dickbraswell

Word for Today:  November 6

Checkers

Even though our Christianity is not a game, some of the same rules tend to apply.

For Example, our spiritual growth is kind of like playing checkers.  Remember, the object is to get yourself to the King Line and get a crown. You take your turn.  And you get there one square at a time.  But it had better be The Right Square.  The wrong square will get you jumped, captured, defeated, taken off the board and put into the enemy’s hand.

Once you get “crowned” you have more mobility.  You have more authority.  More power.  More effectiveness.  More freedom.  More opportunities.  But you still must move with wisdom.  Even a king in the game of checkers can be jumped if he is careless.

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 1Pe 5:8

Be sure you make the Right Move today

For whatsoever (whosoever) is born of God overcometh the world; and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith…  1 John 5:4

          Bad things will happen.  They will hap­pen to good people. They will happen to people who are believing God and standing on the Word.  When bad things do happen what are we to do?   

          There will be issues we must address:

Why did this thing happen?  

Why do bad things happen to good people?  Why do in­no­cent, good, spiritual, God-serving, God-fear­ing people suffer as if God is not concerned?  Where is God when everything falls apart?  Why doesn’t He do something?  Why can’t preachers and pastors produce a logical, truth­ful and scriptural an­swer to these perplexing questions? 

Why do people worshipping God on Palm Sunday lose their lives in a church that is destroyed by a tor­nado?  Why do Godly people who pray and seek God not get healed from their sicknesses and dis­eases?  Why are the most innocent and committed believers sav­agely at­tacked and devastated by demonic cir­cum­stances?

          The only answer that is legitimate is “we do not know.”   We can lie and tell people we know why but the truth is “we do not know.”  This really seems like a cop out.  However, we need to remember that the devil is a mean devil and demonic forces are ruthless and in­tent on destroying those who love and fear God.  The most vicious attack is always aimed at those who are the greatest threat to the kingdom of darkness.  Satan is not fair.  Satan is mean.  Satan is the source of death, de­struction and defeat.  Bad things happen and they are caused by the devil.

“If those who are really committed to Jesus and who need a life-saving miracle can’t receive it, then, nobody can…”  

 God does not answer our praying on the basis of how good we are.  God’s relationship ship to us is not based on our “goodness” or our “performance.”  God’s love for us is not based what we do or what we do not do.    God does not work in our be­half on the basis of how spiritual we are.  God does not come through for us on the basis of our living right, or praying right, or thinking right or being right.  God does not send us mira­cles because we are baptized in the Holy Ghost and because we speak with other tongues.  God’s grace is not given because of our goodness.   God answers us on the basis of the finished redemptive work of Jesus Christ.   It is by the shed Blood of Christ and through the righteousness of Jesus. 

“Well, what’s the use… I don’t have confi­dence in what the Bible says anymore…”  

Do you realize that this is exactly the position the devil wants us to take?   If we doubt the Word and lose confidence in God, then the purpose of Sa­tan’s attack is accomplished.  The very place of victory is our faith.

…..and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. I John 5:4

          If our faith is damaged and our confidence in God is diminished, then Satan has won and we have lost.  Where ever our faith is weakened is where Satan is strength­ened.  Whenever we begin to lose con­fidence in God, we begin to have confidence in the devil.  To leave one is to side with the other.  To deny one is to agree with the other. 

Then, what are we to do?  

This is the time for us to REINFORCE OUR FAITH.   We should make our most powerful confessions in the times of our darkest trials.   We should not back out of our faith just because we got broadsided.  This is the time to fight the good fight of faith.  This is the time to be ag­gressive.  This is the time to get on the offense.  The best defense is a good offense. 

Stand strong.  Speak boldly.  Sing.  Shout.  Dance.  Rejoice.  Read the Bible to the devil.  Call him in and make him sit down and have a Bible study with you.  Hit him where it hurts with the Word.  At­tack with the Sword of the Spirit.  Resist him and watch him run in terror.

Bad things happen because we live in a flawed world.  We live in a world that has suffered a crippling blow by the entrance of evil resulting from the fall of Adam.  As long as evil exists, bad things will happen.  They will happen to good people and to people who are not good.  It is a result of the sin curse under which the world (and world system) exists. 

The ONE thing we always need to remember is that God is not the author of bad things.  God is a good God.  Bad things are caused by the devil and can be the result of bad choices people make.  They can also be a result of sin, disobedience and refusing the mercy and grace of our awesome loving God.   However they can be random and totally undeserved but an opportunity for the works of God to be revealed in you.

And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. Jn 9:1

And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jn 9:2 

Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. Jn9:3 

When bad things do happen…. Remember, God is right there with you and He will never leave you nor forsake you.  Intensify your determination to press on and press through.  Let the devil  know that he does not have anything that will separate you from the love of God.  Search the scriptures and find those verses that speak to your need and stand on them unwaveringly.  Talk to the devil and command him to back off.  Let him know that you are not ignorant of his devices and that you will never let him get away with his lies and his attacks.  His devices are all flawed and God has given you some mighty unfailing and super powerful weapons that are able to pull down his strongholds and break his control over your situation.  The more you strengthen your faith the weaker the devil becomes in his strategies and plans. 

Every bad thing that happens to you is an opportunity for you to discover deeper levels of God’s grace.  In the very midst of it you will receive greater revelation of the goodness of God and the grace of God.  Understand that no test or trial is unique but it is common to man.  God is faithful and will with the trial also provide a Way of escape (John 14:6).

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 1Co 10:13 

Word for Today:  November 4

Confrontation.

And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?  Mat. 21:10

And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee. Mat. 21:11

Praise rang out.  Crowds gathered.  A parade took place.  Rejoicing was everywhere.  The King had come to town.  This was a divine convergence of time and eternity.

