We Know In Part

1 CORINTHIANS 13:9 NKJ
9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part.

The apostle Paul, who was caught up into Heaven, given divine
revelation, and wrote down most of the New Testament, said he
only knew in part.

If he only knew in part -- how much more it must be true for
us.

One problem we have is too many people thinking they know more
than they really do. Just because you have read the Bible does
not make you a Bible expert. Just because you have a degree
from a Bible school does not mean you have all the answers.

Even if you know Hebrew and Greek, so you can read the Bible in
the original languages, it does not mean you understand the
Bible. It can help, but it does not guarantee understanding.
The apostle Paul certainly knew those languages, yet he only
knew in part.

Understanding the Bible does not come through study alone, but
also by divine illumination. Understanding comes from God.

We need to be smart enough to admit, along with the apostle
Paul, that we don't know it all.

It's not a sin to not know everything. We should not feel like
we must have an answer for every question.

God even said there are some things that are secret.

DEUTERONOMY 29:29 NKJ
29 "The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those
things which are revealed belong to us and to our children
forever, that we may do all the words of this law.

God also indicates there are things in His Word we will only
see if we search diligently and work at it, like we were
digging for silver (Proverbs 2:1-7).

So, we all need to remain humble. Humility always accompanies
wisdom. There is much in the Bible that none of us yet knows
completely.

1 CORINTHIANS 13:12 NKJ
12 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.

Only when we are face to face with God will we see the whole
picture. Until then we will only know in part. Certainly we can
learn more now, and we should. But we must always remember
that, in this life, none of us will ever know it all.

This is not written to make you doubt the Word of God, but
simply to remind you that we are ALL still learning. We don't
know everything. So we should never forget that our faith
should not rest in ourselves, but in the Living God and His
Word.

Jesus promised He would never leave us, so although we don't
know everything -- He does -- and we can trust Him to help us.
In that way we can overcome whatever we face and walk in
victory.

SAY THIS: I don't know everything yet.

Fear Is A Form Of Worship

MATTHEW 4:10 NLT
10 "Get out of here, Satan," Jesus told him. "For the
Scriptures say, 'You must worship the Lord your God and serve
only him.'"

The devil craves worship. He wants us to think he is great and
very capable of causing havoc in our lives.

We should not be intimidated by our enemy. Fear is an
acknowledgment of his ability.

God has told us in His Word, over and over, not to fear.

In the New Testament, the main word used for worship can be
summarized as submission, or an attitude of submission because
of profound reverence.

So being controlled by fear is submitting to the devil out of
respect for his power and ability, and it is worship.

We should not do it!

SAY THIS: I will not fear because God loves me and has redeemed
me out of the kingdom of darkness, over which He has given me
authority through the Name of Jesus.

You Are All Brothers And Sisters

MATTHEW 23:8-11 NLT
8 "Don't let anyone call you 'Rabbi,' for you have only one
teacher, and all of you are equal as brothers and sisters.
9 And don't address anyone here on earth as 'Father,' for only
God in heaven is your spiritual Father.
10 And don't let anyone call you 'Teacher,' for you have only
one teacher, the Messiah.
11 The greatest among you must be a servant.

These verses can seem perplexing. Yet they contain some
important truths.

The first is that in the Kingdom of God we are all siblings --
all on the same level.

(Jesus did not specifically address gender in this passage, but
it fits in perfectly. Any attempt to classify women as inferior
or second-class in any way goes against the spirit of what
Jesus said in this passage. And Galatians 3:28 certainly backs
up this idea.)

Jesus is not telling us it is wrong to acknowledge we have an
earthly parent called a father. For the Bible tells us to honor
our father and mother. He must be referring to the custom of
calling someone "Father" as a term of great respect.

For example, there are people who are called "the father of
modern medicine" or "the father of jazz music." The word
"father" used in this way means someone who was the originator,
the one who started it all -- the leader of a movement.

Although it is not wrong to honor someone because of their
achievements, we should not consider humans the originators of
everything. And we are not to set some people up on a pedestal
and follow them instead of God.

It is not wrong to honor people, but it is wrong to honor
people above God.

No one should be allowed to take the place of honor and respect
that belongs to God alone. He is the One who originated all
things. He is the One who deserves our utmost honor, respect,
and obedience. God is our Leader!

And instead of operating like the world and setting up a
hierarchy we are to operate as co-equals. (This is not to say
there should not be positions of authority and leadership. But
all should remember that being in those positions is a matter
of responsibility, not a matter of being better than others.)

All human beings are on the same level. God loves us all. One
person is not more important or valuable than any other person.

The human tendency is to try and distinguish ourselves from
others. We try to elevate ourselves so others will look up to
us and make us feel good about ourselves. Jesus is telling us
we must not operate this way.

We should not need a title to make us feel valuable when God
has already established our value by the price He paid to
redeem us. Being a child of God is the highest position
imaginable. No human title can begin to compare with that.

All special titles and human recognition are ultimately
worthless anyway. They may have some value here on earth. But
only God, the ultimate Judge, truly matters. What others think
of us matters little.

Human organizations always exalt some people while minimizing
others. "These are the important people. These other people are
not very important." But God's people are not supposed to
operate this way.

Finally, Jesus tells a great truth -- which many have not yet
understood. The greatest person is the one who serves others
the most. This is not just a short-term idea, valid only in
this life on earth. This is the way it will be in God's Kingdom
for eternity. Those who serve others the most are the greatest.

In the Kingdom of God status is not measured by a title or an
office or a following (how may fans or friends you may have).
Instead greatness is determined solely by how much you help
others.

God helps everyone all the time. That makes Him the greatest.
The more we help others, the greater it makes us. So don't
worry about a title or an office -- just help people.

SAY THIS: God's family is not a hierarchy.

You Are Valuable

LUKE 12:6-7 NLT
6 "What is the price of five sparrows -- two copper coins? Yet
God does not forget a single one of them.
7 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be
afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of
sparrows.

Thoughts of inferiority attack us all. No one, no matter how
beautiful or successful, is immune.

How should you determine how valuable you are?

The best way to determine the value of something is to find out
what someone is willing to pay for it. What was the price God
was willing to pay for you?

ROMANS 8:32 NLT
32 Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for
us all, won't he also give us everything else?

