Devotion: Resist The Devil By Faith

Who is this wicked one we call Satan?  The scriptures do not reveal much detail about this entity even though there is a lot of speculation pertaining to him and his existence.  There is no time period that explains exactly when he came into existence.  According t0 scripture, there are no indications as to when, if any, a revolt happened or when the fall occurred.  The Bible is somewhat vague about how he became known as Satan and his origins.  The lack of verifiable facts has not stopped the speculation about his existence or lack thereof.

“And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him” (Revelation 12:).

Lucifer was originally created as one of God’s highest angels.  Satan, who possesses all angelic attributes, is believed to have led some of the angels in a rebellion.  Many describe the devil as the originator and chef practitioner of sin (I John 3:8), as that wicked one (I John 5:18), as a thief and a destroyer (John 10:10), as a deceiver (Revelation 12:9), as a murderer and liar (John 8:44), and as the accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10).  Many believe his craftiness and deceitful nature was first depicted during the fall of mankind in Genesis 3:1-13, and in fact he can masquerade as an angel of light (II Corinthians 11:14), as he deceives the whole world (Revelation 12:19).  Many believe that he is in opposition to all things of God by counterfeiting the works of God and destroying all that is good.  The phrase “deceiveth the whole world” (Revelation 12:9) is a definitive statement, that is a statement of summary, which summarizes his actions in the earth realm.  During every free moment in the earth realm, his only purpose supposedly has been to deceive the world.

To “deceive” is to tell a “lie.”  He is accused of being the father of lies and the father of deceit.  The stories go on to say that if he can plant a lie, get you to accept it, then get you to act upon it, he can gain control of your mind in the battle for your soul.  Supposedly he wants you to think on things that are not true, keeping you confused, so that you will not know God’s will for your life.  An unmaintained, undisciplined thought-life occurs from the deceptions brought on by him.  His main goal is to cause you not to maintain your thought-life.  He is out to deceive you so that he might gain access to your soul through your mind.  Some say he is not a creator and has used the same tactics as he did during his first encounter with mankind.  Some claim he uses the same methods today that he used in that encounter with Eve in the garden.  Why would he change his methods of operation since they worked so well for him in the past against them that were pure in heart and mind?  They had no thoughts that were not pure to confuse their minds and no bad genes passed down for past generations to deal with like you do, but he used temptation to defeat them.  What he used to defeat them then, is what he will use to defeat you today.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (I Peter 5:8).

Be sober (meaning clear minded) and be vigilant (meaning watchful) because your great enemy walks around like a hungry, roaring lion looking for some victim to devour.  Walks around like a hungry, roaring lion meaning he walks around roaring like a hungry lion, but he is not a lion.  Because he is the father of lies, he wants you to believe that he is a lion waiting to devour you.  He continuously travels through the earth realm, going back and forth in the earth, and walking up and down in it (Job 1:7), seeking souls to devour.  To seek whom he may devour means he has to seek those who are willing to play into his hands.  He does not have the right to devour anyone unless his or her action allows him to do that.  He must have your permission to devour you.  If you are looking for something or someone, it means that you do not have it or have not found them yet; therefore, he has no control over you unless you let him find you.

“Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Luke 10:19).

He has had many years to study human nature, but this does not mean we should be ignorant to his ways either (II Corinthians 2:11).  While you have been given authority over the power of the enemy, to resist him by faith, you should never underestimate him.  He just may prove not to be who you have been led to believe he is.

We forever pray that this inspirational message will abundantly bless you, greatly inform you, and that you will be the better for having read it.  If blessed by this message, please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: Endure Hardship

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind.  And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (I Corinthians 10:13 NIV).

Too many so-called believers still have pieces of their old sinful nature still living within them.  While many have been able to put to death many aspects of their sinful natures, many choose to keep souvenirs, clinging to particular portions of their old life.  While there are varying amounts being kept, these tokens only serve as reminders of a life gone by, a life that was completely ruled by a sinful nature.  The problem with keeping these souvenirs, these tokens alive, it gives opportunity for temptation to do its thing.

“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (James 1:14-15).

Every man is tempted, but he is tempted by his own passions and by his own desires.  His own lust serves as the bait for the temptation.  Once the trap is baited, it is man’s lower nature, his fleshly desires that draws him away and entices him.  Then once the temptation goes from the confines of man’s mind and he acts upon it, he then gives birth to sin.  Once sin is born, it grows up, matures, and then brings with it, death.

“But remember this—the wrong desires that come into your life aren’t anything new and different.  Many others have faced exactly the same problems before you.  And no temptation is irresistible.  You can trust God to keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can’t stand up against it, for he has promised this and will do what he says.  He will show you how to escape temptation’s power so that you can bear up patiently against it” (I Corinthians 10:11-13 TLB).

While the old cliché says, “God never gives you more than you can bear,” we actually see that God will not allow you to be tempted beyond your capability to “stand up against the temptation, if you choose.”  But you have to be willing to find the way of escape and not allow that old sinful nature and the temptation to give birth to sin.  It is then, when you find that way of escape, that you will be able to endure and “stand up against it.”  Remember, God will provide a way out, a way to escape, but you have to look for it and be willing to use it.

