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Word for Today:  May 24

The fact is, life does deliver some crushing blows

We need to “get real.”    It is unprofitable for us to live in some dream world where everything always is perfect.  Life is not some Hollywood American Utopia where there is no pain and no disappointment…  The devil is real and the kingdom of darkness is real.

Some of these contradictions that we are unable to understand are aimed at believers as well as unbelievers.  The church is not immune to demonic attacks.  In fact, the purpose and ploy of the devil is to kill, steal and destroy… primarily that and those who are not already “his.”   Therefore, how we react and cope in difficult and trying times is extremely important to the Kingdom of God.

We must understand that the “curse” is far reaching.  Even though the Redemptive Work of Jesus cancelled it for the Believer, its effects and influence is still very active in the natural world.  That’s why we are experiencing war and murder and injustice and abuse….  All manner of wickedness and evil that is contrary to the Kingdom of God.

The world we live in is influenced by principalities and powers and rulers of the darkness and spiritual wickedness in high places (Eph 6:12).  This is a principle that those in the early church were well aware of.  However, the Message that motivated those experiencing the trials and tribulations of such an unfair and unjust environment was a Message of great encouragement.  It declared that even though times were tough, they were Overcomers.

This is one of the recurring themes of New Testament Theology and it is a contemporary Message of encouragement to us as well.

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world

YOU need the Power of God. You cannot make it without the Power of God.  God’s Power in your life will make you an overcomer.  A winner.  God has made it possible for you to have POWER in your life.  In your Marriage.  In your Family.  In your Business.  God’s Power is ENABLING POWER.  It is POWER that will give you the ability to DO.  It will set you Free.  It will heal your body.  It will deliver your troubled mind and soul.  It will get you out of the pits and keep you out of the pits…It will save your family. It will save your marriage.  It will save your business.  It will establish you and keep you from falling.  It will strengthen you and help you.  It will cause you to REIGN in life and walk on demons and devils.  It will put you in victory and keep you in victory.  It will make you Overcome and keep you from being overcome.  GOD’S POWER WORKING IN YOU IS YOUR ANSWER!  Every solution to every problem comes out of God’s Power.  If you can find the Power you can find the Answer.  If you can get the Power you can get your answer.   

You know that you need God’s Power in your life.  You want God’s Power in your life. There are some things you want to do and you know you cannot do them without God’s Power operating in your life.  For example: 

(1) You desperately want POWER over sin and temptation. 

(2) POWER over being shy and timid and introverted. 

(3) POWER over feeling bad… sickness… weakness… power over disease. 

(4) POWER over worry and fear and anxiety. 

(5) POWER over wrong attitudes…. unforgiveness and bitterness and jealousy and greed and criticism and judgment 

(6) POWER over your mind and your thought life and your imaginations 

(7) POWER over the appetites and lusts of your flesh 

(8) POWER over poverty and lack and need and being broke all the time  

(9) POWER over your anger, your temper, your impatience, your meanness

(10) POWER over alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, tobacco, gluttony

(11) POWER over your unclean mind and your unclean mouth

(12) POWER over the devil and demons

            You KNOW you need POWER.  You know where you need POWER and you know why your need POWER. You know that GOD’S POWER will set you free and that you can do nothing without HIS POWER.  You want HIS POWER and you want HIS POWER NOW.  You are tired of waiting and procrastinating. You have intended to do something about your situation for a long time.  You have tried books and tapes and rules and regulations and formulas… you have listened to preachers and gone to church… but you have never received GOD’S POWER in your life.  Decide to GET IT TODAY!

            God wants you to have POWER in your LIFE.  He has fixed it so that you can have POWER in your LIFE.  He wants you to take His place and Function in His place on this earth every day of your life.  You know that you need GOD’S POWER in your life.  There are some things you want to do and you cannot do them without GOD’S POWER in operating in your LIFE. 

You need:

(1) POWER over sin

(2) POWER over being timid

(3) POWER over being sick 

(4) POWER over wrong attitudes 

(5) POWER over the desires of the flesh and mind

(6) POWER over the curse of poverty 

(7) POWER over your thought life 

(8) POWER over fear and anxiety  

(9) POWER over your hurt feelings and bruised spirit 

(10) POWER over depression and worry. 

(11) POWER over the devil and demons. 

            You know where you need POWER and why you need POWER.  You know what GOD’S POWER will do for you and in you.  You know that you can do nothing without His POWER.  You want His POWER and you want His POWER NOW.  You are tired of waiting and procrastinating… you have tried other things and they have all failed.  You have read books and you have listened to tapes and you have prayed and you have gone to church… but you have never received the fullness of God’s Power in your life.  It is now TIME for you.  This is your day.  This is your hour for deliverance.  This is your moment for your miracle. 

