Devotion: Rejoice In Trouble

We live in a fallen world, where we are constantly bombarded with negative things.  We live in a time where the ungodly appear get more and more prominence.  We live in a world where nearly all of the reports we hear through the news media are all negative.  We live in a time where one has to make a deliberate effort to be positive and counter this negative culture that we live in.

“A Psalm of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed.  I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.  My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.  O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together” (Psalm 34:1-3).

Praising God is something that we are supposed to do all the time.  When we check our praise life, it is like checking our spiritual pulse.  If we are not praising God and if we do not have a life that is constantly giving thanksgiving and praise unto God, then we are not spiritually healthy.  From a spiritual standpoint, there is no excuse for anyone not to praise God.  This is not to say that there may be a reason why one does not praise God, but there is no excuse as to why one should not praise God.  Most people want to wait until everything is perfect before they give God praise, but the problem with that notion is that they will not be praising God often or they will not be praising God at all.

“Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice” (Philippians 4:4).

In a letter to those at Philippi, Paul mentioned that we are to “Rejoice in the Lord alway.”  And just to make sure that there was no possible misunderstanding, he mentioned “rejoicing” twice.  Paul, who wrote this letter from prison and who was facing possible execution, wrote, “Rejoice in the Lord alway.”  When he wrote this letter, things in his life were pretty negative and were not going well at that time, yet the entire letter to the Philippians appears to be one of the happiest letters written during one of the worst set of circumstances in Paul’s life.  And in all that he went through, he was still able to tell us that we need “to rejoice, to celebrate, to delight  in the Lord always,” regardless of our circumstances or our situations.  David tells us “to bless the Lord at all times and to let his praise continually be in our mouth.”

Certainly, if Paul could “rejoice in the Lord always and continually praise God” in his situation, we can rejoice and praise God regardless of our circumstances or situations.  Paul is telling us and showing us that there is not a single time where we should not be praising and giving thanks to God.  So, check your praise life for that spiritual pulse.  If you are not rejoicing in the Lord always, blessing the Lord at all times, and continually giving praise and thanksgiving to God, then it is possible that you are not as spiritual healthy as you should be.

As always, we give thanks and glory to God for his wisdom and understanding.  We are so blessed to be able to share with you, those things that God has placed in our hearts.  We continue to pray that our inspirational message will be a blessing to each of you and that you will be the better for having read it.  If you are blessed by what has been provided, please feel free to share so that others may be blessed as well; for as freely as our Father has given this to us, we freely give so that others may share in the love and be blessed.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: Focus On Jesus

God warns us not to believe every spirit, which is great advice.  He tells us “to test the spirits to see whether they are of God” (I John 4:1), which so few of us do.  However, there is one major problem, a flaw, if you will with this testing of the spirits.  The testing of the spirits does absolutely nothing if the answers to the test are not available to the one performing the test.  A teacher who gives students test will already possess the correct answers before giving test, which enables the teacher to determine if the answers from the students are correct or not.  In order to test, you must have some knowledge of the truth, for without it, you place yourself in a position where the wolves will devour you.  This is why everything is important as it pertains to the Bible, no matter how trivial it may appear to be.  The same applies to the one that we profess to follow, every little detail about him is very important.  The one thing that we all have to understand is that one misspoken or misprinted word can alter the truth, slightly turning what once was truth into an untruth, a deception, a lie, a counterfeit.

Because we do not know the real thing, we accept the counterfeit.  The counterfeit to the average person appears to be the real thing.  The intent or the purpose of a counterfeiter is to make or forge a copy of the original usually with the intent to deceive.  Please understand that the counterfeit exist for the sole purpose of defrauding or deceiving someone.  God warns us that Satan can transform himself into a counterfeit of the real deal.  He also tells us to be on the lookout for “the wolves in sheep’s clothing” that appear to be prophets, for they are not kind (Matthew 7:15).  The strength of the deception is such that “many shall be lead or carried away” (Matthew 24:5), which would include those that were thought to stand fast or those thought to be the elect.

Many have been and continue to be deceived because of their inability to recognize the real deal from the counterfeit.  Because we believed the messages of the one who continues to deceive the world, we now stand in a state of confusion.  You see, “For from the very beginning God decided that those who came to him—and all along he knew who would—should become like his Son, so that his Son would be the First, with many brothers” (Romans 8:29 TLB).  This has become a problem for many of us, because we have no idea who the son truly is.  Like most, we grow up predominantly in one denomination.  This denomination gave us the building blocks that helped create the foundation for our belief system.  Since that time and in our search for the truth, we have discovered that other denominations have slightly different viewpoints or interpretations on many religious doctrines, precepts and in some case, overall theologies.  However, none as so diverse as the many so-called Bible-backed viewpoints about the true nature of Jesus Christ.

Some believe him to be God himself, some believe him to be part of the three-in-one trilogy called the Trinity, and some believe him to be only a man.  Some believe him to be some combination of God and man, both one-hundred percent God and one-hundred percent man; or fifty percent God and fifty percent man; or some in between combination.  Some say he was just a myth, that he never existed, some say he has no beginning because he always existed, and others say he has always existed because he created the universe and all that we see while some say he helped the Father with creation.  Some say he has a beginning but he was, at some point created before the universe.  Some say he had a beginning but not until he was brought forth, created in the womb of Mary.  Others say he existed from the beginning, asked God the Father to create him a body so he could come to earth, while some say he created himself a body so he could come to earth, just to list a few of them.  There are many more that we could list, but we think you get the point.

We know that our commentary will not settle the issue, which is not our intent, especially since the debate predates “The First Council of Nicaea” (325 A.D.), where the Council members voted and first declared Jesus Christ was God and was consubstantial with the Father.  They also adopted the original Nicene Creed, fixed the date for Easter, and established the doctrine of the Trinity as the belief and practice of the Orthodox Church, while exiling any members who did not subscribe to their newly established doctrinal belief.  However, we do like to point out that since we are “to be conformed to the image of God’s son,” it might be beneficial for us to be able to recognize the real one so that we can avoid the counterfeit one.  As you focus on the one true Jesus the Christ, remember, “to test the spirits, that being the presenters and/or the information that is being presented to see whether it be of God, before you accept it.”

We forever pray that our 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: You Can Cast Out Demons

Previously, we talked about what “the last Adam” (I Corinthians 15:45) ability “to seek and to save that which was lost,” which was the authority or dominion that “the first Adam” had lost in the garden when he ate of the fruit.  Though many believe the son of man’s main purpose for coming was to save individual lost souls, we know that saving lost souls was “the by-product” of what he actually did.  In getting back this “authority (dominion),” Jesus gave us “the power or authority over all of the power of the enemy,” which we know is Satan.  He also gave us the “authority” to use “his name, the name of Jesus, to cast out demons (Mark 16:17 NKJV).”

“Yet it was because of this that God raised him up to the heights of heaven and gave him a name which is above every other name, that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11 TLB).

“The name of Jesus” has incredible power.  For at the very “name of Jesus,” every knee shall bow in heaven, on the earth, and under the earth and every tongue shall confess that Jesus is Lord.  All of this power in a name because God gave him a name that is above every other name.

“When the seventy disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, ‘Even the demons obey us when we use your name’” (Luke 10:17 TLB).

Jesus chose seventy other disciples and sent them out in pairs to all the towns and villages that he had planned to visit.  He gave them specific instructions as to what to do while they journeyed from place to place.  However, when the seventy disciples returned, they reported to Jesus that even the demons obeyed when they used “his name, the name of Jesus.”

“Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of sickness and disease” (Matthew 10:1).  “Jesus sent them out with these instructions: ‘Don’t go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans, but only to the people of Israel—God’s lost sheep.  Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near.  Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure the lepers, and cast out demons.  Give as freely as you have received’” (Matthew 10:5-8 TLB)!

Again, we see Jesus giving authority to cast out demons.  We know that many believers have been taught that these demons are spirit beings without physical form, who go around looking for bodies, be they human or animal bodies, to inhabit.  These demons have been describes as being evil spirits that are opposed to God and anything pertaining to God.  They have even been associated with Satan and thought to be part of his entourage fallen angels.  There are some glitches with the notion that they are somehow part of the same coalition, the same evil group, much less the same entourage.

Most of you are very familiar with the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness by Satan.  While in the wilderness, we are told of three separate temptations that Jesus had to endure.  In two of the three temptations, Satan wove in a conditional statement that had Jesus responded to the temptation would have proved who he was beyond any doubt.  Satan’s “If you are the son of God” (Luke 4:3; 4:9) statement gives that appearance that he was unsure as to who Jesus really was.  Scripture goes on to say, “had the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing, known of the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (I Corinthians 2:6-8 NKJV).  However, the demons have a different story.

“When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them.  And demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of God!’  And He, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak, for they knew that He was the Christ” (Luke 4: 40-41 NKJV).

The demons immediately recognized who Jesus was as they came out of the people.  And here is the interesting thing about this incidence.  Jesus did not allow the demons to say what they knew, “for they knew he was the Christ.”  If the demons are associated with or are a part of Satan’s entourage, the why do the demons know who Jesus is, and Satan appears to question is identity.  We know for some, this revelation is contrary to all you hold dear, but for those of you who have an ear to hear, hear what the Lord God is saying.  You have been given permission, the “authority” to use “the name of Jesus to cast out devils (demons).”  You also have been given “the power or authority over all of the power of the enemy.”  We trust that you can see the difference in the two and that you use your two “authorities” appropriately.

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

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: You Have Authority Over The Devil

There were many things lost because of the disobedient actions of “the first man, Adam.”

“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).

Not only did the “first man” bring sin and death into the world, he also gave away the authority, the dominion that God had gave him away.

“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.  And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth” (Genesis 1:26-28).

“And the devil, taking him up into a high mountain, showed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.  And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it” (Luke 4:5-6).

At the moment of disobedience, everything changed for man and the world that God had created.  At the moment of disobedience, sin entered into the world because of the one man.  When sin came into the world, death hitched a ride.  And the authority (dominion) that had been given to “the one man, Adam” was now in the hands of the devil, “for the first man, Adam had delivered it to him.”  This is how the devil became known as “the god of this world” (II Corinthians 4:4) and “the prince of this world” (John 12:31).

“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).

There were many things lost that Jesus saved, but one of the more important things was “the authority (dominion)” that “the first man, Adam” had lost in the garden “when he ate of the fruit” (Genesis 3:6-7).

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.  Amen” (Matthew 28:18-20).

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.  And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover” (Mark 16:15-20).

“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).

In getting back this “authority (dominion),” Jesus also gave man certain abilities.  “In his name,” we now have the ability “to cast out devils and to lay hands on and heal the sick,” along with several other things.  But the most important thing he gave us back was “the power or authority over all of the power of the enemy.”  Jesus, who was “manifested to destroy the works of the devil” (I John 3:8), “came to seek and save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).  Many believe the son of man’s main purpose for coming was to save individual lost souls, but truth be told, saving lost souls was “the by-product” of what he actually did.  “The last Adam” (I Corinthians 15:45) was able “to seek and to save that which was lost,” which was the authority or dominion that “the first Adam” had lost in the garden when he ate of the fruit.  How awesome is that!

Today’s message talks on the authority we now have over the devil.  As always, we pray that this message will inspire you, 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 Cure For Weak Faith

Recently, we talked about “taking a snapshot” of you and your faith.  The purpose of “that snapshot” was not to give you a picture of where you wanted to be with your faith but to reveal to you where you were with your faith and where your faith currently stood.  Just in case your faith is not where it should be, we thought it would be encouraging to look at a portion of the life of Abraham (Abram before his name changed), who would later become known as “the father of the faithful” and see how he ended up with that honor.

“Clearly, God’s promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was based not on his obedience to God’s law, but on a right relationship with God that comes by faith.  If God’s promise is only for those who obey the law, then faith is not necessary and the promise is pointless.  For the law always brings punishment on those who try to obey it.  (The only way to avoid breaking the law is to have no law to break!)  So the promise is received by faith.  It is given as a free gift.  And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham’s.  For Abraham is the father of all who believe.  That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, ‘I have made you the father of many nations.’  This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing” (Romans 4:13-17 NLT).

“Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations.  For God had said to him, ‘That’s how many descendants you will have!’  And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb.  Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise.  In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God.  He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises.  And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous.  And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit.  It was recorded for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.  He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God” (Romans 4:18-28 NLT).

Abraham’s faith does not appear to be anything special, but there is one exception.  His faith totally believed in and trusted in God and in the promises of God.  “Abraham believed the Lord, the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith” (Genesis 15:6).  Because of Abraham’s “strong and unwavering faith,” he became known as “the father of the faithful, the father to all of them who shared like faith.”  All who shared this faith were accredited with the same righteousness as Abraham was.  But here is the thing that we found most interesting.  Before, Abraham was “the way to God,” but when Jesus came on the scene, he became “the way to God.”  Jesus made it possible for “all mankind to be declared righteous.”

“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).  “I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12).  “Don’t let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God, and trust also in me” (John 14:1 NLT).  “You search the Scriptures, for you believe they give you eternal life.  And the Scriptures point to me” (John 5:39 TLB)!

Jesus tells us that no one comes to the Father but by or through him for he is “the true and living way.”  Jesus also says that he is the “light of the world and those that walk after him, will not have to walk in darkness because they will have the light the leads to life.”  He goes on to say that we “should not let our hearts be troubled,” if we trust and have faith in God, then we “should trust and have faith in him.”  We know that everything in our Christian life depends on our faith.  We can develop our faith through knowledge by listening to, knowing, and understanding the word of God.  When we listen to, know, and understand the word of God, then it will cause our faith to grow, “for faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).  The greatest hindrance to our faith is our own human reasoning and the greatest limitation to our faith is us.  What we do with the faith that we have been given is entirely up to each of us, but it is you that must grow your faith, that must develop your faith, and that must exercise your faith.  Though Jesus was speaking to those of his day, he tells us as well that when we search the scriptures for eternal life, they, the scriptures all point to him.  So, if your faith is not where it needs to be, you just might want to start with Jesus as he appears to be “the cure for weak faith” and the key to having Abraham-like faith, “a strong and unwavering kind of faith”

We always give thanks to God for the ability to share our commentary and the accompanying inspirational message with you.  We constantly pray that you will be blessed as well as informed by them and that you will be the better for having read them.  If you are blessed by them, please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: Why Read The Bible?

Did you know that the Bible is not a history book?  No, it is not a historical accounting for all of mankind, though it does contain some historical facts.  More interesting, is the fact that many of the events depicted in the Bible are not even in chronological order.  They appear to be somewhat randomly place.  One can read about an event in one chapter of a particular book and find references to or another version of the same event several chapters later and even in some cases, many, many books later.  On the surface, it can be one of the most confusing books to pick up and read.  So why are believer told to read the Bible?

What many people do not know is that the Bible is actually a mystery book.  As one person once put it, “The Bible is a coded book, written as a kind of jigsaw puzzle creating a series of smaller pictures within an overall picture that only becomes clear in meaning when one properly pieces together all passages on a subject.”  The Bible is a book that holds a double message, one by which his children can find the true will of God for their life when they read it and one that just completely confuses the naysayers when they read it.  The Bible is an instruction manual, designed to tell God’s children all they need to know to achieve the maximum benefits in this life.  It is only when they find the keys that they able to unlock the mysteries or put together the puzzle pieces that allows them to understand the true word of God contained in the Bible.

God has put all of these wonderful things in this book and has told his Children to find them.  God tells them “to attend to his words because they are full, abundant life to those that hunt for, look for, or seek those words and that they are health or strength to all our flesh” (Proverbs 4:20-22).  God also tells them “to study the word” to know what it says and what it means.  One must immerse him or herself in God’s word by hunting for, looking for, and seeking the answers that God has provided through his instruction manual.  In his word, there are hidden wisdoms that only the true discerner can obtain.  This means that there must be more to knowing God then just opening the Bible, reading a few verses or so, and coming out believing that one is knowledgeable about the things of God.

The biggest problem is that so many believers are completely satisfied, feeling totally secure in the knowledge that they have, that they do not see the benefit to reading the Bible, the benefit to immersing themselves in God’s word by hunting for, looking for, and seeking the answers that God has provided through his instruction manual.  They have been taught that as long as they believe in Jesus, then they are saved.  They attend church services because they were more than likely brought up to believe that this is something that they must do to be a “so-called obedient Christian.”  And since they believe that they are saved, there is nothing else that they feel they need to know or do. They truly believe there is nothing else that really matters.  And while this line of reasoning may bring comfort to the masses, it would be catastrophic if it were not true.  Here is what we are trying to say.  What happens when the “so-called obedient Christian” gets to the end of his or her journey as he is taking his last and it is revealed to him then, that he did not do all that he should have done to go to where he believed he was supposed to go?

This is one of the reasons believers need to pick that Bible up, open it, and do a little more than “just reading it.”  They may have to dissect it.  They may have to pick it apart.  They may have to analyze it.  They may have to examine it.  God has told them to study his word so that they can rightly divide it.  All believers need to trust that God has given instructions, that when followed, will allow them to find the keys that will unlock the mysteries of the Bible and help with their understanding of those divine revelations from God.  God has told the believers to seek wisdom and know-how (Proverbs 4:5-7), to listen carefully to his words and to pay close attention to what is being said (Proverb 4:20-22), to meditate on them day and night (Joshua 1:8), and to study them so that they will be able to rightly divide the word of truth (II Timothy 2:15).  Reading the Bible is very important, but there is more to it, more involvement than just opening the book and reading a few passages.  So, if you be a believer, then read the Bile as God has instructed his children to, because in the end, it just might prove to be incredibly beneficial.

We again give thanks to God for this avenue that he has given us to share his word through our commentary.  We also thank God for the accompanying inspirational message that he also provided.  We continually pray that God’s grace will be upon you and that these devotionals will be a blessing to you.  If you are blessed by them, please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: Who Can Be Against Us?

Scripture clearly states that we are all involved in some type of warfare, where “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12).  You see, we do not wrestle against people made of flesh and blood but against the evil rulers of the spirit realm, against those mighty satanic beings, against the great evil princes of darkness, and against the wicked spirits of this unseen world.  Although we live in this world in the flesh, we do not engage in this warfare according to the flesh and by human standards, as the world typically engages in war.

“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).

Our weaponry for this warfare cannot be that of conventional human weaponry.  No, we must use spiritual weaponry, weapons provided to us by God.  These mighty spiritual weapons are designed to knock down and overthrow the enemy’s strongholds, cast down every proud argument against God, and pull down every high thing that promotes itself against the knowledge of God.

“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (I John 4:4).  “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous (burdensome).  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.  Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God” (I John 5:1-5)?  “What shall we then say to these things?  If God be for us, who can be against us” (Romans 8:31)?  “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.  In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Because we are children of God, scripture tells us “the one who is in us is much greater than that one that is in the world.”  And if God be for us then who can be against us.  We are warned that we will have tribulations, misfortunes, trials, sufferings, and misfortunes, but Jesus tells us to “be of good cheer because he himself has overcome the world.”

“And we know that all that happens to us is working for our good if we love God and are fitting into his plans.  For from the very beginning God decided that those who came to him—and all along he knew who would—should become like his Son, so that his Son would be the First, with many brothers.  And having chosen us, he called us to come to him; and when we came, he declared us ‘not guilty,’ filled us with Christ’s goodness, gave us right standing with himself, and promised us his glory.  What can we ever say to such wonderful things as these?  If God is on our side, who can ever be against us?  Since he did not spare even his own Son for us but gave him up for us all, won’t he also surely give us everything else (Romans 8:28-32 TLB)?

God’s love surrounds us more than we could ever imagine.  God’s love always protects and never gives up.  God’s love is always hopeful and endures, for it perseveres and never gives up.  The fact that God did not even spare his son, but offered him up for us all, should speak volumes to all.  Since we know what God has done, is there nothing that he would not do for us or anything that he would not give us?  God is always with us even though it may not seem like it at times.

“So be strong and courageous!  Do not be afraid and do not panic before them.  For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you.  He will neither fail you nor abandon you” (Deuteronomy 31:6 NLT).

God has promised that he will never leave us not forsake us, that he will neither fail us nor abandon us.  No matter what may come our way, our God is always there to help us in our time of need and to see us through whatever may come.  God has told us to be strong and courageous and not to be afraid or to panic because he is always with us.  And if God be with us always and if he be on our side, than “who can be against us?”

As always, we give thanks and glory to God for his wisdom and understanding.  We continually pray that our inspirational message will be a blessing to each of you and that you will be the better for having read it.  If you are blessed by what has been provided, please feel free to share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: Faith Is The Victory

Just how important is your faith?  In past discussions we have defined “faith” as “the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen and it is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us even though we cannot see it up ahead.”  Faith is “trust in somebody or something, especially without logical proof.”  It can also be defined as “trusting in somebody that you consider worthwhile and truthful.”  It is by faith that we “accept that something exists when there is no physical proof of its existence or of its reality.”  But just how important is your faith in all of this?

We know that according to the scripture, “God has dealt to every man the measure of faith” (Romans 12:3).  We know from our discussions, that God has dealt to everyone “the same amount of faith.”  This means that no one has been given more faith than anyone else has, for we all have been given “the same amount” and not some “random or varied amount of faith.”  We also found that you could not get more than the measure that has been dealt to you at birth by God.  We know that faith is something that you increase through exercise, where you sort of develop your faith by building it up.  The only way to increase your faith is through the knowledge gathered through the word of God.  But just how important is your faith in all of this?

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).

From this passage, we see just how important faith is, “for without faith, it is impossible to please God.”  So, faith appears to play an important part in our ability to please God.

“For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:17).

Faith is not only important in pleasing God, it is also something that we are to live by, for “the just shall live by faith.”  We read in scripture, where a number of Old Testament saints were able to please God through their faith (Hebrews 11).  Even though each of these people had faith, fully trusted God, and won his approval by receiving a good report through faith, none of them received “the promise.”  They all died in faith, not receiving any of the good things of “the promise.”  Since they all died in faith, without receiving any of the good things of the promise, God made it so that it was not possible for them to be complete and made perfect without us.

From all of this, we see just how important faith is.  The word tells us that God makes us right in his sight when we place our faith in him.  We see that these Old Testament saints that were able to please God through their faith.  While they died before receiving the promise, they still walked by faith.  It was by faith that they were able to see “the promise” with delight afar off.  In seeing “the promise,” they were persuaded by it and they embraced it.  The Good News tells us that God makes us right in his sight when we place our faith and trust in him.  Faith is the victory.  So, we ask one more time, “Just how important is your faith in all of this?”

We always give thanks to God for the ability to share our inspirational message with you.  We constantly pray that you will be blessed as well as informed by it and that you will be the better for having read it.  If you are blessed by them, please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW