Devotion: Life Can Be Tough Too

Life can be tough, tougher than most people realize.  Life can be brutal at times, extremely brutal.  That is what happens when one is in a war.  Yes, we are in a war and very few people even know that there is war going on.  And since few know about this war, then they have no idea who or what is involved in this war.  By nature, we are fighters, survivors, able to persevere many obstacles, provided we know who or what we are fighting.  But when we do not know our opponents, fighting becomes somewhat difficult and winning nearly impossible.

“Our fight is not with people.  It is against the leaders and the powers and the spirits of darkness in this world.  It is against the demon world that works in the heavens” (Ephesians 6:12 NLV).

We are not fighting against people, against persons made of flesh and blood.  No, we are fighting against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places, against the principalities, the powers, and the world rulers of this present darkness, against the mighty satanic beings and great evil princes of darkness who rule this world, and against huge numbers of wicked spirits in the spirit world.  We are fighting against “persons without bodies.”  Interesting to note that this scripture tells us our fight is not with people, yet we spend the majority of our time fighting against the very thing we are not supposed to be fighting against, each other.  Once again, people are not our enemies nor are they our opponents in this war.

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

We are given this warning, told to “be sober and to be vigilant,” which is the same as saying, “be careful and keep a watchful eye out” because “our adversary, our opponent, our great enemy, the devil,” goes around as if he is a hungry, roaring lion, “making due use of every opportunity,” to seek those that he may devour or tear apart.  The fact that he is seeking those he may devour or tear apart implies that he as to search for “his prey or his victims.”  The warning is for us to be careful, be watchful, and watch out for the attacks from our great enemy whose only purpose is “to steal, kill, and destroy” (John 10:10), his prey.

“I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).  “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).  “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 5:4)?  “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).  “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).

Jesus tells us that we can have life and have it more abundantly because of him.  Jesus tells us, that though we may face trials and tribulations, we are to be of good cheer because he has overcome the world.  Because of our faith in Jesus Christ, we have been born again or born of God and we too, can overcome this world.  Because of our faith in Jesus Christ, we know and have the confidence that we can fight and will win this battle.  Because of our faith in Jesus Christ and because we belong to God, we know we have already won our fight because there is someone in our hearts who is stronger and greater than any evil in this world.  We just need to be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might and putting on God’s armor so that we can stand against the wiles or the tricks of the devil.

Praise God that he has made available to his children the tool things needed to overcome the difficulties in this life.  Life can be tough, especially when one has no idea that they are in engaged in a war against an enemy that is not made of flesh and blood.  While we focused on one of the enemies we listed from the beginning, all of these “persons without bodies” are equal-opportunist, seeking to devour the believer as well as the non-believer.  We are so thankful that we have the weaponry available to win this war.  Life can be tough, but as you can see, it does not have to be.

We again give thanks to God for this avenue that he has given us to share his word through this inspirational message.  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: Prayer Guidelines

Recently, we discussed how understanding the benefits of prayer would help us to understand why we should pray.  We discussed the same model that Jesus showed to his disciples when they asked him to teach them to pray as John taught his disciples to pray.  The very first thing Jesus did was to tell them to revere the name of the Father and to honor him for his holiness.  Jesus said, when we pray, we should say, “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.”

We now know that when we come before God, we are to enter into his gates with great thanksgiving and enter into his courts with praise (Psalm 100:4).  We know that when we pray, we need to give praise to him, to speak of his glories and of his grace, to boast of his kindness, to give thanks and to bless his holy name, and to exalt his holy name.  When we pray, we need to pray primarily for these reasons, but these are not the only reasons we need to pray.  Praying is a process and for effectual prayer, we need to follow the guidelines that Jesus showed his disciples.

“And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.  And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.  Thy kingdom come.  Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth (Luke 11:1-2).

