From God's Generals

Sunday, November 16, 2008 Can You Loose Your Salvation? Dr. Frederick K.C. Price The Bible states in Colossians 1:19-23: "For it pleased the Father that in Him [Jesus] all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all the things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.  And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you [to the Father] holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight - if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister." These verses tell us that Jesus, through His sacrificial blood, has reconciled the Christian to the Father.  Now, the Father sees the Christian holy, separate from the world and without sin, because Jesus paid the price for the Christian to be free from blame and reproof before God.  However, we need to find out what "if we continue in the faith" is all about.   The very fact that Paul said, "if you continue in the faith" means it is possible that you might not.  In other words, there is eternal security in Christ, as long as you stay in Christ.  No one can steal your salvation.  God will not let you go.  However, I believe the Word teaches that it is possible for a Christian to give up the gift of grace--his salvation. Receiving Jesus as Savior and Lord saves an individual by faith.  Jesus is a gift from God to the world. Therefore, salvation is a gift.  There is only one way to obtain a gift, and that is to receive it.  You cannot buy it, you cannot earn it, and there is nothing you can do to become worthy of it.  The moment you buy something, earn something, or work hard to be good enough to receive it, it ceases to be a gift.  To do so becomes a reward for works, such as a salary, which is compensation for work, done. Because you did not earn your salvation by works, then you cannot lose it by works.   The blood of Jesus is powerful enough to save us and to keep us.  Many people mistakenly believe that we can lose salvation through works! Works are irrelevant and immaterial.  You do not go to hell because of your evil works, any more than you go to heaven because of your good works.  Your destination is hell if; you refuse to receive the gift of salvation.  In other words, your eternal destination is dependent on one thing: what you choose to do with Jesus, your gift from the Heavenly Father. There are two things you can do with a gift - receive it or give it back, repudiate it.  If you repudiate Jesus knowing exactly what you are doing, that is "the sin leading to death."  However, certain qualifications must be met in order to commit this sin. If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin, which does not, led to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death.  There is sin leading to death.  I do not say that he should pray about that (1 John 5:16). There is nothing you can do for a person who has committed the sin leading to death.  The Bible tells us not to pray for such a person.  The sin leading to death is committed when someone uses the same mouth that once confessed Jesus as Savior and now rejects Him.  This person says, "I don't want anything to do with this Man Jesus any more.  I repudiate Him.  He is not my Savior and Lord.  I want nothing to do with Him ever again." The person held guilty of this sin is a mature and spiritually experienced Christian.  When you know much spiritually, you are held accountable for what you know.  Hebrews 6:1-6 lists the criteria for committing the sin leading to death. For more information regarding salvation, please obtain a copy of Dr. Price's book, "Building on a Firm Foundation."  You may call us at (800) 927-3436 or visit our website: www.faithdome.org for a complete list of his products.

Sunday, November  9, 2008 Amazing, Truly Amazing Grace! Bishop E. Earl Jenkins "By Grace you have been saved" Ephesians 2:5 NAS Have you any idea of the mess you were in, or moving toward, when God reached down and saved you? Perhaps an illustration may help you get the picture. If you took your children to a petting zoo and a little lamb came running towards you, you probably wouldn't be afraid at all because lambs are harmless. You might even reach out your hand and let the lamb lick it. But let's say you're at the zoo and the alarm goes out that a lion has escaped from its cage. If you're standing there and that lion comes running towards you, you'll be terrified and start to run because you know what lions can do. But just suppose that the runaway lion corners you in one part of the zoo and comes up to you - but instead of attacking you it gently licks your hand the way the lamb did. If that happened whose gentleness would you appreciate more, the lamb's or the lion's? You'd appreciate the lion's gentleness more because you know that he could just as easily have destroyed you without violating his nature as a lion. Well, grace is God's kindness and gentleness to us when He could have backed us into a corner as guilty sinners and destroyed us without violating His holy character. But God wanted to make us His children, so instead of expressing His wrath against us, He poured it out upon His own sinless Son on the cross. Jesus took our punishment so God could embrace us. Hence, we have a brand-new relationship with God through grace. Isn't that amazing!

Sunday, October 26, 2008 Let This Mind be in You Alan Riley One of my favorite passages in the New Testament is found in the second chapter of Paul's letter to the Philippians. The book of Philippians is special because of who wrote it, who it was written to, why it was written, and where the author was when he wrote it.  The book was written by Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles who took the gospel to the world.  It was written to the church at Philippi to thank them for a financial gift brought to Paul from the church.  Paul had a very special place in his heart for the Philippian church, and the warm, loving words of the letter reflect this. It was written from a Roman jail cell about ten years after Paul first preached in Philippi.  It was on that visit that Lydia was saved and, after an earthquake freed the prisoners, but none fled, the Philippian jailer and his family came to know Christ. Now Paul is Nero's prisoner in Rome, confined in a Roman prison under difficult circumstances. Yet this letter brims with joy, assurance and victory.  The second chapter contains what scholars tell us is probably the earliest recorded Christian hymn, and a passionate plea from Paul for us to imitate the loving and humble spirit of our Lord Jesus. The word that is translated "mind" in the Bible sometimes refers to our thinking process, but most often it refers not to the process but to what we are thinking - to our attitude.  As early as the book of Proverbs, we are told "as a man thinks in his heart, so is he (Proverbs 23:7). In this passage, Paul says, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." (NKJV)  The New International version says it this way: "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus."  The attitude of Jesus was that of humility and love.  It was His humility that allowed Him - the sinless Son of God - to take on the role of a servant, and even to die a humiliating death at the hands of men. Verses 5-11 contain the lyrics to that early hymn of the church.  The Message translates the hymn this way: Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to Instead, he gave up his divine privileges He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being When He appeared in human form, He humbled himself in obedience to God And died a criminal's death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor And gave him the name above all other names, That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, In heaven and on earth and under the earth, And every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, To the glory of God the Father. For over two thousand years, the followers of Jesus Christ have sung these words in many different languages and to many different tunes.  Yet the message is the same: Because of His obedience and humility, God has given to Jesus a name that is above every name, and everyone in heaven and on earth will bow and acknowledge that He is Lord. And in that second chapter of Philippians, Paul tells us that we need to have the same humility, the same love, the same compassion, and the same obedience as Jesus as we relate to each other in the family of God and as we reach out to the world around us to tell them about His love. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus!