The price God was willing to pay for you was the death of His
Son. No greater price could have been paid!

Who should you allow to determine your value? Who is really
smart enough to know you and your potential?

A parent?
A spouse?
A boyfriend or girlfriend?
A neighbor?
A boss or teacher?

Hardly! All these people are limited in their knowledge and
understanding. Compared to God, they are not really that smart!

God thinks you are extremely valuable! Don't let the devil rob
this precious truth from you.

While you are not yet displaying your full potential, God sees
what you will eventually become. God thinks you are valuable
enough to die for!

Although there are billions of other humans, you are not lost
in the crowd. God knows you! He knows the number of hairs on
your head! He knows every desire and dream you have. And even
though He knows everything about you, He still loves you with
an everlasting love!

God is committed to you. He has promised to never leave you or
forsake you.

HEBREWS 13:5 NLT
5 Don't love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God
has said, "I will never fail you. I will never abandon you."

In light of the amazing price God paid for you, there is no
chance He will change His mind about you.

SAY THIS: Almighty God says I am valuable!

People Are Precious

JOHN 3:16 BBE
16 For God had such love for the world that he gave his only
Son, so that whoever has faith in him may not come to
destruction but have eternal life.

We may be too familiar with John 3:16 for its message to impact
us as it should. When it says that God loves the world, it
means the people of the world.

God loves people -- even the sinners. ALL the people of the
world are loved by God. (That does not mean He approves of
their behavior. But God loves them.)

People are created in the image of God. We are like God, His
children. (You must receive Jesus to be a true child of God,
but originally mankind was created in God's image, as His
children.)

Children are precious to their parents. No matter how many
children a parent has, every child is precious to them. They
are all loved.

So it is with God, who obviously has a huge capacity for love.

A parent may have a child who is a criminal, but that parent,
if they are a good parent, will still care for their son or
daughter and desire good for them. God is no less loving and
caring. He desires good for us -- every one.

When we deal with people who are acting terrible, it can be
difficult to remember they are precious to God.

LUKE 6:35-36 NLT
35 "Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without
expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be
very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the
Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and
wicked.
36 You must be compassionate, just as your Father is
compassionate.

People will last for eternity. People will live with God and
give Him pleasure in the ages to come.

Let's stay focused on what is really precious and worthwhile.
Material possessions are nice and have their place, but are
nothing compared to the worth of a human being -- even if that
human being is not perfected yet.

Even with rough edges, people are valuable. You are precious to
God! So is everyone else.

SAY THIS: Every person is precious to God.

Don't Criticize Others

TITUS 3:2 NKJ
2 to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all
humility to all men.

It's easy to criticize others. But God says don't do it!

MATTHEW 7:1-2 NKJ
1 "Judge not, that you be not judged.
2 "For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and
with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.

One of the biggest traps is to criticize our leaders. Since all
leaders are human, none are perfect. But it is wrong, and
counter-productive, to criticize them. It may be the "spirit of
the age" we live in, but it's not the way the Spirit of God
operates (Acts 23:5).

Those who criticize others are proud. They assume they know
what is best, and that they are qualified to judge and even
condemn others. They think they are better than those they
criticize.

ROMANS 2:1 NLT
1 You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just
as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked
and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you
who judge others do these very same things.

Without God's grace and forgiveness, we would all be in
trouble!

MATTHEW 7:3 NLT
3 "And why worry about a speck in your friend's eye when you
have a log in your own?

MATTHEW 5:7 NKJ
7 Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.

One of the devil's most successful strategies against the
Church has been to get us to accuse one another.

Instead of accusing our brothers and sisters in Christ, we
should be praying for them. After all, we are in the same Body!

Revelation 12:10 tells us that the devil is called "the accuser
of our brethren." Always be on your guard not to join forces
with the devil and help him do his work.

We must make judgments about people in order to function in
life. We can evaluate the fruit produced by others and
therefore make proper decisions (Matthew 7:16). But we do not
have to criticize and condemn people. We can be quiet.

What if a person's behavior is harming others? We have a
responsibility when we are in a position of authority to
protect those we are responsible for. If you are in such a
position you should report such a case to those in authority
over you, in order to protect those you serve.

Otherwise, your primary duty is to pray for those you think are
not yet perfect.

When we criticize someone who belongs to Christ, we are
actually criticizing Him and His work. Better not do that!

SAY THIS: I will not criticize others.

Guard What You Say About Leaders

ACTS 23:5 NLT
5 "I'm sorry, brothers. I didn't realize he was the high
priest," Paul replied, "for the Scriptures say, 'You must not
speak evil of any of your rulers.'"

A major, yet often unrecognized, problem is members of the Body
of Christ using their words to curse leaders. (It is not
necessary to use profanity to curse. Any time anyone speaks
badly of someone the Bible calls it a curse. Jesus cursed the
fig tree by simply saying no one would ever eat fruit from it.)

Don't fall into the devil's trap. Christians have been
delegated authority on Earth by Jesus Christ. When we speak bad
things about people we are abusing that authority which was
given to us to bless, and not to curse.

ROMANS 12:14 NLT
14 Bless those who persecute you. Don't curse them; pray that
God will bless them.

The world tries to get us to focus on the shortcomings,
weaknesses, and failures of our leaders. Admittedly, all
leaders are human. Not one of them can be expected to be
perfect. This is why it's important for us to pray for them,
and not to joke about them, or say anything bad about them.

1 TIMOTHY 2:1-2 NLT
1 I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to
help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.
2 Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that
we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and
dignity.

Think about this: you cannot pray in faith for a leader and
also talk badly about them. Such negative speaking would negate
your prayer.

The leaders when the New Testament was written were certainly
not perfect. Yet the New Testament never encourages any
disrespect to those in positions of authority.

ROMANS 13:1 ESV
1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For
there is no authority except from God, and those that exist
have been instituted by God.

The spirit of the age is to mock, belittle, and criticize
everyone, but especially those in authority. We must guard
against this trap of our enemy.

You don't have to lie and say anything good about a leader. You
don't have to vote for them. You can just keep quiet.

SAY THIS: I will not speak badly of others, especially those
who are leaders.

The Witness Of The Spirit

ROMANS 8:16 NKJ
16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are
children of God,

God has a plan for guiding His children in all the questions of
life.

