Devotion: Open Eyes

None of us are perfect nor do we have a perfect understanding of all of the scriptures.  So many of us are at different levels of understanding in our walk to discover the truth about the things of God that we should not discount anyone’s ability to help propel us to the next level.  Just because a person makes a few questionable statements does not mean that he or she cannot contribute something to help in our understanding.  God tells us “that his people are destroyed because they lack knowledge” (Hosea 4:6).  This lack of knowledge has not come from a shortage of knowledge but from our rejection of knowledge.  If we reject every person who makes statements that we do not agree with, then we limit the amount of knowledge available to us.

If the amount of knowledge is as vast as the oceans, it would be like dipping a cup into the ocean and using what is in the cup as your only source of information.  Everything that you could possibly know would be confined to the limits of that cup.  And just as the ocean has things that can be harmful to us, it also contains things that can be beneficial to us.  Knowledge works the same way; there are things harmful as well as things beneficial.  It is through “studying God’s word” (II Timothy 2:15), using every available resource that we gain the wisdom and understanding to rightly divide the word of truth and pick the harmful item out of the ocean of knowledge.

Seeking God’s wisdom is the first thing that we have to do.  God has told us to seek wisdom, to seek the know-how, and to get the ability to use good sense in our thinking, in our judgment, and in our actions.  God has also told us to get understanding, to get the ability to perceive and to get the ability to explain the meaning or nature of things.

“Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.  Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.  Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding” (Proverbs 4:5-7).

God has pretty much given us everything that we need to know in his word, but we have rejected his wisdom for the sake of trying to understand in our own earthly wisdom.  We do not recognize the revelations that he gives us because they, the revelations do not agree with what we have been taught or have accepted as truths our entire lives.  We do not accept those things that he has given us to help our understanding because we have been taught that no one can understand the things of God, however this is not the truth.  God wants us to understand.  God wants us to know, but we have to follow his instructions.

To obtain wisdom one must earnestly seek it, much like a prospector searching for gold.  The search is directed by the conditions for obtaining wisdom (Proverbs 2:1-4).  The consequences of obtaining wisdom are then listed which includes knowledge of God (Proverbs 2:5-8) and right conduct (Proverbs 2:9-22).  In this age of information, we who seek the truth have no reason not to be able to find it provided we do not limit ourselves to the walls of traditionalism, denominationalism, or that one-cup from the vast oceans of knowledge.  Limited knowledge leads to a limited life.  A closed mind can only grow within the limits of its enclosure; an open mind grows with endless possibilities.

We pray that God will give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him.  We also pray that the eyes of your understanding be opened.  May today’s inspirational message 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: Love Gives

Most believers know that God loves them.

“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.  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:16-18).

We know from this passage that God loved this world, that is, the inhabitants of this world, so much that he gave “his only begotten son” so that through him, the inhabitants of this world might be saved.  Scripture tells us “God loves us” (I John 4:4-20), but do we understand the depth of this love and what this kind of love actually means?

“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me.  Live within my love.  When you obey me you are living in my love, just as I obey my Father and live in his love.  I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy.  Yes, your cup of joy will overflow!  I demand that you love each other as much as I love you.  And here is how to measure it—the greatest love is shown when a person lays down his life for his friends; and you are my friends if you obey me” (John 15:9-14 TLB).

We know from this passage that Jesus also loved this world, which is reflected in his statement, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”  We know that Jesus eventually gave his life for the inhabitants of this world (Romans 5:7-8), but again do we understand the depth of this love and what this kind of love actually means?

“In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.  For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.  Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother.  And wherefore slew he him?  Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.  Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.  We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren.  He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.  Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.  Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.  But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him” (I John 3:10-17)?

Based on scripture, we can now tell those who are children of God and those who are children of the devil, for those who do unrighteousness is not of God, neither are they that do not love their brother.  A child of God understands the depth of this love and knows what this kind of love actually means.  A child of God has the love of God within and is willing to lay down his life for his brother.  A child of God will see a brother in need and will help him because he has God’s love within.  Anyone who sees a brother in need and will not help him, hates his brother, is really a murderer at heart just like Cain.

If you possess the things a person needs to make it in this world, be it spiritual or be it material but you refuse to share with those in need, then how can you say that you have the love of God within?  When you see a brother doing something that leads to condemnation, out of love, you owe it to him to tell him the truth of God’s word.  By this, we will know for sure that we belong to the truth, for our love will not be in word or speech but in deed and in truth.  God so loved us that he gave “his only begotten son,” who also so loved the world that he gave “his life,” so that we, the inhabitants of this world, may live.  Surely, we can have this same level of love expressed by God and by Jesus for our brothers and not the kind of love that Cain had for his brother.