WHAT GOD’S POWER IS

            God’s Power is GOD’S ABILITY.  God’s Power is God’s MIGHT.  God’s Power is God’s AUTHORITY.  God’s Power is God’s GLORY.  God’s Power is God’s RIGHTEOUSNESS.  God’s Power is God’s HOLINESS.  God’s Power is God’s NATURE.  God’s Power is GOD-LIFE.  God’s Power is Victory.  God’s Power is success.  God’s Power is Healing. God’s Power is deliverance.  God’s Power is Peace, Joy, Satisfaction, Fulfillment, Rest.   

The Power of God is not of this world and does not operate by the laws of this world.  The Power of God is a PRIMARY POWER and is more powerful than any other energy or force or power in the cosmos.  All other power is inferior to God’s Power.  Nothing is greater than God’s Power!  We have great difficulty in comprehending God’s Power because the only frame of reference we have is in the natural world.  God’s Power can be understood only in the context of the Spiritual and the Supernatural. 

Notice:

God’s CREATIVE POWER

Col. 1:16   For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

Hebr. 11:3   Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

God’s SUSTAINING POWER 

Hebr. 1:3   Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

Col. 1:16   For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

Col. 1:17   And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

God’s REDEMPTIVE (saving) POWER.

John 1:12   But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

            God’s POWER comes out of His Nature.  He is Power and He has Power because He is GOD.  One of His attributes is OMNIPOTENCE… or the fact that He has ALL POWER.  He is our ALL-POWERFUL GOD.  His POWER makes Him SUFFICIENT and ADEQUATE!  His POWER can do all things… meet all needs (according to His riches in Glory.)… supply every lack… conquer every foe… defeat every devil.

How is God’s Power received?

HOW TO GET GOD’S POWER

            Get saved…    Get saved and KNOW IT.  Get saved and SHOW IT!  If ALL POWER is in JESUS you need to GET HIM IN YOU to get GOD’S POWER IN YOU.  It is a simple act of your PERSONAL FAITH in really BELIEVING what GOD SAYS IN HIS WORD. 

            The BAPTISM in the HOLY SPIRIT is actually releasing the POWER that is already in you by faith.  It is RELEASING the POWER OF GOD (which is JESUS) who is already in you.  Have you ever prayed and asked JESUS (the POWER OF GOD) to come into your heart?  Did you mean it?  Did you stick with it?  Did you really believe it?  Did you experience the NEW BIRTH and do you still HAVE IT?  If you have never asked the POWER OF GOD (JESUS) to come into your life will you do it right now?  “For whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord (JESUS) shall be saved…”  (Rom 10:13).     You cannot release GOD’S POWER if GOD’S POWER is not in you. You can’t get the ANSWER OUT if you don’t have the ANSWER IN YOU.   

            When you were born naturally, you received, biologically, certain characteristics from your earthly parents.  You live with and in these traits every day until the day you die.  You even “favor” or “resemble” your earthly, physical parents because of the genetic structure of the human race.  When you were born naturally, you received everything you needed to function in natural life.  You got lungs to breathe with, legs to walk with, eyes to see with, hands to work with.  Everything you needed to function and live naturally were received biologically at the time you were born.

            When you were BORN AGAIN you received, spiritually, the Character and 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 you go to heaven.

            You have RECEIVED the NATURE OF GOD if you are Born Again and, therefore, 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 know 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. This is where the Baptism in the Holy Spirit comes in.

            The Baptism in the Holy Ghost is essential in ACTIVATING and RELEASING God’s Power from within the Believer.  “Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed?”  (Acts 19:2)  The Baptism in the Holy Spirit or the Infilling of the Holy Spirit is an EXPERIENCE apart from and in addition to being SAVED.  You can be saved and not filled with the Spirit.  You can have God’s Power in you and not have God’s Power working out of you.  This is the very reason for so many defeated and unhappy and unfruitful Christians.  The 2 Essentials for receiving God’s Power:  (1) the New Birth and (2) the Baptism in the Holy Ghost.  (You can know if you have or if you have not received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit).   If you do not know you have it, you can lose it and not know you lost it.

WHAT GOD’S POWER WILL DO FOR YOU

            God’s Power will do for you what God will do for you.  It will bring God on the scene and release His Power at the point of your need. 

