Your Word for Today

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Your Word for Today

“for the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart. Gilead abode beyond Jordan: and why did Dan remain in ships? Asher continued on the sea shore and abode in his breaches. Zebulun and Naphtali were a people who jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field (Judg. 5:16-18).

The Holy Spirit here pinpoints the response of some of the Tribes of Israel, as it regards the great battle fought with Sisera and the ensuing victory. We should be careful to note that the Lord catalogs every single thing that we as Believers do.

The Holy Spirit said that the Tribe of Reuben had divisions in their ranks, and, as such, they did not respond to the battle. They stayed “beyond Jordan.”

With the Tribe of “Dan,” it was business as usual. They did not respond either!

The Tribe of Asher, so to speak, was up a creek; consequently, they did not respond!

To contrary, the Tribes of “Zebulun” and “Naphtali” gave their all, even jeoparding their lives in this fight against the enemies of the Lord.

As well, “Ephraim,” “Benjamin,” and “Issachar” responded favorably, and were noted as such.

And then the Spirit of the Lord through Deborah said, “Curse ye Meroz (a town), said the Angel of the LORD, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty” (Judg. 5:23).

All of this tells us that the conduct of the Tribes is contrasted. First, reference is made to the fact that only a minority of the Chiefs and of the people volunteered for the enterprise; but that did not discourage Deborah, for Jehovah “came down” for her against the mighty.

Faith will always gain the victory!”

—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart

 

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Your Word for Today

“and there came an Angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites. And the Angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, the LORD is with you, thou mighty man of valour (Judg. 6:11-12).

Israel now finds herself again under the jack-booted heel of the oppressor, all because of sin. These were God’s People, and, therefore, were to be the mightiest on Earth; however, irrespective as to who the person or persons might be, sin will make slaves of those who engage its wares.

When the Lord appeared to Gideon, He referred to him as a “mighty man of valor.” What is He saying about me? About you?

Gideon was strong because he knew himself to be weak, and because he believed Jehovah to be mighty; the misery that he was in because of the Midianites caused him to lift his heart to God instead of accepting, as others did, the tyranny of the oppressor.

In response to the great visitation of Jehovah to Gideon, the Scripture says, “Then Gideon built an Altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovah-Shalom,” which means “the God of Peace.” The “peace” to which he now refers has a twofold meaning:

First of all, it refers to peace with God. Gideon’s victory with the Lord manifested itself in him destroying the idols in his own home. Public victories cannot be won in the absence of private victories. With sin removed, and done so by virtue of the slain lamb, all which typified Christ, peace is now restored.

Peace restored in the spiritual guarantees peace in every other capacity. In other words, the Lord would have Gideon destroy the oppressor, which he did. All victory is found in the Cross of Christ, and no victory is found outside of the Cross of Christ.”

—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart

 

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Your Word for Today

“and the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men who lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into your hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place (Judg. 7:7).

An Israelite had a dream in which he saw a barley cake, which is the poorest of all bread, tumble into the host of Midian; it “came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay along” (Judg. 7:13).

In gathering the army that was to fight the Midianites, in accordance with Deuteronomy 20:8, the cowardly were given the option of returning home, and 22,000 did so. A further test dismissed 9,700 men. By laying their swords aside, and going down with deliberation on their knees to drink, they showed that they were concerned about their own needs and comforts. On the other hand, the 300 showed by their action that God and the fortunes of His Kingdom had the first place in their hearts; they would not let even the necessary needs hinder them in getting to the work.

So the Lord would save Israel by defeating, with only three hundred men, the vast army of the Midianites. But these were three hundred faith men.

God, Who knows the heart, planned so that Israel could not say, “My own hand has saved me.” Man always wants to have a hand in his own Salvation; but listen to the song:

“Nothing, either great or small,
“Nothing, sinner, no,
“Jesus did it all,
“Long, long ago!”

