stovebolts
Member
I concur! So glad he puts these together and posts them.seriously...thanks for this. Scripture alone is powerful, but...coupled with helpful commentary and summary....helps, tremendously. thanks again.
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Guest, Join Papa Zoom today for some uplifting biblical encouragement! --> Daily Verses
Growth Daily Verses
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Scripture Of The Day - 
DISPLAYING GOD'S LOVE TO THE UNLOVABLE
Acts 8:12 - "But when they believed the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ as Philip preached it, they were baptized, both men and women."
A popular belief among Christians is that God wants to use us to help people see their sins and give them the choice of whether or not to receive Jesus. If we look more closely at what the Bible really declares as Jesus' message, we will have a plumb line to see just how off track we have veered with this sort of thinking.
Jesus states clearly in John 16:8 that the Holy Spirit will come and convict the world of guilt in regard to sin. God's task is to convict people of sin, and ours is to love people. "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:39). And when we do love people, and also love one another, they will know that we are true followers of Jesus (John 13:35).
When we use guilt-inducing methods to communicate Jesus' message, people usually respond by erecting walls and closing their minds to what we are saying. On the contrary, if we treat people in a kind and loving way, they generally tend to be very open and their walls recede. It is not for us to bring them to repentance; that's the Holy Spirits domain, and He accomplishes it much better than we ever could!
Counselors are advising people today that guilt is negative, unproductive, and even detrimental to their health, and they need to release these feelings. Thus, guilt is not an effective means of evangelizing and it actually obscures God.
As we learn to display God's love to the unlovable and His acceptance to the outcasts, we will see divine intervention in people's lives. There's incredible power in the simple act of unconditional love and acceptance. Jesus demonstrated this repeatedly by His works among the nonreligious multitude.
John 8:5,10,11 - "Now Moses in the Law commanded us that such women shall be stoned to death. But what do You say? When Jesus raised Himself up, He said to her, Woman, where are your accusers? Has no man condemned you? She answered, No one, Lord! And Jesus said, I do not condemn you either. Go on your way and from now on sin no more."
Observation:
In ministering to non-believers I seek to understand their values and perceived needs, and as much of their background and frame of reference as I can; Then I will know better how to relate to them and lead them to Christ when the time is right.
I realize that every human being not only wants but needs to be loved, accepted, and wants a God who has real power -- one who can identify with their pain while bringing them a higher, more abundant life here and now.
DISPLAYING GOD'S LOVE TO THE UNLOVABLEActs 8:12 - "But when they believed the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ as Philip preached it, they were baptized, both men and women."
A popular belief among Christians is that God wants to use us to help people see their sins and give them the choice of whether or not to receive Jesus. If we look more closely at what the Bible really declares as Jesus' message, we will have a plumb line to see just how off track we have veered with this sort of thinking.
Jesus states clearly in John 16:8 that the Holy Spirit will come and convict the world of guilt in regard to sin. God's task is to convict people of sin, and ours is to love people. "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:39). And when we do love people, and also love one another, they will know that we are true followers of Jesus (John 13:35).
When we use guilt-inducing methods to communicate Jesus' message, people usually respond by erecting walls and closing their minds to what we are saying. On the contrary, if we treat people in a kind and loving way, they generally tend to be very open and their walls recede. It is not for us to bring them to repentance; that's the Holy Spirits domain, and He accomplishes it much better than we ever could!
Counselors are advising people today that guilt is negative, unproductive, and even detrimental to their health, and they need to release these feelings. Thus, guilt is not an effective means of evangelizing and it actually obscures God.
As we learn to display God's love to the unlovable and His acceptance to the outcasts, we will see divine intervention in people's lives. There's incredible power in the simple act of unconditional love and acceptance. Jesus demonstrated this repeatedly by His works among the nonreligious multitude.
John 8:5,10,11 - "Now Moses in the Law commanded us that such women shall be stoned to death. But what do You say? When Jesus raised Himself up, He said to her, Woman, where are your accusers? Has no man condemned you? She answered, No one, Lord! And Jesus said, I do not condemn you either. Go on your way and from now on sin no more."
Observation:
In ministering to non-believers I seek to understand their values and perceived needs, and as much of their background and frame of reference as I can; Then I will know better how to relate to them and lead them to Christ when the time is right.
I realize that every human being not only wants but needs to be loved, accepted, and wants a God who has real power -- one who can identify with their pain while bringing them a higher, more abundant life here and now.
stovebolts
Member
Very good article. I think it applies across the board to both believers and non believers.
Jim Parker , what are your thoughts?
Jim Parker
Member
Guilt inducing messages will turn people away. They already know they are guilty and they also know that the person speaking to them is just as guilty, although not necessarily of the same sins.
Jesus said that He will judge all of mankind according to whether or not each person was merciful toward others. (Mat 25:31-46) HE also said to let our good works be seen by all so that they see them and praise God. (Mat 5:16)
We are to act toward the lost as Christ acted for the lost world and laid down His life for the world.
Paul told us we are not to judge those outside the church.
