Devotion: We Be A Kingdom Worker

Once, we were asked why we chose to do what we do.  We wanted to share, just in case someone else had the same question.

“After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and (by) two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come (was about to go).  Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest.  Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.  Carry neither purse, nor scrip (bag), nor shoes (sandals): and salute (greet) no man by the way (along the road).  And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house.  And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again.  And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the laborer is worthy of his hire (wages).  Go not from house to house.  And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you:  and heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto (near to) you.  But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say, even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on (clings to) us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto (has come near) you” (Luke 10:1-11).

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: Be Heaven’s Ambassador

Do you know that you are “an ambassador?”  Most people do not realize that they themselves are in fact “ambassadors.”

According to the Merriam- Webster Dictionary, “an ambassador” is

“a diplomatic agent of the highest rank accredited to a foreign government or sovereign as the resident representative of his or her own government or sovereign or appointed for a special and often temporary diplomatic assignment.”

Basically, “an ambassador” is “an authorized representative or messenger.”

“Don’t you realize that you can choose your own master?  You can choose sin (with death) or else obedience (with acquittal).  The one to whom you offer yourself—he will take you and be your master, and you will be his slave” (Romans 6:16 TLB).

Non-believers believe that since they have not formally committed to following God and do not subscribe to any form of religious authority or religious belief system, they see their non-belief as being “independent free-moral agents,” not representing anyone or anything.  They believe they are working independently of any commitments or obligations to any supreme or governing entity but we see from this passage that this is not exactly the truth.  According to this scripture, the one to whom we choose to be our master is the one to whom we become a slave or “an ambassador.”  For the non-believer, because they have made the conscious choice not to serve God, have unknowingly chosen to become slaves to sin and are “ambassadors” to principalities, powers, and rulers of the darkness of this world, which includes the master puppeteer, Satan.  For the believer, because they have made the conscious choice to serve God and follow Christ, have  chosen to become slaves of righteousness and are its “ambassadors.”

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.  Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God” (II Corinthians 5:17-20 TLB).

Through what Christ did on the cross, God made peace and brought us back to himself.  And in doing this, God gave us “the ministry of reconciliation,” entrusting us with his message of reconciliation.  But this honor of preaching this news of peace belongs to those who are in Christ.  Those who are in Christ be a new creature, a new creation if you will.  Remember, it was through his death that Jesus took two groups (Jew and Gentile) and made them part of himself.  And in making them a part of himself, Jesus was able to fuse the two together into a new creation, into a new man.  It is this new creation, this new man that are “the ambassadors for Christ, his representatives.”  God uses this “new man” to urge others to come into his favor, to be at peace with him, and to be reconciled to him.

“We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain” (II Corinthians 6:1).  “For we are laborers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building” (I Corinthians 3:9).

We are God’s coworkers, workers together with God.  We are God’s partners, working side by side with God.  We are “the authorized representatives or messengers” of God.  We be “Heaven’s Ambassadors,” ambassadors for Christ, entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation, preaching the news of peace, urging others to come into God’s favor, to be at peace with him, and to be reconciled to God.  The question that you have to ask yourself is “Am I good ambassador or am I bad ambassador?”

We trust that today’s inspirational message will give you a new perspective on your role of being “Heaven’s Ambassador.”  We pray that this message will bless you, as well as inform you, and that you will be the better for having read it.  If you are blessed by this message, please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: Be A Minister

Most believers are familiar with “The Great Commission.”  These were a set of instructions given to the disciples by Jesus Christ.

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

Jesus gave these instructions shortly before he ascended to heaven to “sit at the right hand of the Father” (Acts 2:33-34).  These instructions basically told his disciples, which now includes all “those who have love one to another” (John 8:35) to go forth and to make disciples in all nations, teaching them “to observe all things whatsoever and to obey all the commands” that he, Jesus had given them.  Some of you do not feel that you are qualified and will not answer the call.  But if that be the case, then listen to these words of Paul.

“For Christ didn’t send me to baptize, but to preach the Gospel; and even my preaching sounds poor, for I do not fill my sermons with profound words and high-sounding ideas, for fear of diluting the mighty power there is in the simple message of the cross of Christ.  I know very well how foolish it sounds to those who are lost, when they hear that Jesus died to save them.  But we who are saved recognize this message as the very power of God.  For God says, ‘I will destroy all human plans of salvation no matter how wise they seem to be, and ignore the best ideas of men, even the most brilliant of them.’