We pray that today’s inspirational message will be a blessing to you and we pray that you will share them with others so that they may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: An Ugly Tree

It was the first man, Adam who came from the earth, who “was made a living soul” (I Corinthians 15:45).  Scripture tells us “Adam was the figure or the type of him who was to come” (Romans 5:14).  It was Jesus who was first made in the likeness of earthy man, fashioned as the first.  Then upon his resurrection, “he was made a quickening or life-giving spirit” (I Corinthians 15:45).  We know that first came the natural man and then came the spiritual man.  And as we have bore the image of the earthly man, we now have the opportunity to bear the image of the heavenly man.  We now have the opportunity to put on a spiritual body that comes directly from God.

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.  Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified” (Romans 8:28-30).

We are fully aware that all things work together for the good to those who have love for God.  It is those who have this love for God that have come to him and it is them that he has declared not guilty, and filled with the goodness of Jesus Christ.  He has given them right standing and given them his glory.  For God knew before the beginning, pre-destined, if you will, that those who would come to him would bear the likeness of the only begotten son of God, that he, Jesus Christ might be the firstborn among many brothers.

“If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.  But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.  For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.  But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming” (I Corinthians 15:19-23).  “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree” (Galatians 3:13).

If our hope in Jesus rest solely in this present life, then we have completely missed the boat.  Jesus Christ has risen from the dead to become the firstfruits of them who have died or slept.  He is the firstfruits of the first resurrection.  This be the resurrection from the dead that came to all men because of what Jesus himself did.  It is in this life, this resurrected life, that we are to rest our hope.  We know that everyone dies because all of us are related to Adam, being members of his sinful race, and wherever there is sin, death results.  And because all who are in Christ are related to Christ, then all will rise again because Christ redeemed us when he hung on that “ugly tree”

We forever pray that this inspirational message will abundantly bless you, greatly inform you, and that you will be the better for having read it.  If blessed by this message, please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: The Weapon Of The Spirit

We now know that there is a battle going on in our mind for the control of our soul.  We also now know that our enemy comes from the spirit realm.

“For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).  “For though we walk (live) in the flesh (in this body), we do not war (fight) after (according to) the flesh (human standards) (II Corinthians 10:3).

Although we live in this world in the flesh, we do not engage in war according to the flesh, as the world does.  We do not wrestle against people made of flesh and blood.  While it appears that our encounters are mostly with people, things are not always as they appear to be.  In this war, we wrestle against persons without bodies.  We battle against the evil rulers of the spirit realm.  That’s right; we battle against the mighty satanic beings, against the great evil princes of darkness, and against the wicked spirits of this unseen world.  This battle takes place in the arena of our mind for the control of our soul.

“For though we walk in the flesh, we don’t wage war according to the flesh; for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds, throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ; and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience will be made full” (II Corinthians 10:3-6 WET).

Therefore, the weaponry of our warfare cannot be that of conventional human weapons.  No, we must use spiritual weaponry, weapons provided to us by God.  These mighty weapons are designed to knock down and overthrow the enemy’s strongholds.  When used properly, these mighty weapons can cast down every proud argument against God.  These mighty weapons can pull down every high thing that promotes itself against the knowledge of God.  These mighty weapons can bring into captivity every thought, every idea, and every suggestion that comes into your mind.  These weapons can bring into compliance your mind with the mind of Christ.  Keep in mind that these battles take place in our mind.

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.  Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:10-11).  “Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:13-17).

Through all of this, we are to be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power.  Then we are to put on the whole armor of God so that we will be able to stand against all of the wiles of the devil.  We are to put on truth, the true word, to put on righteousness; to fit ourselves with the gospel of peace; and above all, we are to take with us faith, to take with us salvation, and to take with us the word of God.  Having put on all of these things, we are to stand, for then we will be able to stand against all enemies, to withstand all attacks, and quench every fiery dart of Satan.  When we use “God’s instruments of war,” we can stand against the tricks of the devil, we can keep our position against all of his deceits, and we can eventually win the war.

We hope that today’s inspirational message will allow you to see who our true enemy is and give you a new perspective on the real war that we are fighting.  We pray that this message will bless you, inform you, and that you will be the better for having read it.  If blessed by this message, please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings. - KW

Devotion: The Blessing Of The Lord Will Make You Rich

We know that we continually talk about prosperity and how it is God’s will for his children to prosper.  We have shown you many passages that reveal it is God’s will for us to prosper.  We know that many look around the Christian circles and only see those who preach about prosperity prospering while others appear to struggle to make ends meet, while waiting on their own prosperity.  Because we see the apparent injustices of those in religious leadership positions wearing the expensive designer clothes, riding in the expensive luxury cars, and living in the big expensive houses with servants and the like, many have decided that prosperity can only be of the devil and so they do not want any part of the so-called prosperity message.  What they do not realize is that they are actually hurting themselves.