1Co 5:9-10
I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world.
However, we are to judge those within the church.
1Co 5:11-13
But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person. For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.” (Deuteronomy 17:7; 19:19; 22:21, 24; 24:7)
He also said not to associate with people who teach doctrines contrary to Jesus' teching or who do not consent to the teaching of the Church.
1Ti 6:3-4
If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.
There is a reason for the term, "Bible Thumper." It arises from the experience of the lost who encounter an aggressive believer which experience was outlined in the article. I'm not sure whether it refers to someone thumping his Bible to direct their victim's attention to "What God said" or his feeling as if he were being beaten (thumped) with the Bible. There is no gift of the Spirit of shoving our religion down people's throats.
Here's an example of good works, acts of kindness, make people's lives better and they thank the "Christian God" for it. They're called "Jesus Wells." They make it possible for a community to have clean water which results in a much lower infant mortality rate.
Scripture of the Day - THE GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
Matthew 6:33 -- "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."
We all have things that we perceive that we need. What does God have to say to us about these concerns?
According to Matthew 6:31, He tells us, "Do not worry." God cares about us having these things. He wants us to have all these things. In fact, He wants all these things added to us. And He tells us that the way these things are added to us is by us seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.
Therefore, our number one priority every day is to seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.
IT IS NOT TO SEEK TO ADD THESE THESE THINGS TO OURSELVES.
RIGHT STANDING WITH GOD
But what is righteousness? Righteousness is not us trying to fix our behavior. It is right standing with the Father. It is the clearance of all your guilt, which makes you able to stand before God. It is not something you get through right behavior. It is a GIFT from God. Paul calls it "the gift of righteousness" (Romans 5:17). And to "seek" this gift is to be CONSCIOUS OF THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE IT, TO CONFESS THAT YOU ARE RIGHTEOUS IN CHRIST.
So this righteousness, we are told to seek, is not right behavior, but right standing before God, which comes to us as a gift when we receive salvation. At the cross, Jesus didn't just remove our sins, He gave us His righteousness so that today we allow Him to live His life through us so we can come boldly before the throne of God and receive freely everything that He died to give us!
AFFIRMATIONS:
I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
I seek the righteousness of Jesus, not my own righteousness.
Matthew 6:33 -- "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."
We all have things that we perceive that we need. What does God have to say to us about these concerns?
According to Matthew 6:31, He tells us, "Do not worry." God cares about us having these things. He wants us to have all these things. In fact, He wants all these things added to us. And He tells us that the way these things are added to us is by us seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.
Therefore, our number one priority every day is to seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.
IT IS NOT TO SEEK TO ADD THESE THESE THINGS TO OURSELVES.RIGHT STANDING WITH GOD
But what is righteousness? Righteousness is not us trying to fix our behavior. It is right standing with the Father. It is the clearance of all your guilt, which makes you able to stand before God. It is not something you get through right behavior. It is a GIFT from God. Paul calls it "the gift of righteousness" (Romans 5:17). And to "seek" this gift is to be CONSCIOUS OF THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE IT, TO CONFESS THAT YOU ARE RIGHTEOUS IN CHRIST.
So this righteousness, we are told to seek, is not right behavior, but right standing before God, which comes to us as a gift when we receive salvation. At the cross, Jesus didn't just remove our sins, He gave us His righteousness so that today we allow Him to live His life through us so we can come boldly before the throne of God and receive freely everything that He died to give us!
AFFIRMATIONS:
I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
I seek the righteousness of Jesus, not my own righteousness.
Scripture Of The Day - EXERCISING OUR COVENANT RIGHT IN PRAYER
"And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ;" - Romans 8:17
We need boldness to act on God's Word. We need boldness to act on what the Spirit of God may say to us.
The believer has covenant rights in prayer, as well as other covenant rights. The problem that defeats believers in their prayer life is the feeling of inferiority -- a sense of sin-consciousness. Some Christians begin their prayers with, "I'm so weak and unworthy," and then harp on their weaknesses and unworthiness throughout the prayer.
"I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins." - Isaiah 43:25
We are sons and daughters of God, joint-heirs with Jesus Christ. We are covenant people, and as we are covenant people we have a legal right -- a Body of Christ right -- to go into the Presence of God the Father with the same confidence and assurance that Jesus has. And we can do it boldly!
"And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ;" - Romans 8:17
We need boldness to act on God's Word. We need boldness to act on what the Spirit of God may say to us.
The believer has covenant rights in prayer, as well as other covenant rights. The problem that defeats believers in their prayer life is the feeling of inferiority -- a sense of sin-consciousness. Some Christians begin their prayers with, "I'm so weak and unworthy," and then harp on their weaknesses and unworthiness throughout the prayer.
"I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins." - Isaiah 43:25
We are sons and daughters of God, joint-heirs with Jesus Christ. We are covenant people, and as we are covenant people we have a legal right -- a Body of Christ right -- to go into the Presence of God the Father with the same confidence and assurance that Jesus has. And we can do it boldly!
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Jim Parker
Member
YES!!! We need that kind of prayer. Very good point.
buuuuuttt.......