So what about these wise men, these scholars, these brilliant debaters of this world’s great affairs?  God has made them all look foolish and shown their wisdom to be useless nonsense.  For God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never find God through human brilliance, and then he stepped in and saved all those who believed his message, which the world calls foolish and silly.  It seems foolish to the Jews because they want a sign from heaven as proof that what is preached is true; and it is foolish to the Gentiles because they believe only what agrees with their philosophy and seems wise to them.  So when we preach about Christ dying to save them, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense.  But God has opened the eyes of those called to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, to see that Christ is the mighty power of God to save them; Christ himself is the center of God’s wise plan for their salvation.  This so-called ‘foolish’ plan of God is far wiser than the wisest plan of the wisest man, and God in his weakness—Christ dying on the cross—is far stronger than any man.

Notice among yourselves, dear brothers, that few of you who follow Christ have big names or power or wealth.  Instead, God has deliberately chosen to use ideas the world considers foolish and of little worth in order to shame those people considered by the world as wise and great.  He has chosen a plan despised by the world, counted as nothing at all, and used it to bring down to nothing those the world considers great, so that no one anywhere can ever brag in the presence of God.  For it is from God alone that you have your life through Christ Jesus.  He showed us God’s plan of salvation; he was the one who made us acceptable to God; he made us pure and holy and gave himself to purchase our salvation.  As it says in the Scriptures, “If anyone is going to boast, let him boast only of what the Lord has done” (I Corinthians 1:17-31 TLB).

Regardless of what you think, whether you think yourself to be a minister or not, the truth of the matter is that your life is a ministry.  Understand and recognize that the most powerful sermon in existence is you.  Your sermon is not only what you say, but it is also about what you do.  People are always watching you, whether you know it or not.  They are looking to see if you are who or what you claim to be.  J. C. Ryle was once quoted as having said, “A Christian is a walking sermon.  They preach far more than a minister does.  For they preach all week long.”  Scripture tells us “We are Christ’s ambassadors” (II Corinthians 5:20).  God is using those of us who are willing to minister, to spread the gospel to those who are unbelievers.  It would appear that God does not call those who are most qualified, but he certainly does qualify those who answers his call.  So, we leave you with this question, “Is your ministry leading others to God or is it leading them astray?”  You be a minister, whether you know it or not.

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: What Is The Devil's Authority?

The devil’s infiltration into the Church may be a surprise to some, but it really should not be.  We know from scripture that even “Satan himself can masquerade around as an angel of light” (II Corinthians 11:14).  We also know from scripture that even “his ministers can be transformed into ministers of righteousness” (II Corinthians 11:15).  We know that the devil’s only purpose, since the beginning, has been “to deceive mankind” (John 8:44).  What better opportunity could the devil possibly have to deceive the masses than to alter the very thing so many believers use?  The devil’s craftiness and deceitful nature is first depicted during the fall of mankind (Genesis 3:1-13).  At that time, he was able to alter what God had said in the mind of Eve (II Corinthians 11:3), what makes you think he cannot do the same today?  We all have been taught that the devil knows the Bible, so not to consider this possibility may prove to be detrimental.  However, there are a few very important things that he is missing; “understanding for one.”

Yes, it be true that the devil does know the Bible.  How else could he perfectly misquote it?  If the devil’s misquotes did not sound so god-like, then no one would accept them or be fooled by them.  And boy, do we accept his misquotes; and are we so fooled by them.  Just look at the so-called Christian religion itself, for example.  We are supposed to be of “one body, one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God” (Ephesians 4:4-6), yet this is not the case.  We have been so divided over the years that once upon a time we killed each other over our differences.  Those same differences have created numerous denominations, where each one claims to have a direct line to God himself.  We claim to worship the same God, follow the same Jesus, and be touched by the same Holy Spirit, yet our beliefs are so different.  And while we tolerate each other, our pride does not allow us to come together as one.  The statement, “That’s not how we do things here” instantly blocks any attempts at unification.  But aren’t we supposed to be a body of like-minded people with one common purpose and one common goal?  Apparently, we missed that point.  Somewhere along the way, we allowed the devil to infiltrate the one body and divide it.  And he has used God-like words to do it; imagine that.

“And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?  And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.  And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.  And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.  No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil (plunder) his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house” (Mark 3:23-27).

