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Word for Today:  May 9

Faith comes by hearing.

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  Rom 10:17

Bartimaeus the blind beggar heard about Jesus.  What do you suppose he heard?  Did he hear that the “day of miracles is over”?  Did he hear that “healing is not for this dispensation”?  Did he hear that the “supernatural” has no place in the modern, structured, organized churches?  Did he hear that the “GIfts of the Holy Ghost” and that the Supernatural Manifestation of the Presence of God were not for today?

Did he hear about all the hypocrites and the charlatans and the false prophets and the greed and the graft and the merchandising in the ministry?  NO! He heard that Jesus was coming his way! He heard that Jesus was healing the sick and raising the dead and casting out demons.  He heard that Jesus had GOOD NEWS and that Jesus had the ABSOLUTE ANSWER for every problem and every pain and every impossibility!

If he had heard all the negative stuff that most people are hearing today I really wonder if he could have had his blind eyes opened….

Hearing leads to seeing

Heaven is a Place where we all want to go, but most do not know what we will find when we get there.  We have been exposed to some really weird ideas about Heaven.  (Puffy white clouds and robed individuals sitting on them and plucking harps.)  However, the Word is very plain in describing heaven.  It tells us what Heaven is like.  It tells us who is there.  It tells us what it is.  And It tells us how to get there. 

There are three heavens.  The First heaven is the sky where the clouds are.  The Second heaven is outer space where the planets and galaxies are.  The Third Heaven is where God’s Throne is and where God presently dwells.

The part of Heaven Believers will inhabit forever is a city.  It is a city located in the Larger Place called Heaven.  This City is filled with the glory of God and has an outward appearance of beauty and precision and wealth that has never been witnessed by humanity.  It has walls and gates.  And foundations comprised of precious jewels. It is the largest (1500 miles wide) and most elaborate city ever imagined by man.  It has a surrounding wall 200 feet high made of indescribable material that resembles precious stones.  The twelve gates in this great wall are made of solid pearl. The streets in this city are pure transparent gold… nothing like this has ever been seen by human eyes.  The glory of God is of such brilliance that the city has no need of the sun for light. 

There are pure, crystal-clear rivers flowing from the Throne of God and of the Lamb (Rev 22:1).   There are great Broadways proceeding from each of the four sides of God’s Throne.  On either side of these great golden broadways there are rows of Trees of Life which bear fruit each month.  There is no sickness, no disease and no death in Heaven…  Eternal Life will be enjoyed by every inhabitant. 

Conditions will exist eternally as they did before the curse caused by the rebellion of Lucifer and Adam.  The inhabitants of Heaven are the redeemed, the faithful angels and all of earth’s original creatures.  The lamb will lie down with the lion.  Death is abolished.  All animals will be herbivorous.   Those there will be allowed to see the Face of God.  His Name will be written on their foreheads and they will rule and assist God in the administration and affairs of all Creation.  They will live with God FOREVER. 

That’s where I’m headed…

What about you?

Word for Today:  May 7

Faith eyes

It is our old human nature that really wants to “see” results.  When we do not see re­sults, the natural tendency is to get discouraged and back off of our faith stand.  Remember, we walk by Faith and not by sight.   Walking by faith means that we see the “invisible” with our faith eyes.  When we see the invisible, we can do the impossible.  The Believer really “believes” when there is no natural evidence.

 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)  2 Cor. 5:7

God is working in our behalf even when we see no results.  Our miracle is on the way.  Our answer is coming.  The great temptation is to “look” for something and “hope” to “feel” something in order to keep on believing.

Keep on believing and in God’s time you will not only see it but feel it as well.

We are promised that we will “reap in due season if we faint not…”  Gal 6:9

This is the unfailing promise given to us by our unfailing God.

Use your faith eyes because

What you see is what you get

Word for Today:  May 6

The prerequisite for seeing.

You will never “see the Invisible” until you are born of the Spirit.  The natural man cannot discern the things of God because they are spiritually discerned.  You cannot walk by faith unless you are Born Again.

The natural world burdens the heart of the natural man and its problems load his soul.  He can only see things as they are and he cannot look beyond the natural and see the invisible.

Nicodemus was religious.  Nicodemus was educated.  Nicodemus was righteous.  Nicodemus was seeking God.  Nicodemus was moral.  Nicodemus was LOST and he was BLIND and he could not SEE the INVISIBLE.  He would have made an excellent church member, but he was limited by lack of sight.  Jesus said, except a man be Born Again he cannot see…

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Joh 3:3

If Jesus said it, it must be important.  He wants you to be able to SEE the INVISIBLE and DO the IMPOSSIBLE.  Apart from the New Birth this is will never happen.