First of all, not everything in this world that we live in is as it appears to be.  This is just a fact of life.  Since the beginning of man, we have been deceived, manipulated into doing things that have gone against the truths that are found in the word of God.  The really sad part is that the same deceit and manipulation still goes on today by the very one that has continually deceived the world.  The devil’s craftiness and deceitful nature was first depicted during the fall of mankind (Genesis 3:1-13).  If he was able to alter what God had said in the mind of Eve (II Corinthians 11:3), what makes you think he cannot do the same today?

Many are aware of the devil and his minion’s infiltration into the Church, but has any thought been given to other areas that he may have influenced.  It should not be out of the question to consider the devil’s role in the translation of the very Bible that we use.  And no we have not lost our minds nor are we speaking against what some consider to be the very word of God.  We know that Satan himself can masquerade around as “an angel of light” (II Corinthians 11:14).  We also know that his ministers can be transformed into “ministers of righteousness” (II Corinthians 11:15).  And we know that his only purpose, since the beginning, has been to deceive mankind (Revelation 12:9).  We all have been taught that the devil knows the Bible, so not to consider this possibility may prove to be detrimental.

Scripture upon scripture has revealed that God wants his children to prosper and he enjoys helping us to prosper.  Misinterpretations have caused many to reject the prosperity message, seeing it in a negative light.  Since “no man can serve two masters, because he will either love the one and hate the other or he will keep or hold on to one and have not respect for the other” (Matthew 6:24), prosperity has been taken off the table.  According to scripture, it is “the love of money” that is “the root or cause of all evil” (I Timothy 6:10), so by taking money out of the equation, then we get rid of the evil that is cause by this “evil money.”  You see, if you do not have this “evil,” then you can love the Lord God with all of your heart, soul, strength, or mind.  Problem solved, right?  Not exactly.  Money in and of itself is not evil.  In this economical system, money is just a tool necessary for you to live.  It is the “love of money” that is the problem not the money itself.

God wants his children to prosper and he enjoys helping us to prosper.  And as we have continually stated, there is a specific reason for the prosperity.  God gives us the power or the ability to get wealth to fulfill his promise, that agreement he made with our ancestors (Deuteronomy 8:18).  But in order to prosper the right way, we have to understand that there is a godly path to prosperity, a way that adds no sorrow.  Of course, if there be a right way to prosper, then surely there be a wrong way to prosper.  You just need to make sure that you find the right path to prosperity.  We will give you a clue, it involves having “the blessings of the Lord” for “the blessing of the Lord makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it” (Proverbs 10:22 NLT).

Again, we pray that today’s message will abundantly bless you and that you will be the better for having read it.  If blessed by this message, please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: God Is A Genius

Have you ever wondered why man was created out of the dust, but the woman was created from the rib of man?

“And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; and the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man” (Genesis 2:21-22).

Over the years, man has created some interesting stories related to the creation of man.  There are even more interesting stories associated with the creation of woman from the rib of man.  Believe it or not, the answer has more to do with sin and salvation than anything else.

“And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation” (Acts 17:26).

According to this passage, God created from one blood all the nations of men living on the face of the earth.  This is why Eve was created in the fashion that she was created, so that there would be only one blood for all mankind.  Had Eve been created from the dust as man was, there would have been two bloods.  And with two bloods, the need for two saviors.  While there is much speculation on how the other people came to be on the earth, it appears that we all came from one man: one man, one blood, and one race; the human race and with that, the need for one savior.  How awesome is God?  God is a genius.

As always, we pray that today’s inspirational message will abundantly bless you, greatly inform you, and that you will be the better for having read it.  If blessed by this message, please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: God Plays No Favorites

Recently, we referred to a study we did on “The Characteristics of God, his nature, his character, and his personality.”  In that commentary, we revealed the one thing we had discovered that completely summed God up in a nutshell, “God is a god of integrity.”  We defined “integrity” as “the quality of possessing and steadfastly adhering to high moral principles or professional standards; uncompromising adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty; or the state of being complete or undivided.”  We also mentioned that “the integrity thing” had absolutely nothing to do with God’s abilities or his capabilities.

We found that the sovereignty of God speaks to the abilities and capabilities of God but has little to do with the integrity of God.  And as we mentioned before, we do not make it a habit of speaking for God because God’s words speak for and interpret themselves however; there are times when the significance of those words gets lost in translation.  God has the ability to be unfair, immoral, unrighteous, and to do evil and bad things.  He has the ability to change anything that he chooses to change, especially his mind, if he chooses to change it, as well as the ability to lie, if he wants or chooses to.  God is fully capable of doing anything he so chooses, but the God that we serve, the sovereign God of all creation has chosen not to do any of the abovementioned things because he is “a god of integrity.”

Therefore, when you read in scripture “there is no iniquity with the Lord our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts” (II Chronicles 19:7), “God changes not” (Malachi 3:6), and “it is impossible for God to lie” (Hebrews 6:18), know that God has chosen these very traits to be part of “his nature, his character, and his personality.”  What God has said at the beginning and what he said in past times still holds true today and will continue in the future (Ezekiel 24:14).  What he gave at the beginning, he is still giving today and he will continue to give in the future (James 1:17).  Regardless of his abilities, God has chosen not to do certain things that would bring into question his integrity.  Many of the changes you see today are because man changed what God has said, not God changing what God has said.  Man has changed many things and then used God’s name to do so.  Man has done this so much throughout the years; he is now not able to distinguish the truth from the fiction.  God has not changed his mind about any one thing that he stated in the beginning or changed any one of those things that he put into place in the beginning.  God has never lied, not one time, past or present.  And God has never played nor does he play favorites.  This is why our God has chosen to be “the One of integrity;” that way, his children would recognize him over all others.

As you read today’s commentary, we pray that this message will bless you as well as inform you.  If blessed by this message, please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: A Faith Fight

Most of us have an idea what faith means, but what we do not realize is just how much faith is involved in our everyday life.  The biblical definition of faith says that “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1 KJV).  Faith is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen.  Faith is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us even though we cannot see it up ahead.  Faith has been around since the beginning of time.  Faith is trust in somebody or something, especially without logical proof.  It is having trust in somebody that you consider worthwhile and truthful.  It is also accepting that something exists when there is no physical proof of its existence or of its reality.  Explaining faith to those who doubt “the existence of faith” can be summed up similar to this, which surprisingly supports the existence of faith that can be found in everyone.

“A man (woman) agrees to take a job with a company.  The company tells the man that he will be paid every two weeks.  The man agrees to the terms and accepts the job.  The man reports to work the first day, works eight hours, and afterwards, he goes home.  The next day the man repeats what he did the first day.  The man does the exact same thing for one week straight.  Payday comes and the company gives the man his first paycheck.”

A careful examination of the above story reveals that faith actually plays a bigger role in our everyday life more than what many realize.  The man has placed his faith in the company, believing that the company is able to do all that the company says it can do.  In the man’s case, he believes or has taken on faith that he will be paid when he gets to the end of the pay period.  The strength of his faith and the evidence of his conviction is fully demonstrated in the fact that he goes to work each day without any form of compensation during the period.  Again, this speaks for the amount of faith the man has placed in the company.  Once payday comes and he gets his paycheck in his hand, he does not need faith anymore because the thing that he had hope for, the thing that he believed he was getting from the company is now a reality.  He has received that which he hoped for, the thing that was unseen until now.  This is a classic example of faith in action.  Moreover, this is a classic example of the strong kind of faith Abraham had (Romans 4:20-21) and the great faith of the Roman centurion (Matthew 8:5-10).

Faith provides substance or assurance and then faith provides evidence, in the sense of proof that results in confidence.  There is not a lot of difference between assurance and evidence except for their qualifiers.  One involves hope and the other involves realities that are unseen.  While everything that you have learned has come through your five senses or through what is called “sense knowledge,” faith is not perceived by the senses because faith is the evidence of the thing hoped for and not the thing itself.  You do not need evidence to believe in something that you can physically see, taste, smell, hear, or touch.  The evidence speaks to the fact that the thing exist somewhere, otherwise you cannot have evidence for something that does not exist.

Whenever there is faith, there is also some type of action involved.  Everywhere you see faith expressed in the Bible, there is some type of action associated with that faith.  Faith is acting, which is the action, upon what you believe.  You have to start with something and that something is belief.  You first must believe, which is accepting that something can be true or that something is real.  Then you will need faith, which is believing or trusting that something is, especially when there is no logical proof that it exists.  Next, there is action, which is doing something in order to reach a goal.  Once you reach your goal, which is basically the end of the race, then there is no more need to have faith.  You do not need faith for something that you can physically see, that you can physically taste, that you can physically smell, that you can physically hear, or that you can physically touch.  Once you physically see it, taste it, smell it, hear it, or touch it, then you do not need faith, because now you actually have the thing that you had hoped for, so there is no need to continue hoping for it, you have it.

In our story, the man’s faith is tied to the belief, the well-ground assurance that he will be paid when he is supposed to be paid.  The evidence of his conviction is tied to him going to work every day, even though he cannot see the reality of the thing he hopes to get, which is the pay.  Once the man gets his paycheck, he does not need faith anymore because the thing that he had hope for, the thing that he believed he was getting from the company is now a reality.

There are many who fail to understand the power of faith and how it works.  We hope this example will help in your understanding of faith and hopefully help you in your faith fight.  As always, we pray that our commentary will abundantly bless you, greatly inform you, and that you will be the better for having read it.  If blessed by this message, please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: What Is Sin?

“For all have sinned, and come (fall) short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).  What does this passage really mean?  How does one actually define the word “sin?”

According to the dictionary, “sin” is defined “as a transgression of theological principles.  It is an act, thought, or way of behaving that goes against the law or teachings of a religion, especially when the person who commits it is aware of this.”  In Christian theology, “sin” is defined “as the condition of being denied God's grace because of a sin or sins committed.”  According to Strong’s Concordance with Hebrew and Greek Lexicon, the word “sin” is defined as “to be without a share in; to miss the mark; to err, be mistaken; to miss or wander from the path of uprightness and honor, to do or go wrong; to wander from the law of God, violate God's law, sin; that which is done wrong, sin, an offence, a violation of the divine law in thought or in act; or collectively, the complex or aggregate of sins committed either by a single person or by many.”

