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Word for Today:  February 9

Commitment

God is extending a calling to His People in this hour… it is His call to commitment.

Commitment is the “Works” part of Faith.  Faith without Works is dead… or faith without commitment will not work.  In the book of Acts, the early Believers were committed to the point of a willingness to die for what they believed (and many did).  That is commitment.

Commitment means:

• Responsibility
• Obedience
• Dedication
• Involvement
• Sacrifice
• Singleness of heart

Many today want to know “what can the Church do for me and my family?” Commitment says “What can my family and I do for the church?”  Commitment seeks to minister.  Selfishness seeks to be ministered to.    It is not “What can I get out of it?” but rather, “What can I contribute to it?”

The Military demands commitment.  I clearly remember the day I stood before an officer in the Navy and pledged my commitment (to the death, if necessary) to the protection and defense of our great nation.  Every soldier is expected and commanded to lay down his life for his country if necessary.  He is committed to protect it at all costs.

Ministry demands commitment.

Realizing your dream demands commitment

Marriage demands commitment.  Each partner is commanded and constrained by commitment to the other.

Business… Job… Education… Aspiration…  success in life…. all of these demand commitment.

God is calling YOU to a higher measure and level of commitment to His Kingdom… To His cause… To His Church… To the Lost World…

Be Faithful

Word for Today:  February 8

The Power of Pentecost

Pentecostal Power which is so evident in the New Testament is, unfortunately, not found in many churches today.

Signs, wonders and miracles are not the only evidence of Holy Ghost Power.  Changed lives are the evidence of Holy Ghost Power.

Sin, repented of and removed is evidence of Holy Ghost Power.  Love prevailing and forgiveness toward those who have wronged us is evidence of Holy Ghost Power.

Clean living and holy thinking and right doing are all evidence of Holy Ghost Power.

When we care more for prayer and fellowship with the Father than we do for our own entertainment, that is evidence of Holy Ghost Power.

When worship and praise God, and when Word ministry are priorities, that’s evidence of Holy Ghost Power.

When we desire God more than anything else… when we seek Him and cry out to Him and long for Him we are experiencing Holy Ghost Power.

When everything that offends is cut away and put down… when all our “idols” are smashed and reduced to dust, we have been touched by Holy Ghost Power.

You cannot experience the Power without something happening.  God’s Power inevitably produces results.

It is not more education that we need or bigger and more comfortable buildings.  It is not more efficient organization and more talented administration that we need.  It is not more professional choirs and musicians and more highly skilled worship leaders that we need.

We need the Power of Pentecost

… Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.  Zec 4:6

Word for Today:  February 7

Count the cost;  pay the price

Elisha paid the price.  He met the condition.  He did what he had to do in order to receive his Anointing.  To get His Double Portion.

And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.   2Ki 2:9

I believe you want it, too.  Because this is the one most important thing in your life.  Whatever it takes, do it.  Forgetting those things that are behind, and reaching forth to those things that are before… do whatever is necessary.

In order to experience continual anointing…Repent of sin.  Get rid of wrong attitudes.  Get rid of the “content with what I’ve got” mode of living.  Get rid of criticism.  Get rid of jealousy and envy.    Get rid of greed.  Get rid of bitterness and sarcasm.  Get rid of lust and loose morals.  Get rid of connections that pull you down.  Get rid of unbelief.

There are more than likely only one or two main obstacles that stand between you and your Anointing.  So, you know what you must do.  Do it.

Put them behind you.  Put them under your feet.  Put them out of the way.

No price is too great to pay to live in the Anointing of the Holy Ghost

Word for Today:  February 6

Never lose confidence in the work that God began in you.

Being confident (peitho; inward certainty) of this very thing, that He (God) which hath begun a good work in you will perform it (epiteleo; fulfill completely), until the day of Jesus Christ… Phil 1:6

You are Called, Selected, Elected and Chosen.  You are important and you are loved.  God has begun a work in you and He will complete it.  You are not what you were but you are not what you are going to be.

Always expect every situation to turn around for your good.

For I know that this (situation, circumstance, defeat, etc.) shall turn to my salvation, (Soteria; rescue, safety, deliverance, health) through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ… (Phil 1:19)

The battle is not yours… it is the LORD’S and He always wins.  Anytime, every time and all the time.

Never allow satan to intimidate you.

And in nothing terrified  (pturo:  to frighten, to scare) by your adversaries… Phil 1: 28

Where there is no fear there is no devil.  Perfect love “casteth out fear” and “fear hath torment” and “torment” is exactly where the devil lives.

Stay humble before God and expect Him to exalt you in due season.

(Jesus) made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant…. He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death… Phil 2: 7-8

The example Jesus set for us is awesome.  He literally became what we are in order for us to become Who He is.

Never let go of God’s Word… no matter how impossible things seem.

Holding  (Epecho: to pay attention to; to retain) forth the Word of Life, that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain neither labored in vain…  Phil 2: 16

God keeps His Word.  God honors His covenant.  God fulfills His promises.  God does what He says He will do.  You can trust His Word.

Never hang on to your past.  Keep reaching forward.

I c0unt not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before… Phil 3:13

1.  The Lord is my Shepherd.  As long as He is LORD He has liberty to function as my Shepherd.  At any time, He is not my Lord, then something or someone else takes charge over me.  I am the only one who can determine the Position Jesus holds in my life.  He will gladly function as my Shepherd…. as long as I allow Him to. 

2.  I shall not want.  When I recognize Him as Lord and allow Him to function as Lord, I will never want for any good thing.  It is my choice that determines how I live.  If I have chosen Him to be Lord, then this choice has positioned me in a place of abundance…. no lack and no need.  Hallelujah.

3.  He maketh me….  Some of the things He “makes” (commands, requests, orders, tells) me to do are contrary to what I want to do.  And sometimes what He orders me to do seems inappropriate and unnecessary.  This sheep was going places and the Shepherd told him to “lie down.”  Can you imagine the excuses the sheep might have given?  “But, I don’t want to lie down, I’m not even tired yet.”  “I can’t stop now; I’ve got too much to do.”  “I’ve got to hurry and get to the place I’m going…. I’m already late now.”  “But I want to go.  They need me over there.” 

4.  To lie down.  Lie down.  Lay down.  Be still.  Be quiet.  Stop what you are doing.  Quit it.  “Stay.”  “Settle.”  Cool it.  God says:  I want to spend  time with just you, not you and your busy-ness.  Just you.  Just you and Me.  I want you to talk with Me.  Visit with Me.  Slow down and Consider Me.  You are in too much of a hurry.  Lie Down. 

5.  In green pastures.  Once I stop, I discover that the place He stopped me is a place of Green Pastures.  I was hurrying to get to some better place, but God stopped me, and I discovered that Where I Am is the Best Place.  The place of nurture.  Rest.  Peace.  Sustenance.  Where He wants me is always the Best Place.  It may look better just a little further on, but here is best.  He placed me, put me, and established me.  And now, there is Green Pasture all around. 

6.  He leadeth me beside the still waters.  Still.  There is something about this being “still.”  This means quiet.  Approachable.  Drinkable.  Available.  Where I was going, the water was too swift and troubled to slake my thirst.  I couldn’t even get one drink.  But here, the water is still, and I can drink to my heart’s content.  He leadeth.  Not shoveth.  But leadeth.  He has already been where He is taking me.  He is even holding my hand in His.  Therefore, I have nothing to fear. 

7.  He restoreth my soul.  Restoreth.  Our God (Shepherd) is a restoring, reviving, reconciling, renewing God.  Where I have been has been a place of great weariness.  The course has been exhausting.  I am drained, Spirit, Soul, and Body.  But He restores.  Connecting with Him provides strength.  Energy.  Determination.  Perseverance.  A new beginning.  A fresh start.  Renewed strength.  As He restores my soul (my heart) His strength flows outward into all the tiredness of my spirit and body.  I am Restored and ready to continue.

