Tuesday, February 28, 2006

Speak To Your Mountain

MARK 11:23 NKJ
23 "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 come to
pass, he will have whatever he says.

"Talk to mountains? Do you think I'm crazy?"

Jesus talked to things, and taught that "whoever" could also
speak to mountains.

A mountain is primarily any obstacle that stands in your way.

Faced with obstacles, most Christians pray to God. But Jesus
told us to speak directly to the obstacle and tell it to be
removed.

There is nothing wrong with discussing things with God. You
should. But when something is blocking your progress -- Jesus
said YOU should tell it to get out of the way.

Most Christians just speak to God about the mountain, instead
of following Jesus' directions and speaking directly to the
mountain.

Are you just talking to God about the problems in your life,
instead of talking directly to the problems and telling them to
be removed?

MATTHEW 17:20 NKJ
20 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.

According to Jesus, unbelief keeps us from speaking to our
mountains.

What is the mountain in your life? What stands in the way of
your progress? What holds you back from going forward and
fulfilling God's plan?

Speak God's Word to that mountain!

Speak to the devil and his forces and tell them to get out of
your affairs.

Speak to sickness and tell it that it can't stay in your body.

Speak to debt and financial lack and tell them to be removed
from your life.

Speak to doubt, fear, and worry and tell them to be gone.

If you say, "I just can't believe it would do any good for me
to talk to problems," that's why you still have them.

Read what Jesus said again, and again.

SAY THIS: I will speak to the mountains that try to hold me
back.

Monday, February 27, 2006

Faith Pleases God

HEBREWS 11:6 NKJ
6 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.

Our experience does not always agree with what the Bible says.

For example, the Bible says that God will supply all your needs
in Phillipians 4:19, but it may seem like your needs are not
being met.

The Bible says that God always leads us in triumph, but it may
seem like you are losing.

When our experience does not agree with the Bible, it is an
opportunity to keep our faith in what God said, or to give up
on that faith.

Circumstances are subject to change. But God will never change
what He has said. When we hold on to our faith in God's Word,
circumstances will change.

Believing what the Bible says when the circumstances disagree
can be very difficult. It's a great temptation to give in and
forget what God said.

But what greater purpose could your life have than to please
God?

Many people strain and sacrifice to please other humans. How
much greater of a goal it is to please God!

Resist unbelief! Keep your faith in God! You will be rewarded!

SAY THIS: I will believe God's Word regardless what the
circumstances say, because faith pleases God.

Sunday, February 26, 2006

The Benefit Of Prayer

ISAIAH 40:31 NKJ
31 But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and
not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Most people look at prayer only as asking God for things. If
that defines your prayer life, you are really missing out.

Prayer is communication with God -- the greatest privilege on
earth.

Prayer is visiting with God. It can include asking for things,
but is primarily spending time in God's presence, soaking up
His life, His wisdom, and His strength.

Isaiah reveals an important truth to us: those who spend time
with God get new strength. Literally, they exchange strength
with Him. When we spend time with God He somehow takes away our
weakness and replaces it with His strength. What a deal!

As we spend time focused on God, in His presence, we are also
changed into His likeness.

2 CORINTHIANS 3:18 NKJ
18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the
glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image...

So, if you need more strength to face life, if you want to be
more like God, or if you want to develop a closer relationship
with the most amazing Being in the universe -- prayer is your
answer.

Don't worry about knowing the right words or being formal. Just
talk to God as you would to a well-respected friend.

SAY THIS: Excuse me, I think I'll visit with God.

Saturday, February 25, 2006

Imitate God

Did you know that the Bible tells you to imitate God?

It surely does!

EPHESIANS 5:1-2 NIV
1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and
live a life of love,
2 just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a
fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

No doubt you have seen a child imitating their parent.
Sometimes the parent is glad -- sometimes embarrassed.

Just as earthly children imitate their parents, children of God
are supposed to imitate their Heavenly Father.

In what way are we to imitate God? Should we try to create
planets? (You're probably not quite ready for that! But who
knows about the future.)

We are to imitate God by walking in love instead of
selfishness. By being givers instead of takers.

SAY THIS: I will imitate God my Heavenly Father, and walk in
love.

Friday, February 24, 2006

Rejoice In Trouble

Life can be hard.

Maybe you have been forsaken by your spouse. Or are struggling
with the death of a loved one. Or facing the constant pain of
disease. Or the loss of a job or business. Or, maybe just the
daily grind of life.

