Word Shield

1 Peter 1: 5

…who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

It is important for us to remind ourselves that God has provided for our protection. It is his power that saves us but that power is at work through our faith. His power is activated and operated through our faith. When we speak words of faith, we activate his power in our lives. We say out of our mouths that God is our fortress and our protector; he is our shield and our refuge. When we do speak these strong words of faith, the power of God comes on the scene to fulfill its role. God said that his word never returns to him void without having accomplished that for which it was sent (Isaiah 55:11). So when we boldly profess his word regarding protection, that word must bring about God’s protective forces. His angels are standing by to do the works of the Lord and they hearken to His word. Appropriate all of God’s blessings for yourself by boldly declaring all that God has promised you.

Speaking, Believing and Truth

Romans 10: 9      (New Living Translation)

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

This verse shows how the Kingdom of God works. In order to receive salvation we must believe with our hearts and confess with our mouths. Now, how do you suppose we are to receive anything and everything else? We are to believe in our hearts and confess with our mouths. You see, since this is how the Kingdom of God operates you understand that the same way you receive salvation is the exact same way you receive everything. Once you know the will of God for a situation, the methodology is the same. Keep confessing the scripture that covers your situation until the promise of God materializes in this earth. He has already given us everything in the heavenly realm (Eph. 1: 3) so all we have to do is appropriate it, transferring the blessing into the physical earth. We do that by speaking faith filled words. Our faith in God’s promise is what translates that blessing into the earth. We must continue to say out of our mouths that which God says about the situation. Then we shall have the promised blessing.

Get a Life

Genesis 6: 3

Then the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.”

Many of you know that I have been studying diet and nutrition for the last several years. It has been the subject of much of my prayer and conversation with the Father. I have also been very interested in the expected life span of humans. Last week I drove to Huntsville, Alabama for a ministry conference which gave me plenty of time to listen to CD’s. One I listened to was by a doctor. He has no ministry affiliation and his talk was not about the God connection to our health.

Imagine my surprise when he said that we ought to be living to 120 years. Wow! Now why did he pick that number? Does he know what the Bible says? He explained that physiologically humans should be living to 120. Of course, I knew that. God said that thousands of years ago. But, to tell the whole truth, that should be the minimum. You see, in Genesis 6: 3 God was speaking to a disobedient and rebellious people. Today’s verse isn’t really granting 120 years, it is limiting people’s life span to 120 years. Human beings were wearing God out. He said, “I am not going to strive with man forever!” So, he cut their lifespan off to 120 years. Isn’t that amazing? So, this doctor sees physiologically the result of God’s words in Genesis 6: 3.

Now then, the first response I often get when I tell people they should live to 120 years is that they don’t want to live all crippled and feeble. Really? Are you kidding me? Do you really think that was God’s intention? Did God say, “I am going to limit your years on the earth to 120 but I am going to make you decrepit and feeble at 60 or 70.” Of course, if you listen to the world today you will hear that we should begin to fall apart at 50. I’m sorry guys. I am just not going to do it and I hope you will join me. I have a vision for riding my bike at 120 years old. Moses wasn’t feeble at 120 years old and I am not going to be either.

So now let’s allow the big revelation to go off in us. If Moses and all of those rebellious Israelites were allowed 120 years, honestly, what should we, the redeemed of God, expect for a life span. Since we are covered with the blood and resurrection power of Christ our Lord, shouldn’t we have a bigger vision than those desert wandering, lost in the fog, idol worshipping, rebels? I mean, I love them and I want every one of them to be in heaven but they weren’t washed in the blood, were they? Their sin stuck to them whereas ours is washed away. So, if the sin stained live to 120 to what age should the redeemed of Christ live until?

So, sign a new lease on life. Renew for another 50, 60 or 70 years. Renew for 100 if that is what is in your heart. I believe with you. And be healthy until the day you decide to change addresses. Jesus is health as well as life (Psalm 107: 20). Go on, get a new life today!!

For additional insights Please See the Word of the Day for July 22, 2015.

He Ain’t Heavy

Malachi 2: 10

Do we not all have one father? Has not one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously each against his brother so as to profane the covenant of our fathers?

This verse can relate to many issues among human relations. It speaks to race divisions, gender schism or any other group we can split off from ourselves. Even amongst those we call brother, we deal treacherously and with discrimination and criticism. This verse brought to my mind the separation many of us experience and even nurture between various denominations of our own faith. As if there is not enough separation of people by our different religions, those of us of one household (if you will), the protestants, deal unkindly with each other. We sometimes speak disparagingly of other denominations and/or their beliefs.

We should not be preaching against other denominations. Which one of us holds all of the truths? There is one truth we must all embrace and that is Himself, Jesus, the Christ who said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life (John 14: 6). From there we need to learn to appreciate that we are all one with the Father. We have one Father. We do not have to agree on every point of doctrine if we will put love in first place. With love we are able to do all things, even tolerate our brothers.

On Track

Psalm 32: 8

I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.

I am always attracted to the many scriptures that tell us that God will lead us and teach us. It seems to me that as long as we have his counsel, that he is guiding our steps and instructing us, that there is really no need left in our lives. He can always lead us into what we need and also give us wisdom and knowledge for each situation. With God leading us, we can never go too far astray. Perhaps we do not always listen as well as we might but he is right there to help us get back on the right path. His eye is on us, looking over us and watching out for us. We are certainly blessed. Incline your ear towards him so that you will better hear the instruction of the Lord.

Goal Setting

Habakkuk 2: 2

“Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it.”

This verse is the anchor pin of a good goal setting seminar. God told the people that he was going to give them a message in the form of a vision. He then instructed them to write down the vision so that the person who reads it might be able to “run with it.” That language is used in the figurative sense. God wanted it written down so that it would not be forgotten and so that it could be reviewed systematically. He wanted it written in plain language so that it could be clearly understood by all and so they could aggressively go after the goal. God was teaching here as well. He is telling us today to write down the vision he gives us; the vision for our goals, future and calling. Having written it down, review it daily. When we do so, it is easier to daily pursue our dreams and goals. You’ve got to have it written down and in front of your eyes in order to keep you on target for the big things God has for you.

Inbox

1 Peter 5: 7

Casting all your care upon Him for He cares for you.

This is the instruction the Lord gives for all the worry and care that plague you. Give it to Him. Roll all of the care of your problems and concerns over onto Him. Take the problem and mentally see yourself putting it in God’s “In box”. Write it on a piece of paper and make an “In” box if you need to but get that junk out of your mind and out of your Spirit. Put it in to the hands of He who is well able to resolve all of the problems. All that junk just hampers your creativity and takes your mind off of your relationship with your Father. Turn off that stuff and turn your thoughts on to the God of creation. Hand the problem to Him in prayer and then move on. He is waiting to take on every single problem in your life. Give Him a job.