When we think of sin, we usually define it as personal sin, which may be one of “commission” (doing something that is prohibited) or one of “omission” (failing to do what is required of you).  This sin may also express itself in either an act or attitude, for example, going astray like a wandering sheep doing one’s own thing, by transgressing or overstepping the law, or by trespassing.  These definitions bring to mind the following questions: What sin does a baby who is born, takes one breath, then dies commit?  What did the baby do that was prohibited?  What did the baby fail to do that was required of him or her?  What sin did this baby commit?  This is when it dawned on us that we may need to rethink the definition or meaning for this word “sin.”  Could there be an alternative definition?

Yes, it dawned on us that there could be another definition or meaning for the word “sin.”  We believe the phrase; “All have sinned” referred to a point in time when everyone sinned.  The only time that this could be referring to had to be back in the beginning, in the beginning of God’s creation.  The phrase actually points to the very moment when all were in one man, Adam.  You see, when Adam fell, the entire human race was “constituted or formally established as sinners.”  We know from scripture that it was “by one man’s disobedience that many were made sinners” (Romans 5:19).

Adam’s disobedience resulted in the human race being plunged into sin, leading to the imputation of sin.  The word “impute” is defined as “to attribute (especially, a fault or misconduct) to another; charge with; ascribe; to ascribe (goodness or guilt) to a person as coming from another.”  This imputation of sin took place when Adam sinned and the original sin was charged to every person’s account that came after him.

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 5:12).

Sin entered into the world by one man’s action, it entered into the world because of what Adam did.  It was this sin that was imputed or charged to “all” because we “all” are connected with Adam’s race.  And because of this act, death followed and was passed on to every man as well.  So, this brings us back to an earlier set of questions.  What sin does a baby who is born, takes one breath, then dies, commit?  What did the baby do that was prohibited?  What did the baby fail to do that was required of him or her?  What sin did this baby commit?  The very sad fact that infants sometimes die demonstrates that even infants are impacted by Adam’s sin, since physical and spiritual death were the results of Adam's original sin.  Therefore, the only sin that the baby in this case is guilty of is the sin that was passed down to him or her by Adam, the father of mankind.

Hopefully, we all now have a better understanding on this thing called “sin.”  Previously, we mentioned that we are not sinners because we commit and/or practice sin; we are sinners because of the sin nature that was created and passed down by Adam when he fell.  And because we have this sin nature, we are also born to die, because death came as a result of the sin.  It is by accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and savior, that we have a new nature that was created and passed down by Christ’s obedience.  It is having this new nature that brings life everlasting.  Just as our sin nature was given to us by Adam, a righteous nature is made available to “all” by Jesus Christ.

As always, we pray that our inspirational message will abundantly bless you, greatly inform you, and that you will be that much better for having read it.  If you are blessed by this message, please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Be a blessing to others.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: Prosperity Pleases God

We have talked numerous times about prosperity and the reason God gives us the power or the ability to get wealth.  We have continually used Deuteronomy 8:18 as the anchor to our message to make clear the specific purpose for this wealth, which is “that he may establish his covenant,” a covenant “which he sware unto thy fathers.”  God gives us the power to get wealth to fulfill his promise, that agreement he made with our ancestors.

“Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee: and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 12:1-3).

In this passage, God asked Abram, who would be later become known as “Abraham,” to leave all that he would inherit behind.  Back then, everything was tied to the land.  People were considered prosperous or wealthy based on how much land, cattle, sheep, other livestock, and other various things they owned.  People accumulated wealth and passed that wealth down from generation to generation.  But we see here, God asked Abram to leave all of this inheritance behind, to leave his country, his kindred, and his father’s house so that he could travel to this unknown land, unknown to Abram but not God, which God would guide him to.

God made several promises to Abram, should he choose to obey this command to leave everything behind.  God promised to make him “the father of a great nation and to make his name great and famous.”  God also promised to “bless all that blessed him and to curse all that cursed him.”  But the most important of all, was “the promise to bless him so that he could be a blessing to others,” for it would be through him that “the entire world would be blessed.”  Long story short, Abraham (Abram) did as God asked of him and because of his obedience; God did what he had promised.  He made Abraham the father of a great nation, made his name great and famous, and made him “to be very prosperous” (Genesis 12, 13, and 14).

“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” (Galatians 3:13-14).

Jesus, who redeemed us from the curse of the law, also gave us the privilege to become “a child of God” (John 1:12-13), so that all could share in “the blessing of Abraham and receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” (Galatians 3:14), which includes “the right to good health, wealth, and total life prosperity” (III John 1:2).  However, keep in mind that this blessing, this prosperity on Abraham had a purpose.  This prosperity on Abraham was so that he could be a blessing to others, which he was.  It was promised through Abraham, through his faith in God’s promises, that the entire world was to be blessed.  It was promised through Abraham that we, the children of God would prosper, so “that God may fulfill his promise, that agreement he made with our ancestors.”  It was promised through Abraham that “we would be blessed in this day to be a blessing to others.”

“Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant” (Psalm 35:27).

God wants his children to prosper and he enjoys helping us to prosper.  God wants his children to be givers.  God wants his children to be in a position to be a blessing to others.  Therefore, magnify the Lord by having the same faith in the promises of God as Abraham that you too can be a blessing to others.  Live your life to be a giver, continually giving to others, continually blessing others with the prosperity that God has promised, through Abraham, to bless you with.  Become a blessing to others, which is the true purpose for the prosperity, as God “fulfills the promise he made with our ancestors.”

We pray that this inspirational message will continue to add to your understanding and be a great source of revelation knowledge.  If you are blessed by this message, please share it so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: Get Answers To Prayer

And above all, remember to pray.  But whenever you pray, there are some things that you need to know about prayer.  First of all, you need to know how to pray.  Then when you pray, you should expect to have your prayers answered.  Contrary to popular beliefs and some teachings, if God did not want to answer all of your prayers, he would not have told you to pray and more importantly, he would not have told you how to pray.  Since most people are not familiar with the different types of prayer that God has made available, many of their prayers go unanswered.  In order to have your prayers answered, you must be aware of the many types of prayer, you must know the right type of prayer to use for your situation, and you must know the procedure for using that prayer.  Because we lack the needed knowledge about prayer and its purpose, more prayers go unanswered than get answered.

Some believe that when they pray, God hears them because they are sincere.  Others believe he hears them because they have a need.  And then there are some who believe he hears them because they have a pain or are suffering.  This is not true for any of these cases.  By hear, we do not mean he does not hear that audible words that one speaks when they pray, we mean to say that God does not respond to your prayers based on any of these reasons.  God only hears or responds to those prayers that conform to the principles set forth in his word.  God has set forth procedures that guarantees you receive the answers to your prayers.  Basically, you must pray according to his will.  Here is a novel thought, if each prayer prayed was according to his will, then there would be no need to include the phrase, “If it be thy will.”  All the prayers prayed would already “be in his will.”  This is just a thought.

Imagine, praying a prayer according to the will of God.  Is it possible to do that?  Do you think this type of prayer would ever work?  How do we know what God’s will is?  As the righteousness of God, we have the right to have our prayers answered.  As a child of God, you have the right to the inheritance of the new covenant, a better covenant, built with better promises.  Just because we have the right to these things does not mean that we will get our prayers answered without following the rules set forth by God.  Here is another way to look at it.  It would be like playing a football game with the rules used to govern a basketball game.  Somehow it just does not work.  The same applies to your prayers.  You have to pray according to the rules that God has set forth in order for your prayer to get answered.

People pray all the time, for many different reasons, for many different things, using many different methods.  Because we lack knowledge about praying God’s way, most people are not aware that each of the different types of prayer that God has made available to us are governed by their own set of spiritual laws or rules.  On the surface, these prayers seem to be identical to each other, share many similarities, which may account for the confusion by so many.  Because all of these prayers require the same tools, many times the spiritual laws that govern each of them are misused, misconstrued, and misapplied resulting in many unanswered prayers.

“Praying always with all prayer” (Ephesians 6:18) implies that there are different kinds or methods of prayer.  To get answers to your prayer, you must be aware of the different types of prayer and familiarize yourself with them.  So make sure you know how to pray, which goes way beyond opening your mouth and just throwing out some words that sound spiritual or godly.  Learn to pray God’s way, according to God’s will and get your prayers answered.

Again, we pray that our commentary will be a blessing to you and will be a great source of information.  If you are blessed by this message, please be sure to share so that others may be blessed as you have been.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings. - KW

Devotion: Is Desiring To Be Rich Wrong?

Most of you are familiar with “the story of the rich young ruler” (Matthew 19:16-30; Mark 10:17-31; Luke 18:18-30).  He was the one who came to Jesus wanting to know what he must do that he might have eternal life?  In answering this question, Jesus, who “looked upon him and loved him,” ended up telling the young ruler, “One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me” (v. 21).  Scripture tells us that the young ruler was saddened by what Jesus had said and that “he went away grieved” (v. 22).

Jesus would go on to say to his disciples, “How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God” (v. 23).  Was having riches the primary reason why the rich young ruler could not enter into the kingdom of God?  Did Jesus, in answering the young ruler’s question, intend for us to follow these same instructions to sell all we possess and give to the poor so that we might have eternal life?  Is this that one thing that the rich young ruler lacked?  Most of the time when studying the word of God, we focus intently on the things that are actually written in the passages that we are looking at.  However, on occasion, it is important that we focus our efforts and our attention on what is not included in the passage of scripture so that we can get clarity and understanding of what God is truly trying to reveal to us with the passage.  For example, as we look at the list of commandments mentioned by Jesus, we find that he left out the most important one of all.

“Master, which is the great commandment in the law?  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  This is the first and great commandment” (Matthew 22:36-38).

