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: God Gave Us Dominion

One of the most misunderstood gifts that God has ever given to mankind was “the original dominion” he gave to the first man.  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 consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; what is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?  For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor.  Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:  all sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; the fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas” (Psalm 8:3-8).

Devotion: God Is Rich In Mercy

Most of us have heard of God’s grace and of his mercy, but did you know that God is rich in his mercy?

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us (made us alive) together with Christ, (by grace ye are (have been) saved); and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:  that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.  For by grace are ye (you have been) saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:  it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:4-9).

Because of his great love for us, God showed his mercy towards us.  When we were still sinners, dead through our own offences, God showed great compassion for us by giving us our lives back when he raised Christ from the dead.  Because of his grace, his unearned, unmerited favor, we have been saved, raised up together with Christ from the grave and into glory, where we sit with him in the heavenly places because of all that Jesus did.  Now with all that he has done for us through Christ, God can forever point to us as examples of just how rich his mercy truly is.  It is by God’s grace that we have been saved through our faith in what Christ has done, which was not something that we were able to do for ourselves.  Our salvation is not our reward for the good works we have done or for us being good.  No, our salvation is truly a gift from God, given to us by the grace of God.  It is not something that we were able to earn; therefore, none of us can take any credit for it.

Devotion: Don't Be Afraid To Die

It is amazing to find people who claim to be believers, who are afraid to die.  This is not meant to be a criticism of anyone.  We are merely pointing out an observation that these same people who claim to be believers actually do believe in life after death, but still have this fear of death.  The unknown has always produced some amount of fear in all of mankind and death is one of those unknown things that we all will have to go through.  Not knowing, being unsure of, and having no control over the future tends to bring out a little anxiety in even the best of us.  Please do not get us wrong, we are not so naive to suggest that every believer shares in this fear of death for the same reasons.  Some are just selfish.  They love themselves and the things of this world more then they love God and the things of God.  They are not interested in pleasing God but solely interested in pleasing self.  They fear death because it would cause them to lose the things that they have come to cherish most in this life: their money, their status, their popularity, and themselves.  Even though they claimed to be believers, they have no hope for the future because they be not in Christ.

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.  For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?  or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul” (Matthew 16:24-26)?

Devotion: Be An Encourager

Are you an encourager?  Or are you a discourager?  Most people are discouragers and do not even know that they are.  Don’t get us wrong, there are some very negative, very disgruntled, and very unhappy people in the world.  Normally, the things that they say can identify them.  But, when was the last time you checked yourself to see what kind of things you say?

“And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.  For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: all these evil things come from within, and defile the man” (Mark 7:20-23).

Scripture tells us that it is what comes out of us that contaminates and makes us unclean.  From inside of us, within our hearts flow evil thoughts, fornication, sexual sins, thefts, murders, adultery, covetousness, greed, wickedness, evil actions, deceit, licentiousness, unrestrained immorality, envy, reviling, insults, pride, arrogance, reckless folly, and foolishness.  All these wicked things come out from within our heart to contaminate and make us unclean.

Devotion: Jesus Never Fails

Most people, both believers and non-believers know the story of how Adam’s disobedience allowed sin to enter into the world and come upon the human race.  When sinned entered, death caught a ride and spread throughout the world causing everything to grow old and to die.

“For this one man, Adam, brought death to many through his sin.  But this one man, Jesus Christ, brought forgiveness to many through God’s mercy.  Adam’s one sin brought the penalty of death to many, while Christ freely takes away many sins and gives glorious life instead.  The sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to be king over all, but all who will take God’s gift of forgiveness and acquittal are kings of life (reign in life ) because of this one man, Jesus Christ.  Yes, Adam’s sin brought punishment to all, but Christ’s righteousness makes men right with God, so that they can live.  Adam caused many to be sinners because he disobeyed God, and Christ caused many to be made acceptable to God because he obeyed” (Romans 5:15-19 TLB).

