RELEASE THE SOUND OF HEAVEN IN YOU

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork, day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge.”—Psalm 19:1-2

 

Have you ever noticed how excited and proud a parent is when their child makes her or his first sound?  Soon after hearing that first sound it is not long before the immediate family begins to work with the baby to say actual words.  God created the whole of creation to communicate.  In fact, we are told that if we do not praise Him then the rocks will, “Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, saying: ‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!’  ‘Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!’  And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, ‘Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.’ But He answered and said to them, ‘I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out’” (Luke 19:37-40). 

 

You may ask, what is the “Sound of Heaven”?  The sound of heaven is God’s voice speaking through you compelling the lost to come to Him.  The sound of heaven is saying to the wayfarer, the wanderer, the one that needs forgiveness:  “Welcome God loves you He is not holding anything against you.”  The sound of heaven is your voice speaking words of kindness, words of acceptance to the downtrodden. Your words announcing healing to the brokenhearted, proclaiming freedom to the captive, liberty to the oppressed, and recovery of sight to the blind, are all the sound of heaven. 

 

There have been a number of books written detailing what heaven looks like and each book was written from a different perspective; but, without fail each one had this one thing in common: Heaven is a Happy Place!  The sound of heaven is happiness and joy—no sorrow, no tears—joy.  Heaven is a happy place.  So, let’s release the sound of heaven upon earth.  Let’s release the sound of joy, the sound of happiness today.

 

Prayer—Father I thank You that heaven is a happy place and today I purpose in my heart to release Your sound upon the earth today.  Lord help me to release Your sound of peace, joy, healing, kindness, love and acceptance, in Jesus Name.  Amen.

 

 

 

JESUS RESPONDS TO THE CALL FOR HELP

“In the multitude of my (anxious) thoughts within me, Your comforts cheer and delight my soul!—Psalms 94:19 (Amplified)

 

I personally do not know of anyone who has not experienced a time of testing and trials, in their life.  The Apostle Paul gave us an example of his mind set concerning what he was going through when he wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 that, “We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken, struck down, but not destroyed.”  In essence he was saying, we may be going through hard times, but we are not going to be overwhelmed by them.  Today you may be experiencing some difficult times, but I want to encourage you.   You Are Going To Make It!  God will never leave you, nor forsake you.  He will never leave your side.  He is always with you, always willing to calm the storms of life. 

 

A man brought his son to Jesus’ disciples for a mute spirit to be cast out.  The disciples did not have any success in casting out the mute spirit, so when Jesus came up to see what was happening, He asked the scribes what were they talking about.  The father replied that he had brought his son for deliverance of a mute spirit that would seize his son, throw him to the ground, and cause him to foam at the mouth and gnash his teeth.  Jesus had the son brought to him, and told the father when he questioned if Jesus could cast out the spirit, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes” (Mark 9:14-27). 

 

Although the father had witnessed the distressing trial of the demon spirit seizing his son from time-to-time, the father still called out for help.  Jesus is still responding to the call for help even when times seem the darkest saying, “if you can believe, all things are possible.”  Furthermore, Jesus is not intimidated when the devil puts on a show.  The Scripture says that the enemy goes about as a roaring lion…he is not a lion. When your heart seems to be overwhelmed with anxious thoughts, remember that the Father has never left your side.  Reach out to Him with faith today; He is the peace in the storm.

 

Prayer—Father I thank You that You are always with me even when I am not aware of Your presence. You are there, in Jesus Name, Amen.         

GOD’S ASSIGNMENTS: OPEN DOORS

“…I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down…”—Nehemiah 6:3

 

After Nehemiah head about the desperate condition of the Jews who had returned from exile to Jerusalem, his heart was burdened, “And they said to me, ‘The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and the gates are burned with fire.’  So it was, when I [Nehemiah] heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days: I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven” (Nehemiah 1: 3-4).  God got Nehemiah’s attention by hearing about the extremely difficult conditions of the Jews and then He revealed His assignment to him. (Read all of Nehemiah).

 

Although Nehemiah was not near Jerusalem, and was a servant of the king he still felt the weightiness of the assignment.  Some times the word “burden” is used to describe when an individual feels that God wants her or him to do something.  But, if I use the term “weightiness” I think it best describes the feelings that are often associated with an assignment by the Lord.  When the assignment is from the Lord, the “weightiness” is like an even pressure distributed over your personage; however, if it is a false “weightiness (burden) then it is pressure only in one area.  The enemy uses this tactic to get us off course and to not complete our assignment. 

 

Whenever God gives us an assignment He will open a door to accomplish His will.  In this case, the Lord used Nehemiah’s sad expression and desperate prayer to prepare a pagan king to send him on his assignment (Nehemiah 2:2). 

 

How do you respond when you sense that the Lord is calling you to a task that seems beyond your abilities?  Do you list all the reasons why you can not possibly do it?  God already knows everything about you and the situation.  He is not asking your permission to proceed; rather, He is calling you to move forward with faith and obedience.  He did not make an error in choosing you for the assignment.  God will equip you for whatever He calls you to do.  Also, He always provides for the assignment.  He does not send you out to fail and He will provide people to help you complete the assignment. 

 

Even though the enemy sends distractions through objections as to why you cannot complete the assignment, do not fear; God is on your side and determine not to: “come off the wall”—be persistent to complete your assignment, “He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:24). 