Yes, that’s right; Jesus did not mention the greatest commandment of all in the list he gave to the young ruler.  The most important commandment of all, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” was not even mentioned in the passage.  Could this be what Jesus was talking about when he told the rich young ruler that he lacked one thing?  If this be what Jesus was talking about, then it would appear that the young ruler did not love the Lord God with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his mind.  It appears that the young ruler loved his riches more than he loved God and this is why he was saddened and went away grieved.  Even though he claimed to have observed from his youth all those commandments that were listed by Jesus, the one that Jesus did not list appears to be the one thing that the rich young ruler lacked, a love for God above all other things.  The rich young ruler did have “great possessions” (v. 22), but the truth of the matter was that he was unable to give up those possessions, even for the eternal life he sought, because “his possessions actually possessed him.”

At first glance, this story appears to be about having riches and how hard it will be for those who have such riches to enter into the kingdom of God.  However, Jesus would later say to his disciples, “Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:24).  This message is actually about those who “trust in their riches” and how hard it is for those who put their riches ahead of God to enter into the kingdom of God.  Those who “trust in their riches,” though they have great possessions, find it most difficult to part with their possessions, even for eternal life, because the truth of the matter is that “their possessions actually possesses them.”  This is what the story of the rich young ruler revealed and that is why he was saddened and went away grieved.  We are to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33), putting our love for God above everything else that we have in our life.  There is nothing found in scripture against having possessions as long as we are not “possessed by our possessions,” for this is when it becomes hard or most difficult for those with riches to enter into the kingdom of God.  Jesus went on to say that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man, who “trust in his riches” to enter into the kingdom of God (v. 25).

We forever pray that our inspirational message will abundantly bless you and that you will be the better for having read it.  If blessed by this message, please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: Giving Is Planting Seed

In several of our recent commentaries, we have discussed prosperity.  We have continually used Deuteronomy 8:18 as the anchor to our message, which says that God gives us the power or the ability to get wealth, although it be for a very specific purpose.  We have expressed this purpose as being “that he may establish his covenant.”  We also mentioned that it is vital that we understand there is more to the message and the purpose than just giving or as some have put it, “sowing seed for a harvest” and expecting some kind of hundredfold return based on the amount a person gives.  While being a generous giver, being obedient, and walking in faith are important ingredients in the mixture, it was understanding the true purpose that was the key to receiving the revelation of the prosperity message from God’s point of view.

So many people view prosperity as something that increases their bottom line.  Because the world places such high value on things like cars, houses, and other tangible items, we are led to believe that by amassing as many of these items that we can, we make ourselves prosperous by varying degrees.  We are taught that the more such things or “assets” we amass, the more prosperous we are and the more prosperous we are, the more highly regarded, by man, we become.  Nevertheless, God’s way to prosperity is just a little different.

God wants to prosper us.  God does not want us to prosper so that our needs are barely met or even met with the barest of necessities.  God wants us to prosper so much so that we can actually be givers.  God wants us to give, to be in a position where we can be a blessing to others.  The reality of prosperity is that we should live to give and not live to get.

The Bible makes it clear that there is a right way or a godly way to prosperity and that there is a wrong way or an ungodly way to prosperity.  Most people use the world’s roadmap, which is tied to the world’s financial economy, to obtain their riches.  When we are the source of our financial prosperity, we worry about everything.  However, when God is the source of your prosperity, you do not have to worry about anything.  God’s roadmap is different from the world’s roadmap and is not subject to the ebbs and flows of the world’s financial economy.

“The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it” (Proverbs 10:22).

According to this passage, it is “the blessing of the Lord” that makes a person rich.  When our prosperity comes this way, there is no sorrow added with it.  It appears that having “the blessing or favor of the Lord” is the key to receiving true prosperity God’s way.  With “the blessing or favor of the Lord,” we do not have the burden or the weight of producing and/or maintaining our own riches.  “The blessing or favor of the Lord” will bless all that we do and make us prosperous with no sorrow or bad success added, for the sole purpose of enabling us to be a blessing to others.  When correctly understood, prosperity is not for us, where we amass as much wealth as we can for ourselves.  The primary goal for the prosperity is for us to be a channel for money to flow through so that God can use us “that he may establish his covenant” and that we may be a blessing to others.  Our personal wealth is a by-product of having “the blessing or favor of the Lord” in our life and is not the primary goal for the prosperity.

Again, we know that this short commentary will not settle the on-going debate about prosperity, however, it just might give those who have that same “ear to hear,” as we do, a little different perspective and a clearer understanding into the true purpose for the prosperity, from God’s point of view.  As always, we pray that our commentary will abundantly bless you, greatly inform you, and that you will be the better for having read it.  If blessed by this message, please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: When You Sin

Tradition teaches us that sin is “a violation of divine law.”  And tradition teaches us that we are all sinners because we have violated the law.  While we do commit and/or practice sin, we are not sinners because of either of these reasons; we are actually sinners because we have a sin nature, a nature that was created by Adam.  You see, when Adam fell, the entire human race was constituted or formally established as sinners.

“For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners” (Romans 5:19).

It was by one man’s disobedience that we were made sinners.  Adam was the first man and the forefather of the entire human race (Genesis 2:19) and the consequences of his disobedience affected all mankind.  The belief is that when he sinned, it was as if we all had sinned at the same time.  And at the same time, “death was passed upon all men” (Romans 5:12).  For it was at this point in time that the phrase, “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) took on its meaning.

We know from scripture that by man, Adam, came sin and with sin came death.  These things were passed on to all mankind, so that all mankind were guilty of sinning and all mankind would die.  The fact that God would impute the disobedience of one man to the entire human race may seem a little unfair to many of you.  It really is not as unfair as you think.

“For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (I Corinthians 15:21-22).

God offers to impute the righteousness of Christ to the account of a believer, making that person’s record as good (or as perfect) as Jesus Christ’s just as he imputed the sin of Adam to the account of all of mankind making everyone sinners.  Imputed righteousness in place of imputed sin; sounds fair to us.  Death came into the world because of what man (Adam) did.  And it is because of what this other man (Jesus) has done that now there is the resurrection from the dead.  Everyone dies because all of us are related to Adam, being members of his sinful race, and wherever there is sin, death results.  But all who are related to Jesus Christ will rise again, as members of his spiritual race.  Death came into the world because of what man (Adam) did.  And it is because of what this other man (Jesus) has done that now there is the resurrection from the dead.

By one man’s disobedience, sin entered into the world.  And with that sin came death, spreading throughout the world; for all die because of Adam.  And because of Adam, everything began to grow old and die.  But by one man’s obedience, sin’s curse was defeated.  And with that defeat came the resurrection of the dead, for in Christ shall all be made alive.  But now we want to look at the contrast between the one who started all of this and the one who ended all of this.

“… so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous” (Romans 5:19).

Adam’s sin brought punishment to all, causing all to become sinners because he disobeyed God.  It was the righteousness of Christ that made man right with God again so that they could live.  Christ gave many the opportunity to be made acceptable to God; all because he obeyed.

The free gift of God does not work the same way that the transgression of man did.  Because of one man’s sin, the death penalty was brought to many, but this free gift of God is so much more.  This gift, a gift of grace, is given by the righteousness of Jesus Christ.  He has taken away all sin and replaced it with glorious life.  But this gift does not have the same effect as the sin of the one, Adam.  Adam provoked a judgment that resulted in the condemnation of everyone.  The gift of grace, however, resulted in the justification for a multitude of transgressions.

Again, you are not a sinner because you commit and/or practice sin, you are sinner because of the sin nature that was created and passed down by Adam when he fell.  By accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and savior, you be in Christ and Christ be in you.  When you are in Christ and Christ in you, then your sin nature is changed and you become a new creature or creation.  And as a new creation, your old sinful nature be passed away and a new nature is created in you, a justified and upright nature, a nature that is Christ-like.

We pray that today’s inspirational message will give you a new perspective on this thing called “sin.”  We pray that that this message will bless you, inform you, and that you will be the better for having read this message.  If blessed, please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: Giving Is Not The Main Ingredient In Prosperity

In many religious circles, the prosperity message has become a dividing force in the body of Christ.  Misused and abused by some religious leaders for personal gain, many believers now completely tune out any messages that even skirts the issue of money, finances, tithing, and/or prosperity.  Though we understand the negative connotations associated with the prosperity message and the views of both sides of the issue, we thought it to be extremely important that we attempt to discover the truth about prosperity from God’s point of view and not just man’s viewpoint, since so much is written about the topic in the Bible.

We will be the first to admit that we are not scholars nor do we claim to be any experts in the field, but we do have a love for the word of God and we seek the truth in his word.  We will also admit that our motives for discovering the truth are somewhat selfish; however, we do share any and all results with those who have that same “ear to hear” as we do.  We previously found that God gives us the power or the ability to get wealth, but it is for a very specific reason; so “that he may establish his covenant” (Deuteronomy 8:18).  This is God’s viewpoint, his purpose for giving us the ability to get this wealth, and the main reason why we need to talk about prosperity.  This is completely different from man’s viewpoint of prosperity, which is only to “increase one’s own self.”

It is vital that we understand there is more to the message and the purpose than just giving or as some have put it, “sowing seed for a harvest” and expecting some kind of hundredfold return based on the amount a person gives.  Being a generous giver, being obedient, and walking in faith are important ingredients in the mixture, but understanding the true purpose is the key to receiving the revelation of the prosperity message.  In order for any of this to work God’s way, all must be done with the right motives, with the right intentions, and with the right heart.

“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver” (II Corinthians 9:7).

Attitude plays a very important part in understanding God’s point of view about prosperity.  Each of us must make up our own minds and decide in our own hearts as to what to do with this revelation on the purpose of prosperity message.  No one should force you to participate nor should you participate grudgingly, reluctantly, out of necessity and/or under compulsion because this is not God’s way.  However, understanding the purpose will make you a cheerful and joyous participant in helping God to establish his covenant, which is the true purpose for the prosperity, from God’s point of view.

As always, we pray that today’s inspirational message will abundantly bless you, greatly inform you, and that you will be the better for having read it.  If blessed by this message, please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW