod here to me." And Abiathar brought the ephod to David. So David inquired of the LORD, saying, "Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?" And He answered him, "Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all." 1 Samuel 30:1-8
So David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away, and David rescued his two wives. And nothing of theirs was lacking, either small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything which they had taken from them; David recovered all. 1 Samuel 30:18-19
Yes, because of the Lord David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away, and David rescued his two wives. And nothing of theirs was lacking, either small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything which they had taken from them; David recovered all. Yes, the word of God promises restoration and prosperity for His people for as their days, so shall their strength be. And there is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides the heavens to help them, and in His excellency on the clouds. The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms; He will thrust out the enemy from before them, and will say, 'Destroy!' Then Israel
Your sandals shall be iron and bronze; As your days, so shall your strength be. "There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, Who rides the heavens to help you, And in His excellency on the clouds. The eternal God is your refuge, And underneath are the everlasting arms; He will thrust out the enemy from before you, And will say, 'Destroy!' Then Israel
The same God who recovered and restored everything for Abraham and David would also do it for Job and Job knew this in his heart because he was righteous and he knew the Lord and the word of God, unlike others who do not! And because Job believed God, God restored double to Him as promised in His word.
Chapter 20
The LORD Is A Man Of War
And David numbered the people who were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them. Then David sent out one third of the people under the hand of Joab, one third under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and one third under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, "I also will surely go out with you myself." But the people answered, "You shall not go out! For if we flee away, they will not care about us; nor if half of us die, will they care about us. But you are worth ten thousand of us now. For you are now more help to us in the city." Then the king said to them, "Whatever seems best to you I will do." So the king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands.
Now the king had commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, "Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom." And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains orders concerning Absalom. So the people went out into the field of battle against Israel Israel
Even though David was a proven king and mighty in battle, his people did not want him to go to war against the enemy, who were the rebellious ones of Israel Israel
"Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. "For I have come to 'set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law'; "and 'a man's enemies will be those of his own household.' "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. "And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. "He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. Matthew 10:34-39
Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:17-21
Unlike many religious ones Jesus didn’t deny that there would not be conflict or wars but rather stated ‘Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to 'set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.' But we are repay no one evil for evil. If it is possible, as much as depends on us we are to live peaceably with all men. We are not to avenge yourselves, but rather give place to the wrath of God for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. We are not to be overcome by evil, but are to overcome evil with good. But we can pray as Jesus told us to pray for God’s vengeance?
Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying: "There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. "Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, 'Get justice for me from my adversary.' "And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, 'Though I do not fear God nor regard man, 'yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.' "
Then the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge said. "And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? "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
Yes, Jesus has promised that He who is the Avenger for His trusting ones will avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them. And He will avenge them speedily for the Lord is a man of War and His word is true:
"For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, Now I will arise," says the LORD; "I will set him in the safety for which he yearns." Psalm 12:5
Then Moses and the children of Israel Red Sea . The depths have covered them; They sank to the bottom like a stone. "Your right hand, O LORD, has become glorious in power; Your right hand, O LORD, has dashed the enemy in pieces. And in the greatness of Your excellence You have overthrown those who rose against You; You sent forth Your wrath; It consumed them like stubble. Exodus 15:1-7
After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God! "For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her."
Again they said, "Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever!" And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, "Amen! Alleluia!"
Then a voice came from the throne, saying, "Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!" Revelations 19:1-5
Yes, God has promised "For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, Now I will arise," says the LORD; "I will set him in the safety for which he yearns." So God’s trusting ones can rejoice because the battle is the Lord’s and He will fight for them in the battles of life and give them total and complete victory. His word is true:
"Then I said to you, 'Do not be terrified, or afraid of them. 'The LORD your God, who goes before you, He will fight for you, according to all He did for you in Egypt before your eyes, 'and in the wilderness where you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a man carries his son, in all the way that you went until you came to this place.' Deuteronomy 1:29-31
"When you go out to battle against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God is with you, who brought you up from the land of Egypt
"So it shall be, when you are on the verge of battle, that the priest shall approach and speak to the people. "And he shall say to them, 'Hear, O Israel: Today you are on the verge of battle with your enemies. Do not let your heart faint, do not be afraid, and do not tremble or be terrified because of them; 'for the LORD your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you, (to give you victory).' Deuteronomy 20:1-4
"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. Deuteronomy 28:7
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world-our faith. 1 John 5:4
Yes, thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world-our faith.
Now king David not only received the victory from a battle in which he didn’t fight but he had some very nice qualities of being humble and submitted that all of God’s people should have. The bible records for our profit and instruction about submitting to one another in the fear of God and "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble:”
Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God. Ephesians 5:17-21
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Romans 12:9-16
But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." James 4:6
Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." 1 Peter 5:5
Chapter 21
We Are The Offspring Of God
"God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. "Nor is He worshiped with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. "And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, "so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; "for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.'
"Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man's devising. "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, "because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead." Acts 17:24-31
A young man of 28 years of age who was now a pagan and a witch stated:
Purpose of my Religion
One of the greatest questions that a religionist can ask himself is what the purpose of his religion is. It is through answering this question with as much thought as possible that the spiritual pilgrim begins to truly own his path. It is my intent to begin answering this question for myself.
The most simple -- and most obvious -- answer to this question for me is to promote personal growth. I began my search along the Old Ways
As I see it, my spiritual walk has served two purposes in turn. At first, the primary focus of my spiritual journey was self-empowerment. When I left Christianity in 1998, I was trapped in a world of self-loathing, guilt, and feelings of helplessness. It was through ritual, meditation, spellwork, and many other disciplines that I began to break out of my bondage. I began to see myself as a wonderful and strong person. I came to take control of my own life and destiny.
Upon becoming more self-empowered and breaking through my prison, my focus began to shift slightly. Now that I was no longer afraid of myself, I found myself wanting to know just who I was. So I began a journey of self-exploration and self-understanding. Through the study of history, mythology, and runelore, I began to find what ideals and spiritual truths resonated with me. By focusing on these truths and working through the lore, I was able to learn much about my own personality and inner workings.
As time goes by, I find my journey beginning a third segment: That of self-transformation. As I continue to work with the lore that I have gathered -- and new lore as I add it to my understanding -- I find myself compelled to seek out new understandings. I find myths whose lessons and truths I have yet to learn. I find that knowing who I am today is not enough. I find myself compelled to strive to become the person I can be tomorrow. This life is truly about change. What transformation I shall ultimately undergo is not clear to me. But it does not matter. I know that with careful work on my part, I will be pleased with and proud of whoever I become.
Of course, neither of the first two stages of my journey are truly complete. They are all a part of one another. I cannot change without finding strength within myself. And that change will both make me stronger and help me understand myself better. It is all a part of the transformation process. And this process truly excites me.
This particular gentleman rejected Christianity where he ‘was trapped in a world of self-loathing, guilt, and feelings of helplessness.’ And no doubt being a man of intellect he rejected a religion that was based on words and only made him feel lousy. But the fact remains that in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom doesn’t know God, it pleases God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. God’s word is unchanging:
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent." Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 1 Corinthians 1:17-25
But some would as what is the message of the Cross? Is it not ‘to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect?’ Is it the flesh and blood will not inherit the kingdom of God kingdom of God kingdom of God kingdom of God kingdom of God kingdom of God kingdom of God kingdom of God kingdom of God kingdom of God kingdom of God kingdom of God kingdom of God kingdom of God kingdom of God kingdom of God kingdom of God kingdom of God kingdom of God
The message of the cross is all of this and much, much more! The message of the cross is that the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever! And only those who by faith accept the finished work of the cross, repent and humble themselves like little Children, are born again and filled with the Spirit of God and become righteous shall inherit the kingdom of God
"When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. "All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. "And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.
"Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 'for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 'I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.'
"Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 'When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 'Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'
"And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'
"Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 'for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 'I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.'
"Then they also will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?' "Then He will answer them, saying, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.' "And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." Matthew 25:31-46
Chapter 22
The Lord Is Longsuffering Toward Us
For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:5-9
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12
God has a reason and a season for everything that He does including not bringing judgment upon men because He is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. He who has created and preserves heavens and earth by His word has promised that the heavens and the earth are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. The fact that God is the Judge and Destroyer of men and even the whole earth is something that many take lightly even though God’s word states:
But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day; as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Jude 1:5-7
Yes, Sodom Gomorrah
Now the LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, "keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children's children to the third and the fourth generation." Exodus 34:5-7
Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who "will render to each one according to his deeds": eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness-indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God. Romans 2:1-10
In spite of the riches of God’s goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering judgment, tribulation and anguish comes on every soul of man who does evil for there is no partiality with God. God, who is no respecter of persons, by no means clears the guilty especially those who have trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace. ‘For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries’ said the writer of Hebrews 10:26. God’s word is unchanging:
God is jealous, and the LORD avenges; The LORD avenges and is furious. The LORD will take vengeance on His adversaries, And He reserves wrath for His enemies; The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, And will not at all acquit the wicked. The LORD has His way In the whirlwind and in the storm, And the clouds are the dust of His feet. He rebukes the sea and makes it dry, And dries up all the rivers. Bashan and Carmel Lebanon
The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him. But with an overflowing flood He will make an utter end of its place, And darkness will pursue His enemies. Nahum 1:2-7
Ye, for some the LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him? But others the LORD avenges and is furious. He will take vengeance on His adversaries, and He reserves wrath for His enemies. With an overflowing flood He will make an utter end of their high places, and darkness will pursue His enemies. Yet God’s word is unchanging:
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. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
"Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation." Psalm 91:9-16
"Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Luke 10:19
Chapter 23
The LORD lives!
The LORD lives! Blessed be my Rock! Let the God of my salvation be exalted. Psalm 18:46
He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved. Psalm 62:2
Yes, for those who have made the Lord their Savior, Redeemer, Master and all they can look unto the Lord who made heaven and earth to help them, preserve them from all evil and preserve their going out and their coming in. God’s word is unchanging:
I will lift up my eyes to the hills-From whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel
Unto You I lift up my eyes, O You who dwell in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, So our eyes look to the LORD our God, Until He has mercy on us. Psalm 123:1-2
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16
Yes, the Lord doesn’t change and He is faithful to His trusting ones. He is after all the faithful and true one. His word is unchanging:
`Behold, I will bring it health and healing; I will heal them and reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth. `And I will cause the captives of Judah Israel
"Thus says the LORD: `Again there shall be heard in this place-of which you say, "It is desolate, without man and without beast"-in the cities of Judah, in the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without man and without inhabitant and without beast, `the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who will say: "Praise the LORD of hosts, For the LORD is good, For His mercy endures forever"- and of those who will bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause the captives of the land to return as at the first,' says the LORD. "Thus says the LORD of hosts: `In this place which is desolate, Jeremiah 33:6-12
God is faithful and He will bring health and healing to His people. He will heal them and reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth. He will cleanse them from all their iniquity and He will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned and by which they have transgressed against Him. `Then it shall be to Him a name of joy, a praise, and an honor for all the good that He will do to them and for all the goodness and all the prosperity that He provide for them. For His word is unchanging:
And He said to them, "Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, `Friend, lend me three loaves; `for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; "and he will answer from within and say, `Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you'?
"I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.
"So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Luke 11:5-10
Jesus encouraged all of His disciples to pray to their heavenly Father concerning their needs, spiritual, physical, and financial and to ask, seek, and knock with a promise that "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." So if men are lacking anything and their needs are not being met it's because they are not heeding the words of Jesus who clearly told them what to do including:
So He said to them, "When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one." Luke 11:1-4
God is more willing to give than His children are willing to ask. Heaven is full of things that were not given or done by God to His children because they did not ask, seek and knock! God's has done His part and His sons and daughters must do their part in order to receive. For God's word is unchanging:
Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.
For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. 2 Peter 1:1-9
By the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ God through His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises. Promises that have no value if they are not accepted and acted on!
It's up to each child of God to add to his faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. Again God has done His part and redemption plan is finished! But God's children have to enter in and appropriate the victories of the cross and see them become a reality in their lives. "For the persistence ones Jesus has promised that God will rise and give them as much as they need. As God's word is unchanging:
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. James 5:13-18
The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man doesn't avail little but much. The American Heritage Dictionary defines the word much as:
much adj. more, most . 1. Great in quantity, degree, or extent. —much n. 1. A large quantity or amount. 2. Something great or remarkable. —much adv.