"Legal" has nothing to do with it.
Jhn 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
Rom 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”
Gal 4:6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”
Mat 6:6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
Mat 6:9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven,
Mat 6:8b ... your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
Jhn 20:17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.' ”
That is the natural (not legal) right of a child to talk to his/her father.
It is not based in law; it is based in love.
The idea of being able to speak with our Father is alien to the concept it being a "legal right" as if we had to go before some judge and convince him to declare that we have legal authority to speak to our Father who so loved us that He sent His Son to reconcile us to Him.
Our relationship with our Father is based in love (mostly His) not in law.
That's it.
End of rant.
iakov the fool
(beaucoup dien cai dau)
DISCLAIMER: By reading the words posted above, you have made a free will choice to expose yourself to the rantings of iakov the fool. The poster assumes no responsibility for any temporary, permanent or otherwise annoying manifestations of cognitive dysfunction that, in any manner, may allegedly be related to the reader’s deliberate act by which he/she has knowingly allowed the above rantings to enter into his/her consciousness. No warrantee is expressed or implied. Individual mileage may vary. And, no, I don't want to hear about it. No sniveling! Enjoy the rest of your life here and the eternal one to come.
Scripture Of The Day - THE GATES OF HELL
Matthew 16:18 - "On this rock I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
Where precisely are the gates of hell? Where does the devil sit in power?
The mind is the gatekeeper of the Kingdom of God. It is the place of access, transition, and power. It follows that the gates of hell are set up in people's minds. Jesus made this clear:
Matthew 16:23 - But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men."
He didn't say, "Peter, you devil worshiper!" He didn't say, "You are filled with all kinds of occult practices and deceits." He said, "Your mind is filled with the things of man."
The devil is empowered by human agreement. That mental posture was a gate from which satan was released to bring Peter's destruction.
Humanity without Christ at the center is satanic in nature. When you've been given the Spirit of God, you lose the privilege of claiming, "I'm only human." Paul rebukes the church at Corinth for behaving like mere men (1 Corinthians 3:3).
The gate of hell is in our minds any time we agree with a man-centered perspective or natural wisdom that does not know God. We empower demonic forces and become a gate to release his power to kill, steal, and destroy our lives.
AFFIRMATION:
I am a gateway for heaven's reality to take over every part of my life, and the lives of people who I influence, no matter how big or small the specific situation is.
Matthew 16:18 - "On this rock I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
Where precisely are the gates of hell? Where does the devil sit in power?
The mind is the gatekeeper of the Kingdom of God. It is the place of access, transition, and power. It follows that the gates of hell are set up in people's minds. Jesus made this clear:
Matthew 16:23 - But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men."
He didn't say, "Peter, you devil worshiper!" He didn't say, "You are filled with all kinds of occult practices and deceits." He said, "Your mind is filled with the things of man."
The devil is empowered by human agreement. That mental posture was a gate from which satan was released to bring Peter's destruction.
Humanity without Christ at the center is satanic in nature. When you've been given the Spirit of God, you lose the privilege of claiming, "I'm only human." Paul rebukes the church at Corinth for behaving like mere men (1 Corinthians 3:3).
The gate of hell is in our minds any time we agree with a man-centered perspective or natural wisdom that does not know God. We empower demonic forces and become a gate to release his power to kill, steal, and destroy our lives.
AFFIRMATION:
I am a gateway for heaven's reality to take over every part of my life, and the lives of people who I influence, no matter how big or small the specific situation is.
Scripture Of The Day - EXPANDING OUR EXPECTATION TO SEE
"My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working." (John 5:17)
We work and partner with what he is already doing in Heaven. The father works in heaven and we work with the Holy Spirit on earth. "So Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he "sees" the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise."
We are totally dependent on the Holy Spirit to discern the fathers will, so we can partner with heaven on earth. "For the Father loves the Son, and "shows Him" all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel." - John 5:19-20
THE KEY IS IN PRAYER AND WAITING
The context of the above Scriptures is Jesus and the intimacy he had with the father. In these verses we see a great key to doing his will and manifesting his power. As we affirm and meditate on these verses our expectation to "see" will grow. Jesus knew the key was in prayer and waiting. "Jesus often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed." - Luke 5:16. "Jesus also arose along while before daylight and prayed" - Mark 1:35.
He lived to the Fathers will and took the time to pray and see how the Father was working. The blueprints for building and releasing the kingdom already exist already in heaven. There's already a true heavenly copy. For example, Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. God told him to "make all things according to the pattern shown to him on the mountain" - Hebrews 8:5. David was given the pattern for the Temple that his son Solomon would build too. (1 Chronicles 28: 11-19).
SPEAK IT OUT
We see it and proclaim it! Once we learn how to partner with God, by seeing whatever He directs us to see in the heavens, then we learn how to speak with authority in that realm, calling it forth in prayer. Then it manifests here on the earth. What you do in that kind of experience will change what happens to you in this realm. He is just looking for friends, ones who want to know His mind and His heart. He longs to share the secrets of His heart with those who tune their spiritual ears to listen to what His Spirit is saying.