8. He leadeth me in the paths of Righteousness for His Name’s sake

He leads.  Makes a way.  Shows the path.  Illuminates the course of my life.  Righteousness is the way I want to live but often is not the road on which I travel.  So, He takes my hand in His, and He Leads me. He sets the pace and shows the example. He Guides me.  Keeps me surrounded by Righteousness. Right living. Purity of thought. A life focused on Spiritual things. He Protects me from any wrong step heading in a wrong direction. All of this because of His Name’s Sake.  Because of Who He Is and What He does… He ensures our integrity and binds us to His Standard… And makes us Like Him.

9. Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.. I will fear no evil.  Valleys are dark places.  Especially the one marked Death. Seems no one wants to go there, but it is destined for all of us.  But in the process, we will fear no pitfall or loss of confidence.  We experience all the shadows of death but see them only as shadows.  Ethereal things.  Not Real.  Only reflections. And He is With Us.  Every step of the way.  Held by His Grip and safe from death things. “For thou are with me…”  And that’s always enough

10. Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.  His correction is for our protection. His “rod” gently nudges us if we begin to stray.  His “staff” is equal to a “crutch” if we are wounded along the way.  Both his Correction and His Protection are basic characteristics of a Good Shepherd.  We are encapsulated in His Divine Protection, and everything is going to be all right.   

11.  Thou preparest a table for me in the presence of mine enemies. When those who desire my demise and death are surrounding me, when impossibilities threaten, and there is no one is there to encourage, to help, to stand by… Guess what the Good Shepherd does…. He Prepares a Feast for me… a private party with the most delectable and delicious nourishments available, and then, He pulls up a chair, sits down and feasts with me.  While our bewildered enemies stare in wonderment at such a reversal of their evil intent.  I am safe.  I am secure.  I am blessed beyond measure.  HE IS WIH ME.

12.  Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over.  The Good Shepherd makes sure all my needs are met… He anoints my head with oil… “Anoint” signifies pouring over me all things that make me “fat” (Heb Dawshane)and prosperous and continues to abundantly provide… until my cup runs over.  I am enabled to live a life continually running over with His Blessings and I can rest secure in all life situations.  His Supply is endless, and my cup is always Full.

13. Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life…  For certain, without doubt, definitely and unquestionable, HIS goodness (not mine, but HIS)and HIS mercy shall literally chase after  me all the days of my life.  I will never be able to outrun the love and faithfulness of the Good Shepherd… they and HE will always be on my heels as long as I live.  Then I will come Home where He lives and stay Home.. at His House throughout eternity.. Forever.    

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.  Joh 10:11 

Word for Today:  February 2

Demonstrate satan’s Defeat

 And having spoiled principalities and powers, He (Jesus) made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it…  Col. 2:15

God is a God of demonstration.

He is a God of power, authority and might.

He operates in great success and triumph.

We are called to demonstrate satan’s defeat…  satan is the illegitimate and illegal ruler of this world…  he is a defeated enemy.  he is a liar and a cheat.  he is a bigot and an intimidator.  he barks but Jesus has removed his bite.

We have been given Power over the devil and his demons.

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils…  Mark 16:17

satan gets his power from ignorant Believers.  he cannot do what we will not allow him do.  We have been called into the kingdom to demonstrate satan’s defeat.  We have been saved to make an open show of satan’s limitations and to parade him before the world in an open display of his powerlessness.

We can do it because Jesus did.  Jesus destroyed the works of darkness once and for all.

satan’s defeat can be demonstrated daily by every believing believer.

he roars like a lion, but he’s toothless

Word for Today:  February 1

That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word…  Eph 5:26

It is the Word that is the washing and cleansing agent for the Church.

And the Word also the way to get our minds renewed.  When we do, we think right.  Wrong thinking always gets us in trouble.  Carnal thinking or natural thinking leads to death.  Spiritual thinking leads to life and peace.

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

When we renew our mind with the Word, we are enabled to think right.

Right thinking is Word Thinking.

To be spiritually minded is to think in agreement with the Word of God.  When our thinking is influenced by the Word, the world and the world system think we are unbalanced.  And Unlearned.  Or out of touch with reality.  Living in fantasy.  Foolish. And in some cases crazy.

The Word is so far above the world in Truth that when we live our lives by the Word, the world just can’t understand us.

We are Peculiar (I Pet 2:9)

Word for Today: January 31

It’s up to you.

You will never do what you do not decide to do.
You will never get what you do not decide to get.
You will never get what you do not make up your mind to get.
You will never receive what you are not committed to receive.
It is up to you. God has given it. Jesus has paid for it with His Blood. Now, refuse to waver, to be moved aside, to take your eyes off your goal. Refuse to back down. Refuse to compromise. Refuse to be nice to the devil.

Refuse to “calm down” or “understand”… Be determined… get mad and be violent. The “Kingdom of heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by force…” (Mat 11:12).

Just how mad are you at the devil? How determined are you to take back what he has stolen? How ferocious are you in this pursuit? How enraged are you at the deeds of the devil and the kingdom of darkness? How much do demonic forces fear your resolve to overcome?

“Let not the sun go down on your wrath…” In other words this can mean “Never stop being mad at the devil….”

The ONLY legitimate avenue to release your wrath is to release it on the powers of darkness.

Word for Today:  January 29

Restoration

Restoration of the Image of God is an established fact that takes place at the time of Conversion.

To be “in Christ” is to be “out of” Adam.

The restored Image (Righteousness) is what God sees when He looks at us.  Our death-doomed nature has been changed.  We have been “re-gened” (regenerated) with the genetic signature of our Heavenly Father.  God does not look on the sin of our “old man”, in fact, He does not even see them.  They have been removed as far as the east is from the west.  God does not remember them anymore.  (Psa 103).

The image of the Old Man is what satan wants us to see and what Religion shows us and keeps before us.  Any image that is less than the Image of God is to be “cast down”… “casting down imaginations…”   (2Co 10:5).

As we Act on the Image of God (our Righteous Nature) in us the Word becomes flesh.

We should See (know and be aware of) the Image of God that is in us.

And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear:   (blepo:  see what you hear).   (Mark 4:24)

When we see the Image of God in us we develop a concept of Righteousness… we become aware of our Righteousness and boldness and confidence is produced.

We are never to “cast away” our confidence.  (Put aside our concept of Righteousness).

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

Do not allow your “heart” to condemn you!

For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.  (1 John 3:20)

If you are Born Again, you have been Restored!  That which sin destroyed has been reestablished and transplanted into your spirit and you are now a “New Creation.”

Restored.  Recovered.  Redeemed.  Renewed.

Word for Today:  January 27

We are not what we were.

Yesterday.  Last Week.  Last Year.  10 minutes ago.  We are changing.  We are growing.  We are conforming more and more to the Image of Jesus.

God’s New Creation Army are Champions.   Achievers.   Overcomers.   Supernatural Men and Women and Children.  More than Conquerors.   That’s us.  That’s you and me.

• We are invincible to the forces of darkness.
• We live in health and prosperity and we walk in constant victory.
• We are New Creation Men and Women.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  2Cor. 5:17

We live by God’s Law of Life and we have been set free from the law of sin and death.  Sin, satan and failure have no dominion over us.

• We know who we are where we are going.
• We are not moved by fear or doubt or unbelief.
• We walk by faith and live by faith.
• We are a “Peculiar People” and Royalty through our Blood Line.

We are the Ones who will rule and run and reign on the earth in this emerging hour… we are the end-time army destined to defeat and destroy the works of darkness and the powers of the kosmos.

God has waited long and patiently for us to be birthed and developed.  He has Plans for us.  He has Provisions for us.  He has Power for us.

Our Time has come.