Devotion: Great Things Happen When You Believe – Part II

In part one of our “Great Things Happen When You Believe” series, we talked about faith and the three elements of faith, which were:

• belief, which is accepting that something can be true or that something is real when it has not been seen,
• confidence or conviction, which is believing or trusting that something is, especially when there is no logical proof that it exists,
• and action, which is doing something in order to reach a goal, to obtain a result, or to get that thing which you hoped for.

We found that faith is confidently acting upon what you believe, what appears to be impossible and expecting results.  Scripture tells us that “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes” (Mark 9:23).  And while your faith plays a key role in causing those great things to happen, in making all things possible, there be a few other things we need to consider, things that are equally as important and equally as strong but can cause those great things not to happen.  The sad part is that most people are not aware of them.

Devotion: The Wages Of Sin

Recently we talked about how deadly sin was.  We found in scripture that, “…the wages of sin is death …” (Romans 6:23).  In that discussion we mentioned that just as we expect to receive “compensation or a wage” for working in any job, be it full-time or part-time, we should expect to receive “compensation or a wage” for working or living in sin, be it full-time or part-time.  Although the “compensation or wage” for employment is usually some type of monetary benefit, the compensation or wage for sin is “death.”  We noted that this passage was really telling us “the wages, the salary, the pay, the income, the take-home pay” of sin, no matter the amount of sin, is “death.”  Working in sin, playing in sin, living in sin, or just existing in sin pays a benefit, which according to scripture is death.

Devotion: You Are Born To Win

Did you know that you were born to win?  We guess the correct thing to ask would be “Did you know that you were born-again to win?”  In order to win, you first have to be born-again, what the scriptures refer to as “being in Christ.”  Therefore, if you be in Christ, then you are born to win.

“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:37-39).

According to this passage, we are not just “conquers,” who are simply able to “overcome all these things.”  No, we are “more than conquers.”  We are “more than victors.”  We are “more than overcomers.”  Paul goes on to say that he is convinced, “fully persuaded” that nothing can separate us from the love of God, which is “in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  There be neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities or rules, nor the things in this present time, nor the things to come in the future, nor the forces of nature, nor the things on high above the earth, nor the things under the earth, nor any other creatures that could separate us from the love of God, which now rest upon us because of what Christ Jesus our Lord did.

Devotion: God Has Already Forgiven You

Recently we talked about how all of mankind was made a sinner because of the actions of one man.  Because of Adam’s disobedience, “many were made sinners” (Romans 5:19).  When Adam fell, the entire human race was “constituted or formally established as sinners.”  We went on to say that even though all of this seemed to be a little unfair, there is more to the story.  We have learned that when it comes to the things of God, things are seldom what they appear to be.  We went on to mention that all of mankind has been given the opportunity to be made righteous because of the actions of another man.  Because of Jesus’ obedience, “many shall be made righteous” (Romans 5:19).  When Jesus died on the cross, the entire human race was given the opportunity to be “constituted or formally established as the righteousness of God in him” (II Corinthians 5:21).  And all that we have to do to receive this “abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness” (Romans 5:17) is to make Jesus Christ our Lord and savior.  When we make Jesus our Lord and savior, we get all of these free gifts that God has to offer.  When we make Jesus our Lord and savior, we get God’s gift of grace, God’s gift of righteousness, and God’s gift of forgiveness.  But what you really need to understand is that before God arranged all of this, he had already forgiven us.

“To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him” (Daniel 9:9).  “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage?  he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.  He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.  Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old” (Micah 7:18-20).  “Come now, and let us have an argument together, says the Lord: how may your sins which are red like blood be white as snow?  how may their dark purple seem like wool” (Isaiah 1:18)?  “I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins” (Isaiah 43:25).

Scripture tells that God is merciful and forgiving even though we have rebelled against him.  This same God is the one who has compassion on us, who loves to be merciful, and who pardons our sins.  This same God is the one who loves to be merciful towards us.  He takes our sins and puts them beneath his feet, then throws them into the depths of the sea.  No matter the complexity our sins, God will make us as clean as freshly fallen snow.  And though our sins may be blood red, God will make them as white as wool.  Because God cannot stay angry with us, he has set his love upon us.  God is the one who takes away our sins for his own sake and no longer remembers them.