In other words the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man produces something great or remarkable and even miraculous. As God's word is unchanging:
When the LORD brought back the captivity of Zion
Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord-that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful. James 5:11
God is listening and watching His children with a Father's heart. He loves to answer their prayers and to turn things around for them just like He did for Job. His word is true:
And so it was, after the LORD had spoken these words to Job, that the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, "My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.
"Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and My servant Job shall pray for you. For I will accept him, lest I deal with you according to your folly; because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has."
So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the LORD commanded them; for the LORD had accepted Job.
And the LORD restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. Then all his brothers, all his sisters, and all those who had been his acquaintances before, came to him and ate food with him in his house; and they consoled him and comforted him for all the adversity that the LORD had brought upon him. Each one gave him a piece of silver and each a ring of gold.
Now the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys. He also had seven sons and three daughters. Job 42:7-13
The Lord who is compassionate and gracious supernaturally delivered Job and restored double to him all that he had lost as a result of his trials and testing at the hands of the enemy. He also miraculously extended Job's life one hundred and forty years. So he saw his children and grandchildren for four generations and died, old and full of days.
God is able to do such kind of things for those who are faithful to Him and do not give up their integrity and faith. For God's word is true:
Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord-that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful. James 5:11
Chapter 24
Faith Without Works Is Dead
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. 1 Corinthians 12:7-11
We live in a generation of so-called believers who don’t believe God and as a result their faith doesn’t have works that Jesus talked about:
And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; "they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."
So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen. Mark 12:11-20
God has appointed in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues so that His people can be saved, set free, healed, delivered and restored. But religious ones who call themselves Christians and believers deny the existence and place of apostles, prophets, miracles, gifts of healings and varieties of tongues! So how can they help and heal the people? They cannot! God’s word is unchanging:
What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe-and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. James 2:14-26
You cannot be a believer and deny what Jesus said that believers should do, ‘these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; "they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover?’
It’s amazing how Christians will fight tooth and nail about Pauline doctrines of once saved always saved, women being silent in the churches, eternal judgment, etc. but ignore the commands and words of Jesus including:
But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.' " Matthew 4:4
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. "If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. John 14:12-14
The good news of the Gospel is that faith in God will move a mighty mountain or calm the trouble sea just like Jesus did on the storm sea of Galilee. Miracles are now a reality because God exists and is approachable through Jesus Christ. The bible records:
On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side." Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?"
Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?" And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!" Mark 4:35-41
And Jesus went about all Galilee , teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. Then His fame went throughout all Syria
Yes, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. He can do today what He did yesterday and will do tomorrow. He will heal sick people afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who are demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics. God’s word is unchanging:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. Matthew 5:3-8
"Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. "For with God nothing will be impossible." Mark 1:36-37
Because of what Jesus Christ did on the Cross of Calvary and when He said it’s finished salvation, miracles, healing and good things can be a reality for those who believe. God will do mighty things for those who believe as God’s word is unchanging:
And Mary said: "My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation. He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich He has sent away empty. He has helped His servant Israel
Chapter 30
Called To Inherit A Blessing
Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. For "He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil." 1 Peter 3:8-12
Just like Abraham was called to inherit a blessing, to be blessed greatly and to be a blessing to others, each one of God’s children is called to inherit a blessing. God’s word is unchanging:
"Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. "From the wilderness and this Lebanon Great Sea
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go Joshua 1:4-9
Yes, as the Lord was with Moses and Joshua so He is with His trusting ones. He will in no wise leave, fail or forsake them. He has commanded them to be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. Therefore they are to humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you as God’s word is unchanging:
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 1 Peter 5:6-10
And the LORD said: "I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt
"But I am sure that the king of Egypt Egypt
Yes, God who delivered the children of Israel out of their oppressions and sorrows in Egypt, spoiled them with the plunder of Egypt, and brought them to a land flowing with milk and honey with a mighty hand, miraculous wonders and terrible judgments has not changed one bit. He is still able to deliver and bless His trusting ones out of any negative circumstance that they might find themselves in and bring them safely to the other side of health, wealth and prosperity just like a certain woman did. The bible records for our profit and instruction:
Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse.
When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, "If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well." Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.
And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, "Who touched My clothes?"
But His disciples said to Him, "You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, 'Who touched Me?' " And He looked around to see her who had done this thing.
But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction." Matthew 5:25-34
The part that I enjoy the most about this true story is that she said, "If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well." Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. God is not in the business of putting afflictions on people but He is in the business of removing afflictions. His word is unchanging:
Then His fame went throughout all Syria
So they went out and preached that people should repent. And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them. Mark 6:12-13
So He came to Nazareth
"The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD." Luke 4:16-19
"how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. Acts 10:38
Chapter 25
He Who Has Ears To Hear, Let Him Hear!
"He who has ears to hear, let him hear! Matthew 13:1-9
"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God." ' Revelations 2:7
We know from the gospel that Jesus told us through the hearing of the ear the word of God is sown in the heart of man and the same seed brings different results. And in the book of Revelations where Jesus through Apostle John spoke to the seven churches in Asia minor Jesus repeated the same phrase seven times ‘He who has an ear, let him hear!’ He didn’t say he that has eyes let him see or he that can read let him read? No, Jesus was trying to get a point across that was stated in the law of Moses:
"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. Deuteronomy 28:1-6
"But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: "Cursed shall you be in the city, and cursed shall you be in the country. "Cursed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. "Cursed shall be the fruit of your body and the produce of your land, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks. "Cursed shall you be when you come in, and cursed shall you be when you go out. Deuteronomy 28:15-19
In other words Jesus was telling the churches that being religious was not good enough but they had to ear and obey the voice of the LORD their God or they wouldn’t prosper! And the seven churches in Asia minor including Ephesus Smyrna Sardis Philadelphia Laodicea
"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. John 10:27
Now the Lord heard the groaning of the children of Israel Israel
"With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful; With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless; With the pure You will show Yourself pure; And with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd. You will save the humble people; But Your eyes are on the haughty, that You may bring them down.
"For You are my lamp, O LORD; The LORD shall enlighten my darkness. For by You I can run against a troop; By my God I can leap over a wall. As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him. "For who is God, except the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God? God is my strength and power, And He makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of deer, And sets me on my high places. He teaches my hands to make war, So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. "You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your gentleness has made me great. 2 Samuel 22:26-36
Yes with the merciful the Lord will show Himself merciful; with a blameless man He will show Himself blameless; with the pure He will show Himself pure; and with the devious He will show Himself shrewd. He will save the humble people and bring down the haughty ones. He is the strength and power of His trusting ones and makes their way perfect. He is their shield and exceeding great reward and a very present help in time of trouble. He is the God in heaven who rules over all the kingdom of the nations. In His hand there is power and might, so that no one is able to withstand Him and His trusting ones can call upon Him with judgment, pestilence or famine comes upon them. He will hear and save them for His word is unchanging:
Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court, and said: "O LORD God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You? "Are You not our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel
"And now, here are the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir-whom You would not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them and did not destroy them- "here they are, rewarding us by coming to throw us out of Your possession which You have given us to inherit. "O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You."
Now all Judah Judah Jerusalem Jerusalem
Yes, the battle is the Lord’s and He fights for those who hear and obey His voice and walk in His ways just like He did for the children of Judah who began to sing and praise the Lord and the Lord set ambushes against their enemies causing them to destroy one another. As a result it took the children of Israel
Now when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated. For the people of Ammon and Moab Mount Seir
So when Judah
When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away their spoil, they found among them an abundance of valuables on the dead bodies, and precious jewelry, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away; and they were three days gathering the spoil because there was so much. And on the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berachah
Then they returned, every man of Judah Jerusalem Jerusalem Jerusalem Israel
Chapter 26
Have Faith In God?
Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter, remembering, said to Him, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away."
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. Mark 11:20-24
Did Jesus lie when He said 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? Of course not for God has given to each person a measure of faith that could and will accomplish the impossible. The size of the faith seems to be irrelevant but the use of the faith is not. For God’s word is true:
Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, "which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches." Matthew 13:31-32
And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour.
Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?"
So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. "However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting." Matthew 17:18-21
Faith the size of a mustard seed is all that is required to move any mountain for if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. The first mountain that needs to be removed before any other mountain is removed is unbelief. Unbelief hinders or short-circuits the power of God. We see a good example of this in the life of Jesus when He visited His hometown. The bible records:
Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these parables, that He departed from there. And when He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, "Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? "Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? "And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?" So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house." Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief. Matthew 13:53-58
Unbelief is no respecter of persons and it can be found amongst all classes of people including Pagans and Christians. Unbelief blocks the mighty works of God even if people say they are bible believers who belief the whole bible to be the inspired word of God cover to cover! And hence because in reality many Christians are unbelievers miracles, signs and wonders do not follow their words or prayers and they are dead the moment they are spoken or prayed.
Now Apostle Paul by whom God worked unusual miracles by his hands, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them, did not deny people could use their faith to do unprofitable things. The bible records for our profit and instruction:
And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way. 1 Corinthians 12:28-31
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. 1Corinthians 13:1-3
The lack of love and especially unforgiveness, not the use of faith, is the most serious problem that people have. Without love or unforgiveness anything that is done profits the doers nothing. Yet God’s word is unchanging:
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
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
As we yield to the Spirit we will have faith, love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. It will flow out of us naturally like rivers of living waters that Jesus promised to believer. The bible records for our profit and instruction:
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. "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." 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. John 7:37-39
Yes, God’s people must tap into the Spirit and start believing, confessing the word, speaking to their mountains and asking the Father in Jesus name to do and give things. They must not allow their faith to fail. For God’s word is unchanging:
And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. "But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren." Luke 22:31-32
"And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. "If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. John 14:13-14
"You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. John 15:16
"And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. "Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. John 16:23-24
"In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; John 16:26
Chapter 27
Do Demons Afflict People Today?
"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. "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. John 14:26-27
I was visiting my doctor’s office for a semi annual check up and picked up some very interesting material about the different disorders that people are suffering today. What was interesting that in many cases the physicians were not able to really treat the disorders or really know the causes of them. Mind you the political correct answer is that everybody could have a chemical imbalance in their brain that probably causes these thing!
I found out that probably no single situation or condition causes anxiety disorders. Rather, physical and environmental triggers may combine to create a particular anxiety illness. For example, psychoanalysts suggest that anxiety stems from unconscious conflicts that arise from discomfort during infancy or childhood and learning. Theorists believe that anxiety is a learned behavior that can be unlearned. Recently, many scientists and researchers have found that biochemical imbalances are anxiety-causing.
Everyone experiences anxiety, whether it's dreading tomorrow's math test or fearing a dangerous situation. However, anxiety disorders cause the level of anxiety to be out of proportion to the situation and interfere with normal, daily activities.
Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent group of psychiatric disorders in the United States
Although these disorders are amenable to treatment, the majority of sufferers don't receive appropriate care. Most often, people with anxiety disorders will seek relief from the physical symptoms, such as rapid heart rate, respiratory distress or nausea, and may not be aware or may not want to admit that there are emotional causes for the symptoms.
"People worry about being labeled 'crackpots' if they admit to overwhelming anxiety or fear," says Dager. "But there is evidence that these symptoms are the result of healthy coping mechanisms gone awry. And worrying about them tends to exaggerate their effects."
There are several different types of anxiety disorders. The most common are:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), exaggerated tension without apparent cause, can be debilitating but doesn't usually cause people to avoid certain situations. People with GAD often seem unable to relax or fall asleep and may experience lightheadedness, shortness of breath, nausea, trembling, muscle tension, headaches, irritability, or sweating.
Panic Disorder (PD) causes people to feel terror suddenly and unpredictably. PD can become disabling when people avoid situations they fear may bring on an attack. Panic attack symptoms include rapid pulse, chest pains, shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea, numbness, trembling, and a fear of going crazy or dying. Depression or alcoholism often accompanies PD. Panic disorder is probably the best studied and understood of the anxiety disorders.
Agoraphobia, the most disabling anxiety disorder, is diagnosed when panic attacks cause people to increasingly refrain from normal activities. As such people avoid situations where they fear an attack may occur -- in crowds and stores and on bridges and public transportation -- they become so restricted, they may not leave their homes.
Social Phobia (SP), an intense fear of humiliation in social settings, may cause sufferers to avoid parties, public speaking, eating out, or even signing a check in public. Unlike shyness, those with SP can feel at ease around others, yet particular situations, like walking down an aisle, cause intense anxiety. SP disrupts relationships and careers as sufferers avoid certain situations.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is characterized by rituals, such as washing hands or checking things repeatedly (compulsions), or persistent, unwelcome thoughts, such as fears of committing violent acts, of performing sexual acts repugnant to the person, or of thoughts contrary to the person's religious beliefs (obsessions). Compulsive activities consume an hour or more each day and interfere with daily life.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can result after a terrifying event, causing sufferers frightening thoughts and memories. Anniversaries of the incident can be difficult and ordinary events can trigger flashbacks or intrusive images. Sufferers may become easily irritated or have violent outbursts. Depression, substance abuse, or anxiety may accompany PTSD.