Sunday, Oct 19, 2008 Sunday, October 19, 2008 Keep A Steadfast Mind Bishop Keith Butler Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Isaiah 26:3 You probably know your share of people who are messing up their lives big time, and some are already on the brink of destruction. Why is this the case? Well, most people don't practice keeping a steadfast mind. When your mind is steadfast, then it is firmly fixed in place. Isaiah 26 says, "...whose mind is stayed on thee..." The word 'stayed' is important here because it means your mind is not subject to change. Your mind is firm in belief, determination, or adherence. For years, I've noticed that many successful people master this issue of the mind. They have learned how to be firmly fixed, or to take the position to follow after what is the right course of action. They will apply their decision to the end and do whatever it takes to sharpen themselves once their minds are determined. This is certainly true regarding the things of God. You'll have victory in your life once you learn to keep a steadfast mind. Isaiah 26 continues by giving you the reason why you need a steadfast mind. God will keep you in perfect peace. Having perfect peace is what you should strive for. It means regardless of what comes your way, you're cool and even-tempered. Nothing can upset, bother, or destroy you. You're at rest with things and you operate in total confidence. When you learn to trust in God, the result is perfect peace. Yet, there are many Christians who don't have this peace. Let's examine why. James 1:5 says, "A double minded man is unstable in all his ways." You can't go around your whole life as a man or woman of two minds, who is always hesitating. That's being uncertain and unreliable about everything you think, feel, or decide. A steadfast mind is necessary in order to function in God's perfect peace. James, chapter 5 outlines the problem of an unstable person: he's unstable in all his ways. Do you understand that a double-minded man is not just unstable in one area, but every single area of his life? But, you can have a steadfast mind! Just keep your mind stayed on God and His principles, and it will produce perfect peace and victory in your life. Scripture references: Romans 8:6 Sunday, August 10, 2008 Bring It To Me Rev. James C. Matthews "A man came up to Jesus, falling on his knees before Him and saying, 'Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is a lunatic and is very ill; ... I brought him to Your disciples, and they could not cure him. ' And Jesus answered and said ... 'Bring him here to Me"  (Matthew 17:14-17). In life there are problems that I call "God problems." These are not problems with God, but problems only God can handle. God problems are those that cannot be fixed with your checkbook, education or influence. These problems are outside of the control of human beings and lie squarely within God's sovereign jurisdiction. They stop us in our tracks and cause us to soberly assess our associations and situation in life. They bring us face to face with our insufficiency and our need for God's sufficiency. When we face a God problem we discover what is really important in life. These problems are not designed to stop us from making progress in life, but to reveal our dependency on God. They are opportunities for us to seek and grow closer to Him. God wants to reveal something to you.  He wants you to spend some time with Him, growing in your knowledge and relationship with Him, and your problem may be the vehicle He is using to do it. Throughout the gospels people sought Jesus to do what no one else could do. In Matthew 17:14-1 7, a father had a problem that no one else had an answer for. His son was demon-possessed and no one was able to help him, including the disciples. Finally, he encountered the One who had held the key to his son's deliverance - Jesus.  Jesus, looking at this seemingly impossible and long term situation, told the father to, "Bring him to Me".  Jesus did in a moment what his father had been trying to do for years. Likewise, the disciples faced a seemingly impossible task of feeding a multitude with a boy's lunch. The boy only had two fish and five loaves of bread, but there were over 5000 people to feed. After taking inventory of the situation, Jesus told the disciples to, "Bring them here to me." As the fish and loaves passed through the hands of Jesus, their insufficiency was transformed into sufficiency. You may be presently dealing with something that is outside of your control. You've done everything within your power to change the situation and have almost given up hope because nothing has changed.  Before you give up, make sure that you've truly brought your problem to God and not trusted people for your solution. Like the boy's father who brought his son to the disciples - they couldn't help him. He needed God alone!  Too often, God is the last stop in our search for help. You don't have to lose everything before you seek Him.  God is not intimidated by what you are dealing with. Stop trying to fix it on your own.  If you could fix it, it would be fixed by now.  This is a "God Problem", or a "problem for God".  Don't mistake your trusting people with trusting God.  When God showed up, deliverance quickly followed. The devil will do everything he can to keep you from spending time with God and discovering His sufficiency.  He will put people in your way and keep you so busy and tired, that instead of things getting better, they get worse.  I want to challenge you.  Set aside some time in the morning, evening, (or if things are so hectic) on your lunch break or when you are lying in bed and get into God's presence undistracted.  Take a deep breadth and focus on God's promises.  In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus promised, "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, .... 'For My yoke is easy and My burden is light'."  God's offer still stands!  Whatever it is- "bring it to Me!" * Excerpt from J.C. Matthews' - Saved but StucK: 30 Days to Personal Revival