God's primary method of leading us in matters the Bible does
not specifically address, (such as which job to take or which
person to marry), is the inner witness, which is a knowing
communicated by the Holy Spirit to our spirit. It is not a
voice, but an inner knowing.

ROMANS 2:15 NKJ
15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their
conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their
thoughts accusing or else excusing them)

Another term for the witness of the spirit is "peace."

COLOSSIANS 3:15 AMPLIFIED
15 And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ
rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and
settling with finality all questions that arise ....

An umpire is responsible for making decisions. Our "umpire" is
the inner peace, or witness in our spirit.

1 JOHN 5:10 NKJ
10 He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in
himself....

One way Scripture describes the "inner witness" is "it seemed
good."

This was the Scripture phrase God showed me as I sought Him
concerning how to be led by the Spirit. I realized that had
been the way I had determined which message God would have me
preach. I would pray and seek God until, on the inside of me,
it just seemed good to preach a particular message. I couldn't
really explain it, but I knew it was how God was leading me in
what subjects to preach.

I saw in Scripture this was also the same "leading" Luke had to
write down the Gospel of Luke. And also how some important
decisions were made in the early days of the Church. They
described it as "it seemed good."

LUKE 1:3 NKJ
3 it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding
of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly
account, most excellent Theophilus,

ACTS 15:25,28 NKJ
25 it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to
send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay
upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:

Obviously, an immature believer could easily use this as an
excuse for their behavior, saying it just "seemed good to
them." But we are not talking about something seeming good to
your flesh or your mind, but to your innermost being, your
spirit where God dwells (if you are a believer in Jesus
Christ.)

And we must always remember that the Holy Spirit will never
lead us to do anything that is not in line with God's written
Word, the Bible. So, being familiar with God's Word is vital.

SAY THIS: God is helping me understand being guided by the
inner witness.

Get Answers To Prayer

MARK 11:24 NKJ
24 "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you
pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

Jesus says we must believe we receive our answer WHEN we pray,
not wait until we see it.

But no one can believe they receive without evidence. God's
written Word is our evidence.

MARK 11:24 AMPLIFIED
24 For this reason I am telling you, whatever you ask for in
prayer, believe (trust and be confident) that it is granted to
you, and you will [get it].

Whenever we ask the Father for anything we really desire, we
must believe that we receive our request granted to us when we
pray. Then we act like we already have it, and the thing we
prayed for will eventually show up.

But we must pray in line with God's Word. We cannot just
"believe" anything out of thin air -- if it does not agree with
God's Word -- and expect to receive it.

1 JOHN 5:14-15 NKJ
14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we
ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know
that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

Bible-based prayer that works is not getting God to do
something, but receiving by faith from God based on what He has
already said and done.

In other words, we do not need to change God's mind or get Him
to do something. We just need to enter in by faith to receive
what God has already decided and provided.

So, find Scripture that promises what you need or want, then
take that to God in prayer and believe you receive it when you
pray.

SAY THIS: I will base my prayers on God's promises, and believe
I receive my answer when I pray.

The Inner Witness

COLOSSIANS 3:15 AMPLIFIED
15 And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ
rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and
settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds,
in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ's] one
body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful
(appreciative), [giving praise to God always].

God has revealed His will to us in many areas through His
written Word, the Bible. But there are many things the Bible
does not specifically tell us, such as what person to marry,
what job to do, or where to live. (While the Bible gives us
some principles, it does not tell us individually and
specifically what to do in these types of things.) But God has
made provision to guide us in these areas of life also.

The peace of God is the umpire to determine our direction.

Understanding the "peace of God" (which I also identify as the
"inner witness") can sometimes seem difficult. Inexperienced
believers can mistake feeling good or comfortable in their
flesh for the inner witness. But, just like everything in life,
we learn, even when we make a mistake.

While this may be open to misunderstanding and abuse, it's what
Scripture teaches. God desires a growing relationship with us,
and obviously is not too concerned about us never making a
mistake while we grow spiritually and learn by experience how
to better discern the "inner witness."

We are not talking about having "peace" in your flesh, but an
"inner" peace deep within your spirit. It is not fleeting, but
grows stronger the more we draw near to God by spending time
focused on Him and His Word.

Normally, with the inner witness, thoughts will just come to
you. But thoughts can come from sources other than God. We need
a way to judge which thoughts are from God and which ones are
not.

There are two criteria by which we can determine whether a
thought is from God. The first is a knowledge of the written
Word of God, the Bible. God will never lead us contrary to His
written Word.

The second criteria is the inner witness.

ROMANS 2:15 NKJ
15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their
conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their
thoughts accusing or else excusing them)

How can you determine the inner witness?

First, it is important to realize that it is not usually a
voice, but a witness. Some words to define it are intuition,
impression, idea, hunch, knowing, or peace.

The inner witness is something we learn to recognize better as
we grow in our relationship with the Lord. It is best to learn
on things that are not life-and-death issues. God is interested
in every detail of our lives and will help us in everything. He
will even lead us in things we would consider small things,
such as locating misplaced objects.

The inner witness (along with Scripture) is also how God
confirms the most important thing in this life: knowing we are
a child of God.

ROMANS 8:16 NKJ
16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are
children of God,

To be sensitive to the Lord's leading, we must look to the Lord
and spend time focused on Him. Prayer, praise, giving thanks,
and acknowledging God in all our ways are part of it. The
better we know the Lord, both through His Word, and through
walking with Him, the easier it will be for us to discern the
inner witness of the Spirit, and know God's will for us.

We must walk in the light we have, and make our decisions
prayerfully and humbly, always being ready to change and admit
we were wrong.

God promises that if any of us lack wisdom, we can ask Him and
He will give it to us (James 1:5).

SAY THIS: I will follow the leading of the Lord, through the
inner witness of His peace, in line with the Word of God.

Put On Humility

1 PETER 5:5 NKJ
5 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."

Don't run around spiritually naked! Clothe yourself with
humility!

Humility will protect you, just as clothing protects your body.
Without humility you are exposed and vulnerable.

Without being clothed with humility, you risk embarrassment.
Humility will keep you from the mistakes of pride.

What is humility? Humility is an attitude, a way of thinking.

True humility is not putting yourself down, but simply seeing
yourself as the Bible says you are. "I am what I am by the
grace of God." Everything you have is a gift from God. So
without Him, you can do NOTHING!

