Examination of a Wise Man, a Novice, and a Fool

You were called of God and went to your Pastor and asked him to assist you in fulfilling your calling. (Beginning Novice showing respect)

You offered your Pastor to work as a sunday school teacher, youth leader, home cell leader, give Bible studies, or where he needs you. (Novice showing unity of purpose)

You developed a good one on one friendship with the Pastor and are his friend and supporter. (Novice who has genuine love)

You ask your Pastor to tutor you and give you the names of books he believes would help you develop your ministry. (Novice developing wisdom)

You observe the way your Pastor operates and runs the church, the service, and his relationship to others and have learned to duplicate it. (Novice subjecing himself to his leader)

If your Pastor should go on a trip and put you in charge of the service, you would change nothing and do it just as if he was there doing it. (Novice showing himself a pattern of good works)

A church member calls you and ask you to give some spiritual advice and you tell them they should go talk to the Pastor and not you. (Novice who refuses to get entangled with the members)

Some members talk of quitting and going to start a church and ask you to come be the pastor and you refuse to accept. (Novice who shows wisdom and loyalty)

You disagree with the Pastor over a teaching or doctrine but do not challenge him or threaten to leave and go on your own. (Novice who wants a right spirit in him to prevail).

You are being used in the Ministry and the Pastor has helped you tremendously: but you feel it is time to be ordained and move out on your own, yet you stay when the Pastor says it is not your time yet. (Novice who shows ordination is not a release but an honor bestowed)

Your Pastor tells you he wants you to wash his car weekly, cut the church grass monthly, and make sure the Church is closed down and locked after each service. You tell him you will gladly do it. (Novice who sees this as training for the future, not as the Pastor using him)

Another Pastor invites you to his campmeeting, revival, or special meeting, and you tell him you have to talk to your Pastor about it first and get his permission. (Novice who seeks permission will also be one that shows he is humble)

You are going to take a vacation and want to visit another church while away. You ask your Pastor about visiting that church and he tells you he would rather you did not. So, you do not visit that church. (Novice but one who learns his Pastor's wisdom has a purpose)

Your Pastor gives you permission to vist another Church to preach and the Pastor there gives you an offering. Your Pastor has taught you to give back the tithe on the offering before you leave. So, you give the host Pastor the tithe on the offering. If he declines to accept it, you give it to your Pastor. (Novice who learns how to give just like other great men of God do it)

Your Pastor ask you to take up a toliet and replace the wax seal ring. You go buy the .99 cent wax ring and do so. (Novice who shows he is willing to please God doing all things)

The Pastor has not been holding men's meeting but says he will start them back up after his missionary trip. But you decide to not only call one anyway, but choose a topic that is designed to subtilly attack another brother in the group and his wife. (Double Fool)

You have been in many churches under many Pastors and you have no Pastor whom you would call your Pastor. (Novice Fool)

You took some members from a Pastor and went out and started your own Church. (Novice Fool)

Your Pastor would not ordain you because of bad conduct and character so you went to another church and ask the Pastor there to ordain you and he did because he did not like your Pastor. (Novice Fool)

You have your own ministry but it is not under the spiritual covering of your Pastor. (Novice Fool)

You had a disagreement with your Pastor and decided to confront him in front of Church members. (Novice Fool)

You had a disagreement with your Pastor and he told you if you did not repent and humble down he would disfellowship you. You jumped around and say you would disfellowship him and stomp off. (Novice Fool)

There is no man in your life whom you can call your Father in the Faith because you have had many Pastors and for one reason or another quit them all. (Novice Fool)

You want to be all on your own and so you have little or no association with your Pastor or Father in the Faith. (Novice Fool)

You want your own identity and recognition and so do not want to be associated with the name of your Pastor or Father in the Faith. (Novice)

Your Pastor ask you to take care of the Church while he makes a mission trip and you decide that when he is gone you are really going to tell the members what you disagree with the Pastor over. (Novice Fool)

The Pastor goes to a meeting and leaves you in charge and so you put your daughter on the platform to play music because the Pastor would not allow her when he was there. (Novice Fool)

The Pastor does not believe in drinking wine except for the Lord's Supper. You disagree and believe a person can drink it any time they want. So, you sneak and drink wine and do not let the Pastor know of your conduct so he will not remove you from the platform and preaching. (Novice Fool)

You believe when god breathed into Adam his breath that the life in Adam was then God. Therefore Adam is a kind of God manifest in the flesh. You believe no man can do anything unless it is God within them doing it. You beleive when John baptized Jesus that it was really God in John baptizing Jesus. The Pastor tells you not to teach or preach these doctrines. But you do it anyway in a service when he is not there. (Novice Fool)

Your Pastor sits you down from all ministry on the platform because you talked back to him. He is teaching a lesson about wolves and sheep and how they are easily distinguished: you jump up, do a jig, then announce to the church you are leaving. You take your family in a show and march out of the church. (Novice Fool)

Your Pastor accepts your calling into the Ministry and invites you to speak at the next service on water baptism. You decide you will teach on wearing jewelry instead. So, when the service comes you teach on jewelry. (Novice Fool)

You have a geat burden to see souls saved. The Pastor ask you to preach something evangelistic on Sunday nite. You preach about the woman and the issue of blood and press your point to press until you touch Jesus. Many are blessed and come to the altar. It is a good service. (Novice whose desire to see souls saved controls his zeal)

You are now three years with a Pastor and he has refused to ordain you. You ask him about it and he says he will ordain when God tells him. You humble down and remain with the Pastor determined like Jacob not to turn loose until you get your blessing. (Novice who respects the Pastor's walk with God and his judgment)

You hate it when your Pastor refers to you as a novice. Dosen't he know you can preach better than he? Doesn't he know you are in great demand by other Pastors wanting you to preach and he won't release you? When will he quit being jealous of you and make you his equal and stop his prejudice that you are still beneath him? If he does not ordain you soon you are leaving. (Novice Fool)

You have been a good son. Your Father in the Faith has treated you well. The time has come and he has said he will ordain you. You are ordained. Soon afterward some church members want you to leave and start a church. You decline. (The novice begins to become a wise man)

You are ordained and still working under your Pastor. You feel it is your calling to stay here in this church and assist the Pastor. And if one day he retires you desire to replace him. (The novice has grown into a wise man of God)

You are in a church under a Pastor and have faithfully filled in when asked. Yet you have not been ordained. Since you have no plans to become a Pastor any time soon, you remain humble and do not seek ordination just as a formality. (The novice here is developing wisdom)

You are a Pastor and there appears at a service some members from another Pastor's Church. You ask them why they are there and they report they have quit the other Pastor and want to come there. You tell them you will not take them in until you talk to the other Pastor. (A wise Pastor will not invite another Pastor's trouble into his Church, if he does he will show disrespect to the other Pastor)

You are a Pastor and there appears at a service some members from another Pastor's Church. You don't really like that Pastor very well so you cozy up to them and make it clear you would like to have them as members. (Foolish Pastor, who will reap his own trouble and hurt from these same people later on)

You observe some young ministers in another Church and think in your heart how much you would really like to have them in your church. So you plant the seed in some other young men's minds and they make contact. Over some months of fellowship which the other Pastor knows nothing about, these are invited to come and join that church. These men do eventually come and join but not before creating church trouble and causing some members to quit their Pastor's Church. The coveteous Pastor is overjoyed that he now has these men in his church. (Foolish Pastor, who will in time regret he played the part of a foolish novice)

Some ministers come complaining they have not been ordained by their Pastor and want you to ordain them. You see no reason not to ordain them so you do it because you were asked, not because God told you. (Foolish Pastor, whose ordinations are not respectable nor will God honor them)

Note: The majority of Church problems today are a result of bad men of God, novices who are out of order, and fools who want nothing better then to see what they cannot have destroyed. The Church is preparing to go into the time of tribulation and if there ever was a time to know those who labor among us it is now. It is time to guard the house of God with greater wisdom. It is time to close the ranks against rabble who have no desire for a perfected church, but rather only to be seen and heard. We must purge from our midst all the novices and fools who will not humble down and stay in their place within the body. If they will not remain in their place it is time to cut off the branches. The olive tree needs to be pruned. Dead branches need to be lopped of. We should keep our eyes only on that which is bearing good fruit.

The Lord Jesus bless all of his great men of God.

Thank you Pastor G. Reckart for your words of encouragement and inspiration. God bless you and the wonderful people of Cebu, Philippines, always.

10 Ways To Spring Clean Your LIFE

1. Clean out the anger, hatred, jealousy, and self doubt.

2. Move out the frustrations, and lack of communication.
Wash away delay and procrastination.

3. Dust off your attitude, and put on a fresh coat of
positive.

4. Throw out misunderstanding, and lack of patience.
Sweep out the dirt of gossip or lies

5. Recycle old relationships, roles, and routines that no
longer work into a new, useable form.

6. Open the shades and let in the warmth of friendship.

7. Lighten up your thoughts with humor and fun.

8. Give away as much love, help, care, concern, and gratitude
as possible.

9. Paint in new boundaries, and stencil some raised standards

10. Open the windows of your mind to new ideas and a
fresh perspective on living a happier, better, easier life.

50 Things That Really Do Matter

1. Listening enough to care and caring enough to listen.

2. Being a dreamer but not living in a dream world.

3. Saying "It doesn't matter" and meaning it.

4. Being a positive influence in any way possible, to asmany as possible, for as long as I possibly can.

5. Balancing justice with mercy and fairness with commonsense.

6. Being patient and patiently enduring.

7. Earning credibility instead of demanding compliance.

8. Valuing the wisdom of discernment, the danger of pleasurewithout restraint, and the joy of victory with integrity.

9. Being worthy of trust and trusting what's worthwhile.

10. Enjoying all things small and beautiful.

11. Words that heal.

12. Words that help.

13. And words that encourage.

14. Forgiving myself for what I've done and others for whatthey haven't.

15. Gaining what I desire without losing what I should gain.

16. Maintaining the passion of purpose while avoiding thepitfalls of making hasty decisions with little or nodiscernment.