Surprisingly, we may all be in the same body of water, the ocean of Christianity, but we are definitely not all in the same boat going in the same direction.  If our house, the so-called body of Christ is this divided, then it should be no surprise to anyone as to why we cannot stand together as one, against the devil and all of the evils in this world.  So how do we fix this problem?  How do we unify the body of Christ?

Scriptures tells us “he who ascended up on high, leading captivity captive, gave gifts to men” (Ephesians 4:8).  Scripture tells us he who ascended up on high gave these gifts to men for three specific reasons.  One of the reasons for the gifts was for “the edifying of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12).  The other reasons were for “the perfecting or equipping of the saints” and “for the work of the ministry.”  But it is the purpose for these gifts that we are most drawn to.  The purpose for the gifts is so that “we all come in unity or in agreement about the faith and about our knowledge of the son of God” (Ephesians 4:13).  And once we arrive in unity, then and only then “will we no longer be tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine” (Ephesians 4:14).  No longer will we change our minds about what we believe because someone has cleverly lied, making the lies sound like truth.  No longer will we be a house divided.  Instead, we will follow the truth because we will know the truth, “speaking truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15).  By then, we will all have become full-grown, mature men, to a point of “being full with Christ” (Ephesians 4:13).

It would stand to reason that until we unify this body of Christ, the devil and his minions will continue doing what they do best.  It would also make sense that until we unify this body of Christ, the body, as a whole, cannot be victorious.  As long as we allow the devil and minions to be a part of the body and keep it divided, we have little hope for unification.  So, seek the truth about the faith and about our knowledge of the son of God so that you be no longer tossed about by or with every wind of doctrine because someone has cleverly lied, making the lies sound like truth.  Stop allowing the devil to alter what God has said, which he has been doing since the first encounter with mankind.  Remember, the devil knows the Bible, probably better than we give him credit.

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: A Member Of The Body

Many believers have been taught we are supposed to “be of one body, one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God,” but is this truly the case?  Are the so-called believers truly “of one body?”  We, as so-called believers claim to worship the same God, follow the same Jesus, and be touched by the same Holy Spirit, yet our beliefs are so different.  And while we “politely tolerate” each other, our pride does not allow us to come together as one.  The statement, “That’s not how we do things here” instantly blocks any attempts at unification.  But aren’t we supposed to be a body of like-minded people with one common purpose and one common goal?  Apparently, we missed that memo and have missed the point as well.

Scripture records that Jesus, when he ascended upon high, he gave certain gifts to man. “Some of us have been given special ability as apostles; to others he has given the gift of being able to preach well; some have special ability in winning people to Christ, helping them to trust him as their Savior; still others have a gift for caring for God’s people as a shepherd does his sheep, leading and teaching them in the ways of God (Ephesians 4:11 TLB).

But it is the purpose of these gifts that we find most intriguing and what is to be accomplished by them.  “Why is it that he gives us these special abilities to do certain things best?  It is that God’s people will be equipped to do better work for him, building up the Church, the body of Christ, to a position of strength and maturity; until finally we all believe alike about our salvation and about our Savior, God’s Son, and all become full-grown in the Lord—yes, to the point of being filled full with Christ.  Then we will no longer be like children, forever changing our minds about what we believe because someone has told us something different or has cleverly lied to us and made the lie sound like the truth.  Instead, we will lovingly follow the truth at all times—speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly—and so become more and more in every way like Christ who is the Head of his body, the Church.  Under his direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly, and each part in its own special way helps the other parts, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love” (Ephesians 4:12-16 TLB).

So, if you be one who has been given a special ability or gift to do certain things by Christ, then you have but one job and it has been clearly spelled out; “the building up of the Church, which is the body of Christ to a position of strength and maturity.”  If you be a member of the one body, then you too have a role to play as well.  Paul begs us “to live and act in a way worthy of those who have been chosen for such wonderful blessings as these.  Be humble and gentle.  Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.  Try always to be led along together by the Holy Spirit and so be at peace with one another” (Ephesians 4:1-3 TLB).  Imagine a body perfectly fitted together, with each part helping and working with all of the other parts so that the whole body is healthy, growing, and full of love.  Imagine a body where “finally we all believe alike and come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God.”  Imagine that!

Again, we pray that today's 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 Are In The Army Of Love

Scripture tells us “if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature (creation): old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (II Corinthians 5:17).  So, if you be in Christ, then you be a new creature or creation.  When you become a new creation, the old things are passed away and all things are become new.  You are redeemed from your old sinful nature and a new nature is created for you, the same nature of the original man, before the fall.  And now that you have been brought into a relationship with Christ, then all those things that you needed to be humble before the Lord for, are passed away.  All of your sinful ways are passed away.  Your sinful nature are passed away.  Your pridefulness are passed away.  Your haughty heart are passed away.  If you be in Christ, then you be a new creation and old things are passed away.

“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 saved); and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:4-6).

Now God, who is rich in mercy, has made us (us being those who have come humbly before him when we repented of our sins, turned from our sinful ways, and asked Christ to come in and be a part of our life) alive together with Christ and have raised us (us being those who have come humbly before him) up together and made us (by now you know who us be) sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.  You should know that it is our spirit, not our physical body that God has made alive together with Christ and raised our spirit up and it is our spirit that sits in heavenly places in Christ.

“And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.  Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God” (II Corinthians 5:18-20).

We see that God had a hidden plan to reconcile us unto himself, which he did while he was in Christ.  In reconciling us unto himself, God has made us alive together with Christ, and has raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ.  And in doing all of this, we have been made ambassadors for Christ, representatives, who have been entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation, the message beseeching all men to be reconciled to God.  As a new creation and an ambassador of Christ, entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation, you have been inducted into the army of love, inducted into the army of God.

Today’s inspirational message offers a glance into what being in God’s army truly means.  As you read the message, we pray that it will be an inspiration to you as well as a blessing.  Please share this message so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: Keep Your Word

When Paul set Timothy as the overseer of the church at Ephesus, he gave Timothy detailed instructions for the care of the church and his conduct as the overseer.  One of the things Paul told Timothy was to “let no man despise or look down on him because of his youth, but instead be an example of the believer in word, in conversation or conduct, in charity or love, in spirit, in faith, and in purity” (I Timothy 4:12).  Please notice the first thing Paul told Timothy to be an example of the believer in, was “in word.”  Yes, that’s right; it is “in word.”  Paul is telling Timothy that if he wants people to respect him and not despise or look down on him, he needs to honor his word by being consistent in all the things that he says.  Interesting thing to have first on the list, isn’t it?

This same notion of honoring one’s word also applies to so-called born-again believers.  The born-again believer needs to be in a position where his or her word counts for something.  A truly godly person will not say one thing and then in turn, do something totally contrary or opposite to what was first said because suddenly it becomes inconvenient or there is a change of mind or heart.  “A godly person will honor his or her word no matter what, even to his or her own hurt” (Psalm 15:4).  As you read today’s message, we pray that it will be an inspiration to you as well as a blessing.  Please share this message so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings. - KW

Devotion: Jesus Is The Resurrection

Scripture tells us “Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.”  And scripture tells us “no man comes to the Father except by him” (John 14:6).  Scripture also warns us that “there will rise up false Christs and false prophets, who will show great signs and wonders that are so convincing that if it were possible, they would deceive the very elect” (Matthew 24:24; Mark 13:22).  And deceive us they do and they do it in fine fashion.  The many false prophets and the spirit of the antichrist have become very proficient with their deceptions, especially the devil.  Just look at what he was able to accomplish in his first encounter with mankind.  This group has had many, many years to perfect their skills and we have . . . . , yeah about that many to perfect ours.  Even if we started when we first enter into this world, it still pales in comparison to the length of time they have been perfecting their skills and what they are capable of doing.

Now we know that many of you have been taught or believe that you are the “elect of God” and we are in no way questioning your beliefs.  However, we would be remiss in our obligations as seekers of truth if we did not at least mention this possible deception.  The scriptures warn us of these false Christs and false prophets, who will rise up and show great signs and do wonderful miracles so realistic, that if it were possible, they, these signs and miracles “would deceive, trick, or even seduce the very elect.”  This means that whatever these great signs and wonderful miracles be, “they be good enough to fool the very elect,” if that was possible.  And since that is not possible, then what is possible is for these great signs and wonderful miracles “to deceive, trick, or even seduce everyone who is not one of the very elect.”

While we are not claiming to know whether someone be the elect or not, we do know that there are many false prophets and a spirit of the antichrist that are already come into the world.  And there is our enemy, the devil, who we know is also in the world.  But here is the thing; these guys are not walking around in “red suits with pitchforks.”  Nor are they walking around with “with a big red cape and the letters ‘FP’ (False Prophets) on their chest” like some Superman character.  The scriptures tell us that these guys can transform themselves into “apostles of Christ” and “ministers of righteousness.”  The scriptures even tell us that even Satan can transform himself into “an angel of light” (II Corinthians 11:13-15).  These guys are counterfeits, but not your run-of-the-mill counterfeits; they are high quality counterfeits.

Think about a counterfeit $20 bill.  It is designed to like exactly like the real deal, so much so, that it is nearly impossible to tell the difference.  But all counterfeits are flawed and if you know what you are looking for, you can find that flaw.  Those flaws can usually be found in the details of the counterfeits.  This is how it is with the deceptions of those out to deceive the world.  Their messages sound so close to the real deal that it is nearly impossible to detect them.  Think about it, if their message was a bad copy, it would be easily identified and would fool absolutely no one.  Therefore, it has to be really, really good in order to deceive the masses.  So, all of those people that have been fooled and those that are still being fooled, are being fooled by some really good counterfeits.  The only way to counter the counterfeit is to learn all we can about the real deal.  That way, when the counterfeit messages come, and they will, we will be able to detect the flaws and not be deceived.

We wish we had more room to fully cover this topic, but space is limited.  Yes, “Jesus is the resurrection;” he be the way, the truth, and the life and no man comes to the Father except by him; we just need to make sure that the one we follow be the real deal and not a high quality counterfeit capable of showing great signs and doing wonderful miracles.  We need to learn all that we possibly can about the real deal so that when the counterfeit comes, we can recognize them as well.  Keep in mind that “The voice of God will never, never,” and we say again with emphasis, “NEVER contradict the word of God.”  If the voice that speaks to you contradicts the word of God, then “IT BE NOT THE VOICE OF GOD.”  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

Devotion: You Don’t Face Life All Alone

You are as close to God as you choose to be.  God is as close as you choose.  He is close to all who call on him sincerely.  He fulfills the desires of those who reverence and trust him; he hears their cries for help and rescues them.  He protects all those who love him, but destroys the wicked (Psalm 145:18-20 TLB).  You are near, O Lord; and all your teachings are true (Psalm 119:151 BBE).  He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me?  let us stand together: who is mine adversary (master of my judgment)?  let him come near to me (Isaiah 50:8).  For what other nation, great or small, has God among them, as the Lord our God is here among us whenever we call upon him (Deuteronomy 4:7 TLB)?

And when you draw close to God, God will draw close to you.  Wash your hands, you sinners, and let your hearts be filled with God alone to make them pure and true to him.  Let there be tears for the wrong things you have done.  Let there be sorrow and sincere grief.  Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy.  Then when you realize your worthlessness before the Lord, he will lift you up, encourage and help you (James 4:8-10 TLB).  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 thy paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).  Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.  Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.  Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.  And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment (justice) as the noonday.  Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass (Psalm 37:3-7).  Submit yourselves therefore to God (James 4:7).

The Lord is close to those whose hearts are breaking; he rescues those who are humbly sorry for their sins (Psalm 34:18 TLB).  His purpose in all of this is that they should seek after God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us.  For in him we live and move and are!  As one of your own poets says it, We are the sons of God (Acts 17: 27-28 TLB).  God is our refuge and strength, a tested help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1 TLB).  But I stand silently before the Lord, waiting for him to rescue me.  For salvation comes from him alone.  Yes, he alone is my Rock, my rescuer, defense, and fortress—why then should I be tense with fear when troubles come?  My protection and success come from God alone.  He is my refuge, a Rock where no enemy can reach me.  O my people, trust him all the time.  Pour out your longings before him, for he can help (Psalm 62 5-8 TLB)!  Just look up.  God is closer than you think.  Just look up.

Enjoy your blessings. - KW

Why We Be A Kingdom Worker

Once, we were asked why we chose to do what we do.  We wanted to share, just in case someone else had the same question.

After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and (by) two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come (was about to go).  Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest.  Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.  Carry neither purse, nor scrip (bag), nor shoes (sandals): and salute (greet) no man by the way (along the road).  And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house.  And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again.  And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the laborer is worthy of his hire (wages).  Go not from house to house.  And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you:  and heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto (near to) you.  But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say, even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on (clings to) us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto (has come near) you (Luke 10:1-11).

In this passage, we see that the Lord chose seventy other disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and villages he planned to visit later.  More importantly were the instructions that he gave to seventy other disciples.  We believe these instructions were given to us as well.