 

Prayer—Father I ask You to shut the mouths of those who speak against me and those who have come against the assignment that You have given to me, and I ask You to strengthen me for the task to bring it to completion, in Jesus Name.  Amen. 

 

 

 

FREEDOM FROM BURDENS

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”—Matthew 11:28

 

Throughout life, we all bear many burdens.  Some may concern everyday things like finances, or relationships, but we might also feel over whelmed about future unknowns.  These can weigh us down to the point of exhaustion if we do not handle them biblically.

 

Jesus knew how difficult life would be for us.  After all, He was human too.  But our Savior did not want us to bear unnecessary weight, for He knew that our heavenly Father can carry it for us.

 

So He spoke the words, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gently and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).  These words are full of promise and the hope of relief.  Yet how do we, in the midst of difficulty, practically apply what He is telling us?  First, He wants us to acknowledge that we have a specific burden.  Next, we are to identify the issue.  Then we can bring the problem before God.  He tells us to cast it upon Him, “Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved” (Psalm 55:22), and He will carry our load.

 

When we kneel before the Lord in prayer and truly ask Him to take care of the problem, we can be relieved of the weight, and not buckle under its pressure, “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

 

Jesus desires that you experience peace and rest even in the midst of trials.  He has provided everything necessary for freedom from burdens. 

 

Prayer—Father I thank You that You care for me.  Today I cast all of my burdens upon You for I know that you care for me.  Lord I ask You to free me from the weight and the care of the burden, in Jesus name. Amen.

HEAR THE NEW THING BY REMOVING HAUNTS

“Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it?  I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.”—Isaiah 43:19

 

God is doing a new thing.  Isaiah the prophet reminded Israel in 43:19 that God was doing a new thing and it would spring forth, and then He asked them a question, “Will you not be aware of it?”  God wants us know what He is doing, so-much-so, that He sent the Holy Spirit to reveal them to us.  “But just as it is written, ‘things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him.’  For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God” (I Corinthians 2:9-10). 

 

To hear the “new thing,” we must remove the “old haunts”—the old way of doing things off of

our prayer time, and off of the way we pray, and then yield ourselves to the Holy Spirit to do a new thing.  When we yield to the Lord, we defer to Him, we say, “Not my will, Lord, but Thy will.” 

 

Yielding is surrendering our personal agenda, our time, and our responsibilities to Him.  With an

attitude of yielding in our time of prayer, He becomes our all-in-all, He becomes our focus, and that is when we become one with Him.  Jesus expressed it this way in John 17:10 & 23, “And all things that are Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine…I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You have sent Me.”   Yielding is when we will truly see the resurrection power of Jesus Christ working in our prayers and nothing shall be impossible.

 

Prayer—Father, I ask You to shine Your light of revelation on the “old things” in my life so that I can give them to You.  Help me to see the “new things” that you have for me, and help me to yield myself to You, in Jesus Name.  Amen.

 

RECEIVE BLESSINGS BY RELEASING OXEN

“For the Scripture says, ‘You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,’ and ‘The laborer is worthy of his wages.”—I Timothy 5:18

 

Oxen are a representation of the gospel ministers in our lives who help us understanding the meaning of God’s Word.  A leather muzzle or wire device can be placed over an animal’s snout which prevents it from biting or eating.  According to Unger’s Bible Dictionary, oxen were used in the Far East to thresh the grain by the oxen trampling upon it.   The command was not to muzzle the ox when threshing, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain” (Deuteronomy 25:4).  This was not intended to apply merely to the ox employed in threshing, but to be understood in the general sense in which the Apostle Paul used it  1 Timothy 5:18—that a laborer was not to be deprived of his wages. 

 

Scripture further address the issue of wages.  Under the law a Jewish laborer was to be paid his wages on the day that he earned it, and he was not to be cheated or robbed by withholding the wages until another day. “Each day you shall give him his wages, and not let the sun go down on it, for he is poor and has set his heart on it; lest he cry out against you to the Lord, and it be sin to you” (Deuteronomy 24:15).   “You shall not cheat your neighbor, nor rob him.  The wages of him who is hired shall not remain with you all night until morning” (Leviticus 19:13).   Jesus addressed the issue of wages for those of His disciples that He sent out.   He said, “And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house” (Luke 10:7).

 

The Apostle Paul reminded the Corinthian believers that those who preach the gospel would get their substance from the gospel.  “Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:14).  Furthermore, he made it clear that a minister of the gospel is to be provided for, “Who ever goes to war at his own expense?  Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit?  Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock?  Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also? For it is written in the Law of Moses, ‘You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,’ Is it oxen God is concerned about?” (1 Corinthians 9:7-9). 

 

We are given clear instructions on how to support the ministers in our lives.  I remember the first time that I heard any teaching alone this line.  It seemed impossible to my way of thinking that someone would be an itinerant minister and live off of the support of offerings given to them.  All of my teaching had been to bring all of the tithes and offerings into the church.  Later, as I began to study what the scripture said on this subject I began to see God’s plan of blessing, for the minister receiving and for the one doing the giving.  With great joy, we sowed into the itinerant minister, Rev. Sam Carr, who had driven from Shreveport, Louisiana to Ulysses, Kansas to help us understand the meaning of God’s Word.  This was the beginning or understanding what the Apostle Paul meant when he said, “Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities.  Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. Indeed, I have all and abound, I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.  And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.  Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen” (Philippians 4:15-20). 