—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart

 

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Bread Crumbs “The Glorious Cross” March 17

Someone once asked, “Can we make too much of the Cross?” I really do not know how that could be possible! Most believers are guilty of just the opposite, not recognizing the magnificent simplicity and power that went on display when Christ died at Calvary. By the one sacrifice of Christ, every human being who would ever live has had all their sins paid for. It was at Calvary that the power of sin’s grip over the human heart was defeated. At Calvary, Jesus defeated forever the adversary of humanity, Satan. It was at Golgotha that every power of darkness met its match. It was the results of Calvary that allowed Jesus to rise from the dead and guaranteed the resurrection for every believer. With sin vanquished there was no grip of death that could detain Christ in the grave. Oh what a mighty victory Jesus won through the shedding of His precious blood. Without the cross, there would be no savior, there would be no salvation, there would be no victory, and there would be no hope. But because of the cross, all who will believe can be victorious in Christ for all eternity! Glory be to God!

1 Corinthians 1:18 - For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

Pastor Loren Larson
Loren Larson Ministries

 

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The Miracle of God’s Word

Philippians 2:3
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Very important! When anything is being done through strife or vainglory, which is for our own glory instead of for the glory of the Lord, will have no rewards that come with it. Anything done through strife is something done “In the flesh”, and influenced by the evil one himself. Where there is envy and strife, there is confusion and EVERY EVIL WORK (James 3:16). Never forget that God deals with us based on what our hearts are saying, and not what our lips are expressing (Matthew 15:8, James 4:2-3).

We are called to walk in ‘LOWLINESS OF MIND’, which is where others are esteemed better than ourselves. This is the very fruit of Calvary, and cannot take place properly if one’s faith is not securely in Christ and His work at the cross. Do not be deceived in these last days, as it is NOT just Christ, but Christ and Him crucified, for there we will find His humility. Humility is being others centered while Pride is self centered. We all need a “High Christ Esteem” today and NOT a “High Self Esteem.” Faith in the cross again today gains us Christ and His very expression in this world! Carry the cross again today and see the beauty of His holiness, and the glory of our God!

Seeking God in His Word and experiencing Him through faith in the sacrifice of Christ!

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3/17/2020

Pastor Curtis

 

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Your Word for Today

“and the Children of Israel said unto the LORD, We have sinned: do Thou unto us whatsoever seems good unto You; deliver us only, we pray You, this day. And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the LORD: and His soul was grieved for the misery of Israel (Judg. 10:15-16).

Israel now finds herself, because of sin, again oppressed by the enemy, and severely so! The Philistines on the west and the Ammonites on the east “vexed and oppressed them.” These words may be translated “broke and crushed them.” In earlier days when serving one false god, they were oppressed but on one side. But now, serving a multitude of idols, they are oppressed on both sides.

Sin has no stopping point, ever taking the person deeper into its clutches. Its aim is total destruction!

But there was sufficient energy of life in Israel to bring out the cry of confession. To be conscious of misery is a sign of life. Because of the deceitfulness of the heart, and because of the deceitfulness of sin, bondage is accepted after a slight struggle; then, after a time, the slave becomes unconscious of the slavery.

The confession, “We have sinned against You,” showed true Repentance, for it showed a sense of injury done to God, not merely sorrow because of the miseries that lay upon themselves. Remorse is not repentance — mental distress because of the painful results of sin is not repentance; but a sense of the grief and dishonor occasioned to God and sorrow because He has been sinned against — that is Repentance.

David and Simon Magus illustrate true and false repentance. The one cried out, “I have sinned against the LORD.” His first thought was God and His Glory. The other said, “Pray for me that none of these things come upon me.” His first thought was himself and how to secure exemption from punishment (Ps. 51; Acts 8:24).

True Repentance demands that the Believer repent not only of the bad that has been done, but the good as well. To be sure, it is a struggle of the flesh to repent of the good. The “good” is our crutch, our bargaining power with God; however, we must come to the place that we utterly realize that we have no bargaining power with God. Our only hope is to throw ourselves on His Mercy and Grace, confessing the evil and repenting of the good, i.e., “dependence on good things.” We must know that our only hope is Christ and what He has done for us at the Cross. Faith in that Finished Work always brings spiritual relief (Gal. 6:14).”

—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart

 

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Your Word for Today

“then three thousand men of Judah went to the top of the rock Etam, and said to Samson, Knowest thou not that the Philistines are rulers over us? What is this that you have done to us? And he said unto them, As they did unto me, so have I done unto them. And they said unto him, We are come down to bind you, that we may deliver you into the hand of the Philistines. And Samson said unto them, Swear unto me, that you will not fall upon me yourselves (Judg. 15:11-12).