"I will stand at my guard post and station myself on the tower; and I will keep watch to see what He will say to me," -- Habakkuk 2:1
We wait, pray, look and "see" what The Lord "says to me." We must see by revelation. It is key to manifesting his power.
"My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working." (John 5:17)
We work and partner with what he is already doing in Heaven. The father works in heaven and we work with the Holy Spirit on earth. "So Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he "sees" the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise."
We are totally dependent on the Holy Spirit to discern the fathers will, so we can partner with heaven on earth. "For the Father loves the Son, and "shows Him" all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel." - John 5:19-20
THE KEY IS IN PRAYER AND WAITING
The context of the above Scriptures is Jesus and the intimacy he had with the father. In these verses we see a great key to doing his will and manifesting his power. As we affirm and meditate on these verses our expectation to "see" will grow. Jesus knew the key was in prayer and waiting. "Jesus often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed." - Luke 5:16. "Jesus also arose along while before daylight and prayed" - Mark 1:35.
He lived to the Fathers will and took the time to pray and see how the Father was working. The blueprints for building and releasing the kingdom already exist already in heaven. There's already a true heavenly copy. For example, Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. God told him to "make all things according to the pattern shown to him on the mountain" - Hebrews 8:5. David was given the pattern for the Temple that his son Solomon would build too. (1 Chronicles 28: 11-19).
SPEAK IT OUT
We see it and proclaim it! Once we learn how to partner with God, by seeing whatever He directs us to see in the heavens, then we learn how to speak with authority in that realm, calling it forth in prayer. Then it manifests here on the earth. What you do in that kind of experience will change what happens to you in this realm. He is just looking for friends, ones who want to know His mind and His heart. He longs to share the secrets of His heart with those who tune their spiritual ears to listen to what His Spirit is saying.
"I will stand at my guard post and station myself on the tower; and I will keep watch to see what He will say to me," -- Habakkuk 2:1
We wait, pray, look and "see" what The Lord "says to me." We must see by revelation. It is key to manifesting his power.
Scripture Of The Day - THE EMERGING CHURCH
John 13:13-15 -- "Jesus said, 'You call me 'Teacher and Lord' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I , your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet. You also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.'"example that you should do as I have done for you.'"
John 20:21 -- "Just as the Father has sent me forth so I am sending you."
This is certainly a command of Jesus for the Body of Christ to meet the needs (both temporal and spiritual) of new believers so they may indeed advance in the faith.
The humbling service of DISCIPLING a new believer into:
who he/she is in Christ,
his/her right standing with God, and
walking in the Spirit
is the most valuable Christian service someone can minister to someone who has just had the "born again" experience.
OLD THOUGHT PROCESSES
In order for the church to advance into her destiny there are old thought processes that need to be dismantled:
1. The idea that higher spiritual advancement and development is reserved for the clergy.
2. The idea that spiritual training and discipling is the sole responsibility of the pastor and/or elders.
3. The idea that it takes years in the faith to be able to DISCIPLE other believers.
4. The idea that the only thing the laity is to be involved in is Church programs and listening to sermons.
Submitting to DISCIPLESHIP training develops a "personal ministry to others consciousness" in the believer as well as promotes unity and brotherly love in the fellowship of the Body of Christ.
John 13:13-15 -- "Jesus said, 'You call me 'Teacher and Lord' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I , your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet. You also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.'"example that you should do as I have done for you.'"
John 20:21 -- "Just as the Father has sent me forth so I am sending you."
This is certainly a command of Jesus for the Body of Christ to meet the needs (both temporal and spiritual) of new believers so they may indeed advance in the faith.
The humbling service of DISCIPLING a new believer into:
who he/she is in Christ,
his/her right standing with God, and
walking in the Spirit
is the most valuable Christian service someone can minister to someone who has just had the "born again" experience.
OLD THOUGHT PROCESSES
In order for the church to advance into her destiny there are old thought processes that need to be dismantled:
1. The idea that higher spiritual advancement and development is reserved for the clergy.
2. The idea that spiritual training and discipling is the sole responsibility of the pastor and/or elders.
3. The idea that it takes years in the faith to be able to DISCIPLE other believers.
4. The idea that the only thing the laity is to be involved in is Church programs and listening to sermons.
Submitting to DISCIPLESHIP training develops a "personal ministry to others consciousness" in the believer as well as promotes unity and brotherly love in the fellowship of the Body of Christ.
stovebolts
Member
I think you hit it spot on.
I like the way you inferred relationship with Jesus by way of who WE are in Christ. The old way of thinking says, bring them to church.
The way Jesus taught was, " Bring them to me".
Scripture Of The Day - EXPECTANT PRAYER
"Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him" (1 John 5:14,15).
As we confidently pray according to the promises in the Bible we can expect all the promises of the Lord to be yes and amen in Christ! There are literally thousands of Scripture promises in the Bible that can be applied to our lives.