Next, Jesus told his disciples to pray that God’s kingdom would come and that his will would be done here “in or on the earth as it is done in heaven.”  Remember, we are to “pray without ceasing,” constantly “giving thanks to God in every situation” because “this is the will of God for us” (I Thessalonians 5:17-18).

“For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.  Amen” (Matthew 6:13).

Jesus ends his prayer lesson to the disciples with more reverence and honor for the Father using words similar to those King David once spoke when he blessed the Lord.

“Wherefore David blessed the Lord before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, Lord God of Israel our father, for ever and ever.  Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all.  Both riches and honor come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.  Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name” (I Chronicles 29:10-13).

While in the presence of his entire congregation, David expressed his praise for the Lord.  David acknowledges God’s kingdom, his power, and his glory, thanking him and praising his holy name.  It would appear that we should follow the same process, that we should follow these same guidelines.  This is a far cry from the way many believers have been taught to pray.  Instead of using prayer as an opportunity to inform God of all of your terrible problems or your impossible situations, you should use prayer to reverence and honor the Lord God.  God, who is all-knowing, truly knows your problems and your situations better than you know them.  God knows what you have need of before you even ask (Matthew 6:8).

This is not to say that we do not need to tell God about our problems or our situations.  Nor are we saying that we do not need to ask God to help us in our time of need.  We are just saying that we need to follow the instructions that Jesus gave his disciple, the instructions we believe John the Baptist gave his disciples, and the example that we see from King David.  Somewhere in between the reverence and honor that we give the Lord God when we enter into his gates and the reverence and honor that we give him when we exit his gates is where we need let our problems, our situations, and our needs be known to God.  When we follow these guidelines for prayer, we will not become overwhelmed and discouraged by any situation or problem we face because the process of thanking and praising God will keep our faith built up in the awesomeness of God.

We pray that today’s inspirational message will give you a new perspective on “the process of praying.”  We also 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: Make Prayer A Habit

Prayer is what we use to communicate with God.  Prayer is not a monologue, where we are the only ones speaking and God is doing all the listening.  No, this is not all there is to prayer.  There is a lot more to this form of communication than that.  Prayer is actually a conversation that we have between our heart and God.  It is not just a one-way conversation where we do all the talking.  Prayer with God should be like having a conversation with your mother, with your father, with your brother, with your sister, or even with your best friend.  We should be able to communicate with God in a similar way.

Recently, we mentioned that there was a “right way” and a “wrong way” to pray.  In that commentary, we also mentioned that for us to enjoy the benefits of prayer, we needed to learn how to pray.  Besides learning how to communicate with God, we need to learn to allow God to speak to us.  We also need to learn to listen to God as we allow him to minister to us.  Bottom line, we need to learn how to pray.

Learning to pray is a lot like learning to ride a bicycle, learning to drive a car, learning to use a computer or any other thing that we have learned to do in our lifetime.  Through practice and routinely performing the task, we have learned to become proficient at those tasks.  It is the same with prayer; we have to develop our prayer life so that we can become proficient in it.  We have to learn so that it, prayer, becomes a habit for us.

“Pray without ceasing.  In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (I Thessalonians 5:17-18).

We are told to pray without ceasing.  Keep in mind that prayer is just a conversation between God and us, so basically God is telling us to “communicate with him without ceasing.”  God is telling us that we should not cease to be in constant contact with him, constantly having a conversation with him.

We should never face the day until we have faced God in prayer.  In the same token, we should never end the day until we have done the same, faced God in prayer.  Throughout the day we should do the same thing, face God in prayer.  Before we attempt to do anything, we should pray or communicate with God.  Can you see the theme here?  We should be in constant contact with God, having a conversation with God, constantly facing God in prayer.  Scripture tells us to “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer” (Romans 12:12 NIV).  Prayer should always be our first response to everything and never used as our last resort because we have become desperate and run out of options.  We should devote ourselves to prayer and to being in constant communication with God.  And do not forget to talk to God with a sense or an attitude of thanksgiving, because in everything we are to give thanks.  We should never underestimate the power of prayer, especially when we do it the way God wants us to do it.  Cease not to pray.  Cease not to constantly communicate with God.  Pray without ceasing.  Make prayer a habit