The opposition of the world is bitter to the Believer, but the opposition of the Church is more bitter. The men of Judah said to Samson: “Do you not know that the Philistines rule over us?” They wished to live in peace under that government of tyranny; and they did not wish to have in their midst a Nazarite who would disturb that peace and excite the world against them. Samson’s own people were quite ready to hand him over to a cruel death in order to maintain that peace, so-called! This condition of spiritual degradation marks, and has marked, the history of the Christian Church.

But just as the lion had no strength against Samson, so the Philistine had no strength against him. In this, Samson is a Type of Christ, Who destroyed him who had the power of death, that is, the Devil; and thus food and sweetness are brought out of death, as the honey out of the conquered lion.

God’s victories are usually won with despised instruments. In fact, the most feeble instrument is destruction to the enemy if God be behind it! Many presently ridicule Samson; and this is, in no way, meant to place a seal of approval upon his wrong direction; however, had he the help of his own people instead of their opposition, things may have been different.

At any rate, we must never forget that, despite Samson’s failures, one great victory shines greater than all, and I speak of his faith. The Holy Spirit listed him in the great hall of faith, placing him in the same category as David and Samuel (Heb. 11:32). Ultimately, Samson was an overcomer, for the Scripture says, “This is the Victory that overcomes the world, even our Faith” (I Jn. 5:4).”

—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart

 

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THIS GIANT SHALL FALL AS WE LOOK TO THE CROSS

 

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Your Word for Today

“and Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave you, or to return from following after you: for where you go, I will go: and where you lodge, I will lodge: your people shall be my people, and your God my God: Where you die, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part you and me (Ruth 1:16-17).

The example of Ruth is the example of true Salvation. Millions who have never been Born-Again presently clog the Churches. Sinners are saved, not so much by their acceptance of Christ, but by God’s acceptance of Christ on their behalf; but sinners must accept the Saviour in order to profit by the Divine acceptance of His Person and Work (Jn. 1:12).

Naomi is on her way back to Bethlehem. To accept Jehovah, Ruth must leave Moab, just as the sinner, spiritually speaking, must leave the world. Ruth was willing to do that! Not only did she tell Naomi that she would leave Moab, but even more so, “Where you go, I will go.” Now we have full consecration. Not only will she leave Moab, never to go back again, but wherever Naomi leads, i.e., “wherever Christ leads,” I will go.

And then, “Where you lodge, I will lodge.” In other words, your place of Ministry will be my place of Ministry, and whatever that might be. Furthermore, Ruth will no longer identify with the Moabite people, but rather with the people of God, accepting them as her people, and Israel’s God as her God.

This commitment was for time and eternity. “Where you die, will I die, and there will I be buried.” In other words, this was not a momentary decision of emotionalism. It was a decision for time and eternity, i.e., acceptance of the Lord of Glory, which means that she had to turn her back on her family, her land, her country, and all that she had once known. And so it is with those who follow Christ!

The consecration of Ruth is a perfect example. Her reward would be of far greater magnitude than she could ever even begin to ask or think. This Gentile girl, this cursed Moabitess, due to her faith, would find herself in the lineage of the Coming Messiah. Nothing could be greater than that (Mat. 1:5).”

—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart

 

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Your Word for Today

“then Naomi her mother-in-law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you? Wash yourself, therefore, and anoint you, and put your raiment upon you, and get thee down to the floor: but make not yourself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking (Ruth 3:1, 3).

Ruth forsook her people and her native land for her trust under the wing of Jehovah the God of Israel, and when, as a gleaner, she sought her daily bread from the Hand of that Gracious God Who had made this provision for the widow and stranger (Lev. 19:9), she little thought that she was to find a bridegroom among the great Princes of Judah.

Such is the experience of everyone who turns the back upon the best the world can offer, seeking spiritual daily bread in Christ and in the fellowship of His “field” and “servants.” These little conceive the measure of the Grace of Him Who “takes knowledge of them,” Who “lets fall handfuls on purpose for them,” and Who reaches out the choicest dainties for them that they may eat.