In time, God foreordained that Jesus would enter into the sphere of human existence.   In eternity, God planned for the redemption of the fallen human race.  And now, time and eternity came into a divine convergence…. they meet.  They intersect.  They collide.

I believe we are at a similar place.  Time, today, is converging with eternity.  Just as Jesus came “in the fullness of time” we are coming into another fullness of time and it will shortly blend in with eternity.

The temporal is about to become eternal.  This is why this moment is so crucial.  This is the reason the anointing is mounting and the glory of God is rising.  This is the reason behind Revival.  This is the reason behind our Praying.  Our Intercession.  We are at The Place.  We are in The Time.  There is once again a Divine Convergence of Time with Eternity.  We are There.

A Confrontation is coming

And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.   Lu 18:27 

          Governments can’t.  Banks and lending institutions can’t.  Doctors, nurses and hospitals can’t.  Lawyers can’t. Kings and presidents can’t.   But God Can!

          You may have encountered impossible situations and circumstances in the past.  You may be now facing things you can’t do.  You can’t .  But God Can!  The Bible declares:

And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God. Lu 18:27 

          There is nothing too hard for God to do and nothing too “broke” for God to fix.  “But you don’t know what great needs I have.” It doesn’t matter what you need.  God can get it to you.   “But you don’t understand how bad off I am.”  It doesn’t matter how bad or impossible your condition may be.  God can fix it.

          Years ago I received a call from a mother whose son was dying.  He had undergone several critical surgeries, was in the ICU on life-support and not expected to live.  The doctors admitted “he can’t live.” “There is no way he can survive.”  “He is living now only because he is connected to the life support system. “  The lady asked desperately for our church to pray.  The call now was from this mother and was literally shouting over the phone… “Oh, I am so happy.  I just about can’t stand it!  My son has recovered and is doing well!  They are removing him from ICU and he will be home in a few days!” Doctor’s can’t.  God can.

          I want you to see and understand the power and ability of God in impossible situations.  “Is anything too hard for God?”  (Gen 18:14) And the obvious answer is a resounding “NO!”  Listen to this:

Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?  Jer 32:27 

          When others can’t, God Can.  When nations can’t, God Can.  When presidents and kings can’t, God Can.  We live in a culture that is saturated with a negative, pessimistic, fatalistic, impossibility mind set.  “It’s too hard.”  “It’s too difficult.”  “It’s too expensive.”  “It’s impossible.”  “There is no way out.”  This kind of thinking and talking is a bill of goods we have bought from the devil.   He has lied, intimidated and threatened to keep us discouraged and dismayed.  He has made us think that our problems are beyond repair.  He has attempted to keep us stressed out and running scared. 

          The negativism we live in is not only personal, it is national and international.  No jobs.  Lay offs.  Energy crisis.  Shaky stock market.  Nervous banks.  Shrinking dollar.  Failing economy.  Foreclosures.  Financial uncertainty and insecurity.  Seems that on  every hand there is pending panic and wide-spread pessimism. 

          The fact of wide spread terrorism and radical Islamic threats fills the airwaves and newspapers.  Civil war and deadly demonstrations are causing governments and kingdoms to fail and are fueling the fear and emotional distress that covers a large part of today’s world.  Our society is sinking and no man can anything about it.  Our nation is staggering in unrest and political  turmoil and nobody can fix it.  Looks like the world is a time-bomb just moments away from self-destructing.  And nobody can stop it.  At least that’s what the devil would have us think.  And he is the father of lies. 

          Satan has even had the nerve to attack me.  He’s had the audacity to attack our church.  He has threatened us and intimidated us.  He is on the move.  But God is, too!  Some have told me “Bro. Dick you are dreaming.  What you are talking about will never happen.  The things you are declaring that will come out of this little congregation is foolishness.  It is impossible.”  That’s exactly what I am aware of and that is exactly why I know God Can. 

          We as believers are facing a formidable task.  The world is desperate for a spiritual awakening.  The nations are ripe for a harvest.  There are billions of people living in darkness and ignorance who will never get to heaven unless we tell them about Jesus. 

          We are commanded to take the whole Gospel to the whole world.  The need is to see those depressed and overwhelmed and held in bondage set free.  Masses are held captive and defeated by the powers of darkness.  The job we have to do is impossible.  The job we have been assigned is  financially unreachable.  The job is too big, too hard, and too impossible.  We can’t do it physically.  We can’t do it numerically.   We can’t do it naturally.  But God Can! 

          It doesn’t matter how small we are.  It doesn’t matter how weak we are.  It doesn’t matter inadequate we are.  It doesn’t matter how limited we are.  We can’t.  But God Can.

          What are you facing in your Christian walk?  How vicious is the devil tormenting you?  What are your limitations?  How can you accomplish the impossible in your situation?  I am tired of the devil making a mess out of lives that have been redeemed by the Precious Blood of Jesus.  I am tired of Satan intimidating the Body of Christ; vexing and tormenting; lying and stealing; slandering and accusing… Are you tired of his demonic attacks and relentless harassment?  You may be aware of your weakness and failure to break loose…. To get free…   Do you think you can’t?   Then God Can!  And God will!  You have already been redeemed from the curse by the finished Redemptive Work of Jesus Christ.  What you cannot do and what the church cannot do…  God Can Do!

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:  Ga 3:13 

God’s Word tells us He Can

          God Can because His Word says He can.    His Word is established from everlasting to everlasting.  Nothing is too hard for God.  All things are possible with God.  All through the  Bible, there are powerful testimonies that declare God Can.  

          What is your need today?  What is that crying, burning desire of your heart?  What is the deepest longing of your soul?  God’s Word says He Can.  He can meet that need.  He can satisfy that desire.  He can hear and answer your cry.  