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Time For A Spiritual Check-up Bishop E. Earl Jenkins "I am praying...your body is as healthy as...your soul." 3 John 2 TLB We all know how important physical health is; here's a plan for keeping your soul in shape: (a) Don't question your faith, question your doubts. We spend too much time dwelling on our misgivings, experiencing faith as an occasional flash-in-the-pan. God's promises are for 'believers.' (b) Don't be a 'lone ranger.' It's no accident that the Old Testament contains the story of God's people, and that the Epistles were written to congregations. We grow as we relate - not isolate! (c) Guard your thought life. If your "thinking is controlled by the sinful self, there is death. But if [it's] controlled by the Spirit, there is life and peace" (Ro 8:6 NCV). Practice mind management! (d) Fall asleep and wake up immersed in gratitude. It'll transform your day. "In every thing give thanks!" (1Th 5:18). (e) Ditch anything that distracts you from God. Toss the junk reading material, and if you've got the guts, throw in the TV! (f) Always err on the side of mercy. Philip Yancey writes: "I marvel at the humility of a God who descends to live inside...his 'flawed' creatures...Do I show that same attitude towards people of whom I disapprove?" (g) Be specific and don't revert to generalities when discussing your faith. Paul wasn't "ashamed of the Gospel" (Ro 1:16); neither should you be. (h) Be gracious to the people who irk you. God chose them too! Sometimes it's easier to be gracious to non-believers than to uptight, moralistic Christians. But that just makes you a different kind of judgmental. (i) Forgive those who've hurt you. Harboring hatred hinders healing, so bring your hurts to God.

Sunday, June 29,2008 Going Boldly To His Throne Bishop Keith Butler For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.   Romans 1:16 (KJV) We know that the Word is the power. But it is the power unto salvation. Now this word "salvation" here means more than just getting saved. The Greek word "salvation" gives you basically a 7-fold definition. It means deliverance, safety, preservation, healing and soundness. So I am not ashamed of the gospel of the Anointed One for it is the power of God unto salvation, safety, healing, preservation, and soundness. The Word is the power of God unto whatever you need. Notice that it says it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes. You may own a Bible where you get the power of God, but the question is do you have the power in your heart. Whether or not that power is activated in your life is up to you. Believing the Word activates God's power in your life. If you don't believe the Word, then you can forget having the power. It is not the power to those that hear. It's power to those that believe. Let's read Romans 1:17, "For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith." (KJV) It says therein, or in the word, is righteousness revealed. We know that we are righteous because we are in Christ Jesus. We have right standing with the Almighty God, and we believe His Word. Since we believe the Word of God, we can boldly walk into His presence and ask for mercy in time of need. We don't have to have a priest go in once a year in our place. We can walk right into the Holy of Holies and speak to the Almighty God and say, "Daddy, please help," thereby activating the power of God in our life. Let me give you an example of this. My youngest sister has a propensity for spending much more than my other sister and me. When we were younger, she could walk boldly into my father's presence and have no problem saying, "Dad, can I have some money to go shopping?" She has more clothes than me and my other sister put together. But she has no problem going boldly in his presence and asking him for whatever she needs and whatever she wants. Now I am a grown man. I have a college degree and a job. For me to walk boldly into my dad's presence and say, "Dad can I have some money to buy some clothes," would be a big mistake. My father would say, "Don't you have a job? I know you got a check last week." In that regard, my right standing with my father is limited. But notice when it comes to our Heavenly Father, we can come boldly into His presence. He is going to say, "Your job is not your source, I AM." But why is that? We are righteous in God's sight, and we believe His word. We can boldly come into His presence. We can be thoroughly persuaded that we are going to get what we ask for before we ask. Because His Word says so! Well that right standing, that righteousness is revealed in the Word of God and in the power of God. Scripture References: Romans 8:14-17; Hebrews 11:6

Sunday, May 4, 2008 The Water and the Blood Bishop Keith Butler This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. 1 John 5:6 (KJV) What in the world can a person do about sin? Nothing! Jesus was the only One that could do anything about it, and He has already finished the job. Now what does the Scripture mean when it says that Jesus came by water and that He came by blood. We need to find the answer out from God's word. Ephesians 5:26: "That He might sanctify and cleans it with the washing of the water by the word." That is referring to Christ, as mentioned in the previous verse. Notice that the word is linked to washing or cleansing. Water is linked to washing and cleansing. Jesus is the Word, and He came because of the Word. The Old Testament prophets prophesied about the Word that God put in the earth. Look further at John 15:3. Jesus said, "Now ye are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you." (KJV) We can conclude from our Master's Words that the Word is what cleans you up. The Word is what fixes you up. Now just in case you still don't get that, let's look at Psalm 119:9. The question is asked, "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy Word." (KJV) We have seen that the Word is the cleansing agent that cleanses us from the effects of sin, and makes our path straight. When the scripture uses the term water, it is referring to the Word. So then we can understand I John 5 when it says this is he who came by water. Jesus came by the cleansing agent. He came by that cleansing agent that cleanse us up, grows us up, turns our life around, and sets our feet on solid ground. But Jesus not only came by water, but He came by blood also. The One to save mankind would have to be One that had blood untainted by sin. Only Jesus could do that. He was the only One who had sinless blood. And He got the job done. It was His blood that was shed on that cross that washed our sin away. So, yes, He came by the water, the washing of water by the word of God. And He came by blood, the blood that saves us, heals us, preserves us, keeps us with a sound mind, and delivers us from all danger. We are clean through the word of God, and we are saved by the blood of Jesus. Scripture References: Isaiah 53:5; 1 John 5:1-21

Sunday, April 13, 2008

What It Means To Be A Worshipper Rev. James C. Matthews Did you know that there is a reason for your existence? God knew you before you were even formed into a fetus. He has a specific plan for your life. Your job while you are here on earth is not to choose your destiny but to discover it. Many people search for fulfillment their entire lives and never find it because they fail to discover their purpose. God is the Creator of all things. Your life is not a mere coincidence or a mistake, but a part of His plan; He has a specific assignment for you. Do you know what it is? If not, here are 10 questions to help you discover your true destiny: 1. What is your deepest desire? Psalm 37:4 says "Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." When you decide to serve God, He will actually give you the desire to do what you were created to do. You will know it is a God-given desire because it will line up with His Word. 2. What stirs your passion? Passion is the zeal, enthusiasm, excitement and intensity you feel about things that are important to you. It will stir you to action. What bothers you the most? God may be calling on you to find a solution to a problem or to be a solution to a problem. 3. What naturally flows out of you? Have you ever taught someone how to do something that you could do with your eyes closed? It may have seemed simple to you, but complex to them. What is that natural talent or ability you have that others do not? 4. Where do you get real results? In Luke 13:6-9, Jesus gave us a time guideline for how long it should take to "try something out," such as a job, career, business or ministry. He gave an example of a man who had a fig tree in his vineyard and had been checking for three years to see if it was producing fruit. Then Jesus asked the question, "Why cumbered it the ground?" This was a nice way of asking, "Why is this thing taking up space?" What is taking up space in your life? 5. What is the witness of the Holy Spirit in your spirit? God will confirm the plan He has for your life. He will sometimes speak through dreams and visions or in a still, small voice. He will make sure He gets the message to you in one way or another. Are you listening? To hear and recognize His voice clearly, you must position yourself by spending time seeking Him, diligently praying and studying His Word. 6. What do mature Christians see in you? Keep in mind that a "mature Christian" is not just someone who has been saved for a while, but instead is a Believer who consistently makes decisions based on the Word of God. Mature Christians can give you good advice about seeking God's will for your life. 7. What career or ministry do you feel the peace of God about pursuing? Philippians 4:6-7 says to pray with thanksgiving and let your request be known to God, and He will bring you peace about the things that concern you. Let the peace of God in your spirit man guide you and confirm His will for your life. 8. What thoughts, visions or dreams are impossible to put out of your mind? God speaks to us in various ways. He will give you thoughts, visions and dreams, but your job is to recognize when it is God's message and when it is not. You will know God has given you a dream, vision or concept when you have spent time seeking Him. He will confirm it through His Word, as well as through people who may speak into your life about the situation. In addition you will see situations and circumstances line up to make your dream or vision come to pass. 9. What goal or ambition can you dedicate yourself to 100 percent, for the rest of your life? Is there something you can do for hours and really enjoy? What career or job could you do for the rest of your life? When you discover your purpose, it will incorporate all of your gifts, talents and strengths, and you will have a passion for it that enables you to do it even when you are tired. 10. What do people volunteer to help you accomplish? When you find what you were created to do, God will send people, opportunities and resources to help you along the way. Is there something you do that people want to support? When you get into that place, you will find total fulfillment. Don't waste another moment trying to find satisfaction in all the wrong places; find God's true purpose for your life today!

Sunday, March 30, 2008
A Shadow Has No Substance
Bishop Keith Butler

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

The shadow of death is taken from the shadow representing darkness and gloom; it is figurative of a severe test or trial. However, my definition of a shadow is this: a shadow has no substance.

Once you are over the fear, you can walk through a shadow. The only thing that produces a shadow is when something is between the light and the surface or else there would be no shadow.

Many times, we bring on the shadows in our lives because we put something between God and ourselves. It may be him and her between you and God. It may be family or friends between you and God. It may be fear between you and God. Whatever it is, a shadow is produced.

Now let me remind you that a shadow has n o substance. It may be bigger than the object, but it can't do anything to you. Satan's ploy is to make the test or trial that you are dealing with bigger than life itself, so he tries to cast a shadow. He wants you to believe that there is no way around the shadow. He's wrong. When we get out of the way and allow the light of God's glory to shine on the situation, that shadow will disappear.

The Lord is your Shepherd. His light will remove the shadow of tests or trials in your life, but you have to get rid of what's between you and God.

The Shepherd is your protection. "...thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." The rod was used to beat off wolves that tried to snatch the sheep. The staff was used to lead the sheep back in the right direction. The staff had a crook on it that the shepherd used for sheep that strayed away. The shepherd would put that crooked end over the sheep's neck and gently guide him back to the fold.

The Shepherd will guide and lead you. You may not know where you're going or how you're going to get there, but when the Holy Ghost is leading you, you can relax under His protection.

I tell you there is comfort in knowing the Holy Ghost is leading you. Spend time with Him. He will bring you out of the shadow of tests and trials in your life. You don't have to fear any evil that comes against you. Remember: it has no substance.

Scripture References: Psalm 91:1-16; 107: 10-16; Isaiah 35:4-10

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Need Directions? Dr. Creflo A. Dollar Have you ever been driving toward a certain destination and gotten lost? Most of us have experienced the frustration that comes with losing our bearings when trying to get to a particular place. In situations like this, some people will stop at a local gas station and ask someone for directions. Others will keep driving, confident that they will be able to figure out where they are going on their own. In life, God wants you to know exactly where you're going. He doesn't want you to stumble around, unsure of whether the steps you are taking are the right ones. Instead, He desires that you have crystal-clear hearing so you can receive specific instructions regarding the path He wants you to take. In other words, God wants you to stop and ask Him for directions daily! The prophet Jeremiah, was ordained to be a prophet before he was even born; it was God's plan for his life (Jeremiah 1:4-10; 29:11). Similarly, you have a God-given mission that God will help you carry out. The key to executing the mission, or vision, God has given you is your ability to receive directions from Him and your willingness to immediately obey what He tells you to do. When you increase your awareness of God's voice, you position yourself to step right into His perfect will for your life. Proverbs 6:23 says, "For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life." God's directions give light to your vision. They are the steps you must take to accomplish God's master plan for your life. Your greatest asset is an unbroken connection with God. Through daily fellowship with Him and study of His Word, you empower yourself to recognize His voice and obey Him in even the smallest act. Like pieces of a puzzle, each step you take enables you to see the bigger picture. You must discover what God desires for you to accomplish in the earth. This means quality time communing with Him and making His Word the final authority in every area of your life. Being born again is a prerequisite to discovering your God-given assignment. Once you accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of your life and begin seeking Him daily, He will begin revealing your purpose to you. The Holy Spirit is your guide as you walk out the path for your life, so consult Him regularly. Check with Him before making any decisions, and if you don't have peace in your spirit about something, don't proceed. On the other hand, if you feel "clearance" from the Holy Spirit to step out on something you believe God has told you to do, and it lines up with His written Word, move forward with confidence knowing that He is backing you up. The Apostle Paul said, "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain" (1 Corinthians 9:24). There is a set race for you to run, and God wants you to discover it. Make a concerted effort to yield to His instructions daily. Before long, you will find yourself walking in your divine destiny!

Sunday, February 17,2008 Let God's Word Abide in You Bishop Keith Butler If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. John 15:7 (KJV) It is important to take time to meditate the word of God before you pray about a certain issue. Meditating in the Word on healing, for example, causes faith to come to you for healing. When you read the scriptures in which Jesus laid hands on the sick and healed them, and think about it, and meditate on it, you will begin to see yourself healed when hands are laid on you. That is seeing yourself healed by faith. That is God's word abiding in you. You should never hear the Word about healing, have hands laid upon you, and just stop there. If that's the case, there is no scripture to abide in you, and the healing you received may slip away from you. The Word in you needs to be "watered." That means you read the Scriptures daily to fill yours elf with the word of God. Without your effort of getting God's word in your heart, the word that is in there will not have any roots. So you get your healing, but then you lose it. Why? God's word isn't abiding in you. The Word abide means to take up residence; to dwell in. Why would His words have to abide in us? God's words must abide in you because they are the power. If you are praying without the power source you are not going to get any production. What is the production you're looking for? Faith. Jesus said, "If ye abide in Me, My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will." We know the word of God teaches that you can't ask for anything except by faith. That is why he or she that comes to God must believe. When you are asking you are asking of God. You are coming to God. So for you to ask you must ask in faith. But if you have no Word in your spirit, you have no faith, because faith comes from the word of God. Now you can get healed. You can hear it, believe it and get healed. But for you to keep it you have to meditate in the word of God, because Satan comes immediately for the word. In order to obtain your desire and keep it, you must be firmly persuaded that you have what God promised. A lot of times people are quick to say, "I abide in Him. Now it's time to ask." However, unless you've taken the time to get the scriptures in your heart, there will be no faith produced in you. I like to say it this way: No Word, no faith. When the Word is abiding in you, you become firmly persuaded that you have what you are asking for before you even see it. Where do you get that firm persuasion from? The Word. The Word produces confidence in your spirit. The Word produces faith. It makes you more grounded in what God is saying, and more grounded in the fact that if God said it, then it is so. If God said it, then the power is present to bring it to pass. Scripture References: Joshua 1:8; Romans 4:18-21; Hebrews 11:6

Sunday, February 3, 2008   Attack Fear with Faith Dr. Phillip G. Goudeaux And the Lord appeared to him the same night and said, I am the God of Abraham your father. Fear not, for I am with you and will favor you with blessings and multiply your descendants for the sake of My servant Abraham. Genesis 26:24 Fear is a weapon that Satan uses to destroy people's lives, their destinies and God's plan for their lives. When fear comes in, there is no faith and where faith is, there is no fear. God wants us to be men and women of faith because the Bible says that the just shall live by faith. God does not want you to be bound by fear because it draws every negative thing to you. When you operate in faith, you move God on your behalf and Satan wants to rob your ability to be a witness for God. Fear comes to steal, kill and destroy, to render you helpless and to stop you in your tracks. It is time for the body of Christ to stop being bed partners with fear. It is not a part of our nature. We need to make up our minds that nothing is going to stop us from being and receiving all that God has for us. Make up your mind to deal with the spirit of fear today. You cannot serve God in fear. That he would grant unto us, that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear. Luke 1:74 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18 When you start walking by faith and not by sight, you are moving ahead. You have a greater advantage to accomplish more in your life because you have God on your side. Since God is for you, who can be against you? The Lord has spoken peace into your life for this year.  Walk in the peace of God. Know that God has your back in every situation. This is my confession in agreement with you: Father, I receive your anointing, the burden-removing, yoke-destroying power of God upon my life so that I can be the person you have called me to be. I want to walk worthy unto You and glorify You all the days of my life. I am the redeemed of the Lord. I am blessed coming in and blessed going out. I resist the spirit of fear. I humble myself under the hand of Almighty God. I resist every foul and demonic spirit that will attack my faith. I am not given to fear. I am given to faith. I walk by faith and not by sight. I receive the promises of Almighty God in my life, in Jesus' name. I am going to the other side. I am crossing into the Promised Land, in Jesus' name. Amen. Take ownership of your life by meditating and speaking the Word of God over your life, over your family, over your finances, over your health, over your job.  Let prayer and confession become your lifestyle. I want to encourage you to stand in your God given authority, stand strong, be of good courage, dismiss any negative thought and know that you are victorious!

December 30,2007   God Will Turn it Around Bishop Keith Butler   And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.  Job 42:10 God can turn any situation around regardless of how grave, how despicable, or how hurtful it may be. Do you have something happening in your life that you need God to turn around? If so, you are a prime candidate for restoration. Job had some terrible things happen to him, but God turned it around. It was about nine months from the time Satan attacked Job until things started to turn. Most will agree that when you're in the middle of tests and trails, it seems like ninety years. However, when restoration comes, your captivity begins to turn. How did Job's captivity turn? The Lord turned Job's captivity when he prayed for somebody else. Here lies the first lesson to learn about restoration. If you want som ething good to happen to you, then you have to do something good for somebody else. That will always be God's principle. You might as well drill that in your head: if you have a problem, find somebody else with a problem and help them. Anytime you give, it comes back to you. That's a law of the kingdom and it works. When Job prayed for his friends, the Lord turned his captivity and restored everything back to Job, plus some. The word "restore" means to return what has been taken or lost, a renewal, recovery, restitution, revival, re-establish, healing, and a replacement. Those words describe restoration. Now this shows you how powerless Satan is: the moment you pray for somebody else, not only are you inviting God into their affairs, but you're also inviting God into your affairs. And when God is invited into your affairs, He will restore, plus give you more. God will restore to you double. The Lord blessed Job in the latter end of his life more th an what he had lost. You may not be in your latter end right now, but you can call those things that be not as though they were. Restoration comes by faith. Notice what Job lost: his family, his health, and his money, but God restored double. I mean, the second family was better than the first, he had more money than before, and he was healthier than before. God gave him 140 more years, so Job died being full of years. Remember, God will not do anything on the earth unless somebody invites Him. So invite God into your affairs and God will turn it around. He will restore BIG TIME! Scripture Reference: Psalm 126:1-6

Sunday, December 16, 2007   Thank God for Everything? Dr. Frederick K.C. Price Ephesians 5:20: giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, (KJV) As a Christian, am I supposed to thank God for everything that comes my way?  There is a lot of discussion about this verse in churches today.  However, we need to be scripturally discriminating about this and analyze what we are giving thanks for.  Are you supposed to give God thanks for your little child getting hit by a car and dying?  When your husband dies of cancer and leaves you with five children to raise.  Do you thank God?  There are many churches that preach that we are to give thanks in these and other evil situations.  They say, "Well, the Lord gave and the Lord has taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord."  No! I can't thank God when someone dies and goes to hell.  I can't thank God when someone is crippled with some paralysis and he can't even feed himself.  Is this what the scripture is asking me to do?  Am I to thank God for everything that happens - good or bad? The Spirit of God gave me a revelation regarding this scripture which I want to share with you today.  Look at the twentieth verse again, "giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."  Notice that the things we are to give thanks for are those that are "unto God." In Matthew 22:16-21 we read, And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men. "Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, "Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? "Show Me the tax money." So they brought Him a denarius. And He said to them, "Whose image and inscription is this?" They said to Him, "Caesar's." And He said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.  (NKJV) We are supposed to give thanks to God always for the things that He has done, not for what the devil has done.  Do you understand?  We give God thanks, credit, praise and glory for what He has done!  You don't thank God for what the devil has done.  You don't thank God that somebody died and went to hell.  You don't thank God that somebody is sick and helpless or because somebody was killed or murdered.  Don't blame God for what the devil does. I know that the idea of a devil is far fetched for some intellectuals.  However, whether you believe it or not, the devil still exists.  The Word of God says it and I believe God's Word.  Some of you are in denial and that is why the devil has been whipping your heads.  He has tricked you into believing that he doesn't exist and you have been calling the things that the devil has been doing in your life, "the works of God." First John 3:8 says: He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. If Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil, then the devil must have some works.  Is this right?  Jesus described the devil and his works in John 10:10, "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." The devil has some works and when the devil does his works you are not to give God thanks for what the devil has done.  You give thanks unto God for what He has done.  Render unto God the things that are God's and render unto Satan the things that he has done.  Stop blaming God for the things that the devil is doing! This devotional was excerpted from Dr.  Price's book, "Thank God For Everything?"

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 1 Corinthians 13:1

Smith Wigglesworth...
Thought for today: When you are used only for and desire only the glory of God, your acts and life, ministry and power will be  recorded endlessly in the glory of heaven-for the Acts of the Apostles are being recorded in the glory.

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Having found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:8

Smith Wigglesworth...
It is very important to minister in the gifts of the Spirit in the proper way. There is no anointing like the unction that comes out of death, when we are dead with Christ. It is this position that makes us live with Him.

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Thought for today: God wants you to be blessed so that you will be a blessing.

Monday, December 10, 2007

Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered? Jeremiah 8:22

Paula White....
In Bible times, every morning a good shepherd would take bowls of oil and pour them over the heads of his sheep before they got out of the protective fencing to gaze among the rocks and the stones. The shepherd anointed their heads with oil before they went out to prepare them for whatever came against them that day,the balm of Gilead would already be present.

In Israel's darkest hour, Jeremiah asked if there was any more balm in Gilead. They had become so cold, hard-hearted, faint, weak, anemic and lethargic. They had lost their salt, their light and there was not healing for the brokenhearted. Are you an answer to the problem? Are you a healing where there is illness? Allow Jesus to flow through you where you live, work, and attend church.

Sunday, December 9, 2007


Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God.
1 John 4:1

Smith Wigglesworth
God showed me a long time ago, that if I was disturbed in my spirit and was not at rest, I had missed the plan. How can you miss it?

First of all, you can miss it because you have taken on someone else's burden. All the time you are told to cast your burden on the Lord (1 Peter 5:7).

Second, if you do not have peace, you have gotten out of the will of God in some way. You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You (Isa. 26:30).

The Spirit always brings three things: comfort, exhortation, and edification. When the Spirit of the Lord is upon you and greatly active, you may "go from strength to strength" (Ps. 84:7), praising the Lord.

Thought for today:Nothing makes you so foolish as to turn aside from the Word of God. If you ever want to be a fool, turn away from God's Word, and you will find yourself in a fool's paradise.

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

When anybody preaches for the kingdom's sake, God will provide. Seek only God, and the rain will fall. The enduement of power will be made manifest in your motal bodies if you are really in the Spirit.

Thought for today: seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit not only for your sake but also for the sake of others.

Monday, November 26, 2007

Smith Wigglesworth...To be filled with the Holy Spirit is to be filled with divine equipping.

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.
Hebrews 2:1

You will never be able to discern or deal with evil powers as long as there is anything in you that the Devil can touch. Before satan can bring his evil spirits, there has to be an open door. How does Satan get an opening? When the believer ceases to seek holiness, purity, righteousness, truth; when he ceases to pray, stops reading the Word, and gives way to carnal appetities.

Saturday, November 24, 2007

Smith Wigglesworth...
Thought for today: As we think about what is pure, we become pure. As we think about what is holy, we become holy. And as we think about our Lord Jesus Christ, we become like Him. We are changed into the likeness of the object in which our gaze is fixed.



Thursday, November 15, 2007 • Print Article
There's A Work Going On In You
Bishop E. Earl Jenkins
"Grace wherein we stand, and tribulation [that] worketh patience." Romans 5:2-3

We're too impatient! If God doesn't speak to us in the first 5 minutes of our prayer time we get up, shrug it off and decide "He isn't talking today." Where's the tenacity of our spiritual forefathers who would take hold of God in prayer and refuse to let go until they received "a sure word" from Him? (See 2Pe 1:19).

There are 2 things you can count on as you walk with God: trouble that works for you, and grace to stand while you're going through it. Have you been praying for patience? Get ready for trouble! There's no other way to get it. Patience grows in the soil of adversity. How do you test the strength of an anchor? Expose it to the fury of a storm. Understand this: some of the people you can't stand right now are the very ones who'll mature you! Our problem is - we pray for things but don't recognize the answer when it comes. God has a purpose in all things, He also has a process. As you get to know Him better you begin to recognize both.

Here's how it works: you ask God for strength and He allows you to go through times of testing. You ask for wisdom and you get to deal with problems that require solutions. You ask for success and He gives you the ability to work - not necessarily harder, but smarter. You ask for favor and He gives you responsibility. Salvation is a gift, but patience is a reward for overcoming. So stay where God has you today and learn the lessons He wants to teach you; tomorrow you'll be glad you did!

November 14, 2007

November 13, 2007

To another gifts of healing by the same Spirit.
I Corinthians 12:19

Smith Wigglesworth...
Now I will deal with the gift itself. It is actually "gifts" of healing, not the "gift" of healing. Gifts of healing can deal with every case of sickness, every disease that there is. These gifts are so full that they are beyond human expression, but you come into the fullness of them as the light brings revelation to you.

The gits of healing are a fact. They are a production; they are a faith; they are an unwavering trust; they are a confidence; they are a relability.

Thought for today: If you are without condemnation, you are in a place where you can pray through.




November 12, 2007

On this one will I look; on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit.
Isaiah 66:2

Smith Wigglesworth...
One day I was in a meeting where there were a lot of doctors and eminent men and many ministers. the power of God fell on this meeting. A humble little girl who served as a waitress opened her heart to the Lord and was immediately filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in tongues. All these big men stretched their necks and looked up to see what was happening. They were saying, "Who is it?" Then they learned it was "the servant". Nobody received except the servant!

So many people want to do great things and to be seen dong them, but the one who God will use is the one who is willing to be told what to do. And you and I will never do anything without compassion.

Thought for today: Let us move into the realm of faith and live in the realm of faith and let God have His way.

November 11, 2007

But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
I Corinthians 12:11

God brings enlargement. There is nothing dead, dry or barren in this life of the Spirit; God is always moving us on to something higher, and as we move on in the Spirit, our faith will always rise to each occasion.

Thought for today: God cannot trust some people with a gift, but He can trust those who have a humble, broken, contrite heart. (Isa. 66:2)

November 10, 2007
The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up.
James 5:15

There is a difference between our faith and the faith of the Lord Jesus. The faith of the Lord Jesus is needed. Your faith may get to a plae where it wavers. The faith of Christ never wavers. When you have His faith, the thing is finished. When you have tha faith, you will never look at things as they are. You will see the things of nature give way to the things of the Spirit; you will see the temporal swallow up in the eternal.

Thought for today: It is when we are at the end of our own resources that we can enter into the riches of God's resources.

November 9, 2007

Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
Ephesians 6:16

Smith Wigglesworth...
Oh, this wonderful faith of the Lord Jesus. Our faith comes to an end. Many times I have been to the place where I have had to tell the Lord."I have used all the faith I have," and then He placed His own faith within me. It is when we possess nothing that we an possess all things. The Lord will always meet you when you are on the edge of living.

Thought for today: There is no limit to what our limitless God will do in response to a limitless faith.

November 8, 2007

To one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit.
I Corinthians 12:8

November 7, 2007

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
Proverbs 4:23

Rod Parsley...
The word "keep" in this passage means "to set armed guards around". Be watchful against any idea that conflicts with the word of God and the people who express them to you. Be careful what influences you allow to come into your home.

Thought for today: Keep your heart from all imput except that which comes from the Lord and His Word.

November 6, 2007

Stir Up the Gift

Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
I Cor. 14:15

Paula White...
The verb "to stir up" in this passage is the only time it is used in the New Testament. The meaning of this verb refers to keeping a fire stoked, or a full flame. Paul is relating Timothy's gift to that of a fire; which can dwindle or even die out due to neglect. Instead, Timothy had to move forward in his gift, operating in the spirit of power, love and a sound mind.


November 5, 2007

I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding.
1Cor. 12:15

Smith Wigglesworth states:
Thought for today: Prayer is without accomplishment unless it is accompanied by faith.



November 4, 2007

Claim the Gift
Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.
2 Kings 2:9

Thought for today: Many people miss a great many things because they are always thinking that they are for someone else.



November 3, 2007

What Is Your Motive?
You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.
James 4:3

Thought for today: We must be willing to deny ourselves everything to receive the revelation of God's truth and to receive the fullness of the Spirit. Only this will satisfy God, and nothing less must satisfy us.



November 2, 2007

Use the Gifts Wisely
We make it our aim...to be well-pleasing to Him.
2 Corinthians 5:9

Thought for today: We must be careful not to have a good time in the Lord at the expense of somebody else.



November 1, 2007

Great Possibilities
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable...for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17

Brother Smith Wigglesworth writes...
Everyone who has received the Holy Spirit has within him great possibilities and unlimited power. He also has great possessions, not only of things that are present but also of things that are to come ( I Cor. 3:22). The Holy Spirit has power to equip you for every emergency. The reason people are not thus equipped is that they do not receive Him and do not yield to Him. They are timid and they doubt, they go down. But if you will yield to His leading and not doubt, it will lead you to success and victory.

Thought for today: The child of God does not need to go back a day for his experience, for the presence of the Lord is with him and the Holy Spirit is in him, in mighty power, if he will believe.

Sunday, February 10, 2008   The Fear Factor  Rev. James C. Matthews When the Nation of Israel began to occupy the Promised Land, the first thing they faced was giants. You generally run into a "giant" prior to possessing your promise. Giants are representative of obstacles that stand between your and your destiny. Giant problems are the test in life that you must overcome or pass in order for you to receive your promotion. Giant problems are a last ditch effort by the enemy to turn you around before you occupy the place God has called you too. These problems can take the form of health issues, financial difficulties, legal, personal and relational difficulties. They all seem intimidating and appear insurmountable therefore they require God's intervention for us to overcome them. How you handle your giant problems will determine whether you settle for less or experience what God has for you. Fortunately, there was at least one person in Nation of Israel that believed God instead of being intimidated by what they saw. Caleb believed that God's promise that He had already given them the land and convinced the rest of Israel to go in and possess their promise. If God has called you to do something and a "giant problem" raises its ugly head, move forward in confidence, because what's on the other side of your problem is worth the fight. Anyone who suffers from a spirit of fear generally will have a diminished appraisal of themselves. They discount their abilities, potential and worth and esteem their situation higher than themselves - and often God. Much of what we fear, we have magnified and made much larger than what it really is. Israel's real problem was not the giants, but their perception of themselves. The giants had shown no sign of aggression toward Israel. It was fear that made them want to turn around and return to wandering in the wilderness. They magnified their problem and shrunk themselves, seeing themselves only as grasshoppers. They said: "we were in our own sight as grasshoppers" (Numbers 13:33, underline added). The giants did not call them grasshoppers, they did. They reduced themselves to nothing more than insects. They were not grasshoppers, but they might as well have been. They were defeated before they encountered their problem. This is the key to fear's power. Fear depends on you magnifying your situation in an attempt to suffocate and overwhelm you. It wants you to convince yourself that you are unable do what you have set your mind too. Fear knows that once you engage it, its power is gone. That is why its main objective is to stop you before you start. It is depending upon your magnifying the object of fear out of proportion until you conclude that it cannot be overcome. The mission God has given you is greater than anything you will ever encounter along the way. Faith in God's Word is the answer to anything you fear. "For we walk by faith and not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7). Remember, the only power fear has over you is the power you give it! Excerpted from "Saved But Stuck: 30 Days to Personal Revival."