Boaz, in his instructions to the reapers, directed them to give Ruth greater liberty than that commanded by the Law, that is, Boaz gave her far more than she could eat. Naomi’s advice to Ruth was wise and astute. She pointed out that Boaz was a redeemer; that, as such, he had the right to redeem their property, which, through poverty, they had lost; that such a redemption involved a marriage with Ruth. So, Naomi, who now serves as a Type of the Holy Spirit, gives Ruth instructions as to how this is to be brought about.

This is what she said:

“Shall I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you?” We must ever understand that the Lord seeks our best; through Him, and Him Alone, can we have that best!

“Wash yourself therefore”: This speaks of the sinner coming to Christ, who is then singularly washed (I Cor. 6:11).

“Put new raiment upon you”: Upon coming to Christ and being washed (which speaks of Sanctification), the sinner is made clean; he can now put on the robe of righteousness; however, it is imputed righteousness, meaning that we, within ourselves, have none; so Christ must give us His Righteousness, which He does.

“Get you down to the floor”: This speaks of humility, without which the person can find neither Christ nor the Will of God for one’s life.

“But make not yourself known unto the man”: In other words, let God make plans for you, which He definitely will bless. All too often, Believers try to make the plans themselves and then ask God to bless them, which He never will do. He only blesses that which He plans!

So here we have Sanctification, Justification, and humility, which is what the Holy Spirit intends.

The culmination of this was the marriage of Ruth to Boaz. In order for this to happen, Boaz had to purchase Ruth from a kinsman who had a prior claim, but who declared that he could not redeem her. The Law has a prior claim to sinners, but it cannot redeem them. Christ, the Divine Kinsman, became Man in order to redeem. It cost Boaz nothing to redeem Ruth, beyond the setting aside of himself and his own interest, but it cost Christ everything to redeem sinners.

Thus, Ruth, a “wild olive tree,” was grafted into, and became a partaker of, “the root and fatness of the olive tree,” i.e., Israel; thus, she typifies the Gentile Church.”

—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart

 

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Your Word for Today

“and ere the Lamp of God went out in the Temple of the LORD, where the Ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep (I Sam. 3:3).

I Samuel 3:1 says “The Word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.” This means there was a scarcity of the Word of the Lord in Israel of that day. The nation and its people were in serious straits, which always is the case when the Word of the Lord is scarce.

There have never been more Churches in America than at the present time; however, there has never been less true Word of the Lord preached at any time since the Reformation than now!

Eli, the High Priest, was not only physically blind, but spiritually blind, as well. Consequently, Israel had no spiritual leadership. How so much that mirrors the present!

Then the Scripture says, “And ere the Lamp of God went out in the Temple of the LORD,” which proclaims the Golden Lampstand, which sat in the Holy Place, giving light so that the Priests could see to minister. Regrettably, it is unattended, which means the oil has not been replenished. Is the “Lamp” going out in the modern Church?

The phrase, “Where the Ark of God was,” proclaimed the Holy of Holies, and typified the Throne of God. In other words, access to the Throne was being seriously curtailed. But then God spoke. It was at this dark moment that He chose to reveal Himself; yet not to some influential personage, but to a little boy!

Many people say that it is wrong to speak to a child about the Wrath of God; however, this belief shows how even religious teachers are fallen from God’s moral likeness. For His first Message to little Samuel was an appalling one!

Regrettably, if the modern Church doesn’t like the messenger, they reject the Message.

However, let it ever be understood:

It is God Who chooses the messenger, and not man. Those whom man chooses are not accepted by God; sadly, those whom God chooses, it seems, are little accepted by man. Nevertheless, the Word of God holds true, irrespective as to the messenger.

Jesus did not meet with the approval of Israel, so they rejected Him. In rejecting Him, they rejected His Message, which was the only Message of Life.

Listen to the Message! If it’s not the Message of the Cross, then it’s not the Message of the Lord, for the entirety of the Tabernacle and all of its furnishings typified Christ and the Cross.”

—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart

 

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Your Word for Today

“so the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD of Hosts, which dwells between the Cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the Ark of the Covenant of God (I Sam. 4:4).

