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: God Cares

If it is true that God cares, then why doesn’t he do something to show us he cares?  If it is true that God cares, then why doesn’t he do something about all the wrong that is in the world?  If it is true that God cares, then why does he sit silently by and allow bad things to happen?  Is this what a caring God does?  The truth of the matter is that God really does care and has done all that he can do to take care of the problems that so many face.  When God first created man, he created man to have dominion over all of his creation (Genesis 1:26-28).

“What is man, that thou art mindful of him?  and the son of man, that thou visitest (pay attention to or care for) 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 8:4-8).

If God does not care, then why is he so mindful of man?  If God does not care, then why does he bother with us puny humans?  God does care and that is why he pays so much attention to or care for us so.  God does care and that is why God continues to visit with us.  God created us a little lower than himself, “in his image and after his likeness” (Genesis 1:26), and placed a crown of glory and honor upon our head.  God created us to have dominion and charge over everything he created and he has placed all things under our feet.  Does any of this sound as if or like God doesn’t care?  So many struggle with poverty, sickness, and death because they lack the knowledge.  So many battle depression, fear, discouragement, low self-esteem, worry, anxiety, confusion, and doubt because they lack the knowledge.  So many are praying and waiting on some divine intervention to resolve their problems for them.  They do not know that we have already been given power or authority over all of these things.

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

Jesus came “to seek and save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10) and part of what Jesus saved was the authority or dominion over God’s creation (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).  In getting back this authority or dominion, Jesus also gave mankind the ability to cast out devils and to lay hands on and heal the sick, along with several other things.  People do not know that we must take that power or authority and resolve our problems ourselves.  This is something that each one of us has to do for ourselves.  God has given us everything that we need to do this.  God is not going to do this for us; we have to do it.

This is what God was telling Paul, when Paul asked that the thorn in his flesh, which he said was “a messenger from Satan to hurt and bother me and prick my pride” (II Corinthians 12:7 TLB), be removed.  Paul had the favor or support of God.  If anyone was deserving of God’s protection or having a hedge around him that would have been Paul.  So, why did God not do as Paul had requested and remove the thorn that he had been given?  God responded to Paul’s prayer request saying, “My grace is sufficient for thee:  for my strength is made perfect in weakness” (II Corinthians 12:9).  Many see this as the actions of a God who doesn’t care, but this is so far from the truth and is not the case with Paul’s thorn in the flesh.  When Paul asked God three times for help, God basically told him that his grace, what he, God had already done, was sufficient.  Paul, like all of us had already been given the power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, so there was nothing else God could do for him and that why his grace, his favor was sufficient.  God has done all that he can do and made every provision for us to deal with any problem that we could face.  It is now up to us to do our part.  We pray that you can see that God really does care for us.

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

Enjoy your blessings - KW 

Devotion: Faith Is Released Through Words

Not long ago, we talked about the most powerful system in the world and we mentioned that we had been given “the power” to control and “the authority” to command this very system.  We even mentioned how important the words that we spoke were to this powerful system because they are the keys that control this system.  We mentioned that we have the ability to choose between life and death through the words that we speak.  In this system, we find that our blessings and cursings are completely based on and controlled by what we say.

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof” (Proverbs 18:21).

We found that our very salvation hinges upon words that we speak or confess not to forgo the required believing on one’s heart.

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9-10).

We found that Jesus told his disciples that if they believed that those things they spoke would come to pass and not doubt in their hearts, then whatsoever they spoke would actually come to pass.

“And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.  For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.  Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them” (Mark 11:22-24).

Before Jesus spoke of being able to say to a mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea, he had, the day before spoke to a fig tree, saying, “Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever” (Matthew 21: 19).  And when the disciple saw this tree dried up the next day, they inquired of the tree.

“Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.  And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive” (Matthew 21:21-22).

In both of the above accounts of the fig tree story, we see Jesus talking about faith.  In “Mark 11,” we see Jesus telling the disciples to “Have faith in God.”  In “Matthew 21,” Jesus tells the disciples, “Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree.”  Jesus is telling them that if they have faith and do not doubt, then they would be able to speak to a fig tree and not only get the same results, but they could speak to a mountain and tell the mountain to “Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.

God has created a system that is controlled by the very words that we speak.  Put this thought together with the fact that God has place our eternal salvation in the control of the very words that we speak as well.  And God has made it possible that we can control the life of a fig tree or control the placement of a mountain through the very words that we speak is incredible.  And all we need is just a little faith.

“…for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you” (Matthew 17:20).