What can you do? You always have choices. You choose how you
respond. With God's help, you don't have to let the problems of
life defeat you.

A prophet named Habukkuk had the attitude we all need:

HABAKKUK 3:17-18 NIV
17 Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on
the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce
no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in
the stalls,
18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my
Savior.

Even if everything seems to go wrong, you can rejoice in the
Lord, for He is good and His mercy endures forever!

There is no darkness so dark that Jesus cannot overcome. There
is no situation that is hopeless. There is no problem too big
for God to fix.

When you face trouble in life, will you whine and complain, or
will you rejoice in God?

Maybe I should ask, "Would you prefer to get better or to get
worse?"

As you rejoice in the Lord, you will find strength to go on and
face life. God will give you strength to overcome.

We all face struggles in life. Focusing on God -- who has the
solution to every problem -- is a way out of the jaws of defeat
into glorious victory.

Whatever your struggle is, look to God. Rejoice in Him!

Don't let the devil steal your joy. Rejoice in the Lord!

PHILIPPIANS 4:4 NIV
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

SAY THIS: I will rejoice in God even when I face trouble.

Thursday, February 23, 2006

Hang On To Your Faith

The devil's whole strategy is to get you to turn loose of your
faith in God and His Word.

MARK 4:15 NIV
15 Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is
sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the
word that was sown in them.

How can the devil steal the Word from someone? Only when it
seems untrue. People don't turn loose of what they believe is
true.

So, to steal the Word, the devil must convince people it's not
true. The devil does this by getting us to focus on what our
senses tell us, instead of on God's Word, the seed which
changes our circumstances when we retain it.

As with any seed, the full manifestation of its life is not
apparent immediately, but manifests over time with the proper
care. God's Word will change your circumstances!

If you don't believe God's Word, you won't act on it. Without
following God's instructions, you will not be made free (see
John 8:31-32).

Actions cannot be separated from believing. Whatever you are
acting on is what you really believe.

In the New Testament, "faith" is the noun and "believe" is the
verb form of the same Greek word. So, hanging on to your faith
means to keep believing what God said -- regardless of
circumstances.

HEBREWS 10:23 KJV
23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without
wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

A key to hanging on to your faith is found in what you say.
When you speak of fear and doubt, faith shrivels. But when you
speak faith words in line with the Bible, your faith grows
strong.

The devil tries to get you to doubt God and His Word. The devil
wants you to give up on God, to not trust Him, to not expect
Him to do what He said in His Word. Do not give up! God can be
trusted.

SAY THIS: I will keep on believing and acting on God's Word.

Wednesday, February 22, 2006

Focus On Jesus

True Christianity is not a religion based on rules and rituals
but a living relationship with Jesus Christ.

Many people reduce Christianity down to attending church
meetings and trying not to commit a list of certain sins.

But being a Christian is being united with Jesus, a member of
His body, with His life in your heart.

Jesus should be your focus -- not religious activity -- but the
person of Jesus, the Lord and Christ.

1 CORINTHIANS 1:9 NIV
9 God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus
Christ our Lord, is faithful.

Church meetings, Bible reading, etc. can be good, but should
not be allowed to become an end in themselves. They are tools
to help us know Jesus and walk more closely with Him.

The Bible says we are to be faithful; but faithful to what: a
religious system, an organization -- or, a Person? Are you
serving Jesus -- or serving something else as His substitute?

The focus of your life should be to please Jesus.

COLOSSIANS 1:18 NRSV
18 He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning,
the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have
first place in everything.

Does Jesus have first place in your life? In your schedule? If
not, why not?

In everything, Jesus should be central.

SAY THIS: I will keep my focus on Jesus Christ.

Tuesday, February 21, 2006

You Can Cast Out Demons

MARK 16:17 NKJ
17 "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name
they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;

A demon is a member of the devil's forces. Any Christian can
cast out demons, because all believers have authority over
demons in Jesus' Name.

PHILIPPIANS 2:10 NKJ
10 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,

All believers have the delegated authority to use the Name of
Jesus -- at which every knee shall bow in submission.

Demons operate through fear. But you don't have to be afraid,
because Jesus is backing you up. So, when you command demons to
leave in the Name of Jesus, they must obey you.

Don't limit this to casting out demons from "demon-possessed"
people. If there is demonic activity in any area of life
affecting you, use your authority in Christ and throw the
demons out in Jesus' Name. Command them to cease their
activities and stop their operations against you.

How do you know if something is demonic? If it steals, kills,
or destroys -- it certainly is not of God! (See John 10:10.)

JAMES 4:7
7 . . . Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

EPHESIANS 4:27 NKJ
27 nor give place to the devil.

The Bible tells you to not give any place to the devil, and to
resist him, so it is obvious you can do so. If the devil, or
his forces, have a place in your life, it means you allowed it.

SAY THIS: I can cast out demons, in Jesus' Name.

Monday, February 20, 2006

You Have Authority Over The devil

LUKE 10:19 NKJ
19 "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.

Jesus defeated the devil for you. According to Matthew 28:18,
all authority on Earth now belongs to Jesus. As His earthly
representatives, Jesus has delegated His authority to us in
certain ways.

MARK 16:17 NKJ
17 "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name
they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;

All believers have authority to use the Name of Jesus Christ.
In Jesus' Name, or authority, we can cast out the devil and all
his forces.

PHILIPPIANS 2:10 NKJ
10 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,

After Jesus' resurrection, Scripture clearly puts
responsibility on the believer to exercise the delegated
authority of Jesus to resist the devil, and all his works.

EPHESIANS 4:27 NKJ
27 nor give place to the devil.

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

1 PETER 5:8-9 NKJ
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks
about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith,....

You can resist the devil and not allow him any place in your
life, because you have authority over the devil.

SAY THIS: In Christ, I have authority over the devil, all his
forces, and all his works.

Sunday, February 19, 2006

Meeting Together

HEBREWS 10:25 KJV
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the
manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the
more, as ye see the day approaching.

While the Bible does warn us, in the above verse, not to
forsake meeting together with other believers, it never tells
us how often we should meet. Neither does it say when or where
we should meet.

When we meet together, God did not intend for it to be just a
ritual, but something beneficial.

It should be a time of fellowship, learning, sharing, giving,
receiving, and spiritual encouragement. A time to build one
another up by what the other members of the body supply.

1 CORINTHIANS 14:26 KJV
26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one
of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a
revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto
edifying.

Although nothing is more important than receiving teaching to
help us understand and act on God's Word, that should not be
the only reason we meet together.

When the Bible was written, the only way to hear anointed
teaching of the Word was to physically gather together when a
Bible teacher was present. But today we are not limited to a
time or place, because of recorded media.

The reason for meeting together as believers is more than just
to listen to someone else "preach" to you. You need to become
involved.

A true "church meeting" does not require a large number of
people. In fact, a smaller group is often best, as it is easier
to share what you have and offer spiritual encouragement to
others, as well as receive it yourself.

MATTHEW 18:20 KJV
20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name,
there am I in the midst of them.

Even two believers discussing the Word during their lunch break
is a valid expression of a "church meeting" according to this
verse. Jesus promised us, as individual believers, He would
never leave us. So, clearly this verse must mean Jesus
expresses Himself in a special way, as members of His body meet
together in His Name.

The New Testament refers often to believers meeting in their
homes. There is no reason believers cannot meet anywhere: on a
commute to work, at a restaurant, at an office, or even in a
church building. The Bible sets no limitations.

Of course it is absolutely vital to regularly feed on teaching
from God's Word to stay built up spiritually. But today, that
can be accomplished anywhere and anytime.

But too many believers stop with only being fed the Word. They
never share and interact with others. So they don't grow and
develop as they should. You always learn better and receive
more when you share what you have already received.

No one knows everything. But we all have something to
contribute. You don't have to be a super-saint to be involved
with others. You can meet with another believer (or maybe a few
others): a friend, neighbor, or family member. Just discuss the
Word. Ask a question if you have one. Share an insight if you
have one. Maybe pray for one another. Things like this are the
reason to not forsake meeting together.

If your church-going is just a ritual, and all you get out of
it is no more than what you could get at home, then changes
need to be made. But please, do not fall into the trap of
criticizing others for what they do, or do not do.

SAY THIS: I will regularly meet with other believers.

Saturday, February 18, 2006

The Cure For Weak Faith

MARK 6:6 NIV
6 And he was amazed at their lack of faith. Then Jesus went
around teaching from village to village.

Don't despair if your faith is weak. Everyone starts out with
weak faith.

Your faith can be fed and grow strong.

Faith requires evidence to rest upon. The Bible provides the
evidence that your faith needs.

ROMANS 10:l7 New Life
17 So then, faith comes to us by hearing the Good News. And the
Good News comes by someone preaching it.

Correct teaching on a subject produces faith in your heart.

But it is not enough just to hear teaching on a subject. To
keep your faith strong you must feed on scriptures pertaining
to that subject, by reading, speaking, and thinking about those
scriptures.

And you must exercise your faith for it to grow strong. That
is: act on what you learn from Scripture.

Your faith can be strong in one area while being weak in
another. For example, most Christians have strong faith
concerning the new birth, but weak faith concerning healing,
because they have never heard much teaching on the subject of
healing.

It is true, as Jesus said in Matthew 4:4, that we need every
word that God has spoken -- not just some of them.

So, if you want your faith to grow in any area, listen to
anointed teaching on that subject, then continue to read,
speak, meditate, and act on those scriptures.

SAY THIS: I will feed my faith on God's Word and it will grow.

Friday, February 17, 2006

Why Read The Bible?

"I'm a busy person. I have a lot to do. Why should I spend my
time reading the Bible? I don't have time to do all I need to
do as it is."

"I already believe in Jesus Christ, that He's the Son of God
and my Savior. I've already heard the Gospel."

"Why should I read the Bible?"

Read the following Scriptures. Then, if you still wonder why
you should read the Bible, you need help.

JOHN 8:31-32 RSV
31 Jesus then said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you
continue in my word, you are truly my disciples,
32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you
free."

JOHN 14:23-24 Rieu
23 Jesus replied: 'If anyone loves me he will cherish my word;
my Father will love him and we will come to him and make him
our abode.
24 He that does not love me neglects my words. Yet the word you
hear is not my own but that of the Father who sent me.

ACTS 20:32 NKJ
32 "So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of
His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an
inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

SAY THIS: I will read and study the Bible.

Thursday, February 16, 2006

Who Can Be Against Us?

ROMANS 8:31 NKJ
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us,
who can be against us?

We all face opposition. No one likes it. But opposition is a
fact of life on earth.

But here's a more important fact: with God for us, opposition
doesn't really matter.

With God on our side, what does it matter who opposes us? The
worst anyone can do is kill us -- which would be doing us a
favor. (Being a martyr for Christ and going to be with Him in
Heaven is not bad!)

And never forget: God IS for you!

PSALM 56:9 KJV
9 When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this
I know; for God is for me.

PSALM 118:6-7 LB
6 He is for me! How can I be afraid? What can mere man do to
me?
7 The Lord is on my side; he will help me. Let those who hate
me beware.

SAY THIS: God is for me, so no one can successfully be against
me.

Wednesday, February 15, 2006

Should Poor People Give?

ACTS 20:35 NIV
35 . . . the Lord Jesus himself said: `It is more blessed to
give than to receive.'"

Giving benefits the giver. The poorer you are the more you have
a need to give.

Those who don't understand giving as planting seeds usually
think it's wrong for a poor person to give to God. But giving
is planting seed for a harvest.

2 CORINTHIANS 9:6-8 NKJ
6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap
sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap
bountifully.
7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not
grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that
you, always having all sufficiency in all things, have an
abundance for every good work.

LUKE 6:38 NKJ
38 "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."

By giving, seed is planted for a larger harvest of blessing.
Nobody needs that more than a poor person.

Jesus commended a poor widow for giving all she had.

LUKE 21:1-4 NKJ
1 Then He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into
the treasury,
2 and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites.
3 So He said, "Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put
in more than all;
4 "for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings
for God, but she out of her poverty has put in all the
livelihood that she had."

SAY THIS: Giving is a way to be blessed.

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

How Does God Bless Us?

Does God bless us by giving us everything we think we should
have, even if it's bad for us?

Does God bless us by always letting us have our way -- whether
it's the best way for us, or not?

Does God bless us by letting us get away with self-destructive
behavior?

Does God bless us by letting us mistreat other people with
impunity?

Does God bless us by giving us more responsibility, more money,
or more fame, than we can handle?

Does God bless us by allowing us to never face the consequences
of our actions?

Does God bless us by never allowing us to struggle or overcome
difficulty?

If God blessed us in any of those ways, He would not be a good
Father.

God blesses us by changing us into what we should be. He makes
us to BE a blessing. That puts us into God's category, where we
can enjoy fellowship with Him -- which is the greatest blessing.

GENESIS 12:2 NIV
2 "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I
will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.

SAY THIS: Thank you Lord for your blessing.

Monday, February 13, 2006

Another Helper

Who among us could not use another helper?

JOHN 14:16-18 NKJ
16 "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another
Helper, that He may abide with you forever,
17 "even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive,
because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him,
for He dwells with you and will be in you.
18 "I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

JOHN 14:26 NKJ
26 "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.

JOHN 16:7 NKJ
7 "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.

JOHN 16:13 NKJ
13 "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.

ROMANS 8:26 NKJ
26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do
not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit
Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot
be uttered.

SAY THIS: Thank you Lord for sending your Holy Spirit to be my
Helper.

Sunday, February 12, 2006

Open Eyes

2 KINGS 6:17 NKJ
17 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.

What we see with our physical eyes is not all that's happening.

Spiritual forces are active around us. Unless God "opens our
eyes" we're in the dark to what's really happening.

Of course, it shouldn't be necessary for us to "see" into the
spirit realm to believe what God has said, such as that His
angels would keep charge of us always to protect us.

ACTS 26:18 NKJ
18 'to open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light,
and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive
forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are
sanctified by faith in Me.'

When God told Paul what his calling was, the first step
mentioned was "to open their eyes . . . that they may receive."

For us to receive all that God has provided for us, we must
also have "our eyes opened."

Our prayer needs to be that of the Psalmist.

PSALM 119:18 NKJ
18 Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law.

SAY THIS: Lord, open my eyes. Give me understanding and
insight.

Saturday, February 11, 2006

God Is The Original Parent

EPHESIANS 3:15 Amplified
15 For Whom every family in heaven and on earth is named--
[that Father] from Whom all fatherhood takes it title and
derives its name.

Barclay translates verse 15, "of whose fatherhood all heavenly
and earthly fatherhood is a copy,".

A note in the Translator's N.T. says, "A play on Greek words is
involved here. The meaning is that the whole human idea of
family and fatherhood owes its origin to God the Father."

The Tyndale N.T. Commentary says, "He is also the One from whom
alone all the fatherhood that there is derives its meaning and
inspiration. From Him it derives its existence and its
concept...."

What does this all mean?

God is the original Father, the original parent, and everything
good that has ever been in any parent is just a copy of what
was first in God.

God looks upon you as a good parent looks upon their child.

PSALM 103:13 Beck
13 As a father loves His children, so the LORD loves those who
fear Him.

According to the experts, love in Psalm 103:13 means "deep
love, cherishing, to behold with tenderest affection."

There has never been a parent who loved their child more than
God loves you.

SAY THIS: Thank you God, for being my Father, and loving me.

Friday, February 10, 2006

Faith Is The Victory

1 JOHN 5:4 NKJ
4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is
the victory that has overcome the world--our faith.

We all love to win.

Victory is sweet. One reason it's so sweet is that it's usually
not easy. Victory takes effort -- often great effort.

Effort is also required in the spiritual battle of good against
evil we are all engaged in. But the effort required of us is to
maintain our attitude of faith in God and His Word.

We cannot overcome the strategies of the devil by our
willpower, or by our own strength. We must use the spiritual
weapons God has provided for us.

As a child of God -- you are a winner! The victory is already
yours through what Jesus Christ did on your behalf. Don't let
the enemy steal the victory away from you.

Your enemy comes to steal your faith. Don't let it happen.

SAY THIS: I overcome and walk in victory by my faith in God.

Thursday, February 09, 2006

The Purpose Of Life

God created mankind primarily because He desired to have a
family. In order to truly fellowship with God, man had to have
freedom of choice. Unfortunately, man used his freedom to rebel
against God and fell from fellowship with God.

When man fell he came under the dominion of the devil, because
he followed the devil's suggestion to disobey God. With this
came spiritual death and a new nature which was selfish. Man
became self-centered -- actually worshiping himself by making
every decision based on what was best for him. The result of
this selfishness is evident all around us: horrible misery and
suffering.

God is just and obeys His own laws. Justice requires that
rebellion be punished. To be just, yet allow mankind to come
back into fellowship with Him, God Himself came to earth as the
man Jesus Christ. He suffered a horrible death as the
substitute for all mankind, taking the punishment we deserved
for our sins. Because of what Jesus did, God could justly
forgive all sin, and open a way for all people to come back
into fellowship with God.

Jesus Christ Himself is the only way to God. Only by receiving
Jesus can we enjoy the benefits of His sacrifice, which sets us
free from sin and its judgment.

Our life on earth now is testing and preparation for eternity,
to determine if we qualify to be in God's family. This is not
determined by human beauty or achievement, but by our
willingness to submit to the lordship of Jesus Christ. When we
submit to Jesus, He begins changing us into what He wants us to
be.

When you come to Jesus, He changes you inwardly. As you
continue following Jesus and obeying His Word, your inward
change will continue manifesting outwardly, causing people and
circumstances around you to change also. God will continue
working in and through you until you become like Jesus Christ
in your thoughts and actions, as well as your nature.

SAY THIS: Thank you Lord for your great plan!

Wednesday, February 08, 2006

Make Friends Of Enemies

PROVERBS 25:21-22 LB
21-22 If your enemy is hungry, give him food! If he is thirsty,
give him something to drink! This will make him feel ashamed of
himself, and God will reward you.

Why would anyone want to be an enemy of someone who treated
them well?

Your actions should cause your enemy to reconsider being your
enemy.

When you treat your enemies well, not only do you have a good
chance of making them friends, but also God will reward you.

ROMANS 12:19-21 LB
19 Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God,
for he has said that he will repay those who deserve it. [Don't
take the law into your own hands.]
20 Instead, feed your enemy if he is hungry. If he is thirsty
give him something to drink and you will be "heaping coals of
fire on his head." In other words, he will feel ashamed of
himself for what he has done to you.
21 Don't let evil get the upper hand, but conquer evil by doing
good.

The way to turn an enemy into a friend is to treat them in a
friendly manner.

This is God's plan. It should be your plan, too.

SAY THIS: Treat enemies like friends and you won't have any
enemies.

Tuesday, February 07, 2006

Faith And Patience

HEBREWS 6:12 NKJ
12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who
through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Patience is not just putting up with things.

Patience means to continue, to persevere, to stay steady, to
maintain your course, to not grow weary in doing good and quit.

Patience is a fruit of the spirit, so to walk in Bible patience
you must keep your spiritual life strong, by feeding on the
Word and fellowshiping with God.

We receive from God by faith, but our faith has to be
undergirded by patience to possess and enjoy His promises.

It's normal for there to be a time of waiting and testing when
we believe the promises of God. But hang on to your faith and
it will see you through.

JAMES 5:10-11 NIV
10 Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of
suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
11 As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered.
You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the
Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and
mercy.

God's Word will come to pass in your life. Don't quit
believing.

Hang in there!

SAY THIS: I will imitate those who through faith and patience
inherit the promises of God.

Monday, February 06, 2006

According To Your Faith

MATTHEW 9:29 NKJ
29 Then He touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith
let it be to you."

God responds to faith.

God blesses people who have faith.

Don't you appreciate people who have faith in you? Well, God
appreciates people who have faith in Him.

But His reason is not just selfish -- as ours may be. God knows
His ways are right and bring blessing, while protecting people
from harm. So, when we have faith in God, we will follow His
instructions, and the world will be a better place.

When everyone has faith in God, and follows His way of love,
the world will be a perfect place.

Many people don't understand God because they think He should
respond to need, instead of responding to faith.

God doesn't do that because it doesn't work. Meeting human need
without them having faith in God brings no lasting benefit.

MATTHEW 8:13 NKJ
13 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.

SAY THIS: God responds to my faith.

Sunday, February 05, 2006

Accept God's Acceptance

God accepts you, because of what Jesus did as your substitute,
and because He loves you.

EPHESIANS 1:6 NKJ
6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made
us accepted in the Beloved.

All barriers between you and God were broken down by Jesus
Christ. God forgave you, and offers cleansing from all the sin
you ever committed.

2 CORINTHIANS 5:18-21 NLT
18 All this newness of life is from God, who brought us back to
himself through what Christ did. And God has given us the task
of reconciling people to him.
19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no
longer counting people's sins against them. This is the
wonderful message he has given us to tell others.
20 We are Christ's ambassadors, and God is using us to speak to
you. We urge you, as though Christ himself were here pleading
with you, "Be reconciled to God!"
21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering
for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through
Christ.

God's intention is to have a family -- a loving family. He
wants you to be a part of it.

