Archive for April, 2018

Rejoice In Our Gift

Monday, April 9th, 2018

Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT in 2 Corinthians chapter 5:

21 For God took the sinless Christ and poured into him our sins. Then, in exchange, he poured God’s goodness into us! (Living Bible)

21 He made Christ who knew no sin to [judicially] be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we would become the righteousness of God [that is, we would be made acceptable to Him and placed in a right relationship with Him by His gracious lovingkindness]. (Amplified Version)

When FATHER sees you and me, HE sees HIS Beloved Son.  This act of Love was a gift to us and was not given to us according to our works but was provided by Our Lord Jesus Christ.  Our works could never be sufficient to earn our salvation thus FATHER’S manifested expression of Love provided The Way for us to be reconciled to HIM.  This foundation of Love should be ever present in our consciousness as we proceed in our daily lives.  This is why we should give thanks unto FATHER as we start our day.  Paul also wrote by THE SPIRIT in Roman chapter 4:

5 But to the one who does not work [that is, the one who does not try to earn his salvation by doing good], but believes and completely trusts in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited to him as righteousness (right standing with God). (Amplified Version)

How can we show our appreciation to OUR LORD?  We should pursue greater maturity in Christ on a daily basis as well as express Love to others as a testimony to the free gift of redemption we received through Christ.  What better way to rejoice in our gift than to be a blessing to others and show them the same Love that FATHER expressed to us by redeeming us from death and destruction.

We can be sure that we will be challenged by the adversary who will try to dilute or divert our attention by pointing out our past failures.  Our past is gone and FATHER sees us today through the Blood of Christ thus HE no longer holds us accountable for our past.  Jesus once and for all dealt with our past sins so we should not let them prevent us from moving forward into full maturity.  Jesus did not take on a small portion of our sins, He took on all of them.  His work of Love on the cross is the foundation of our life so we should always keep a fresh awareness of this foundation of Love as we go about our day.

In Matthew chapter 5, Jesus spoke:

14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.

15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

What better was to rejoice in our gift than to be a light to others.  FATHER has enabled us to do good works so we should become HIS expression of Love to the world.  Don’t allow time to cause you to lose the excitement of the gift of Love received from FATHER.  Don’t grow cold and become a hearer only.  James wrote by THE SPIRIT in chapter 1:

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror;

24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.

25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

Some walk as though they have forgotten the gift of salvation bestowed on them by FATHER through Our Lord Jesus Christ.  Only after a life changing event do they receive their wake up call.  Let us not become lethargic in our daily walk but let us rejoice in our gift of Love and express our gratitude by walking in HIS Love toward others and sharing the blessings bestowed on us.  Let our walk testify of the Good News.

Walk As He Walked

Sunday, April 8th, 2018

The Beloved Disciple wrote by THE SPIRIT in 1 John chapter 2:

3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep (obey) His commandments.

4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep (obey) His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.

6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

Why would FATHER expect us to walk as Jesus walked if we were unequipped to do so?  In order to walk as Jesus walked we must keep His commandments which center around the revelation of Love.  Keeping His commandments is not drudgery but instead is joyfully embraced when we see others through the eyes of Jesus.  As we walk in Love, we are able to walk in the same manner as our Elder Brother Jesus Christ.  The question is “Will we?”  Do I dare walk with the same expectation as Jesus?  Should I expect people to receive salvation and healing through the words I speak?  Absolutely!  Our problem in the past is centered around our perceived unworthiness to accept the fullness of our redemption but we have been given the gift of righteousness with full restoration with Our Heavenly Father.  Peter wrote by THE SPIRIT in 2 Peter chapter 3:

9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

FATHER is not willing that any should perish so who is going to carry out HIS Divine Intent?  The mature Sons and Daughters are meant to carry the Good News to the ends of the earth.  Our Lord Jesus Christ is sitting at the right hand of FATHER having paved the way for us to become empowered in the same manner as He was when He walked out His earthly ministry.  He commanded us to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”  We are told to obey His commandments so we should do our part in spreading the Gospel into all the world.  This commandment is directed to those of us who are willing to take Him at His Word.  We are expected to develop our faith into “great” faith by immersing ourselves daily in FATHER’S Word.