Humility is the opposite of pride. Pride is the wrong
estimation of yourself.

1 CORINTHIANS 4:7 NKJ
7 For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have
that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why
do you boast as if you had not received it?

Pride focuses on what I deserve and creates dissatisfaction.
But humility appreciates everything.

The proud person always blames God (or someone else) because
they don't accept that they could be at fault.

Without humility you will be deceived. You will buy the lie
that you have been mistreated by God. So instead of realizing
that you, and other people disobeying God, are the cause of all
your problems, you will blame God.

COLOSSIANS 3:12 NIV
12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved,
clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility,
gentleness and patience.

SAY THIS: I will not forget to put on my humility clothes.

Jesus Understands

HEBREWS 4:15 NKJ
15 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.

Whatever you face, Jesus Christ has already faced it.

Jesus knows what it is like:

to be hungry
to be tired
to be lonely
to be hurt
to be hated
to be beaten
to be persecuted
to be misunderstood
to be mistreated
to be mocked and laughed at
to be betrayed by a friend
to be tempted to sin
to be responsible for employees
to feel forsaken
to feel hopeless
to have no spouse
to have no earthly father there to help
to have lost a loved one
to have to pay taxes
to have money stolen from you
to have the responsibility to provide for a family
to live under an oppressive government
to experience extreme pain

HEBREWS 4:16 NKJ
16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we
may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Don't be afraid to talk to Jesus about anything. Not only does
He understand, but He knows how to help you so you can overcome
and have victory.

Remember, Jesus loves you -- enough to die for you. And He also
ever lives to intercede for you.

So Jesus not only understands what you face, but He is able and
willing to help you.

SAY THIS: Jesus understands what I am going through and is
leading me to victory.

If You Have A Need, Plant A Seed

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."

The natural response to having a need is to focus on getting
instead of giving. And to hang on tightly to what we have.

But God does not bless selfishness. He is a giver, and desires
for us to become like Him. So, God's Word tells us to give.

(Some preachers may have tried to exploit these truths to
enrich themselves, but that does not nullify God's promises.)

God is trying to raise us to a higher level of thinking, where
we trust in His faithful provision, and express our faith by
blessing others.

PROVERBS 11:24 NET
24 One person is generous and yet grows more wealthy, but
another withholds more than he should and comes to poverty.

It requires faith to give when you don't have enough to meet
your own needs. But remember that faith pleases God, and
nothing is too hard for God.

Faith acts on God's Word. Fear hesitates.

To help us understand how giving can enrich us, instead of
impoverishing us, Scripture pictures a farmer planting seed for
a harvest.

2 CORINTHIANS 9:6,10 NLT
6 Remember this--a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get
a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a
generous crop.
10 For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then
bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase
your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity
in you.

Plant whatever seed God has given you, and God will give the
increase through a harvest of blessing, and your needs will be
met.

GALATIANS 6:7 CEV
7 You cannot fool God, so don't make a fool of yourself! You
will harvest what you plant.

You are never without seed. Anything of value can be a seed.
Your time is valuable, so if nothing else, you can give time to
pray for others as a seed.

SAY THIS: Whenever I have a need, I will plant a seed.

Worship God With Your Money

PHILIPPIANS 4:18 NLT
18 At the moment I have all I need -- more than I need! I am
generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with
Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is
acceptable to God and pleases him.

Our money represents time -- a portion of our lives. We trade
our time for money. To truly worship God requires our money --
our treasure -- not just our voices.

The word "worship" is a contraction of "worth-ship" --
something we do that demonstrates how valuable we think
something is.

We show how valuable we think God is by what we give to Him.
True worship offers our whole being to God, all we are and all
we have. Money is a tangible expression of the devotion in our
hearts.

Worship is an act of reverence. In the Bible it usually means
bowing down. (One Greek word in the New Testament translated
worship means to adore or reverence.)

But true worship always costs something. In true worship you
always give up something: sacrifices in the Old Testament,
sovereignty in bowing down, dignity, reputation, time, etc.

"Is it worth it?" is a worship question. "Is God worth it?" is
a worship question.

How much is God worth to you?

When you are a young person interested in dating someone, do
you begrudge the time, effort, and money you spend on them? Why
do you do it? Because you think knowing them, and being with
them, is worth it. That shows worth-ship, or worship.

God is a Person. He is great beyond description in every way.
What is it worth to you to know God, and be with Him?

It is not enough to say you love God more than anything. To
please God you also need to demonstrate your love.

SAY THIS: I will worship God with all I have, including my
money.

Do Not Worry

PHILIPPIANS 4:6 NLT
6 Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.
Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

Worrying can't accomplish anything. So why do it?

MATTHEW 6:25-34 NKJ
25 "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life,
what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your
body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and
the body more than clothing?
26 "Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor
reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds
them. Are you not of more value than they?
27 "Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his
stature?
28 "So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies
of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin;
29 "and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory
was not arrayed like one of these.
30 "Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which
today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not
much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
31 "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or
'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'
32 "For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your
heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,
and all these things shall be added to you.
34 "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will
worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own
trouble.

LUKE 10:41-42 NKJ
41 And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you
are worried and troubled about many things.
42 "But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good
part, which will not be taken away from her."

What did Mary choose that was better than worrying? Spending
time with Jesus hearing His Word. You would do well to follow
her example.

SAY THIS: I will trust in God and not worry.

Expect Favor

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

If Jesus is your Lord, then He is also your righteousness (1
Corinthians 1:30, Romans 5:17). So, you are righteous in Christ
and qualify for this blessing.

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

Why expect favor?

Because God is your Father. He loves you. And He responds to
faith. When you walk in faith you expect blessings.

PROVERBS 16:7 NIV
7 When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD, he makes even his
enemies live at peace with him.

Some people always talk of how badly they are treated and how
things always go wrong for them. Should we be surprised? After
all, Jesus told us in Mark 11:23 that we would have what we
say.

Why not begin to say that God surrounds your life with favor?

SAY THIS: I expect God's favor in my life.

Love Is At War

1 JOHN 4:8 CEB
8 The person who doesn't love does not know God, because God is
love.

The Bible reveals that God is Love, and that Love is at war.