“The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.  He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.  He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.  For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.  As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.  Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.  For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.  As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.  For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.  But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; to such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them” (Psalm 103:8-18).

God is merciful and gracious towards us.  God is full of kindness, love, and pity.  God is slow to anger and does not hold a grudge because his anger does not last forever.  God is like a father who has pity on his children.  He is tender and sympathetic to us who respect, obey, and praise him.  With all that mankind has accused God of, which includes plenty mischaracterizations, God has never given us the punishment that our sins deserve nor rewarded us according to our wrongdoings, but instead has forgiven us.  God’s mercy towards us, those who reverence, honor, and worship him, is as great as the heavens are above the earth.  God has removed our sins as far away from us as the east is from the west.  The mercy of the Lord and his loving-kindness is eternal, from everlasting to everlasting for those who love him.

We pray that today’s devotional will help you to understand that God has done his part and has already forgiven you.  Now, you need to do your part and just receive the free gift of forgiveness.  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: Remember Me

Most believers are very familiar with what is called “The Last Supper” or “The Lord’s Supper.”  The Lord’s Supper is supposedly the very last meal that Jesus shared with his apostles before his betrayal and crucifixion.

“And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you:  this do in remembrance of me.  Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you” (Luke 22:19-20).

According to scripture, Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave the pieces to his disciples, saying that it was a symbol of his body that was being given for us.  Then he took wine and shared with his disciples as a symbol of his blood that was being shed for us as well.  From this meal, came what is now known as “The Holy Communion.”  The Holy Communion is the religious practice in which bread and wine or grape juice are consecrated and shared among those who claim to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, as a symbol of cleansing, consecration, and communion, all done in remembrance of him.

“For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:  and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat:  this is my body, which is broken for you:  this do in remembrance of me.  After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood:  this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.  For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come.  Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.  But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.  For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.  For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.  For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.  But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.  Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.  And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation.  And the rest will I set in order when I come” (I Corinthians 11:23-34).

While many partake of “The Lord’s Supper,” few are aware of the instructions Paul received then from the Lord, pertaining to our participation in this event.  Paul would go on to say that those who participated in the taking of the bread and cup “in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.”  When we participate, we are representing, signifying, proclaiming, and giving witness to the Lord’s death until he returns.  Therefore, we need to carefully examine ourselves to make sure we are not “eating and drinking God’s judgment upon ourselves” because we have participated in an unworthy manner.  According to Paul, this unworthy and careless participation is why many so-called believers are weak, why many so-called believers are sickly, and why some so-called believers have even died.  If we were more discerning with regard to our worthiness or our unworthiness as it pertains to us being born again or born from above, then we would not come under such judgment.

We know that many of you have never heard of these instructions from Paul concerning “The Lord’s Supper” or “The Holy Communion.”  However, every time we eat of the bread that symbolizes his body, which was broken for our sake and we drink of the cup that symbolizes his blood, which was shed for our sake, we are retelling the message of the Lord’s death that he has died for us.  If you be unworthy and participate in this practice, then you are guilty of telling a lie and you will come under judgment because you are not in communion with and are not a part of the body of born-again believers.  This is why it is so important for you to carefully examine yourself, to make sure that you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and savior.  So, every time we eat of the bread and we drink of the cup, we do so in remembrance of him, our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ.

As you read to today’s inspirational message, 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.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

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: Are You Psalm 91 Equipped?

Are you Psalm 91 equipped?  Have you made your declaration today?  The Bible says that when you decree or declare a thing it shall be established, or it shall come to pass (Job 22:28).  When you decree or declare a thing, expect to see it, expect it to come to pass.  So, let us decree this thing, let us declare Psalm 91 in the mighty name of Jesus and watch it come to pass.  Hallelujah, Glory to God.

• I declare that I will dwell in the shelter of the Most High God.
  
  
• I declare that I will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
  
  
• I declare that God is my refuge and my fortress.
  
  
• I declare that you are my God, in whom I trust and with great confidence, in whom I will rely.
  