I also noted that many people who call themselves Christians have a form of godliness but deny God’s power. They don’t know the Holy Ghost as a friend and guide and don’t have a relationship with Him. They have not personally experienced or known the saving, healing and delivering power of God as I and many others have, even though their own bible states:
He sent from above, He took me; He drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, From those who hated me, For they were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my calamity, But the LORD was my support. He also brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me because He delighted in me. Psalm 18:16 -19
Our fathers trusted in You; They trusted, and You delivered them. They cried to You, and were delivered; They trusted in You, and were not ashamed. Psalm 22:4-5
Oh, magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together. I sought the LORD, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing. Psalm 34:3-10
Our modern day politically correct society doesn’t believe in the existence of demons. So how can you deal with or cast out something that doesn’t exist? You cannot for the first solution to any problem is to recognize there is a problem. And very few want to recognize the fact that demons are behind many sicknesses, fears and disorders. They don’t want to believe Jesus who gave them they answer:
"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." Matthew 16:19
"And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; Mark 16:17
It’s amazing how people are afraid of talking dealing with demons and say you have to be a super spiritual giant to handle them. They forget the power of the name of Jesus and what Jesus could do. The bible records in the gospel of Luke what Jesus could do for those who are bound by a spirit of infirmity:
Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up.
But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, "Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity." And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.
But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, "There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day."
The Lord then answered him and said, "Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? "So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound-think of it-for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?"
And when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him. Luke 13:10-17
Yes, Jesus Christ who is the same yesterday, today and forever could do today what He did yesterday and will do tomorrow. He can and will deliver people from demons, fear and all disorders if they call upon His name and put their trust in Him:
Then they sailed to the country of the Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee . And when He stepped out on the land, there met Him a certain man from the city who had demons for a long time. And he wore no clothes, nor did he live in a house but in the tombs.
When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said, "What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me!" For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had often seized him, and he was kept under guard, bound with chains and shackles; and he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the wilderness.
Jesus asked him, saying, "What is your name?" And he said, "Legion," because many demons had entered him. And they begged Him that He would not command them to go out into the abyss.
Now a herd of many swine was feeding there on the mountain. So they begged Him that He would permit them to enter them. And He permitted them. Then the demons went out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the lake and drowned.
When those who fed them saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country. Then they went out to see what had happened, and came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. Luke 8:26-35
Chapter 28
We Look At Things Not Seen?
Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
For most dust mites the present world that we live in is the only real world. They don’t see or experience the kingdom of God kingdom of God
For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly. Psalm 84:11
"However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. "He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. "All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you. John 16:13-15
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9
And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Phillippian 4:19
God’s richest in glory by Christ Jesus are unlimited and so are His power and resources. God is more enough to deal with any problem and to meet each and every need that His trusting children might present to Him. All things that belong to the Father belong to Jesus and hence they belong also to His blood bought spirit filled redeemed children. And Apostle Paul has ‘stated that my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.’ This is also part of the gospel of the good news of Christ that everything that belongs to Jesus now belongs to us. God’s word is true:
Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come-all are yours. And you are Christ's, and Christ is God's. 1 Corinthians 3:21-23
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8
Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. 3 John 1:2-4
Yes, God is able to make all grace abound toward His own, that they, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. But it's not perspiration or study of bible that is the answer but yield to the Holy Spirit, our guide, our counselor, our friend, our helper, our comforter, our sustainer, so that He can dispel and deal with negative things in our lives especially the works of the devil and his wiles. That is why the Bible states:
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, Ephesians 3:20
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:1-2
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1Thessalonians 5:16 -23
Yes, God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to or in proportion the power that works in us. Mind you it takes child like faith to totally surrender to the power of God and allow Him to move unhindered and unrestricted in our hearts and lives. It also requires faith and endurance for the promises of God are inherited through faith and patience. God’s word is unchanging:
I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies. The pangs of death surrounded me, And the floods of ungodliness made me afraid. The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me; The snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called upon the LORD, And cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, And my cry came before Him, even to His ears. Psalm 18:36
And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, "Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you." And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. Hebrews 6:11-15
Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord-that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful. James 5:11
Yes, the end of Job was better than his beginning. The LORD, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, comforted in all his tribulation. He blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys. After his trial Job lived one hundred and forty years, and saw his children and grandchildren for four generations. He is after all the God who raises the dead, gives power to get wealth and is the great Deliverer. His word is unchanging:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.
Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.
For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia : that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many. 2 Corinthians 1: 3-11
Chapter 29
God Is Faithful
But as God is faithful, our word to you was not Yes and No. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us-by me, Silvanus, and Timothy-was not Yes and No, but in Him was Yes. For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
Moreover I call God as witness against my soul, that to spare you I came no more to Corinth
One of the great characteristics of God is His faithfulness – faithfulness to His word and to His promises in His words as well as to His trusting ones. All the promises of God in Christ are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God who has anointed us and also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. The bible records for our profit and instruction:
"Behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth. And you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing has failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spoke concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one word of them has failed. Joshua 23:14
As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him. For who is God, except the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God? It is God who arms me with strength, And makes my way perfect. Psalm 18:30 -32
My eyes shall be on the faithful of the land, That they may dwell with me; He who walks in a perfect way, He shall serve me. Psalm 101:6
God who is faithful loves those who are faithful. His eyes are upon the faithful of the land that they might dwell with Him. His word is unchanging:
And the Lord said, "Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? "Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. "Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has.
"But if that servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, "the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
"And that servant who knew his master's will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
"But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more. Luke 12:42-48
Yes, God promised to promote the faithful ones and demote the unfaithful ones. He has also promised to beat with many stripes a servant who knew his master's will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will. While he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.
Speaking of the word more the bible records for our profit and instruction:
'I gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your keeping, and gave you the house of Israel Judah
And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?"
So he answered, "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." And Elisha prayed, and said, "LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 2 Kings 6:15-17
Yes God is willing to give His trusting ones much more than He has already given them. Yes, more are those who are with them than those who are against them. Yes, God is greater than anything and knows all things. Yes, whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. Yes, He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world. God’s word is unchanging:
For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. 3:21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment. 1 John 3:20-23
You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4
Chapter 30
The Exceeding Greatness Of His Power
Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 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, 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, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 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. Ephesians 1:15-21
God never intended that human wisdom and understanding be a replacement for the Holy Spirit and the wisdom, knowledge and understanding that He provides about God, the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and the exceeding greatness of His power toward those who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 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.
Unfortunately the fall of man in the garden of Eden has blinded the eyes of man from being a spirit person and living in the spirit and made him to be a person of the flesh who seeks after all that is in the world including the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. As Apostle Paul has stated 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. Yet God’s word is unchanging:
Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 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. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake. 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.
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed- always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us, but life in you. And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed and therefore I spoke," we also believe and therefore speak, knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. 2 Corinthians 4:1-14
Christians are believers who allow the life of Jesus to be manifested through them including through the gifts of the Spirit such as the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, gifts of healings, the working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, different kinds of tongues, and the interpretation of tongues. As believers they guard their faith and don’t allow the devil to steal things from them. For God’s word is unchanging:
"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. John 10:10
And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will. 2 Timothy 2:24-26
Yes, the enemy ensnares people and steals from them their God given health, wealth, prosperity and blessings. But God is also in the restoration business and He restores to God's people all that they have lost:
Be glad then, you children of Zion Israel
"And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. "And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD. And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved. For in Mount Zion Jerusalem
Now God does bring some unusual negative circumstance on people because of their wayward sins and ways. But He also provides through faith a method of deliverance. The bible records:
"When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, "if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:13-14
Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 5 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. Hebrews 12:11-16
Unfortunately many people don’t get out of their negative circumstances because they look at the problems and not to the Lord who is their only solution and method of escape. It’s just like God to toss a person out in middle to the lake so that he might learn to swim and not to analyze the lake. The bible records for our profit and instruction:
For those blessed by Him shall inherit the earth, But those cursed by Him shall be cut off. The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the LORD upholds him with His hand. I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lends; And his descendants are blessed.
Depart from evil, and do good; And dwell forevermore. For the LORD loves justice, And does not forsake His saints; They are preserved forever, But the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off. Psalm 37:22-28
Chapter 31
Then He Arose And Rebuked The Wind
On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side." Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?"
Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?" And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!" Mark 4:35-41
There are many religious ones who get offended at the notion that we can do whatever Jesus did even speaking to the storms and say "Peace, be still!" until there is a calm. They get offended at the idea that we can be little Jesus running around laying hands on the sick so that they will recover or casting out devils so that they might be free. But this is exactly what Jesus said His disciples are supposed to do:
And the apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." 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. "And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at once and sit down to eat'? "But will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink'? "Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not.
"So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.' " Luke 17:5-10
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. "If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. John 14:12-14
Yes the Lord who made and sustains heaven and earth is more than enough to sustain and bless His trusting ones. He is after all the God who destroyed the world and blessed Noah, destroyed Sodom Gomorrah Egypt
For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)- then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord. 2 Peter 2:4-11
Yes, the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment day of judgment. He is the Lord who made the seven churches in Asia minor to be a nonexistent thing? God’s word is unchanging:
"And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, ' These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: "I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. "Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. "And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. "Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. "I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works. Revelations 2:18-23
Here we see in the book of the dead that God didn't judge the quick and the dead but existing churches who didn't hear what the Spirit was saying to the churches. One of the other great names of the Lord besides being a man of war is that He is the Judge of All the earth who renders to people in the present times according to their ways for after all He doesn't change and is the same yesterday, today and forever. His judgments are real and they are in the now?
For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. And again, "The LORD will judge His people." It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Hebrews 10:26-31
"Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" Genesis 18:25
'Now see that I, even I, am He, And there is no God besides Me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; Nor is there any who can deliver from My hand. For I raise My hand to heaven, And say, "As I live forever, If I whet My glittering sword, And My hand takes hold on judgment, I will render vengeance to My enemies, And repay those who hate Me. Deuteronomy 32:39-40
The judgments of God and his rewards upon the righteous in the current time of life are real and are not a joke. The LORD will judge His people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God? God’s word is unchanging:
The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me. Psalm 18:20
The righteous shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance; He shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked, So that men will say, "Surely there is a reward for the righteous; Surely He is God who judges in the earth." Psalm 58:10-11
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. Psalm 01:7-8
He who despises the word will be destroyed, But he who fears the commandment will be rewarded. Proverbs 13:13
Whoever rewards evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house. Proverbs 17:13
Yes, there is a reward for the righteous even in the current time of life. The blessings of the Lord makes a person rich and He adds no troubles with it, especially to those who praise the Lord continually. The bible records for our profit and instruction about Paul and Silas:
Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.
Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed. And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, "Do yourself no harm, for we are all here." Acts 16:22-28
Yes for those who are righteous and praise the Lord continually there will be a ‘suddenly’ where the there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed. God’s word is unchanging:
Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. Hebrews 13:15
I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. Psalm 34:1
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." Psalm 35:27
But I will hope continually, And will praise You yet more and more. Psalm 71:14
He who continually goes forth weeping, Bearing seed for sowing, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, Bringing his sheaves with him. Psalm 126:6
Chapter 32
I Believe!
Jesus departed from there, skirted the Sea of Galilee , and went up on the mountain and sat down there. Then great multitudes came to Him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others; and they laid them down at Jesus' feet, and He healed them. So the multitude marveled when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel. Matthew 15:29-31
who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness-by whose stripes you were healed. 1 Peter 2:24
“Heavenly Father, I come in faith believing that Jesus Christ healed me. The woman in the Bible that was bleeding used her faith to touch Jesus and she was made whole. I use my faith now as I speak the words, "By the wounds of Jesus Christ, I am healed." I believe I receive the miraculous power of God to heal me from every sickness, disease, and disability in the name of Jesus Christ, I release my faith. Amen.”
Yes, this is the prayer that all of God’s children should pray and confess today rather than is it God’s will to heal people. Jesus Christ expressed God’s will when they laid down at Jesus’ feet the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others and He healed them. As result the multitude marveled when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel. Yes, God gets glory when His children are healed, delivered and set free.. No parent wants to see His children poor, naked and destitute? And neither does God. He is a good God and His word is unchanging:
Then one of the crowd answered and said, "Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. "And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not."