 

We release the Oxen in our lives to help us understanding the meaning of God’s Word when we give financially and other ways into their ministries.   Together, as a body, we are expanding the Kingdom of God by releasing the Oxen to do the work of the ministry.

 

Prayer—Father I repent for withholding my support from the ministers that are helping me to understand the meaning of Your Word.  Thank You for helping me to understand that my involvement in ministry is vital to expanding the Kingdom of God and reaching the lost, in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

AWAKING YOUR HEART

 “The Lord God has given Me The tongue of the learned, That I should know how to speak A word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear To hear as the learned”.—Isaiah 50:4

 

How do you wake up in the morning?  Is to the sound of an alarm clock ringing, or the sound of music playing, or are you like a select few and still have the warm voice of a loved one calling you to rise up out of your slumber?  Our Scripture reading for today is not telling us that the Lord is calling us to get up and have a nice balanced meal to feed our physical bodies, before we rush out the door to embrace the events of the day.  A much deeper meaning of the Scripture is realized by reading the verses that come before and after.

 

The proceeding Scriptures clearly point out that God alone could redeem Israel.  “Why, when I came, was there no man?  Why, when I called, was there none to answer?  Is My hand shortened at all that it cannot redeem?  Or have I no power to deliver?  Indeed with My rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness; Their fish stink because there is no water, And die of thirst.   I clothe the heavens with blackness, And I make sackcloth their covering” (Isaiah 50:2-3).  Then He states in verse 4 that through the personal training of the Messiah, by God through the Holy Spirit and through human instruction He has been taught to hear God and to speak what He hears.  “I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him”  (John 8:26).  And in John 12:49 we read, “For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.”  What was the purpose of God awakening the Messiah’s heart to hear and his tongue to speak?  He was awakening the heart of the redeemer. 

 

We continue reading in verse 6 and see that the Messiah, the REDEEMER suffers the physical abuse that happened on the cross years later.  You see Isaiah is writing prophetically, what will happen in the future.  When Jesus comes upon the scene, hundreds of years later we hear Him quoting scriptures that were written prophetically about Himself because His heart had been awaken. 

 

Today, as never before the body of Christ needs a fresh awakening.  A fresh stirring of the Holy Spirit in our lives so that we can say, “The Lord God has given Me The tongue of the learned, That I should know how to speak A word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear To hear as the learned.”  Let’s let that be the cry of our heart today.

 

Prayer—Father I humbly come to You repenting of a wayward heart, seeking after my own interests instead of Yours.  Forgive me Father, cleanse me and make me new.  I am asking You to awaken my heart morning by morning and awaken my ear to hear as the learned so that I can speak a word in due season to weary souls, in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

GET YOUR PRAISE ON

“You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, And praise the name of the Lord your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you; And My people shall never be put to shame.—Joel 2:26

 

The book of Psalms title, in the Hebrew version of the Old Testament, is translated “Hymns of Praise.”  For good reason, as it has been called the most widely-used book of the Old Testament. 

 

In reading the Psalms, allow your heart to soar in celebration as you of God’s power, love, and creation itself.   The psalmist writes, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 150:6).  Believers should continually praise the Lord for what He has done, for what He is doing and for what He will do.  Let our mouths be continually filled with praise.  Our God is awesome!

 

When is the best time to praise the Lord?  At sunrise?  At sunset? When a meal is prepared, or when children are tucked into bed?  The best time to praise the Lord is all day, every day, with all of your heart. 

 

Today, as you go about your business, as you spend time with your loved ones, or marvel at the wonders of a beautiful sunset, reflect on what the Lord has done for you, for yours, and for all of His creation.  And, every time you notice a gift from the Giver of all things good, praise Him.  Thank Him with a grateful heart because His works are marvelous, His gifts are beyond understanding, and His love endures forever.

Prayer—Thank You Father for Your goodness in my life.  Lord, I love You and I thank You that all that You have made in creation is just for me.  Thank You Lord that You love me so much to send Your Son so that I can be restored to You and enjoy all Your good benefits. Lord I praise and thank You for everything, in Jesus Name.  Amen. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IT THE TIME OF THE NEW WINE

“Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”—Acts 2:3 -4

 

Have you ever felt that you were ready for something new?  Perhaps it you wanted to have your hair cut into a different shape, or style it differently, maybe you wanted new clothes.  I have had people tell me that they were tired of fighting martial battles and wanted a new wife or husband.  Others have said they wanted their children to start acting a new way.  Newness has nothing to do with subject matter; it has to do with you. 

 

As people, we are given a free will and God gives us the power of choice.  Adam and Eve were given the power of free will and choice.  Unfortunately, they choose to believe a lie and the spiral of death began the instant they choose to disobey what God had spoken.  He said, “Do not eat of the tree of life.”  They choose to believe that God did not mean what He said.  And it was not long before they learned that “God said what he meant, and He meant what He said.” 

 

You may be reading this today and the Holy Spirit is quickening your remembrance when God told you to do or not to do something.  What did you choose?  Did you choose the way that led to life, or did the pathway lead to struggle and eventual death.  You see death happens when Satan squeezes the life out because of wrong choices.