I Samuel, Chapter 4, is a dark and foreboding Chapter. It speaks of a nation, the only nation in the world, in fact, where Jehovah ruled, or rather was supposed to rule, but now finds itself in serious spiritual straits. Eli was physically blind, the Elders were spiritually blind, and the people were grossly superstitious.

A short time before, God had revealed Himself to the little boy Samuel. Whenever God reveals Himself, the hostility of the enemy is aroused. Directly God revealed Himself in Shiloh, the Philistine revealed himself in Aphek.

Verse 1 of this Chapter proclaims, by the Holy Spirit, the fact that the Israelites “pitched beside Ebenezer.” This area, however, was not even named “Ebenezer” until some 20 years later (I Sam. 7:12). This is by design. On that day of defeat, faith looked forward to the future day of victory, and set up, on the stricken field, the “Stone of Help,” which the word “Ebenezer” means.

This fact should be full of comfort at this present time, since the moral condition of the modern Church so closely resembles that of the Hebrew Church of that day.

Instead of Israel disobeying the Bible, violating the Most Holy Place, and fetching the Ark of God to themselves, they should rather have taken themselves to the Ark of God, i.e., the Throne of God, and, at the Door of the Tabernacle of the congregation, confessed their sins, broken their idols, and thus returned to God. Then victory would have been the sure result.

As it was, Hophni and Phinehas boldly intruded into the Most Holy Place, into which none were permitted to enter except the High Priest, and that but once a year, and not without blood (Heb. 9:7). They treated the Ark of God like some type of magic talisman, thinking its presence, irrespective of their lack of faith and their sinful lives, would bring victory.

Is the modern Church at present any better?

The further the heart departs from God and His Word, the greater is the importance attached to symbols and ceremonies. Likewise, I might quickly add, it is attached to schemes and efforts devised by men, which claim to be Revelations from the Lord, but are, in fact, anything but!

Attending Church and being religious afford nothing with the Lord. There must be a personal experience, and such an experience can only be gained by Faith in Christ and what Christ has done for us at the Cross. Then, and then alone, will the Holy Spirit work mightily within our lives, because our Faith now has, as its correct Object, the Cross of Christ (I Cor. 1:17-18, 23; 2:2; Gal. 6:14).”

—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart

 

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Your Word for Today

“and the Ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain (I Sam. 4:11).

Israel is now in serious straits, because its spiritual leadership is woefully lacking. The Philistines attack, for Satan sees his opportunity. Israel is defeated, with some 4,000 men dying on that fateful day.

As the people of God retreat in order to stem the tide of defeat, they think, “Let us fetch the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it comes among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.”

They were to find that the Ark of God, without the Presence of God, was no more than a piece of furniture; consequently, it contained no power within itself; therefore, the end result would not be what they had hoped, but rather the very opposite.

I’m afraid the modern Church is all too often reduced to the same spectacle as Israel of old, i.e., rituals and ceremonies have taken the place of the Spirit of God.

As with Israel of old, Satan, of which the Philistines were a type, will play havoc with Believers. As Israel of old, the modern Church has its ornaments; it has become, again as Israel, very adept at shouting (I Sam. 4:5-6); however, their “shouting” was no more than racket in the ears of God, and likewise, Satan. The results were awful:

1. Thirty thousand of the soldiers of Israel were killed in the battle. Coupling that with the 4,000 previously killed constituted 34,000 men dying in that one conflict.

2. The Ark of God was taken by the Philistines.

3. The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were killed.

When Eli, who was the Great High Priest, heard that the Ark of God has been taken by the Philistines, the Scripture says, “he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck broke, and he died” (I Sam. 4:18).

Along with being High Priest, Eli also served as the Judge of Israel, a role he filled for some 40 years. Had he judged in fellowship with God and in obedience to the Scriptures, the disasters that befell on the day of his death would never have happened; and yet, in his death, he showed that the interests of God’s Kingdom had a true place in his heart.

Israel, when confronted by the enemy, tried to use a symbol in place of the Substance. The modern Church does the same when it places its faith in things other than the Cross.”

—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart

 

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Your Word for Today

“and Samuel spoke unto all the House of Israel, saying, If you do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve Him only: and He will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines (I Sam. 7:3).