1 JOHN 3:8b CEB
8 God's Son appeared for this purpose: to destroy the works of
the devil.

Why is Love at war, and against whom?

Love lost something very precious when Adam and Eve rebelled
and followed satan. Their hearts and minds were captured by
lies.

Love is not warring against people, but against selfishness,
hatred, fear, and ignorance.

If Love went to war, how would Love fight?

Love wages war not by destroying its enemies, but by winning
them over, converting them to Truth.

Love never harms those it takes captive.

When Love wins a battle, there are no casualties, only winners.

2 CORINTHIANS 10:4-5 CEB
4 Our weapons that we fight with aren't human, but instead they
are powered by God for the destruction of fortresses. They
destroy arguments,
5 and every defense that is raised up to oppose the knowledge
of God. They capture every thought to make it obedient to
Christ.

Love's war is for truth to prevail. Lies from the enemy have
kept God's creation in bondage, but truth (acted upon) sets
people free (John 8:31-32).

Genesis 3:1-5 reveals the devil's tactics, which remain the
same today. His first statement to Adam and Eve was to say that
what God told them was not true. Then he implied that God was
acting selfishly by withholding what would benefit them,
insinuating that God did not really care for them.

Ever since the Garden of Eden, satan has continued feeding
mankind false propaganda against God, making us think God was
unfair, unloving, uncaring, and unreliable.

But satan is a liar!

Love could not win the argument with just words. Action was
required. God needed to prove all the devil's propaganda
against Him was wrong. This is the reason why God became a man,
and why He died on the cross at Calvary.

It is impossible to prove you are not an uncaring dictator by
issuing decrees. You can only demonstrate that you have an
unselfish, loving nature by actions.

ROMANS 5:8 NJB
8 So it is proof of God's own love for us, that Christ died for
us while we were still sinners.

Jesus won the decisive battle at Calvary, but not everyone
clearly understands yet what happened there. When everyone
knows the full truth, the war will be over.

God does not force His deliverance, blessing, and love on
people, but allows us all to make choices.

Many don't yet believe God is good and loves them. But Love is
determined to win the hearts of humanity. And Love will not
fail!

SAY THIS: Love is at war with lies, so that all may know the
truth and be set free.

Does Jesus Care?

MARK 4:37-40 NKJ
37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the
boat, so that it was already filling.
38 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?"
39 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.
40 But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that
you have no faith?"

All of us have questioned whether God cares for us when we have
faced difficulties. It is easy to wonder why things are so
tough, if God truly loves us, as the Bible says.

What is the answer? Why don't things go better for us,
especially when we are trusting in God?

Mark 4 gives us a glimpse into how God looks at this.

When the disciples thought they were going to sink in the storm
-- even though Jesus was on their boat -- they cried out to
Him. And Jesus did deliver them from danger.

But then, Jesus rebuked His disciples because they were fearful,
and didn't handle the situation themselves.

Why didn't the Lord take care of the dire situation sooner? Why
did Jesus let them nearly sink before He intervened? The answer
is simple. Jesus was expecting His disciples to exercise
authority over the storm.

God has confidence in His children. He desires for us to grow
up, to learn to take responsibility, and to exercise the
authority He has given us.

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.

God told us to resist the devil, and all his works -- which is
everything that would steal, kill, or destroy. Why should God
interrupt and do things for us that He has already told us to
do, using His authority?

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

Yes, Jesus cares for you -- enough to die for you! Don't judge
His love by your circumstances.

If it seems Jesus is not stilling the storms in your life, He
has not abandoned you. He is just expecting you to overcome, by
using your faith and the authority He has given you.

SAY THIS: Jesus cares for me, and I will be delivered out of
all the storms of life!

God Does Not Need Your Money

PSALM 50:10,12 NLT
10 For all the animals of the forest are mine, and I own the
cattle on a thousand hills.
12 If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for all the world is
mine and everything in it.

While giving is a valid part of God's training program for
mankind, God's plan is not going to fail if you don't give Him
your money.

God does not need money. People need money -- not God. God is
after your heart, not your money.

It is ridiculous to think of God being in need, when He can
speak and create planets. Just by speaking words, God could
create anything He needed or wanted.

Yet I believe in giving to God and practice it. Why?

Because I need God's help and blessing. God does not need what
I have to offer Him, but I certainly need what He has to offer
me. So I give to God as an expression of worship and gratitude.

How can we give to God? Obviously, we can't put money directly
in His hand.

But Jesus said that if you did something to even the least of
His brethren, it was as if you did it to Him. (Matthew 25:40)

In the Old Testament people gave to God by giving to those He
appointed as priests. Fortunately, under the New Covenant, we
can go directly to God through Jesus Christ, without needing a
priest as an intermediary. However, the New Testament still
indicates that those who spread the Gospel are to be supported
by our giving to God.

1 CORINTHIANS 9:13-14 NLT
13 Don't you realize that those who work in the temple get
their meals from the offerings brought to the temple? And those
who serve at the altar get a share of the sacrificial
offerings.
14 In the same way, the Lord ordered that those who preach the
Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it.

So it is Scriptural to give to those who are spreading the
Gospel. But it is wrong to think God is totally dependent on
human giving of money to accomplish His plan.

I do give to other ministers including some who spend great
amounts of money spreading Biblical teaching through various
media. So I am not against spending money to spread the Gospel.
I am just against the idea that this is the only way God could
do it, and that God is somehow dependent on my giving.

As an example, when the communists took over in China, they
forced all the missionaries to leave the country, leaving
around one million believers with no obvious help or support.
They had no Christian TV or radio, no Bible schools, no
Christian publishing houses, no help from anyone but God. Yet
it has been acknowledged that the number of believers grew to
about one hundred million during the years they were cut off
from all outside help. God will not be stopped!

Even if all preachers in the world were killed today, and all
Christian media was banned, God would still be at work, and
would still bring to pass His will.

We should use every available means to bless others and spread
the message of Jesus Christ. But we must never make the error
of thinking God's plan will fail because of a lack of money.

SAY THIS: God does not need my money, but I need what God has
to offer me.

Jesus Died For Sinners

ROMANS 5:6 NKJ
6 . . . Christ died for the ungodly.

Jesus Christ did not come to earth to help perfect people, but
to help ungodly sinners.