The Lord is true (see Revelation 3:7), and His promises are sure. When we pray out of the knowledge of His promises, we can pray with expectation for the answer.
WE MUST INTERNALIZE HIS PROMISES
Of course, if we do not know His promises, we will not be able to confidently go before Him in expectant faith to receive the manifestation of His promises. But as we grow in knowledge of His promises in the Word, we will receive a deeper faith, which will result in a life of trust and obedience. Faith doesn't come from information but from deeply dwelling (meditating) and hearing, through affirming out loud the Word of God.
This is what God wants for us. We bring Him honor and glory when we fully live in His redemptive promises and, as a result, fully live out our divine DESTINY. When we know what He has already supplied for us, we become partakers of these precious promises. About this, Peter wrote:
"By His divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know Him, the one who called us to Himself by means of His marvelous glory and excellence. And because of His glory and excellence, He has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share His divine nature and escape the world's corruption caused by human desires(2 Peter 1:24).
This is why we need the spirit of wisdom and revelation to show us all God gave to us through the victory of the cross (see Ephesians 1:17).
"Now we have not received the spirit [that belongs to] the world, but the [Holy] Spirit Who is from God, [given to us] that we might realize and comprehend and appreciate the gifts [of divine favor and blessing so freely and lavishly] bestowed on us by God" (1 Corinthians 2:12 AMP).
But as we behold Him, we are transformed from glory to glory (see 2 Corinthians 3:17,18). As our minds are renewed by the Spirit, our lives are transformed (see Romans 12:2). When our lives are transformed, we begin to think and act differently and we become hungry to understand God's PURPOSE for our life.
As we begin to change, our influence on others and our environment is huge.
PRAYER MEDITATIONS:
The manifestation of the promises of God for your life.
Revelation of His PURPOSE for your life.
That this be a season of joy that brings advancement in the plans of the Lord for you!
"Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him" (1 John 5:14,15).
As we confidently pray according to the promises in the Bible we can expect all the promises of the Lord to be yes and amen in Christ! There are literally thousands of Scripture promises in the Bible that can be applied to our lives.
The Lord is true (see Revelation 3:7), and His promises are sure. When we pray out of the knowledge of His promises, we can pray with expectation for the answer.
WE MUST INTERNALIZE HIS PROMISES
Of course, if we do not know His promises, we will not be able to confidently go before Him in expectant faith to receive the manifestation of His promises. But as we grow in knowledge of His promises in the Word, we will receive a deeper faith, which will result in a life of trust and obedience. Faith doesn't come from information but from deeply dwelling (meditating) and hearing, through affirming out loud the Word of God.
This is what God wants for us. We bring Him honor and glory when we fully live in His redemptive promises and, as a result, fully live out our divine DESTINY. When we know what He has already supplied for us, we become partakers of these precious promises. About this, Peter wrote:
"By His divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know Him, the one who called us to Himself by means of His marvelous glory and excellence. And because of His glory and excellence, He has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share His divine nature and escape the world's corruption caused by human desires(2 Peter 1:24).
This is why we need the spirit of wisdom and revelation to show us all God gave to us through the victory of the cross (see Ephesians 1:17).
"Now we have not received the spirit [that belongs to] the world, but the [Holy] Spirit Who is from God, [given to us] that we might realize and comprehend and appreciate the gifts [of divine favor and blessing so freely and lavishly] bestowed on us by God" (1 Corinthians 2:12 AMP).
But as we behold Him, we are transformed from glory to glory (see 2 Corinthians 3:17,18). As our minds are renewed by the Spirit, our lives are transformed (see Romans 12:2). When our lives are transformed, we begin to think and act differently and we become hungry to understand God's PURPOSE for our life.
As we begin to change, our influence on others and our environment is huge.
PRAYER MEDITATIONS:
The manifestation of the promises of God for your life.
Revelation of His PURPOSE for your life.
That this be a season of joy that brings advancement in the plans of the Lord for you!
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Tessa
Member
I miss taking part in the washing of the feet. A lovely way to express humility and a symbol that we do anything we could for our brothers/sisters in Christ. The first time I witnessed this being done was amazing.
A great reminder to encourage our new brothers and sisters in any way we can.
Scripture Of The Day - TAKING GROUND IN THE SPIRIT
Ephesians 6:10 - "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might."
The fifth place where Jesus shed His blood was where they drove the spikes through His feet, nailing Him to the cross. The bloodshed from His feet also redeemed us from our loss of dominion and authority.
The Greek word "Kratos," relates to God's manifested dominion and therefore our outer strength. Kratos speaks of dominion, power, and strength.
Acts 19:20 - "So the word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing."
The scripture tells us that in the days of the early church, "the word of the Lord grew mightily (Kratos) and prevailed."
When Adam disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden, he lost spiritual dominion and authority, and at that moment, satan became the god of this world. But through Jesus' shed blood, we don't have to be trampled by satan. God said to Joshua "every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you.," (Joshua 1:3)
There is something about taking ground in the spirit--there is something about taking land.
HOW DO WE PROPHESY OVER OTHERS?
We speak the Blood of Jesus over their lives.