God’s Power will: 

(1) Deliver you from sin’s control and dominion 

(2) Provide you with weapons for effective Spiritual warfare (II Cor. 10:4-5) 

(3) Open the door to Revelation Knowledge and Spiritual Understanding

(4) Provide you with opportunities to operate in the Gifts of the Spirit

(5) Fill you with Agape Love 

(6) Give you power over the devil and demons 

(7) Encourage you to operate in Faith and Total Trust 

(8) Give you power over sickness and disease 

(9) Release you from the curse of poverty and lack 

(10) motivate you to Witness and bear Spiritual Fruit 

(11) Enhance your Prayer Life and encourage you in Praise and Worship 

(12) Cause you to see the world through the eyes of Jesus 

(13) Make you a part of the end-time army God is raising up to hasten the return of Jesus.

            NOW… you know and you admit that you need GOD’S POWER.  You know exactly where and why you need Power.  You know that GOD’S POWER will work for you and set you free.  You know that you can do nothing without God’s Power.  You want God’s Power and you are ready for God’s Power.  You want it NOW.   You want it TODAY.  You want it THIS MORNING.  You are tired of procrastinating and waiting and putting it off.  You have had good intentions for a long time.  TODAY you will DO SOMETHING about it.  You have read books and listened to tapes.  You have attended seminars and joined churches.  You have tried rules and regulations and formulas… but you have never experienced GOD’S SUPERNATURAL POWER working in your life… It is your TIME and this is your DAY!    

Word for Today:  May 23

God is so much bigger than we can imagine.

What He can do far exceeds our ability to understand and comprehend.  He is greater than the greatest, bigger than the biggest and more powerful than anything or anybody we can imagine.

John speaks of the “streets of gold” when he attempts to describe the splendor and opulence of heaven.  He is limited by the words at his command to describe what he sees in the spirit.  Did you know that the “streets of gold” are nothing more than the “garbage dump” in heaven?  The earthly streets that John knew about were littered with garbage in his day.  The inhabitants of the city would throw their trash and garbage into the streets and the traffic of human feet and the paths of plodding animals would pack down the garbage.  The streets in John’s day were the garbage dump.

If Heaven’s Garbage Dump is solid gold, I cannot begin to imagine what the houses and lands and habitations of the redeemed will be like.

Do you have a need?  Any need.  Big need.  Small need.  Few needs.  Great needs.  Many needs.  If your answer is “yes,” name your need.  Does it have a name?  What is it?  Call it out.  Give it a name.  Tell yourself what it is.  Tell the devil what it is.  Tell God what it is (even though He already knows.)  Is it a health need?  Is it a financial need?  Is it a marriage or family need?  Is it a spiritual need?  Is it an emotional need?  If you have a need, then God has the supply… and God is Able to get His supply to your need… AND HE WILL.

Philippians 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, (Jesus) and given him a name which is above every name:

Therefore, the Name of Jesus is ABOVE the name of your need.  And it is subject to that Name.

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:19

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

God is Able to meet your need TODAY.

Word for Today:  May 21

Be Faithful.

Reinforce your determination to hold fast.  To stand.  Do not let the attacks on your faith prevent you from KEEPING ON.  The one thing satan really wants to do is to make you give up.  Through the years, I have seen saint after saint weaken and fall because they did not persevere.

You can be faithful.  There may be many things you cannot do, but you can be faithful.  Just because your faith is under attack is no reason to ease up, let up, back up, cave in or quit. This is the VERY time you and I need to make our most positive and determined stand.

Be faithful in your personal relationship with Jesus.  Be faithful in your daily faith walk.  Be faithful to your church.  Be faithful to follow the Word of God.  Be faithful in prayer.  Remember: the Word requires that good stewards be found faithful.   1 Cor 4:2.

Expect good things to happen any minute.

Keep your faith out for something.  Even though you get shot at and hit… keep believing for something.  Look for answers.  Expect results.  Do not be moved by the fact that you don’t see or feel anything.  Living by faith is living in expectance.  It is to be prepared for the harvest of the seeds you have sown…  Look for the increase.  Believe for the increase.  Expect the increase.

The woman with the issue of blood expected something to happen when she touched Jesus.  She pressed through all kinds of doubt, danger and hindrances.  She knew something good would happen when she came in contact with Jesus.

Live in expectancy.  Maintain a thankful heart.

Word for Today:  May 20

Never give in.

Never give in to fear.  Never give in to discouragement.  Never be moved by facts or consequences or obstacles or impossibilities.  The God in you is bigger than man, the devil, anything, any system, any movement, any government, any economy, any power…. nothing shall by any means harm you… when you go in the Name of the Lord God of Israel.

God was with Moses.  God was with Joshua.  God is with us…  Even our enemies shall be made to be a peace with us.  The move of God in us will strike terror in the hearts of those who resist God and resist God’s Word.

You have nothing to fear.  You have nothing to be afraid of.  God is with you.  God is in you.  His Power is working mightily through you.  Be courageous.  Be strong.  Be fearless.  Be not dismayed.  Be not discouraged.  Be aggressive.  Be on the attack.

The only way you can lose is if God loses…. and God never loses.  He never has and He never will.

Neither will YOU if you never give in to fear

Word for Today:  May 19

Begin today with a positive attitude.

Never think weakness or failure.  Believe right and think right.  Your attitude will determine the condition of your faith.   The “artificial horizon” attitude indicator in an aircraft will tell the pilot what attitude the plane is in as it flies through the air.

Your attitude will indicate your thinking, your seeing, your saying and your doing.  Attitude is your present position.  Where are you now?  What is your attitude today?  How are you thinking?  What are you saying?  What are you expecting?

To fix damaged faith, reset your attitude to agree with the Word of God.  And the Will of God.  Flow in the direction of God’s leading.  Be sensitive to the Voice of the Holy Spirit.  Be deaf to the cries of the carnal man and to the vision of the natural eye.  Be encouraging.  Be encouraged.

See the best, talk the best, think the best and expect the best.  Be positive.

Because what you expect is what you usually get

Word for Today:  May 17

God established the family.

The first human He made was a Husband and Father.

The second was a Wife and Mother.

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 Grand Plan and special 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.  Until death.

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.

Word for Today:  May 15

What pleases God?

What is it that really pleases God?  What one thing brings Him the most pleasure and fulfillment?  What gives Joy to the Lord?

When we receive to the fullest measure what He has freely provided, God is pleased.

Our acceptance of and confidence in His Covenant moves us into the place of receiving the Kingdom and all Kingdom benefits and provisions.  This is what brings joy to the father.

  …for the joy of the LORD is your strength.  Neh 8:10

The joy in this verse is referring to the Joy God receives  (as well as us) when He sees us living in and receiving  the Supernatural Strength which comes from the blessings and benefits of our Salvation.

Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.   Lu 12:32

Word for Today:  May 14

The same kind of faith.

We having the same spirit of faith… 2Cor. 4:13

Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith… 2Pet. 1:1

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.   Ro 12:3

Paul says “your faith is just like mine.”  Peter says “your faith is just like mine.”  The “measure” of faith God gave you is just like theirs.    Some think their measure is less than others.  Not so.  Did God give the same AMOUNT to every man?  YES.  Because God is no respecter of persons.  He gave you the same amount (measure) He gave the Apostle Paul, Simon Peter, John and all the rest of His disciples.

How much is a “measure”?  Enough.  What is the greatest natural miracle in the world?  Physical birth.  The physical conception, creation and birth of a human being is the greatest miracle that can ever occur in the natural world. What is the greatest miracle in the Spiritual World?  Of all the Spiritual Miracles we know of the New Birth is, without doubt, the greatest.

If the Measure of Faith was enough for the Greatest Miracle, (and it was), then, it is enough for anything else.  Healing.  Deliverance.  Salvation.  Restoration.  Prosperity.

If you had enough faith to get Born Again, then you have enough Faith for anything else.

Only believe

Word for Today:  May 13

What is the truth about FAITH?

Who hath believed our report?  Isa 53:1

What I learned about Faith has been one of the most liberating truths I have ever received.  The Revelation God gave me about Faith has been the mainstay of my life and ministry for nearly a half century.

Over forty-six years ago, God began to speak to me about Faith.  As I received this revelation, I began to teach this truth and to lead the church of which I was pastor in the actual implementation of a Ministry that operated totally by Faith.

Not only were we blessed with a mighty increase, but our people moved into a new dimension of success and victory as they began to live and function by faith.  We had fewer people get sick.  We had more people move into prosperity.  We saw better kids, better jobs, better marriages, and better relationships.  A new wave of encouragement and determination swept through our congregation.  We had fewer deaths and fewer funerals.  As a matter of fact, we fenced off half of the old Church Cemetery and turned it into a parking lot… we needed more places to park cars than to bury people.

God challenged me to lead our family in living by faith.  God called us to set the example and to prove to everybody that He is able to supply every need… and to do so abundantly and supernaturally.  This continues to be a Faith ministry.  God has never failed us.  And He never will.

God honors Faith.  Faith pleases God.