Confidence

On July 10, 2023   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Psalm 27: 13 – 14          (NIV)

I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.

You know, life isn’t always easy. We know that we have the victory of the Lord, but sometimes living in the fulness of that victory is a challenge. I want to encourage you today. Don’t give up. Don’t despair. If we persist, we shall see the goodness of the Lord and I have no doubt.

This passage was written by David. He had a most interesting relationship with Yahweh, our God and Father. In fact, I think it is a good exercise to read David’s psalms solely with an eye on relationship language, looking at how he interacted with God.

David went through some trials, to say the least. One of the most informative examples of his life was how he faithfully served Saul only to find himself persecuted by the very same Saul to whom showed such honor and servitude. There is a life lesson there alone. Young David found himself pursued by Saul’s troops for no reason. He had no peace or rest, in the natural, but learned to find his solace and peace in the love and protection of the Father.

David urges us to stay strong and take heart as we await the goodness of the Lord. It is what he did. Although Saul persecuted and harassed him, God established the throne of Israel in David. In fact, Jesus is of the house of David. So, although David may have, at times, been down, he was never out, and he knew it because he knew who his father was. He knew that God would not fail him and that he would see the goodness of the Lord on this side of heaven.

My hope is that David’s experience and his words offer encouragement today. God is alive and He is attentive. He loves you and sends this word to lift your spirits and give you hope. Be blessed.

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Assigned Seating

On November 21, 2022   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Ephesians 1: 20-22

He raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church.

Ephesians 2: 6

. . . and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus.

I want you to see your position and specifically your position relative to Satan. God has elevated Jesus above all things including the rule, authority, power and dominion of the devil. He has put all things beneath Jesus’ feet. That includes the devil and all his imps. Then in order to make His joy complete, God raised us up to sit in the heavenly places with Jesus. You are right now seated at the right hand of the Father with Christ Jesus. Just because your body is sitting in your office or at home doesn’t make this any less true. Spiritually you are in Jesus and Jesus in you. You have been elevated with Jesus. His victory is your victory. And when the Father put the devil under Jesus’ feet, guess what happened. He put him in subjection under your feet too.

Look, we do not have to be run around and beaten up by the devil. When we begin to understand who we are and what rights we have in Christ then we will with confidence tell the devil exactly where he can go and what he can do. Jesus said that we no longer have to be subject to the yoke of slavery. We are free and that includes being free from the persecution of the devil.

When he starts at you, you let him know that he has no right over you and to get back under your feet where he belongs.

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Just Passin’ Through

On October 10, 2022   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Isaiah 43: 2

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched.

There are two messages (at least) in this passage. First, when you are going through rough times, make sure you go through. Don’t pitch a tent and stay there. I have seen people who become so enamored with having problems that they camp out in them. They never seem to move out of the valley of the shadow of death. Instead, they apply for a permanent address. Don’t fall in love with your problems or with the attention you receive from having trouble. Go through. Keep moving.

Secondly, God will be with you so that the troubles do not overcome you. We are overcomers in Christ Jesus, so we are not meant to live under the torment of problems. Jesus will bring you right on through so that not even the stench of the fire will be on your clothing. Put your eyes on Him instead of on the trouble. Don’t let the problem dictate your life when Jesus is your Lord. Stay focused on His victory rather than your problem. Why raise the problem over the glory of the Lord? Why put it on the highest pinnacle? Make those problems bow their knee to Jesus and claim Jesus’ victory as superior to any and all problems.

Life will deal out problems every now and again, but you are not meant to be the slave of them. You were not destined to serve the problem nor grovel under its power. Those problems are to get under your feet. You are in Jesus, and He has already overcome the world and all of its torment. Be, therefore, no longer a victim but rather a victor in Jesus.

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Triumph

On November 11, 2021   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

2 Corinthians 2: 14

But thanks be unto God, which always causes us to triumph in Christ.

The most important word in this sentence for us may be “always”. We don’t have a hard time believing that God causes people to triumph, but we do have trouble with always. Always includes every time and every person. That means you. It also includes whatever situation you are facing right now. God has already created the victory in that situation. Only when we first embrace this truth will we see it manifested though. He has created the victory, but you have to receive it. You cannot have what you cannot believe. It is just impossible. That is why you see Christians who are not triumphant. We have yet to accept God’s victory for ourselves.

Think of it this way. You know that Jesus has overcome the trouble of the world. For whom did He fight the battle and claim the victory? It was for us, right? If not, He could have just stayed in heaven and lived forever in paradise. He came to this earth in order to bring the victory to you. He was already successful, but we were suffering and going down for the third time. Now that He has triumphed over the devil, we don’t have to be beaten up by every little scheme the devil and his minions can think up. When the devil comes at you with trouble and aggravation, remind him that you are of God and already have the victory that has overcome the world.

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Victory in Jesus

On May 11, 2021   /   Word of the Day   /   2 Comments

1 Corinthians 15: 57          Young’s Literal

And to God — thanks, to Him who is giving us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

This verse caught my eye today because of its tense. It does not say, as one might expect, that God gave us the victory in Christ. He is presently and perpetually giving us victory in every circumstance. Why is this important?

Some people think that because Jesus defeated Satan, we get to float through life as upon a cloud. This is not the case. The Amplified Version reads, “but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory [as conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ.” We become conquerors through Jesus. His victory can become our own. Because Jesus is victorious, we too can be.