However, do not be deceived by the world’s definition of what love is.  Worldly love is selfish, self-serving, impersonal, and is more about what it can get than what it can give.  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 Jesus.

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: 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: Be A Giver

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: How To Minister Healing

Do you know that God wants you well?  Yes, that is right.  God wants you well; he wants you healed.  However, many Christians believe that God is the creator of such things like physical pain, sicknesses, accidents, death, and other tragedies.  They believe that he carries these things out just to chasten them.  They read their bibles and see that God causes things to happen, which becomes the boundaries to their knowledge.  They have listened to the theological and the traditional teachings and have never once stepped outside of that institutional box, never questioning those things that they have been taught and never questioning those things that just do not make sense.  They are unaware that the Old Testament scriptures are used to support this argument, more so than those of the New Testament, because the New Testament portrays God as a very willing healer and life giver.  They are unaware that God says he changes not (Malachi 3:6).  They are unaware that what God was in the beginning is what he is today and what he will be in the tomorrows.  And since those things written in the Old Testament came first, they are steadfast in their belief that it is God who causes these things to happen.

So, the questions we need to answer are: “Does God put cancer on someone’s body to teach him or her long-suffering and faithfulness?  Does he cause some tragedy to befall someone just to teach him or her to have more patience?”  These questions have divided the Christian community.  Truth be told, physical pain, sicknesses, accidents, death, and other tragedies actually come from the devil (The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy; John 10:10) and not from God.  God will allow these things to happen but he does not cause them.  Think about this, if God is the cause of all of these things, then he is working against all that Jesus came to do (I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly; John 10:10).

We know from scripture that God anointed Jesus with the Holy Ghost and with power and he went around everywhere doing good and healing all who were oppressed of the devil, for God was with him (Acts 10:38).  We know that he went through all of Galilee, teaching, preaching, and healing every kind of sickness and disease (Matthew 9:35).  Therefore, when someone is stricken with cancer, AIDS, or any other disease, it is the thief, who is stealing their health from them, destroying their bodies, and/or slowly and painfully taking their life from them.  This is the work of the thief, not of God.  We need to first stop blaming God for the things that are done by the devil.

It is hard to have faith for healing when you believe God is the source of your suffering.  It is hard to have faith for healing when you do not know that healing is available to you.  When your knowledge for healing is limited, then your faith for healing will also be limited.  And when your faith for healing is limited, then your belief for healing will be limited.  And when your belief for healing is limited, then the healing that you seek will be limited.  And when the healing that you ask for is limited, then the results that you receive will be limited or even non-existent.  Everything in this example was limited because the amount of knowledge that you have for healing is limited.  It is hard to have faith for healing when you do not have the knowledge that you are supposed to be healed.

Now that you know to stop blaming God for the things done by the devil, search the scriptures to find out just how Jesus healed those who were oppressed of the devil, for starters.  Read about the man sick with palsy (Matthew 9:2-8), Jairus and his daughter (Mark 5:22-24; 35-43), the woman with the issue of blood (Mark 5:24-34), the ten lepers (Luke 17:11-19), or even Roman centurion and his servant (Matthew 8:5-13), just to name a few.  Find out how they were healed and the important role “belief and faith” played in their healing.  Then search the scriptures to see what they say about healing in general and apply what you learn to your circumstance.  Just keep in mind, God wants you well, he wants you healed, but you have to “believe” and have “faith” for your healing.  And in order to have faith for healing you have to know about healing.  This is the next step to receiving your healing.  And then you will be able to properly apply that faith to all that you have learned in order to receive your healing.  It is a battle, but one that can be won, for the devil is no match for the power of God.

We pray that our commentary and 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: Cursed By Blessings?

Most people strive to be successful in life.  The world’s definition of “success” is “the achievement of something you planned or attempted to do; the gaining of fame or prosperity.”  Most people work hard to achieve a certain level of success or status in life.  Some work hard to acquire houses in particular communities or neighborhoods and to acquire particular kinds of automobiles so that others can see their success.  Some work hard to gain prominence and to live a certain kind of lifestyle so that others can make note of their success.  Others work hard to gain fame and/or prosperity so that others can admire their success.

However, having these things does not automatically make a person a success.  The world tends to judge success based on the possessions that a person has, but quite often, these particular possessions are examples of “bad success.”  Yes, that is right.  A person can have all of these things in their life and still have “success,” but that success will be bad.  “Bad success” is “when the achievement of something you planned or attempted to do results in a loss.”