Now commences the spiritual leadership of the Prophet Samuel, actually the first man to fill that office, even though there were Prophets before him. Consequently, this Chapter is like a beam of sunshine upon a dark and cloudy day. It records a great revival. This revival was doubtless the result of Samuel’s faithful preaching.

His preaching, doctrinally, was reconciliation to God by the Death of His Son (I Sam. 7:9; Rom. 5:10), and, ethically, a turning to God from all idols to serve the Living and the True God. In fact, Israel had not ceased to worship Jehovah, but she had associated other gods with Him. This has ever been Satan’s object as an angel of light; and, accordingly, multitudes presently worship Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary, actually giving her a higher form of worship even than Him.

But God will not accept such worship, nor the association of other gods with Himself, for He said (Ex. 20:3): “You shall have no other gods together with Me.”

God’s true Servants always preach as Samuel preached. They arouse people to a consciousness of their sinful condition before God; they set forth the Lamb of God evidently crucified among them (Gal. 3:1), as the Divine Way of pardon and Righteousness; and they denounce all compromise with evil.

The Holy Spirit through the Prophet demanded four things of Israel. In fact, the Lord demands no less presently. These four things are:

1. Altercation: “Return unto the LORD with all your hearts.”

2. Separation: “Then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you.”

3. Preparation: “Prepare your hearts unto the LORD.”

4. Designation: “Serve the LORD only.”

On that basis, which looks to the Cross, we will emphasize in tomorrow’s devotion, the Lord has promised to deliver. If there is no deliverance, this means we are failing in that which the Lord has said to do.”

—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart

 

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Your Word for Today

“and Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a Burnt Offering wholly unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him (I Sam. 7:9).

The Holy Spirit has Samuel now to do two things, which must be a lesson to us, as well.

At the sign of the Revival registered in yesterday’s devotion, Satan once again comes against Israel. The Evil One will always test our faith, and, in fact, the Lord allows him to do such, but only up to a point. In response to the Evil One, symbolized by the Philistines coming against Israel, the Lord told His People to do two things:

They were to “draw water and pour it out before the LORD” (I Sam. 7:6). They also were to “fast” that day and admit that they had “sinned against the LORD.”

The “pouring out of water on the ground” symbolizes two things:

First of all, “water” symbolizes the Holy Spirit.

Second, the pouring out of the water on the ground symbolizes our utter helplessness (II Sam. 14:14). In fact, the Holy Spirit cannot help us until we realize and come to the place of utter helplessness. Otherwise, we will depend on the flesh, i.e., “self.”

That’s why Jesus said that if we were to follow Him, we must first of all “deny ourselves” (Lk. 9:23).

Coming to the position of helplessness, Samuel was then told to take a “sucking lamb, and offer it for a Burnt Offering wholly unto the LORD” (I Sam. 7:9). This is the reason that we said, a couple of devotions ago, that the preaching of Samuel was based on reconciliation to God by the death of His Son, of which the offering up of this lamb was a Type.

The Cross, and the Cross alone, is the place of victory for the Child of God. It was there that Jesus defeated Satan and all his minions of darkness; He did so by atoning for all sin (Col. 2:14-15).

If the Christian attempts to bring about victory in any way other than Faith in Christ and the Cross, such a Christian is doomed to failure (Rom. 6:3-14).”

—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart

 

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https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=994287684300175

Donnie Swaggart

 

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Your Word for Today

“be glad then, you Children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for He has given you the former rain moderately, and He will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month (Joel 2:23).

The terms “former rain” and “latter rain” have a spiritual meaning regarding the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

The “former rain” speaks of the outpouring of the Spirit from the Day of Pentecost through the time of the Early Church, and then some beyond that. Regrettably, the Early Church went into apostasy, with the Catholic Church coming out of that apostasy.

The Reformation took place early in the Sixteenth Century, and completely revolutionized the Church, as the great Message of “Justification by Faith” once again began to be preached. During a period of several centuries, very few people were baptized with the Holy Spirit; in fact, very few people were saved. The Gospel was successfully cut off from the people, which plunged the world into what is referred to as the “Dark Ages.” During that time, the Catholic Church was supreme; during that time untold thousands were tortured to death because they refused to give allegiance to the Pope.