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

Devotion: Don't Grow Weary

Don’t be misled; remember that you can’t ignore God and get away with it: a man will always reap just the kind of crop he sows!  If he sows to please his own wrong desires, he will be planting seeds of evil and he will surely reap a harvest of spiritual decay and death; but if he plants the good things of the Spirit, he will reap the everlasting life that the Holy Spirit gives him.  And let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after a while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t get discouraged and give up.  That’s why whenever we can we should always be kind to everyone, and especially to our Christian brothers (Galatians 6:7-10 TLB).

Dear brothers, if a Christian is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help him back onto the right path, remembering that next time it might be one of you who is in the wrong.  Share each other’s troubles and problems, and so obey our Lord’s command.  If anyone thinks he is too great to stoop to this, he is fooling himself.  He is really a nobody.  Let everyone be sure that he is doing his very best, for then he will have the personal satisfaction of work well done and won’t need to compare himself with someone else.  Each of us must bear some faults and burdens of his own.  For none of us is perfect (Galatians 6:1-5 TLB)!

But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips (Colossians 3:8 NIV).  Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen (Ephesians 4:29 NIV).  Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving (Ephesians 5:4 NIV).

Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification (Romans 14:19 NIV).  Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up (Romans 15:2 NIV).  So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing (I Thessalonians 5:11 NIV).  Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone (Colossians 4:6 NIV).  Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.  Let your moderation be known unto all men.  The Lord is at hand.  Be careful (anxious) for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep (guard) your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:4-7).

So, my dear brothers, since future victory is sure, be strong and steady, always abounding in the Lord’s work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever wasted as it would be if there were no resurrection (I Corinthians 15:58 TLB).  But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.  They shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint (Isaiah 40:31 TLB).  Do not be weary in doing good, always doing your best, for you will reap a harvest if you do not give up.  When you are happy, life is good; it is better when others are happy because of you.  Do your very best to inspire people.  Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up.

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 commentary 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: 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

Devotion: You Must Be Born Twice

Continuing our conversation about being born again, enter the story of a Jewish religious leader whose heart, ears, and eyes were opened by what Jesus had said.

“There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: the same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles (signs) that thou doest, except God be with him.  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again (from above), he cannot see the kingdom of God.  Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old?  can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:1-6).

After dark one night a Jewish religious leader named Nicodemus, who was a member of a particular sect of the Pharisees, came to speak with Jesus.  In case you did not know, the Pharisees were the most influential Jewish sect at the time.  Known for their somewhat arbitrary rules, the Pharisees were charged with knowing, keeping, and enforcing the oral laws of Moses as they interpreted them.  Anyway, Nicodemus told Jesus that they knew he was a teacher, who was sent by God because no man could do the miracles, which they all witnessed, except God be with that man.  Nicodemus told Jesus that his miracles were proof enough of who he was.  Jesus then says to Nicodemus, as earnestly as possible, “Unless you are born again, you can never see the kingdom of God.”  It is interesting to note that the word “see” is define in this context as “having knowledge of, understanding, or perceiving.”  Basically, Jesus is telling Nicodemus that man has no knowledge of the kingdom of God, that he does not have the ability to understand the kingdom of God, and that he cannot even perceive the kingdom of God unless he be born again, that is, unless he is born from above.

Nicodemus, puzzled by this statement asked, “What do you mean?  How is it possible for a man, who is old to go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?”  Then Jesus says to Nicodemus as earnestly as possible again, “Unless a man is born of the water and born of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God, for physical birth is not enough, you must be also born spiritually.”  Jesus goes on to say, “Man can only reproduce flesh, for whatever has been born of the flesh is flesh, but whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit, for the Spirit gives new life that is from heaven.”

So, Jesus told Nicodemus that a man who had not been born again had no knowledge of the kingdom of God.  The only understanding that a person who was not born again could get was the kind of understanding that the world offers, which has and continues to lead many into captivity (Isaiah 5:13).  Jesus told Nicodemus that everyone, including him, had to be born again, had to be born of the Spirit, had to be born from above.  But here is the key thing that so many have missed about this story.  This meant that those Jewish leaders, who were charged with knowing, keeping, and enforcing the oral laws of Moses as they interpreted them, were not immune.  They too had to be born again.  Jesus told these leaders that the physical birth was not enough for them to see the kingdom of God.  But what did all of this that Jesus was saying about being born again mean to those Jewish leaders?

The bottom line, Jesus told the Jewish leaders as well as the Jewish people that they were not as special as they thought they were.  Jesus told them that everyone, Jews and Gentiles alike, would have to do the same thing in order to get into the kingdom of God.  Jesus told them that everyone, regardless of who they were or what they thought their status was, had to be born again; they had to be born from above.  Jesus made it sound as if the Jews were not a special people unto God anymore.  He made it sound as if they were not above all the people that were upon the face of the earth as they believed themselves to be.  Jesus put Jews and Gentiles together, having to do the exact same thing to get into the kingdom of God, which did not please the Jewish people, much less the Jewish leaders.  Do you think it might be possible that the Jews may have been chosen as a special people unto God for a different reason than the one that we have been taught all these years?  The possibility does exist.

May today’s inspirational message open your heart, your ears, and your eyes much the same way Nicodemus had his heart, ears, and eyes opened by what Jesus had said.  If you are blessed by this message, please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: The Professions Of Your Faith

“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.  Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)” (Hebrews 10:22-23).

Let us draw near to God himself with all sincerity, with all trueness of heart, and with unfaltering faith as we fully trust him to receive us because we have had our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience with the blood of Christ and our bodies washed, bathed with the pure water.  Therefore, let us hold fast “the profession of our faith,” keeping our hope strong and unshaken as we tell others that salvation is ours.  As we look forward to the salvation that God has promised to give to us, there should be no longer any room for doubt for he, who is faithful and true, has given us his word; a promise that he will do exactly what he says.

“For if you tell others with your own mouth that Jesus Christ is your Lord and believe in your own heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is by believing in his heart that a man becomes right with God; and with his mouth he tells others of his faith, confirming his salvation.  For the Scriptures tell us that no one who believes in Christ will ever be disappointed.  Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect: they all have the same Lord who generously gives his riches to all those who ask him for them.  Anyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:9-13 TLB).

This is the profession of our faith, the confession of our hope, where if we confess with our mouth, which involves words that we speak, and believe in our heart, which is accepting as truth, those words that we speak, then we will be saved.  We think this part of the passage sums it up best – “and with his mouth he tells others of his faith, confirming his salvation.”  It is with our mouth that we make “the confession of our faith,” telling others of our faith and with that confession, we obtain salvation.  Salvation is obtained just by the words we speak or in this case confess, well almost.  You must also believe in what you say.

Scripture tells us that no one who believes in Jesus Christ should have any reason to feel ashamed because everyone, without exception, who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.  Now that is an interesting thought.  But ponder this, if it be possible for you to be saved by a confession of your mouth (not to forgo the believing in the heart part), then do you think it would be possible for you to be condemn by a confession of your mouth as well, provided the belief in the heart is there?

“You have been trapped by what you said, ensnared by the words of your mouth” (Proverbs 6:2 NIV).