This is the intertwined life. One can be a Christian and yet stand apart from the life in Christ. Then his victory is far removed from us. However, when we live in him and him in us as he discussed in the gospel of John, then we learn how to put on his victory in each circumstance of our lives. We are allowed to partake of his victory and claim it as if it were ours. And, it is ours, through a life intertwined with him.

So, what do I mean by this? First, you must know Christ as Lord and know of his victory. Then overcoming is through his blood and our testimony. In other words, we have to say something. That is how we put on his victory. We claim it with our words. For example, “By his stripes I am healed!” “I am blessed coming in and going out”. Whatever the Word says, when you proclaim that you are speaking Jesus’ victory into your life. Keep faith words in your mouth and meditate on God’s promises. You can put on Jesus’ victory because it was for you that he even came to earth. There would have been no contest and no victory but for God’s love for humanity. But, look around you. Are all Christians living in the victory of Christ? No. Some do and some don’t. It is not automatic. A faith stand speaking a testimony of belief clothes you with Jesus’ victory. Meditate on the promise of God. Speak it from a position of faith and don’t give in to doubt and worry. You will be a conqueror in Jesus.

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Overcoming the World

On March 25, 2021   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Revelations 12:11

And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony.

There seems to be confusion over who fights and who wins the battles of life. What role does Jesus play? What role do we play? Has he not defeated the enemy? Fortunately, the Bible answers these challenging questions for us, as you will see.

Let’s answer it this way. You know of how Moses led the Israelite nation out of Egypt, the pursuit by Pharaoh’s army and ultimately Israel’s escape through the Red Sea. Let us look at some key language from that event. “Then the Lord said to Moses, . . . ‘Lift up your staff and reach out with your hand over the sea and divide it’. Then Moses reached out with his hand over the sea; and the Lord swept the sea back by a strong east wind all night, and turned the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided,” (Exodus 14: 15 – 16, 21). So, who parted the Red Sea? If you answered “both” you are right and that is what we need to understand. The answer to overcoming trouble is in our partnership with the Trinity.

Now look at John 16: 33, “These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” Why should we be encouraged that Jesus overcame the world? He just said we would have trouble in the world. Jesus understood the partnership with the Father. It is the intertwined life which is the message of this ministry. In Jesus and through his victory, we too can be victorious. It isn’t automatic though. If it were, he wouldn’t have need to encourage us and he certainly would not have told us that in this world we were going to have trouble. He would have said, “All your problems will be taken care of because I am victorious.” He didn’t say that though, did he? He said, take heart because I have overcome, meaning that in his overcoming is our own. Because he overcame the world, we are now able to be overcomers too.

Today’s verse wasn’t an accident. John wrote out the formula for overcoming problems. Victory is in the blood of the lamb and in the word of our testimony. Isn’t that what it says? This is so huge. There is no way to overstate the importance of these two elements. Jesus has already done his part but ours is constant. In every situation we must speak. In fact, our words cast the deciding ballot. Victory was purchased by the blood of the lamb. It must, however, be applied to our lives and situations and we do that with our words. We either speak the victory or confess defeat with our words. Am I sick, or healed? What does the Word say? Am I rich or poor? What does the Word say? What should I expect in my work and my relationships? Is the blessing operating in my life, or the curse?

The blood of the lamb has been cast. All that is left is the word of our testimony. If we do nothing with the victory Jesus purchased with his blood, then we will have no victory. If Moses didn’t raise his staff, that sea would never have parted. God wants to teach us this extremely valuable lesson. Victory is yours but only if you apply it to your life. What is the word of your testimony? Will it bring you what you desire? If not, what should you say which would be in line with victory? Maybe I should have titled today’s message “Blood and Guts” because it is going to take both to overcome the world. Now then, tell me, what are you saying?

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Aid

On July 13, 2020   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Psalm 108: 12 – 13      NIV

Give us aid against the enemy, for human help is worthless. With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies.

These two verses capture well how I feel about the coronavirus situation. We have battled it with our human wisdom, yet it seems we are getting nowhere. I appreciate the Herculean efforts researchers and medical personnel are investing in this problem. They truly are heroes. However, despite their tireless efforts, the virus continues to ravage the world. It is truly amazing how it tears through populations. We need intervention, Divine intervention.

No doubt that with God we will gain the victory. He is glorious and everything that is named must bow to Him. The virus and the disease it causes have names, so must bow to the awesome names, Yahweh and Yeshua (Father and Son). Our God is a mighty fortress and a powerful force. He is the shelter into which we can run but He is also our defender, forward and rear guard. He is gentle with the frightened and hurting but a fierce foe against anything that threatens His children. His love creates a safe haven, but it also tramples our adversary.

We need rescuing now. We need help against the enemy now. There is no authority in the earth that can overcome this dilemma. Even if the WHO was empowered and completely effective, not all nations are members. There is only one who reigns over the entire world. Bless His holy name, He loves members of every country, race and nationality. He is our one and only Father, our beloved. He is the morning sun, the bright and shining hope; our love and our life. Bless the Lord. Give praise to His name. Sing of His glory and enduring kindness. Beseech His aid. In one unified voice, call Yahweh. Seek Him and His face. Glory to the Lord; glory and praise. May all who have voice cry out to Him and praise His holy name.

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