But at the Reformation, things began to change. At approximately the turn of the Twentieth Century, the “latter rain” outpouring took place, and continues to this hour. From that time unto the present, millions have been baptized with the Holy Spirit, with the evidence of speaking with other tongues. I have been blessed by the Lord to be a part of this great “latter rain” outpouring.

In 1968, the Lord moved upon my heart to begin a Radio Ministry, which actually began, if I remember correctly, on January 1, 1969. It was a fifteen minute program aired Monday through Friday, which we called “The Campmeeting Hour.” In a short time, we were on approximately 600 stations daily.

Almost at the beginning of the Radio Ministry, the Lord began to lay it on my heart to teach on the Holy Spirit, which we tried our best to obey. At any rate, the Lord used our Radio Ministry to stir the hearts of untold thousands toward the Holy Spirit. These were Baptists, Methodists, Catholics, Presbyterians, etc.

The Lord also instructed me to set aside at least one Service in our Meetings, which were being conducted all over the United States and other parts of the world, for people to be baptized with the Holy Spirit. He even told me that, if we would be faithful, He would baptize 1,000 people with the Holy Spirit in one Service.

The Lord did exactly what He had promised. We saw tens of thousands baptized with the Holy Spirit, with the evidence of speaking with other tongues. It was in the Meeting in New York City, at Madison Square Garden, where the Lord did that which He told He would do, regarding 1,000 being baptized in one Service.

That Sunday afternoon we saw many people brought to Christ. And then when I gave the call for people to be baptized with the Spirit, hundreds and hundreds began to come forward. In fact, the line reached down each aisle all the way to the back.

I knew there had been a mighty moving of the Spirit and that many, many hundreds had been filled with the Spirit, but I had not bothered to think about the exact number. The exact number, in fact, really didn’t matter.

It was the next day that the Lord spoke to my heart, informing me that over 1,000 people had been baptized with the Spirit in that Service. He fulfilled exactly what He told me He would do.

At this present time, nearly 20 years after that occasion, even as I dictate these notes, the Church desperately needs an outpouring of power from on high (Acts 2:1-4).”

—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart

 

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Your Word for Today

“then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabesh-Gilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve you. And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel (I Sam. 11:1-2).

We find here that Saul began well, but he did not conclude that way. I Samuel 12:12 states that it was anxiety because of the threatened Ammonite invasion that influenced the people to demand a king. Their conduct illustrates the unbelief and rebellion of man’s heart. They would rather lean upon a king whom they could see, and who was mortal, than upon a King unseen and Almighty. When God did give them such a king as they desired, they despised him (I Sam. 10:27).

When Satan, symbolized by Nahash the Ammonite, invaded Israel, the first reaction of God’s People was to yield to the enemy, and, in fact, to serve him. Such characterizes far too many in the modern Church. They have made a covenant with Satan, which means they have compromised the Word of God, which means they have become slaves to the Evil One. Satan’s demands are always more than one can afford to pay. There can be no covenant made with Satan, not in any form or fashion.

As stated, the demands of the Evil One were harsh. He demanded that every fighting man in Israel put out his right eye.

Why the right eye?

The shield, as held by the soldier of those days, covered the body, the shoulders, and the face, except for the right eye. With his right eye, the soldier would look over the top of the shield, thereby seeing how to fight the enemy. If that eye is blinded, he could not see to fight; he was, therefore, rendered useless. This is why Nahash demanded the blindness of the right eye. If it is to be noticed, the modern Church accepts false doctrine readily, plus most anything else that Satan has to offer.

The reason?

It has made a covenant with the Evil One, and the price is the blindness of the right eye, spiritually speaking; now they cannot see what is right or what is wrong. As stated, no covenant can be made with Satan — not of any nature.

And let it be understood:

If we make anything the object of our faith other than Christ and His Cross, we are, in effect, whether we realize it or not, making a covenant with Satan.”

—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart

 

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Your Word for Today

“and Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few (I Sam. 14:6).

It is instructive to contrast Jonathan with his father, Saul. Jonathan acted in the energy of faith; Saul, in the energy of the flesh.

And we must ever understand:

That which seeks its strength in the wisdom and energy of man can never go beyond from which it springs. Hence the moral and inward movements of faith are wholly unknown to it.