Many who are saved have difficulty “seeing.” It is hard for them to “forsake” and “endure.”  They are continually knocked down and overwhelmed by the enemy.  They are overcome more often than they overcome.  They are subject to worry, fears, doubts and discouragement.  They are depressed and done in.  They are unhappy constant victims of violent mood swings.  One day is good.  Then ten are bad.  One victory is won, then fifteen are lost.  Ground that has been gained is constantly being lost and retreat is the only way out.

We need to receive Power.  We need an encounter with the Holy Ghost that gives us the ability to resist the devil and win the battle, see the invisible and do the impossible.

John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:  Lu 3:16

Word for Today:  May 5

Be willing to wait.

Don’t be impatient. You don’t have to rush God. The production time of the Word is programmed in and it is as dependable as God is dependable. What is programmed will come to pass. In due season you shall reap if you do not faint (Gal 6:9).  Waiting will develop your patience and James tells us to let patience have her perfect work, that we may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing… (James 1:4).

Here is the hardest thing to do in Word production. It is not hard to sow. It is not hard to believe…. But it is next to impossible to wait, with patience, until God will produce in us the “wanting nothing” condition. God HAS SAID that we would “reap in due season IF we faint not… “

In Hebrews the Word declares: “For consider Him (Jesus) that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds…’ (Hebrews 12:3).

“Contradiction” here is anything that appears to disagree with God’s Promise. It is the “High Thing” that exalts itself against God that Paul writes to the Corinthians about.

The contradictions are what cause our patience to waver. When we see those things that seem to make God and His Word out to be a lie… these are the things that attack our patience.

Consider HIM… lest ye be wearied…

Word for Today: May 4

God established the family.

The first human He made was a Man

He was a Husband and Father.

The second was a Woman

She was a Wife and Mother.

The first children were biological Sons

The first family was given the awesome responsibility of “replenishing” the earth.

The family is more important than the church.  The family is more important than “religion.”  The family is more important than being “spiritual.”  The family is more important than anything God planned for the welfare, protection and propagation of the human race.

The family was established before the church.  It was on earth and functioning before Israel became the Chosen People… the nation through which God would send a Savior and redeem the world.

There is a Biblical pattern and plan for the family… It is simple and it is clearly stated in the Scriptures… One man.   One woman.  One time.  Forever.

The plan is defined and explained in the Word as follows:

• Husbands… love your wives. (Eph 5)
• Wives… submit (yield) to your husbands… (Eph 5)
• Children… obey your parents…. (Eph 6)
• Families… serve the Lord. (Jos 24)

…but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Simple.  Plain.  Unquestionable.  Imperative.  Fundamental.

Nothing in time or eternity can match the significance of what happened on a Judean hillside nearly 2000 years ago.  All of time has been divided into “before” and “after” because of this Divine Visitation.  Jesus came.  Jesus came from heaven to the earth.  He came in the form of flesh and was born of a virgin.  This had never happened before and it will never happen again.    

John 1:14   And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

The Incarnation of Christ is the most significant and awesome and overwhelming work of God since the Creation of all things.  It is the crowning achievement of the Work of God and is the most complete expression and revelation of His Nature and Character.  God became flesh.  And He dwelt among us. 

Sin had separated God from His Children and God wanted them back.  Jesus came to redeem the human race from Adam’s sin and transgression.

As we begin this message, let’s notice some reasons why Jesus came to earth:

1. Jesus came because God said He would

 Isa. 7:14   Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Gen. 3:15   And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

The moment Adam sinned, God set in motion a Plan to redeem His Dream.  Here God promises to do Something to bruise the head of satan.  The “It” that will bruise satan’s head is the seed of a woman.  That Seed is Jesus.  The bruise that satan renders to the Seed of woman is the Crucifixion of Jesus.  Here in the very beginning,  God  prophesies that Jesus will come to earth and do something about the devil. 

2.  Jesus came to heal hurting hearts.

500 years passed between the OT and the NT   During that time there had been no Voice from God.   Human hearts were stricken with barrenness.  The whole earth was held in the bondage of a Spiritual drought.  Men were desperate.  The world was waiting in great need for something to happen.

Godly people were kept in slavery by a fierce anti-God government.  Rome.  This Empire was governed by Ceasars who considered themselves gods.   The armies were cruel, sadistic, savage and merciless.  Injustice prevailed.  Slavery was enforced.  Oppression was unbearable. 

In this harsh setting, there was a cry for God.  For 500 years there had been No visitation from God.  No miracle.  No voice from heaven.  No prophet.  No touch from God.   