17. Watching "You've Got Mail" one more time.

18. Enjoying life for all it holds instead of holding outfor all it has yet to become.

19. Giving praise without demands and encouragement withoutexpectations.

20. Hugs.

21. Healing wounds.

22. And helping people realize their dreams.

23. Knowing when I can, can't and shouldn't.

24. Laughter for the sake of laughter!

25. Leading while not forgetting how to follow.

26. Honoring the honorable and avoiding the painful errorsof the disgraceful.

27. Knowing the power of commitment, the rewards of self-discipline and the meaning of faith in myself, God andothers.

28. Smiles -- lots of them.

29. Learning as much as I can for as long as I can.

30. Standing for what's right when everything's wrong, andsaying "I'm wrong" when something's not right.

31. Letting the music play.

32. Knowing I can and seeking help when I can't.

33. Just doing nothing at just the right time.

34. Filling my mind with all that is excellent, truthful,full of hope, and worthy of thinking about again.

35. Kisses that say "I love you" more than "I need you."

36. Treasuring ideas for their untapped potential.

37. Caring.

38. Giving.

39. And having fun.

40. Refusing to believe lies about myself or othersregardless of the source -- including what I hear fromwithin.

41. Trusting enough to see good in people without blindlytrusting in the goodness of all people.

42. Success without self-absorption.

43. Showing I know the difference between keeping the rulesand listening with understanding.

44. Winning with dignity.

45. Losing with grace.

46. And learning from both.

47. Believing in all my possibilities -- and yours too!

48. Appreciating the wisdom of maturity and the beauty ofchildhood.

49. Avoiding the bondage of bitterness, the deceit of wealthwithout character, and the vanity of pride withoutgratefulness.

50. Loving for all I'm worth because in the end it's worthit all.

Yours for a day filled with beautiful moments in time.

My dear brothers and sister in Christ, If you've enjoyed this article written by Lee Wise as I have, please do visit the blogs of Lee Wise at http://personal-spiritual-growth.blogspot.com and http://purposesuccessinspiration.blogspot.com/

You can also visit him on facebook and follow him on twitter at: http://www.facebook.com/LeeWisePurposeSuccessInspiration and http://twitter.com/#!/Lee_Wise

Thank you brother Lee Wise for blessing us with, "50 Things That Really Do Matter". I pray the Lord continues to bless you as you've surely blessed many and I am so glad to be one of them. God bless you, always. Andres

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© Lee Wise All rights reserved. You may freely distribute this article. The copyright and this resource box must be included.

Discover How The Power Of Passion and The Beauty Of Being Unique Combine to Forge Lives That Matter And Legacies That Last. Continue Your Spiritual Journey by visiting here --> http://personal-spiritual-growth.blogspot.com

Happy Mother's Day

Beautiful red, pink, yellow and white roses,
They all say "I Love You"
The thorns on the bush remind us
That mistakes need forgiveness too.

Red roses tell of God's beauty,
That often thrills my soul.
The yellow, whispers of His Love,
Chasing away sadness, and making us whole.

The pink is for the blush in my cheeks,
When laughter chases the blues away.
The white tells of His forgiveness,
We'll share together each day.
If Roses grow in heaven,
Lord, please pick a bunch for me.
Place them in my loved one's arms
and tell them, they're from me.

Tell them that I love and miss
them, and when they turn to smile,
place a kiss upon their cheek
and hold them for a while.

Because remembering them is easy,
I do it every day.
But there's an ache within my heart,
that will never go away.

Mama, you’re always with me... You’re the whisper of the leaves as I walk down the street. You’re the smell of bleach in my freshly laundered socks. You’re the cool hand on my brow when I’m not well. Mama, you live inside my laughter. You are crystallized in every tear drop... even these, as I write this for you. You’re the place I came from, my first home... You’re the map I follow with every step that I take. You are my first love and my first heart break....and nothing on earth can separate us. Not time… Not space... Not even death.... will ever separate me from you.... You carried me inside of you for nine months, Mama, now I carry you inside of me forever.... You’re always with me Mama, no, it’s not Mothers Day till this coming Sunday and your birthday was the 22nd of February therefore it’s not your birthday. Today is not even a holiday. Mama, it’s been a little over seven years since…well, I know I didn't lose you...God has reminded me that I can't lose something when I know where it is. Mama, I miss you! Thank You Lord God for adding another flower to Your heavenly bouquet!

10 Most Important Things

Love
The Special Feeling that makes you feel all Warm and Wonderful

Respect
Treating others as well as you'd like to be treated

Appreciation
To be Grateful for all the Good Things Life has to offer

Happiness
The Full Enjoyment of each moment with a Smiling Face

Forgiveness
The Ability to let Things be without Anger

Sharing
The Joy of giving without Thought of Receiving

Honesty
The Quality of always telling the Truth

Integrity
The purity of doing what's Right no matter what.

Compassion
The Essence of Feeling another's Pain, while Easing their Hurt

100 Truths About Jesus

Jesus came to die and destroy Satan's power - Heb. 2:14

Jesus came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets - Matt. 5:17

Jesus came to give life - John 10:10,28

Jesus came to taste death for everyone - Heb. 2:9

Jesus came to proclaim freedom for believers - Luke 4:18

Jesus claimed to be God - John 8:24; 8:56-59 (see Exodus 3:14);10:30-33

Jesus created all things - John 1:3; Col. 1:15-17

Jesus is before all things - Col. 1:17

Jesus is eternal - John 1:1,14;8:5 8

Jesus is honored the same as the Father - John 5:23

Jesus is prayed to - Acts 7:54-60

Jesus is worshipped - Matt. 2:2,8,11;14:33;28:9,17 John 9:35-37

Jesus is called God - John 1:1,14;20:28 Col. 2:9 Tit. 2:13

Jesus is omnipresent - Matt 28:20

Jesus is with us always - Matt. 28:20

Jesus is our only mediator between God and ourselves - 1 Tim 2:5

Jesus is the guarantee of a better covenant - Heb. 7:22;8:6

Jesus said, "I AM the Bread of Life" - John 6:35,41,48,51

Jesus said, "I A M the Door" - John 10:7,9

Jesus said, "I AM the Good Shepherd" - John 10:11,14

Jesus said, "I AM the Way the Truth and The Life" - John 14:6

Jesus said, "I AM the Light of the world" - John 8:12;9:5;12:46; Luke 2:32

Jesus said, "I AM the True Vine" - John 15:1;15:5

Jesus said, "I AM the Resurrection and the Life" - John 11:25

Jesus said, "I AM the First and the Last" - Rev 1:17;2:8;22:13

Jesus always lives to make intercession for us - Heb. 7:25

Jesus cleanses from sin - 1 John 1 :9 -

Jesus discloses Himself to us - John 14:21

Jesus draws all men to Himself - John 12:32

Jesus forgives sins - Luke 5:20;7:48

Jesus gives eternal life - John 10:28;5:40

Jesus gives joy - John 15:11

Jesus gives peace - John 14:27

Jesus has authority - Matt. 28:18; John 5:26-27;17:2;3:35

Jesus judges - John 5:22,27

Jesus knows all men - John 16:30

Jesus opens the mind to understand scripture - Luke 24:45

Jesus received honor and glory from the Father - 2 Pet 1:17

Jesus r esurrects - John 5:39;11:25-26;6:40,44,54

Jesus reveals grace and truth - John 1:17 see John 6:45

Jesus reveals the Father - Matt. 11:27 Luke 10:22

Jesus saves forever - Matt 18:11 John 10:28 Heb. 7:25

Jesus bears witness of Himself - John 8:18;14:6

Jesus' works bear witness of Himself - John 5:36;10:25

The Father bears witness of Jesus - John 5:37;8:18; 1 John 5:9

The Holy Spirit bears witness of Jesus - John 15:26

The multitudes bear witness of Jesus - John 12:17

The Prophets bear witness of Jesus - Acts 10:43

The Scriptures bear witness of Jesus - John 5:39

The Father will honor us if we serve Jesus - John 12:26 see Col. 3:24

The Father wants us to fellowship with Jesus - I Cor 1:9

The Father tells us to listen to Jesus - Luke 9:35; Matt. 17:5

The Father tells us to come to Jesus - John 6:45

The Father draws us to Jesus - John 6:44

Everyone who's heard & learned from the Father comes to Jesus - John 6:45

The Law leads us to Christ - Gal. 3:24

Jesus is the Rock - 1 Cor. 10:4

Jesus is the Savior - John 4:42 1 John 4:14 Jesus is King - Matt. 2:1-6 Luke 23:3