          I was noticing some of the names of God that are used in the Old Testament.  And I discovered that the names of God declare that God Can.     Listen to what His Name declares that He can do:

• Jehovah Jireh: God is our Provider
• Jehovah Ropheka:  God is our Healer
• Jehovah Shalom:  God is our Peace
• Jehovah Rohi:  God is our Shepherd
• Jehovah Shammnah: God is ever-present with us

          If God’s Word says He Can, then He can.  He is not a man that He should lie.  God is Truth.  His Word is True.  Jesus is called the “Truth.”

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: John 14:6  

God Has Done it in the Past

          God Can because He has done it in the past.  You may think you are in a tight situation.  You may feel that your back is against the wall.  It may seem there is no way of escape.  Perhaps you even think you have it worse than anybody else.   Remember, you have been caught in bad situations in the past and yet, you are still living and breathing.  You made it.  God saw you through.  God was faithful and you did not crash and burn as you surely thought you would.  You survived and succeeded and came out the winner and not the loser.    God Can because He has done it before. 

          Cheer up.  It does not matter what you are going through or  about to go through… you have been Born into the Family of God and you are going to come out the winner and not the loser.  God is obligated to safely bring you through your trial and test. 

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 1Co 10:13 

          God made Abraham a daddy when he was a hundred years old and Sarah a mother when she was ninety.  He led 4 million Hebrews out of Egypt and into the promised land with Pharoah’s army in hot pursuit.  They had no way of escape.  Mountains were on one side, the desert on the other and the Red Sea in front of them.  But that was no big deal  for God.  The Word says that those four million Hebrews passed through the Red Sea in one night.  Do you know it would take a hole at least five miles wide to get all of them through in just one night?  Even then, they would have to march through five thousand abreast in order for them to get to the other side with their animals, their possessions and their families.  When God does something, He does it big.  He literally blew a hole five miles wide in the Red Sea and they all walked across on dry land.  God Can. 

          Once they got on the other side Moses was faced with the formidable job of feeding and caring for four million Hebrews and all their livestock.  So every day for nearly 40 years God opened the windows of Heaven and sent four thousand tons of manna.  That is over fifty-eight million, four hundred thousand tons of manna that fell from the sky over a forty year period.  Then, they needed water.  Lots of water.  It took twelve million gallons of water every day to quench their thirst and the thirst of all their livestock.  That means God provided sixty thousand tons of water every day in the middle of the desert where there was no river, no spring and no rain.    God Can. 

          I figured that it would have cost God over ten million dollars a day to feed four million people and the animals they owned.  The entire bill for getting the Children of Israel out of Egypt and into Canaan was an expense in excess of a hundred BILLION dollars.  God Can.

          God can because He delivered Daniel from hungry lions. God can because He saved Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from the fiery furnace heated seven times over.  God can because He made the sun stand still for Joshua.  God can because He made fire fall from heaven for Elijah.  God can because He saved Jonah alive in the belly of a great fish.  God can because He made a virgin have a Baby.  God Can.

God can because He has done it in my life

          I know God can because He’s done it for me.  At the age of four, while living in an upstairs apartment in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, I because seriously ill with double pneumonia.  This was before the “miracle drugs” of penicillin and other medicines had been developed and which could have been used in cases such as this.  My Mom and Dad were Christians but they did not have the full revelation of God’s healing power.  So, nothing they did for me could stop my convulsions or make my high fever go down. 

          There was an old man who every day would sit on a bench in courthouse square in the middle of our small town.  There was something unique about this stooped, white haired old man.  He always had a big black Book opened up in his lap.  My mother and daddy would take me walking down Main Street, and as we passed the courthouse square, I would see him sitting on the bench and reading that big black Book. 

          One day I said: “Mother, what’s that old man reading?”  She said, “Son, that’s the Bible.  That man is Uncle Tom Cubley.  Everybody knows Uncle Tom.  He’s one of the best Christians in Hattiesburg.”  She added: “He reads his Bible on the courthouse square every day.”

          When I was upstairs, feverish and convulsing, the only thing I could remember was Uncle Tom.  I said, “Daddy. Would you please go get Uncle Tom to come up here and pray for me?”  I didn’t know anything about healing in answer to prayer.  They were fearful for my life.   Daddy left immediately.  He went to the courthouse square and got  Uncle Tom and brought him and his big black Book back to my bedside.  I remember that day very well when Uncle Tom came up the stairs and into my bedroom.  He laid his big old callused hand on me and he prayed.  And I didn’t die.  God Can.

          I know God can, because He’s done it for me.  He called me to preach when I was just a smart-aleck young man.  He delivered me from religion and baptized me in the Holy Spirit.  Supernaturally He has led us over the years in establishing and developing a successful ministry that has reached tens of thousands over the past 50 years.  God Can.

          God can because His Word says He can.  God can because of His record in the past.  God can because He’s done it in my life. 

God can because He’s done it in our ministry. 

          I came to Mobile in 1962 as a fresh graduate of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary… a great and blessed institution in the Southern Baptist Convention.  The church I was called to pastor was a small community church made up of sweet, friendly and spiritually hungry folks.  As a matter of fact, some of them were hungrier than me.  They began to sort of slip away to special prayer meetings in various places and while doing so, received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.  They would witness to me about this experience but I really was not that interested since I knew what happened to Baptist Pastors when they got “involved” with Pentecostal practices.  But my sweet wife received the Baptism sovereignly, while she was alone in worship and prayer.   Following her encounter, God was gracious enough to lead me into that wonderful experience.

          I gave my testimony to the little Baptist church and they kindly agreed for me to stay as their pastor and teach them the Word.  And so we did.  However the time came when there was such a burning desire in my heart as well and in the hearts of many others, to be free from any sort of restriction or limitation in our quest for more of God.  We longed to be free to serve God and to follow His leadership in any direction.   So, we had to make a choice.  We were either going to be a conventional, denominational church or we were to be an independent, cross-cultural, interfaith church.

          I remember the night that the deacons, the assistant pastor and I met in the old building which then served as our auditorium.  We spent a good part of one Saturday night praying because the next morning I was going to call for a vote.  We are either going all the way or we’er going to quit.  I plan on going all the way and you will have to decide what you will do. 

          So that Sunday morning, I announced to the congregation that I would stay as their pastor, but only under certain conditions.  And the conditions under which I would stay would be quite radical for a congregationally-ruled church.  One condition was that we would cease to be a denominational church and become an independent, cross-cultural, interfaith congregation.  Another condition was that our congregational form of church government would be scrapped and a new form of government established.  One that would recognize the Pastor and a select group of spiritual individuals serving as elders would comprise our decision-making board and we would no longer have congregational “business meetings.” 

          When the vote was taken, much to my surprise, the congregation chose for me to stay, and that was a miracle.  However, inside of three months, the little church split three times.  We were met with a critical financial crisis.  Many were saying; “Well, Bro. Dick, you finally did it.  You messed up royally.  You split the church and now you are at your Waterloo.  You’ve had it.  The church is finished.  It’s gone.  And they all will be laughing at you and the foolish decision the church made to have you stay.” 

          We were slandered.  We were called a “cult.”  A local television station came out and did a news story on us right after the Jim Jones fiasco in South America.  We were threatened, accused and cursed.  We were laughed at.  But we survived.  God can.

          In the middle of that crisis when we were down to fewer than a hundred faithful souls, God spoke to my heart and said, “Build a new auditorium that will seat a thousand.”  “But,” I responded, “first,we don’t have enough people.  Second, we don’t have any money and third, I just can’t do it.”  And God said, “That’s right.  You can’t, but I can.” 

          The bottom was still falling out.  Things were not getting any better, they were getting worse.  People were leaving.  Bills were piling up and I was getting more and more depressed.  I feel on my face in my study and said, “Oh, God!  Have you forgotten me?  Have you removed the anointing from my calling?  Why is all this happening? I’ll tell you what, I give up.  I give up.  I give up.  I’ve done everything I know to do.  I’ve used everything I learned in college and seminary and in my short preaching experience.  I have tried and cried and sighed.  And nothing has worked.  I give up!” 

          God answered, “Good.  I’ve been waiting a long time for you to give up.  You have tried to manipulate things and operate in your strength and ability.  Now that you have taken your hands off of MY WORK, I can turn your ‘can’t’ into my CAN!’”  When we give up God shows up.

          God can because He says He can.  His Word says He can.  God can because He has done it in the past.  God can because He has done it in my life.  God can because He has done it in our church and ministry.  And because God has done it for me, He is certainly capable and able to do it for you.

          He can save you.

          He can fix your messed-up marriage.

          He can heal your sickness and disease.

          He can deliver you from your addictions.

          He can free you from worry and fear.

          He can supply all your needs.

          He can restore everything the devil has destroyed.

          He can and He will!

Because He loves you

Word for Today:  November 3

Jesus is not Who most people think He is.

I have tried to notice some characteristics in the Life of Jesus that probably would not be accepted in the life of any preacher in our society today.

• He was Radical.
• He was Outspoken. He pulled no punches.  He shot straight and true.  He did not “beat around the bush.”
• He was transparent. Who you saw was Who He was.  No pretense.  No hypocrisy.  No make-believe.  No disguise.
• He was non- religious. He did not run with the ministerial crowd.
• He was fearless.   He did not mince His words.  He did right with no fear of possible consequences.
• He was an iconoclast. A Non-conformist.  He kicked over sacred cows.  He violated traditions and He shattered customs.  To the religious world, He was a troublemaker.
• He was controversial. He took sides with the underdog and He challenged the respected.  He fellowshipped with the sinner and the profane.
• He embraced the simple and rejected the complicated.
• He spoke so little children could understand and confounded the wise with Wisdom and Truth.
• He was Uncompromising. Even when He could have won friends in high places and ultimately saved His own life, He refused to compromise.
• He was Anointed. And this is what drove Him to the Cross… His Anointing.  He was and is “The Anointed One.”  The Messiah.  The Christ.

He is the Christ.  The Son of the Most High God.  The King of kings and the Lord of lords.  The Alpha and the Omega.  The First and the Last.  The Rose of Sharon and the Lily of the Valley.  He is the Bright and Morning Star.  He is the I AM.

And He is Lord of all

 But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus…   Phil 4:19

 Now the just shall live by faith, but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him…  Heb 10:38

 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward..   Heb 10:35

 Let us hold fast the confession of our faith without wavering; for He is faithful that promised…  Heb 10:23

 …for if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin…  Heb 10:26

 …If ye continue in my Word, then ye are my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free…   John 8:31-32

When God promises something, He performs it.  When God says something in His Word, it comes to pass.  What God declares, happens!  God is not a man that He should lie.  God never goes back on His word.  His Word is “yes” and “amen” not “perhaps” and “maybe so.”  He speaks and He speaks loudly.  What He says is not muddled, confused, mumbled or ambiguous.  His Word is like a sharp sword.  A two-edged sword!  His Word is as reliable as God is reliable.  His Word is as powerful as God is powerful.  His Word is as unchangable as God is unchangable.

If we are to see the increase God has promised, we will get it and keep it by His Word.  The increase will not come by feeling.  It will not come by wishing.  It will not come by hoping.  It will not come by religion.  It will come and it will continue only by and through His Word… the Word of God!  The Word is Fire.  The Word is Water.  The Word is Truth.  The Word is Life.  The Word is God!  Hallelujah!!

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Josh 1:8  

God told Joshua:  “this book of the law (the Word) shall not depart out of thy mouth (in other words, you will continually speak it out of your mouth…) but thou shalt meditate therein day and night that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein; for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success…”

Maintaining the increase God has given us requires some effort on our part.  Living a successful overcoming life does not “just happen.”   It is a demanding and disciplined life.  It is not impossible, but it is demanding. 

In order to guard our “stuff” and keep the devil from stealing it, there are some things we can do to protect it.   God was very specific in the instructions He gave to His new commander, Joshua.

“Continually speak My Word”   

Never let the Word stop coming out of your mouth.     If you never let the “Law” (Word) depart out of your mouth you obviously will be constantly speaking it. 

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Rom 10:10 

  You will never live above the level of the words you speak.  What you say is important.  When you say the Word you are speaking God’s language.  You are talking like God. That kind of talk scares the devil to death.  That kind of language drives out demons and limits the power of the devil in your life.  What you say (confess with words you speak) determines what you get. 

For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall sayunto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Mr 11:23 

This is why the Word warns us about “idle” (empty, useless, fruitless) words.

But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. Mt 12:36 

“Keep My Word in your Mind.” 

God told Joshua to “mediate therein (the Word) day and night.”  What other time is there other than “day” and “night”?   The Word should be on our mind continually.  How does what I am doing relate to the Word?  How do my actions agree with  the truth of the Word? Are the decisions I make in agreement with the Word?  Just how much of my thinking is in line with what the Word says?  Do I know and do I think about what the Word says concerning any situation similar to the one I am facing? 

We need to see every human experience in the light of the Word of God.  What we do.  Where we go.  What entertains us.  What is important to us.  What the Word says concerning my family?  My marriage?  My occupation?  My dreams and goals?  Think the Word.  Ponder the Word.  Meditate the Word.  Memorize the Word.  We can even “think” passages of scripture and verses that keep us encouraged and built-up.

When the enemy sends fiery darts (thoughts and mind images that contradict the Word) we have the power and the ability to “cast them down” and bring them (thoughts) into “captivity.”

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ2Co 10:5  

We can actually renew our mind with the Word of God. 

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Rom 12:2 

The Word has the power to renew or refresh and transform our mind.  It raises our thinking level above earthy things and plants them firmly on heavenly things.  It transcends the present and forges ahead to the eternal. The Word “washes” our brain.  This kind of “brainwashing” is needed by every believer.

That he might sanctify and cleanse it  (the Church) with the washing of water by the word, Eph 5:26 

The things we think define who we are.  If we are to emulate the life of Jesus, we certainly need to keep our thinking (mind) in line with the Word.  It has the ability to cleanse and consecrate our “soulish” man (our mind, our will and our emotions). 

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.  Php 4:8 

“Know what My Word says” 

Knowing (not “surface” or “shallow” knowledge)  but deep-down-in-the-spirit knowing.  To “know”  with this kind of “knowing” we need to study the Word,  learn the Word, meditate the Word and pray for revelation of the Word.    Get a reliable study Bible with explanatory notes and dig in.  If we do not know what the Bible says, we cannot do what the Bible says do.  The reason we continue in the Word is so that we might know what it says.

Many believers who do not really know the Word spend countless hours praying for things that God has already given them.  There are priceless promises God has made to us and provisions Jesus has bought, paid for and given us that are never received because many believers simply lack knowledge of the Word. 

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: Ho 4:6 

Pray for a revelation of who the Bible says you are.  Pray for a revelation of what the Bible says you can do.  Pray for a revelation of what the Bible says you have.  When you know who you are, what you have and what you can do you will be able to maintain the increase God has given you. 

“Observe to do ALL that is written therein” 

Knowing the Word is good.  Understanding the Word is better.   But doing the Word is best.  If you know it and don’t do it you will live in defeat.  If you understand it but don’t do it you will live in defeat.  Notice, God tells  Joshua to do ALL that is written therein.  Observing is seeing.  Doing is acting.  Observing is faith and doing is action.  Faith without works is dead according to James 2:20.

But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Jas 2:20 

Jesus tells us to “continue” in His Word (John 8:31-32) and if we do we will “know the truth and the truth will make us free.”  To continue in the Word literally means to abide or take up residence in the Word.  When we “live” in the Word we will become disciples (learners) and what we will learn is the Truth.  When we know the truth, the Truth will make us free. 

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; John 8:31

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:32 

          It is no “coincidence” that Jesus describes Himself as the “Way, the Truth and the Life.”

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6 

Then God promises Joshua that:

(1)  If he will continually speak God’s Word,

(2)  If he will keep the Word in his mind day and night;

(3)  If he will know what the Word says and

(4)  If he will do ALL that the Word says

Then:  “Thou shalt make thy way prosperous and then thou shalt have good success…”  In other words, Joshua will receive and maintain God’s Increase.

Some of God’s promises are conditional.  Some are unconditional.  God promised never to destroy the world again by a flood in Genesis 9:11. This is an unconditional promise.  God promised to send a Redeemer to save His people from sin.  That promise was an unconditional promise.  God promised that Jesus would come again.  That is an unconditional promise. 

However, some promises are conditional.  God says IF you will do something, THEN He will do something.   This is a conditional promise. 

God’s promise regarding increase is conditional.  The increase God has promised is based on our obedience.  This is a conditional promise.  

What will cut off the promised increase?  What will hinder the flow of God’s Power and God’s Promises?  What must we do to utilize the resources God has already provided?  What are the conditions set before us that must be met in order for God to fulfill His Word to us?

We all want results, but are we willing to pay the price?  We all want things to get better and stay better, but are we willing to make significant changes?  We all desire the blessing but are we willing to meet God’s demands?  We get excited about receiving but usually we had rather not hear about responsibility. 

If we are to receive and maintain the flow of God’s blessing, we need to consider our responsibilities.

Seek God First

Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness and all these other things shall be added unto you.   Matt 6:33 

We need to focus on singleness of heart.  James reminds us that a “double-minded” person is “unstable” in all his ways (James 1:8).  This verse follows one that says an individual who is not single minded “wavers” like the waves of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind (James 1:6).  Jesus tells us to keep our priorities right.  “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.”  In this case, seeking God and His Kingdom certainly needs to be at the top of our list. 

What is our purpose in life?  I can’t be sure about you, but mine is to be in the center of God’s perfect will.  He has a unique and special purpose for all of us.  Jeremiah says God has plans for every individual. And they are plans for good and not evil. 

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jer 29:11 

The “expected end” God has prepared and purchased for us is good and not bad.  It is success and not failure.  It is living and not dying.  There is no possible way we can comprehend the infinite good God has laid out for us in His Grand Plan.  That is reason enough to prioritize our actions and intentions to seek Him and His Kingdom first.   This will guarantee that all these “other things” will be added to us.  All our needs will be met.    

Get out of sin 

We are responsible for the way we live.  No one forces us to disobey, disrespect or turn away from what we know to be the will of God.  It is a choice we make.  And what we choose and what we refuse determines whether we win or whether we lose.  What we sow is what we grow.  And what we grow is our responsibility. 

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. Gal 6:7 

If we are born again, we have an inner witness (The conviction of the Holy Spirit) regarding what is right and what is wrong.  If we choose what is wrong as an intentional act of our will, sin results.  And sin brings its own consequences into our life.  The pain and problems we experience result from the sin we commit.  God does not “punish” us for doing wrong, we are guilty of punishing ourselves because we have knowingly allowed sin to come in.  Sin will stop the flow of God’s blessing and steal what we have.  Sin will let the devil in.  Sin will keep our faith from working.  Sin will prevent the promises from coming in.  Sin will destroy.  Ultimately, sin brings death.

Abstain from the very appearance of evil

Abstain from all appearance of evil. 1Thes 5:22 

 If it looks bad, get away from it.  If it appears to be evil and against what you know to be the will of God get away from it.  If it carries a reputation of wrong… don’t do it!  If it offends the least and most vulnerable in the Kingdom, don’t allow it.     Do not give any place to the devil. 

Neither give place to the devil. Eph 4:27 

Walk in purity and cleanness.  Refrain from carnal talk, languange, jokes, insinuations, sarcasm… if it would offend Jesus… don’t do it.  If He would not do it… you do not do it!  Purify yourself.  “Touch not the unclean thing.”  Compromise often goes under the guise of “something better.”

Resist lukewarmness

Our being satisfied with the mediocre is not God.  As far as living for God is concerned, it is all or it is nothing.  It is all the way or it is none of the way.  If we are not all for Him we are all against Him.  As a small kid, we used to say “chicken on the fence is out!” to anybody who wavered or was not totally  committed to a cause.    To concede is to cool off.  Cooling off  is to dying in stages.  To let up is to lose.  To compromise is to cop out. 

Nobody is ever impressed with the average.  We were not saved to be average.  We were not bought and brought into the kingdom to be average.  Jesus did not shed His Blood so that we could be average.  We are not called to be “mere men;” we are birthed into the Kingdom of God to be supermen and superwomen.

Jesus said He wished all to be hot or cold but because they are lukewarm, He will spue (vomit; throw up) them out of His mouth. 

So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Re 3:16 

If we are not with Him we are against Him.  The call for all believers today is for them to be fired up.  Fervent.  Radical.  Drastic. Revolutionary.  Extreme. Committed. 

Be Real 

The world can spot a phony a mile off.  There are many phonies in the church.  Jesus addressed this problem in the parable of the wheat and the tares. 

Let both grow together until the harvest; and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn…  Mat 13:24 

To be less than real is to be a hypocrite.  To look like a Christian is not enough.  To go to church is not enough.  To pay your tithe is not enough.  To do good is not enough.  Jesus spoke of those who would appear before Him in the judgment and declare:

Lord, Lord have we not prophesied in thy Name?  and in thy Name have cast out devils?  and in thy Name done many wornderful works?  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity.    Mat 7:22-23

To knowingly violate the Word of God and the will of God is iniquity.  To know the Word and refuse to do it is iniquity.

He that knoweth to do good and doeth it not to him it is sin… James 4:17

          Maintaining the increase is the will of God.  He takes no pleasure in His children losing their inheritance.  What God has given is up to us to keep.  We are told very explicitly that the devil (our enemy; our only enemy) is a thief.  He hangs around to steal what God has bought, paid for and freely presented to us. 

Our responsibility is to safeguard, protect and hold on to all that is ours through the Redemptive Work of Jesus Christ.

          Let’s do it. And when we do, we will live and not die.

Word for Today:  November 2

Today thou shalt be with me in Paradise…  Luke 23:43

Here a guilty criminal simply asks Jesus to:  “Remember me when You come into your kingdom…”

• He was not a “church” member.
• He had not been baptized in water.
• He had no character and no good reputation.
• He had run with the wrong crowd.
• He had broken the Law.
• He had violated decency and destroyed that which was innocent and good.
• He was guilty.
• He was worthy of death.

And justice had caught up with him.

Now… this common criminal understood and received what the Jewish Nation and organized religion was blind to comprehend.  Jesus is no respecter of persons!  He loves criminals and drunks and prostitutes and homosexuals and thieves and robbers and murderers… He is color-blind!  He is LORD OF ALL!  He is compassionate and kind and loving and forgiving.  His kingdom is open and available to “whosoever shall call on the Name of Jesus…”

How odd that God would choose a murderer as the initial trophy of His Divine Grace… cleansed, restored and made acceptable by the Blood of Jesus.

“Grace, Grace, Marvelous Grace…”

            God wants your Dreams to Come True.  He has made you a dreamer and a visionary.  He has placed in you the capacity to dream and to have visions.  He wants you to plan on big things.  He is a Big God and He want you to expand your horizons and elevate your sights.  He wants you to DREAM BIG.

            God wants you to Work with Him.  There is a big difference between working FOR God and working WITH God.  Most of us have spent our entire Spiritual Lives endeavoring to work FOR God.  This is good, but it is not the best.  It is better than nothing, but it is not what God really wants.  God wants you and me to WORK WITH HIM.

Mark 16:20   And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

            We must understand that working with God is the way to make our dreams come true.  

satan does not want you to have a dream.  he does not want you to be excited about your future.  he does not want you to believe for big things and to dream big dreams.  he is a dream stealer.  he is a discourager.  he is a mountain builder (God is the mountain mover).  The devil is threatened and hell is terrified every time a Believer moves into the place of working with God.  When we understand that we are living in the Blessing of God, we are enabled to Dream Big.  When we see ourselves as Working with God we are enabled to Dream Big.  When we Dream Big Dreams and determine to attempt the impossible, we please God.

Hebr. 11:6   But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

God is a REWARDER.  He is a REWARDER of those who diligently seek Him and dream big dreams.

            As we begin, I want to show you how to make your dreams come true.  Do you want them to?  Do you believe that they can come true?  Do you believe that God will work with you to fulfill your dreams and visions?  It is prophesied that in the last days dreams and visions would be widespread.

Acts 2:17   And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

 Write these down:

1.  MAKE CERTAIN YOU’ER ARE IN GOD’S FAMILY

You cannot work with God if you are not in His Family.  If you are not working with God you are working with the devil.    The Bible says this.

Matt. 12:30   He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.

The reason many fail and never have their dreams come true is because they have never been delivered out of satan’s kingdom of darkness.  If you want your dreams to come true, you must make God’s Dream come true.  His dream is that all men might be saved. 

John 3:17   For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Are you saved?  Are you sure of it?  Can you prove it? 

2.  GET ALL OF GOD THAT YOU CAN GET

            God has more in store.  You can never exhaust His Supply or run out of God.  He is more than enough.  He is a God of abundance.  He is an Abundant God.  The problem is most of us are satisfied with as much of God as we have.  There is more.  Salvation is just the beginning place.  When we get Born Again, we are babies.  When we begin to get more of God, we begin to grow up.  Everyone right now is in some stage of spiritual growth.  Some are juveniles,  others are babies.  Many are teen-agers.  Few are adults.  God wants us to get all of Him that we can get.  If our dreams are to come true, we must get all of God that is possible.

            Religion will fight this.

            Denomination with fight this.

            Your family will fight this.

            Your friends will fight this. 

            The devil will fight this.

            Your reasoning will fight this.

            These should be reasons enough for you to know that God wants you to have MORE.  satan wants you to have less.  The world wants you to stay stuck where you are.  God wants you to have more.  If you are to make your dreams come true, you need all of God you can get.

How much of God do you have?

3.  BELIEVE THE WORD

            Believing what God says about you and your dreams is a must.  Most people believe what they think is reasonable and rational instead of what the Bible says.  It is easier to believe what you see instead of what God says.   Believe the Word.   This is a choice you make and a mental attitude you must keep.  It is a mindset.  The Word calls this “renewing the mind.” 

Rom. 12:2   And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

The one absolute in the world is the Word of God.  Everything else is fluid and flexible.  The Word is unchangeable.  If we are to realize our dreams, we must stay anchored to the unchanging Word.  Jesus said that heaven and earth would pass away, but His Word would never pass away.  Men change.  History changes.  Things change.  God and His Word never change.  They are IMMUTABLE.  They are established.  Our Dreams are connected to His Word.  When we Believe His Word we are on the way to seeing our Dreams come true. 

4.  SHIFT YOUR THINKING

            We were reminded recently to think Blessing instead of Miracle.  “Blessing” is eternal and irrefutable while “Miracle” is temporary and sporadic.  “Blessing” is what we have when we get saved while “miracle” is what we can get in a crisis.  “Blessing” is always God’s best.  “Miracles” are for emergencies. 

            It is important for us to see ourselves as God sees us.  How do you see yourself?  What do you look like to you?  What are you saying about yourself and what are you thinking about yourself?  Is your thinking in line with what God thinks and says?  The Bible tells us to think right.   As believers, we are to think with our heart and not with our head.  Head thinking is reasoning.  Heart thinking is Faith.  There are two kinds of minds.  The Bible talks about the CARNAL MIND and the SPIRITUAL MIND. 

Rom. 8:6   For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Carnal come out of the head and is influenced by the flesh.  Spiritual comes out of the heart and is influenced by the Word. 

5.  MAKE THE CHOICES GOD WANTS YOU TO MAKE

            You determine whether your dreams will come true.  It is not up to God.  It is up to you.  Dreams are connected with choices.  Choices are decisions.  What you choose is what you get.  You can choose good or you can choose bad.  You can choose right or you can choose wrong.  You can choose the World or you can choose the Word.  When you choose what is right and what is spiritual, you make a connection with God.  When you connect with God you connect with all the Creative Power in Heaven.  This Divine Connection releases God’s Creative Power in you to make your dream come true.  When you choose Life and Blessing, you become a partner with God.  You actually work with God and not for God.  When you work with God your dreams will come true.  You will receive what you believe.  You will have what you choose. 

Deut. 30:19   I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

6.  WRITE YOUR DREAM DOWN

            If your dream is important to you, you will be willing to write it down.  When you write something down you tend to be specific.  Most people are too general in the dreams they dream and the hopes they have.  It is important to be specific.  Details are important to God. 

            Years ago God sent a preacher our way to show us how to be specific concerning our dreams.  We were living in a parsonage next door to the church.  We did not own any property and we did not have any assets.  We wanted a house.  We wanted a place of our own.  A place where we could paint the walls the colors we liked and decorate it like we wanted to.  This preacher preached on Believing God.  He showed us how to be specific concerning our dreams.  He encouraged us to WRITE DOWN in detail the kind of house we wanted and the kind of property we desired.  Pat and I did that.  We wrote down on a piece of paper that we wanted (dreamed for) a house.  A two story house.  A house with five bedrooms.  A place with acreage.  A home with at least three bathrooms.  We like brick.  We wrote that down.  We liked trees and woods and we wrote that down.  We wrote down that for which we were dreaming.  I put the description on a small piece of paper and placed it in my wallet.  I would see it every time I opened my wallet.  It would remind me of my dream and it would cause me to tell God about it.  I carried the description in my wallet for almost a year.  The church grew, the school grew and the old Lott Road Church needed the parsonage for additional classrooms.  In those days, the church “voted” and they voted to give us a housing allowance so that we could purchase what we wanted where we wanted it.  A contractor in our church assisted me and we built our dream house on two acres on Jack Williams Road.  It had two stories, five bedrooms, three bathrooms, a fireplace, and a double garage.  It was our dream.  We wrote it down.  We saw it before we had it.  We said it before it came to pass.  God gave us the desire of our heart.   WRITE IT DOWN!

Hab. 2:2   And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.

7.  REFUSE TO DOUBT

            Your biggest hindrance to a fulfilled dream is doubt.  Even when nothing seems to be “moving” to bring your dream to pass, keep on believing.  This is Faith.  And without Faith you cannot please God.  See it.  Say it.  Act on it.  Talk it out loud.  Tell the devil you will have it.  Let God know you mean business.  Refuse to be moved by feeling, by emotion or by what you see in the natural. 

Mark 11:23   For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

Doubt is the dream stealer.  Doubt makes you give up just before your dream comes true.  Doubt will give you all kinds of reasons to call it off.  Doubt will negate your faith and call God a liar.  Doubt is what gives the devil a place to work.  Do not doubt.  Do not question.  Do not reason.  Do not judge your dream by what you see.  Doubt will make you give up.  Resist doubt like you would resist sin. 

8.  REJOICE IN YOUR DREAMS FULFILLMENT

            Rejoicing is what opens the door to your dreams.  Rejoicing is acting like you have the dream before you have it.  Rejoicing is thanking God for it before you have it.  Rejoicing drives the devil crazy and confuses the demons on assignment to destroy you and your dreams.  Rejoicing is praising God for the answer before you have it.  Rejoicing is enjoying your dream before it comes to pass. 

            About 12 years ago, I had a dream for an airplane.  I had been flying for several years and I really wanted a plane of my own.  It was my dream.  I wanted one.  Airplanes are expensive and there was no way I could purchase one with my own financial resources.  But I wanted and needed an airplane.  It was the desire of my heart.  It was my dream.  At this time in our Spiritual development, Bro. Clarence Matheny came across out path.  He was a Faith Preacher.  He taught us to rejoice and praise God for our answer (dream) before we actually had it.  I decided to try out what Clarence taught. 

I began to plan on my airplane.  If my plane was on the way, I wanted to be ready for it when it came, so I began to up-grade my flying skills.  I enrolled in a flight training program  and began to work on my Instrument Rating.  As this was taking place (it took about a year), I decided to fly my plane before I had it. 

My ’67 Chevrolet became my airplane.  Every time I drove it, I acted as if it were an airplane.  The dashboard became an IFR panel… with all the bells and whistles… all the latest electronic and navigational radios and equipment.  The steering wheel became the control yoke and the gas pedal became the throttle.  When I reached sixty miles per hour, I would pull back on the steering wheel and watch the instrument panel as I became “air borne.”  I “flew” my  Chevrolet for nearly two years when one day a businessman friend from my hometown and attended a morning service at our church.  Upon leaving, he took me aside and said, “Dick, I hear you have been praying and believing for an airplane…. Is that right?  I told him “yes” and that I had been “flying” my Chevrolet for the past two years.  He replied, “Go and find what kind you want and call me.  I will pay for it.”  My Chevrolet turned into a six passenger Cessna 206 with full IFR instrumentation.   Never understate God.

9.  TELL ABOUT IT

            When you tell about your dream coming true, you sort of put God on the spot.  It is important to tell not only what God has done for you but what God is going to do for you.   Brag about it.  Tell your friends and neighbors about it.  Share it with your relatives.  Tell your boss about it.  Tell those you work with about it.  Shout it from the housetop! 

Isa. 42:11   Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains. 

Rev. 12:11   And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

Word for Today:  November 1

I have discovered that there are three main problem areas in the lives of Believers.

These problem areas, if left alone and not controlled, will prevent any Christian from living and walking in victory.   The problem areas are:

• The Flesh… which needs to be crucified and kept crucified.
• The Mind… which needs to be renewed and kept renewed.
• The Tongue… which needs to be controlled all the time.

The flesh is constantly warring against the spirit.  I do not need to tell you this.  You experience it every day.  It rebels against the spirit.   It is at odds with God.  It hates the Word.  It resists the Holy Ghost.  It likes to run loose.  It demands attention.  Uncontrolled, it causes misery, guilt, condemnation, and failure.  The Bible tells us how to have victory over the flesh.

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. Gal. 5:16

The way to overcome flesh is to walk in the Spirit.  It is our flesh that is constantly giving us trouble.  It is my flesh that causes me the most grief.  Flesh is not sinful in itself.  It was created by God.  It is when we allow flesh to be controlled by a carnal mind and an uncontrolled will that we are tempted to sin… and most often yield to it.

To walk in the Spirit is a choice we make and it means to have our total life (spirit, soul and body) controlled by the Holy Ghost.  Focus today on Walking, Talking and Living in the Spirit…

And your flesh will be no problem