• The lame could not be healed.
• The blind and deaf and dumb had no hope of a cure.
• The oppressed had no escape.
• Men were burdened.  Bruised.  Broken.  There was no answer.
• The world was in great need for a Spiritual Awakening.

Jesus came from heaven to answer the cry of a needy world.  And He is here today for that Same Reason.

3.Jesus came to break the bondage of dead religion.

During this time of the horror of a world without God, Religion flourished.  Religion does not need God to flourish.   

                                                                                                            Jesus sets men free.   Free from laws and rules and regulations.  Free from bondage to unscriptural church government.     Jesus said that we would and could know the TRUTH (the Gospel) and the TRUTH would make us FREE.

The Jews in Jesus’ day were required to obey and keep 613 separate laws and commandments and rules and regulations.

 They bind heavy burdens and grievous to be born and lay them on men’s shoulders: but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers…  (Matt. 23:4)

Jesus came from heaven to earth to break the shackles of dead religion.  Religion builds walls.  Jesus tears them down.  Religion separates.  Jesus joins together.  Religion kills.  Jesus gives Life. 

4.  Jesus came To show us what God is like.

Joh_14:9  Jesus saith unto him… he that hath seen me hath seen the Father;  

Jesus came from heaven to earth to answer the question:  “What is God like?”  Jesus is the Perfect Revelation of God.  Jesus came to earth to reveal to you and me and all creation what God is really like.  All the world can now know what God is like. 

Jesus is the Perfect Revelation of God.   Jesus came to earth and “put a Face on God.”

5.  To deliver us from sin’s control and dominion.

1John 3:8 …For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

Jesus came from heaven to earth to undo what the devil did.  He came from heaven to earth to put away sin… once and for all.  Under the OT system, the blood of bulls and goats and sheep and lambs was only a temporary solution to the sin problem.   But Jesus came “Once for all…” and  forgives and forgets our sin forever.

6.  To give Birth to a Powerful, Overcoming, Victorious Church.   

Matt. 16:18   And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church;  and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Acts 1:8   But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Jesus is more than a Babe in a Manger.  Jesus did not come into being at His birth.  He is and has been co-existent with God and is without beginning and without end.  He is Eternal.  He was with God in the Beginning. 

John 1:1-3   In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Col. 1:17   And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.  (Are held together)

John’s description of Jesus in the Book of Revelation:

Rev. 1:13   And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

Rev. 1:14   His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

Rev. 1:15   And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

Rev. 1:16   And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

Rev. 1:17   And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

Rev. 1:18   I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore.  Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name!

MOST IMPORTANTLY….

Jesus not only came to earth for you, He also died on the Cross for you.  Do you know Him?  Have you received Him into your life as your Savior?  Have you called on Him to forgive your sin and save your soul?   Will you receive HIM TODAY?

Word for Today:  May 3

See what you are believing for.

The farmer wants to harvest a crop.  So he begins with seeds.  The farmer will look at the seed package. The seed package has a picture of a healthy, fully matured, producing plant on it. That is the goal the farmer is shooting for…. a healthy, fully matured, producing plant.

When he plants the little seed, he can already see in his heart what the healthy, fully matured producing plant looks like. He sees hundreds of them. They are all lined up in neat rows and they are unrestrained and unrestricted … no fungus, no bugs, no imperfections … he sees the PERFECT FINISHED product IN HIS HEART.

To increase your crop see what you sow.  See it in its COMPLETED, GOD-CREATED form. See it with your eye of faith.

“Take heed (blepo: to see) what you hear, with what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you; and to you that hear shall more be given. For he that hath (the Word) to him shall be given, and he that hath not (the Word),from him shall be taken even that which he hath … And He said, So is the kingdom of God… Mark 4:24-26.

We are told to walk by Faith (believing) and not by Sight (reasoning).

When we walk by Faith, we see with our Faith Eyes the finished product.

Just like God created it to be

Word for Today:  May 1

It’s time.

“IT is finished!” It is done. It is settled. It is established. It is accomplished. It is MINE. God says so. The Word declares it. I believe it. Therefore I will be glad and rejoice in it. I will praise Him. I will worship Him. I will thank Him. I will show Him my appreciation.  It is Done.

Now, it’s time. It’s time for you and me to move out of our complacency and comfort and begin to take back what the devil has stolen. It is time for us to be aggressive. To be on the offense. Not the defense, but the offense. If we are satisfied to remain in our comfort zone… in the place we now are, we are turning our back on God.   We are limiting the Holy One of Israel.  We are slandering God and His divine purpose and plan for us.

Are you ready?

Will you demonstrate the Power and the Glory of God?  Will you do whatever it takes?

Where do you start?  Right where you are.  When do you start?

NOW