In Jesus are the treasures of wisdom and knowledge - Col. 2:2-3

In Jesus we have been made completeCol. 2:10

Jesus indwells us - Col. 1:27

Jesus sanctifies - Heb. 2:11

Jesus loves - Eph. 5:25

We come to Jesus - John 5:40;7:37;6:35,37,45,65

We sin against Jesus - 1 Cor 8:12

We receive Jesus - John 1:12 Col. 2:6

Jesus makes many righteous - Rom 5:19

Jesus is the i mage of the invisible God - Heb. 1:3

Jesus sends the Holy Spirit - John 15:26

Jesus abides forever - Heb. 7:24

Jesus offered up Himself - Heb7:27;9:14

Jesus offered one sacrifice for sins for all time - Heb. 10:12

The Son of God has given us understanding - 1 John 5:20

Jesus is the author and perfecter of our faith - Heb. 12:2

Jesus is the Apostle and High Priest of our confession - Heb. 1:3

The Son of God has given us understanding - 1 John 5:20

Jesus cleanses us from our sins by His blood - Rev. 1:5; Rom. 5:9

Jesus is the Light of the world - John 9:5

Jesus has explained the Father - John 1:18

Jesus was crucified because of weakness - 2 Cor. 13:4

Jesus has overcome the world - John 16:33

Truth is in Jesus - Eph. 4:21

The fruit of righteousness comes through Jesus Christ - Phil. 1:11

Jesus delivers us from the wrath to come - 1 Thess 1:10

Disciples bear witness of Jesus Christ - John 15:27

Jesus died and rose again - 1 Thess. 4:14

The Christian dead ha ve fallen asleep in Jesus - 1 Thess. 4:15

Jesus died for us - 1 Thess. 5:10

Jesus tasted death for everyone - Heb. 2:9

Jesus rendered the devil powerless - Heb. 2:14

Jesus is able to save completely - Heb. 7:25

Jesus was a ransom for many and to serve - Matt. 20:28

Jesus came to be a priest - Heb. 2:17

Jesus came to save - John 3:17; Luke 19:10

Jesus came to preach the kingdom of God - Luke 4:43

Jesus came to bring division - Luke 12:51

Jesus came to do the will of the Father - John 6:38

Jesus came to give the Father's words - John 17:8

Jesus came to testify to the truth - John 18:37

THOU ART WITH ME

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." Psalms 23:4


Look at this picture and you can see where this driver broke through the guardrail, on the right side of the culvert, where the people are standing on the road, pointing.

The pick-up was traveling just outside Flagstaff, Arizona on U.S. Highway 100 doing about 75 mph. From right to left when it crashed through the guardrail. It flipped end-over-end bounced off and across the culvert outlet, and landed right side up on the left side of the culvert, facing the opposite direction from which the driver was traveling. The 22-year-old driver and his 18-year-old passenger were unhurt except for minor cuts (Thy Rod) and bruises (Thy Staff).

Okay, maybe I went a little overboard (in your eyes, not mine) with the rod and staff... but it looks so good. Yes, I know that the rod is used for protection or defense and the staff is for guidance, for steadiness. I also know that shepherds carried them at all times. The staff was a long crooked stick. When a sheep showed signs of straying, he would stretch out and pull it back with the crook.

Surely, we are the sheep and God is the Shepherd. And as you can see by the picture above, the Shepherd protected His sheep from dangers seen and unseen. If you're wondering why I would say something like that...

Please look at the second picture below...
























(Click the picture for a closer view)


My dear brother's and sisters in Christ, if God isn’t done with you, God isn’t done with you…

THE END .......

IT IS WRITTEN...

Matthew 4:1-11 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted[a] by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry. The tempter came to Him and said, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’[b]”

Then the devil took him to the holy city and had Him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If You are the Son of God,” he said, “throw Yourself down.

For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning You, and they will lift You up in there hands, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’[c]”

Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[d]”

Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give You,” he said, “if You will bow down and worship me.”

Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’[e]”

Then the devil left Him, and angels came and attended Him.

My dear brother and sisters in Christ, just as the devil tempted Jesus in the wilderness; he will do the same to us during the wilderness moments in this walk of faith. If he hasn’t already, either you’re lying to yourself or you haven’t been living long enough. Just keep on living.

Notice how each and every time Jesus was tempted, He used the power of God’s Word to defeat that temptation. Jesus never told God how big His storms were but instead, He told His storms how big God is.

Beloved, God speaks in every line and His Word is everything to me, therefore I know that in the very first chapter of the book of John and in the very first verse God’s Word says "For in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Jump all the way up to the fourteenth verse and it says, "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." Therefore it always amazes me how foolish the devil was by trying to use the Word to tempt the Word.

God is the same yesterday, today and forever more, therefore we must realize that His Word can and will do the same for us today when are tempted by the devil. Bothers and sisters, just as Jesus used the power of God’s Word to defeat temptation then, we must used the power of God’s Word now to defeat temptation today. Look at your storm and tell it with and through the power of God’s Word, how big God is. Tell it, Storm... "It is written", trails, "It is written", tribulations, “It is written”. Whatever the devil has the audacity to bring your way, tell him, “It is written”.

Tell your storms when they make you feel weak, “It is written”
Revelation 19:6 says: God is omnipotent / all-powerful

Tell your storms when they make you feeling down” It is written”
Matthews 8:5-10; 28:18 says: Jesus has Power and Authority over all things

Tell your storms when they make you feel powerless, “It is written”
I John 4:4 says: God is more powerful than satan

Tell your storms when they bring darkness into your life, “It is written”
Genesis chapters 1 & 2 say: God created all things just by saying “Let there be”

Tell your storms when they make you feel your future plans seem dim, “It is written”
Duet.31:8; Acts 2:23 says: God plans & knows all things ahead of time

Tell your storms when they make you feel a failure, “It is written”
Job 42:1, 2; Proverbs 21:30, 31; & Psalm 33:10, 11, says: God’s plans always succeed

Tell your storms when they tell you that there is no answer. “It is written”
Psalm 33:13, 14 & Proverbs 15:3 says: God sees and knows all (He is Sovereign)

Tell your storms when they make you feel poor, “It is written”
I Chron. 29:11, 12 say: God owns all in Heaven and on Earth

Tell your storms when they make you feel incomplete, “It is written”
Isaiah 46:11 says: what God says & plans He will do

Tell your storms when they make you feel that it’s impossible, “It is written”
Luke 1:37 says: nothing is impossible for God

Tell your storms when they tell you things will be difficult, “It is written”
Jeremiah 32:17 says: there is nothing too hard for God

Tell your storms when they make you feel out of control, “It is written”
Job 38-41; 42:1, 2 says: God created and controls all things

Tell your storms when they look big and overwhelming, “It is written”
Isaiah 40:12-31 says: nothing can match God’s awesome size, power, wisdom, & strength.

USE GOD'S WORD IN PRAYER

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, God's Word is full of prayers that are after God's own heart and according to His will. God's word is a spiritual weapon ("Sword of the Spirit", Ephesians 6) 1 john 5:14, 15 (expect answers when you pray according to god's heart & will, and have a right relationship with him).

Here are some examples from scripture:

"GIVE ME A HEART TO KNOW YOU "
JEREMIAH 24:7

"LET US KNOW THE TRUTH AND SET US FREE."
JOHN 8:32

"OPEN MY EYES THAT I MAY SEE WONDERFUL THINGS IN YOUR LAW."
PSALM 119:18

"CREATE IN ME A PURE HEART, O GOD, AND RENEW A STEADFAST SPIRIT WITHIN ME." PSALM 51:10

"CLEANSE THOU ME FROM SECRET FAULTS." ("FORGIVE MY HIDDEN FAULTS.")
PSALM 19:12

"I DO BELIEVE; HELP ME OVERCOME MY UNBELIEF."
MARK 9:24

"HEAR MY VOICE WHEN I CALL, O LORD; BE MERCIFUL TO ME & ANSWER ME."
PSALM 27:7

"... YOUR FACE LORD I WILL SEEK."
PSALM 27:8

"TEACH ME YOUR WAY, O LORD; LEAD ME IN A STRAIGHT PATH."
PSALM 27:11

"TEACH ME YOUR WAYS, SO I MAY KNOW YOU & CONTINUE TO FIND FAVOR WITH YOU." EXODUS 33:13

" LORD, BE MY FIRST LOVE."
REVELATION 2:4

" NOT MY WILL, BUT YOUR WILL BE DONE."
LUKE 22:42

OTHER PRAYERS:

FOR A BROKEN & HUMBLE SPIRIT
PSALM 51:17

FOR A SERVANT'S HEART
MARK 10:44-45

TO BE ALERT TO SATAN'S ATTACKS & WAYS
1 JOHN 4:4

TO BE CONFORMED TO JESUS' LIKENESS
ROMANS 8:29

TO BE ONE WITH GOD LIKE JESUS IS
JOHN 17:22

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,[a] 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you[b] to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. COLOSSIANS 1:9-12

Spiritual Gifts

My dear brothers and sisters of Christ, all of us Christians and lovers of the Lord have been given at least one spiritual gift by the Holy Spirit and many of us have several spiritual gifts, with typically one dominant gift; this group of gifts is called a gift cluster. The purpose of spiritual gifts is to unify us in our faith, build each other up, and to produce growth within the church, both numerical and spiritual. Spiritual gifts are to be used out of love for God and for others, and in service for God and to others. Not for self glorification nor appointment.

Here is a list of gifts with Biblical References as follow:

Spiritual Gifts

Administration: the gift that enables a believer to formulate, direct, and carry out plans necessary to fulfill a purpose.