He answered him and said, "O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me."
Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth.
So He asked his father, "How long has this been happening to him?" And he said, "From childhood. "And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us."
Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" Mark 9:18-24
Yes, the words of Jesus are true today as they were yesterday and will be tomorrow "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." Yes, the name of Jesus is greater than any sickness, diseases, infirmity, poverty, lack or mountain. Everything must bow at the name of Jesus. Yes, the sick, the poor and the needy, need to use their faith and touch Jesus and be whole. God’s word is unchanging:
Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped.
And Jesus said, "Who touched Me?" When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, "Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, 'Who touched Me?' "
But Jesus said, "Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me."
Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately. And He said to her, "Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace." Luke 8:42-48
When doctors give a bad report or when they have done all that they can do, Jesus Christ can and will do the impossible for those who believe. There is no one understanding or compassionate like God in Christ Jesus. He will stand still and give a miracle for those who believe. His word is unchanging:
Now as they went out of Jericho
Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet; but they cried out all the more, saying, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!"
So Jesus stood still and called them, and said, "What do you want Me to do for you?"
They said to Him, "Lord, that our eyes may be opened."
So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him. Matthew 20:29-34
Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, "Let no fruit grow on you ever again." Immediately the fig tree withered away. And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, "How did the fig tree wither away so soon?"
So Jesus answered and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' it will be done. "And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." Matthew 21:18-22
Yes, God doesn’t lie “if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' it will be done. "And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” Just like money sitting in the bank doing nothing, faith that is not used or released produces nothing. But God’s word is unchanging:
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.
By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not found, because God had taken him"; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:1-6
By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.
By faith the walls of Jericho
By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace. And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again. And others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Hebrews 11:29-35
Chapter 33
His Mercies Are Very Great
I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD And the praises of the LORD, According to all that the LORD has bestowed on us, And the great goodness toward the house of Israel, Which He has bestowed on them according to His mercies, According to the multitude of His lovingkindnesses. Isaiah 63:7
The bible tells us Satan stood up against Israel Israel Israel
So David said to God, "I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing; but now, I pray, take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have done very foolishly."
And the LORD spoke to Gad, David's seer, saying, "Go and tell David, saying, 'Thus says the LORD: "I offer you three things; choose one of them for yourself, that I may do it to you." ' "
So Gad came to David and said to him, "Thus says the LORD: 'Choose for yourself, 'either three years of famine, or three months to be defeated by your foes with the sword of your enemies overtaking you, or else for three days the sword of the LORD-the plague in the land, with the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the territory of Israel.' Now consider what answer I should take back to Him who sent me."
And David said to Gad, "I am in great distress. Please let me fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies are very great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man."
So the LORD sent a plague upon Israel Israel Jerusalem
Then David lifted his eyes and saw the angel of the LORD standing between earth and heaven, having in his hand a drawn sword stretched out over Jerusalem
Therefore, the angel of the LORD commanded Gad to say to David that David should go and erect an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 1 Chronicles 21:9-18
David, when he was given a choice of the kind of judgment Israel Israel Israel Jerusalem Jerusalem
There are many truths in this episode that God’s people ignore including the fact that though God causes grief, Yet He will show compassion According to the multitude of His mercies. When one mans sins greatly he does bring God’s judgments on all the people. And God’s judgments do include famine in the land, being defeated by your foes with the sword of your enemies overtaking you, having the sword of the LORD-the plague in the land.
There are many foolish ones amongst God’s people who don’t think that God judges today with famine, sword, disasters or pestilence. They think is all just natural disasters that are consequences of the original sin in the Garden of Eden. So they don’t have a time of mourning and repentance that God will take away His judgments and heal the land even though God’s word is unchanging:
"When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, "if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:13-14.
Now Herod had been very angry with the people of Tyre Sidon
So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. And the people kept shouting, "The voice of a god and not of a man!"
Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died. But the word of God grew and multiplied. Acts 12:20-24
Wise king Nebuchadnezzar learned the hard way that God’s judgment in the current time of life upon a man or a nation are real and that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He choose. As a result he praised and extolled and honored the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice that those who walk in pride He is able to put down. The bible records for our profit and instruction:
The king spoke, saying, "Is not this great Babylon
While the word was still in the king's mouth, a voice fell from heaven: "King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you! And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses."
That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar; he was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair had grown like eagles' feathers and his nails like birds' claws.
And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom is from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven And among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand Or say to Him, "What have You done?" At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and splendor returned to me. My counselors and nobles resorted to me, I was restored to my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me.
Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down. Daniel 4:30-37
Chapter 34
God’s Blessings Is Upon His People!
Arise, O LORD; Save me, O my God! For You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone; You have broken the teeth of the ungodly. Salvation belongs to the LORD. Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah Psalm 3:7-8
God isn’t poor and there is no reason any of His children should be. He is unlimited in riches, resources and power that He wants to give and use for their good. By faith through the name of Jesus they can tap into all that belongs to them as heirs of salvation including victory, joy, abundance, peace and prosperity. God’s word is unchanging:
"Behold, I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. "Beware of Him and obey His voice; do not provoke Him, for He will not pardon your transgressions; for My name is in Him.
"But if you indeed obey His voice and do all that I speak, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries. "For My Angel will go before you and bring you in to the Amorites and the Hittites and the Perizzites and the Canaanites and the Hivites and the Jebusites; and I will cut them off. "You shall not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do according to their works; but you shall utterly overthrow them and completely break down their sacred pillars. "So you shall serve the LORD your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you. "No one shall suffer miscarriage or be barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days. "I will send My fear before you, I will cause confusion among all the people to whom you come, and will make all your enemies turn their backs to you. Exodus 23:20-27
God isn’t the enemy of His trusting ones but rather He has promised to be their God and to be an enemy to their enemies and an adversary to their adversaries. "He has promised that if they would serve the LORD their God, He would bless their bread and their water and take all sickness away from their midst. What God has done before He will do again and the new covenant is a better covenant than the old one. God’s word is unchanging:
"Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. "I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. "Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God. "I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses. I will call for the grain and multiply it, and bring no famine upon you. "And I will multiply the fruit of your trees and the increase of your fields, so that you need never again bear the reproach of famine among the nations. Ezekiel 36:25-30
I will love You, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies. Psalm 18:1-3
Yes, at any time, day or night, we can call upon our LORD, our strength, our rock, our fortress, our deliverer; our God, our shield and the horn of our salvation, our stronghold and our exceeding great reward and be saved from our enemies whatever or whoever they might be. He will send help from above and draw us out of many waters. He will deliver us from our strong enemy and from those who hate us and are too strong for us. He will be, do and give all things for us because He loves us and is our God. His word is unchanging:
Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen 1 Peter 5:5-11
God who made the world out of nothing but just is word can handle or solve any problem that His trusting ones give to Him. He is more than enough to meet each need, more than enough to move any mountain, more than enough to heal any sickness and more than enough to do great and wonderful things for His trusting ones. His word is true:
When the LORD brought back the captivity of Zion
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this," Says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it. "And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field," Says the LORD of hosts; "And all nations will call you blessed, For you will be a delightful land," Says the LORD of hosts. Joel 3:10-12
Yes, those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. Yes for His trusting ones the will open for them the windows of heaven and pour out for them such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. And He will rebuke the devourer for their sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of their ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for them in the field. Because God is a good and powerful God, He will do all these things for them and much, much more. His word is unchanging:
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the LORD, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive. Jeremiah 29:11-14
He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:11-13
And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. John 20:30-31
Chapter 35
Possessor Of Heaven And Earth
Then Melchizedek king of Salem
"And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. Deuteronomy 8:19
Because God is God and the Possessor of heaven and earth He has the ability to give power to get wealth to His trusting ones so that He might establish His covenant with them. To the LORD belongs the greatness, the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty; for all that is in heaven and in earth is His including the kingdom Both riches and honor come from Him and He reigns over all so He can do whatever He desires to do with all that belongs to Him. His word is true:
Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, And You are exalted as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You, And You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; In Your hand it is to make great And to give strength to all. 1 Chronicles 29:11-12
For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, Blessed is the man who trusts in You! Psalm 84:11-12
"Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' "For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. "But seek first the kingdom of God
Yes the Lord who blessed righteous Abraham has not and doesn’t change and He will bless all those who are of the seed of Abraham, the father of faith, the father of all those who believe. His word is true:
And the LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing, "since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? "For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice, that the LORD may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him."
And the LORD said, "Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave, "I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know." Genesis 18:17-21
But the other side of the coin is that while God will bless those who command their children and their household to keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice, that the LORD may bring to them what He has promised them, He will also curse and judge those who don’t walk in His way. There are even in the current time of life rewards and consequences for deeds, actions and choices made by men. Some like Sodom Gomorrah
Yes, again and again they tempted God, And limited the Holy One of Israel. They did not remember His power: The day when He redeemed them from the enemy, When He worked His signs in Egypt, And His wonders in the field of Zoan; Turned their rivers into blood, And their streams, that they could not drink. He sent swarms of flies among them, which devoured them, And frogs, which destroyed them. He also gave their crops to the caterpillar, And their labor to the locust. He destroyed their vines with hail, And their sycamore trees with frost. He also gave up their cattle to the hail, And their flocks to fiery lightning. He cast on them the fierceness of His anger, Wrath, indignation, and trouble, By sending angels of destruction among them.
He made a path for His anger; He did not spare their soul from death, But gave their life over to the plague, And destroyed all the firstborn in Egypt
The real sad and tragic part of the deliverance of the children of Israel Egypt
"Then I said to you, 'Do not be terrified, or afraid of them. 'The LORD your God, who goes before you, He will fight for you, according to all He did for you in Egypt before your eyes, 'and in the wilderness where you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a man carries his son, in all the way that you went until you came to this place.' "Yet, for all that, you did not believe the LORD your God, "who went in the way before you to search out a place for you to pitch your tents, to show you the way you should go, in the fire by night and in the cloud by day. "And the LORD heard the sound of your words, and was angry, and took an oath, saying, 'Surely not one of these men of this evil generation shall see that good land of which I swore to give to your fathers, 'except Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to him and his children I am giving the land on which he walked, because he wholly followed the LORD.' Deuteronomy 1:29-36
Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you-unless you believed in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:1-2
Unbelief is expressed in many ways and according to the word of God it’s people to believe God in vain by not holding fast onto the word that was given by God. Only Joshua and Caleb who wholly followed the Lord got to see the good land which the Lord had promised to the captive children of Israel Egypt
Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.
Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play." Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer.
Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 1 Corinthians 10:1-12
Chapter 36
Let Us Love In Deed And In Truth?
We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 1 John 3:14-18
An homemaker and horticulturist defined a 'christian' as “ They're neither male nor female, as they are a New Creation in Christ Jesus.........They're a follower of Christ Jesus. They see and esteem others better than themselves. They are not haughty and/or puffed up and/or wise in their own eyes. They're the ones that continually remove the log from their own eye, in order to better assist their brother/sister in the Body. They are kind, and not jealous, not arrogant, do not act unbecomingly, do not seek their own righteousness, do not take into account the wrong committed against them. They do NOT REJOICE IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS, but believe the BEST of everyone, and rejoices in THE truth, (Jesus Christ) . They have this attitude that was in Christ Jesus..........who humbled Himself, taking the form of a servant, making Himself of NO reputation and became obedient, even unto death.
A Christian is of the same mind as Christ Jesus, who did nothing from selfish motives or empty conceit. One who considers others better than themselves, who is familiar with the prayer Jesus offered on the cross, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do," and has become an extension of the Lord Jesus Christ, in that they stand-in-the-gap for others, considering others better and more important than themselves.
It’s obvious that this definition doesn’t match reality or there are very few Christians around are selfless to the point of being so perfect in their own mind. This dichotomy between loving in word or in tongue and in deed and in truth is a problem with many mystical deceived Christians who fail to understand that it’s doers of the word, and not hearers only who are a blessing to others and are blessed by God. Faith expressed by words with out works is dead faith. Jesus Christ was a man of action and He not only spoke kind and harsh words but He gave deeds to them. The bible records for our profit and instruction:
"how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. Acts 10:38
So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. James 1:19-27
Yes pure religion is not defined by words but by deeds. Visiting orphans and widows in their trouble and keeping oneself unspotted from the world is a very practical application. Standing in the gap is wonderful but its application is useless to a brother or sister who is need! Yes, by this we know love, because Jesus laid down His life for us we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. Now laying down one’s life for the brethren is a costly thing that words alone do not express. Saying ‘I love you and God bless you’ with out giving money and help to a poor and needy person is hypocritical and deceiving. True Christianity has to have a social gospel attached to it. The bible records for out profit and instruction:
Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. "For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call." And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation."
Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:37-47
"Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, "by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus." And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. Acts 4:29-33
The early Christians, all who believed, were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. They prayed for boldness, grace and miracles and received what they had prayed for. They didn’t ignore the needs of others and great grace was upon them all.
Christianity that is devoid of good works and meeting the needs of others is a false religion. We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. He gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. We must learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that we may not be unfruitful for God’s word is unchanging:
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10
who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. Titus 2:14
This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men. Titus 3:8
And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful. Titus 3:14
And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, Hebrews 10:24
Chapter 37
For With God Nothing Will Be Impossible
"Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. "For with God nothing will be impossible." Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her. Luke 1:36-38
For those who have been born again and filled with the Spirit of God they have put their trust in a miracle working God of infinite richest, resources and power. Their trust is not in some doctrine, creed, theology, dream, or guru but in the living God who raised Jesus Christ from the dead and is the savior of all who believe. Their trust is in the one who said:
…"If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." Mark 9:23
"And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." Mark 16:17-18
"He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." John 7:38
Yes, their trust is in a miracle working God who is greater than any demon or negative circumstances that might stand in their way. Their trust is in the God who parted the Red sea and brought His people safely to the other side while destroy their enemies in the same sea. Their trust is in the one who said:
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. "If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. John 14:12-14
"Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. "From the wilderness and this Lebanon Great Sea
"Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. "Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. "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.
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:3-9
Yes for those who believe every place that the sole of their foot will tread upon God has given them. Yes, they are to strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD their God is with them wherever they go. He will not leave, fail or forsake them ever. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. What He has done before He can and will do again! He is God after all and not a man. He is a miracle working God with whom nothing is impossible. No mountain, enemy, problem or needs is too big that He cannot handle and deal with. He is still God through the darkest night and the fiercest storms. His word is unchanging:
The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing. Psalm 34:10
For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly. Psalm 84:11
Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. Psalm 103:2-5
Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!"
But He said to them, "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?" Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm So the men marveled, saying, "Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?" Matthew 8:23-27
Yes, He is the God who stills and rebukes the storms of life and brings His trusting ones to the other side of plenty and prosperity. Yes, He is the God who has promised that no good thing He will withhold from those who walk uprightly. Yes He is the God who forgives all our iniquities, heals all our diseases, redeems our life from destruction, crowns us with lovingkindness and tender mercies, satisfies our mouth with good things, so that our youth is renewed like the eagle's. Yes, in the storms of life God can be trusted to calm the storms and to bring His trusting ones to their desired haven. His word is unchanging:
Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, And declare His works with rejoicing. Those who go down to the sea in ships, Who do business on great waters, They see the works of the LORD, And His wonders in the deep. For He commands and raises the stormy wind, Which lifts up the waves of the sea. They mount up to the heavens, They go down again to the depths; Their soul melts because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, And are at their wits' end. Then they cry out to the LORD in their trouble, And He brings them out of their distresses. He calms the storm, So that its waves are still. Then they are glad because they are quiet; So He guides them to their desired haven. Psalm 107:21-40
Yes, there is no want to those who fear the Lord. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing for God’s word is unchanging:
I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; The humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together. I sought the LORD, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.
Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing. Psalm 34:1-10
Chapter 38
Lets Go On To Maturity
And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 1 Corinthians 3:1-2
Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits. Hebrews 6:1-3
You cannot do much with a small baby except feed it with milk, change its diapers and put up with its crying? Unfortunately the word of God tells us that this is what many Christians are like. They are carnal babes in Christ stuck on the elementary principles of Christ of salvation or evangelism and haven’t become spiritual people who are able to bring health, healing, deliverance, prosperity and maturity to others even though God’s word states:
And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head-Christ- from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. Ephesians 4:11-16
Yes, God expects all of His children to come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ and to edify the body of Christ. He doesn’t expect them to continue being children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head-Christ- from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
God is a God abundance, more than enough, too much and the God of overflow. He has stated repeatedly in His word in Joshua 1:8-9 that He would cause those who meditate in His word day and night to prosper. He has promised in His word in Deuteronomy 15:6 and 28:12 that His people will be blessed to lend and to give and never need to borrow. He has promised in Psalm 34:10 and 37:4 to give them the desires of their heart, and they would not lack any good things. He has promised in His word in Exodus 3:21-22 to give them favor, creative ideas, insight into things about to happen, and the wisdom, knowledge and understanding to carry out the ideas that He gives them. But just like the children of Israel
"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. "Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? "Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Matthew 7:7-11
"For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. Matthew 13:13
We alone, not God, limit our prosperity and abundance by not being aggressive in prayer like the blind men or not making the right choice or actions concerning the negative things around us including the poor. God’s word is unchanging:
When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, "Son of David, have mercy on us!" And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to Him, "Yes, Lord." Then He touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith let it be to you." Matthew 9:27-29
He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, And He will pay back what he has given. Proverbs 19:17
Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor Will also cry himself and not be heard. Proverbs 21:13
He who has a generous eye will be blessed, For he gives of his bread to the poor. Proverbs 22:9
He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches, And he who gives to the rich, will surely come to poverty. Proverbs 22:16
The word of God promises that if we are givers to the poor we shall be blessed for he who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, and He will pay back what he has given But if we shuts our ears to the cry of the poor we will also cry and not be heard or if we are givers to the rich we will surely come to poverty. It’s our iniquities or sins that withhold good things from us, not God. God’s word is unchanging:
At the evening sacrifice I arose from my fasting; and having torn my garment and my robe, I fell on my knees and spread out my hands to the LORD my God. And I said: "O my God, I am too ashamed and humiliated to lift up my face to You, my God; for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has grown up to the heavens. "Since the days of our fathers to this day we have been very guilty, and for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plunder, and to humiliation, as it is this day. Ezra 9:5-7
Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, And your fingers with iniquity; Your lips have spoken lies, Your tongue has muttered perversity. No one calls for justice, Nor does any plead for truth. They trust in empty words and speak lies; They conceive evil and bring forth iniquity. They hatch vipers' eggs and weave the spider's web; He who eats of their eggs dies, And from that which is crushed a viper breaks out. Their webs will not become garments, Nor will they cover themselves with their works; Their works are works of iniquity, And the act of violence is in their hands. Their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed innocent blood; Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; Wasting and destruction are in their paths. The way of peace they have not known, And there is no justice in their ways; They have made themselves crooked paths; Whoever takes that way shall not know peace. Isaiah 59:1-8
Yes the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But our iniquities have separated you from your God; and our sins have hidden His face from us so that He will not hear. For we have made ourselves crooked paths; our hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; our lips have spoken lies, our tongue has muttered perversity. No one call for justice, nor do any plead for truth but we trust in empty words and speak lies; we conceive evil and bring forth iniquity and the act of violence is in their hands. Our feet run to evil, and we make haste to shed innocent blood; our thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in our paths and the there is no justice in our ways. But God’s word is unchanging:
I will love You, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies. Psalm 18:1-3
"When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, "if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:13-14
This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. 1 John 1:5-10
Chapter 39
God Is Not Mocked?
THE ELDER, To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth: Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. 3 John 1:1-4
There are those who live to talk and preach about the goodness of God and how He desires the utmost prosperity of His children. While this is true the fact cannot be ignored that prosperity in all things as well as being in health relates to their soul prospering as well and that they are walking in truth. In general God will not give His total prosperity and best anointing to people who are unholy and are living immoral lives. He will take them through a process of trials, fires and suffering because He will trust them with great wealth and power just like He did to Joseph whom He brought from a prison to a palace. He took Joseph from sharing his father’s Jacob wealth, to being second to Pharaoh of Egypt and sharing and using the wealth of Egypt
"And the patriarchs, becoming envious, sold Joseph into Egypt Egypt Egypt
David, the shepherd boy, had little problems in his life until Prophet Samuel anointed him to be the king over Israel
Now it happened, when David and his men came to Ziklag, on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attacked Ziklag and burned it with fire, and had taken captive the women and those who were there, from small to great; they did not kill anyone, but carried them away and went their way. So David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive.
Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep. And David's two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite, had been taken captive. Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God. Then David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son, "Please bring the ephod here to me." And Abiathar brought the ephod to David.
So David inquired of the LORD, saying, "Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?" And He answered him, "Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all." So David went, he and the six hundred men who were with him, and came to the Brook Besor, where those stayed who were left behind. 1 Samuel 30:1-9
After his anointing Saul became a bitter enemy of David who had to flee for his life and raise up an army of cutthroats, thieves and out casts just to survive. Killing became a way of life for David. Yet, the Lord was with His anointed one and gave him total victory over all his enemies including the house of Saul. The bible records:
And when he had brought him down, there they were, spread out over all the land, eating and drinking and dancing, because of all the great spoil which they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah
David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away, and David rescued his two wives. And nothing of theirs was lacking, either small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything which they had taken from them; David recovered all. Then David took all the flocks and herds they had driven before those other livestock, and said, "This is David's spoil." 1 Samuel 30:16-20
Then David spoke to the LORD the words of this song, on the day when the LORD had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. And he said: "The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; The God of my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, My stronghold and my refuge; My Savior, You save me from violence. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies. 2 Samuel 22:1-4
God would not let David build the Temple
But it happened that night that the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying, "Go and tell My servant David, 'Thus says the LORD: "Would you build a house for Me to dwell in? "For I have not dwelt in a house since the time that I brought the children of Israel up from Egypt, even to this day, but have moved about in a tent and in a tabernacle. "Wherever I have moved about with all the children of Israel Israel Israel
"Now therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts: "I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel
"When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. "He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 2 Samuel 7:4-13
When David sinned by murdering a man and stealing his wife God brought real judgment upon David and his life became nothing but war and trouble. The bible records for our profit and instruciton:
Then Nathan said to David, "You are the man! Thus says the LORD God of Israel Israel Israel Judah
"Thus says the LORD: 'Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. 'For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. Galatians 6:7
David reaped what he had sowed in his life and so do all of us for God is not to be mocked, whatever a man sows that he will also reap. You cannot do whatever you want to do without paying for your mistakes and deliberate sins! There are daily real choices to be made and resultant consequences of those choices. You cannot blame it all on the devil even though God works all things together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purposes. God’s word is unchanging:
"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: "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.
"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: "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall." Matthew 7:24-27
Jesus Christ who doesn’t lie has told us that when a wise man builds his house on the rock the storms of life will not knock it down. But the foolish man who builds his house on the sand will pay the price for his foolishness and great shall be the fall of his house.
Chapter 40
Why God Can Be Trusted For Everything?
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day. Genesis 1:1-5
Man is only a dust mite here today and gone tomorrow, but God remains the same unchanging forever! He who in beginning created the heavens and the earth by the power of His spoken word is more than enough to be to His trusting ones whatever they need including their Savior, Healer, Deliverer, Provider, Defender, Refuge, Comforter, and God. Because He loves them so much He will gladly be, do, give, reverse and restore all things for them. His word is unchanging:
Then He said: "A certain man had two sons. "And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.' So he divided to them his livelihood. "And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.