“God, in his kindness, has taught me how to be an expert builder.  I have laid the foundation and Apollos has built on it.  But he who builds on the foundation must be very careful.  And no one can ever lay any other real foundation than that one we already have—Jesus Christ.  But there are various kinds of materials that can be used to build on that foundation.  Some use gold and silver and jewels; and some build with sticks and hay or even straw!  There is going to come a time of testing at Christ’s Judgment Day to see what kind of material each builder has used.  Everyone’s work will be put through the fire so that all can see whether or not it keeps its value, and what was really accomplished.  Then every workman who has built on the foundation with the right materials, and whose work still stands, will get his pay.  But if the house he has built burns up, he will have a great loss.  He himself will be saved, but like a man escaping through a wall of flames” (I Corinthians 3:10-15 TLB).

As we go through life, we are either building with gold, silver, jewels, sticks, hay, or straw.  Not everyone builds with gold, silver, or jewels as not everyone builds with sticks, hay, or straw.  Each of us actually chooses the various kinds of materials that we use in our work.  But understand this point, in the end, God is going to put a fire to what we have built and that fire will test our work to determine what sort of work it is.  The one who built of the right materials and whose work stands the test will get paid.  But the one who built of the wrong materials and whose work fails the test will suffer a great loss.  Please note that this passage is not talking about some type of judgment, rejection, or punishment.  The one who builds of the wrong material will suffer loss, but he himself or she herself will be saved, similar to a person escaping through a wall of flame; neither the sticks, hay, or straw will escape with them.

The key to having “good success” rest in being in the center of God’s will.  The key to being in the center of God’s will is to meditate on his book of instructions day and night, studying it continually, so as to be sure that we observe to do and obey all that is written in it, for only then will we make our way prosperous and have “good success” (Joshua 1:8).  God tells us that he knows the plans he has for us; plans for good and not evil, plans to give us a future and to give is hope (Jeremiah 29:11).  There is nothing on this earth that can satisfy us like knowing that we are in the center of God’s will.  Knowing that we are where God wants us to be will bring pure joy.

Scripture tells us, “The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it” (Proverbs 10:22).  However, not being in the center of God’s will brings about a feeling of dissatisfaction, feeling like one is going nowhere.  This is what happens when we do things in our own self, where we trust in our own wisdom and lean to our own understanding, instead of trusting God, who will direct our paths, give us renewed health and vitality, and crown our efforts with success (Proverbs 3:5-8).  The world’s definition of success is based on achieving what you planned or attempted to do.  It makes no mention of achieving what God has planned for you to do.

As always, we pray that today’s commentary 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: Job’s Blessings

Jesus tells us that he came so that we might have life, and in having this life, that we might have it in greater measure and more abundantly (John 10:10).  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 (III John 1:2).  Yes, this is true.  God tells us that he knows the plans he has for us; plans for good and not evil, plans to give us a future and to give is hope (Jeremiah 29:11).

First, we must trust in the Lord completely with all that we are.  Then, we need to acknowledge him in all our ways, putting God first in all that we do.  We should not be conceited where we trust in our own wisdom and lean to our own understanding, but instead, we should trust and reverence the Lord, as we turn our back on evil.  Finally, if we do all these things, God will direct our paths, give us renewed health and vitality, and crown our efforts with success (Proverbs 3:5-8).  This type of life is a godly life and is the healthful, more abundant life.

God tells us that if we listen carefully and give ear to his sayings, keeping them in the midst of our hearts and mind not allowing them to depart from our eyes, then we will find that God’s words are life unto those who find them and health to all their flesh (Proverbs 4:20-22).  There are thousands of promises in the Bible and God has not broken one of them.  As you discover them, let them be your reasons to hold on.  Therefore, let us hold fast to our confession of our hope without wavering, because he who has promised is faithful and can be trusted (Hebrews 10:23).  Job held on to his confession of hope without wavering and the Lord blessed him in the latter end more than he was in the beginning (Job 42:12).

Begin to see yourself as God sees you, as a prosperous person.  Recognize that God is with you, recognize that you are anointed, and recognize that you are highly favored.  You are a child of the most high God (Psalm 82:6).  When you cross the deep rivers, you won’t drown for God is with you.  When you walk through the fire, the flames won’t burn you for God is with you (Isaiah 43:2).  Though you may walk through the valley of the shadow of death, fear no evil, for God is with you (Psalm 23:4).  Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for God is with you and he will not fail nor forsake you (I Chronicles 28:20).  Have faith in God, for he is always with you, even though it may not seem like it.

Be strong and courageous, not terrified nor discouraged, for God is with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:9).  Remember to keep the faith (Ephesians 6:10-20), stay the course (Philippians 1:6), and always, fight the good fight of faith (I Timothy 6:12).  It has been said that a good life is when you smile often, dream big, laugh a lot and realize how blessed you are for what you have.

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

Enjoy your blessings - KW