Biblical References: I Corinthians 12:28, Acts 14:23

Discernment: the Holy Spirit given ability to distinguish whether someone or something is of God or not of God.

Biblical References: John 16:6-15, Romans 9:1, I Corinthians 2:9-16, 12:10

Exhortation: The Holy Spirit produced ability to challenge, strengthen, encourage, and comfort believers.

Biblical References: John 14:1, II Timothy 1:16-18, III John 5-8

Faith: the Holy Spirit given ability to trust God where others will not, and to see something that God wants done and sustain unwavering confidence that God will do it regardless of seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

Biblical References: Genesis 12:1-4a, Mark 5:25-34, I Thessalonians 1:8-10

Giving: the gift that enables a believer to recognize God's blessings and to respond to those blessings by generously and sacrificially giving of one's resources (time, talent, and treasure).

Biblical References: Luke 21:1-4, Romans 12:8, II Corinthians 9:6-15

Knowledge: the gift that drives a person to learn, analyze and uncover new insights with regard to the Bible and faith.

Biblical References: I Corinthians 12:8; I Corinthians 14:6, Romans 12:2

Leadership: the gift that gives a believer the confidence to step forward, give direction and provide motivation to fulfill a dream or complete a task.

Biblical References: Romans 12:8, John 21:15-17, II Timothy 4:1-5

Mercy: the Holy Spirit given ability to see those who are in misery, have pity on them, and promptly & cheerfully seek to relieve them of their need.

Biblical References: Matthew 25:34-36, Luke 7:12-15, 10:30-37; Romans 12:8

Prophecy: an ability given by God's Holy Spirit to proclaim God's truth publicly and to apply it practically, with a view to correction and edification.

Biblical References: Romans 12:6, I Corinthians 12:10, 14:1,3

Service/ Helps: the gift that enables a believer to work gladly behind the scenes in order that God's work is fulfilled.

Biblical References: Luke 23:50-54, Romans 12:7, 16:1-16, Philippians 2:19-23

Teaching: the Holy Spirit produced ability to effectively explain God's word and apply it.

Biblical References: Matthew 5:1-12, Acts 18:24-48, Romans 12:7, I Corinthians 12:28

Wisdom: skilled in the application of Biblical truth; is able to take God's Word and apply it to everyday situations.

Biblical References: I Corinthians 2:6-13, James 3:13-18, II Chronicles 1:7-11

Overlooked By Everyone Else

“After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart, he will do everything I want him to do.’” Acts 13:22 (NIV)

Sometimes I wake up on Monday mornings a little grumpy. Time to do it all again. I’ll buy food that gets eaten. I’ll wash clothes that get dirty again. I’ll sweep floors that an hour later will be littered with crumbs.

Is there more to all this than just doing the tasks of everyday life?

Before I jumped into the normal routine this morning, I sat with Jesus. And I found some big truths as I took a little glance into David’s life. Despite how others saw him, his own propensity to sin, and lack of position in his own family, David had the sweet reassurance of God and that was enough.

Overlooked by everyone else. Handpicked by God.

To his older brothers, David was a pest. To his father, Jesse, he was just the youngest son. To on-lookers, he was just a shepherd boy. But to God, he was the one destined to be king. And not just any king. His lineage was the one from whom Jesus would come.

Overlooked by everyone else. Handpicked by God.

Even how David was anointed to be the future king is a telling story. In 1 Samuel 16, God tells Samuel that He has rejected Saul as king and chosen one of Jesse’s sons to be the replacement. Think of the list of qualifications that must have run through Samuel’s mind for such a position: tall, smart, articulate, brave, groomed, well mannered, a natural born leader. “But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his outward appearance or his height, for I have rejected him (meaning Saul who had these qualities). The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (verse 7).

Overlooked by everyone else. Handpicked by God.

Samuel had Jesse line up all of his sons before him. All of them were to be looked at. Yet, Jesse doesn’t call David in from tending sheep. Was this an oversight? An assumption? A judgment call? A necessity? A deliberate choice?

Overlooked by everyone else. Handpicked by God.

Samuel passes on each of Jesse’s sons and then asks, “Are these all the sons you have?”I imagine Jesse with a quizzical expression replying, “There is still the youngest but he is tending sheep.” Surely one who spends his time taking care of animals is not the one to take care of a nation.

Overlooked by everyone else. Handpicked by God.

As soon as Samuel saw him, he knew he was the one. David was anointed to become king. But he was not immediately ushered to the throne. It was years before David would be recognized by the world.

So, where did he go after being anointed as king?

To a refining school?

A government academy?

Military training?

Nope.

He went back out into the fields and continued to shepherd his flock. A king doing lowly tasks. A king whose character was being refined in the fields of everyday life to prepare him for his calling.

How like us. In the midst of smelly laundry, dirty dishes, snotty noses, misplaced keys, overdue library books, bills, and that birthday gift that still needs to be mailed to grandma – there is training there.

There is character building.

There is attitude shaping. There is soul defining.

There is heart grounding. All of which must take place for us to become what God intends.

Ever feel overlooked by the world?

Take heart, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ- we are handpicked by God.

I am not just doing tasks.

I am building a legacy.

I am shaping God’s kingdom.

I am in the process of not only discovering my calling but that of my family as well. And I don’t know about you, but it sure does make me look at my everyday tasks… even the smelly laundry in a whole different light.

Dear Lord, thank you that even when I feel overlooked, I can rest in the fact that I am handpicked by You. Help me to live my life for an audience of One. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.


Application Steps: Write down a list of qualities that you sense God is developing in you. Next write down why God might need to develop you in this way.

Reflections: Are there any tasks that you particularly struggle with not wanting to do? Ask God for a new perspective and spend time listening for His voice while you do this job.

Power Verses: Psalm 28:7a “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped.” (NIV)

2 Samuel 7:22, “How great you are, O Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears.” (NIV)

Thank you so much sister Lysa TerKeurst for blessing me with your words of encouragement. God bless you always.

Essential Administrative Practices for Every Church

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, here are some important financial practices, policies & procedures that will strengthen your organization.

1. All accounting functions should be handled by qualified, competent personnel.

• Hire an accountant, not a bookkeeper. Today’s tax laws are very complex and require specialized knowledge to ensure compliance.

• Assign individuals or groups to tasks that don’t require specialized knowledge (counting, bank deposits, etc.) and outline these individuals or groups in the church’s organizational chart.

• The pastor should NOT handle money or sign checks.

2. Your church should have a written, up-to-date accounting procedures manual.

• The accounting procedure manual must establish accounting procedures and responsibilities.

3. Record Keeping and Check Signing should be kept separate.

• The separation of the duties is essential to a successful internal financial control system and will reduce the risk of misappropriation of funds.

• Record keeping and check writing responsibilities must be kept separate.

4. Accounting facilities should be kept locked at all times..

• Securing the premises to safeguard the church’s assets is just good common sense.

5. Accounting records should be safeguarded at all times.

• Special care should be exercised over the storage of accounting records. Make sure historical records are not destroyed, altered, or tampered with. Purge and shred historical records when allowable by law.

6. Quarterly internal audit by special committee operational.

• An internal audit committee is usually made up of members with accounting or business backgrounds. Their responsibility is to regularly review the accounting records.

7. Annual external audit of accounting records, practices and procedures

• An annual professional audit offers the church several advantages. First, knowledge of an annual inspection is a natural deterrent to embezzlement. Second, it is critical when applying for most funding.

8. All personnel must be screened.

• Amazingly enough, 70 percent of all embezzlers are repeat offender.

9. All employees who have access to cash should be bonded

• A fidelity bond provides insurance protection for the church if there is any lapse in the integrity of the accounting system. Various types of fidelity bonds can be purchased. Blanket bonds can cover the entire staff without people’s names or the positions they hold being listed.

Thank you Urban Awareness USA, for blessing me and many others with these "Nine Essential Administrative Practices for Every Church"

Will You Pray For Me?

As I was washing laundry early one morning, I started thinking about how many times people would ask me to pray for them and I would say no problem. However, it was a problem as I would become so consumed with my own life and with the things that I was doing that I totally forgot to pray for that person's situation. The truth is all too often we are so busy with our own day to day operations that we may forget to pray for someone else who may be in need. When you make a promise to pray for someone you are committing yourself to agreeing with that person that the Creator will change that person's situations. Well if you do not know what to pray for then how can you pray for that person?

Generic prayers are cute and dandy as they cover the surface of a person's needs. Yet when you take the time out to find out what the person needs prayer for you are able to pray specifically to the Creator on how to intervene on that person's behalf. What good is it to pray a generic prayer for a person to have financial blessings when that person does not have a job? Rather than asking the Creator to provide that person with financial blessings, pray that the Creator will provide the person with a job that will fit the person's individual skills, will have the right interviewer who will see the person beyond the resume, pay all of the bills on time, and always have money left in the bank account to help someone else. You see when you pray and come into agreement with the person who asked you to pray for them or with them, the Creator specifically knows that when there are two or more individuals coming together in agreement those changes can be made as there is unity in communal prayer.

It is so awesome to know that your prayers for someone else can make a difference not only in that person's life but your own as well as when you take the time to pray for one person that person will take the time to pray for you. One strategy I am learning to use when people ask me to pray for them is to ask them if they have time right now for prayer. That way the need is still fresh in my mind and it is less difficult for me to forget about praying if the person is on the phone or right there in front of me. You would be surprised how many times that I have prayed for a situation for someone and the next day or following week the Creator intervened within that person's life far beyond what either parties would have ever imagined. The best prayers are the on time prayers!