  
• I declare that God will rescue me from every trap and protect me from every disease.
  
  
• I declare that I am covered and protected by his outstretched arms.
  
  
• I declare that God’s faithful promises are my armor and my protection.
  
  
• I declare that I will not be afraid of the terrors of night, nor of the arrows that fly in the day.
  
  
• I declare that I will not dread any disease that stalks in the darkness, nor any disaster that strikes at midday.
  
  
• I declare that because God is my refuge and the Almighty God of my home, no evil can befall me, and no plague can come near my dwelling.
  
  
• I declare that God has ordered his angels to guard, to defend, and to protect me and my house.
  
  
• I declare that God’s armies of heaven will keep me from falling.  I will walk unharmed and kick anything that is evil from my path.
  
  
• I declare that because of God’s love for me that I will call upon him, he will set me above all my troubles, he will deliver me from all my fears, and he will honor me with his presence and power.
  
  
• I declare that he will reward me with long life, and he will show me his salvation.
  
  
• Hallelujah, I am Psalm 91 equipped, in Jesus’ mighty name.  Amen.
  

We thank Brother Creflo Dollar for this Psalm 91 Confession.  We pray that this inspirational message will abundantly bless you and greatly inform you.  We also pray that you will be the better for having read it.  If you are blessed by today’s message, please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: Sin Is Deadly

“For the wages of sin is death …” (Romans 6:23).

Most believers are very familiar with this passage of scripture, but few have given any deep thought to what this passage is actually telling us.  Just as you expect to receive “compensation or a wage” for working in any job, be it full-time or part-time, you should expect to receive “compensation or a wage” for working or living in sin, be it full-time or part-time.  While the “compensation or wage” for employment is usually some type of monetary benefit, the compensation or wage for sin is “death.”  Therefore, this passage is really saying to us that “the wages, the salary, the pay, the income, the take-home pay” of sin, no matter that amount of sin, is “death.”  Imagine that, working in sin, playing in sin, living in sin, or just existing in sin pays a benefit, which according to scripture is death.

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

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

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

Traditionally, sin has been defined as “a violation of divine law.”  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.  Then there is “the sin of omission,” where an individual fails to do what is required of him or her.  The problem with engaging in sin is that sin will take you where you don't what to go, will keep you longer than you want to stay, and will cost you more than you want to pay.  Nevertheless, know this, you may have the ability to choose the sin, the one thing that you do not get to do and cannot do is to choose is the consequences of sin.  Though a sinful act does not end in death each and every time, death is one of the possible outcomes each and every time a sinful act is committed.  Sin is deadly, so keep in mind that “the wages, the salary, the pay, the income, the take-home pay” for working or living in sin, be it full-time or be it part-time, is “death.”

We pray that this inspirational message will give you a new perspective on what “the wages of sin” actually refers to.  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: Don’t Talk Too Much

Most people do not believe that we choose what happens to us.  Regardless of how things appear in the world, the truth of the matter is that the words we speak play an important role in what happens in our life.  The Bible tells us that “death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21), which suggests that with one’s mouth an individual can speak death into his or her life or the same individual can speak life into his or her life.  We know that the words that we speak are like seeds that are planted in the ground and it is from those seeds, we reap the blessings or the cursings from that which we have sown (Galatians 6:7-8).  This is why the words that we speak are so important; they really do control the things that happen to us.  It is like “the entire system of blessings and cursings” hinges upon the very words we speak.

“We can make a large horse turn around and go wherever we want by means of a small bit in his mouth.  And a tiny rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot wants it to go, even though the winds are strong.  So also the tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do.  A great forest can be set on fire by one tiny spark.  And the tongue is a flame of fire.  It is full of wickedness, and poisons every part of the body.  And the tongue is set on fire by hell itself and can turn our whole lives into a blazing flame of destruction and disaster.  Men have trained, or can train, every kind of animal or bird that lives and every kind of reptile and fish, but no human being can tame the tongue.  It is always ready to pour out its deadly poison” (James 3:3-8 TLB).

We have learned to control and tame all kinds of animals, including birds, reptiles, sea creatures, and all sorts of land animals, but we have yet learned to control and tame our tongue.  We have yet to learn that it, our tongue, is a source of great evil and deadly poisons.  With our tongue, we praise Father God and with the same tongue, we curse our fellow man who was created in image and after the likeness of God.  Yes, blessings and cursings come from the same tongue, out of the same mouth, but this is not the way things should be (James 3:9-10).

“But I tell you, on the day of judgment men will have to give account for every idle (inoperative, nonworking) word they speak.  For by your words you will be justified and acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned and sentenced” (Matthew 12:36-37 AMP).  “He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from troubles” (Proverbs 21:23 AMP).  “If you want a happy, good life, keep control of your tongue, and guard your lips from telling lies” (I Peter 3:10 TLB).  “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).  “Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips” (Ecclesiastes 10:12 NIV).  “You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good?  For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of (Matthew 12:34 NIV).  “...the tongue of the wise is health” (Proverbs 12:18).

If on the “Day of Judgment,” we must give an account for every idle word that we speak, then just this fact should tell us just how important the words that we speak are.  The passage goes on to say how we will either be justified by or be condemned by the very words that we speak.  We are told to guard our tongue and keep our mouth shut so that we can stay out of trouble.  If we want a happy, good life, then we must learn to control our tongues, guard our lips, and not talk so much.  We must get rid of things like anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips (Colossians 3:8).  We must do all that we can do to bring about peace, harmony, and mutual edification of one another (Romans 14:19).  Our conversations should always “be full of grace and seasoned with salt” so that we are never at a lost for the proper words when we are called to answer.  Remember, that which comes out of our mouth tells the world where our heart really is and what is truly in it.  We need to watch our tongue and keep our mouths shut so that we stay out of trouble.  “The words you speak become the house you live in” (Hafiz).  With that being said, be careful with your words; they really do control the things that happen to you.

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

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: Actively Receive

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).  “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things” (Romans 8:32)?

Just about everyone is familiar with or has heard of John 3:16.  It says that God so love the world that he gave his only begotten to save us.  And even though God so loved the world, the “everlasting life” spoken of here is “conditional,” which means that in order for us to receive this “everlasting life,” we have to do something.  Receiving this “everlasting life” is contingent upon us “believing in his only begotten son.”  According to this passage, if we “just believe in this only begotten son,” then we will not perish but will receive this “everlasting life.”  Though it appears that God has freely given us all of these things, nothing in the verses suggest that receiving this “everlasting life” is automatic, but conditional.

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (II Peter 3:9).

While God is extremely patient with us, not wanting or desiring that anyone of us to perish, he has once again made our salvation “conditional,” meaning the in order for us to receive this “salvation,” we again have to do something.  Receiving this “salvation” is contingent upon us “coming to repentance.”

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12).

Everyone is given the power to become a son or daughter of God, but again becoming “a child of God” is conditional.  Everyone who “receives his only begotten son” and who “believes on his name” is freely given or receives the right to become a child of the Almighty God.  This means that unless the conditions set forth by God are met, then “no one receives that power to become a child of God.”  You see, everyone is “a creation of God,” but not everyone is “a child of God.”  In order “to receive” what God has freely given us all, which includes “salvation, everlasting life, and the power to become a child of God,” we each have “to actively” meet the conditions that God has set.  Make the choice to “actively receive” all the God has to offer and all that he has freely given because nothing is automatic; everything is conditional, conditional upon you doing something.

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: Light and Easy

As a child of God, you have the right to good health, wealth, and total life prosperity.  You have a divine inheritance to the best in life, deserving all the Father has to offer.  Jesus tells us that he come that we might have life and have that life more abundantly (John 10:10).  Jesus 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.

There were many things lost that Jesus saved, but one of the more important things was the authority (dominion) (Matthew 28:18) that the first man had lost (Luke 4:6), in the garden when he ate of the fruit (Genesis 3:6-7).  This is how the devil became known as “the god of this world” (II Corinthians 4:4) or “the prince of this world” (John 12:31).  And while you may have the right to good health, wealth, and total life prosperity there be a thief, an adversary if you will, that is come to kill your good health, steal your wealth, and to destroy your total life prosperity (John 10:10).  He walks about like a roaring lion, seeking those that he may devour (I Peter 5:8).