Faith is believing what GOD says is true. Faith is believing GOD will do what HE says HE’LL do. Faith comes by hearing the Word. You must know what GOD will do before you can expect HIM to do it. You become so convinced HIS Word is true, you act on it in spite of contrary evidence.  We are exposed to the world’s contrary evidence everyday thus we must limit this exposure as we immerse ourselves in The Word.  Jesus isolated Himself from the people in order to commune with FATHER and hear HIS directives.  In 1 John chapter 2:

9 He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.

10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.

11 But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

In order to be a light to the world, we must Love our brothers and sisters as well as the ungodly.  This means everyone!  If we are still critical and judgmental toward others, then our Love has not yet been perfected and we are still in the maturing process.  Love is the basis to walk as Jesus walked and in order to be fully effective in ministering to others, we must fully embrace the revelation of Love.  As we fully mature in the revelation of Love and develop our great faith, we will truly walk as Jesus walked.  We will be able to embrace the revelation given in chapter 4:

17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.

Put GOD First

Saturday, April 7th, 2018

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxY_eJLBflk

Salvation Then Healing

Saturday, April 7th, 2018

In Exodus chapter 23, FATHER spoke:

25 “So you shall serve the LORD your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you.”

FATHER established the order of the redemptive work of Jesus Christ and it remains the same to this very day.  In order for us to be blessed and receive healing, we must first turn from our wicked ways and serve Our Heavenly Father.  Otherwise, we remain subject to the wiles of the devil.  In Luke chapter 5, Jesus was teaching The Word:

17 Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them.

18 Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him.

19 And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus.

20 When He saw their faith, He said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”

21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts?

23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise up and walk’?

24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the man who was paralyzed, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”

25 Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.

26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen strange things today!”

This particular passage encapsulates the two-fold redemptive work of Christ.  First, we find Jesus is preaching The Word and because of that, the power of THE LORD was present to heal.  We must understand that faith for salvation and healing comes by hearing The Word.  This is why we must saturate our souls with The Word.  It must be planted in our hearts and minds so that our faith will grow strong.  As we dwell on The Word day and night, It produces fruit to heal our bodies and minister two-fold redemption to others.  As our bodies are made whole, we then have a testimony to share with those in need.  We must keep FATHER’S Word before us so that our harvest of The Word is continuous.  We may know verses in our head but the heart is where the life of the Word flows.  We can be void of FATHER’S Word even though we can quote healing Scriptures.  I am painfully aware of this reality in my life but have repented as FATHER made me aware of this Truth.

As Jesus taught The Word, people’s faith increased to the point where the four men brought the paralyzed man to hear The Word.  Jesus responded first by forgiving the man’s sins.  Only then did Jesus heal the man and instruct him to “arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”  FATHER has given us the template for ministering to those in need.  Jesus manifested FATHER’S Divine Intent of Love and illustrated the proper order of His redemptive work.  As we become fully mature in Christ, we should expect to spread the Good News in the same fashion to a hurting world.

Why?

Friday, April 6th, 2018

Why does FATHER have me write to you daily?  It is all about Love.  For Our Heavenly Father so loved you and me that HE gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, so that we would believe in Him and not perish but have everlasting life.  Who else did HE Love?  All of mankind.  Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT in Romans chapter 5:

6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.

8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

Did Jesus only address our reconciliation?  No, He also addressed our physical bodies as well when He received the stripes prior to the cross.  Peter expressed both aspects of His Love for us when he wrote by THE SPIRIT in 1 Peter chapter 2:

24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.

We must never forget the importance of FATHER’S intended two-fold purpose given to HIS Son- restoration and healing.  Many have readily accepted redemption unto righteousness but there has been less taught concerning the area of healing.  Jesus clearly stated that it was no more difficult to minister healing as it was to minister salvation when He responded in Matthew 9:5 saying “For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’?”  Both aspects of ministry should be preached in order to be embraced by those with ears to hear.

Why are believers having difficulty with sickness and disease?  We have all been saturated with information concerning the world’s acceptable methods of treatment in the area of sickness and disease.  It seems like foolishness to the world for us to pray for healing and expect complete restoration.  However, Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT in 1 Corinthians chapter 1:

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

19 For it is written: ​​​“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, ​​And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”

​20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.

22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom;

23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness,

24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Are we seeking signs or trusting in the world’s wisdom?  Why?  The world’s methods have not eradicated disease and sickness for they admit they only treat symptoms.  They never seem to find the root of the problem… because it is spiritual in nature.  The Way of Jesus Christ, the full expression of FATHER’S Love, is the only complete solution for mankind.  Christ is where the power and wisdom of FATHER resides, not some technological advancement.  Man’s wisdom is but foolishness thus we should pursue true wisdom from FATHER in all of our affairs and situations.  We should pursue the healing power through Christ’s work at Calvary and expect His miracle-working power to come forth.  Faith based on Love is the answer.  Why pursue anything less?

Sent Forth

Thursday, April 5th, 2018

An apostle is one who is a delegate (authorized to represent Christ), messenger, one sent forth with orders.  Man has somewhat restricted the meaning in order to exalt certain ones above the rest of the believers in order to maintain a higher status.  Jesus intended to send those who were willing to serve all of mankind, a striking difference to what has evolved in the church over time.  In Mark chapter 16, Jesus spoke:

15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;

18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

This mandate was not restricted to the eleven remaining disciples but was given to all who would become disciples of Jesus Christ.  Paul is a great example of one who was not among the eleven but was later converted and took on the Great Commission.  Jesus had earlier sent out seventy who were a precursor to this Great Commission as well.  Only those who mature in Christ are equipped to go forth in His Name.  The mature Sons of GOD are among those who are to spread the Gospel with signs following.  We must build up our faith so that we have the confidence to go forth in HIS power.

In Acts chapter 5, it is written by THE SPIRIT:

12 And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch.

13 Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly.

14 And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,

15 so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them.

16 Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

Peter is the same one who denied Christ before Calvary but now is walking in the same power and authority as Jesus Christ.  This must encourage us as we continue walking in The Way and moving toward a greater maturity as FATHER’S Sons and Daughters.  We must not allow discouragement to come forth and dissuade us from our path.  The adversary wants to move our focus away from our individual callings just as he tempted Christ at the onset of His earthly ministry.

James wrote by THE SPIRIT in chapter 5:

14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.

15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

An elder is one who is known to be mature in faith by Love and walks in wisdom.  Isn’t this what each of us is seeking to attain in our own walk?  As we mature and become equipped, we position ourselves to be used in a greater manner by FATHER.  The trappings of the world are no longer important to us as we direct our gaze on those who are lost and in need of healing.  Let us prepare ourselves to be one of the “sent ones”.

The Great News

Wednesday, April 4th, 2018

By THE SPIRIT, Isaiah wrote in chapter 61:

1 “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, ​​Because the LORD has anointed Me

​​To preach good tidings to the poor; ​​He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,

​​To proclaim liberty to the captives, ​​And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

2 ​​To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, ​​And the day of vengeance of our God;

​​To comfort all who mourn,

3 ​​To console those who mourn in Zion, ​​To give them beauty for ashes,

​​The oil of joy for mourning, ​​The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;

​​That they may be called trees of righteousness, ​​The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”

The Holy Spirit has empowered us: to preach, heal, proclaim, comfort, console, and give.  The anointing of THE SPIRIT supersedes man’s mind and body thus the life in THE SPIRIT can and will change both the mind and the body if allowed to do so.  In Luke chapter 4, Jesus went to Nazareth and spoke the following:

18 ​​“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, ​​Because He has anointed Me

​​To preach the gospel to the poor; ​​He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,

​​To proclaim liberty to the captives ​​And recovery of sight to the blind,

​​To set at liberty those who are oppressed;

19 ​​To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”

​20 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him.

21 And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Jesus was then rejected in Nazareth because of their unbelief and men are no different today.  They make look at your and my past with the same view as they did Jesus.  We are not our past thus we must not allow past failings to dictate our calling and the anointing associated with it.  A mature Son or Daughter will not be denied the calling given by FATHER even though the past is full of immature mistakes.  We must overcome the past in order to fulfill FATHER’S Divine Intent.  Jesus was not moved by the unbelief found among His countrymen in Nazareth but gave them the opportunity to embrace His calling and receive the fullness of the Good News.

Jesus spoke of the “faithless and perverse generation” when the boy oppressed by a demon (epileptic) was not healed by His disciples.  The word perverse means: contrary to the accepted or expected standard or practice.  Jesus proclaimed the  manifested Divine Intent of FATHER for all to hear.  This proclamation has not been revoked but remains in effect for the mature Sons and Daughters to fulfill this very day.  We must set aside any question and build up our faith based on Love.  We should expect FATHER’S Divine Intent to flow through us just as it did for our Elder Brother.  We are to preach the Good News to all who are willing to receive it.  Yes, some will reject it just as they did in Nazareth but that did not stop Jesus from spreading the Gospel.  It should not stop us either.