So the next time someone asks you to pray for them make sure you have a firm grasp for the need. Then take a few minutes just to say a prayer for them. You do not have to say a 10 hour prayer to be heard by the Creator. I have personally found that the best prayers are short, sweet, and to the point. Why you might ask? Your focus is on the other person's needs and not on your own. Make the time today to commit to yourself that when someone asks you to pray for them you will do it TODAY and not wait till tomorrow or forget about it completely as if you wait, your prayers may be too late.

Sister April Lisbon-Peoples, I thank you so much for opening my eyes to better praying commitment in my everyday prayers.

My dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Sister April Lisbon-Peoples is a growth and development coach who enjoys inspiring her clients to find their life's purpose through becoming visionaries. She is the founder and CEO of Running Your Race, a coaching practice designed for individuals who are ready to awaken their visions and create their destiny.

April has written various articles focusing on elevating and motivating people as they aim towards reaching their highest potential. She aspires to help her clients live their dreams while gaining and maintaining a level of healthy success. So if you are ready to fly like the eagles and see your vision come to past, then visit her at [http://www.creatingmyvision.com] or e-mail her at creatingvision@gmail.com

Attributes of God

Holy
Psalms 22:3; 93:5; 30:4; 5:5a; 99:5
Isaiah 6:3; 57:15
Hebrews 12:10
I John 1:5
Revelation 4:8; 15:4

Immutable
Numbers 23:19
Psalm 119:89,90
Malachi 3:6
Hebrews 1:10-12
James 1:17

Sovereign
Psalms 89:5-8; 103:19; 135:6
Proverbs 19:21
Ecclesiastes 3:14
Isaiah 40:15,17,22,23; 46:9,10
Daniel 2:21; 4:35
Ephesians 1:11

Wisdom & Knowledge
Job 9:2-4; 12:13; 36:5
Psalms 7:11; 34:15-16; 90:8;
103:14; 104:24; 139; 147:5
Proverbs 3:19; 21:30
Isaiah 40:26,28; 46:10
Daniel 2:20
Romans 11:33-36
Hebrews 4:13

Loving
Psalms 23:6; 33:5; 36:5-9;
51:1;52:1; 59:16; 86:5; 90:14 103:8,11; 107:43; 136:1; 145:8
Proverbs 16:6
Jeremiah 9:24
Lamentations 3:32,33

Power
Exodus 15:11
I Chronicles 20:6; 29:11-13
Job 38:4
Psalms 33:6; 50:1; 62:11
Nahum 1:3a
Ephesians 3:20,21
I Timothy 6:15,16
Hebrews 1:3

Righteous
Job 36:3
Psalms 7:17; 11:7; 23:3; 35:28;
36:6;45:6; 48:10; 65:5; 71:15,
16,19; 85:11-13; 89:14,16; 96:13; 97:6; 98:2; 103:6; 111:3; 119:142,
172;145:7
Isaiah 5:16; 45:24; 51:5,6; 61:10
Jeremiah 23:6
Hosea 2:19

Faithfulness & Provision
Deuteronomy 7:9
II Chronicles 16:9
Psalm 23; 27; 36; 37; 65; 68; 89:8; 92:1,2; 119:138
Lamentations 3:22,23
I Thessalonians 5:24
II Timothy 2:13
Hebrews 10:23
I Peter 4:19

Psalm of Praise
Psalm 24:7-10
Psalm 28:6,7
Psalm 30:4
Psalm 34:1-3
Psalm 50:23
Psalm 56:10-12
Psalm 63:3-6
Psalm 69;30, 34
Psalm 75:1
Psalm 86:12
Psalm 92:1,2
Psalm 103
Psalm 111
Psalm 113
Psalm 117
Psalms 145-150

Other Passages of Praise
I Chronicles 16:31, 34, 36
Isaiah 25:1, 38:18
Daniel 2:20,23
Acts 2:46,47
Romans 11:36
I Corinthians 15:57
Ephesians 1:3; 5:19
I Timothy 1:17
Hebrews 13:15
I Peter 2:9;4:11

Portions of Promises
II Chronicles 7:14
Psalm 6:9; 10:17; 37:3-5;
55:1,16,17,22; 84:11; 108:13;
Proverbs 3:5,6
Isaiah 65:24; 41:10
Jeremiah 29:12,13; 33:3
Matthew 7:7,8; 21:22
Romans 8:26
Ephesians 3:20,21
Hebrews 11:6
James 1:5-7; 5:16
I John 5:14,15; 3:22

Steps to Powerful Prayer

1. Worship. Praise brings us into God's presence and forces Satan to flee. "Enter Into His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks and Praise to His name." Psalm 100:4

2. Be still and know that He is God. Psalm 46:10 Take time to clear your mind of Everything and focus on God.

3. Confess your sins and cover them with the blood of Jesus. 1 John 1:9

4. Submit to God with your whole being.
Search your heart for areas that you are still holding on to. Have you given Him everything, including your choice of career, spouse, friends, school lifestyle? Tell Him that you are holding nothing back. "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time." 1 Peter 5:6

5. Believe that God will hear and answer.
"Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him." Hebrews 11:6

6. Do battle in the spiritual world. Pray on the spiritual armor from Ephesians 6. Take back the victory, joy and power Satan has tried to steal from you. "For Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the Authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 6:12

7. Listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit.
We often talk to God and don't wait for a response. Let your Father talk to you today. "No eye has seen, no ear has Heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him- But God has revealed it to us by His Spirit." 1 Corinthians 2:9, 10.

8. Ask God to tell you what to pray about.
Be willing to put your desires aside and Pray about what God brings to your mind. "I will do whatever you ask in My Name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask Me for Anything in My name, and I will do it." John 14:13, 14.

9. Join together in agreement with other believers. Pray with a prayer partner, Meeting regularly to pray and share what God is doing in your life. Commit to Pray for one another. "If two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, It will be done for you by My Father in heaven. For where two or three come Together in My name, there am I with them." Matthew 18:19, 20.

10. Keep on asking until the answer comes!
He will answer our prayers, but He works on His timetable, not ours. "Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep On seeking and you will find; keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7.

11. Praise the Lord that He has heard you and He will answer you according to His Will. "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask According to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us-whatever We ask-we know that we have what we asked of Him. 1 John 5:14,15.

12. Act on what God has revealed to you in prayer. God will entrust you with big Things only after you have been responsible and obedient with the little things. "Do whatever He tells you." John 2:5. Call unto Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things that you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3

Biblilcal Guidelines for Effectual Prayer

1. PRAY OBEDIENTLY. Fear God and be righteous in conduct before Him and His Word.

Psalm 34:15 Psalm 84:11 I John 3:22 Psalm 66:18 Proverbs 15:8 Proverbs 28:9 John 9:31 I Peter 3:7 Psalm 18:25-26 Matthew 7:2

2. PRAY GLORIOUSLY. Delight in God and glory in His person, nature, and mighty works.

Psalm 37:4 Job 22:21 Isaiah 58:14 Job 34:9

3. PRAY BOLDLY. Be aggressive and confident with God as His dear child and in Christ.

Hebrews 4:16 Heb 10:18-22 Genesis 18:27 Genesis 32:26 II Kings 2:9-10 Exodus 33:12-23 Joshua 10:12

4. PRAY FERVENTLY. Be sincere, passionate, and extremely earnest in soul during prayer.

James 5:16 Luke 22:44 I Samuel 1:10 Jeremiah 29:13 I Corinthians 7:5 Matthew 17:20-21 Exodus 32:32 Hebrews 5:7 Mark 1:35 Psalm 55:17

5. PRAY FAITHFULLY. Be fully persuaded in your mind that God is able to do anything.

Hebrews 11:6 James 1:6-8 I Timothy 2:8 Matthew 21:22 Ephesians 3:20-21 Jeremiah 33:2-3 Philippians 4:6-7

6. PRAY PERSISTENTLY. Be patient and diligent to continue in prayer without ceasing.

I Thess 5:17 Matt 15:22-28 Luke 11:5-8 Luke 18:1-8 Colossians 4:2 Romans 12:12 Ephesians 6:18

7. PRAY INTELLIGENTLY. Know God, His promises, and godly reasoning with Him.

I Cor 14:15 Numb 14:17-20 Eccl 5:1-7 II Samuel 7:27 II Chron 14:11 Psalm 6:5 Jeremiah 18:20 Matthew 6:5-6 I John 5:14-15 Matthew 18:19

8. PRAY SUBMISSIVELY. Be submissive to God’s will regardless of your own desires.

James 4:15 Matthew 26:39 II Sam 12:22-23 Deut 3:23-27

9. PRAY SPIRITUALLY. Keep yourself in the Spirit and pray as the Spirit moved others.

Jude 1:20 Ephesians 6:18 Romans 8:26-27 Isaiah 63:10

10. PRAY ACTIVELY. Be ready and willing to do all that you can reasonably do for yourself.

Luke 4:12 Matthew 7:7-8 Acts 2:23 II Samuel 15:31

POWERFUL PRAYER

Heavenly Father, I bow in worship and praise before you.

I cover myself with the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ as my protection. I surrender myself completely and unreservedly in every area of my life to You.

I take a stand against all the workings of Satan, that would hinder me in my prayer life.

I address myself only to the True and Living God and refuse any involvement of Satan in my prayer.

Satan, I command you, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to leave my presence with all your demons.

I bring the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ between us. It surrounds me like a mighty wall that you cannot penetrate.

Heavenly Father, I worship You and give You praise. I recognize that You are worthy to receive all glory and honor and praise. I renew my allegiance to You and pray that the blessed Holy Spirit would enable me in this time of prayer.

I am thankful, Heavenly Father, that You have loved me from past eternity and that You sent the Lord Jesus Christ into the world to die as my substitute. I am thankful that the Lord Jesus Christ came as my representative and that through Him You have completely forgiven me; You have adopted me into your family; You have assumed all responsibility for me; You have given me eternal life; You have given me the perfect righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ so I am now justified.

I am thankful that in Him, you have made me complete, and that You have offered Yourself to me to be my daily help and strength. Heavenly Father, open my eyes that I might see how great You are and how complete Your provision is for this day. I am thankful that the victory the Lord Jesus Christ won for me on the Cross and in His resurrection has been given to me and that I am seated with the Lord Jesus Christ in the heavenlies.


I take my place with Him in he heavenlies and recognize by faith that all wicked spirits and Satan himself are under my feet. I declare, therefore, that satan and his wicked spirits are subject to me in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I am thankful for the Armour You have provided. I put on the Girdle of Truth, the Breastplate of Righteousness, the Sandals of Peace and the Helmet of Salvation.

I lift up the Shield of Faith against all the fiery darts of the enemy; and I take in my hand the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. I choose to use Your Word against all the forces of evil in my life.

I put on this Armor and live and pray in complete dependence upon You, blessed Holy Spirit. I am grateful, Heavenly Father, that the Lord Jesus Christ spoiled all principalities and powers and made a show of them openly and triumphed over them in Himself.

I claim all that victory for my life today. I reject all the insinuations, and accusations, and the temptations of Satan.

I affirm that the Word of God is true and I choose to live today in the light of God's Word. I choose, Heavenly Father, to live in obedience to You and in fellowship with Yourself.

Open my eyes and show me the areas of my life that do not please You. Work in me to cleanse me from all ground that would give satan a foothold against me.

I do in every way stand into all that it means to be Your adopted child and I welcome all the ministry of the Holy Spirit. By faith and in dependence upon You, I put off the fleshly works of the evil one and stand into all the victory of the crucifixion where the Lord Jesus Christ provided cleansing from the old nature.

I put on Your holiness and stand into all the victory of the resurrection and the provision He has made for me to live above sin. Therefore, today I put off all forms of selfishness and put on the new nature with its love.

I put off all forms of fear and put on the new nature with its courage. I put off all forms of weakness and put on the new nature with its strength. I put off all forms of lust and put on the new nature with its righteousness, purity, and honesty.

I trust You to show me how to make this practical in my daily life.

In every way I stand into the victory of the ascension and glorification of the Lord Jesus Christ, whereby all the principalities and powers were made subject to Him.

I claim my place in Christ as victorious with Him over all the enemies of my soul. Blessed Holy Spirit, I pray that You would fill me. Come into my life, break down every idol and cast out every foe.

I am thankful, Heavenly Father, for the expression of Your will for my daily life as You have shown me in Your Word.

I, therefore, claim all the will of God for today.

I am thankful that You have blessed me with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

I am thankful that You have begotten me unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

I am thankful that You have made a provision so that today I can live filled with the Spirit of God with love and joy and peace, with long-suffering, gentleness and goodness, with meekness, faithfulness and self-control in my life.

I recognize that this is Your will for me and I therefore reject and resist all the endeavours of Satan and his wicked spirits to rob me of the will of God.

I refuse in this day to believe my feelings and I hold up the Shield of Faith against all the accusations and distortion and insinuations that Satan would put into my mind.

I claim the fullness of the will of God for my life today.

In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I completely surrender myself to You, Heavenly Father, as a living sacrifice.

I choose not to be conformed to this world.

I choose to be transformed by the renewing of my mind, and I pray that You would show me Your will and enable me to walk in all the fullness of Your will today.

I am thankful, Heavenly Father, that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, to the casting down of imagination and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and to bring every thought into obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, in my own life today I tear down the strongholds of Satan and smash the plans of Satan that have been formed against me. I tear down the strongholds of Satan against my mind, and I surrender my mind to You, blessed Holy Spirit.

I affirm, Heavenly Father, that You have not given me the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love and of a sound mind.

I break and smash the strongholds of Satan formed against my emotions today and I give my emotions to you.

I smash the strongholds of Satan formed against my will today.

I give my will to You and choose to make the right decisions of faith.

I smash the strongholds of Satan formed against my body today.

I give my body to You recognizing that I am your temple.

I rejoice in Your mercy and goodness.


Heavenly Father, I pray that now and through this day You would strengthen and enlighten me. Show me the way Satan is hindering and tempting and lying and distorting the truth in my life. Enable me to be the kind of person that would please You. Enable me to be aggressive in prayer and faith. Enable me to be aggressive mentally, to think about and practice Your Word, and to give You Your rightful place in my life.

Again, I cover myself with the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and pray that You, blessed Holy Spirit, would bring all the work of the crucifixion, all the work of the resurrection, all the work of the glorification, and all the work of Pentecost into my life today.

I surrender myself to You. I refuse to be discouraged. You are the God of all hope. You have proven Your power by resurrecting Jesus Christ from the dead, and I claim in every way this victory over all the satanic forces in my life. I pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ with thanksgiving and praise to You, alone. Amen.

100 Truths About Jesus

1. Jesus came to die and destroy Satan's power - Heb. 2:14
2. Jesus came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets - Matt. 5:17
3. Jesus came to give life - John 10:10,28
4. Jesus came to taste death for everyone - Heb. 2:9
5. Jesus came to proclaim freedom for believers - Luke 4:18
6. Jesus claimed to be God - John 8:24; 8:56-59 (see Exodus 3:14);10:30-33
7. Jesus created all things - John 1:3; Col. 1:15-17
8. Jesus is before all things - Col. 1:17
9. Jesus is eternal - John 1:1,14;8:5 8
10. Jesus is honored the same as the Father - John 5:23
11. Jesus is prayed to - Acts 7:54-60
12. Jesus is worshipped - Matt. 2:2,8,11;14:33;28:9,17 John 9:35-37
13. Jesus is called God - John 1:1,14;20:28 Col. 2:9 Tit. 2:13
14. Jesus is omnipresent - Matt 28:20
15. Jesus is with us always - Matt. 28:20
16. Jesus is our only mediator between God and ourselves - 1 Tim 2:5
17. Jesus is the guarantee of a better covenant - Heb. 7:22;8:6
18. Jesus said, "I AM the Bread of Life" - John 6:35,41,48,51
19. Jesus said, "I A M the Door" - John 10:7,9
20. Jesus said, "I AM the Good Shepherd" - John 10:11,14
21. Jesus said, "I AM the Way the Truth and The Life" - John 14:6
22. Jesus said, "I AM the Light of the world" - John 8:12;9:5;12:46; Luke 2:32
23. Jesus said, "I AM the True Vine" - John 15:1;15:5
24. Jesus said, "I AM the Resurrection and the Life" - John 11:25
25. Jesus said, "I AM the First and the Last" - Rev 1:17;2:8;22:13
26. Jesus always lives to make intercession for us - Heb. 7:25
27. Jesus cleanses from sin - 1 John 1 :9 -
28. Jesus discloses Himself to us - John 14:21
29. Jesus draws all men to Himself - John 12:32
30. Jesus forgives sins - Luke 5:20;7:48
31. Jesus gives eternal life - John 10:28;5:40
32. Jesus gives joy - John 15:11
33. Jesus gives peace - John 14:27
34. Jesus has authority - Matt. 28:18; John 5:26-27;17:2;3:35
35. Jesus judges - John 5:22,27
36. Jesus knows all men - John 16:30
37. Jesus opens the mind to understand scripture - Luke 24:45
38. Jesus received honor and glory from the Father - 2 Pet 1:17
39. Jesus resurrects - John 5:39;11:25-26;6:40,44,54
40. Jesus reveals grace and truth - John 1:17 see John 6:45
41. Jesus reveals the Father - Matt. 11:27 Luke 10:22
42. Jesus saves forever - Matt 18:11 John 10:28 Heb. 7:25
43. Jesus bears witness of Himself - John 8:18;14:6
44. Jesus' works bear witness of Himself - John 5:36;10:25
45. The Father bears witness of Jesus - John 5:37;8:18; 1 John 5:9
46. The Holy Spirit bears witness of Jesus - John 15:26
47. The multitudes bear witness of Jesus - John 12:17
48. The Prophets be ar witness of Jesus - Acts 10:43
49. The Scriptures bear witness of Jesus - John 5:39
50. The Father will honor us if we serve Jesus - John 12:26 see Col. 3:24
51. The Father wants us to fellowship with Jesus - I Cor 1:9
52. The Father tells us to listen to Jesus - Luke 9:35; Matt. 17:5
53. The Father tells us to come to Jesus - John 6:45
54. The Father draws us to Jesus - John 6:44
55. Everyone who's heard & learned from the Father comes to Jesus - John 6:45
56. The Law leads us to Christ - Gal. 3:24
57. Jesus is the Rock - 1 Cor. 10:4
58. Jesus is the Savior - John 4:42 1 John 4:14
59. Jesus is King - Matt. 2:1-6 Luke 23:3
60. In Jesus are the treasures of wisdom and knowledge - Col. 2:2-3
61. In Jesus we have been made complete. 2:10
62. Jesus indwells us - Col. 1:27
63. Jesus sanctifies - Heb. 2:11
64. Jesus loves - Eph. 5:25
65. We come to Jesus - John 5:40;7:37;6:35,37,45,65
66. We sin against Jesus - 1 Cor 8:12
67. We receive Jesus - John 1:12 Col. 2:6
68. Jesus makes many righteous - Rom 5:19
69. Jesus is the i mage of the invisible God - Heb. 1:3
70. Jesus sends the Holy Spirit - John 15:26
71. Jesus abides forever - Heb. 7:24
72. Jesus offered up Himself - Heb7:27;9:14
73. Jesus offered one sacrifice for sins for all time - Heb. 10:12
74. The Son of God has given us understanding - 1 John 5:20
75. Jesus is the author and perfecter of our faith - Heb. 12:2
76. Jesus is the Apostle and High Priest of our confession - Heb. 1:3
77. The Son of God has given us understanding - 1 John 5:20
78. Jesus cleanses us from our sins by His blood - Rev. 1:5; Rom. 5:9
79. Jesus is the Light of the world - John 9:5
80. Jesus has explained the Father - John 1:18
81. Jesus was crucified because of weakness - 2 Cor. 13:4
82. Jesus has overcome the world - John 16:33
83. Truth is in Jesus - Eph. 4:21
84. The fruit of righteousness comes through Jesus Christ - Phil. 1:11
85. Jesus delivers us from the wrath to come - 1 Thess 1:10
86. Disciples bear witness of Jesus Christ - John 15:27
87. Jesus died and rose again - 1 Thess. 4:14
88. The Christian dead have fallen asleep in Jesus - 1 Thess. 4:15
89. Jesus died for us - 1 Thess. 5:10
90. Jesus tasted death for everyone - Heb. 2:9
91. Jesus rendered the devil powerless - Heb. 2:14
92. Jesus is able to save completely - Heb. 7:25
93. Jesus was a ransom for many and to serve - Matt. 20:28
94. Jesus came to be a priest - Heb. 2:17
95. Jesus came to save - John 3:17; Luke 19:10
96. Jesus came to preach the kingdom of God - Luke 4:43
97. Jesus came to bring division - Luke 12:51
98. Jesus came to do the will of the Father - John 6:38
99. Jesus came to give the Father's words - John 17:8
100. Jesus came to testify to the truth - John 18:37

MASTURBATION

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT MASTURBATION?

"What does the Bible say about masturbation?" is one of our most frequently asked questions. Many Christians have found it difficult to answer this question according to the Bible, because the Bible never mentions masturbation specifically. To understand how God feels about this subject, we must examine other verses that deal with issues such as lust, self-control and purity. Also, we must examine its fruit to see if it is from God. We have tried to address this issue by answering some of the most frequently asked questions. Our prayer is that God will use this page to bring freedom and deliverance.

"Does God care about what we do in the privacy of our bedrooms?"

Sex is God's invention. He is the mastermind behind it—and His creation is worth far more to Him than it is to us. This beautiful expression of love was created out of His own heart, as a gift to be experienced between a husband and wife. It is only in marriage that this manifestation of intimacy can be fully enjoyed in the depth for which it was created.

"Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and the sexually immoral" (Hebrews 13:4, NIV).

"Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge" (Hebrews 13:4, KJV).

The more beautiful and unique something is (like sexual intercourse), the more power it holds over our lives, either for good or bad influence. That is why it is so easy for the devil to corrupt the most precious of God’s gifts. When we become more in love with the gifts than the One who endowed them, the things that were designed to bless us begin to destroy us instead. Yes, God cares about what we do with our bodies, in public or in private. He doesn’t want us to abuse ourselves in any way.

In fact, an older definition of masturbation is "self-abuse." Although more modern dictionaries may no longer carry this definition, they are still linked together under self-abuse:

Self-abuse noun¹

1. Abuse of oneself or one’s abilities.
2. Masturbation.

1 Corinthians 6:18 (NIV) further confirms this, saying that unlawful sexual relations defile our own bodies. "Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body."

"Isn't it still better to masturbate than to commit fornication?"

The easy answer to this question would be, "Yes, it is better to masturbate, because at best it corrupts only one person. It certainly is the lesser of two evils." However, why would a loving, holy, all-powerful God abandon you to a situation in which you have to choose any evil, whether it be "lesser" or "greater?" To really answer this question, we must again go back to God's original plan for sex.

First of all, masturbation will not truly relieve the sexual pressure that one may feel. It may for a short moment, but in the long run it only creates a deeper desire and capacity for sex, which will lead to more masturbation. If you let yourself become enslaved to a sexual high, you will find that you need to go to increasingly extreme acts to maintain the same degree of excitement. There are even ungodly sex therapists who recommend masturbation as a way of increasing sexual desire, not lessening it. This creates a vicious circle, like the junkie who craves a "fix," but is only temporarily satisfied. The more he indulges in his dependency, the more ensnared by addiction he becomes. This is the nature of all sin. That is why Jesus declared that all who sin become a slave to sin (John 8:34).

Furthermore, masturbation usually involves fantasy, visualization, and often pornography. The Bible is very clear as to what God expects of us in these areas of fantasy and lust. It teaches that we must not look lustfully at each other nor should we behave in such a manner as to entice others to lust after us.

"I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust upon a girl. I know full well that the Almighty God sends calamity on those who do" (Job 31:1-3, The Living Bible).

"You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (Matthew 5:28).

While the above verses refer to men lusting after women, all women know that it can very easily be reversed to apply to themselves as well. Men may be more easily visually stimulated than women, but women can be just as vulnerable to sexual fantasy in the emotional realm. Both are sin in God's eyes, and both can be brought into subjection by controlling our thoughts through Christ's power.

All sexual immorality begins with a thought. A lustful thought not taken captive, will eventually lead to other perversions, because sin reproduces itself in increasingly greater measures. If we do not deal with our evil thoughts, they will take root in our hearts.

It is for this reason that God is so concerned with our thought life. Jesus came not only to deliver us from our "outward" sins, but also from wickedness that begins in the heart.

Since masturbation begins with sin in the mind, it might be called an "affair of the mind" because it brings about sexual sin inflicted against one's own body. Although it brings a short lived gratification, it makes one feel defiled when continued on a regular basis. In fact, it is a form of fornication because fornication is more that just sex with someone before marriage, it includes many other sexual sins such as pornography and the use of sexual toys for gratification. People who are not satisfied with God's plan for sex commit idolatry by using evil things to experience weird and unlawful forms of sexual intercourse. Some verses in Ezekiel actually describe this kind of fornication.

Ezekiel 16:15-17: But you trusted in and relied on your own beauty and were unfaithful to God and played the harlot [in idolatry] because of your renown, and you poured out your fornications upon anyone who passed by [as you worshiped the idols of every nation which prevailed over you] and your beauty was his. (16) And you took some of your garments and made for yourself gaily decorated high places or shrines and played the harlot on them--things which should not come and that which should not take place. (17) You did also take your fair jewels and beautiful vessels of My gold and My silver which I had given you and made for yourself images of men, and you played the harlot with them.

"Isn't God unreasonable to demand sexual purity after giving us sexual drives that seem to overwhelm us at times?"

Our loving God never demands from us what is impossible for us to do. We are so weak within ourselves that it may seem impossible, but He will equip us with His holy power to overcome any sin, if we ask in faith.

Of course, sexual urges in and of themselves are not wicked. They are natural. God created us that way. He desires that we get optimum pleasure out of them by using them the way they were created to be used. However, many desires for physical gratification (whether it be food, sex, etc.) stem from a deeper need that is unfilled deep inside us. Gorging our flesh can never fill a hunger that grows out of our spirit. Only intimacy with God can fill the deepest needs inside of us. No other created thing has that power.

God is no more unreasonable than any caring parent who lovingly disciplines their child. It is only because He knows what is best for us. He sees a mighty potential in each one of us that far supersedes our wildest dreams, and He loves us enough to do all He can to bring it to pass.

"I agree with all the theory, but living it out on a day to day level is another story."

This is the place where we need the empowerment of the Holy Spirit in our everyday lives. The Holy Spirit is not a vague "force," but the very power of God to comfort you and strengthen you against the sins that used to rule you before you were born again. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we have the very ability that Jesus had to resist temptation. He depended completely upon the Father and so must we.

Something you must know is that God is not the one who is tempting you in this area to "test" you. God is on your side and wants to set you free from these things, not lead you into them! "When tempted, no one should say "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed" (James 1:13-14).

God wants us to overcome every sin and temptation in our lives. Please slowly read the following verses and let their message seep deep inside your spirit.

"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it" (1 Corinthians 10:13).

"For though we live in the world we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).

"In the same way count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master for you are not under law but under grace" (Romans 6:11-14).

"For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:15-16, King James Version).

"Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God" (2 Corinthians 7:1).

"Can I really be set free?"

"In (this) freedom, Christ has made us free—completely liberated us; stand fast then, and do not be hampered and held ensnared and submit again to a yoke of slavery—which you have once put off " (Galatians 5:1 Amp).