ROMANS 5:8 NKJ
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we
were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Jesus already paid the price for the forgiveness of all sins
through His death.

EPHESIANS 1:7 NKJ
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness
of sins, according to the riches of His grace

The devil tries to make people think God does not love them
because of their sins. But nothing could be further from the
truth. God loves sinners! Jesus died to save sinners.

1 TIMOTHY 1:15 NKJ
15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am
chief.

God is against sin because it is harmful to people, but He is
not against sinners.

If God could not or would not help a sinner, then He would
never help any human. The Bible tells the opposite story. We
have all missed the mark of perfection so we all need a Savior.
And we all have a Savior if we will but receive Him.

HEBREWS 9:26 NLT
26 If that had been necessary, Christ would have had to die
again and again, ever since the world began. But now, once for
all time, he has appeared at the end of the age to remove sin
by his own death as a sacrifice.

The sacrifice of Jesus was sufficient to deal with all sin. You
have been forgiven. Accept that forgiveness. Turn away from
going your own way and walk with God.

SAY THIS: Jesus died because He loved sinners, including me.

When You Sin

1 JOHN 1:9 NKJ
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us
our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Many people let sin separate them from God. But the devil is
the one who tells us God does not love us when we sin.

Jesus paid a great price so you can be forgiven and freed from
sin and its penalty.

ROMANS 5:8 NKJ
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we
were still sinners, Christ died for us.

God is against sin because it harms people, but God loves
sinners!

When we sin, it does not make God hate us. We should not run
away from God, but run to Him for help and cleansing, so that
our fellowship with Him will not be hindered in any way.

We confess our sins to shut the door on the devil so he has no
place in our affairs. We don't confess our sins to convince God
to forgive us. God has already forgiven! We confess our sins to
get rid of them, and keep the devil out.

EPHESIANS 1:7 NKJ
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness
of sins, according to the riches of His grace

God loves people, including you. His ultimate plan is to have a
family of people who do not sin, but voluntarily choose the way
of love, which is God's perfect way.

But just as a good parent does not throw their baby into the
street because they are not perfect yet, but still mess their
pants, so God does not discard His children when they sin.

God loves you more than any good parent ever loved their child.
So look to Him for help in overcoming sin, instead of expecting
condemnation from Him.

When you sin, confess it to get rid of its influence in your
life and to keep the devil from having any place. I don't mean
begging God to forgive you and promising to never do it again.
Instead say, "That is wrong. I should not have done that. Lord,
I need your help to overcome it. Please continue working your
will in me."

Sin has already been paid for with the precious blood of Jesus.
God has already decreed that sin is forgiven, so that it should
not keep people from fellowship with Him.

SAY THIS: I will not let sin separate me from God.

Leave Your Case With God

ROMANS 12:19 NLT
19 Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the
righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, "I will take
revenge; I will pay them back," says the LORD.

When people do us wrong, not taking revenge is difficult. It
seems natural to fight back when someone attacks us.

But the Bible tells us to let God judge them.

This is not saying you should never defend yourself, or what
belongs to you. But do not seek revenge after you have been
wronged. Instead, let God handle it.

People who try to take revenge, usually end up committing more
injustice. Often a deadly cycle develops. Instead of taking
revenge, God's Word tells us to bless our enemies.

PROVERBS 25:21 NKJ
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he is
thirsty, give him water to drink;

MATTHEW 5:44 NKJ
44 "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse
you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who
spitefully use you and persecute you,

God is aware of every injustice. And God promises to right
every wrong, eventually. God is a righteous judge, but all
judgment is not instant, or even in this life.

1 PETER 2:21,23 NLT
21 For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering,
just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you
must follow in his steps.
23 He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten
revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God,
who always judges fairly.

SAY THIS: I will not take revenge but trust God to bring
justice.

Die Right

NUMBERS 23:10b KJV
10 Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end
be like his!

How we face death is an important part of life. It is important
to die right.

It bothers me to see those who claim to believe in Jesus Christ
acting like they are afraid to die and go to Heaven.

I am not afraid to die. I look forward to it. It will be
wonderful to be with Jesus in Heaven, after my job here is
finished.

It bothers me to see people who have already lived a full life
spend a fortune trying to prolong their life on earth, like
they have no hope of Heaven.

How can we expect the world to believe, if we don't act like we
believe?

Your death is part of your testimony. If you approach death
like those who have no hope, it is a bad testimony.

PROVERBS 14:32 KJV
32 The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the
righteous hath hope in his death.

Too many "Christians" act like there is no Heaven when it comes
time to die. For a true believer in Jesus Christ, nothing could
be better than to go be with our wonderful Lord Jesus Christ.

PHILIPPIANS 1:21 KJV
21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Should we leave this life kicking, screaming and dragging our
feet -- if we believe we are going to Heaven to be with Jesus?

Although we pass through death to leave this sin-infested
planet, it will not hurt us. Jesus defeated death for us and
removed death's sting so it cannot hurt us. We need have no
fear of death. Death cannot harm a believer!

We don't have a choice whether we will die, but we have a
choice about the manner in which we die.

I desire that Christ may be glorified, not only in my life, but
also in my death.

The best ways to die are to either die as a witness for Jesus
Christ, a martyr, or to die a natural death in old age, after
living a full life of victory.

I am not advocating giving in easily to death before it is
time. But we all must eventually face death, so when the time
comes, let us face it without fear.

ECCLESIASTES 3:2 KJV
2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a
time to pluck up that which is planted;

There is a time to die, a time when it is best. A time when you
have finished your course on earth, and you are ready to go be
with Jesus. Until then, you should resist death. But you should
NEVER fear death.

Plan and purpose that your death (as well as your life) will
bring glory to God. Pray that your home-going will be glorious
and point people toward faith in Jesus Christ.

SAY THIS: I am not afraid to die. I will die right and leave a
good testimony.

Forgive Yourself

1 JOHN 2:12 NLT
12 I am writing to you who are God's children because your sins
have been forgiven through Jesus.

COLOSSIANS 3:13 NIV
13 . . . Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

GALATIANS 5:14 NIV
14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your
neighbor as yourself."

For many people, the hardest person to forgive is themselves.

If God can forgive us, then we can, and must, forgive
ourselves. Not to forgive ourselves is to exalt ourselves above
God.

If God can decree that we are forgive-able, but we say we are
too bad to be forgiven, we are saying we know more than God.

Should your standards be higher than God's standards? He
forgives. Why won't you forgive yourself?

The devil wants you to stay focused on your past and your
failures, so you will not receive God's blessing.

God wants you to believe His Word and focus on His victory so
you will have a better future.

Which one will you choose to follow?

SAY THIS: Because God has forgiven me, I forgive myself.

No One Is Born Mature

EPHESIANS 4:13-15 ESV
13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the
knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure
of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
14 so that we may no longer be children . . . .
15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in
every way into him who is the head, into Christ,

Ultimately, God plans for you to grow up in every way into
being like Jesus Christ.

But no one is born mature and fully developed -- either
physically or spiritually.

When we receive Jesus Christ, His life enters our inner being,
causing us to be born again as a child of God (John 3:3). We
enter God's family by pure grace, not because of any effort or
virtue of our own.

The moment we are born again, we have all the rights and
privileges purchased for us by the death of our wonderful Lord,
Jesus Christ.

But we have to learn who we are, what is ours, and how to walk
in it. We must learn to use the authority God has given us. (The
only reliable source of this information is the New Testament.)

When we are born again spiritually, we are born equipped with
everything we will ever need, just as a human child is born
with a brain and all the muscles it will ever have. Yet, no
baby can write textbooks or win athletic events. But we
understand that they have that potential, needing only time and
nutrition to grow and mature.

1 JOHN 5:4 ERV
4 because everyone who is a child of God has the power to win
against the world.

We are born again spiritually with everything in place. We
don't need to beg God to give us something else to put us over.
We just need to grow and develop what God has already put
within us.

2 PETER 1:3 ESV
3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to
life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us
to his own glory and excellence,

God has already given His children all things that pertain to
life and godliness. So we need to learn to walk in what God has
already provided for us.

2 PETER 3:18 ESV
18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of
eternity. Amen.

Christianity is not just about being born again and going to
Heaven. Being born again is just the first step. God intends
for us to grow and mature.

1 PETER 2:2 NKJ
2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you
may grow thereby,

SAY THIS: God's plan for me is to grow up spiritually. When I
am mature I will be like Jesus Christ.

It Is Written

MATTHEW 4:3-4 NKJ
3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the
Son of God, command that these stones become bread."
4 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.' "

When tempted, Jesus did not use any supernatural powers to
resist the devil. Jesus simply quoted the written Word of God
to the devil.

You must do the same thing. Jesus was our example, showing us
how to overcome the attacks of our enemy.

Notice how the devil came to tempt Jesus -- with a thought -- a
thought contrary to the written Word of God.

Then after Jesus quoted the Bible, the devil also quoted the
Bible but twisted the meaning. Jesus responded only with
another verse from the Bible.

MATTHEW 4:6-7 NKJ
6 and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself
down. For it is written: 'He shall give His angels charge over
you,' and, 'In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you
dash your foot against a stone.' "
7 Jesus said to him, "It is written again, 'You shall not tempt
the LORD your God.' "

If you read the whole passage in Matthew 4:1-11, you will see
that quoting the written Word was the only defense Jesus used
against the devil. Nothing else.

If you are going to overcome temptation and walk in victory,
you must follow Jesus' example and quote the Bible to the
devil. There is no other way.

God's Word in your mouth is your spiritual weapon. If you
neglect to use it, you will be overcome instead of walking in
all the victory and blessing Jesus has provided for you.

EPHESIANS 6:17 NKJ
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the
Spirit, which is the word of God;

Obviously you must know what the Bible says to quote it to the
devil. So it is evident how important it is to read and study
the Bible for yourself.

Yet it is not enough to just read the Bible or study it. When
thoughts come that are not in agreement with the Bible, we must
speak the Word to the devil who is behind those thoughts.

SAY THIS: I will resist the devil with what is written in God's
Word.

God Is Your Source

PHILIPPIANS 4:19 NIV
19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his
glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

God can use any avenue or any means to provide for you, but He
is the ultimate Source behind every blessing.

Your job or occupation is one avenue God can use to bless you.
But, your job is not your source.

God's plan for mankind is that we labor. So God will usually
provide for us by giving us a good job, good health, and the
ability to do that job.

However, God is not limited to providing for you through a job.
Even if you lose the job -- God is still your Source, and He
will still provide for you.

Even if you lose your health, God can and will still provide
for you. (And He will also heal you, if you let Him.)

God can bless you through friends and relatives, but they are
not your source. Even if they fail you or forsake you, God will
not.

PSALM 27:10 NKJ
10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will
take care of me.

HEBREWS 13:5 NKJ
5 Let your conduct be without covetousness, and be content with
such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never
leave you nor forsake you."

God deserves credit and thanks for everything good that has
ever happened to you. He was behind it. God was the source of
it. Was it a mother's love? God put that love in her for you.
Was it the love of a spouse? God created that love.

Every good thing in life owes its existence to God. We should
thank God for every good thing, no matter how it seems to come
to us.

God moves on people and influences them to bless you. God
causes situations to work out for your benefit. God is behind
every blessing.

So keep your eyes on God. Thank Him for every blessing, no
matter how it comes to you, because it is from Him.

SAY THIS: God is MY Source.

Saved By Grace

EPHESIANS 2:8-9 NLT
8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't
take credit for this; it is a gift from God.
9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done,
so none of us can boast about it.

Being saved, and in right standing with God, is a gift! It is
something we don't deserve, but is freely given to us anyway.

We cannot earn it no matter what we do. Deliverance from the
curse, and right standing with God, is available only as a free
gift.

ROMANS 11:6 NRSV
6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works,
otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

It is not what we have done that matters, but what Jesus did
for us. He was our Substitute, suffering what we deserved, so
we could receive what He deserved as a gift.

God Himself has done what is necessary for us to be saved and
be in right standing with Him. Now we must believe in what God
has done, and thank Him for it.

ROMANS 4:5 NLT
5 But people are counted as righteous, not because of their
work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners.

People all over the world try to be right with God by what they
do: rituals, sacrifices, and devotion. But the Bible reveals we
cannot be right with God by our own actions -- it is a gift we
must receive.

ROMANS 3:20 NLT
20 For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the
law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.

By keeping the law it is impossible to be right with God,
because no human being can keep it by their own effort. We have
all sinned, according to the Bible.

ROMANS 3:23 NLT
23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious
standard.

God does not grade on a curve. All have sinned and come short.
So we all need a Savior.

ROMANS 10:9-10 NLT
9 If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe
in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be
saved.
10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right
with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are
saved.

So salvation is a free gift. Anyone can receive it. It comes
wrapped up in a person -- the Lord Jesus Christ. Receive Jesus
-- no matter who you are or what you have done -- and instantly
you are saved (which means delivered) and put in perfect right
standing with God, as if you had never sinned. What a gift!

SAY THIS: I am saved by God's wonderful grace.

Don't Love Money

1 TIMOTHY 6:10 ESV
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is
through this craving that some have wandered away from the
faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

Many think the Bible says money is evil but it does not. What
it actually says is the love of money causes evil. The meaning
is that when people love money they will do evil things to
obtain it.

While not all evil is caused by the love of money (rape is an
example), there are many different kinds of evil that have the
love of money as their true motivation.

Money has deceived many. They think it will bring them
happiness, but it disappoints.

Money cannot buy happiness or real love. Money will never love
you back.

1 TIMOTHY 6:17 ESV
17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be
haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches,
but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.

Our Father God is our true Source who will never fail us. He
alone deserves our love and our faith. But money has a history
of disappointment and failure.

HEBREWS 13:5 ESV
5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with
what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor
forsake you."

As children of God we do not have to place our hope in money to
take care of us, for we have the promise of God that He will
always be with us and provide for us. We should not allow
doubt to rob us of this blessing.

MATTHEW 13:22 ESV
22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears
the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of
riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

Please notice it is not riches that choke the Word, but the
deceitfulness of riches. Believing lies about riches is what
chokes the Word and keeps it from producing good fruit in
people's lives.

ACTS 20:35 AMPLIFIED
35 In everything I have pointed out to you [by example] that,
by working diligently in this manner, we ought to assist the
weak, being mindful of the words of the Lord Jesus, how He
Himself said, It is more blessed (makes one happier and more to
be envied) to give than to receive.

Here is a truth too few have learned: happiness is not achieved
by getting, but rather by giving. No matter how much you
accumulate, it will never satisfy you. You will always want
more. But when you recognize that God is your Source and you
can give without worrying about your own needs, you can enter
into great freedom and joy.

Can you be a lover of money and also be a continual giver? No!
Those who love money are not willing to part with it. Although
they may part with some for the purpose of gaining more money,
they will never focus on giving, for they are interested in
getting, not giving to others.

SAY THIS: I will not be deceived by money, loving it and
trusting it, instead of God.

Your Mouth Locates You

LUKE 6:45 WE
45 A good man has stored up good things in his heart, so he
says good things. A bad man has stored up wrong things in his
heart, so he will say wrong things. The mouth will say what is
in the heart.'

What you say locates you.

When you speak freely, you expose (to yourself and others) what
you actually believe.

You may have told others -- or even yourself -- that you are
walking in faith, but what your mouth says locates you and
exposes what is really in your heart.

If you speak words of doubt, you are not strong in faith.

If you speak words of hate and criticism, you are not strong in
love.

You cannot see what is in another person's heart. But if you
listen to their conversation you will know what is in their
heart. Obviously, this only works when they let their guard
down and speak freely.

If someone is putting on an act, they could say anything and
not really mean it. But in times of pressure and crisis, people
usually don't take time to think before speaking, so what they
truly believe comes out.

This message is not meant to condemn you but to wake you up to
reality. If you are speaking anything contrary to what God says
in the Bible, you need to realize you are not in faith in that
area. So you should take steps to remedy the situation by
feeding on God's Word to build up your faith.

SAY THIS: If I ever speak contrary to God's Word, I know it is
time to feed on the Bible and fill my heart with the truth.

Love Gives

JOHN 3:16 NKJ
16 "For God so loved the world that He gave . . . .

GALATIANS 2:20 NKJ
20 ". . . I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and
gave Himself for me.

EPHESIANS 5:25 NLT
25 For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ
loved the church. He gave up his life for her

Love is only expressed through giving. If there is no giving,
there is no evidence that love exists. The only proof of love
is giving. Giving is the action that demonstrates love.

So, the measure of your giving is the measure of your love. The
more you give -- of yourself, your time, your attention, your
affection, your patience, your treasure -- the more you love.
This is what Jesus meant in John 15:13.

JOHN 15:13 NKJ
13 "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's
life for his friends.

Why did Jesus say there was no greater love than to give your
life? Because you can't give any more. That's total commitment!

So, whenever you see "love" in a sentence, you may substitute
"giving" and express essentially the same meaning.

JOHN 13:35 NKJ
35 "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you
have love for one another."

By understanding that love results in giving, we see that Jesus
indicated His disciples would be known for their giving. We are
to be famous for our giving! This is the way Jesus indicated
people would know His true followers: by their giving. (Not our
fighting, our preaching, or even our correct doctrine.)

We see in the early days of the church, this is exactly what
happened.

ACTS 4:34-35 NKJ
34 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,
35 and laid them at the apostles' feet; and they distributed to
each as anyone had need.

Don't think that your gifts should only go to churches and
preachers. Jesus made it clear that giving to any believer was
the same as giving to Him.

MATTHEW 25:40 NKJ
40 "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.'

But God has not called us to give to others just so we could
end up poor, also. NO! God has promised to multiply what we
give, so we will have more to give in the future.

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."

2 CORINTHIANS 9:6-8 NLT 
6 Remember this -- a farmer who plants only a few seeds will
get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a
generous crop.
7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And
don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. "For God
loves a person who gives cheerfully."
8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will
always have everything you need and plenty left over to share
with others.

So, based on God's promises, we can give to others in faith,
with confidence that God will continue to supply all we need.

EPHESIANS 4:28 NKJ
28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor,
working with his hands what is good, that he may have something
to give him who has need.

(This verse gives us an idea of how giving was paramount in the
thinking of early Christians.)

JOHN 15:12 NKJ
12 "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have
loved you.

If you desire to follow Jesus, love (giving) is not optional.

SAY THIS: As a disciple of Jesus, I will be a giver.