Two-Fold Redemption

Tuesday, April 3rd, 2018

Love redeems us in a two-fold manner- salvation and healing.  Those who are maturing in their Love walk will ultimately embrace both aspects of this ministry toward others.  After all, what is the point of becoming a mature Son or Daughter if we don’t do as Jesus did?  Aren’t we suppose to follow in His footsteps and minster in the same manner?  Isn’t this the focus of the Great Commission, or are we to simply become “experts” in the various nuances of Scripture?  Is our study of advanced topics sacrificing our focus on ministering Love to those in need?  We are urged by THE SPIRIT in James chapter 1:

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror;

24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.

25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

Let us not be deceived by becoming a hearer only for a hearer’s heart grows cold and becomes forgetful of the Great Commission.  A hearer begins to think that by gaining additional knowledge, he will be deemed a mature Son.  However, a truly mature Son will spread the Gospel in accordance with the Great Commission.  Jesus spent 3 1/2 years preaching salvation and healing the sick who were oppressed by the devil.  He established what it means to be a mature Son or Daughter by His example of doing.  Jesus provided us a clear example of Sonship so that there would be no question of what it means to be mature in Christ.  He expressed FATHER’S Love toward the ungodly by healing both the soul and the body.  In Matthew chapter 9, Jesus expressed this Truth:

1 So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city.

2 Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.”

3 And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, “This Man blasphemes!”

4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts?

5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’?

6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”

7 And he arose and departed to his house.

8 Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men.

FATHER gave power to bring forth salvation and healing to His Son.  Jesus expressed the Truth that salvation and physical healing go hand in hand, the power to bring forth healing is no different than the power to save a soul.  He went to the cross for both acts of Love.

Let us direct our time and attention to becoming mature in both aspects of the Great Commission.  While men are becoming experts in the “acts” of GOD, let us pursue HIS ways and take on the responsibility of becoming mature so that we can and will fulfill the Great Commission.  There is no benefit to being a hearer only so let us be a doer of The Word.  Let us do what Jesus commanded of His disciples and let us be known as His followers by ministering two-fold redemption to those in need.  At some point we will be able to say with confidence, “Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’? “

Unbelief Is The Issue

Monday, April 2nd, 2018

In Matthew chapter 13, Jesus went to preach in Nazareth:

54 When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works?

55 Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?

56 And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?”

57 So they were offended at Him.  But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.”

58 Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

In today’s environment where people are relying on technology to a greater degree, unbelief in the miracle working power of FATHER is a primary issue in receiving salvation and healing.  People are placing their trust in man’s systems of healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and technological advances yet man is still dealing with sickness, disease, famine, wars, etc.  Man’s systems are not the answer to the problems at hand.  A machine, chemical, crystal, amulet, or any other device will not deal with the source of disease.  They will only address the physical symptoms.  Jesus went about preaching The Word and healing all except in His own country where the people looked to the past rather than the present.  Their unwillingness to hear and embrace The Gospel kept them from receiving their healing.

In Matthew chapter 17, it is written by THE SPIRIT:

14 And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying,

15 “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water.

16 So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.”

17 Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.”

18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour.

19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?”

20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.

21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”

Those of us who expect to become mature Sons and Daughters must make a commitment to remove any and all unbelief within us.  This is done by making The Word our first and foremost priority.  We must be willing to spend the necessary time before FATHER and specifically planting The Word in our hearts.  Faith comes only by hearing The Word and we must build up our faith and remove any and all unbelief.  The disciples were able to heal all who came before them as recorded in the Book of Acts thus their faith had grown to a higher state.  Let us not accept anything less than great faith to be found among us.  We too should expect to minister in the same manner as the early church if we will only trust in FATHER’S Word rather than the systems of the world.  Let us remove any unbelief and replace it with great faith so that when we have the opportunity to minister salvation and healing, signs will follow us.

Resurrection Day

Sunday, April 1st, 2018

HE IS ALIVE!  What separates us as believers from the religions of the world, Our Lord Jesus Christ overcame death and sits at the right hand of Our Heavenly Father.

Hebrews 13:8  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Have a blessed day and be a blessing to others!

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