If you are in a real struggle with any form of sexual sin, we do not believe it was by accident that God led you to this teaching. He wants to set you free, starting right now! We would like to share several things that you can do to break loose from this stronghold:

1. Confess this sin first to God, then go to a committed Christian you trust, such as your pastor. Ask God to lead you to someone that you can be accountable with, who will be faithful to pray with you and for you. This will take humility on your part, but it will lead to life. James 5:16 says: "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." (You may not feel "righteous" but if you have admitted your sin to God and received His forgiveness, you are! That means your prayers are powerful and effective!)

2. Flee from and reject anything that aggravates this sin. For example, you may need to get off the Internet for a season or purchase software that blocks out pornography. This may sound too drastic, but it certainly is mild compared to Jesus who said, "If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body, than for your whole body to go into Hell" (Matthew 5:30). His point was that we must be willing to part with anything that causes us to sin—even if it hurts temporarily.

3. You may need to seek healing and deliverance from qualified Christians who are anointed in this area of ministry. If you have been deeply involved in sexual sins, the devil probably has a stronghold in that area of your life. If you can, find some people who can help you stand against the devil, for he is the one who seeks to lead you into temptation, and whispers lies of hopelessness and shame into your ears. If he drops a filthy thought into your mind just when you are trying to pray (he has used this tactic on even the holiest saints of God), tell him to leave in the name of Jesus! Recognize his voice for what it is, and submit yourself to God. As you do this and resist the devil, he will flee from you! He is deathly afraid of those who are submitted to God in brokenness and humility.

4. Don't give up! Deliverance might take time. Self-control takes effort. You may slip occasionally—or even a lot. But remember that God loves you and He will be faithful to perfect His character in you as long you keep submitting to Him. Eventually you will win—and not because of your best efforts, but because of God's mercy (Titus 3:5). Just as salvation is received in faith, so deliverance must be received in faith. This has nothing to do with our character, strength, or failings. The only thing it is dependant upon is you receiving it in humility. If you should fail, recognize it quickly; ask God to forgive you—and then receive His forgiveness! He is faithful to do that which He promised, not just in a select few mighty men and women of God, but in all who are willing to come humbly before Him. That includes you! We want to encourage you to hold on to this scripture as your anchor:

"May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it" (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).

If there is anything else we can do to help you, please let us know. In closing, we would like to pray for you:

"Father, we thank you for bringing this person into our website. We know that it was your Holy Spirit that led them here and we thank you for your faithfulness to them! We lift them up to you now and ask that You fill them with a desire for You that transcends every other desire they have ever known. Let them know your cleansing love and power. We thank you that he whom the Son has set free, is free indeed. We speak this freedom into the life of this one whom the devil has bound in shame. We speak healing and deliverance and we break every tie that has kept them under a spirit of addiction and perversion. We stand against the Evil One and his every plan to bring destruction in this one's life. Father, in faith, and by the power and authority You have given us, we declare that this one is FREE in the name of Jesus! We commit them to Your care and we loose Your Holy Spirit to minister to them at this very instant. We ask these things in the precious name of Your son, Jesus Christ."

FOR YOU

The love of God to guilty man is a love that passes knowledge. Its riches are unsearchable; and its extent past finding out.

For you,
the heavens have bowed their glory.

For you,
the Lord of life has descended to the earth.

For you,
the Son of God became the Son of man; and the possessor of a heavenly throne has been made the victim of an earthly cross.

For you,
this mysterious traveler upon the earth, was humbled and bruised, has agonized and died.

For you...
purity was tempted,
innocence suffers,
kindness is despised,
majesty is crushed,
and all the dignity and glory of
Immanuel is covered with shame.

Jesus did all this just to redeem you from inevitable condemnation; to save your perishing soul from an everlasting punishment in hell.

(Stephen Tyng, "Christ is All")

The Bible

The Bible is the richest treasure of the world.

Without it the palace is a dark blank.

With it the humble cottage sparkles with celestial light.

It is the transcript of God's heart.

It tells, what human reason is weak to find.

It is pure truth without one shade of error.

It gives knowledge on all things
needful for time and for eternity.

It is a safe guide through life's entangled path.

It is a compass . . .
through shoals and rocks;
amid winds and waves;
to heaven's eternal rest.

The sage is ignorant without it.

The peasant learns from it salvation's road.

It is a solace for every hour.

It is a companion always ready to converse.

It cheers when other comforts fail.

It is arrayed in every charm for intellect.

It never wearies.

It is always fresh.

Its oldest truths cannot grow old.

Its readers become more wise; more holy.

Other books may puzzle and corrupt. The
Bible is from heaven, and leads to heaven.
It enters the heart with purifying grace.

The more you search the Bible, the more your
minds will wonder, and your hearts will love.

Read it as literally true. Then no human
philosophy will beguile you.

Ponder its characters. You will find on
them the intrinsic stamp of truth.

(Henry Law, "Beacons of the Bible" 1869)

WHO IS YOUR GOD?

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, there will (if it has not happen already) be times in our lives where someone will ask you the inevitable question that all saints of God are eventually asked in this life... "Who is your God?". People want to know and because we are children and servants of the most high, people will recognize our peculiarity, ("A peculiar people." 1 Peter 2:9). As followers and lovers of the Lord, we must have such a strong relationship with God and His Word that we can answer such question with a conviction strong enough to change the hearts of those who would wholeheartedly listen to our answer. Speaking of 1 Peter... lets go back to that book and see what Peter himself tells us of how committed and bold we ought to be.

"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and [be] ready always to [give] an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear" 1 Peter 3:15

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, let me tell you what my answer would be if someone asked me, "Who is God?"

My dear friend,

God is Lord Almighty,
Omnipotent King
Lion of Judah,
Rock of Ages,
Prince of Peace,
King of Kings,
Lord of Lords,
Provider,
Protector,
Paternal Leader,

"Who is God?" My dear friend, God is...

Ruling Lord and
Reigning King of all the universe.
He is Father
He is Helper and
He is Guardian

"Who is God?" My dear friend, God is...

The First and Last,
The Beginning and the End.
The Keeper of creation and
The Creator of all He keeps.
The Architect of the universe and
The Manager of all times.

"Who is God?" My dear friend,

He always was,
He always is, and
He always will be.

He is,
Unmoved,
Unchanged,
Undefeated, and never
Undone.

"Who is God?"

He was bruised and brought healing.
He was pierced and eased pain.
He was persecuted and bought freedom.
He was dead and bought life.
He is risen and brings power.
He reigns and brings peace.

The world can't understand Him,
The armies can't defeat Him,
The schools can't explain Him, and
The leaders can't ignore Him.

Herod couldn't kill Him,
The Pharisees couldn't confuse Him,
The people couldn't hold Him.
Nero couldn't crush Him,
Hitler couldn't silence Him,
The New Age can't replace Him, and
Oprah can't explain Him away.

"Who is God?"

He is Light, Love, Longevity, and Lord.
He is Goodness, Kindness, Gentleness, and God.
He is Holy, Righteous, Mighty, Powerful, and Pure.

His ways are right,
His word is eternal,
His will is unchanging, and
His mind is on me.

"Who is God?"

He is my Redeemer,
He is my Savior,
He is my guide, and
He is my peace.
He is my joy,
He is my comfort,
He is my Lord, and
He rules my life.

I serve Him because
His bond is love,
His burden is light, and
His goal for me is abundant life.

I follow Him because He is
The Wisdom of the Wise,
The Power of the Powerful,
The Ancient of Days,
The Ruler of Rulers,
The Leader of Leaders,
The Overseer of the overcomer's, and
The Sovereign Lord of all that was and is and is to come.

And, if that seems impressive, how about this?

His goal is a relationship with ME!

He will
never leave me,
never forsake me,
never mislead me,
never forget me,
never overlook me, and
never cancel my appointment in His appointment book.

When I fall, He lifts me up.
When I fail, He forgives.
When I am weak, He is strong.
When I am lost, He is the way.
When I am afraid, He is my courage.
When I stumble, He steadies me.
When I am hurt, He heals me.
When I am broken, He mends me.
When I am blind, He leads me.
When I am hungry, He feeds me.
When I face trials, He is with me.
When I face persecution, He steels me.
When I face problems, He comforts me.
When I face loss, He provides for me.
When I face death, He carries me Home.

"Who is God?" My dear friend,

He is
Everything for
Everybody,
Everywhere,
Every time, and
Every way.

He is God.

He is faithful,
I am His, and
He is mine.

And, here is the reason I feel so secure: God said it, I believe it, and that settles it.

God is in control, I am on His side, and that means all is well with my soul.

Hallelujah!

I love you all. Stay encouraged and blessed, for Surely God is at hand.

Maranatha (Our Lord Cometh)

Elder J. Andres Vazquez

Top 10 Reasons You Can Access the Throne of God.

You have access to the throne of God. Don’t walk back and forth in the outer courts. Enter into His presence and access the throne.

10. The cross made the way •
When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and released his spirit. John 19:30

9. You have an invitation •
So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Hebrews 4:16

8. Jesus is praying for us •
Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. Romans 8:34

7. God said Yes •
For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.2 Corinthians 1:20

6. God’s Character •
God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through? Numbers 23:19

5. God’s Love •
No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:39

4. You are a child of God •
And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty. 2 Corinthians 6:18

3. You are a holy priest •
And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. 1 Peter 2:5

2. The name of Jesus •
You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. John 14:13

1. The blood of Jesus •
And so, dear brothers and sisters we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. Hebrews 10:19