Devotion: Lack Of Knowledge

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children” (Hosea 4:6).

According to the scriptures, God says that his people are destroyed because they lack knowledge.  This lack of knowledge that God speaks of is not due to the knowledge being hidden or it not being available.  No, this lack of knowledge is due to his people rejecting the knowledge.  The biggest problem is that so many of us are completely satisfied, feeling totally secure in the knowledge that we have.  As long as we believe in Jesus and believe that we are saved, we see no need to deal with the irrelevant or trivial things.  We feel that since it has no bearing on our salvation, then none of those irrelevant or trivial things are important.  Is it possible that those things that have been dismissed as irrelevant or trivial are important to our survival?

“Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst” (Isaiah 5:13).

The scriptures tell us a different story, saying that we have gone into captivity because we have no knowledge.  Our greatest enemy and the largest contributor to our destruction has been our rejection of those irrelevant or trivial things.  Why do we pay less attention to or forgo the small details contained in the scriptures?  Why have they become not so important?  Somewhere along the way, we have been convinced that the small details are not important.  Somewhere along the way, we have been convinced that the small details have no bearing on anything.  Somewhere along the way, we started rejecting the small details, dismissing them as irrelevant or trivial things.  This dismissal of irrelevant or trivial things has become a tremendous problem for us today.  But is it possible that those things that have been dismissed as irrelevant or trivial are important to our survival?  Yes, it is very possible that those things are important to our survival, more important than we may have thought.

“Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom” (Song of Songs 2:15 NIV).

Scripture tells us to pay attention to those little foxes, for those little foxes will ruin the vineyards.  They gnaw and break the little branches and leaves as well as dig holes in the vineyards thus spoiling the roots.  But what or who are these little foxes?  These little foxes are those things that creep in, mostly unnoticed and spoil the vine.  These little foxes are the collective perpetrators of the misinformation, Satan and his band of false teachers, if you will, that teach Churchianity and denominationalism coupled with a little traditionalism.  Somewhere along the way, we allowed them to infiltrate the one body and divide it.  The scriptures tell us that these guys can transform themselves into “apostles of Christ” and “ministers of righteousness.”  The scriptures even tell us that Satan can transform himself into “an angel of light (II Corinthians 11:13-15).”  And their sole purpose for existence is to deceive as many people as possible or spoil the vineyard.  They spoil the vine and take away its fruit.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance…” (Galatians 5:22-23).

Could this be the fruit, the fruit of the Spirit, that those little foxes are out to spoil and take away from us?  We are commanded to catch the foxes, to restrain them from doing harm to our vineyard and taking away our fruit.  And while the fruit spoken of in this passage appears to have little to do with our salvation, the fact that God mentions these little foxes that spoil the vineyards and takes away the fruit should be cause for us to red flag these passages as being very important.  If this is the fruit that is taken away by the little foxes, by Satan and his false teachers, then it is our walk with God that is affected.

“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25).

What is it that God wants us to get out of these passages?  Most will again dismiss this as being irrelevant or trivial to their survival and to their salvation.  As we read the scriptures, we must keep in mind that God does not arbitrarily do anything that he does.  God has a reason for doing all that he does, even though the reason may not immediately be apparent.  If those little foxes that creep in unnoticed and spoil the vine affect the things we think, the things we say, and the things we do, then we need to pay attention to those irrelevant or trivial things that we think are not important.  Combine this fact with our lack of knowledge, then there should be no surprise why so many of us are being destroyed and held in captivity.  Scripture tells us that if we are living in the Spirit, living by the fruit of the Spirit, then let us follow the Spirit, let us be led by the Spirit in every part of our lives, and let us walk in that very same Spirit.  Do not allow the lack of knowledge, the rejection of the irrelevant or trivial things, lead to your destruction.

As always, we 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 by it as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

More About KWM

Kingdom Worker Ministries offers a series of products and resources to those desiring to dig deeper into the Word of God and break traditionalism to gain full truth of God’s words and principles.  Our products are designed to increase your awareness, improve your understanding, deepen your knowledge and inspire you to walk in truth.

Our desire is to impart knowledge that will enable you to discern the truths hidden in God’s word (Ezekiel 44:23) and to provide validation to those who have an ear to hear his word (Ephesians 4:29).

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Devotion: Is All The Bible True?

When asked where “the word of God” can be found, the most popular answer is “the Bible.”  Many believe the Bible to be the inerrant and infallible word of God, but is this belief the truth?  Is the Bible actually the inerrant and infallible word of God?  First, let us define a few important words.  The first word “inerrant,” simply means “free from errors or untruths.”  The next word “infallible,” means “incapable of making mistakes or being wrong” or simply “incapable of error.”  Another definition says that “infallible” also means “absolutely trustworthy or sure.”  When combined, we see why the Bible is said to be “absolutely trustworthy or sure” because of its association with the word of God.  This has led many to consider the Bible of being “incapable of error, of making mistakes, or being wrong.”  But does all of this mean that the entire Bible is true?  That is a question that has been pondered throughout the ages.

Devotion: Don’t Give Up!

Have you ever felt like giving up?  Well, do not feel like this is a feeling that is exclusively yours.  It is not.  We have all felt like giving up, giving in, and/or giving way.  But know that this “feeling of giving up” is not of God; it is of the devil.

“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” (Ephesians 6:13).  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked (Ephesians 6:16).

God does not want us to give up.  God wants us to be strong in him and in the strength of his mighty power.  God wants us to put on the whole armor that he has been provided for us so that we will be able to stand firm against all of the wiles or strategies of the devil.  God wants us to put on his full armor so that we, having done all to stand, will be able to stand in our times of evil.  Among the articles of armor listed, God says above all, “take or hold up the shield of faith” so that we will be able “to quench or stop the fiery darts of the wicked.”

“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses” (I Timothy 6:12).

We are told “to fight the good faith of faith.”  Did you notice that there is nothing in this passage that says God will fight this fight for us?  No, we are told to fight this fight, this “good fight of faith.”  This is something that God has to us to do which means that this is something we are not only supposed to do, but something that we can do.  Armor is for fighting and God has provided us with “the armor of God” to fight.  He has provided us with “the shield of faith” that we may “fight the good fight of faith”

Most people have no idea just how powerful pure faith is.  Scripture tells us, “if we have faith as a grain of mustard seed, we can move a mountain” (Matthew 17:20).  We are told that with faith the size of a mustard seed, there is nothing that we cannot do, “for nothing shall be impossible.”  In fighting this “good fight of faith,” we must also be aware that it is very possible for us to “fight the bad or incomplete fight of faith.”  This happens when we allow doubt, unbelief, or even fear to nullify or cancel out our faith, which we believe can be “as a mustard seed” as well.  Therefore, let us rid ourselves of all doubt, unbelief, and fear so that we do not have that “feeling of giving up.”  We need to let our faith be bigger than our fear, our doubt, and our unbelief.  We need to learn to “fight the good fight of faith,” so that we can overcome that “feeling of giving up” and continue to lay hold to the eternal life that God has provided for each of us.

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns” (Philippians 1:6 NLT).  “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good.  At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up” (Galatians 6:9 NLT).  “If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all” (Isaiah 7:9 NIV).

Therefore, remember to stay the course, assured that God, who have begun good work in you will continue that good work in you until the end.  Keep the faith, by being strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.  Put on all of God’s instruments of war so that you will be able to stand and “not give up” in the time of evil.  Always, always, fight the good fight for the true faith, holding tightly to the promise of eternal life, to which God has provided.  And never, never give up, give in, or give way, but stand strong in your faith for at the right time you will reap a harvest of blessings.

As always, we pray that today’s 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: Jesus Is The Only Way

For the most part, believers and non-believers are familiar with the passage of scripture where Jesus says,

“I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one can come to the Father except through me (John 14:6 NLT).

Now according to scripture (Acts 4:12), there is no other name under all heaven for men to call whereby they can be saved, for salvation can be found through no one else but Jesus.  The problem is that no one knows exactly who Jesus is.  We are so confused, so influenced by Satan and this world, that we have accepted the Jesus that they preach.  Just as he in the Garden of Eden deceived Eve, he continues to deceive us today in much the same way.  Why would he change his methods since they worked so well for him in the beginning?  Satan has infiltrated the body of Christ, becoming an intricate component in the church so much so that we find it hard to recognize him.

Because of Satan’s influence, we have some who describe Jesus as God himself; others as part of the three-in-one trilogy called the Trinity.  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 has no beginning because he always existed.  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.  Still 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.  Some say he was the king of the Jews, while other say he was no king at all.  Some say he was poor while others say he was rich.  Some say he was white, some say he was black, while others claim some other variation.  Some say he performed all kinds of miracles and healed many people.  Some say he walked on the water, others claim he did not.  Some say he raised the dead.  Some say he raised himself from the dead.  Some say he died on the cross.  Some say he did not die on the cross.  Some say that he survived the cross to father many children.

With so much controversy surrounding the person named Jesus, how do you know that the one you are following is “the way, the truth and the life?”  Many follow the name of Jesus as if he was some type of rock star.  Others do all within their power to avoid mentioning his name.  Many try to prove his existence by any means necessary while others do everything in their power to refute him.  There are books after books written about Jesus.  There are movies and documentaries made about Jesus.  There are websites created to support Jesus and sites created to invalidate him.  So much information that it is hard to decipher it to get to the truth about Jesus.  Imagine believing yourself to be a believer only to find out what you believed you were you were not; all based on untruths.  Imagine believing yourself to be a follower of Jesus only to find out that the one whom you claimed to follow was not the one that you needed to follow; all based on deception.  Imagine believing yourself to be saved because you believed you joined the family only to find out that the family you joined was not the right one; all based on a lie.  Imagine believing yourself to be free from condemnation only to find out you have been held in captivity because you have rejected the knowledge needed to make yourself free; all based on fiction.  Imagine believing in a truth that has been manufactured by the great deceivers for the sole purpose of taking you out of the kingdom of heaven.  Imagine not even being aware of any of this until it was too late.  Come out of the darkness and get to know the real Jesus.  Jesus says,

“Look!  I have been standing at the door, and I am constantly knocking.  If anyone hears me calling him and opens the door, I will come in and fellowship with him and he with me (Revelation 3:20 TLB).  “My sheep recognize my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27 TLB).

There is but “one” who is “the way, the truth, and the life and no one will come to the Father except they come by “the one.”  The true Jesus is standing at the door, constantly knocking, waiting on those who hear his voice to answer his call and open the door so that he can come and fellowship with them and them with him.  Before it is too late, you need to learn to recognize his voice and get to know him intimately because there is only “the one.”

We again give thanks to God for this avenue that he has given us to share his word through our commentary.  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: Delay Is Not Denial

There has always been some question in the minds of most believers as to how God answers our prayers.  We have been taught that God is always faithful to answer our prayers, but we have been told that God answers some prayers with a “Yes,” some prayers with a “No” or so it seems sometimes, and other prayers with a “Wait.”  Is this really how God answers our prayers?  Does he really tell us “No” or to “to wait” or is this something that has been created by man to console ourselves when we do not get that immediate, desired answer from God?

For the answer to these questions, let us turn to a prayer by Daniel, who was seeking wisdom on a prophesy that Jeremiah had given to the children of Israel that said they would be held in captivity for seventy years (Jeremiah 25:11-12; 29:10).  The time had passed and it looked like the prophesy was not going to come true so Daniel prayed seeking revelation from God.

“And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God; yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.  And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.  At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to show thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision” (Daniel 9:20-23).

We see from this passage that while Daniel was still praying, the answer to his prayer was so immediate that it interrupted his prayer.  God had sent forth the angel Gabriel to deliver the answer to Daniel’s prayer.  Besides giving Daniel the answer to his prayer, we also note that Gabriel explained to Daniel that when he first began to pray, the commandment came forth for Gabriel to come forth and show him the answer to his request.  We see from the onset of Daniel’s prayer, God immediately answered his prayer and within a matter of minutes, the answer manifested itself in the form of the angel Gabriel.  By the way, the answer was seventy weeks of years or seven times seventy years (490 years in all) (Daniel 9:24).  But Daniel had a second prayer, but with this prayer, Daniel prayed and fasted for three full weeks (Daniel 10:1-2).  Why was such a delay in God answering this prayer?  Had he somehow told Daniel to “wait?”

“And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands.  And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent.  And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.  Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.  But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.  Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days” (Daniel 10:10-14).

We see from this passage that while Daniel prayed this time for three full weeks, the angel told him that from the first day that he had set his heart to understand, God heard his prayer and the commandment came forth for this angel to come forth and show him the answer to his request.  We see from the onset of Daniel’s prayer, God immediately answered his prayer, but for some reason this answer took three weeks to manifest.  Why was there a delay of three weeks for this prayer and manifestation for the previous prayer received immediately?  According to the angel, it the prince of the kingdom of Persia or a demonic entity that delayed him one and twenty days or three weeks and it was not until the angel Gabriel came to help him that he was able to get free and come to make Daniel understand what would befall the children of Israel.  From this, we see from this prayer that the delay was not of God but of a demonic force.

“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: and if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him” (I John 5:14-15).  “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us” (II Corinthians 1:20).

Scripture tells us that we can now have this confidence in knowing that if we ask any thing according to his will, he hears us and knowing that he hears any request that is according to his will, whatever the request, we have the petitions that we have asked of him.  But here is the icing on the cake, all of the promises of God and any thing based on the word of God are “Yes” and “Amen.”  God simply does not answer “No” to our prayers, however, he just doesn’t answer, honor, or listen to any request that is not in his will.  As for the delays being or not being denials, we see that had Daniel not stood on his faith and on the promise of God for three weeks, waiting for the manifestation, “the delay” may have been seen as “a denial.”  But now that you know the truth, knowing that God answers all prayers that are according to his will, immediately, how will this knowledge change the way you view prayer?  Will you now preserve one and twenty days or one and twenty years?

We pray that this inspirational message will be a blessing to you as well as informative.  If blessed by this message, please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: Jesus Is Your Righteousness

Recently, we discussed the ministry of reconciliation; the renewing of that relationship that existed with the original man before his fall from God’s grace.  In that discussion we found that “God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself” (II Corinthians 5:17-19).  As God reconciled us back unto himself, he also did one incredible thing for us that many are not aware of; “He no longer imputed our sins against us.”  Did you hear what we just said?  Almighty God, the one many believers call “Abba Father,” no longer counts our sins against us.  How incredible is that?  But how is this possible?

“So by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous” (Romans 5:19).  “…by man came also the resurrection of the dead. … even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (I Corinthians 15:21-22).

By one man’s obedience, many have been given the opportunity to be made righteous.  By one man’s obedience, many have been given the opportunity to be made alive.

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (II Corinthians 5:21).

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 the record of Jesus Christ.  God offers to take all of your sins and placed them into Jesus, who knew no sin and in place of your sins, God offers to place the righteousness of Jesus Christ in you.  Yes, that’s right.  Instead of imputing your sins against you, God is imputing the righteousness of Jesus in its place.  Again, how incredible is that?

“Now do you see it?  No one can ever be made right in God’s sight by doing what the law commands.  For the more we know of God’s laws, the clearer it becomes that we aren’t obeying them; his laws serve only to make us see that we are sinners.  But now God has shown us a different way to heaven—not by “being good enough” and trying to keep his laws, but by a new way (though not new, really, for the Scriptures told about it long ago).  Now God says he will accept and acquit us—declare us “not guilty”—if we trust Jesus Christ to take away our sins.  And we all can be saved in this same way, by coming to Christ, no matter who we are or what we have been like.  Yes, all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious ideal; yet now God declares us “not guilty” of offending him if we trust in Jesus Christ, who in his kindness freely takes away our sins.  For God sent Christ Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to end all God’s anger against us.  He used Christ’s blood and our faith as the means of saving us from his wrath.  In this way he was being entirely fair, even though he did not punish those who sinned in former times.  For he was looking forward to the time when Christ would come and take away those sins.  And now in these days also he can receive sinners in this same way because Jesus took away their sins.  But isn’t this unfair for God to let criminals go free, and say that they are innocent?  No, for he does it on the basis of their trust in Jesus who took away their sins” (Romans 3:20-26 TLB).

God has taken away your sins and given you the opportunity to have right standing with him.  God has made it possible for you to be righteous in his sight, not by obeying “the law,” which served only to show you that you were a sinner, but by trusting in what Jesus Christ accomplished on the cross.  When you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and savior, you become “the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ” or because of Jesus Christ.  Because of the cross, Jesus Christ was able to take away your sins, end all separation from God, and give you right standing with God.  Now you know that “Jesus is your righteousness.”  How incredible is that?

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 the accompanying 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: You Must Control The Devil

We have previously talked about this battle that we are in, where we wrestle against the evil rulers of this unseen world, which includes the mighty satanic beings, the great evil princes of darkness, and a huge number of wicked spirits (Ephesians 6:12).  This battle takes place in the arena of our mind and is unavoidable, knowing no bounds, no gender, no age, no race, and no religion.  It attacks everyone.  As we see the daily struggles of those who succumb to poverty, sickness, and death, we know this war to control our soul involves tactics such as depression, fear, discouragement, low self-esteem, worry, anxiety, confusion, and doubt.  What many do not know is that we actually have the power to control these evil rulers of the unseen world.

“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).  “(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) casting down (destroying) imaginations (false arguments) and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (II Corinthians 10:4-5).

We now know that our enemy comes from the spirit realm, 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, can pull down every high thing that promotes itself against the knowledge of God, can bring into captivity every thought, every idea, and every suggestion that comes into our mind, and can bring into compliance our mind with the mind of Christ.

We are warned to be sober and watchful because we have an adversary.  This adversary, the devil, “walks about like a roaring lion looking for those whom he can devour” (I Peter 5:8).  His tactics have not changed since the first temptation in the garden and there are really no secrets to his approach.  He tries to control us through our minds, with thoughts, ideas, and suggestions.  These thoughts, ideas, and suggestions are usually tied to our five senses.  Our sense of taste, touch, smell, hearing, and seeing offers him an avenue into our mind and are the areas he tempts in order to gain control of our thought-life.  When we give in to “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (I John 2:16), we become “carnally minded, which is enmity against God” (Romans 8:7) and forgo all that is spiritual, meaning the spiritual weaponry God has provided for us has no effect.

“Neither give place to the devil” (Ephesians 4:27).  “Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:27).

We are warn to be sober-minded, to be self-controlled, to be careful, and to be vigilant, curbing every passion because we have an adversary seeking to devour us.  We know that he comes “to steal, kill, and destroy” (John 10:10) and it is through our thought-life that Satan gains access to steal our peace of mind; to steal our self-esteem; to destroy our relationships with our spouse, children, parents, and others; and to basically attempt to take us out; all of which causes us to have an out-of-control mind.  Now some of you believe that you are protected by God or have some hedge that God has around you, and all of that might be true, but when you read your Bible and see such phrases as “be sober, be vigilant, resist the devil, and neither give place,” do you get the sense that you have been given the authority to one up or control the one who has come to kill, steal, and destroy?  Everything hinges on your mind and you controlling your thought-life.  When you learn to control your thought-life, you can learn to control the devil.  Remember, your thoughts will always precede your actions and you always want to make sure that your actions be in line with the word of God.

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: 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 the devil.  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 the devil.  While in the wilderness, we are told of three separate temptations that Jesus had to endure.  In two of the three temptations, the devil wove in a conditional statement that had Jesus responded to the temptation would have proved who he was beyond any doubt.  The devil’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 incident.  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 the devil’s entourage, then why do the demons know who Jesus is, and the devil appears to question his 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.

“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: 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 nor 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, then “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: Sin Hurts

Because of Adam’s disobedience, the penalty of death came and reigned like a king over all mankind.  It, death, was passed to every man because all have sinned.

“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).

But the sin spoken of here is not what you may think it is.  “Sin is not sin.”  And no, we have not lost our minds or gone over the edge.  However, the explanation may interest you, especially, if you be one of those who has an ear to hear.  One definition of “sin” says, “to miss or wander from the path of uprightness and honor, to do or go wrong.”  Another one says, “to wander from the law of God or to violate God’s law.”  Another definition says, “that which is done wrong as in an offence or a violation of the divine law in thought or in act.”  Then there is “the complex or aggregate of sins committed either by a single person or by many” definition.  Traditionally, “sin” has a very simple definition.  “Sin” is basically defined as “a violation of divine law.”  But could there be an alternative definition?

When we think of “sin,” we usually think of it as “personal sin.”  Typically, personal sin is defined in one of two ways.  There is “the sin of commission,” where an individual does something that is prohibited.  And then there is “the sin of omission,” where an individual fails to do what is required of him or her.  This sin may also express itself in either an act or an attitude.  For example, when someone goes astray like a wandering sheep doing one’s own thing.  Or when an individual transgresses or oversteps the law.  Or this sin could express itself when an individual trespasses.  But could there be an alternative definition?

“Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude (likeness) of Adam's transgression, who is the figure (a type) of him that was to come (Romans 5:14).”

In this passage, we see that there are “them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression.”  And even though they had not sinned like Adam, they still died.  Scripture tells us that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).  It also tells us “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).  With this being said, what sin did “them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression commit?”  We know from scripture that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.  We also know that the wages of sin is death.  But we have had the hardest time connecting “them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression” to any sin.

“For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law” (Romans 5:13).

We found that this passage sheds some light on our dilemma but offered little into bettering our understanding.  We know that Adam’s disobedience allowed sin to enter into the world.  So, there was no surprise seeing that sin was in the world prior to the law, which was the period between Adam and Moses.  This passage also tells us that during this period, there was no one guilty of sin because there was no law.  Apparently, unless there is some type of law, sin cannot be imputed or attributed to anyone.

“Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law” (I John 3:4).

We see from this passage that everyone who commits sin is also guilty of violating the law, because sin is going against the law.  In contrast, when there is no law, there can be no transgression and with no transgression, no sin.  Therefore, those living before the law were not guilty of sin because there was no law to go against or violate.  This brings us almost back to where we started.  If all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, what sinned did those before the law commit?

We pray that our commentary has given you cause to rethink the meaning of the word “sin,” as it applies to the passage, “for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”  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: Get Out Of Your Cave

As we conclude, lets us open our mind and open our heart so that we may see and hear the truths that God is trying to reveal.  Because the Church has redefined “the sovereignty of God” to mean, “God is in total control and that nothing happens but that which the will of God allows to happen,” many believers and non-believers as well, have been led to believe that God is somehow responsible for all the tragedies that occur in the world.  They believe God is somehow responsible for the daily struggles that so many go through every day, such as depression, fear, worry, anxiety, confusion, doubt, discouragement, low self-esteem, poverty, sickness, and death.  They have been taught and truly believe that everyone suffers these things because this is “the will of God.”  That old cliché, “God will not put more on you than you can bear,” appears to fall in line with the teachings that God is responsible for the things that happen to us.  We must note that the Old Testament scriptures are more likely to be used to support this argument because the New Testament portrays God as a very willing healer and life giver.  Most people are familiar with the story of Job and how God has been portrayed in that story.  But more importantly, they are all familiar with one of the most often repeated statements that originated from that story by Job.

“…Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21).

Because of his losses, we know that Job spoke this statement, but it is very apparent, from the traditional teachings on the subject, that this very statement has been used to define God for many of us.  We still use parts, if not all of this statement today to comfort those who have suffered some type of loss.  However, God has a version of things that is just a little different from the one that we have been taught or the one that we have been led to accept based on this statement.

“For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn; he will never go back on his promises” (Romans 11:29 TLB).

According to this passage, God does not withdraw nor does he take back his gifts once he gives them and he never goes back on his promises.  And if by chance you did not know this, let us be the first to tell you, “life itself is a gift from God” (Genesis 2:7).  Since this be the case, then what Job said, his statement about what God has done is not the truth.  According to the scriptures, this is not something that God does.  However, the belief that God, the sovereign being that he is, would give something like life to his creation and then turn around and take back that same life has circled through the generations of mankind like the earth has circled the sun for almost as many years.

In the story of Job, we find four tragic events taking place on the same day, each included the loss of human life.  The disasters that befell Job’s family were of human interactions—the Sebeans (Job 1:15) and Chaldeans (Job 1:17)—and of natural sources—fire from the heavens (Job 1:16) and wind from the wilderness (Job 1:19), all completely orchestrated and controlled by the devil himself.  The devil’s ability to control those who are apparently loyal to him and operate at his bidding for his purposes and to carry out his plan should not be overlooked.  His ability to control the elements for his purposes should not be discounted either.  Physical pain, sicknesses, accidents, deaths and other tragedies comes from the devil (John 10:10) and not from God, the giver of good and perfect gifts (James 1:17).

The truth is that God gave dominion over his creation to mankind, placing him in charge of everything he had made as well as placing everything under his authority (Psalm 8:3-8).  And if God be true to his word, which we know that he is (Hebrews 6:18), then his gift of dominion over his creation can never be withdrawn by him nor will he go back on his word.  And though the devil was able to obtain this gift of dominion over God’s creation from mankind (Luke 4:5-6), it was Jesus who got back for us what Adam had freely given to the devil, our power, authority, and dominion (Matthew 28:18).  And this is why the children of God have the power to limit what the devil can do (Luke 19:10).

Please understand that we have only scratched the surface of a subject that is well-established in the traditional teachings of the Church.  The redefining of “the sovereignty of God” has impacted how man sees God, how man interacts with him, and has dictated how man relates to God.  But as you get out of your cave of darkness and venture from the stone age, traditional teachings about Old Testament, we pray that you will come to realize that God’s version of things, revealed through the New Testament shows that you matter to him more than you may know.  Understand that it would be impossible for us to cover everything that is available, so we tried to focus on a small area.  We hope that this has inspired you to continue to seek the truth, not only about “the sovereignty of God” but also “the true nature of the God.”

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: Tell Satan Where To Go

Let us continue our efforts to set the record straight about this misrepresentation surrounding “the sovereignty of God” perpetrated by the Church.  Again, the Church has redefined “the sovereignty of God” to mean, “God is in total control and that nothing happens but that which the will of God allows to happen.”  From our previous commentaries, we found that the devil, who is referred to as “the god of this world, the prince of this world, and the prince of the power of the air” (II Corinthians 4:4; John 12:31; John 14:30; Ephesians 2:2) is actually in control of this world’s system.  We also know that Adam delivered this control over to the devil (Luke 4:5-6).  The problem is that this misrepresentation has given many a false impression of God and has turned many away from God, all because they believe the redefined “sovereignty of God” definition.  We have even coined the phrase, “an act of God” to use whenever there is a tragedy, a disaster, or a catastrophic event that we cannot explain by any other means.

Because God is the creator of all things (Nehemiah 9:6), he is the supreme power or the reigning authority, matched by no other.  God is at the top, all by himself.  There is not one above him or on the same level as him.  There is no higher power or higher authority and none to equal him.  God has no competition.  This is the true definition of “the sovereignty of God.”

When man was created, God gave man authority or “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” (Genesis 1:26-28).  God told man to subdue the earth and have dominion over everything.  He was to reign over God’s creation.

“When I look up into the night skies and see the work of your fingers—the moon and the stars you have made—I cannot understand how you can bother with mere puny man, to pay any attention to him!  And yet you have made him only a little lower than the angels and placed a crown of glory and honor upon his head.  You have put him in charge of everything you made; everything is put under his authority: all sheep and oxen, and wild animals too, the birds and fish, and all the life in the sea” (Psalm 8:3-8 TLB).

According to this psalm from David, God placed man in charge of everything he had made as well as placing everything under his authority.  Man was truly in charge of everything God had created.  However, when man sinned, he allowed sin to enter into the world and with that sin came death, which would eventually spread to all things.

“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).

From that point forward, all mankind had a sin nature, becoming “slaves to sin” (John 8:34; Romans 6:20).  Now, the payment for this sin or “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).  It is through sin that the devil has gained access to mankind and to the world’s system, because when Adam sinned, he actually gave the authority or dominion that God had given to him to the devil (Luke 4:5-6).  But all glory belongs to God because “the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).  Because Jesus was innocent of any sin, yet death came to him, he was able to claim back the authority or dominion that Adam had lost.  Remember the payment for sin was death, but in Jesus’ case, death claimed one who had not sinned.  Because of his obedience, Jesus actually reversed what Adam had done in the beginning when he sinned.  This is why it says in the scriptures, “Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (I Corinthians 2:7).  In this case, “it” is in reference to God’s plan of redemption for mankind (Ephesians 1:9-11).  Jesus was able to get back for us what Adam had given to the devil, our authority and our dominion.

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matthew 28:18).

This power that Jesus is speaking of here is “the power, the authority, and the dominion” that was given originally to man by God.  Jesus got all of it back.

“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).  “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 16:17-18).

Instead of there being limits to what God allows that devil to do, it is us, the children of God, who have the power to limit what the devil can do (Matthew 18:18, just to list one of many empowering passages).  But instead of using this power, we continually pray to God for help with our adversary, the devil (I Peter 5:8).  The problem is that God has already answered this prayer request, but the devil has hidden this truth from the world, so not many know the truth.  The truth is that the devil can do no more than we, the children of God allow him to do.  We are in control because Jesus got back what God had originally given us, “the power, the authority, and the dominion” over all of his creation.

As always, we 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