Trapped by what you say, ensnared by the words the come out of your mouth.  And so many of you think that what you say is not important, having little to no consequences.  Therefore, be sure to hold fast “the profession of your faith” knowing that he, who is faithful and true, has given us his word; a promise that he will do exactly what he says.  Keep your hope strong and unshaken as you continually look forward to the salvation that God has promised to give to us.  We pray that this message will help you to see just how important it is to hold fast “the profession of your faith.”  If you are blessed by this devotion, please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: Prosperity Pleases God

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: Be A Giver

We have had several discussions about prosperity over the past few months.  We know that scriptures say, “for it is he (God) that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant” (Deuteronomy 8:18).  While the passage makes it abundantly clear that prosperity is truly of God, it also appears to state the purpose, the reason God gives his children this ability to get wealth or as some have put it, to get rich.  We know that most of the time, the prosperity message is taught as a means for an individual to increase one’s own self.  But, while this may be man’s purpose for striving to achieve wealth, it is not God’s purpose for giving us the ability to get this wealth.

God’s purpose or reason for prosperity is to not to increase someone so that person can get more things for him or herself.  No, God needs us to help him establish his covenant.  God needs us to help him fulfill his promise to our ancestors.  God’s purpose or reason for the prosperity is to increase someone so that person can be a blessing to others.  God needs us to give, so that we can be a blessing, so that we can be his blessing to others.

God may have been able to rain manna from the sky for the children of Israel while they were in the desert (Psalm 78:24), but when it comes to money, it is a completely different story.  God cannot manufacture currency and have it rain down from heaven to help those in need.  For one, it is illegal to manufacture currency.  Then, imagine what an influx of counterfeit money would do to the financial stability of a country or even the world’s financial stage; it would be catastrophic.  Therefore, God has instituted a system, where he uses the wealth that he gives his child the ability to get, to provide for those children who have need in the kingdom.  This is the covenant God made with our ancestors, and he uses his children to help him establish it.

So maybe now you can see the truth about prosperity.  God is not against prosperity or against you having financial prosperity as long as you remember the reason for your prosperity, to be a giver.  God wants you to be a giver, so that you become a blessing to those that need God’s blessings.  You are all God has to do this.  You should live to give and not live to get.  We know that this goes against all that the world’s financial system has taught you, but you need to get plugged into God financial system.

“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom.  For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again” (Luke 6:38).

Having money will only amplify that which is already in someone’s heart.  If a person has a heart for selfishness, then having money will only intensify that selfish desire.  But, if someone has a heart for giving, the money will make stronger that desire to give.  When a person has the heart of a giver, they understand that what they give returns to them, in full and overflowing measure, pressed down and shaken together to make room for more, and running over.  Please note that it is man, who will give into the giver’s bosom and not God.  The person understands that with what measure they use to give is the same that men will use to give back.  The person understands that they have been entrusted to watch over what they already know, belongs to God.  This person understands the true purpose, the true reason for the prosperity.  The person understands that everything belongs to God; the earth and everything in it and all of the inhabitants belong to God (Psalm 24:1).  This person knows that no man has ever taken any of what they claims belong to them, with them when they left this earth.  If any of it were theirs, you would think that they would be able to take it with them.  It has not happened yet.

Once again, we know that our commentary will not settle this long-running debate.  However, we do pray that our commentary just might offer a clearer understanding of the true purpose for the prosperity.  As we always do, we pray that you will be abundantly blessed, greatly informed, and that you will be the better for having read the message.  If you are blessed by this message, please share it with others so that they may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: Meeting Together

Did you know that God is not calling us to go to church?  Actually, he is calling us to be his church.  He wants us to be the hope of the world.

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power (authority) is given unto me in heaven and in earth.  Go ye therefore, and teach (make disciples of) 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 NLT).

Known as “The Great Commission,” Jesus commanded his disciples to go and teach or make disciples of all nations.  He commanded that these new disciples be taught to observe all things whatsoever or to obey all the commands Jesus had given to his own disciples.  But what exactly is a disciple?  A disciple is not only a believer or a follower, but a disciple is more importantly a student and a pupil.  A disciple is a person who has been trained.  You cannot make disciples without some type of teaching.  And yes, there is a difference between preaching to someone and teaching someone.  Preaching proclaims the gospel where teaching explains the gospel.

This is not to say that there is no place for the preaching of the gospel, but preaching alone does not make disciples.  For example, preaching can proclaim the good news of salvation and can convert sinners into “born-again believers,” but what about afterwards?  What happens to the “born-again believer” once they have been saved or converted?

A person who is “born-again” should reflect or be like Christ, but not everyone who claims to be “born-again” is able to do so.  They more than likely continue to live a lifestyle that is contrary to being Christ-like mainly because they have not been taught that Christ-like lifestyle.  Scripture tells us “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17) and when that word comes in the form of a salvation message, then salvation is all that person will have faith for.

We fully understand that a person’s own evil desires play an important part in his or her lifestyle choices, but when the person is not taught to observe all things whatsoever or to obey all that Jesus commanded, then that person’s life tends to be run by the previous doctrines he or she used before becoming “born-again.”  This is why there is this emphasis on teaching others to become disciples and not just “born-again believers” or “new converts.”

For the true disciple of Christ, he or she will have the tools needed to live a Christ-like lifestyle, but it would be entirely different for “a new convert.”  A true disciple would have the faith to put God first, above everyone and everything else where “a new convert” may be in that growing stage where he or she is trying to find the true path to Christ.  Without the proper guidance, “a new convert” may stumble upon the wrong path going in the wrong direction or even resort back to old habits.  Most people are struggling with the hell they live in on this earth and are trying to find a way to overcome their situation.  And though the salvation message will make them feel good for a moment, it does nothing for the long haul to show them what to do after salvation.

Making new converts true disciples will help them to be more Christ-like in their actions and in their lifestyle choices.  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever or to obey all the commands of Jesus will give them the tools they need to teach others to become disciples and not just new converts who are left to find their own way.

There is a lot more to being a disciple than what we have stated here.  This was just a short introduction for those who have that ear to hear and want to obey “The Great Commission,” where they go and make disciples of all nations, teaching “born-again believers” to observe all things whatsoever and to obey all the commands of Jesus Christ.  You first must become a true disciple yourself; you must become a student and a pupil of the teachings of Christ.  God is not calling us to go to church; he is calling us to be his church.

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: God’s Way Is Best

God wants the best for all of his children.  He wants the best for every aspect of our lives, no matter how large or how small that aspect may be.  We need to understand that God only gives us his best, the best advice and the best course of action for every situation that could possibly arise in our lives.  The problem for many of us is that we tend to ignore God and try to go it on our own.  Instead of allowing God to “drive the car,” so to speak, we throw him in the back seat as we hit the road of life.  Some of us throw him as far back as the trunk, Amen.  We then try to follow the road map that we have laid out for our lives instead of the one that God has for us.  Truth be told, we really should trust in the Lord and allow him to direct our path.

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct (make smooth or straight) thy paths.  Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.  It shall be health to thy navel (body), and marrow (strength) to thy bones” (Proverbs 3:5-8).  “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end” (Jeremiah 29:11).

God has declared that he knows the thoughts or the plans he has for us, plans to prosper us and not hurt or harm us.  He has plans to give us hope and a future.  It would only make sense to follow God’s plans for us, which guarantees us peace and an expected end.

“My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.  Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.  For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh” (Proverbs 4:20-22).

Yes, this is true.  God tells us that if we listen carefully and give ear to his sayings, keeping them in the midst of our hearts and mind, not allowing them to depart from our eyes, then we will find that God words are life unto those who find them and health to all their flesh.

“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (II Timothy 2:15).

God tells us to “study to show thyself approved” so that we can “rightly divide the word of truth” (II Timothy 2:15), but most of us do not adhere to this command.  This word of truth is given “to tell you what to believe (for doctrine), what is wrong (for reproof), how to correct wrong (for correction), how to live (for instruction in righteousness).  You are to rely on the word of truth because it includes everything needed to grow in maturity, to be perfect (meaning proficient or capable), and to do what God wants” (II Timothy 3:16-17).  The idea that we are to “attend to his words” holds little meaning for some because just carrying a Bible with them fits the commandment.  When we attend to his words, we learn that “they are life unto those that find them” (Proverbs 4:20-22), meaning, “God’s words are full, abundant life unto those that hunt for, look for, or seek those words.”  And this is why you have to pick that Bible up, open it, and do a little more than just read it.  You may have to dissect it.  You have to pick it apart.  You have to analyze it.  You have to examine it.  You have to study it.  You have to rightly divide it.  This is God’s best for us, the best advice and the best course of action that will give us the best results for every situation that could possibly arise in our lives.  He does not offer alternatives or suggestions.  Don’t just get into his word, but get his word in you, get his word into your very being.  You must immerse yourself in his word; you must hunt for, look for, and seek the answers that he has provided through his instruction manual.

As you read today’s inspirational messages, we pray that the messages will be an inspiration to you as well as a blessing and that you will be the better for having read them.  Please share this message so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings. - KW

Devotion: Plead The Blood

There is power in the blood, power in the blood of Jesus.

“But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building (creation); neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place (Most Holy Place), having obtained eternal redemption for us.  For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth (set apart) to the purifying of the flesh: how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot (blemish) to God, purge (cleanse) your conscience from dead works to serve the living God” (Hebrew 9:11-14)?

“And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the (do not practice the) truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (I John 1:4-7).

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:19-23 TLB).

How much more, has the blood of Christ cleansed our consciences from lifeless acts that lead to death that we may serve the ever-living God?  “There is power in the blood, true power in the blood of Jesus.”  We forever pray that you are abundantly blessed by today’s inspirational message 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 Are Not Under The Law

Is “The Law,” those so-called “rules of conduct” given to the Israelites back in the days of the Old Testament for us today?  This is one of the more highly debated questions in many religious circles today; however, we wanted to share a few things that we have discovered during the course of our studies.  Under the old covenant, the laws, written on stone tablets and conveyed to the Israelites through Moses, were given to regulate almost every aspect of life (Exodus 24:12).

He cancels the first system in favor of a far better one.  Under this new plan we have been forgiven and made clean by Christ’s dying for us once and for all.  Under the old agreement the priests stood before the altar day after day offering sacrifices that could never take away our sins.  But Christ gave himself to God for our sins as one sacrifice for all time and then sat down in the place of highest honor at God’s right hand, waiting for his enemies to be laid under his feet.  For by that one offering he made forever perfect in the sight of God all those whom he is making holy.  And the Holy Spirit testifies that this is so, for he has said, “This is the agreement I will make with the people of Israel, though they broke their first agreement: I will write my laws into their minds so that they will always know my will, and I will put my laws in their hearts so that they will want to obey them.”  And then he adds, “I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds” (Hebrews 10:9-17 TLB).

Unlike the days of the old covenant, where the laws were written on stone tablets and passed along by Moses, under this new covenant, we have those same laws written into our minds and placed in our hearts, so that those “rules of conduct,” originally given to the Israelites are now written into our very being.  However, there is one major difference between the old and the new covenant that everyone involved in the great debate needs to consider.  Under this new covenant, we actually have a High Priest, Jesus Christ, who offered himself as the sacrifice for the penalty of sin and of death for all time, redeeming those who would accept the free gift of salvation, from the condemning curse of the law (Galatians 3:10-14), but he did not free us from “the rules of conduct” themselves.

“Don’t misunderstand why I have come—it isn’t to cancel the laws of Moses and the warnings of the prophets.  No, I came to fulfill them and to make them all come true.  With all the earnestness I have I say: Every law in the Book will continue until its purpose is achieved.  And so if anyone breaks the least commandment and teaches others to, he shall be the least in the Kingdom of Heaven.  But those who teach God’s laws and obey them shall be great in the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 5:17-19 TLB).

While we may not have the laws on stone tablets any longer, that does not mean they are still not in effect; they just appear to be in effect from the inside of us.  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