In getting back this authority (dominion), Jesus also gave mankind the ability to cast out devils and to lay hands on and heal the sick (Mark 16:17-20), along with several other things.  Jesus, who redeemed us from the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13), also gave man 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).  As a child of God, man now has the right to the inheritance of the new covenant, a better covenant, built with better promises (Hebrews 8:6-13), the right to a divine inheritance to the best in life, deserving all the Father has to offer (Romans 8:14-17), which includes the right to good health, wealth, and total life prosperity (III John 1:2).

Jesus tells us that we will have trials and sorrow, but we are to be of good cheer because he has overcome the world (John 16:33).  And because we belong to God, we have already won our fight against those who are against Christ.  We have something within us that is much stronger than anything we can face in this world, “for greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (I John 4:4).  Jesus says, “Come to me and I will give you rest—all of you who work so hard beneath a heavy yoke.  Wear my yoke—for it fits perfectly—and let me teach you; for I am gentle and humble, and you shall find rest for your souls; for I give you only light burdens” (Matthew 11:28-30 TLB).  If you are have a hard time in this life, this is not the way life was meant to be.  Jesus has provided everything you need to make this journey “light and easy” but you have to come to him in order for him to help you.  And as he helps you, he will give you rest.

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

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: Fight The Good Fight Of Faith

One of the biggest enemy’s in “fighting the good fight of faith” is what is called “sense-knowledge.”  “Sense-knowledge” is the kind of knowledge that is based on physical evidence.  This enemy forces us to concentrate only on those things that can be perceived by our five senses.  We only believe those things that we can see, taste, smell, hear, or touch.  “Sense-knowledge” requires us to rely upon physical evidence as the motivator for our belief system, which in turn drives our faith in God.  By allowing this enemy to grow within us, we in turn, place our trust only in “the witness of the senses or what the senses are telling us.”  But is this the kind of faith that God requires of us?

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).

We know from scripture that faith actually provides substance or assurance and then evidence.  There is not a lot of difference between assurance and evidence other than the qualifiers for each of them, which involves hope and realities that are unseen, respectively.  Everything in our life that we have learned has come through our five senses or through “sense-knowledge.”  However, “the God kind of faith” is not at all perceived by the senses.  Faith is actually the evidence of the thing hoped for, the evidence that the thing exists but it is not the thing itself.  Faith is the substance or the tangibility of hope.  While hope cannot change your circumstances, it can change your attitude about the circumstances.  Hope is a goal setter and faith is the way to achieve the goal.  You see, we do not need evidence to believe in something that we can physically see, taste, smell, hear, or touch.  The thing itself provides the evidence of the thing’s existence.  Faith is the evidence that something does exists regardless of the witness of the senses or what the senses are telling us.  Again, “the God kind of faith” is not perceived by any of the senses.

“For we walk by faith, not by sight” (II Corinthians 5:7).  “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal” (II Corinthians 4:18).

In order to walk by faith, we must leave the world of the senses.  As we walk by faith, we leave behind what our senses are telling us and completely trust God.  This is key component to “the God kind of faith,” completely trusting in him.  When we take up this walking by faith, our mind is not focused on the things that can be seen.  Our mind is not focused on the troubles around us.  The things that are seen or perceived by our senses are temporary in nature and can only be seen for a time.  When we walk by faith, our mind should be focused on those things that cannot be seen, for the things that are not seen or perceived by our senses are eternal and everlasting.  Some people will disagree with this assessment because their faith is based one hundred percent on their “sense-knowledge” or what some would call “head faith.”  Again, this type of faith requires one to rely upon physical evidence as the motivator for his or her belief system, which in turn drives his or her faith in God.  When we walk by faith, we are not walking by our senses when it comes to the things of God.  This is the kind of faith that God requires of us, this is that “God kind of faith.”

“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).

In all of this, we see that faith contingent upon “sense-knowledge” or “head faith” has several limitations and can become a hindrance to our faith.  Focusing our mind on only those things that we can see, taste, smell, hear, or touch or physical evidence will limit or hinder our faith and is just another one of the many enemies to our faith that we need to overcome in our efforts to “fight the good fight of faith.”

Today’s inspirational message just might give you a new perspective on what it means to “fight the good fight of faith.”  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: Have A Happy Life

“The good life is the healthful life, the merry life.  Life is health, joy, laughter” (Jean Bodlin).

Everyone wants to have a good life, a life that is healthful and merry.  Is it possible to have a happy life?  What must we do to have a good life?

“The thief cometh not (except), but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10: 10).  “Beloved, I wish above all things (I pray in all things) that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth” (III John 1:2).  “For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:  let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it” (I Peter 3:10-11).  “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof” (Proverbs 18:21).  “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).  “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).

Jesus came so that we might have life, and in having this life, we might have it in greater measure and more abundantly.  A life where above all things, all is well, we prosper and are in good health just as our soul prospers because of the word of God.  Yes, this is true.  However, if we want to be happy and have a good life, we must be very careful of what we say.  We must learn to control our tongue.  We know that death and life are in the power of your tongue; therefore, we must learn to use it, that being our tongue, wisely.  We must guard our lips from telling lies, turn away from evil, do what is good, and above all, live in peace.<

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 not 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.  We must immerse ourselves in his word; we must hunt for, look for, and seek the answers that he has provided us through his instruction manual.  In all of this, we must open our mind, open our heart, and seek the wisdom of God that we may see the truth; the truth that he has been trying to reveal to us for many years.  Just maybe, these are the only words that we should allow our tongues to speak.

In all that we do, we must trust in the Lord with all our heart, putting God first, and then, he will make straight our way and crown our efforts with success.  We are to turn from evil and be not proud of your own wisdom, but instead, trust and reverence the wisdom of the Lord and as we do, this will be health to our body and strength to our bones.  We are to rely on the word of God 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).  This type of life is a godly life, a healthful life, and merry life, and truly is a more abundant life.

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 Wait For Tomorrow

One of the biggest misconceptions in the world is the belief that “there is plenty of time for someone to get right with God.”  So most people put it off and put it off and put it off until, in many cases, “it is too late.”  Part of the reason so many put off this “act of getting right with God” is because they love the darkness more than they love the light.  People enjoy living in their darkness, living in their sins, doing the lustful things that they are doing more than they want to come to the light.

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.  God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.  There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him.  But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.  And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil.  All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed.  But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants” (John 3:16-21 NLT).

God loved us so much that he sent forth his son to save anyone who would leave the darkness and come to the light.  Because there is this kind of “euphoric high” associated with the darkness, many continue trying to satisfy their sinful flesh nature much like an addict seeking to satisfy that “relentless itch.”  The “itch” that we speak of here is that desire to obtain the “same level of sinful pleasure” or in the case of the addict, the “same level of intoxication” from their first experience with the darkness.  They stay in the darkness, sinking further and further into the abyss, seeking to obtain the unobtainable.  But there is a price associated with being in the darkness.

“For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).

Here is the interesting thing about being in the darkness, you can choose to stay in the darkness, living in the pleasures associated with being there, but you cannot choose the consequences.  The consequence, the payment, and/or the wage that is earned for playing in the darkness is “death.”

“But what does it say?  “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.  For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame” (Romans 10:8-11 ESV).

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you can be freed from the allure and the addiction of the darkness.  You need only “speak the word and believe” in order to come to the light.

“I am the door.  If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.  The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.  I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.  I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:9-11 ESV).  “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12 ESV).  “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).

Jesus is the way.  Jesus is the truth.  Jesus is the life.  Jesus is the door, the way to leave the darkness.  So, before you take your last, make that confession unto salvation and come to the light.  If you continue to wait, if you continue to wait for tomorrow, it could be too late.  Do not wait for tomorrow.

May our inspirational message abundantly bless you and greatly inform you.  We pray 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