We speak health over their lives.
We speak destiny over their lives.
We have been commanded to "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation." (Mark 16:15)
Wherever we go, we're to tell people "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" (Mark 1:15). This would be impossible unless we had the AUTHORITY to take DOMINION of satan's earthly kingdom. Spiritual DOMINION over this earth is ours again because of the shed blood of Jesus Christ, and wherever we are, the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
As believers, we have the authority to walk around our neighborhood and say, "I bind the devil in my neighborhood. I bind the drug addicts and the dope dealers." We can walk through schools and say, "I bind violence, I bind perversion, and I bind New Age teaching," Because every place where we set our foot will be ours. (Deuteronomy 11:24)
When we bind the devil, our next step is to loose the peace of Jesus in our streets--loose the righteousness of Jesus in our cities.
Matthew 18:18 -- "Truly I say to you, whatever you shall bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven: and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven."
QUESTIONS TO ASK MYSELF:
How am I creating an opportunity for God to act through my faith?
What incredible acts of faith am I capable of?
Ephesians 6:10 - "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might."
The fifth place where Jesus shed His blood was where they drove the spikes through His feet, nailing Him to the cross. The bloodshed from His feet also redeemed us from our loss of dominion and authority.
The Greek word "Kratos," relates to God's manifested dominion and therefore our outer strength. Kratos speaks of dominion, power, and strength.
Acts 19:20 - "So the word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing."
The scripture tells us that in the days of the early church, "the word of the Lord grew mightily (Kratos) and prevailed."
When Adam disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden, he lost spiritual dominion and authority, and at that moment, satan became the god of this world. But through Jesus' shed blood, we don't have to be trampled by satan. God said to Joshua "every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you.," (Joshua 1:3)
There is something about taking ground in the spirit--there is something about taking land.
HOW DO WE PROPHESY OVER OTHERS?
We speak the Blood of Jesus over their lives.
We speak health over their lives.
We speak destiny over their lives.
We have been commanded to "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation." (Mark 16:15)
Wherever we go, we're to tell people "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" (Mark 1:15). This would be impossible unless we had the AUTHORITY to take DOMINION of satan's earthly kingdom. Spiritual DOMINION over this earth is ours again because of the shed blood of Jesus Christ, and wherever we are, the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
As believers, we have the authority to walk around our neighborhood and say, "I bind the devil in my neighborhood. I bind the drug addicts and the dope dealers." We can walk through schools and say, "I bind violence, I bind perversion, and I bind New Age teaching," Because every place where we set our foot will be ours. (Deuteronomy 11:24)
When we bind the devil, our next step is to loose the peace of Jesus in our streets--loose the righteousness of Jesus in our cities.
Matthew 18:18 -- "Truly I say to you, whatever you shall bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven: and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven."
QUESTIONS TO ASK MYSELF:
How am I creating an opportunity for God to act through my faith?
What incredible acts of faith am I capable of?
Scripture Of The Day - EXPECTING GOD-EMPOWERED BOLDNESS
"that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, that the Christ may dwell, through faith, in your hearts, being rooted and founded in love, - Ephesians 3:16,17
As believers, we are rooted and grounded in His magnificent love (Ephesians 3:17). We have courage, the depth of which is confidence in the Lord. Today we declare that we will "Trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not unto our own understanding; in all our ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct our path." - Proverbs 3:5,6
Holy perseverance is God-empowered boldness and courage that enables us -- deep within -- to persevere. One way to define perseverance is simply to "stay the course." This is a powerful blessing from the Lord that enables us to believe the impossible is possible. It is a work of the Holy Spirit within that enables us to have strength to stay the course, regardless of present circumstances or situations. This is what the prophet Isaiah wrote about:
"Fear not (there is nothing to fear), for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My (victorious) right hand of rightness and justice...Isaiah 41:10 AMP
In this passage, the Lord promises to be with us, to strengthen us, to keep us, and to hold us in a place of victory. The Hebrew meaning of the word strengthen is "to be strong, alert, courageous, brave, stout, bold, solid, hard."
You can stay the course because of the enabling of the strength of the Lord for you and in you! EXPECT the Holy Spirit to release an even greater strengthening deep within so that you will stand firm for the promises of the Lord for your life and your family.
As you lean into the Lord -- go from strength to strength with deep courage to believe for the impossible to be possible.
"that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, that the Christ may dwell, through faith, in your hearts, being rooted and founded in love, - Ephesians 3:16,17
As believers, we are rooted and grounded in His magnificent love (Ephesians 3:17). We have courage, the depth of which is confidence in the Lord. Today we declare that we will "Trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not unto our own understanding; in all our ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct our path." - Proverbs 3:5,6
Holy perseverance is God-empowered boldness and courage that enables us -- deep within -- to persevere. One way to define perseverance is simply to "stay the course." This is a powerful blessing from the Lord that enables us to believe the impossible is possible. It is a work of the Holy Spirit within that enables us to have strength to stay the course, regardless of present circumstances or situations. This is what the prophet Isaiah wrote about:
"Fear not (there is nothing to fear), for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My (victorious) right hand of rightness and justice...Isaiah 41:10 AMP
In this passage, the Lord promises to be with us, to strengthen us, to keep us, and to hold us in a place of victory. The Hebrew meaning of the word strengthen is "to be strong, alert, courageous, brave, stout, bold, solid, hard."
You can stay the course because of the enabling of the strength of the Lord for you and in you! EXPECT the Holy Spirit to release an even greater strengthening deep within so that you will stand firm for the promises of the Lord for your life and your family.
As you lean into the Lord -- go from strength to strength with deep courage to believe for the impossible to be possible.
Tessa
Member
Wow that is some calling. Much faith is needed to go ahead with that.
Scripture Of The Day - TAKING ACTION ON YOUR VISION
Ephesians 1:3,4 - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. According as he has chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.
Many people who are doing something significant for God in the world are doing it "without their own resources" because God doesn't want us to depend on our own abilities.
Instead, He wants us to be obedient by putting the vision on paper and then looking to Him to generate the funds and other resources that are needed to support His own work.
Your provision, however, is usually hidden until you act on your vision. Whatever you were born to do attracts what you need to do it. Therefore, you first have to establish what you want to do
and begin to do it, before the need can be met.
Most people work in reverse. They want to see the provisions before they start, but faith doesn't work that way. When we take action, then God manifests the provision.
Genesis 22:13,14 - "The Abraham looked up and glanced around, and behold, behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up for a burnt offering and an ascending sacrifice instead of his son! So Abraham called the name of that place The Lord Will Provide."
God already prepared everything you would need before He created you so that you could do what you were born to do. He knew what you needed because He chose you for your vision a long time ago. God tells us we don't have to worry about our provision because He has already blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 1:3,4 - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. According as he has chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.
Many people who are doing something significant for God in the world are doing it "without their own resources" because God doesn't want us to depend on our own abilities.
Instead, He wants us to be obedient by putting the vision on paper and then looking to Him to generate the funds and other resources that are needed to support His own work.
Your provision, however, is usually hidden until you act on your vision. Whatever you were born to do attracts what you need to do it. Therefore, you first have to establish what you want to do
and begin to do it, before the need can be met.Most people work in reverse. They want to see the provisions before they start, but faith doesn't work that way. When we take action, then God manifests the provision.
Genesis 22:13,14 - "The Abraham looked up and glanced around, and behold, behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up for a burnt offering and an ascending sacrifice instead of his son! So Abraham called the name of that place The Lord Will Provide."
God already prepared everything you would need before He created you so that you could do what you were born to do. He knew what you needed because He chose you for your vision a long time ago. God tells us we don't have to worry about our provision because He has already blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.
Scripture Of The Day - EXTREME WORSHIP
Mark 14:3,4 - "Jesus was in the house of Simon the leper, in Bethany; while He was eating, a woman came in with an alabaster jar full of a very expensive perfume, made of pur nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on Jesus' head. Some of the people there became angry, and said to each other, 'What was the use of wasting the perfume? It could have been sold for more than three hundred dollars, and the money given to the poor!' And they criticized her harshly.
But Jesus said, 'Leave her alone!'"
Everyone but Jesus thought it to be excessive and extreme. The only true worship is extreme worship, and only extreme worship brings extreme results -- TRANSFORMATION.
Exodus 8:25 - "Go sacrifice to your God in the land."
Pharaoh responded to Moses' request to let the Israelites go worship by giving him permission but only if they stayed and worshiped in Egypt.
The devil doesn't mind our worshiping God if it doesn't require change.
True worship and the freedom it brings requires the dedication of our entire lives to God. An offer that tries to convince us otherwise is a false one. If we try to keep worship ("in the land" -- in other words with requirements and stipulations) of the devil's domain, we give him legal access to influence and spoil our efforts.
Affirmations:
I REALIZE THAT BROKENESS HELPS ME DIE TO MYSELF AND MY INHIBITIONS.
I ALLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT TO BREAK MY HEART, HIS WAY, SO I CAN RELEASE TRUE FRAGRANT WORSHIP TO GOD.
EXTRAVAGANT WORSHIP IS MY LIFESTYLE.
Mark 14:3,4 - "Jesus was in the house of Simon the leper, in Bethany; while He was eating, a woman came in with an alabaster jar full of a very expensive perfume, made of pur nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on Jesus' head. Some of the people there became angry, and said to each other, 'What was the use of wasting the perfume? It could have been sold for more than three hundred dollars, and the money given to the poor!' And they criticized her harshly.
But Jesus said, 'Leave her alone!'"
Everyone but Jesus thought it to be excessive and extreme. The only true worship is extreme worship, and only extreme worship brings extreme results -- TRANSFORMATION.
Exodus 8:25 - "Go sacrifice to your God in the land."
Pharaoh responded to Moses' request to let the Israelites go worship by giving him permission but only if they stayed and worshiped in Egypt.
The devil doesn't mind our worshiping God if it doesn't require change.