Words are important.  Words combined with faith as a grain of mustard seed, “nothing shall be impossible unto you.”  We again give thanks to God for this avenue that he has given us to share his word through today’s 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: Words Are Spiritual Weapons

Can you imagine the most powerful system in the world?  What did you imagine it to be?  Was your first thought a governmental type system?  Or, was that first thought a military type system?  Perhaps your first thought was some type of financial system.  Regardless of the system that first came to mind, there is one system more powerful than all of them combined.

Now imagine that you have been given “the power” to control just such a system.  Yes, that’s right!  Imagine that you have been given “the authority” to command this system.  What would you do with such a system?  How would you use such a system?  Do you think you could be trusted with such power, with such authority?  Would you want to be in control of such a system?  Well, there is a system in existence that has been ordered not to do anything until something is said.  This same system has been ordered not to do anything until some type of announcement is made.  And here is the beauty of it all; you have been given “the power” to control and “the authority” to command this very system.

The Bible tells us that death and life are in “the power of the tongue,” 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.  Imagine the words that you speak being like the seeds that the farmer sows into his fields.  And like the farmer, the words that you speak will produce a crop much like the one that is produced from the seeds that he plants in his fields.  Whatever a person plants will be what that person reaps (Galatians 6:7).  If you plant death, then death is what you will reap, in its full measure.  And if you plant life, then life will be what you reap, in its full measure.  The words that you speak are like seeds that are planted in the ground.  And from those seeds, you will reap that for which you have sown, be it good or be it bad.

The words that you speak are so important; they really do control the things that happen to you.  Many have died because they have said the wrong things.  God has set before us life and death, blessing and cursing and has told us to choose life, but few know how the choices are made.  We make the choices with the words that we speak, for “death and life rest in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:22).

“For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.  Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them” (Mark 11:23-24 KJV).

Jesus tells the disciples, if they believe the things that they speak will come to pass and not doubt in their hearts, which is an absolute truth, then it can be said to the mountain, rise up and be removed, and that command will be obeyed.  Therefore, according to this passage, whatsoever we “say,” “believing” that those things which we “say” will come to pass and not doubting it in our heart, then we will have whatsoever we “say.”  Even salvation requires us to “speak” with our mouth.

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9-10 KJV).

According to this passage, if we “confess (speak)” with our mouth and “believe” in our heart, then we will be saved, for it is by believing in our heart that we become right with God and it is by “speaking” with our mouth that we tell others of our faith, thereby confirming our salvation (confession is made unto salvation).  Imagine that, the most powerful system in the entire world and you have been given “the power” to control and “the authority” to command this very system with the words that you speak.  How awesome is that.  But know this, with everything in this life, there are certain rules, certain conditions, and certain regulations that apply to this “power” and “authority” that we have been given.  To be continued…

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

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: Resist The Devil By Faith

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

“And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him” (Revelation 12:9).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: You Can Live In The Kingdom Of Love

Scripture tells us, “God is love.”

“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.  He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love” (I John 4:7-8).

The passage tells us “to love one another, for every one that loves is born of God and knows God.”  But what does this “to love one another” thing mean exactly?  Does it mean that we are to be loving and kind to everyone, without exception?  What does this “love which is of God” mean?  This same verse also tells us “if a person loves not, then he does not know God,” because “God is love.”  Does not having this “love which is of God” mean that we are not born of God and/or that we do not know God?  The answer to these questions can be found in defining this “love, which is of God.”

“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.  Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.  Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another” (I John 4:9-11).

According to this passage, God showed just how much he loved us by sending his only begotten son into this evil, wicked, and unjust world “to be the propitiation for our sins” so that through him we might have life, everlasting life.  “The son” is the one who sacrificed himself on the cross to atone for our sins; not just those who are now children of God, but for the sins of the whole entire world (I John 2:2).  This is a little different than how the world shows love.  As we previously defined, worldly love attempts to mimic true love, often calling for “tolerance in the name of love,” while incorporating all kinds of sinful and destructive behaviors that moves in opposition to the love expressed by God and by “the son.”  But God, in his wisdom, opened the eyes of those who accepted the call to salvation to know that “the son” is the mighty power of God that saved them and “the son” himself is the center of God’s plan for their salvation (I Corinthians 1:24).

“If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?  And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also” (I John 4:20-21).

We believe that this “love, which is of God,” is a “saving kind of love,” and not “tolerance in the name of love” kind.  This “saving kind of love” involves the message of the cross, which “is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God” (I Corinthians 1:18).  It is this “saving kind of love” that we ought to have for our brothers and show to them because we believe God when he tells us that he loves us and has saved us from the penalty of sin.  It is this “saving kind of love” that grows perfect and more complete because we live with “the son,” who we know is the mighty power of God and the center of God’s plan for salvation.  It is this “saving kind of love” that in the day of judgment, we can face God with confidence and joy, not shame and embarrassment, knowing that we have truly showed loved the way as God and “the son” did when they gave to save the world from the penalty of sin.

This is the “love, which is of God,” that we are to have for one another.  This is the “love” that is born of God; that is born of truth; that is born of righteousness; that is the “saving kind of love” that allows God to live within us and allows us to live in God.  This has the “love” that this evil, wicked, and unjust world needs, a “saving kind of love.”  Therefore, let us love one another, for he that is born of God and he that knows God already has this “love, which is of God” living within.  Our love for God and our love for our brother come as a result of God actually loving us first, showing us what we should do.

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

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: Eternal Life

There is a phrase that was coined to define a so-called believer who confesses and believes in Christ Jesus, but lives a lifestyle that does not appear to glorify God while claiming the forgiveness and acceptance of God.  Some know this phrase as “the carnal Christian.”  But before any of you get on that high horse and start labeling people, we need to determine if this phrase is biblical or something that man created.  According to the dictionary, the word “carnal” is defined as “relating to the physical needs or strong desires of the body or the flesh in contrast to all that is spiritual.”

“For we are conscious that the law is of the spirit; but I am of the flesh, given into the power of sin.  And I have no clear knowledge of what I am doing, for that which I have a mind to do, I do not, but what I have hate for, that I do.  But, if I do that which I have no mind to do, I am in agreement with the law that the law is good.  So it is no longer I who do it, but the sin living in me.  For I am conscious that in me, that is, in my flesh, there is nothing good: I have the mind but not the power to do what is right.  For the good which I have a mind to do, I do not: but the evil which I have no mind to do, that I do.  But if I do what I have no mind to do, it is no longer I who do it, but the sin living in me.  So I see a law that, though I have a mind to do good, evil is present in me.  In my heart I take pleasure in the law of God, but I see another law in my body, working against the law of my mind, and making me the servant of the law of sin which is in my flesh.  How unhappy am I! who will make me free from the body of this death?  I give praise to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.  So with my mind I am a servant to the law of God, but with my flesh to the law of sin” (Romans 7:14-25 – BBE).

Here we have biblical evidence supporting the “carnal” part of our phrase “carnal Christian,” but can this be applied biblically to the definition of a Christian?  According to the dictionary, the word “Christian” is defined as “a person who believes in Jesus Christ as his or her savior.”

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9-10).

Here we have biblical evidence supporting the “Christian” part of our phrase “carnal Christian.”  We trust that from these passages you can see that “a person who believes in Jesus Christ as his or her savior but is dominated by the physical needs or the strong desires of the body or the flesh in contrast to all that is spiritual” is by definition, “a carnal Christian.”  And yes, we have a little experience in this area.  You see, we have been that “carnal Christian.”  We accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, were baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and believed it or not, we were sanctified or at least that was what we were told.  We regularly attended church, was very active with our membership, and we were well versed in the Scriptures or at least we thought we were.  We believed that we were saved and considered to be righteous, and we were taught that nothing could take our salvation from us.  And if we failed, all we had to do was to get down on our knees, ask to be forgiven, and we would be forgiven.  But it was the following verse that gave us revelation into the destructive nature of the carnal Christian lifestyle, or so we thought.

“For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:5-8).

What we did not realize was those who allowed themselves to be controlled by the things of the flesh lived only to please themselves, which in itself leads to death.  We did not fully understand that our carnal Christian lifestyle actually did not and never could obey or please God because our “carnal mindedness was enmity against God,” bent on only following our earthly thinking and our evil flesh nature.  But thank God for his grace and mercy and for revealing the truth to us.  We found that being spiritually minded, making the effort to follow after the Spirit actually led to us being controlled by the things of the Spirit.  But more important was the revelation that when we were led and controlled by the Spirit, we wanted to live our life doing those things that were pleasing to God, which in itself leads to life and peace everlasting.  So, here is the biggest revelation from God.  That “Carnal Christian” definition mentioned above is actually the man-made definition of the term and not the biblical definition of it.  But that’s a story for another time.

We pray that our inspirational message will give you a slightly different perspective on obtaining life and peace everlasting.  We pray you will be blessed, informed, and all the better for having read this.  If blessed by this message, please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: Harvest Is Coming

Most of you are familiar with the principle of “seedtime and harvest.”  You know that principle which God established that says, “For whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Galatians 6:7).  With this principle, the words that we speak can produce a crop much like that of the farmer who planted seeds in a field and it is from this crop that we reap a harvest, be it good or be it bad.  The same applies to the things that we do, where our actions are also like seeds, producing a crop from which we reap a harvest, be it good or be it bad as well.  It is important to note that the crops we produce can be “good or bad,” depending on what we have sown.

Basically, we continually have a harvest ready to come in, always based on the things that we say and/or the things that we do.  While these crops can be good or they can be bad, it is amazing how quickly we will distance ourselves from “a bad crop,” even though we are the ones responsible.  We are the ones that planted them, but we are quick to blame others and/or even blame God for the bad crops that appear in our lives from time to time.  There is a harvest coming and it will come from the seeds that you have planted either by your words or by your actions in the past few days, weeks, months, or even years.  The question for you is “What kind of harvest will it be?”

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

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: God Is Dependable

Recently we spoke about the sovereignty of God and how God’s capabilities and abilities are mistakenly confused with the characteristics that makes God who he is.  We mentioned that the capabilities and the abilities of God speak to his sovereignty and that God is the supreme authority, an omnipotent or all-powerful entity, who operates totally independent of any part of his creation.  We also mentioned that there is absolutely nothing that God does not have the capability or ability to do, and that just because God “can do” a particular thing, does not mean that God actually “does” that particular thing.

We went on to mention that God has the capability to be unfair, immoral, unrighteous, and to do evil and bad things; the ability to change anything that he chooses to change, especially his mind, if he chooses to change it; and the ability to lie as well, if he wants or chooses to.  We then mentioned that God has chosen not to make these characteristics part of the distinctive qualities that makes him who he is, choosing to have absolutely no injustice, immorality, unrighteousness, or wrong doings with him.  All of these things speak to the very nature or character of the God we serve and what he wants man to know about him.

Can you imagine serving a god that is unfair, immoral, unrighteous, and does evil or bad things?  What about serving a god who had respect of person or whose favor could be brought for a price?  How about serving a god who constantly changes his mind or one whose mind could be changed at all?  And while we cannot speak for any of you, we can answer each of these questions with a great big “YES.”  Yes, we can imagine serving a god such as this because once upon a time we served a so-called god just like that.  Yes, we are speaking of the one called “the god of this world” (II Corinthians 4:4) or “the prince of this world” (John 12:31).  However, after discovering the truth, we are truly thankful that these are not the characteristics of the sovereign, omnipotent God of all creation that we now serve, who has chosen not to make these characteristics part of the distinctive qualities that makes him who he is.  If you think about it, it would be extremely hard to please a god who changed things all the time, especially one who changed his mind, much less trusting one who was unfair, immoral, unrighteous, and did evil or bad things.

If we had to sum up God’s character or nature in one word, “integrity” would definitely be at the forefront.  “Integrity” is defined as “the quality of possessing and steadfastly adhering to high moral principles or professional standards; uncompromising adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty; or the state of being complete or undivided.”  Integrity is definitely the one word we would choose to sum up the very character or nature of the God we serve.  God tells us that he is God and that “there is none else besides him,” (Deuteronomy 4:35) for there is no one else like him.  God tells us that “he is God in heaven above and upon the earth beneath,” for there is no other god than him (Deuteronomy 4:39).  God has chosen to be “the One of integrity” as a way to set himself apart from all other gods that man could claim to serve (Exodus 20:3), that way, his children would recognize him over all others.

As you read today’s inspirational message, we pray that you will be inspired as well as understand why “God is dependable;” it is one of those characteristics, that distinctive quality that makes God who he is.  As always, 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: Words Steer Your 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.  Did you know that the words that you speak will produce a crop much like that of the farmer who plants a field?  If you plant death, then death is what you will reap, in its full measure.  And if you plant life, then life will be what you reap, in its full measure.  If you plant sickness, then sickness will be what you will reap or if you plant health or healing, then health or healing will be what you will reap, all in their full measure.  The words that we speak are like seeds that are planted in the ground.  And from those seeds, we reap that for which we have sown.  This is why the words that we speak are so important; they really do control the things that happen to us.

Most people do not believe that we choose what happens to us.  And regardless of how things appear in the world, the truth of the matter is that we do choose what happens in our life through the words that we speak.  We know some of you will find this notion of words controlling what happens to us hard to accept and unfortunately, we do not have enough room to fully cover the topic here but consider this.  If it be possible “for you to be saved by a confession of your mouth” (Romans 10:9-10) not to forgo the believing in the heart part, then do you think it be possible “for you to be condemn by a confession of your mouth as well,” provided the belief in the heart is there?  And we know that people don’t believe that such a negative belief exist in their heart, but according to scripture, “of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45).  So, whether it be good or bad treasures that are stored in your heart, what is stored there will eventually come out through your mouth.  And when it comes out, it will bring forth that which is good or that which is evil.

Many are not aware that God has built a system that works based on what a person says, which is an interesting thought in itself.  However, more interesting is the power that our tongue has (James 3) in this system.

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

Scripture tells us that we have been ensnared by the words the come out of your mouth.  In simpler terms, we have been trapped by what we say.  And you still think what you say is not important.  There is more scriptural evidence that bear witness to a system that hinges on what you say, be it saying something good or be it saying something bad.  But we do want you to know two things; death and life are truly in the power of a person’s tongue and “words steer your life.”  So give care to the words that you speak, they do more than you think.  Amen.

If this message is a blessing to you, please share it so that others may be blessed by it as well.  Blessings.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

It Is All In The Tense – Post 3

In life, there is but one divided highway, with two directions on which you can travel.  One direction is on the path where you choose to listen to the voice of the Lord and do all that he has commanded.  For simplicity sakes, let us call this direction north.  The other direction is on the path where one chooses not to listen to the voice of the Lord and not do all that he has commanded.  Let us call this direction south.  Along this divided highway, there be many median crossings that allow you to change directions any time you choose.

Now to understand the concept of something coming upon you and overtaking you, image yourself traveling north on this highway.  You look in the rear-view mirror and see this tractor-trailer coming up the highway.  As you drive further up the highway, you notice that this tractor-trailer has now come upon you and is about to overtake you.  As the tractor-trailer overtakes you, the rear doors of the trailer open up and all of these blessings begin to pour out upon you.  And as long as you drive on this road in this direction, these blessings will continue to pour out upon you.  You see the only way for this tractor-trailer, these blessings, to come upon you and overtake you is for you to be going in the same direction as it is going.  If you are going in the other direction, this particular tractor-trailer will never come upon you and overtake you.

Please understand that you can cut through the median and change directions any time that you choose.  This is totally up to you.  God allows you to make that decision, that choice.  But keep this in mind that once you start traveling south on this highway, the only tractor-trailer that can come upon you now is the one that that is traveling in that direction, which is the one that contains the curses and you know what happens when it overtakes you.  As long as you drive on this road in this direction, the curses will continue to pour out upon you.  The direction that you go will always be yours to choose and yours alone.  Now that you have this knowledge, we pray that you will choose your direction wisely.

It Is All In The Tense – Post 2

And while we have never been one to suggest or advocate changing anything that is written in the Bible, there are a few terms we want to introduce to you that just may change your mind, as it did ours when we discovered them.  However, we would like to caution you and give you fair warning that every word of God has been established as truth, therefore, do not add to or make any additions to his word, for you will be rebuked and found to be a liar (Proverbs 30:5-6).  And definitely do not take anything away from his word.

The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times (Psalm 12:16).

But here is the thing, if you be one who believes that the Bible is the inerrant word of God, then you may want to stop reading here.  What we are about to share with you will go against all that you believe the Bible to be and our intent is not to offend but to inform.  However, if you believe differently, then please continue.

The first thing you need to do is to determine what is the word of God.  Then, you will need to be able to tell the difference between the words of God and the words of others.  And by the words of others, we are referring to the original writers of The Scriptures.  We would also like to include all of the interpreters, all of the scholars, all of the translators, and anyone else, who has had a hand in putting together the words of old in the format that we use today called the Bible.  While the Bible says that all scripture is given by inspiration of God (II Timothy 3:16), it does not mean that every word in the Bible is that of God.  God inspired men to write all that is recorded but not every word recorded is that of God.  And while we believe that God would not allow his words to be misrepresented, this does not mean that the men who were given the task of interpreting and translating those inspired words did not interject, at times, some of their beliefs, some of the things that they were taught, or their own interpretations of what they were translating.  We believe this is why God tells us to study to show ourselves approve unto him, that we may righty divide the word of truth (II Timothy 2:15).  With that being said, let us move forward.

It Is All In The Tense – Post 1

There are many people who have been taught and lead to believe that God is responsible for all the tragedy in the world.  They believe he is responsible for the earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, tidal waves, volcanic eruptions, and all the other natural disasters that take place.  Most often in those situations where such disasters occur, you will quite often hear the phrase, an act of God associated with them.  In legal terms, the phrase, an act of God is defined as any extraordinary interruption caused solely by the effect of nature or natural causes that no one can reasonably foresee or prevent; it is a natural catastrophe caused without any interference by humans whatsoever.

Then there are those who believe God is 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 old teachings that God is responsible for the things that happen to us.  They also believe that God uses these things so that he can chasten his children.  They are convinced that there is some type of life lesson that God wants his children to learn through these experiences.