Thursday, May 31, 2012

Give To Get

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."

Some try to make us think it is wrong to give to God expecting
anything in return.

If your ONLY motive for ever giving was just to get, then it is
wrong in the sense that it is incomplete. You should also give
because you love God and desire to worship Him.

But that need not be your only motive in giving to God, for
giving is like planting a seed. The New Testament calls our
giving a seed (2 Corinthians 9:6, Galatians 6:7).

When we hear "give to get" it can sound a little greedy, or
somehow unspiritual. But it is really no different than saying
"planting seed expecting a harvest."

No farmer plants seeds for any other reason than to harvest a
crop. A farmer does not plant seed because he is spiritual, or
because he loves the ground. He plants for one reason only --
to produce a larger harvest.

Giving with the motive of getting something back in return may
not be the highest and purest expression of giving love. But it
is not wrong or bad. God's Word encourages it!

No doubt God set up His system of sowing and reaping (planting
and harvesting) to encourage people to be givers.

There is nothing greedy or materialistic about a farmer
planting seed to grow a crop and reap a bigger harvest. It is
simply using the system God set up for us. For us to not
responsibly use God's system is wrong.

Planting seed without gathering the resulting harvest would be
irresponsible. The Bible teaches that we gather in the harvest
of God's blessing by our faith, which is revealed by what we
expect.

So it is wrong to give and NOT expect to get. That is the same
as planting seed and not harvesting the crop.

When we refuse to believe the Bible and don't expect a harvest
from the seed we plant, we fail to harvest what God provides
for us. It would be crazy for a farmer to plant a crop and then
fail to harvest it. As believers, we should not be guilty of
doing that.

Don't allow anyone to make you feel guilty for believing and
acting on God's Word. Not only are we supposed to cooperate
with God by believing for His abundant provision, but our faith
is the key to reaping the harvest God sends our way.

The idea that we should not expect anything in return for our
giving is part of the devil's attempt to rob us and keep us in
poverty, so we will not be able to influence or help anyone.

It is only by God's revelation that we are instructed to expect
something in return for our giving. It was not our idea, but
God's idea.

Actually, no human has ever given for any other reason except
to get something in return. It may have been to get a good
feeling, a good conscience, or a good name. It may have been to
get God's approval or reward in Heaven, but it was always
giving to get. You may say you just gave out of love. Well,
first, you are not the prime mover in the universe: God first
loved you. Your giving can only be a response to His love, and
probably be for the purpose of receiving more of His approval
and blessing.

What makes it seem wrong to "give to get" is that giving is the
expression of love and love is the opposite of selfishness. But
we do not have to reap a harvest out of selfishness. We can
reap with others in mind so we can have more to share.

Selfishness that thinks only of self with no concern for others
is wrong. But it is not wrong to give with the motive of
receiving something in return.

Those who teach it is wrong to expect any blessing for giving
to God here in this life don't seem to have a problem with
expecting rewards in Heaven. Even if the return on giving is
not received until we are in Heaven, it is still giving to get.
(But it puts off receiving until we are in Heaven where
resources to share with others in need will be unnecessary.)

By God's grace and help, we should be all we can be and have
all God has provided for us here and now -- so we can help
others as much as possible.

Jesus taught we can expect blessings both now, and in the age
to come!

LUKE 18:29-30 NKJ
29 So He said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no
one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or
children, for the sake of the kingdom of God,
30 "who shall not receive many times more in this present
time, and in the age to come everlasting life."

In Matthew 6:1 Jesus teaches that our motive in giving should
not be to impress others. If you are not giving with a harvest
in mind, you must be giving to impress someone -- yourself,
God, or others. This is doing the opposite of what Jesus
taught. Jesus indicated it is all right to expect a reward from
our Heavenly Father.

Many Scriptures promise a blessing or reward for giving. Here
are only a few:

PROVERBS 3:9-10 NKJ
9 Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the
firstfruits of all your increase;
10 so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats
will overflow with new wine.

MARK 9:41 NKJ
41 "For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My
name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you,
he will by no means lose his reward.

2 CORINTHIANS 9:6 NKJ
6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap
sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap
bountifully.

EPHESIANS 6:8 NKJ
8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive
the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.

Giving with a motive of love is wonderful. So I write this
not to encourage selfish giving. But to give a more complete
picture and to counter those who claim it is wrong to expect
anything when we give.

Yes, we give because we love God. But we are also instructed to
give as a farmer plants seed -- expecting a harvest.

God's Word is the standard of what is right and wrong. Because
God's Word tells us to give expecting something in return, it
cannot be wrong to do so.

SAY THIS: I will give as a seed I sow to get a larger harvest
for the glory of God.

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Make Prayer A Habit

ROMANS 12:12 NRSV
12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in
prayer.

Prayer is a habit that, like every other good habit, must be
developed.

You know you need to pray. You need God's help, His wisdom and
His guidance. But you must persevere in prayer. The activities
of life try to keep you from praying. So persevere!

LUKE 21:36 BBE
36 But keep watch at all times with prayer, that you may be
strong enough to come through all these things and take your
place before the Son of man.

In communing with God, you gain strength that comes in no other
way. You find the wisdom and courage to face life and overcome.

1 THESSALONIANS 5:17-18 ICB
17 Never stop praying.
18 Give thanks whatever happens. That is what God wants for you
in Christ Jesus.

Learn to always include God in your thoughts. Ask Him about
everything. Cultivate your relationship by continual
communication. And one of the most important things for you to
communicate to God is your gratitude. Thank God for everything.

Don't relegate prayer to just when you're on your knees. As you
go about your activities, include God by constant communion
with Him.

Talk to God about everything!

SAY THIS: Lord, help me to develop the habit of continual
communication with you.

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Temporary!

This is what you should say to your circumstances when they
don't line up with God's Word:

Temporary!

2 CORINTHIANS 4:18 NIV
18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is
unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is
eternal.

You may not realize it -- but problems often "speak" to you.
They say things like, "You can't get rid of me. I'll be with
you as long as you live."

"Your parents died from this and you will, too."

"Your family was poor and you'll always be poor. You'll never
have abundance. You'll never get out of debt."

Actually, it's the demonic forces behind the problems that
speak to our minds -- trying to keep us in doubt and unbelief.
We must resist those thoughts -- and the first step is to talk
back!

We should speak to thoughts of doubt and unbelief that are
contrary to what God has said in His Word -- for His Word is
truth.

Don't be passive. Resist!

The Bible tells us to resist the devil. That means to resist
his thoughts and ideas, too.

Long ago, God gave mankind dominion on earth. That dominion
included naming things. You still have that form of dominion
today. If you name your troubles as "yours" and "permanent" --
they will stay. But if you call them "temporary" -- they will
eventually leave.

Jesus told us to speak to our mountains and tell them to be
gone. But what should you say after you have spoken to the
mountain and it's still there?:

TEMPORARY!

SAY THIS: My circumstances are subject to change!

Monday, May 28, 2012

Jesus Is Lord

ACTS 2:36 NKJ
36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God
has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."

Many preachers tell people they "need to make Jesus Lord."

While I understand what they're trying to say -- it's too late!

Jesus ALREADY is Lord! God made Jesus the Lord almost 2000
years ago.

ACTS 10:36 NKJ
36 "The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching
peace through Jesus Christ--He is Lord of all--

What we must do is recognize and agree that Jesus is Lord. The
Bible calls this "confessing," which certainly involves more
than just glibly speaking a few words.

ROMANS 10:9 NKJ
9 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.

We need to realize we're not the center of the Universe, but
Jesus Christ is, and therefore, we should submit to His
Lordship, instead of trying to run our own lives.

But we don't really "make Him Lord" -- we just yield to His
Lordship.

No matter what it may seem like at times, Jesus Christ is Lord.
He is ruler, boss, king: the One ultimately in charge.

It's true that Jesus has not yet exercised His prerogative and
taken charge of everything that's His by virtue of being Lord
of all -- but that's only a temporary situation.

PHILIPPIANS 2:10-11 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,
11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Eventually, everyone will know the truth. You have the great
privilege of knowing it, and acting on it, today.

Jesus is Lord!

SAY THIS: God made Jesus to be Lord, and I accept His Lordship
over my life, and over all creation.

Sunday, May 27, 2012

The Holy Spirit Is Your Guide

JOHN 16:13 NLT
13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all
truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he
has heard. He will tell you about the future.

Jesus never said the Holy Spirit would instantly tell you the
whole truth on a subject, but He said the Holy Spirit would
GUIDE us into all truth.

A guide is someone who helps you find something. For a guide to
be of any benefit, you must be searching for something.

MATTHEW 7:7-8 NKJ
7 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find;
knock, and it will be opened to you.
8 "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and
to him who knocks it will be opened.

If you don't seek answers -- don't expect to find them.

The greatest obstacle to learning is thinking you already know
enough.

If you are satisfied with what you know, you will not be
searching for more answers -- so you have no need of a Guide to
help you.

Remember: truth sets you free (John 8:31-32). Lies keep you in
bondage. So if you are not enjoying perfect freedom, seek more
understanding of the truth.

The Holy Spirit is a perfect teacher. He guides us into the
truths we are ready and able to receive. Then He patiently
teaches us until we understand the lesson.

It is important to remember that guiding us into all truth is a
process. Even when you have not realized it, the Holy Spirit
has been at work in your life. He does not force knowledge on
you, but when you are hungry for truth, He will guide you in
the right direction.

SAY THIS: Jesus promised the Holy Spirit will guide me into all
truth.

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Jesus' Invitation

REVELATION 3:20 NKJ
20 "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.

Most people think this verse is directed to non-believers. Not
so. Jesus was talking to those already in the church.

How sad!

This is the Lord, the Head of the church, speaking to His own
people. "If you will open up to Me, we will enjoy times of
fellowship."

God desires your fellowship. He wants you to spend time with
Him. But He invites -- He never forces.

We enjoy the presence of those who love us, especially when we
also love them. God loves you more than anyone else does. So,
you shouldn't need to be forced, or talked into, spending time
in fellowship with God.

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

God has called you. You must choose whether to answer.

Who would you rather know than God?

Spending time with someone is the way you get to know them. You
begin to know what they like and dislike, and how they think.
When you spend time with the Lord in His Word and prayer, you
get to know Him.

Spending time with someone is the only way to build a
relationship.

SAY THIS: Jesus, I open up the door to You!

Friday, May 25, 2012

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.

Thursday, May 24, 2012

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.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

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.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

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.

Monday, May 21, 2012

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 Habakkuk 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.

Sunday, May 20, 2012

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.

Saturday, May 19, 2012

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.

Friday, May 18, 2012

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 NKJ
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 are
allowing it.

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

Thursday, May 17, 2012

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 NKJ
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.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Healing Is A Process

MARK 16:17-18 NKJ
17 "And these signs will follow those who believe . . .
18 . . . they will lay hands on the sick, and they will
recover."

A major problem has been thinking that all healing must be
instantaneous.

The truth is that healing is a process involving time.
Sometimes it is speeded up, but not usually.

If you have ever cut your finger or skinned your knee, then you
know how healing normally works.

God made the human body to always heal itself. Unless there is
some lack of nutrition or some hindering force, the human body
will always heal. And God's power can always bring healing,
regardless of any lack or hindrance.

JAMES 5:15 NKJ
15 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.

James does not say the sick will always be raised up instantly.
Just that they will be raised. "They will recover."

All healing is a process that happens through time as you
continually improve in health. With God, healing can sometimes
be so speeded up that to us it seems almost instant, but this
is not the normal way God's healing works.

Jesus taught us that God's kingdom works like a seed planted in
the ground which grows and produces over time (Matthew 13:31).

The important thing, and what God's Word promises, is the end
result, not how long it takes.

Many people who have not understood that healing from God is a
process involving time, have given up their faith when they did
not have an instant miracle recovery.

Don't let the devil steal from you, through this wrong
thinking, what Jesus paid for you to have!

The Bible tells us that healing is ours, because Jesus paid for
it (1 Peter 2:24). But the Bible never says we will all receive
healing instantly. Sometimes it can be very quick — and we know
it is a miracle. Other times it can take awhile, but no matter
how long it takes, we have the promise of God that healing is
ours, giving us divine assurance that we will be healthy and
whole!

All the healings of Jesus during His ministry on earth were not
instantaneous, either. Mark 8:22-25 is an account of Jesus
ministering to a blind man. After Jesus laid hands on the blind
man he could "see men like trees, walking." In other words, he
could see, but not very well. Only when Jesus laid hands on him
again did his sight become clear. Although a long period of
time was not involved, it does show a healing that was a
process — not instantaneous.

MARK 8:25 NKJ
25 Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look
up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly.

Luke 17:12-19 tells of ten lepers who were healed "as they
went." Healing was not manifest while they were in Jesus'
presence, but only after they left Him.

LUKE 17:14 NKJ
14 So when He saw them, He said to them, "Go, show yourselves
to the priests." And so it was that as they went, they were
cleansed.

John 9:6-7 tells of another healing involving some time. And
John 4:52 mentions a time "when he began to get better"
indicating a process of recovery.

JOHN 4:52 ESV
52 So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and
they said to him, "Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left
him."

So never accept that healing is not God's will just because it
does not happen instantaneously.

(For more on healing see www.healing-book.com).

SAY THIS: Healing happens!

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

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.

Monday, May 14, 2012

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?"

Please think about the following Scriptures. Then, you will
understand why you should read the Bible.

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.

Sunday, May 13, 2012

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.

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Judging

Are Christians supposed to judge one another?

There are verses that seem to point both ways. First, let's
look at some that tell us not to judge.

MATTHEW 7:1 ESV
1 "Judge not, that you be not judged.

LUKE 6:37 ESV
37 "Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you
will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;

JOHN 5:22 ESV
22 The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the
Son,

1 CORINTHIANS 4:5 ESV
5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before
the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden
in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then
each one will receive his commendation from God.

1 CORINTHIANS 4:3 ESV
3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged
by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge
myself.

Now let's look at some verses that seem to point the other
direction: that we should judge.

JOHN 7:24 ESV
24 Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment."

First Corinthians 5:12 to 6:7 talks about how the church should
judge matters pertaining to this life concerning those in the
church.

1 CORINTHIANS 5:12 ESV
12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not
those inside the church whom you are to judge?

1 CORINTHIANS 6:3 ESV
3 Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more,
then, matters pertaining to this life!

So, how do we interpret these Scriptures that seem to give
different messages about whether we should be judging now?

Sometimes the word we have translated as judgment in the New
Testament simply means to make a decision. As human beings we
cannot escape that responsibility. We have to make decisions.

But other times the word means pronouncing judgment and
condemnation on someone. That is a different matter than simply
deciding whether to fellowship or even partner with someone.

We are to make decisions, or judgments, concerning matters
pertaining to this life. But we are not to pronounce judgment
on people concerning the next life.

SAY THIS: My job is not to condemn, so I will make the proper
judgment decisions and leave all others with the Lord.

Friday, May 11, 2012

How To Have A Great Marriage

It's simple -- but you will need God's help to do it.

JOHN 15:12 NIV
12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

Love as Jesus loved! Be willing to lay down your life to bless
your spouse. Few would ever want to get rid of a spouse who
truly practices this principle.

The ingredients for having a great marriage are the same as
having any great relationship: communication, honesty,
commitment, kindness, and attention.

If your aim is to bless your spouse and make them happy, it is very likely they
will eventually respond by loving you.

If you are the only one in your marriage practicing this, it
can be difficult. But your only other choice is to treat them
badly in return. How can that produce anything good?

You are God's representative. He put you where you are so He
could express His love through you. God loves your spouse --
whether you think they deserve it or not.

The Bible teaches us to put the interests of others first.

ROMANS 12:10 NIV
10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one
another above yourselves.

Which is a higher priority for you: your happiness or your
spouse's happiness?

"But," you say, "I've done all that and they are not
reciprocating. They just take advantage of me."