True worship and the freedom it brings requires the dedication of our entire lives to God. An offer that tries to convince us otherwise is a false one. If we try to keep worship ("in the land" -- in other words with requirements and stipulations) of the devil's domain, we give him legal access to influence and spoil our efforts.
Affirmations:
I REALIZE THAT BROKENESS HELPS ME DIE TO MYSELF AND MY INHIBITIONS.
I ALLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT TO BREAK MY HEART, HIS WAY, SO I CAN RELEASE TRUE FRAGRANT WORSHIP TO GOD.
EXTRAVAGANT WORSHIP IS MY LIFESTYLE.
Scripture Of The Day - SUFFERING
"Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness...for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." - Matthew 5:10
Outwardly when we are persecuted or suffer abuse - inwardly we experience "heaven" as God deals mightily with our soul, breaking its addiction to man's approval and liberating us to truly live for Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 - "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."
The Scripture instructs us to give thanks IN all things, not FOR all things. When tragedy or calamity strikes we are not to thank God for them. He is not the author. He's the One who provides our way out from them, and that's what we thank Him for.
VISION OF GOD'S PURPOSE FOR OUR LIFE
Proverbs 29:18 - "Where there is no vision, the people perish."
Vision makes suffering and disappointment bearable. Vision generates hope in the midst of despair and provides endurance in tribulation. Vision inspires the depressed and motivates the discouraged. Without vision, life would be a study in cyclic frustration within a whirlwind of despair. Vision is the foundation of courage and the fuel of persistence.
SICKNESS AND DISEASE ARE NOT THE INHERITANCE OF THE REDEEMED
Philippians 3:10 - "That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings,"
An incorrect view of suffering has allowed the "Trojan Horse" of disease to come in through the gates of the community of the redeemed. The sufferings of Jesus were realized in the persecution He endured and in the burden He carried for people. He did not suffer with the disease. That must be removed from our idea of Christian suffering.
"Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness...for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." - Matthew 5:10
Outwardly when we are persecuted or suffer abuse - inwardly we experience "heaven" as God deals mightily with our soul, breaking its addiction to man's approval and liberating us to truly live for Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 - "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."
The Scripture instructs us to give thanks IN all things, not FOR all things. When tragedy or calamity strikes we are not to thank God for them. He is not the author. He's the One who provides our way out from them, and that's what we thank Him for.
VISION OF GOD'S PURPOSE FOR OUR LIFE
Proverbs 29:18 - "Where there is no vision, the people perish."
Vision makes suffering and disappointment bearable. Vision generates hope in the midst of despair and provides endurance in tribulation. Vision inspires the depressed and motivates the discouraged. Without vision, life would be a study in cyclic frustration within a whirlwind of despair. Vision is the foundation of courage and the fuel of persistence.
SICKNESS AND DISEASE ARE NOT THE INHERITANCE OF THE REDEEMED
Philippians 3:10 - "That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings,"
An incorrect view of suffering has allowed the "Trojan Horse" of disease to come in through the gates of the community of the redeemed. The sufferings of Jesus were realized in the persecution He endured and in the burden He carried for people. He did not suffer with the disease. That must be removed from our idea of Christian suffering.
Scripture Of The Day - FACING OUR NEED FOR GRACE
Matthew 6:13 - "And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."
There is no temptation or sin in heaven. This prayer does not imply that God wants to tempt us.
We know from James 1:13 that it is impossible for God to entice us to sin. This kind of praying is important because it requires us to face our need for grace. It helps us to align our heart with heaven -- one of absolute dependency on God.
The phrase "deliver us from evil", as it is traditionally rendered, actually means, "deliver us from the evil one." A heart modeled after heaven has great success in spiritual warfare. Jesus was able to say, "satan has nothing in me." The believer is to be completely free from all satanic influence and attachments. That is the cry voiced in this prayer.
James 4:7 - "So be subject to God. Resist the devil (stand firm against him), and he will flee from you."
John 8:32 - "If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples. And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free."
Some have thought being nice was of the same essence as knowing the truth.
It is not.
We can thank our parents that we are nice but, if we would know the truth, we must seek God and be willing to obey Him.
Matthew 6:13 - "And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."
There is no temptation or sin in heaven. This prayer does not imply that God wants to tempt us.
We know from James 1:13 that it is impossible for God to entice us to sin. This kind of praying is important because it requires us to face our need for grace. It helps us to align our heart with heaven -- one of absolute dependency on God.
The phrase "deliver us from evil", as it is traditionally rendered, actually means, "deliver us from the evil one." A heart modeled after heaven has great success in spiritual warfare. Jesus was able to say, "satan has nothing in me." The believer is to be completely free from all satanic influence and attachments. That is the cry voiced in this prayer.
James 4:7 - "So be subject to God. Resist the devil (stand firm against him), and he will flee from you."
John 8:32 - "If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples. And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free."
Some have thought being nice was of the same essence as knowing the truth.
It is not.
We can thank our parents that we are nice but, if we would know the truth, we must seek God and be willing to obey Him.