 

If you are ready for the New Wine, let’s ask the Holy Spirit to pour out the New Wine on you today.  We all need fresh starts and new beginnings.  He is ready and willing to pour out the New Wine upon you today.

 

Prayer—Heavenly Father, I ask that You pour out Your New Wine upon me today.  Give me a fresh beginning, a new start, a new day.  Help me Holy Spirit to leave all that is old and profane behind me today. I choose to say, “This is my New Day.  This is my new Beginning.”  In Jesus Name, Amen. 

 

BATTLE WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For  we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered.”—Romans 8:26

 

The Scripture tells us that Jesus was friends with Lazarus and his sister, Mary and Martha.  In fact, Jesus spent times with them in their home and eating with them.  However, Jesus was in another town when word reached Him that Lazarus was sick and that his sister’s wanted Him to come and see their brother.  When Jesus arrived Mary came out to meet him, she fell down at his feet crying and saying that her brother would not have died if He had been there.  Then we read a most amazing statement, “Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled” (John 11:33 emphasis added).  The word “groaned” as translated here expresses that Jesus was deeply moved, but not necessarily with sorrow.  It was more of a groan of anger at Satan who had caused all the grief and sorrow that He was seeing around Him.  Jesus came to,  “…destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14), and He was grieved to see the pain His enemy had inflicted on those He loved.

 

This is the type of groaning that the Holy Spirit does for us that Paul wrote about in Romans 8:26.  It is not just the Holy Spirit sympathizing with us, but it is the Holy Spirit doing battle for us when we do not know how to pray.  In the case of Lazarus, the Holy Spirit used Jesus to do battle against death and for Lazarus to be released from the grave.

 

Everyone who has the Holy Spirit in them either has, or will have this experience.  The groaning of the Holy Spirit is not just grief but righteous anger and resistance against Satan’s devices in our lives.  Many times Christians do not discern this because they think that they are just grieved over their situation, but the Holy Spirit is moving them into intercession with Him against their common enemy, Satan.

 

Although the groaning of the Holy Spirit inside of you is not uttered, you can react to it with audible groans or physical movement of some kind, like someone who is grieving.  There is nothing wrong with this as long as you do not confuse your reaction with the Holy Spirit’s action.  Notice in Romans 8:26 that you are responding to the Holy Spirit’s silent groaning inside of you.  “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered”. 

 

The genuine groaning in the Spirit is priceless and always produces good fruit in your life, so when this happens, just flow with the Holy Spirit. 

 

Prayer—Father I thank You for the Holy Spirit in my life.  Together Lord, we are doing big business with you—kingdom business, in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

 

WHERE IS YOUR HEART?

“For where your treasure is there your heart will be also.”—Luke 12:34

 

Have you ever noticed that once you received a long awaited treasure that it’s not long before the fascination that it once held while you were waiting for it has lost its luster? Charlotte Bronte, an author and poet, makes this point quite well in her muse about the human heart’s hidden treasures by writing, “The human heart has hidden treasures, In secret kept, in silence sealed; The thoughts, the hopes, the dreams, the pleasures, Whose charms were broken if revealed.”  Bronte is saying that if the secrets of the hidden treasure of the heart are exposed then the allure of the treasure would be broken.  Displaying the secrets of the treasure breaks the attraction and the treasure then looses its appeal.  Jesus said in His Sermon on the Mount that the real issue is not the attraction to the hidden treasure, but where our heart is.  

 

Because there are a lot of things competing for our heart it is pertinent for us to know where it is and what it is focusing on.  Jesus directly addresses the heart by asking the question, “Where is your heart?”  He says in Matthew 6:21, “For where your treasure is there your heart will be also.”    In posing the question to yourself, “Where is my treasure?”  You will be able to find where your heart is. 

 

 Our enemy, Satan, makes sure that we are constantly challenged with distractions and things that contend for the focus of our heart.  He knows that our heart is the control center for life.  Mediating on scriptures such as Proverbs 4:23 help us keep our focus.  “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.”  The heart is like a water-well and from it all the issues of life gush forth.  We are instructed in scripture to guard our hearts and to watch over them so that our hearts follow persistently after the things of God and are not distracted by the things of this world.

 

Jesus used the three examples of moth, rust, and thief in Matthew 6:19-20 to show how the things we deem as treasures are only temporary disruptions.  “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.”  Where is your treasure?  Are you earthly-minded or heavenly-minded?  Are you investing in the future eternity to come, or are you investing in the here and now? 

 

Jesus always looks at the heart, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  One of the Ten Commandments states, “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3).  When we set our hearts on the things of this earth and fall to the temptation of being worldly in our ways, we are committing idolatry because we are no longer serving God.  Rather, we have put our riches above God, and we are serving them.  They have become our god and our life.  Jesus challenges us, to ask ourselves where our treasure is.  If our treasure is on earth and things of this world, our heart will be there. 

 

Prayer—Father I ask You to show me where my heart is focused and right now I repent for the times that I have focused on the things of the world instead of keeping my eyes upon You, and I ask You to forgive me.  Help me Lord to keep a single eye upon You, in Jesus Name.  Amen.

 

 

YOUR HEART THE CONTROL CENTER FOR LIFE

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”—Luke 12:34

 

 

Charlotte Brontë mused about the human heart’s hidden treasures by writing, “The human heart has hidden treasures, In secret kept, in silence sealed; The thoughts, the hopes, the dreams, the pleasures, Whose charms were broken if revealed.”  She is saying that if the secrets of the hidden treasures of the heart are exposed then the allure of the treasure would be broken.   However, Jesus said in His Sermon on the Mount that the real issue is: where my heart is.  He wants the hidden treasures of our hearts exposed so that we can evaluate if our hearts are seeking after self or after a real vibrant relationship with God (Matthew 6:19-24).

 

Sometimes people perceive us as being spiritual or godly, when in reality, deep in our hearts we know that we have just put on a mask.  Because in our private life, we struggle with fears, temptations, and desiring the things of the world for man’s praise instead of glorifying God.  The treasures that we have sought have only brought physical or emotional comfort rather than true spiritual happiness.  Jesus directly addresses the heart by asking the question, “Where is your treasure?”  He says in Matthew 6:21, “For where your treasure is there your heart will be also.”  There are a lot of things competing for your heart, as this is the control center for life. 

 

Your life is a reflection of your heart.  “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23).  The heart is like a water well and from if all the issues of life gush forth.  Therefore, we must guard our hearts and watch over them so that our heart follows hard after the things of God and is not distracted by the things of this world.   

 

We must ask the question, “Where is our treasure?”   Because in asking this, we will answer the question “Where is our heart?” because where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The second question to ask ourselves is: “Where is our focus?”  What are our eyes focused on? Are they focused on the seen or the unseen?

 

Where Is Your Treasure?

 

The Rich Young Ruler in Matthew 19:16-22 came to ask Jesus a question. The question he asks is how he might have eternal life.  Jesus answers the man by telling him that he needs to obey the commandments, and the rich young ruler responds, “Which ones?” Jesus responds, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” The young ruler responds that he has kept all these things and asks, “What do I still lack?” This is where Jesus drops the bomb on the rich young ruler. He says, “Go, sell what you have and give to the poor” and “follow Me.”  Where was this young man’s heart? You can tell by his reaction. His heart is controlled by his wealth and riches. This young ruler is wealthy and supposedly has a lot going for him, but he is not willing to let those things go in order to follow Jesus. He is willing to love his neighbor and do the commands that pertain to his fellow man, but when it comes down to loving the Father and having no other gods before Him, he is not willing to let go of the wealth he obtained here on earth.  His end result was spiritual death. His heart was set upon the things of this earth, and he was willing to disobey God for the sake of temporal riches that do not last. The things we gather here on earth are only temporal; they do not last for eternity.

 

Where is your treasure?  Are you earthly-minded or heavenly-minded?  Are you investing in the future eternity to come, or are you investing in the here and now?  Are you enthralled with the temporary versus the permanent?   Jesus used the three examples of the moth, rust and thief in Matthew 6:19 -20 to show how the things we deem most important are only temporary., “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”

 

At the end of our life as believers, we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ and give an account for our lives here on the earth.  Those believers who seek to build up wealth and riches on earth will suffer loss and will be saved as through fire, whereas those who strive to lay up treasures in heaven will receive a reward.

 

So the question arises, “How do we lay up treasures in heaven?” The answer is by living the way God has asked us to live and following after Him in all that we do. For example, loving your neighbor as yourself – if a man has a need for a shirt and you have extra, give him one – being a cheerful giver, honoring God in your marriage, guarding your mind against adulterous thoughts, sharing the good news of the gospel with those around you. There are so many things which all narrow down to loving the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and loving your neighbor as yourself.

 

Jesus always looks at the heart: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” One of the Ten Commandments states: “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3).  When we set our hearts on the things of this earth and fall to the temptation of being worldly in our ways, we are committing idolatry because we are no longer serving God.  Rather, we have put our riches above God, and we are serving them. They have become our god and our life.  Jesus challenges us, to ask ourselves where our treasure is. If your treasure is on earth and the things of this world, your heart will be there as well. If your heart is focused on the Father and on laying up treasures in heaven, your heart will be there.  “That their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3-4).

 

Prayer—Father I repent and ask You to forgive me for not focusing on laying up treasures in heaven, and with Your help from today forward my focus, my treasures will be upon You, in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

BECOME A SKILLED GIVER

“Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves, a good foundation for the time to come that they may lay hold on eternal life”—1 Timothy 6:17-19

 

The more skilled you are at a task, the more you’ll enjoy it. For instance, when an orchestra adeptly plays a masterpiece, an accomplished musician will derive greater pleasure from listening than would a person with an untrained ear. You might be surprised to learn that the same is true of giving.

God has many reasons for asking us to give. First, by returning a portion of our wealth to the Lord, we are acknowledging that everything actually belongs to Him, “For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills…For the world is Mine and all its fullness” (Psalm 50:10, 12b).   Second, giving is a way to obey, “Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering, from everyone who gives it willingly with his heart you shall take My offering” (Exodus 25:2).  Third, when we contribute to a ministry or reach out to help the needy, we participate in kingdom work, which brings deep joy. Fourth, our offerings are an opportunity for God to reveal His character; as we demonstrate generosity, He faithfully provides for our needs and blesses us abundantly, “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8).   Over and over again, the saying, “You can’t out-give God” proves true.

Giving involves more than money. God has blessed us with talents, time, and resources— along with plenty of opportunities to share them with others. It is important to rely on the Holy Spirit’s guidance so we will know what, to whom, and how much we should give.

Remember, the Lord is continuously giving to us: salvation, comfort, encouragement, breath, life, and countless other blessings. We are indebted to Him and should give back, not just out of obligation, but with gratitude and joy, “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).  Ask God to reveal any selfishness or other hindrance to sharing—and to help you become more skilled at giving.

Prayer—Father I thank You for the blessing of giving.  I ask You to reveal any selfishness or hindrance in my life that holds me back from giving and sharing what You have given to Me, in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

 

AN ARMY THAT IS WAR READY

“…But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.”—Proverbs 31:30

 

The worldly view of women paints a picture of women as “sugar and spice and everything nice,” and includes a hue of pastel colors to get the message of passivity across to people.  However, the view that Scripture gives of women is quiet different.  In fact, God said that He would use the seed of the woman to bruise Satan’s heel (Genesis 3:15).  Throughout the Bible we can see instance-after-instance when women were very courageous and some even went into battle.  Jeremiah wrote, “how long will you waver and hesitate [to return], O you backsliding daughter? For the Lord has created a new thing in the land [of Israel]: a female shall compass (woo, win, and protect) a man” (Jeremiah 31:22 Amplified).    The new thing that Jeremiah spoke of has a direct relationship with Joel’s prophecy of the last days.  Joel prophesied that God would pour His spirit upon all mankind, and that God’s handmaidens would be used to speak forth prophetic revelations (Joel 2:28). 

 

When the prophet Jeremiah stated that “a woman shall compass a man,” he was not saying that she would rule over (as to overtake) him (Jeremiah 31:22).  The Hebrew word for compass is cabab, and it means to “surround or be about on every side.”  Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance gives several action words to describe “compass”: close, come, go, stand, round, about, remove, sit, down, turn-self-about, aside, away, back.  This simply means that in every way in every place you look, God will be using a woman.  The meaning of the three words used in the Amplified version to describe “compass”:  woo — “to solicit, to achieve, attempt to gain; to evangelize:” win — “to reach despite of difficulty and gain the loyalty of”: protect — “to guard and keep from being attacked, damaged or stolen.” 

 

In the same manner that a lioness guards her territory to ward off danger, the woman will fight for her family.  The devil hates women because he knows that it is in a woman to confront issues that need to be dealt with and to win the lost.  Just like the woman with the issue of blood, and the woman who would not leave the judge alone until he ruled in her favor, today’s women are  tenacious and will not give up. 

 

Proverbs 31:10-31 is a detailed account of a virtuous woman.  The word virtuous is chayil in the Hebrew, and it means “an army that is war worthy.”  Proverbs 12:4 says a virtuous woman is the “crown” of her husband.  The meaning of the word crown means to “encircle for attach or protection.”  It also means “to compass.”  This scripture refers to a woman of valor who is bold to do battle. 

 

As you read through Proverbs 31:10-31, keep in mind that the Scriptures are speaking of an army that is war worthy.    Use the verses in your prayer time to decree and to declare, the virtues of the Proverbs 31 woman over your personal life or over the life of other women.

 

Prayer—Father I thank you for the Virtuous Women who walk in the light of your Scriptures, and who seek to do your will.  May the fruit of their labors provide for them and may their own works praise them in the gates, in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

TRUST GOD’S GOODNESS

“For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus as leaning of your entire human personality on Him in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom and goodness…”—Colossians 1:4

  

The Scriptures instruct us that we are to come to Jesus with child-like faith.  We can come to Him with confidence and have reliance upon His character, ability and strength.  The disciples put their trust in Him time-and-time again.  For example, when there was not enough food to feed the crowds of people, they did what Jesus told them to do; they took a few fish and loaves of bread and passed it out among the thousands of people.  Can you imagine how it must have been like to begin to pass out the food among the great crowds of people?  They had never been in a situation like that before.  They simply trusted the Words of Jesus; did what He said to do, and then began to witness the fish and loaves of bread multiplied. 

One of the first times that I believed God for bread was when we lived on the farm.  I needed to buy some bread and did not have enough money to buy a loaf of bread.  So, I prayed and asked God for some bread quoting Proverbs 37:25, “I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging bread.”    A few hours after I had prayed, a man came to our door with several loaves of bread. I learned that I could trust His goodness in my life.  Today trust His goodness to meet your every need. 

Rahab, the harlot, is another example of someone who put her confidence in God.  When she hid the spies that Joshua sent into Jericho, from the king of the country, she chose to trust in God for deliverance when the Israeli army invaded their city.   She was not disappointed; her life and lives of her family members were spared (Joshua 2).   You can trust Him for your deliverance. “How blessed is he who considers the helpless; the Lord will deliver him in a day of trouble, the Lord will protect him and keep him alive, and he shall be called blessed upon the earth; and do not give him over to the desire of his enemies’ (Psalm 41:1-2).

The main speaker at a business seminar that I attended related the following testimony of how he had been blessed.  He said that he had over 3,000 employees world-wide, and had several business and personal advisors.  However, there were times that their advice was not always enough.  During these times, he would schedule specific times to pray and seek God’s wisdom throughout his busy day. Without fail, he always received wisdom and insight that he had not previously known.  “Blessed is the man who listens to [Wisdom] me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors” (Proverbs 8:34). 

There are times that we have put our trust in people and they have disappointed and even failed us; however, the unfaithfulness of people does not change the faithfulness of God.  God’s goodness never changes.  When we put our faith and trust Him, His goodness is at work in our lives.

 

Prayer—Father I purpose in my heart to trust you and to seek your wisdom for life’s challenges.  Thank you that I can trust your goodness to be at work in my life, in Jesus Name. Amen.  

 

GO FORWARD

“The righteous keep moving forward, and those with clean hands become stronger and stronger.”  Job 17:9 NLT

 

God has been telling people to go forward for a long time.  He told Adam and Eve to go forward, have dominion and replenish the earth (Genesis 1: 27-28).  Noah walked with God, and God told him to build an ark.  “Thus Noah did, according to all that God commanded him, so he did” (Genesis 6:22).  Abram was instructed by God to go forward and to leave his county (Genesis 12: 1-4).  Has the Lord been telling you to go forward?

 

Going forward will impact lives that may be more far reaching than you have ever dreamed.  A friend’s husband died five years ago; she had the choice of keeping their small business operating, or closing it.  Although she had helped run the business, her husband was the dynamic of its operation.  After prayer and much soul searching, she decided to keep the business operating.  She told me that the main reason she decided to keep going forward was because 18 families depended on the income from the business.  Not only has she kept the business operating, but she has been able to give raises and bonuses to all of her employees.      

 

Because Joshua, Moses’ assistant, went forward the Israeli people were able to cross over the Jordan River and to enter the Promised Land.  He said, “Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses” (Joshua 1:3).

 

You have a choice to stay where you are or go forward.  Naaman, a commander of the army of the king of Syria, followed the instructions of Elisha, the prophet, and was healed of leprosy (2 Kings 5:1-14).  I want to encourage you to choose to go forward with whatever the Lord has put in your heart to do.  Although it may seem impossible, or it may seem out-of-the ordinary, all things are possible with God.

 

 “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.  See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?  I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” (Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV)

Don’t be afraid to keep moving on,
For what was before, now has gone,
God wants to accomplish so much more,
But we need to move forward in the Lord.
© By M.S. Lowndes, Based on Isaiah 43:18-19

 

Prayer—Father I ask you to help me to keep going forward, in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

GIVING REQUIRES THAT WE DEPEND UPON GOD’S REVELATION

“But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.”—2 Corinthians 9:6

 

In school, we learned how to subtract and to add.  Take away and you will have less than what you began with; add, and you will have more than what you started with.  The view point of the world thinks that when you give something away then you will have less than what you started with; however, God tells us that when we give, we will receive even more in return.  “Give, and it will be given to you.  They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return” (Luke 6:38 NASB).

 

God’s design for giving requires that we depend on His revelation rather than our own human reasoning.  Logical thinking would look to see how much money you had before deciding how much is available to give.  The Bible, however, states that all wealth belongs to the Lord and we are to give back to Him the first fruits of our labor (Deuteronomy 18:4-5).  “Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the Lord your God, also the earth with all that is in it” (Deuteronomy 10:14).  When we obey, we trust Him to take care of us—which sometimes means choosing to ignore what makes logical sense and.  There are times that God satisfies our needs and blesses us in a way He knows will truly be the best for us. 

 

When facing hard financial circumstances, we can be tempted to justify hoarding our resources.  But God, who perfectly understands the situation, requires that we give not simply out of our surplus, but out of our need.  The Macedonian church, for example, gave generously even while experiencing affliction.  “Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints” (2 Corinthians 8:1-4).  This pleased the Lord because they were giving in faith.

 

The world-over, people are facing difficult financial situations.  And yet, the Heavenly Father has provided a way of escape for His people by giving.  When God divided the Red Sea for His people to escape, the waters were pushed back to form a three mile wide corridor for three million people to walk across on dry land.  You may be facing a huge financial situation, but remember, you have a big god who has provided a way of escape for you.  Prayerfully give and stand in faith on God’s promise to you—He directs your seed to be multiplied back to you.

 

Prayer—Father I thank You for Your means of financial escape for me.  No problem is too big for You, and today I ask You to direct the placement and the amount of my giving, in Jesus Name.  Amen.

FAITH GRANTS US ADMISSION TO GOD’S GRACE

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is a gift of God.”—Ephesians 2:8

Pride causes many people to resist the truth of justification by faith in the grace of God.  Such was the case with the lawyer who asked Jesus what he should do to inherit eternal life.  “And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying ‘Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?’ So he [Jesus] answered and said, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’ And He said to him, ‘You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.’ But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:25-29 emphasis added).  The lawyer loved himself and the public recognition his holy acts brought him.  He was not willing to love God first and other people ahead of himself.  His question was an attempt to shun responsibility for his self-centeredness.  He was seeking to be justified in the sight of God through his actions.  He knew he had not loved everyone as he loved himself, so he tried to interpret the Scripture (Leviticus 19:18) in a way that would apply to his actions, not to his heart.  He wanted to define “neighbor” as close friends whom he had treated well.  Self-justification always produces excuses, while repentance and faith toward God produces surrender and obedience.

 

The basis of our salvation is grace—that is God’s underserved, unmerited favor toward us as expressed in providing redemption through Jesus Christ.  God loved us so much that He gave His Son so that we would have everlasting life.  “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).  The way God saves us is through faith.  Through faith we accept His free gift of salvation, which was provided by His grace.  We are saved “by grace…through faith” (Ephesians 2:8) not by grace alone.  Faith grants us admission to God’s grace.  Without faith and grace, God’s promise of eternal life would not be possible.   His promise of eternal life is changeless.  God’s promise can never be invalidated and is the basis for victoriously living.

 

Prayer—Father I thank You that Your promise to me will never change.  My faith in You and Your promise is the basis for victory in my life, in Jesus Name. Amen.      

GUILT COMES FROM THE ENEMY AND FROM WITHIN

“For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”—2 Corinthians 7:10

 

I once read a survey that asked 500 people what emotions that they felt when experiencing guilt.  The answers really touched my heart.  People reported feeling punished, depressed, worthless, rejected, and isolated.  A general sense of low self-esteem overwhelmed the people who responded to the survey.  There was no joy, no hope, and no vitality.  In a sense, it is as though the feelings of guilt had completely blotted out everything else in their lives. 

 

These are the same emotions that many who are imprisoned in the penal systems around the world feel.  Prisoners tell me that they feel especially guilty about their families and what they are going through.  I ministered to a prisoner, I will call Joe (not his real name), who was a member of a vibrant Bible teaching congregation before he was sentenced to twenty years for shooting a man while committing a robbery.  Joe was a broken man, both spiritually and physically when I met him.  The open door to the root cause of Joe’s many physically aliments: Guilt.  Through much personal ministry, Joe began to discover where his guilt was coming from.

 

Are you dealing with intense feelings of guilt right now?  If so, consider one simple question: Where does your guilt come from? 

 

Joe began to understand that God was not mad at him and was not holding anything against him.  Joe discovered where his guilt was coming from—the enemy and himself.  Although he attended a lively church, he never devoted any of his time to personal spiritual growth, and fell back into his old habits and old friends.  He was plagued by personal guilt, and an Assaulting Spirit of Guilt by Satan.  This spirit would come into his cell at night and physically assault him leaving scratches and bruises.  I bound this spirit from assaulting Joe, until he was strong enough spiritually to stand against it when he was alone.  When Joe was strong enough, I cast the spirit out and the many others associated with it.  When I first met Joe, he was not strong enough spiritually to stand on his own against this spirit that is why I did not immediately cast this spirit out.  Jesus said, “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first” (Luke 11:24-26).

 

In 2 Corinthians 7:10, we see two forms of guilt.  One is a sorrow that comes from God.  This call to repentance is a tool that the Lord uses to draw unbelievers to Himself through salvation in Christ.  It also motivates believers to confess any wrongs causing “hindrance’” in their fellowship with Him.

 

A second form of guilt is the dark emotion that plagues people, like Joe, with remorse and the reactions mentioned on the survey.  Such sorrow is not from God at all, but from the world.

 

If you have received Jesus’ free gift of salvation but still struggle under the assault of guilt, let Scripture assure you; these feelings did not come from God.  He is not attacking you.  Rather, He holds the key to unlock the door to your freedom.  Do not fall victim to the Enemy’s lies.  In Christ, you are forgiven and fee.  Walk free today!

 

Prayer—Father I thank you for setting me free from guilt and shame.  Today, I will not allow the enemy to steal my freedom from me with feelings of guilt and hopelessness.  Thank You that You love me and believe in me and that You are not holding anything against me and that the Enemy’s power has been broken over my life in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

GOD HAS PEOPLE TO HELP YOU

“For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen; to the glory of God through us.”—2 Corinthians 1:20

 

Many grandparents have remarked to me that their homes are “YES” homes when their grandchildren come to visit.  Whatever the grandchild or great-grandchild asks for, the answer is always “yes!”  A conversation with a grandchild or great-grandchild usually goes something like this…

“Can I have some cookies?”

 “Yes.”

“Can we play a game?”

“Yes.”

“Can I have some ice cream?”

“Yes?”

“Can I have some ice cream before dinner?”

“Yes.”

“Can I have ice cream with dinner?”

“Yes.”

Whatever the grandchild/great-grandchild wants always results in a “Yes” response. 

 

When I was very young, our family was visiting my grandparents, and my mother laid me down for a nap.  My grandmother was in the bedroom next to the one that I was to be napping in; however, I very much wanted to see my grandmother instead of taking a nap, so I quietly got down from the bed, and made my way into my grandmother’s room.  Her welcoming love filled arms were outstretched to me as I struggled to climb into the big bed with her.  Although my grandmother was a double amputee and her hands were very crippled with arthritis, she helped me get up into the bed.  In essence, she was telling me “yes,” and I will help you come to me.  I do not remember the conversation we had, but I still remember the feeling of contentment as I lay with my grandmother that warm spring afternoon.   

 

I have often reflected on the memory with my grandmother and it reminds me that all of God’s promises are yes and amen!  Today remember that your life is full of promises that are yet to be fulfilled.  Do not give up!  Lift up your outstretched arms to your heavenly Father who desires to fulfill all of His good promises to you.  He loves you and there are people who are ready and willing to help you reach your promises.  Phoebe was a woman who helped many people including the Apostle Paul.  “I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, that you may receive her in the Lord, in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper, of many and of myself also” (Romans 16:2).

 

Prayer—Father I thank you for Your promises to me.  Thank You for the people who are ready and willing to help me reach the promises You have made to me, in Jesus Name. Amen.