"But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. "Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. "And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything. "But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 'I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, "and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants." '
"And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. "And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
"But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 'And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 'for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry. Luke 15:11-24
Yes in story of the prodigal son we see the foolishness of men who stray from their heavenly Father to do their own thing and suffer the consequences of living away from the Father. But we also see the goodness of the heavenly Father who gladly took back the prodigal son and restored all things to him. Yes, God who already gave His best, His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ His wonderful Counselor the Holy Spirit, is more than willing to give whatever is needed to His trusting children to make them for than conquerors and total winners. His word is unchanging:
For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly. Psalm 84:11
Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. Psalm 103-3-5
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Romans 8:31-37
Now the words 'all things' means just what they mean – all things. All things include salvation, healing, deliverance, financial blessings, and every good thing for God is in the blessing business rather than the cursing business. His word is true:
"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. Deuteronomy 28:1-6
And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, "Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you." And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. Hebrews 6:11-15
Through faith and patience all the promises and blessings of God are inherited freely including great blessings just like Abraham was blessed as God’s is no respecter of persons and shows partiality to no one. His word is true:
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, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved. Ephesians 1:3-6
Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.1 Peter 3:8-9
When the LORD brought back the captivity of Zion
Yes, the LORD does great things for His trusting ones and freely gives them all things. Yes, God’s blessed ones freely give to others what they have freely received from God including the Spirit, power, and blessings. God’s word is unchanging:
"Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Matthew 10:8
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8
But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 1 Peter 5:10
Chapter 41
Unless I Had Believed
I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living. Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD! Psalm 27:13-14
I will extol You, O LORD, for You have lifted me up, And have not let my foes rejoice over me. O LORD my God, I cried out to You, And You healed me O LORD, You brought my soul up from the grave; You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit. Psalm 30:1-3
Christianity is not a religion but a relationship with a God who is our refuge and a very present help in time of trouble. It’s a relationship with a God who saves, heals, and delivers his trusting ones in their hour of need. We have an excellent example of this in the life of king Hezekiah. The bible records:
In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, "Thus says the LORD: 'Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.' "
Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the LORD, and said, "Remember now, O LORD, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what is good in Your sight." And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
And the word of the LORD came to Isaiah, saying, "Go and tell Hezekiah, 'Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father: "I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will add to your days fifteen years. "I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria , and I will defend this city." ' "And this is the sign to you from the LORD, that the LORD will do this thing which He has spoken: Behold, I will bring the shadow on the sundial, which has gone down with the sun on the sundial of Ahaz, ten degrees backward." So the sun returned ten degrees on the dial by which it had gone down. Isaiah 38:1-8
Yes, the God who healed king Hezekiah from his sickness and added fifteen years to his life has not changed one single bit. What He has done before He can and will do again and much, much more for He is a God who responds to faith and the prayers of His children. His word is unchanging:
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. James 5:13-18
"When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, "if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 1 Chronicles 7:13 -14
There are some foolish ones who don’t believe that God heals today under the new superior covenant. But God healed in Abraham’s day before the covenant was given? He healed under the old covenant even when Jesus walked the earth as the Son of God and the Son of Man? So why should He not heal today? Yes, He will heal those who cry to Him in their trouble and will save them out of their distresses. He will send His word and heal them and deliver them from their destructions because He is a good God. His word is unchanging:
Fools, because of their transgression, And because of their iniquities, were afflicted. Their soul abhorred all manner of food, And they drew near to the gates of death. Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, And He saved them out of their distresses. He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions. Psalm 107:17-20
'Behold, I will bring it health and healing; I will heal them and reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth. 'And I will cause the captives of Judah Israel
The purpose of God for His people is not destruction and desolation but health, healing, blessings and prosperity. God is a good God who wants good things for His people. It’s the devil, not God, who has come to steal and to destroy and to deceive by any and all means. God has never changed and He desires to heal His people and to reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth. He desires to cleanse and pardon them from all their iniquity and to provide them with goodness and all the prosperity so that they might be to Him a name of joy, praise and honor testifying to the goodness of the Lord. His word is unchanging:
He sent from above, He took me; He drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, From those who hated me, For they were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my calamity, But the LORD was my support. He also brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me because He delighted in me. Psalm 18:16 -19
I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; The humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together. I sought the LORD, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing. Psalm 34:1-10
Yes, the Lord is good and He gives grace to the humble and delivers them out of all their troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them. O There is no want to those who fear Him. While the young lions lack and suffer hunger, those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing for God doesn’t lie though others do. His word is true:
Be glad then, you children of Zion Israel
Chapter 42
You, Lord, Are Good, And Ready To Forgive
For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You. Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; And attend to the voice of my supplications. In the day of my trouble I will call upon You, For You will answer me. Among the gods there is none like You, O Lord; Nor are there any works like Your works. All nations whom You have made Shall come and worship before You, O Lord, And shall glorify Your name. For You are great, and do wondrous things; You alone are God. Psalm 86:6-10
Yes, the Word of God instructs us that Lord is good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon Him. In the day of trouble His trusting ones can call upon Him and He will answer them and do great and wondrous things for them exceedingly abundantly above all that they ask, think or prayer for God’s word is unchanging:
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8
For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height- to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
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, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:14-21
The words ‘God’s riches in Glory,’ ‘an abundance for every good work’ and ‘exceedingly abundantly’ are pleasant and wonderful words in a world of sickness, disease, shortages, suffering, injustice, and lack. The truth and reality of a prayer answering God is a blessing in a cold self-centered world but God’s word is unchanging:
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. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot. "Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation." Psalm 91:9-15
Yes for those who walk in the light of God’s presence and His word there is no darkness or despair but rather blessings, protection, prosperity and victory from a mighty God who doesn’t know the word defeat. His word is unchanging:
"And the LORD, He is the one who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed." Deuteronomy 31:8
This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. 1 John 1:5-10
For those who walk with the Lord, He not only is with them but goes before them, as He will never leave, fail or forsake them. As a result the Lord will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God and save them. He will change their desert for them and it shall rejoice and blossom abundantly as the rose. There shall be waters bursting forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert as God’s word is true:
The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, And the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose; It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice, Even with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon Carmel Sharon
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like a deer, And the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, And streams in the desert. The parched ground shall become a pool, And the thirsty land springs of water; In the habitation of jackals, where each lay, There shall be grass with reeds and rushes. Isaiah 35:1-7
Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, My servants shall eat, But you shall be hungry; Behold, My servants shall drink, But you shall be thirsty; Behold, My servants shall rejoice, But you shall be ashamed; Behold, My servants shall sing for joy of heart, But you shall cry for sorrow of heart, And wail for grief of spirit. You shall leave your name as a curse to My chosen; For the Lord GOD will slay you, And call His servants by another name; So that he who blesses himself in the earth Shall bless himself in the God of truth; And he who swears in the earth Shall swear by the God of truth; Because the former troubles are forgotten, And because they are hidden from My eyes. Isaiah 65:13-16
Yes, God is a miracle working God who rained manna from heaven, parted the red sea, miraculous feed the five thousand men with two loves and fishes, and raised Jesus Christ from the dead can do anything but fail His trusting ones. He responds to the prayers and cries of His people and does great and wonderful things for them. His word is unchanging:
Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy, And gathered out of the lands, From the east and from the west, From the north and from the south. They wandered in the wilderness in a desolate way; They found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, Their soul fainted in them. Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, And He delivered them out of their distresses. And He led them forth by the right way, That they might go to a city for a dwelling place. Psalm 107:1-7
Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, And declare His works with rejoicing. Those who go down to the sea in ships, Who do business on great waters, They see the works of the LORD, And His wonders in the deep. For He commands and raises the stormy wind, Which lifts up the waves of the sea. They mount up to the heavens, They go down again to the depths; Their soul melts because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, And are at their wits' end. Then they cry out to the LORD in their trouble, And He brings them out of their distresses. He calms the storm, So that its waves are still. Then they are glad because they are quiet; So He guides them to their desired haven. Psalm 107:21-30
The word of God is a testimony to the fact that great and wonderful things happen when God’s people pray in unison and one accord and how God hears and answers their prayers. The bible records of once such incidence:
"Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, "by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus." And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles' feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need. And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet. Acts 4:31-37
Chapter 43
Without Me You Can Do Nothing.
Give us help from trouble, For the help of man is useless. Through God we will do valiantly, For it is He who shall tread down our enemies. Psalm 108:12-13
"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. John 15:5
There are always those who have a better idea, but Jesus taught His true disciples that without Him men can do nothing while the psalmist prayed to God and said ‘Give us help from trouble, For the help of man is useless. Through God we will do valiantly, for it is He who shall tread down our enemies.’ Human perspiration and efforts can do only so much but God’s power and might is unlimited. He can and will do for His trusting ones what no others can do for God specializes in things impossible. God is...
I. Self-existent.
(Acts 17:24-25) "God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; {25} Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;"
A. God is not dead!
1. He is alive, and He is characterized by life.
2. Not only does God have life, but He has a kind of life that is different from that of every other living being.
3. While all other beings have their life in God, He does not derive His life from any external source.
B. God doesn't need anything!
1. Every one of us have specific needs.
2. But God is self-existent!
3. We often speak of Him needing things, but that isn't really accurate.
4. He exists and the continuation of His existence doesn't depend upon anything outside of Him.
5. That means that He doesn't need us, but oh, how we need Him!
II. He is Omnipresent.
(Jer 23:23-24) "Am I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off? {24} Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD."
A. Although God is separate from His creation…
B. His essence is present in every place.
C. This characteristic logically flows from the fact that God is pure spirit and, therefore, cannot be limited by space.
D. Listen to what David wrote about the omnipresence of the Lord.
(Psa 139:7-10) "Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? {8} If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. {9} If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; {10} Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me."
III. He is Omnipotent.
A. That simply means He is all-powerful.
1. When God told Sarah that she would give birth to a son, she laughed because she was too old.
2. According to the laws of nature, it was impossible for her to give birth to a child.
3. God asked the question, "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" NO!
4. When God promised Abraham he would have many descendants, his response was one of faith.
(Rom 4:20-21) "He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; {21} And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform."
B. Nothing shall be impossible.
1. When the angel came to bring the news to Mary that she would give birth to the Savior, she asked how that was possible, since she was a virgin?
2. His answer was simply this.
(Luke 1:37) "For with God nothing shall be impossible."
3. Why? Because God is omnipotent!
4. What is it that we think is impossible?
5. Some may recall the little chorus…
Got any rivers you think are un-crossable? Got any mountains you can't tunnel through? God specializes in things thought impossible And He can do what no other one can do. By Oscar G. Eliason
C. We can draw upon a great resource of power.
1. Paul reminds us that through Christ we can do all things.
(Phil 4:13) "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
2. Jesus explained how this is possible.
(John 15:5) "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing."
3. How do we abide in Him? Through our obedience to His Word.
(John 15:7) "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you."
IV. He is Omniscient.
A. Omniscience means that God possesses all knowledge.
1. This includes knowledge of the past, the present, the future and the possible.
2. God knows all things equally well and perfectly.
3. He has never learned and cannot learn.
4. Has it ever occurred to you that nothing ever occurs to God?
B. Recognizing God's Omniscience is also recognition His Sovereignty.
1. That God is omniscient means that all things happen only by God's permission.
2. It is His will that either permits or determines what will occur, and this includes the free actions of men.
3. Isaiah 46:9-10 shows that God has knowledge of all events before they happen because He is God.
(Isa 46:9-10) "Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, {10} Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:"
C. All things…
(Rom 8:28-29) "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. {29} For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren."
1. God is behind the scenes, working all things together for good to those who love Him.
2. These "all things" must include the free choices of human beings...
3. As well as the circumstances of life.
4. How could a loving God allow this or that? Because He has a purpose for all things!
D. God's knowledge includes an intimate knowledge of each one of us
1. He knows everything there is to know about us.
2. He knows what no one else knows.
3. He knows our very thoughts and the intents of our hearts.
(Psa 139:1-4) "… O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. {2} Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. {3} Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. {4} For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether."
God is Self-Existent; Omnipresent, Omnipotent, and Omniscient. Yet in all of His power and majesty, His desire that we might know Him more. To know Him personally. He is a source of unlimited power for us, if we will abide in Him. He has never encountered a problem He couldn’t solve. Someone has said, When God is going to do something wonderful, He starts with a difficulty. When God is going to do something very wonderful and miraculous, He starts with an impossibility.
A. Consider some of the problems God has solved
1. When He needed to get 2 million Jews away from the pursuing Egyptians, He parted the Red Sea .
2. When He needed to quench their thirst in the barren desert, He brought forth water from the rock.
3. When He needed to feed them, He sent them manna.
4. When He needed to convince a nation that Baal was a hoax and He was real, He sent fire from heaven.
5. When He needed a Savior, He created a baby in the virgin womb of Mary.
"Is any thing too hard for the Lord?" "There is nothing too hard for Him."
B. God specializes in solving the "impossible" circumstances of our lives.
1. Put your problem into the question: Is _____ too hard for the Lord?
a. Financial
b. Family
c. Future
2. Our greatest problem is that we resist God’s attempt to solve our problems!
a. We worry about it.
b. We try to work it out ourselves.
c. God tells us to leave it with Him. "Cast all your cares upon Him for He cares for you!"
When we come to our wit’s end. When we have exhausted all our resources, we can remember:
"Is any thing too hard for the Lord?" "There is nothing too hard for Him.”
Chapter 44
He Obtained The Promise
But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, "Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you." And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. Hebrews 6:9-15
Just like victories are obtained after battle, promises of God are obtained through faith and patience. The promises of God don’t become an instant reality with out the Word of God being sown in the hearts of men and allowed to be brought to fruition by faith and prayer. God’s word is unchanging:
Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, "which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches." Matthew 13:31-32
By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.
By faith the walls of Jericho
By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.
And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again. And others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Hebrews 11:30-35
Yes, through faith, not doctrine, kingdoms are subdued, righteousness is worked, promises are obtained, mouth of lions are stopped the mouths of lions, violence of fire is quenched, the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword is escaped, out of weakness men are made strong, become valiant in battle, turn to flight the armies of the aliens. It is understood that without love all things are a waste of time:
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor. Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Romans 13:7-10
Yes, love does no harm to a neighbor. Love does not commit adultery," "Love does not murder," "Love does not steal," "Love does not bear false witness," "Love does not covet." Love does not hate. God’s word is unchanging:
Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. 1 John 2:7-11
We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 1 John 3:15-19
Those who have eternal life demonstrate it by loving the brethren. Because Jesus laid down His life for us we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? It doesn’t! For those who have eternal life love not only in word or in tongues but also in deed and truth! And whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and we know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. Yet God’s word is unchanging:
"Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh?
Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, 'Here I am.' "If you take away the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, If you extend your soul to the hungry And satisfy the afflicted soul, Then your light shall dawn in the darkness, And your darkness shall be as the noonday. The LORD will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. Isaiah 58:6-11
If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. James 1:26-27
Chapter 45
Do Not Be Deceived
Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. James 1:16-18
The American Heritage Dictionary defines deceive as:
de·ceive (d¹-s¶v“) v. de·ceived, de·ceiv·ing, de·ceives. --tr. 1. To cause to believe what is not true; mislead. 2. Archaic. To catch by guile; ensnare. --intr. To practice deceit
Apostle James tells us that those who are hearers only of the word and not doers deceive themselves into thinking that they will receive something from a liberal God when they will not! For God’s word is unchanging:
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. James 1:2-8
Being a believer in God is not enough. The devil believes in God and yet he is not saved nor does he have good works! On the contrary the devil is not only a believer but also a liar, murderer and a thief. But God’s word is unchanging:
What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe-and tremble!
But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. James 2:14-24
Because Abraham believed God Abraham demonstrated his works when he offered his only son on the altar when God demanded it of him. The bible records:
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, "In Isaac your seed shall be called," concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense. Hebrews 11:17-19
Job demonstrated his faith by his works when he told his wife to stop being a foolish woman up when she suggested that he curse God and die. The bible records:
Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD. And the LORD said to Satan, "From where do you come?" So Satan answered the LORD and said, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it."
Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil? And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause."
So Satan answered the LORD and said, "Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. "But stretch out Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will surely curse You to Your face!"
And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life."
So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD, and struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. And he took for himself a potsherd with which to scrape himself while he sat in the midst of the ashes.
Then his wife said to him, "Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!"
But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips. Job 2:1-10
Because Job was faithful God was faithful and He healed Job and restored double Job's losses and blessed his latter days of Job more than his beginning.
Daniel demonstrated his faith by his works when he went home to his upper room and on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days. Mind you this caused Daniel to be thrown into the Lions for the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except the king, would be cast into the den of lions. The bible records:
Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no musicians were brought before him. Also his sleep went from him. Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions. And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?"
Then Daniel said to the king, "O king, live forever! "My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you."
Then the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God.
And the king gave the command, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions-them, their children, and their wives; and the lions overpowered them, and broke all their bones in pieces before they ever came to the bottom of the den.
Then King Darius wrote: To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, And steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, And His dominion shall endure to the end. He delivers and rescues, And He works signs and wonders In heaven and on earth, Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.
So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian. Daniel 6:18-28
Yes, the God of Daniel delivered him l from the power of the lions! But He also caused Daniel’s enemies to be destroyed by the same lions. For the king gave the command, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions-them, their children, and their wives; and the lions overpowered them, and broke all their bones in pieces before they ever came to the bottom of the den.
We see from the word of God that believers get blessed and promoted and deceivers get cursed and demoted for God hasn’t changed one bit. He is the living God, and steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, and His dominion shall endure to the end. He delivers and rescues, and He works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth.
Chapter 46
But To Those Who Fear God’s Name?
"For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven, And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up," Says the LORD of hosts, "That will leave them neither root nor branch. But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings; And you shall go out And grow fat like stall-fed calves. You shall trample the wicked, For they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet On the day that I do this," Says the LORD of hosts. Malachi 4:1-3
God’s word promises great healing, financial and physical blessings for those who fear His name. He has promised to open for them the windows of heaven and pour out for them such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. He has promised to rebuke the devourer for their sake, so that he will not destroy the fruit of their ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for them in the field. He has promised to judge and deal with their enemies including sorcerers, adulterers, perjurers, and those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans. Yes, God has promised to do great and wonder things for them and they shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves. They shall trample the wicked, who shall be ashes under the soles of their feet. And God unlike others keeps His promises for His word is unchanging:
The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe. Proverbs 18:10
God is with His true ones wherever they go. He will strengthen them and bless them because He loves them. The road is never easy but the plagues that come upon man are not theirs but God is their refuge and strength and high tower. He protects them from the storms of life and keeps them in the shadow of His everlasting arms. As His word is true:
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. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.” Psalm 91:1-16
God’s love is both found in acceptance and in judgment. Something few understand. He is the judge as well as the One who ultimately loves. He is patient and long-suffering but even He eventually judge for misdeeds and bring justice to pass on the earth. Because man is so full of corruption he rarely brings about the real thing.
Everything we see on the earth is a counterfeit of the real thing in Heaven. It is far from where it should be - Government, the justice system, the military, the society and so on. All is backward and full of self. The road is full of pitfalls because of the corruption of man, and Christians can be included, that the little light found on the earth is a great deal.
Man lives in the realm of his own thoughts and desires and never considers God in his equation. It’s “Me, Myself and I” is on his dinner plate and he constantly meditates on himself and his desires. Again, this is not what he should be doing in God. God’s people should be walking in His Spirit and be moved with compassion for the hurt and needy around them.
But materialism has overtaken and choked God’s people in North America to the point they are hardly recognizable as children of God and pure light. They are walking in their fleshly desires and don’t count the cost of their service to self. It is a dear price, greater than if they served God in righteousness and truth. Many of them pay Him lip service but their hearts are far from Him.
But God is doing for them what He has always desired to do for them. He loves them and cares for them and He will never let them go because He loves them so. Yet, their lives will end tragically, in sickness and poverty because they did not serve God rightly. This is not true of all of God’s servants. Those who do serve God with all of their talents and gifts and do it with a pure heart will receive their due reward.
It is possible to know God on earth as He is known in Heaven. It is possible to live in 100% totally victory in Christ Jesus. Victory does not mean, no difficulties in life, it means victory over inward negative qualities and a deeper relationship with God that transcends Heaven and earth. Victory belongs to all those who seek God with all of their heart.
A relationship with God is the ultimate in life. There is no better place to be than in Him. If man truly understood this he would not do half of what he does today. He would check everything he does against His Word and His Spirit within him and walk in total victory! If this were not possible God would not have sent Him Son to die for all mankind or give Him as an example of right living and behavior. In Christ is all the right reactions to life. He is man’s strength and Way in the storms and troubles of life.
God has given a way out. Man must follow the Way God has provided a way in Christ. If man makes a choice not to follow is that God’s fault? No. It is his for he does not see the right way out of the circumstance.
Sometimes, God places a man of faith in a difficult circumstances to show Himself more totally to him. And man is fighting and trying to wriggle out of it rather than sit still and see who is really behind his difficulty and turn wholly to Him.
God is in the middle of many of man’s problems because He is trying to get his attention. Yet, man does not turn to God. So, God works harder for his attention with more difficulty until he finally turns to Him and surrenders. Asking for help and finally open to His solutions to his person questions and problems. For God is ultimately man’s solution to his every problem. But man has to recognize that and turn to Him with all of his heart. Better, if he has seen it much sooner and just trusted Him-purely and totally, then he would have avoided the circumstances altogether.
However, man often has to be placed in the fire in order to burn out the pride and self-dependency. So, reluctantly God puts him into the fire to get his attention and deal with him. However, everyone who was easily used against him as an enemy will pay a dear price for having been so easily used for evil. So, everyone who does not turn to God-good or bad or other-pays the ultimate price of loss of fellowship with Him.
The consequences of their acts are fulfilled and lived out resulting in shorter life spans and poor quality of life due to sickness and disease or demon possession. Each man or woman makes their choice and lives with the consequences. Many end in prison or worse. Many live in wealth but still remain in prison because there is no real satisfaction in life without God. This is something that few understand. Better to have lived a few years in Christ than many years far from Him.
In Christ- is a curious phrase. Many think that giving God ‘mental assent’ is enough to be ‘In Christ Jesus.’ However, if this were really true many more would fill God’s Heavenly Kingdom
God gives a righteous man the desires of ‘his heart’ because his motives are pure before me. He desires good things and right things and will readily give all away if God asks him to. But many are takers more than givers. They are not ready to give away their possessions and the truth about God. They hide it and hoard it and then wonder why He is angry with them. They wonder why they are not heard or their miracles needs not met.
It’s because they desire so they can consume it upon their own lusts. Their desire is not pure, to give more than they receive. This includes their pulpits and their musical positions and their business opportunities. Their hand is not extended in friendship and love. Their heart is cold and calculating. How they can take from the unsuspecting sheep.
However, it is not the unsuspecting who is guilty but those who pretend to be what they are not. They are not pure in heart. They are not loving. They are not clean before the Lord. They are not honest. They are not compassionate. They are cruel, self-centered, self-serving and cold of heart. Nothing can cover this truth up. Nothing can change it except a real repentance, with restitution and humbling of heart and spirit to the Lord. This is the only road to real change. Submitting to authorities and other Christians with a humble heart and a willingness to suffer the consequences of their impure behavior.
As the expression goes ‘you can fool some of the people some of the time, some of the people all of the time but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time.’ There are God’s true remnant, who are placed everywhere across on the earth, who are not fooled by the deceptions of men. They are not duped or defrauded or deceived any more by wolves in sheep’s clothing. By men who pretend honest and decency when they are none of these things!
God have place discernment and wisdom and understanding in His remnant so they are not taken away by every foolish deception of man and demons. He will conquer the earth through the power of their testimony of Him. For He is coming in great Power and Great Glory to take over what is rightfully His. This age is coming to an end shortly. The hour is only God ‘s but let no man be deceived He is coming. For He is the Lord and King!
The methods of men are many and varied to reaching or achieving their goals and purposes. Yet, their greatest desire should be toward God-their creator and author. Unfortunately, often they start out meaning well and end far from Him. A man needs only deviate from God’s path very, very slightly and by the end of the journal he has missed by many a mile.
God cries for man and plead with him to return to Him. For this is possible through His Holy Spirit in their life. Yet, men reject the truth and prefer the darkness to which they have gotten used to. They desire the darkness more than the light. This is man’s folly. He desires it because he fears to face the truth about himself. That he is wrong. That he is afraid. That he is a failure. It is one of the devil’s greatest weapons against man.
Yet, if man will bravely face his fears and go beyond his panic he will come to a place of beauty and new truth and understanding in God that will make all his effort worthwhile. He will learn and grow and change in ways he never imagined. But, even this new revelation can be lost or forgotten if he doesn’t keep his eyes stayed on the Lord. Man has to remain in his first love or he will lose even what he has learnt. It is easy to do when the world pressures you with many concerns and lustful desires crowd out the real truth for what seems to be truth—the ‘world’s truth.’
Let us not faint or grow tired in well doing. More, let us walk in the light of the Heavenly Father and trust Him to bring healing and change to our spirits and persons. This is possible by faith and through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. Without Christ, we can’t be changed or made whole. We need what he did on the Cross and we need to take everything that is wrong or a concern to us to the foot of the Cross ‘moment by moment’ in our walk through life.
The person who can be doing other things and yet remain with their mind and spirit on the Lord is the person abiding in the Vine. He is our Vine and vinedresser. He will prune and sustain us with sun and water and fertilizer if we will simply ‘like little children’ trust all of our person and cares to Him routinely. He is more than capable to caring for us because He does so deeply cares for us.
God loves us more than we could ever love Him. He has been reaching out to us to rest in Him. Then, we will find true peace comes from resting in our Lord and Savior. We can trust Him, but we must ‘walk on water.’ Our faith must be stretched out toward Him in implicit Trust. We must be willing to say, ‘if thou wouldst slay me, yet will I trust You!’
God desires to care for His children and see them through to victory in all their affairs of life. He desires them to put their entire beings into His capable hands. If they would open their ears and listen only to His Voice they will receive the right directions for their lives. Then they would not be spinning their wheels in things He has not called them to be doing. What they many be doing might very well be good but it is not what He has called them to do.
It is important they follow His purposes for their life and not their own ideas, no matter how good they may be. For He is their provision and even when it seems nothing is happening He is always at work. He is working His purposes on the earth and men are being led of His invisible hand without their even knowing it. For God has not changed. What He has been doing in the affairs of men He has done since the beginning of time. He will not be overridden.
Chapter 47
The Thief Steals, Kills And Destroys
"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. John 10:10
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour1 Peter 5:8
There are many Christians who accept negative things in their lives as the will of God not appreciating the fact that it was the Devil, not God, who stole things from them including their health or wealth. Now in ignorance or through sin they had given room to the devil to do his thing but it doesn’t change the fact that it’s the devil who did these things and Jesus Christ came to destroy and to reverse the works of the devil. Hence the bible records for our profit and instruction:
When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, Matthew 8:16
"The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD." Luke 4:18-19
Yes, Jesus Christ came to set men free and to heal them of all that the devil had done to them. He came to restore to them everything that they had lost in the Garden of Eden including supernatural health, wealth, abundance and life. But most Christians don’t discern the works of the devil in their hearts and lives even though Jesus told them clearly what he does:
"The sower sows the word. "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.
"These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; "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.
Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, "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.
"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 4:14-20
Yes, the sower sows the word and Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. Yes, there are those who stumble when tribulation or persecution arises for the word's sake. Yes, the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. And yes there are those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.
It’s that simple! The way men respond to the word of God that is sown in their hearts and to their adversary who steals the word sown is what determines if they are successful and prosperous or poor and defeated. As a matter of fact God has very little to do with it all because men by their own choices and actions determine their own fate and even circumstance! God’s hands are tied as he has given to men the gift of faith, His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, and His wonderful Holy Spirit and it’s up to them to receive and act responsibly with what He has given them. But God’s word is unchanging:
When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, "Son of David, have mercy on us!" And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to Him, "Yes, Lord."
Then He touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith let it be to you."
And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, saying, "See that no one knows it."
But when they had departed, they spread the news about Him in all that country. Matthew 9:27-31
"And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. Matthew 19:29
Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." Mark 9:23
"Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. Mark 11:24
Yes it’s your faith or believing that determines the miracles that you will receive from God even in the current time of life! Yes, all things are possible to him who believes. Yes, with God all things are possible. Yes, there is nothing too hard for the Lord to do. Yes, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. Yes, you alone determine what you shall receive or shall not receive from God for God’s word is unchanging:
For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly. Psalm 84:11
"And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. Luke 15:31
Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come-all are yours. And you are Christ's, and Christ is God's. 1 Corinthians 3:21-23
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8
Yes to the God who made the heavens and the earth by His great power and outstretched arm there is nothing too hard for Him. His word is unchanging:
"Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son." Genesis 18:14
"Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me? Jeremiah 32:27
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. John 14:12
Chapter 48
God Is Jealous, And The LORD Avenges
God is jealous, and the LORD avenges; The LORD avenges and is furious. The LORD will take vengeance on His adversaries, And He reserves wrath for His enemies; The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, And will not at all acquit the wicked. The LORD has His way In the whirlwind and in the storm, And the clouds are the dust of His feet. Nahum 1:2-3
"For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. Luke 21:22
Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. Romans 12:19
It seems from scriptures that that David and the Lord instructed us in Luke 18:1-6, and Psalm 109 to pray for vengeance and that God delights to answers such kind of prayer. The bible records this fact:
After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God! "For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her." Again they said, "Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever! Revelations 19:1-3
Contemporary Christianity has preached a loving warm fluffy ball of wool God who forgives anybody for anything and everything and there are no resulting consequences. But it appears their view of forgiveness is different from the forgiveness that the Lord demonstrated in Numbers 14 and AD 70 when He destroyed the nation of Israel Jerusalem
In Numbers 14 the Lord wanted to strike the children of Israel with the pestilence and disinherit them as He later did in AD 70 but Moses interceded on their behalf and asked that the Lord would forgive them based on the fact that 'The LORD is longsuffering and abundant in mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but He by no means clears the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation.' The bible records for our profit and instruction:
"Pardon the iniquity of this people, I pray, according to the greatness of Your mercy, just as You have forgiven this people, from Egypt
Then the LORD said: "I have pardoned, according to your word; "but truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD- "because all these men who have seen My glory and the signs which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have put Me to the test now these ten times, and have not heeded My voice, "they certainly shall not see the land of which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who rejected Me see it. "But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it."Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwell in the valley; tomorrow turn and move out into the wilderness by the Way of the Red Sea ."
And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, "How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who complain against Me? I have heard the complaints which the children of Israel make against Me. "Say to them, 'As I live,' says the LORD, 'just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will do to you: 'The carcasses of you who have complained against Me shall fall in this wilderness, all of you who were numbered, according to your entire number, from twenty years old and above.'Except for Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun, you shall by no means enter the land which I swore I would make you dwell in.
'But your little ones, whom you said would be victims, I will bring in, and they shall know the land which you have despised. 'But as for you, your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness. 'And your sons shall be shepherds in the wilderness forty years, and bear the brunt of your infidelity, until your carcasses are consumed in the wilderness. 'According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, for each day you shall bear your guilt one year, namely forty years, and you shall know My rejection. 'I the LORD have spoken this; I will surely do so to all this evil congregation who are gathered together against Me. In this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.' "
Now the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned and made all the congregation complain against him by bringing a bad report of the land, those very men who brought the evil report about the land, died by the plague before the LORD. But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive, of the men who went to spy out the land. Numbers 14:19-28
We see in this passage of scriptures a demonstration of the Lord’s forgiveness that seems to be unlike the forgiveness that many Evangelicals preach about – unconditional forgiveness without consequences! The Lord forgave the children of Israel
But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. Jude 1:5
It seems that Jesus represents a very vengeful God about whom Paul stated:
For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. And again, "The LORD will judge His people." It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Hebrews 10:26-31
Speaking of judgment and vengeance, the proof is in the pudding! For all practical purposes Christianity in England America
The real bankruptcy of fundamental Christianity has resulted not so much from a reactionary spirit - lamentable as this was - as from a harsh temperament, a spirit of lovelessness and strife contributed by much of its leadership in the recent past. One of the ironies of contemporary church history is that the more fundamentalists Christianity stress Pauline doctrines in their churches, the more a spirit of lovelessness and bitter volubility seems to prevail. Certainly Contemporary Christianity in our present generation with rancorous, bombastic preaching, perversion of the scriptures and lovelessness stands discredited as a perversion of the Christian spirit and Jesus Christ who stated:
"And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. Matthew 5:30
"And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, ' These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: "I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. "Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. "And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. "Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. "I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works. Revelations 2:19-23
"But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." Revelations 21:8
It seems were are not to forget that the LORD avenges and is furious. He will take vengeance on His adversaries, And He reserves wrath for His enemies and His words are true:
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. "Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:10-11
"Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. "For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. "Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:17-19
"He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." John 3:36
Jesus fulfilled the law for all who believe. God will judge even the tinniest infraction of the law. If you are not in Christ then the wrath of God remains on you and you will be cursed by God, not blessed by Him. And what is it to 'obey the Son' now that Christ has fulfilled the law:
"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. "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. "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. "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. "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. "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. "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. "By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. John 15:1-6
And this is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. 1 John 3:23
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world-our faith. 1 John 5:4
It is our faith that overcomes the world now that Christ has come and the proof of our faith is in our love for one another and believing in the name of Jesus Christ. Chapter 49
‘I Am The LORD’
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh. For with a strong hand he will let them go, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land." And God spoke to Moses and said to him: "I am the LORD. "I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name LORD I was not known to them. "I have also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan Israel Israel
For where the Lord is there is great opportunity for victory and the oneness of the Holy Spirit is prevalent everywhere. Yet, men chose to walk in their carnality and flesh and leave the Spirit by the wayside not understanding the precious gift that has been so generously given them. This is the way of wayward men to walk in pride and selfish insolence. But time comes to each of them, the time of reckoning and vengeance. This is a bitter pill to swallow for many of them but it will come nonetheless. For the duty of man is to walk upon the course God has given to each one of them, yet they say in themselves where shall I walk –I know not! If this were true then the Lord would not be whom He claims to be—the King of all Kings and Lord of all Lords. So, where is the victory in this? Where is the glory? For if men, who say in their hearts I know my place and surrender myself to the Lord, could see clearly the way laid out so visibly before them, they would not remain blind and repeatedly requesting what has always been before their very eyes—their path is well laid out, their purpose well defined, and their answers clearly given. It is they, who by reason of their spiritual blindness, remain in the dark because of their ignorance of the Lord and His purpose for their lives. This is the greatest shame—men’s blindness!
The passage of time does little for such men, sad to say, because blindness begets more blindness until all fall into the ditch together and there is no one left to lead the others out of the pit save one—and His Name is Jesus! He is the only way to see clearly the things already laid out before each one of them—He is the Way, the Truth and the Life and no one comes to the Father except through Him!
The ultimate path is so clear and well defined that no one can remain blind to it for long. He has called to us. He has jumped up and down for us. He has rolled for us. He has sung for us. He has shouted to us. He has preached to us. By any and all means He has tried to reach us and opened every avenue of communication possible to man to reach us because He loves us so much. This is the core of the matter—if we will not freely receive what He has freely given then we remain in our blindness be we Christian our not and there remains no hope for those who have made blindness a personal choice.
It is time to do one simple thing—bend our knees in our heart and surrender our blindness to Him and trust Him to open our eyes and show us the wonderful things already available to us awaiting our attention. This is true spirituality. All the works are simply cream on the cake, an outpouring of what He has already defined for us to do in His Service. True spirituality is a far cry from the church we witness in action today—because true spiritually is caring for the needs of others especially the helpless, homeless, widowed, orphaned and lonely. Just a turkey basket each Thanksgiving or Christmas will not do. This outpouring of love must come from the love already abundantly placed in our heart to distribute to the needy around us. We are to just open our eyes and see! God’s word is unchanging:
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. James 1:22-27
Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. James 3:11-18
Yes, men alone choose the wisdom that they want to live by be it the wisdom that does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic and where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there or the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. But those who wait for the Lord shall not be ashamed as God’s word is unchanging:
Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I will lift My hand in an oath to the nations, And set up My standard for the peoples; They shall bring your sons in their arms, And your daughters shall be carried on their shoulders; Kings shall be your foster fathers, And their queens your nursing mothers; They shall bow down to you with their faces to the earth, And lick up the dust of your feet. Then you will know that I am the LORD, For they shall not be ashamed who wait for Me."
Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, Or the captives of the righteous be delivered? But thus says the LORD: "Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, And the prey of the terrible be delivered; For I will contend with him who contends with you, And I will save your children. I will feed those who oppress you with their own flesh, And they shall be drunk with their own blood as with sweet wine. All flesh shall know That I, the LORD, am your Savior, And your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob." Isaiah 49:22-26
Yes, the Lord is the Savior, the Redeemer and the Mighty One of His trusting ones and He will contend with those who contend with them. Those who trust in the name of the Lord shall not be ashamed as God’s word is unchanging:
"Listen to Me, you who follow after righteousness, You who seek the LORD: Look to the rock from which you were hewn, And to the hole of the pit from which you were dug. Look to Abraham your father, And to Sarah who bore you; For I called him alone, And blessed him and increased him." For the LORD will comfort Zion, He will comfort all her waste places; He will make her wilderness like Eden, And her desert like the garden of the LORD; Joy and gladness will be found in it, Thanksgiving and the voice of melody. Isaiah 51:1-3
"O you afflicted one, Tossed with tempest, and not comforted, Behold, I will lay your stones with colorful gems, And lay your foundations with sapphires. I will make your pinnacles of rubies, Your gates of crystal, And all your walls of precious stones. All your children shall be taught by the LORD, And great shall be the peace of your children. 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 . Indeed they shall surely assemble, but not because of Me.
Yes, the Lord who created and sustains heaven and earth will do great things for His trusting ones including blessing and increasing them and comforting them and all their waste places. He will make their wilderness like Eden
"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. Deuteronomy 28:1-13
Yes, God is in the delivering and blessing business and there is none that can stand against Him. He will do all that He has promised to do for those who believe in Him and trust Him. His word is unchanging:
In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem Zion
"There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, Who rides the heavens to help you, And in His excellency on the clouds. The eternal God is your refuge, And underneath are the everlasting arms; He will thrust out the enemy from before you, And will say, 'Destroy!' Then Israel
Walter Kambulow
June 1, 2008
All rights reserved
Burlington, Ontario
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