First, without your efforts your marriage could already be dead
and gone. Second, you will be judged only for what you did in
life -- not what your spouse did. Third, God's law of giving
will eventually work: As you continue to give love -- love will
be returned to you. It WILL work, even if God has to take your
current spouse to Heaven so He can give you one who will return
your love.

Commit yourself to the happiness and well-being of your spouse.
Keep acting on God's Word and showing love to them. Put them
before yourself. God will work on your behalf.

SAY THIS: With God's help, I will have a great marriage.

Thursday, May 10, 2012

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.

Wednesday, May 09, 2012

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.

Tuesday, May 08, 2012

Praise From God

JOHN 12:43 NLT
43 For they loved human praise more than the praise of God.

If we value what people can do more than we value what God can
do, we will be easily tempted to make wrong choices, just as
the Pharisees and rulers of Israel did.

JOHN 12:42-43 GWN
42 Many rulers believed in Jesus. However, they wouldn't admit
it publicly because the Pharisees would have thrown them out of
the synagogue.
43 They were more concerned about what people thought of them
than about what God thought of them.

What motivates you? Put another way: why do you do what you do?

Have you ever thought about what it would be like to have God
praise you? It's worth thinking about.

(We're talking about rewards, not acceptance with God or
getting into Heaven. We are not saved and put in right standing
with God on the basis of our good works, but solely as a gift
we receive by God's grace. Neither do we "earn" God's love
which is really an expression of His character. However, it is
still possible to be honored by God. Those who have done the
will of God will be rewarded.)

Most people are motivated by what other people think, or what
they think other people might think. In essence, this is the
fear of man, being mostly concerned about what people will
think, or how they will respond.

If you live for human praise you need to understand that even
if you obtain it, it will not last for long.

It is true that getting praise from God is not something that
can be expected quickly. Enjoying God's praise is evidently
something that happens primarily after this life. At least as
far as being praised publicly.

However, I value that quiet, inner assurance I experience when
I do something I know has pleased God. This is also a form of
"praise from God" encouraging us to do His will, even when
there seems to be no immediate outward results.

SAY THIS: God's approval is more important than people's
approval.

Monday, May 07, 2012

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.

Sunday, May 06, 2012

Faith Speaks

MATTHEW 17:20 NASB
20 ... if you have faith ... you shall say to this mountain ...

The action of Bible faith is (primarily) speaking (and standing
on your statement of faith). Jesus said if you had faith -- you
would say!

There is no such thing as just silently believing. What you
believe will come out. If you don't have enough confidence to
say it, you don't really believe it.

LUKE 17:6 NASB
6 And the Lord said, "If you had faith ... you would say to
this mulberry tree ...

MATTHEW 21:21 NASB
21 ... if you have faith, and do not doubt ... if you say to
this mountain . . . it shall happen.

For faith to operate, it must be released through spoken words,
according to Jesus.

What you speak is evidence of your faith. Another way of saying
that is: your speech reveals what you believe.

2 CORINTHIANS 4:13 NASB
13 But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is
written, "I believed, therefore I spoke," we also believe,
therefore also we speak;

If you believe, you will therefore speak.

LUKE 6:45 NASB
45 "The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings
forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure
brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which
fills his heart.

MATTHEW 12:34 NASB
34 "You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is
good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.

You speak what you believe in your heart. Not always, for you
can pretend or lie. But when your guard is down and you speak
spontaneously without thinking, you will say what you believe
in your heart.

ROMANS 10:8 NASB
8 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 are
preaching,

Where is the word of faith? In the heart and in the mouth. For
faith to work properly, it must be in both places.

ROMANS 10:10 NASB
10 for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness,
and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

What you believe in your heart must be expressed through your
mouth for it to produce. Salvation means deliverance. So this
is the way Scripture tells us people can be delivered and set
free: believe in their heart, and say it with their mouth.

SAY THIS: I have faith in God, so I will speak up.

Saturday, May 05, 2012

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.

Friday, May 04, 2012

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.

Thursday, May 03, 2012

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.

Wednesday, May 02, 2012

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.

Tuesday, May 01, 2012

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.