But that which energized the heart of Jonathan was the Divine Gift of Faith; because Divine, it was victorious over the world, despite the universal ruin which met Jonathan’s eye on every side. For that which is born of God overcomes the world (I Jn. 5:4).

Thus Jonathan here stands as an animating figure for the servants of God today. Saul represents Christendom as officially the visible Kingdom of God upon Earth, but corrupted and enslaved. Yet, within this broken Kingdom it is still possible for faith to win her victories, as Jonathan won his.

But whenever faith acts, the world opposes; hence the Philistines are found quickly encamped at Michmash. Satan, who knows and dreads the power of faith, brought up his agents as the sand which is on the seashore in multitude. All that Israel could do was to hide themselves in holes, pits, thickets, and rocks.

However, in the midst of this terrible position in which the people of God now find themselves, faith on the part of Jonathan begins to shine. And wherever faith is found, God displays His Strength.

Faith never lessens nor creates difficulties. Her path is open, very narrow, and made difficult by sharp rocks on either hand. But these are not difficulties for God! Jonathan did not think of himself; and his words to his armorbearer do not express doubt as to God’s ability to overcome them, but assurance. Faith’s fair flower looks never so fair as when blooming in such a rocky and savage defile beset with enemies, such as is pictured here.

Jonathan’s faith was based upon God and His covenanted relationship to His People Israel. He did not say, “Jehovah has delivered them into my hand,” but, “into the hand of Israel.” He was to be nothing — the God of Israel was to be everything.

It is quite true that Israel at this time was a moral ruin; but faith forgets, or nullifies, circumstances and builds upon Divine Promises. This characterizes faith. Though broken and sinful, yet was God with, and for, His People; not with, and for, the circumcised Philistines.

Faith’s great passion ever is that God should manifest Himself; as well, Faith always realizes that numbers, whether little or large, have no relationship to God. As Jonathan said, “For there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.” So the Lord that very day, through the Faith of Jonathan, brought about a great victory for Israel. Despite the present condition of the modern Church, a condition which is not good, still the Lord is looking for modern Jonathans who will exercise faith, daring to believe Him for great things, and who will not touch the glory, but will give it all to God!”

—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart

 

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Your Word for Today

“but Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but everything that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly (I Sam. 15:9).

The Amalekites, as proclaimed in this Fifteenth Chapter of I Samuel, represent the flesh. Some 500 years before, when Israel was in the wilderness, having just come out of Egypt, the Amalekites attacked the People of God. At that time, the Lord said that He would “have war with Amalek from generation to generation” (Ex. 17:8, 16). As stated, Amalek represents the flesh.

Saul was given instructions to totally destroy Amalek. He said, “Utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but kill both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass” (I Sam. 15:3).

Such instructions may seem to be harsh to most. Yet we must remember that God had given Amalek some 500 years respite for repentance — but in vain. That nation, like the southern nations of Canaan, resisted every Divine impulse; they finally became so corrupt that, in the interest of humanity, love decreed its absolute extinction. In other words, God was forced to perform major surgery on the human race, and for the good of the human race as a whole.

Saul, however, did not obey the Lord, but rather spared Agag, the king of the Amalekites, plus the best of the sheep and oxen, etc. This is symbolic of modern Believers who desire to eradicate the bad things of the flesh, i.e., those things which destroy, such as immorality, liquor, drugs, etc., in other words “that which is vile and refuse”; however, that which seems to be good, they seek to spare, just as Saul spared Agag, etc.

The “good” consists of our dependence on our good works, our religious associations, in fact, anything in which we place our faith, other than Christ and the Cross. We are loathe to separate ourselves from these “good things.” But the Holy Spirit through the Prophet includes such direction to be “rebellion.” Concerning that, he said, “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry” (I Sam. 15:23).

When Samuel approached Saul, the king was very religious and said, “Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the Commandment of the LORD.”

Then Samuel answered, “What means then this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?”

The modern Church also claims to have “performed the Commandment of the LORD”; however, the Lord says otherwise.

Let us say it again:

Anything which we make as the object of our faith, other than the Cross, is constituted as “flesh,” which the Lord cannot abide. He is still saying, “Utterly destroy all!” Not only must the “bad” flesh be destroyed, but the “good,” as well!”

—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart