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Word for Today:  September 21

Understanding.

When you were Born Again you received the Character, Nature and Attributes of your Heavenly Father.  That is why Jesus said, Except a man be Born Again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God… John 3:3.   The word “see” means to “know” or “have knowledge of.”  It means to “perceive” or to “understand”.

Jesus was not talking about Heaven in this passage.

He was talking about living and functioning in God’s Place and in God’s Kingdom on this earth before we die and go to heaven.

If you are Born Again you have had God’s power transferred to you.  You receive God’s Power by getting Born Again.  If you are not living in God’s power it may be because you do not understand how to.  You can have God’s Power and yet not live in God’s Power.

Thousands of Believers are right there.  Maybe you are one of them.  You can have God’s Power and yet not activate it and release it.

God’s Power will do for you exactly what God will do for you.

The awesome power of God is in you.  And this Power is activated and released by your Faith.

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us…   Eph 3:20

When you determine to activate that power by your faith, you bring God to the scene of your need.  The Word becomes flesh.  The Kingdom of God comes.

And hell has to move over

Word for Today:  September 20

Understanding.

When you were Born Again you received the Character, Nature and Attributes of your Heavenly Father.  That is why Jesus said, Except a man be Born Again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God… John 3:3.   The word “see” means to “know” or “have knowledge of.”  It means to “perceive” or to “understand”.

Jesus was not talking about Heaven in this passage.

He was talking about living and functioning in God’s Place and in God’s Kingdom on this earth before we die and go to heaven.

If you are Born Again you have had God’s power transferred to you.  You receive God’s Power by getting Born Again.  If you are not living in God’s power it may be because you do not understand how to.  You can have it and yet not live in it.

Thousands of Believers are right there.  Maybe you are one of them.  You can have God’s Power and yet not activate it and release it.

God’s Power will do for you exactly what God will do for you.

The awesome power of God is in you.  And this Power is activated and released by your Faith.

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us…   Eph 3:20

When you determine to activate that power by your faith, you bring God to the scene of your need.  The Word becomes flesh.  The Kingdom of God comes.

And hell has to move over

Word for Today:  September 19

Word for Today:  September 19

One factor.

There is only one factor that gives credibility to any ministry.

There is only one factor that guarantees the success of Kingdom work.  There is only one factor that makes preachers really preach and churches really produce lasting results.

Effectiveness and productivity are not the result of man’s effort, ingenuity or education.   Success is not correctly measured by size.  Bigger is not always better.   And smarter is not always wiser.   Breadth is never as important as depth.

In Kingdom Ministry it is the Anointing that produces results.  Without anointing all our efforts are but sounding brass and tinkling symbols.  Where there is no anointing, there is no LIFE.

It is the anointing that breaks the yoke and sets the captive free.  It is the anointing that brings revelation and produces conviction.  It is the anointing that moves the heart and rends the soul.

With all our getting let us be certain we get unction.  Education is good, but it can never substitute for anointing.   Personality and popularity and acclaim are good, but they can never accomplish what the anointing can accomplish.

In all the years of ministry, I’m not so sure I can explain what the anointing really is, or how to adequately describe it, but I can surely tell when I haven’t got it.  And so can you.

The anointing gives credibility to ministry.  The anointing eradicates human limitation.  The anointing speaks the truth.  The anointing breaks the stronghold of the enemy.  The anointing ignites the hearts of complacent Christians and impregnates the barren church to produce spiritual children.

We must have the anointing

Word for Today:  September 18

Put it off.

In Ephesians Paul speaks about the New Man and the Old Man.  He tells us to “put off the old man” and “put on the New Man.”

That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;  And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.  Eph 4:22-24

This is an act of the human will.  We determine what we “put off” and what we “put on.”  It is a decision we make.  It is basically not a very spiritual decision, it’s simply a choice we make.    Just as we decide what clothes we are going to put on each day, we can also decide to put on all the benefits of the New Creation Man each day as well.

I like to visualize literally putting on all my New Creation provisions as I put on my clothes each morning. Then I make a decision to “wear them” through all the situations and challenges that come along during the day.  The Word tells us to “put on” the New Man with all his privileges and provisions and to “put off” the old man with all his lack and need.  All his weaknesses and limitations. All his frustrations and temptations.

This speaks of personal action that comes out of the human will.  You either will to do it or you will to not do it.

If you do it you get the results the Bible promises and if you don’t you won’t.

So do it

Word for Today:  September 17

God has always had a Voice.

In times of trouble and distress and confusion… God has always had a Voice.   His prophets and His servants would come into great anointing and they would speak forth the message of God.

They were Perceptive.  They operated with great insight, foresight and anointing.

They were Receptive.  They were not blinded by or hindered by the fear of men.  They were courageous and bold.  They were determined and persuasive.  Turned on and Tuned in.

They were Called.  Anointed and Appointed and Commissioned.  They were extensions of God on earth and spoke with His authority and His power.

They were Radical and Unreasonable.  They were distinctive and different.  They were careless (toward the world) and careful toward God.  They walked humbly and circumspectly before God.  They respected Him and feared Him. (Held Him in awe and reverence).

We will come into a fresh end-time anointing.  More than ever before… at any time in the history of man… we will speak as the very Voice of God to a seeking generation… to a wounded and hurting Church…  to a world in desperate need.

The voice of the Prophet will be heard once again

Word for Today:  September 16

One factor.

There is only one factor that gives credibility to any ministry.

There is only one factor that guarantees the success of Kingdom work.  There is only one factor that makes preachers really preach and churches really produce lasting results.

Effectiveness and productivity are not the result of man’s effort, ingenuity or education.   Success is not correctly measured by size.  Bigger is not always better.   And smarter is not always wiser.   Breadth is never as important as depth.

In Kingdom Ministry it is the Anointing that produces results.  Without the anointing all our efforts are but sounding brass and tinkling symbols.  Where there is no anointing, there is no LIFE.

It is the anointing that breaks the yoke and sets the captive free.  It is the anointing that brings revelation and produces conviction.  It is the anointing that moves the heart and rends the soul.

With all our getting let us be certain we get unction.  Education is good, but it can never substitute for anointing.   Personality and popularity and acclaim are good, but they can never accomplish what the anointing can accomplish.

In all the years of ministry, I’m not so sure how to define what the anointing really is, or how to adequately explain it, but I can surely tell when I haven’t got it.  And so can you.

The anointing gives credibility to ministry.  The anointing eradicates human limitation.  The anointing speaks the truth.  The anointing breaks the stronghold of the enemy.  The anointing ignites the hearts of complacent Christians and impregnates the barren church to produce children.

We must have the anointing

Word for Today:  September 15

Attitude.

Notice the attitude of those gathered in the Upper Room in Acts chapter 2:

FIRST:  They were serious about God.  They were serious about Church.  They were serious about Spiritual Things.  They were not playing games or pretending.  They were committed.

SECOND:  They were praying.  They were believing.  They were expecting.

THIRD:  They loved each other and forgave one another and were together in unity.  Petty differences were forgotten.   Hurt feelings were forsaken.

FOURTH:  They wanted IT.  They wanted fire from heaven.  They wanted power.  They wanted God and all that God had for them.

FIFTH:  They were “In one accord…”   They were not arguing doctrine or comparing spiritual gifts.  They were not competing for attention or envious of others.

SIXTH:  They were filled with praise and thanksgiving to God.  They were unashamed and they were bold.  They were not intimidated and they were not shy.  They were not embarrassed about the Holy Ghost.

FINALLY:  They were not going to quit until they got it and until the whole world was touched.

What we are content  with determines what God can do in us.

Dissatisfaction leads to greater possibilities

Word for Today:  September 14

We are under a Divine Mandate from Heaven to get with it or get out of it.

We are not on vacation and we are not retiring……    Folks….it is harvest time.

We don”t need squatters or homesteaders.  We need go-ers and do-ers and givers and pray-ers…. We need labor-ers because it is harvest time.

What is it going to take to bring an Awakening to the Church?  Do we have to bottom out before we look up?  Are we so slow that IT must happen everywhere else before IT happens to us?

• We have built nice buildings, but this didn’t work.
• We have acquired the latest and most sophisticated technology.
• We have established great programs, but this didn’t work.
• We have brought in outstanding “world-class” preachers and evangelists and teachers, but this didn’t work.
• We have hired experienced staff members and revolutionized our worship and music.
• We have established educational programs and Bible Institutes and recreational projects.
• We have preached on TV and the Internet, we have published books and pamphlets, but none of these have produced New Testament Results.
• We have promoted, organized, educated and funded but this didn’t work.

What will it take?  I’ll tell you what it’s going to take.

• It is going to take hungering and thirsting for God.  It is going to take longing for and seeking God
• It is going to take rearranging our priorities
• It is going to take repentance and humility
• It is going to take praying and forgiving
• It is going to take loving
• It is going to take a divine visitation from God
• It is going to take a Holy Spirit Invasion
• It is going to take a “Day of Pentecost” renewal

Only God can do what must be done to wake up the Body of Christ.  And when we make our Move, God will make His.

It is time for an awakening

Word for Today:  September 13

The pattern.

God planned and prepared for His Church to operate in the Power of the Holy Ghost.  He planned for it to function in the continual manifestation of the Glory of God.  At least, that’s what we discover in the Book of Acts.   The unbelieving world is waiting for this to happen.    Most contemporary churches are not functioning in and Manifesting the Supernatural Power of God.

If we are to continue to do today what Jesus began to do then, we must have Power.   Supernatural Power.  Holy Ghost Power.

There should never be a Church Service:

•  without miracles.
•  without an anointed, fire-filled Holy Ghost Preacher Preaching.
•  without a dynamic life-changing confrontation with God.
• without lost souls being born again and devils run off.
• without the sick getting healed.
• without the Gifts of the Spirit operating.
• Without dead, depressed and defeated believers being Fired-Up.
• without Love pervading and prevailing.
• without God being Glorified
• without angels rejoicing in Heaven over victories won on earth

That was the pattern then.

That is the Plan now

Word for Today:  September 12

The Glory of God will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea…

It will be a Quick Work that will leave the world’s head swimming.  It is in its infant stages now.  But it will grow day by day.  It will increase.  It will gain momentum.  It will escalate. There will be a crescendo.  There will be a shaking, a shocking and an uprising.

Where there has been social and political unrest… there is now an unrest in the Spiritual Realm.  A stirring.  A moving.  A release of Divine Energy.  You feel it.  You feel it here.  You see it.  You see it here.  It is happening NOW.  It is happening across the earth.

All Creation is standing on tip-toe waiting for the Manifestation of the Sons of God:

For the earnest  expectation of the creature (creation) waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. Rom. 8:19

Now, guess who the Sons of God are?  The Church.  You and me (if you are saved).  Those who are Born Again.  The Body of Christ.

And, according to the Word of God, we are going to be Manifested.   Revealed.  Shown and displayed to the entire Creation.  Both animate and inanimate.  To the heavens and to the earth.  To all flesh… believers and unbelievers.  To all races.  Creeds.  Cultures.  To everything and to all things.

The neat thing about all of this is, it is God’s plan.  And it is a Grand Plan.  It is an eternal Plan.  And there is absolutely nothing the devil or anybody or any power can do about it.  It Will Happen.

The Turned-On New Testament Church is where it will begin and it will surge outward until it breaks forth and every nation and every kindred and every tongue on this planet is covered with the Glory of God.

Hallelujah