ROMANS 15:7 NCV
7 Christ accepted you, so you should accept each other, which
will bring glory to God.

SAY THIS: I accept that God has forgiven me and accepted me
into His family.

Saturday, February 04, 2006

Be A Minister

2 CORINTHIANS 3:5-6 NIV
5 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for
ourselves, but our competence comes from God.
6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant--not
of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the
Spirit gives life.

A minister's job is turning people to God.

No one has to appoint you, ordain you, or give you credentials
to make you a minister.

A minister is one who serves -- serves God, and people, by
turning people to God so they can receive help.

Being a minister does not require you to have a title such as
pastor, bishop, or priest.

While it is true that God does call some to special places of
ministry, it is a mistake to think that we all cannot, or
should not, minister.

A minister is a middle-man like a real estate agent. A person
can find out about God on their own with a Bible, just like
someone can buy a house directly, but it is easier and faster
to have a more experienced person who knows the territory help
you.

Someone who helps another is a minister. You can do that.

SAY THIS: God made me able to minister -- to help someone.

Friday, February 03, 2006

All The Promises Of God

2 CORINTHIANS 1:20 NCV
20 The yes to all of God's promises is in Christ, and through
Christ we say yes to the glory of God.

Although the entire Bible is a message to us today, not all of
it is written directly to us.

The New Testament epistles are written directly to us who are
in the church, the Body of Christ, which includes all
believers.

We do need to rightly divide the Bible, but since all the
promises of God are yes in Christ -- they find their
fulfillment in Him -- we can take any promise of blessing in
the entire Bible and appropriate it by faith.

God has blessed us with every blessing in Christ!

EPHESIANS 1:3 NKJ
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who
has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly
places in Christ,

Every promise in the Bible is not directed to us specifically.
But, by faith in Jesus Christ, we can appropriate every
blessing God has to offer.

When we do receive the promised blessings of God's Word, it
brings glory to God.

All this is not automatic. You have to actively receive. But
the main "activity" involved with receiving blessing from God
is believing. To truly believe you need evidence. That's why
you need to read and study the Bible.

SAY THIS: Every Bible promise of blessing is mine in Christ.

Thursday, February 02, 2006

I Am Wrong

"What are you wrong about, preacher?"

I don't know. If I knew I would change.

"Then how do you know you're wrong?"

Unless I'm perfect and know everything -- I must be wrong about
some things. I just don't know what.

"But I thought preachers knew everything."

Some of them may think they do. But even the Apostle Paul, who
wrote most of the New Testament, said he only knew in part.

1 CORINTHIANS 13:12 NIV
12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we
shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know
fully, even as I am fully known.

There are two ways to face life: thinking you know everything
and are doing everything right, or realizing you are not yet
perfect. The first way is pride, the second is humility.

If you think you know everything, you cut yourself off from
learning. If you think everything you do is right, you almost
eliminate any chance of improvement.

Do you really desire to never know more than you do now? Would
it please you to never make any progress from where you are
now?

Then, to protect you from the enemy of pride, start each day
saying, "I am wrong. Lord, show me where to change."

Pride stunts your growth as a person. Pride retards progress.
Pride robs you � and can kill. Pride causes strife and destroys
relationships. Pride isolates. Pride closes doors of
opportunity.

Humility is the only antidote for pride and all its horrible
consequences.

The first step to wholeness is to realize you have a problem.

SAY THIS: I am wrong. Lord, please correct me.

Wednesday, February 01, 2006

Surrounded By Favor

PSALM 5:12 NIV
12 For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround
them with your favor as with a shield.

God's favor can change your life.

Someone who is favored is called a favor-ite.

(The New Testament teaches that being righteous (in right
standing with God), is a gift we receive when we receive Jesus
-- not something we attain by our works.)

So, the promise of Scripture is that God surrounds you with
favor. What does that mean?

Favor is the blessing of God making people like you and treat
you well.

Is it automatic? We have access to God's grace only through
faith (Romans 5:2). So, you will never experience the fullness
of God's favor without believing for it.

Faith is released through words. So every day thank the Lord
for giving you favor with people, for surrounding you with
favor!

Don't say, "People don't like me." or "Everybody seems to be
against me." or "I never get a break."

Instead say, "Thank you Lord for giving me favor with people."

Then watch God begin to move on your behalf!

SAY THIS: Thank you Lord for surrounding me with favor.