Believes Authority in Christ!

You Hold the Keys

Psalm 18:37-38 “I have pursued my enemies and overtaken them. They are falling under my feet.”

if you have been standing around world in your hands and worrying about what the devil is doing, it’s time you make us switch. It’s time you put the devil under your feet. Jesus has already given you all the power and authority you need to do it. He’s giving you the keys of the kingdom. He’s promised you that whatever you declared declare locked on Earth is locked in heaven and whatever you declare unlock on Earth is unlocked in heaven Matthew chapter 16 verses 19. That means you can speak the word and bind wicked spirits. You can speak the Word and lose the challenge forces of God The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want. Make it me to lie down in green pastures he leadeth me beside the still waters songs 23 The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want angelic forces of God to work in your favor and behalf. What’s more, you’ve been given the power of attorney that enables you to use the mighty name of Jesus. A name that above every other name. A name which will cause every need to bow in heaven, in Earth, and under the Earth. so don’t waste time worrying about the devil. Take authority over him. Find the evil spirits that are trying to destroy your home, your church and your nation. Luce God’s word in the earth and enforce it with the name of Jesus. You hold the keys. Learn to use them and before long the devil will be wiggling his hands worrying about you!

Mark chapter 4 verses 16 to 17 as these are they likewise which are sown on Stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately received it with gladness; and have no root in themselves oh, and so and endure but for a time: after word, when affliction or persecution arises for the word sake, immediately they are offended.

Don’t be Stony ground. There seems to be an abundance of Stony ground Christians these days. They get excited about the word of God. They’re here a message on prosperity, for instance, and they’ll go home saying, hallelujah! I’m going to a prosper in the name of Jesus! But then, somehow, things don’t work out like they thought they should. Their bank balance doesn’t double overnight. They go through some disappointments. They suffer some circumstances. Then, before you know it, their faith has withered away. If you don’t want that to happen to you, make up your mind right now that you’re not going to let the rough times defeat you. Decide now that you’re going to hang on to the word even when the precipitations and afflictions come because, I am guaranteed I can guarantee you they will come. When you decide to walk by faith you don’t get rid of trials. you learn to overcome them. When you let the word of God get down into your heart, you’ll you’re going to learn more about the devil then you ever wanted to know because he’s going to do his best to see to it that the word is unfruitful in you. He’s going to try to mess you up every time you turn around. You don’t have a problem, but the difference is now you have the answer the word of God. Thank God, however through Christ Jesus you have the power to defeat Satan. When he brings problems and disappointments your way, you don’t have to lie down and let them steamroll over you. Just keep fighting the good fight of Faith until you win. Sure you’ll get knocked down sometimes. But when you do, get back up and say look here double I’m going to let you I’m not going to let you steal the word out of my heart. it’s in here and I’m meditating on it. I’m saying it with my mouth and I’m acting on it until God’s blessings overtake me. If you don’t believe me, just hide and hide and watch! If you will take the attitude no matter what the devil does Hill never make a Stony ground Christian out of you.

Hit Him with the Rock

Psalm 23:1-2 > “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadth me besides still water.”

Have you ever thought about David

Nothing To Lose; Isaish 3:10-11 > “Say ye to tge righteous, That is shall be well with him for that shout E the food of their doing. Woe unto the wicked! It shall be ill with him for the reward of his hand shall be given.”

Have you ever been afraid to give your self totally to the Lord because you think you might be deprived of some pleasure in your life? Chances are, you have. That’s because Satan is working overtime to convince you that he can really make your life worth living. But don’t believe him for a minute. The real truth, yielding completely to the Lord won’t cost you anything that’s worth having. It will only cause you to to to write live life to its fullest! Jesus is life on Earth was a perfect example of the total of a totally healed life. He was walking it was a walking example of the benefits God Godly living brings. Everywhere he went, Jesus made the deaf hear, the blind see, the lame walk. His he live in perfect peace and absolute victory. That all sounds pretty good to me. All he’s missed out on was the devil getting Dominic getting domination over him to kill steal and destroy. In fact the devil couldn’t do anything to him until by the father until, by the father’s well, he said he laid down his life. Until that time Jesus walked in and told him victory over the enemy. Do you think would miss out on a lot if you live that way? Of course not! You can walk in the same anointing and power and glory of God that Jesus did. Do you have to give up your whole life to do it? Yes! You have to trade your life for the life of God. You have to trade your sickness for his healing, your poverty for his Prosperity, your anxiety for his, you’re sitting for his salvation. So why hesitate? When it gets right down too it, you really had nothing to lose.

How would you like to to be so full of the glory of God that it’s unmistakably mistakable to those around you? How would you like for people to be able to know just by looking at you that you’d been in with Jesus? It’s entirely possible if you are born again and filled with the Holy Spirit. The same Mighty power that changed un Wordly when you were safe can be read outwardly when you were saved that’s even strangers on the street will be able to see Jesus in you. What a my favorite testimonies is the one Jerry’s saving all photos of the time he was in a shopping mall with his wife, Caroline. He was so annoying from one store to another, casually passing time until Caroline finished her shopping. A woman walked out to Jerry and said, will you pray for me? Since he didn’t know the woman, he was puzzled. Out of all the people in the mall, how was it that she’d picked him out? He asked. She said, the Lord told me to come to the to this mall and someone would be here who could pray for me. I came here looking for that person. I noticed a beam of light. It would go into one store and wander around then go to another store and wander around more. I followed the light until I found where it was coming from and it was coming from you! What was the that light? The glory of God! It was shining from Jerry much like get shown from the face of Moses when he came down from the Mount Sinai. And the radiant presence of God brought healing to that woman when Jerry prayed. Just as the fact Peter and John had been with Jesus was unmistakably, so was the face that Jerry had been with Jesus when that lady walked up to him in the mall. When you spend time with Jesus, it will be undeniable. His power and His glory will be collecting in you to the world. And his presence and so you will meet your you will meet needs everywhere you go. Take time to be with Jesus today. Acts 4 213 Exodus chapter 4 verse 13 now then they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceive that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled and they took knowledge of them. That they had been with Jesus.

Leave the past behind Philippians chapter 3 verses 13 and 14 but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which were behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press for toward forward the mark of the prize of the High Calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Spiritual spiritual bumps and bruises. In her aches and pains that don’t see that just don’t seem to go away. Most of all of us know that what it’s like to suffer from them but too few of us know just what to do about them. We limp along, hopping somehow those hidden ones hoping somehow that those hit hidden wounds will majestically stop hurting, thinking that maybe with some extra sleep or an extra helping of dessert that nagging sense of depression will finally disappear. But does it ever happened that way? No! I know. I’ve been there. But thank God, I’m not there anymore. You see, over the past few years, I say some Financial spiritual battles. And I found out those battles can leave you bruised and beaten up on the inside just as surely as a fistfight can leave you bruised and beaten up on the outside. Before I was born. I learned just how physically devastating a real Slug It Out kind of brawl could be. As bad as I felt, a few days rest would take care of me. The healing of a bruised and beaten Spirit, however, doesn’t come that easy. In fact, the passing of time often worse than these conditions. The reason is this instead of putting painful failures behind us, we often dwell on them until those failures become more real to us than the promises of God. We focus on them until we become bogged down in depression, Frozen and our tracks by the fear that if we go on, will only fail again. But there is a way out. If depression has put you into a spiritual nosedive, all you have to do to break out of it is to get your eyes off the past and onto your future a future that Spain guaranteed by Christ Jesus true the exceeding great and precious promises in his word. Chances, that won’t come easily to you at first. Your mind has probably had years of practice in focusing on the past. Like an old horse that habitat Italy heads for the barn oh, your thoughts will probably start Galloping in that direction every time you give them any slack. So, don’t give them that slack. Keep the range tight. Prosperity meditate purposely meditate on the word of God. Replay starts of the past with scriptural promises about your future and be diligent about it. Then instead of being a wounded soldier, you’ll become the Concord the Conquering Warrior God has made you to be.

Acts chapter 4 versus 1 to 20 now as they spoke to the people the priests the captain of the temple and the Sadducees Came Upon them being greatly Disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them and put them in custody until the next day for it was already evening. However many of those who heard the word believed and the number of the men came to be about five thousand. And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers their elders and scribes as well as Anna’s the high priest Type S Jon and Alexander as many as were of the family of the high priests were gathered together at Jerusalem. And they and when they had set them in the mess they asked by what power or by what name have you done this? Then Peter filled with the Holy Spirit said to them rulers of the people and Elders of Israel if we this day our judge for a good deed done to a helpless Man by what means he has been made well let it be known to you all and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth who crucified whom God raised from the dead by him this man stands here before you whole. This is the stone which was rejected by the Builder which has become the Chief Cornerstone nor in this salvation in any others nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under Heaven given among men by which we must be safe. Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men they Marvel. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. And seen the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. But when they had commanded them to go out of a side go outside of the council they confirmed among themselves saying what shall we do to these men? For indeed that a notable Miracle has been done through them in evidence to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us Acts chapter 41220 now as they spoke to the people the priest the captain of the temple and the saddest he’s came upon them being greatly disturb that they taught the people and preach and Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them and put them in cuss until the next day for it was already evening. However many of those who heard the word believed and the number of the men came to be about $5,000. And it came to pass, on the next day, that they’re rulers their Elders in Scrubs as well as Ennis the high priest Kaya pests John and Alexander as many as were of the family of the high priest were gathered together a Jerusalem. And they and when they had set them in the mess they asked by what power or by what name have you done this? Then Peter filled with the Holy Spirit said to them rules of the people and elders of Israel if we this day our judge for a good deed done to help with man by what means he has been made well let it be known to you all and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth home you crucified home God raised from the dead by him this man stands here before U-Haul. This is the stone which was rejected by the Builder which has become the Chief Cornerstone nor in this Salvation in any others nor is there salvation and any other, for there is no other name under having given among men by which we must be saved. Now when they saw the bonus of Peter and John and received that they were uneducated and on train men they Marvel. And they realize that they had been with Jesus. And seen the man who had been healed Danny with them, they could say nothing against it. But when they had commanded them to go out aside go outside of the council they confirmed among themselves saying what show we do to these men? For indeed that notable miracle has been done to them in evidence to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threatened them, that from now on they speak to know man in this name. So they call them and commanded them not to speak at all North teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them what was weather it is right in the side of God to listen to you more than two God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have been which we have seen in heard. So when they had threatened them they let them go find a no way up punishing them because the people set because of the people sense they all glorified God for what had been done. For the man was over 40 years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.

Philippians chapter 3 verses 12 to 21 not that I have already attained or Mr already perfect perfect it but I press on that I may lay hold of that of which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already obtained attained oh, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind. Brethren, just in the following my example. And note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. For many walk, of whom I have told you, and now tell you even weeping that they are the enemies of the Cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame – who set their mind on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body our lowly bodies that is made that it may be confirmed through his glorious body according to the working by which he is able even to subdue all things to himself.

The Key to Confidence: You Can NEVER Get Away from DISOBEYING GOD!

A Royal Role: To all who did receive him, to those who believe in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. – John 1:12

The closer someone is in a royal family is to the throne the more the public hears about him or her others are almost forgotten. The royal family has a line of succession that indicate nearly 60 people. One of them is Lord Friedrich Windsor, whose 49th in line for the throne. Instead of being in the Limelight, he quietly goes about his life. So he works as a financial analyst, he’s not considered a working Royal one of the most important family members who are paid for representing representing the family. David’s son Nathan to Samuel 524 team is another Royal who lived outside the Limelight. Very little is known about him but wow the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew mentions his name his son’s name Solomon tracing Joseph line in Matthew.

Matthew chapter 1 verse 6 Luke’s genealogy with which may scholars believe in Mary’s family line mention Nathan Luke chapter 3 verse 31 Nathaniel didn’t hold a spectre he still had a role in God’s forever Kingdom. As Believers in Christ were also Royal. The Apostle John wrote that God gave us the right to become children of God John chapter 1 verse 12 though we may not be in the spotlight we’re Children of the king! God considers each of us important enough to represent him here on Earth into one day reign with him 2 Timothy chapter 2 in vs 11 to 13 like the Daniel me may not wear an Earthly Crown, but we still have a part to play in God’s Kingdom.

How does knowing you’re royalty Godzilla make you feel? As a child of the king, what do you see as your responsibilities to the people around you?

Traveling father I’m grateful that you adopted me into your Forever family.

1 John 3:21-22 > “Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.”

Some people think they can get away with disobeying God. We think that if no one finds out about it, it won’t hurt anything. After all, God is merciful. He’s not going to hold it against them right? And if no one else knows what’s the difference? What they don’t realize is that their own Hearts full start giving them problems. Their own heart will start to condemn them. Everyone else may think they’re great. They may be Beauty Faith talk over all the places but when they come before God In Prayer they will be filled with doubt and fears that keep their prayers from being answered. That’s one of the reasons why it is so important to live in obedience to the Lord. A life of obedience will give you a spiritual baldness you never had before. It will give you a bonus in prayer and fullness in faith. It will give you a confident towards God, as the Apostle John says, that those who are trying to get away with sin don’t have. I’m not saying that you have to be perfect that you must never make a mistake. Just that you should walk in obedience to the right you have. Take the time to listen and be responsive to the spirit of God. When he tells you to do something, do it. As you do, the confidence will raise up within you. It won’t be something you eventually drummed up or talked yourself into. It will just be there. Instead of being consumed with doubt and feelings with the word of God isn’t going to work for you, you’ll find yourself filled with faith that it will. You’ll begin to trust God and to fo with him. You’ll come to a place the Bible calls “rest in the Lord.” Remember this even though the turtle price of your sin has been paid, a life of a Disobedience wolf still cost you dearly. It will cost you the that is rightly rightfully yours in Jesus. It will rob you of faith and rock you with fear.

Monday July 20, 2020:                                       

The Lord makes his face shine on you and be gracious to you. Numbers 6:25.

From 4:00 to 6:00 a.m. I spend time in prayer and devotion. I find it the best time to engage in conversation with God, praising and thanking God for each new day. As I was meditating one morning, I thought:                 What does God’s smile look like? What can we do to make God smile? Just then, I remembered Jesus pictures and seeing smiles with the little children. As I set here writing this devotional I see in my mind his wonderful smile and imagine God smile on me. And remember we are children of God, as children God his smiling is filled with encouragement and lots of love. I thank you Father for a love and warmth I have of your smile in mt heart.

A smile can bring encouragement to someone who is sad or lonely, a way of saying to someone who is heartbroken you are not alone. God loves you and so do I in Jesus. No matter the deed. When people see you smile they want to know why your smiling. I have been asked why I smile, I tell them, my Heavenly Father has given me a wonderfully blessed day.

The days are not about me they are about our loving Father in heaven. An unconditional I just can’t explain. And when I can’t explain It’s ALL GOD.

Nearly everyone wants to feel they belong that they are part of a group have a cultural Identity or acceptance. Through this need is so just need is often associated with teenage years we all have it. Despite having the same surname some people do not experience the joy of belonging to a family of being part of a joint history. Many people have no one with whom they can share their joy and hope or their sorrow and fear. In my Ministry I meet many people who come to church along alone and because and become part of a new family the family of God. In Christ we become new air are the kingdom of God. The family of faith can create space for new beginners renewed hope for living in this life in New Hope in life eternal. It is God’s wish that we become part of his family Jesus taught this when he in instructed the disciples to begin this Prayer by saying our father Jesus share the glory of the father with his disciples as with all of us. Everyone is welcome in the family of faith because our heavenly father loves us.

I dropped my forehead to my hand with the side I don’t know how I’m going to get it all done my friends Voice crackled through the phone you had to give yourself some credit you’re doing a lot he then list list of the things I was trying to do maintain a healthy lifestyle work do well in graduate school right and at end of Bible study I wanted to do all these things for God but instead of instead I was more focused on what I was doing then how I was doing it or that perhaps I was trying to do too much Paul reminded the church and collision that they were to live in a way that glorify God ultimately that what day specifically did on a day-to-day basis was not as important as how they did it they were to do their work with compassion kindness humility gentleness and patience Colossians 3:12 to be giving and above all the love into do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus their work wasn’t to be separated from christ-like living what we do matters but how we do it why and who we do it for matters more each day we can choose to work in a stress stressed out way or in a way that honors God and seek out the meaning Jesus added to our work when we pursue the ladder we find satisfaction in what ways do you do things out of Need for obligation rather than for God’s glory how do you think meaning is found in Christ rather than accomplishment prayer Jesus forgive me for the time I stress over what I’m trying to accomplish help me to indeed seek to accomplish the things for your glory in Jesus name amen.

You can generally tell where a map was drawn by what lies in its middle. We tend to think our home is in the center of the world so we put a. In the middle and stretch out stretch it out from there nearby towns might be 50 miles to the North or half a day drives itself for all are described in relation to where we are the song Thomas Drew this map from God’s Earthly home in the Old Testament so the center the biological Geographic Geographic is Jerusalem sounds 48 is one of many Psalms that praise Jerusalem this city of our God is cold is his holy mountain is beautiful in its lost list the joy of the whole earth because God is in her Citadel Citadel s he makes her secure forever God’s famed begins in Jerusalem’s Temple and spreads outward to the end of ends of the Earth unless you’re reading this in Jerusalem your house home is in the center is not in the center of the biblical world yet your region matters immensely because God will not rest until his praise reaches to the ends of the Earth. Would you like to be part of the way God reaches his goal? Worship each week with God’s people and openly live each day for his glory. God’s Fame extends to the ends of the Earth when we devote all that we are and have in him. How have you sprayed godsbane this week? What else might you do?

When money gets tight it’s always a temptation to cut down on your giving. After all it seems like the logical thing to do. Don’t do that! You’ll end up cutting off the flow of God’s Financial blessing just when you need them most. I face that kind of situation just a few years ago. This ministry had fallen behind financially $1000000 to be exact. Gloria and I had been living by faith for 20 years at that time. We knew firsthand that God would meet our needs according to his riches in Glory by Christ Jesus Philippians 4:19 you seen God proved that over and over again not only in our personal living but in the life of our ministry as well. Yet this particular time all the prayers and the faith that had brought as victory before just didn’t seem to do the job get the job done. In fact as time went on the situation grew worse instead of being bitter. Instead of getting better. By the end of the year our deficit had grown to be a million dollars frustrated and weary I finally went to God one day and lay the situation out before him Lord I said you see the condition of this ministry I need a million dollars just to break even oh no you don’t the Lord replied I could hardly believe it how could he possibly be telling me that I don’t need a million dollars? How didn’t he looked at the books? Hadn’t he talked to my accountant? I was stumbled. All I could figure was that I’d misunderstood something. So I went through it all again and again he said no you don’t. Despite my intentional confusion as I kept asking and listening I began to understand what the Lord was telling me. He was saying that the red ink on the books wasn’t the only thing wrong. There was a bigger problem behind it. Then he showed me what I needed to do was to start giving 10% of the Ministries income into Ministries administering to the poor. To the Natural mind that look like no solution at all. How do you solve a deficit by giving away what money you got? But when I applied this to solution the $1000000 deficit begin to disappear remember the next time the devil tries to put the squeeze on you. Break his hold on your finance’s by give them more instead of blessed it wouldn’t be long until the prosperity of God is proud pour it out on you.

FOLLOW JESUS TO THE CROSS: A journey through the last week of the life of Christ!

Historically, the week from Palm Sunday to Resurrection Sunday is known as Holy Week, a time for believers to reflect on the passion of Christ. Every Holy Week, take the time each day to meditate on what Jesus endured to save you from your sins, allowing the imgery, short meditations, and Scripture passages to penetrate your heart.

The Triumphant Entry: Read Matthew 21:1-11>

Wisdom: Solomon’s Wisdom

1 Kings 4:29 – God gave Solomon wisdom and vry great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. 30 – Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the nen of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. 31 – He was wiser than any other man, including Ethan the Ezrahite – wiser than Heman, Calcol and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his hane spread to all the surrounding nations. 32 – He spoke three thousand Proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five. 33 – He described plant life, from cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of the walls. He also taught about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. 34 – Men of all nations came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.

PROVERBS: Solomon “spoke three thousand Proverbs,” many of which are collected in this book. These wise sayings describe patterns that operate in everyday life, offering us advice on how to conduct ourselves in various situations. Solomon’s fundamental instruction is to fear and trust the Lord. As you read this book, remember that God has something to (and in) every aspect of your life; seek his wisdom in the decisions you must make each day.

Reflect: I need to slow down. And I’m asking the Lord to help me do it. I want to move slowly enough to be aware of all the joys he has hidden for me. I want to slow down enough to grow as he wants me to grow. I want to be quiet enough to hear his voice. I need his wisdom to jnow how to spend my time and how to order my days.

Growing in Wisdom: In Luke 2:52 we learn that “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” It is not difficult to understand how Jesus grew in stature – he just got taller! But how could the Son of God grow in wisdom? Did he not already have all wisdom? Did he lack anything? Was he not perfect? Yes he was filled with wisdom – as much wisdom as a child without life experience can have. It may help to remember that a few ounces of milk can fill an infant boy, but it would take a few quarts to fill a teenage boy. The difference is that the teenager has increased his capacity for milk. As, Jesus grew physically, he also grew in his capacity for wisdom as he learned from his experiences. What is our individual capacity for wisdom? Could we increase that capacity? Wisdom comes when we examine the experience God gives us and discern what we have (or should have) learned from them. Nothing that has happened to us should be wasted (Romans 8:28). Because it is something painful, often we do not take thevtime or effect to discover the reason for the “gift” of our personal experiences. When we do not learn as we should, we stop growing until we learn thipose same lessons through another experience tailor-made by God to make us mature (James 1:2-4). Most often we gain insight into our experiences only after earnest, persistent prayer. Psalm 43 is a wonderful model of persistent prayer; it opens up to us a person searching to know what God wants to reveal about a specific experience. Perhaps we should try writing out what we have learned about God, ourselves and life during and then after an important experience. As we learn these lessons, I think we’ll find that we will not need to learn them again in exactly the same way! This increases our individual capacity to learn greater lessons and gain deeper wisdom (Matthew 13:12).

The Wise Are Mature: The writer of the letter to the Hebrews was frustrated. He had many wonderful truths he wanted to impart, but his audience did not want to expend much energy on spiritual growth. They had been Christians for some time, but they knew little more than when they first believed. Tjosexwjo feed on and digest the meat of God’s Living Word attain maturity in their Christian lives. They gain the wisdom in speech and action that is tge mark of the mature. If we are not mature, the reason is obvious: we have not been workmen but idlers in Bible study. We have not made constant use of the Scriptures to distinguish good from evil. We are still dependent on others for our knowledge, as children are, in danger of being misguided by those who sound knowledgeable but may be as ignorant as we are. This is why there are so few wise people. Those who get all their knowledge of God’s Living Word from an hour or two on Sunday will never have a personal grasp of its content. Paul said that if we want to be wise, if we want to “correctly handle the Word of truth,” we must be workmen 2 Timothy 2:15). We must do the job ourselves instead of expecting a pastor or teacher to do it all for us. We must read the Bible. We must digest it, meditate on it, memorize it, and understand it. God does not want us to remain spiritually immature. He wants us to: (Ephesians 4:13-15) become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking thectruth in love, we will in all things grow. The Word of the Lord, thanks be to God, in Jesus name Amen.

PHILEMON:

Paul writes a brief letter to ask Philemon, a Christian brother living (probably) in Colosse, to forgive and to take back Onesimus, a runaway slave who has become a Christian and is helping Paul in prison. As you read this book, be willing to forgive othersno matter what they do to you. Philemon is a very short book in the Bible. A book I have never read myself, until now.

Philemon 1:1-25 > Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker, to Apphia oir sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier and to the church that meets in your home. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving and Prayer: I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus amd your love for all the saints. I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. Your love have given me joy and encouragement, because you, have refreshed the hearts of the saints. Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, yet I appeal to you on the basis of lovem I then, as Paul – an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus – I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in, chains. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me. I am sending him – who is my very heart – back to you. I would have liked to keep hi, with me so that he could take your place in helpi g me while I am in chains for the gospel. But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do will be spontaneous and not forced. Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good – no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord. So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. If he has done any thing wrong or owes you anything, change it to me. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back – not mention that you owe me your very self. I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ, Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask. And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers. Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. And so do Mark, Aritarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Sweetheart: “Let Me Call you Sweetheart – I can’t remember your name.” The pi., almost as nig as a saucer, was worn by a middle aged woman without doubt, an extrovert. We were at a sate PTA convention, encouraging many unfamiliar faces. The pin seemed to be her humorous way of saying, “Let’s be friends for today, but I’m not even going to attempt to remember your name.” We have many temporary relationships: those besides us on the plane or even a laundromat, the people who camp next ot us at a resort, and the neighbors who move in and out with such rapidity. It’s up to us to decide if these contracts will be meaning less or significant. Ask God, “What would you like to say to this person through me?” You may be surprised. He may ask you to speak words of appreciation and encouragement, to witness anout Christ, or only to be friendly. When we look a person in the eye and ask about their lives, we show that they are valuable. And even if we never do learn the person’s name, we have been a channel through which God can reach him or her. That is both exciting and humbling.

The Sermon on the Mount:                             

Matthew writes this gospel tp emphasize how Jesus fulfills God’s promises from the Old Testament. He includes numerous sayings of Jesus about living as one of his disciples and as a member of the church, concludes with the command of Jesus to make disciples of all nations. As you read this book, ask your self whether you are living as a disciple of Jesus, as well as how you tell others the stroy of Jesus.

The Gift of Understanding: SOMETIMES, when we love someone, we feel we just can’t give them enough. We may even do without things we need ourselves. I think most parents feel that way about our children. Love makes us generous. But generosity is more than giving. If anyone could have showered gifts on those he loved, it was Jesus Christ. But he didn’t. He provided for their basic needs; he saw to it that they has shelter and enough to eat. He watched them counting coins when he could have filled their laps with riches. Jesus gave something more precious and more lasting than gifts. He gave understanding. He knew hiw hard it is to live in this world. He felt what others felt and couldn’t put into words. Andnout of his understanding he gave what people truly need, such as forgiveness for Zacchaeus’s guilt, hope for cynical woman at the well, recovery for a dying child. The next time you want to give a gift to someone you love, don’t worry about how much you can afford to spend or how big the present ought to be. Consider, instead, what generosity really means: understanding. That’s something each of us can afford to give – all the time.

The “Sermon on the Mount” is perhaps the most familiar instructive sermon ever presented by Jesus. Matthew and Luke may record Jesus’ teaching in two different settings, although the content appears much the same. Just as many of Jesus’ sermons are apparently never recorded, so too some of his sermons are probably repeated from place to place. In any event, this collection of Jesus’ teachings brings one to the heart of his message concerning the kingdom of God. Covering a broad spectrum of spiritual topics, Jesus speaks of the nature of the kingdom, of repentance, of faith, and of worship-and particularly of prayer and humility. Always demonstrating a concern for human welfare, Jesus deals specifically with family and social relationships and discusses at course begins beautifully with the blessings in store for the righteous, and harshly with the woes which will befall those spiritually rebellious.

Psalms

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Psalm 126:5-6 says, “Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”

Tears are telescopes. I have seen further through my tears than ever I saw through my smiles. Blessed be God, we can see Jesus through our tears. We know what tears are. Jesus wept! The eyes that John saw as a flame of fire, the Jews at the grave of Lazarus saw as fountains of water. Every one amongst us has tearful times. But we use tears wrongfully if we do not lift up eyes and look through them unto Jesus in the heaven!”

No Better Mission: Furthermore, I will never find a better mission than help fulfill Jesus’ Great Commission to take the Gospel to the world. Only heaven will record how many people came to the Lord over the internet. We as Christians need to penetrate every place on earth. This is a commandment by Christ, Himself as He ascended to the right hand of our Heavenly Father. We’re living in a weeping world. You and I are God’s answers to its pain. Let’s weep with those who weep. And let’s weep for those who aren’t concerned enough to weep. God can convict them, and He often uses world events to draw His people to Himself. You have a big role to fill. Let’s do it with moist eyes.

They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest (Psalm 126:6)

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