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Mark 10:8 and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”
When entering marriage, it must be a choice based on God’s Word and God’s wisdom. We shouldn’t base our decision on our age, our finances, or our mistakes (baby mama/baby daddy). Marriage is a covenant between two people (male & female) invented by God and it should not be taken lightly.
Many times this covenant is formed and broken based on our emotions. Our emotions tell us this person is great, wonderful, and sweet. With our emotions speaking so loudly in our ear, we then form this holy covenant without consulting God. Those same emotions then let us know we’re unhappy and we feel like we deserve better. Now, a lifetime commitment between two people dwindles down to seven years or less.
Our emotions should not control us; we should control our emotions and our emotions need to be rooted in the Word of God.
Think before entering a marriage, consult God in everything you do, and receive pre-martial counseling because with an abundance of counselors there is victory (Proverbs 11:14).
1 John 5:4 For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. 5And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
1 John 4:4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
We have already overcome every evil force that attempts to come against us. Begin this week by acknowledging our authority, and accessing the power He has placed within us. Let’s seek and praise God and declare victory over any person or situation that attempts to interrupt the favor and abundance God has positioned just for us!
When we speak, things happen. Regardless of whether or not we choose to believe that, does not change the functionality of the principle. We were made in the image of the God, Who formed a world with His Words. Guard your words. Speak life into situations and people, and believe it. Then watch it manifest!
Romans 4:17b in the presence of Him whom he believed God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did;
Genesis 1: 26Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth
1 Peter 2: 11Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. 12Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation. 15For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men. 17Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.
We do good and pursue godliness not only because it profits us as obedience and we reap the rewards of favor, abundance, and blessings, but also because it draws more people to Christ. We bring glory to God, help save souls, prove foolish people to be ignorant, and we improve the quality of our situations. Let’s show honor, love, and respect to people and authority, and reverence to God!
Matthew 16:19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
Have you really ever thought about this scripture? Jesus, the Son of God, literally gave us the keys to heaven.
What’s in heaven? Everything that pertains to life and Godliness (2 Peter 1:3).
We have the ability to call anything and everything we need or desire from heaven to earth. Our careers, our spouse, our joy, and peace. Anything we want we can call it.
We also have the ability to block everything that does not pertain to life and Godliness. Stress, strife, demonic forces, and even death. We can bind it.
In order for us to receive the manifestation of the things we bind and loose, we have to have faith and patience because according to Hebrews 6:12, we receive all our promises through faith and patience.
Go get your key chain.
Mark 5:36 Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”
Often times we hear statements like, how would you know God is a healer if you’ve never been sick? Or, how would you know God is a deliverer if you’ve never gone through something?
Statements like that make faith null and void. Those statements say, we have to see God do it before we can believe that He is. We can know God is a healer, deliverer, and all the above because His Word says so. We don’t have to experience the issue to know Who God really is. The results of our experiences simply confirm or validate His Word.
Start off by believing His Word and taking it at face value. That way, when the issues in life arise, our faith is at the level of instantaneous breakthrough.
Raise Your Faith!
John 16: 13But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. 15All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.
On a track, the quickest way to get around is using the inside lane. If some guy ran a long race from the outside lane, he would forfeit his opportunity to be the best and win the race.
We have an even better advantage; we have access to limitless abundance, if only we would continuously renew our mind and align our soul and flesh to the Spirit. Jesus withholds nothing from us. Through Him we have access to healing, wisdom, wealth, knowledge, and everything that pertains to life and Godliness. So, what are you waiting for? Get the inside track.
John 16: 7But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; 10in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer;
Conviction of sin is for the world. Once we have accepted that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and erased our sin debt, we should no longer entertain guilt.
Conviction of righteousness is for believers. As believers we are to strive to imitate Jesus. So, through the grace, or the empowerment, of God we imitate Christ to bring glory to God and draw more people to an abundant, eternal life. The Spirit convicts us of opportunities to be righteous also, because our righteous obedience improves the abundance of our lives.
Through Jesus we can experience joy and peace.
John 15:11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
When we face negative people or situations, it’s up to us how we receive those things. We can allow those people or situations to have a negative affect on our mind, will, imagination, emotions, or intellect. Or, we can choose to not receive those negative things and accept what Jesus already provided; joy and peace.
Example 1: A husband decides he wants to openly disrespect his wife by having an affair. In that moment, the wife has to make a decision. Either she will become sad and depressed or, she can receive the peace and joy Jesus provided.
The Wife’s Prayer: Father I thank you that in this situation I receive my peace and experience the joy of Your Son Jesus and that the blood of Jesus removes all negativity and pain from my life, in Jesus name. Amen.
Example 2: A man suddenly gets laid off of work.
The man has to make a decision. He can get angry, frustrated, and confused about the situation or receive His peace and joy Jesus provided.
Man’s Prayer: Father, I receive my joy and peace in this situation and I know You have directed my steps and all things work together for my good, in Jesus name. Amen.
Will we allow our emotions to run us or will we allow our emotions to be subjected to the Word of God?
It’s up to us.
Why are we instructed to praise, tithe, and fast?
God’s original design was for us to live in abundance in our health, wealth, relationships and intellect. To experience all of this, we have to be connected to Him. Adam severed that connection and Jesus restored it in full. But, our free will can be distracted and moved by what we see and feel.
The mandate to praise God, tithe with our finances, and fast no matter how we feel or what we can see connects us back to God. We hear Him, remind ourselves to trust Him, and walk on the path He orchestrated for our best benefit.
Ephesians 3: 17Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
Did you know we benefit ourselves when we praise, tithe, and fast?
Praise allows us to draw closer to God and experience His presence, because He’s already with us. (Psalm 100:4, Deut 31:6)
Tithe allows us to participate in the already established principle of sowing and reaping and positions us to receive more favor, abundance, and overflow than we ever could have with our work ethic. (Galatians 6:7, Malachi 3:10)
Fasting gives us the opportunity to exercise discipline and quiet our lives. Then we can hear God’s voice and gain clarity on the most blessed path we can pursue and remain obedient to Him, which profits us abundance. (1 John 3:24, Deut 30:8,9)
Praise, tithe, and fast!
Psalm 66:8 Praise our God, O peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard; 9 he has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping.
Many times we want to thank God for where He brought us. Some of us were living in a world of sin while others were struggling and did not have a dime. It’s great to praise God for where He’s brought us but, what about the other side of the coin?
We should give just as much credit to God for what He’s kept us from. Some of us could have been that person with low self-esteem due to not having a father in their life but, God kept us. Some of us could have been paralyzed from a terrible accident but, God kept us. Some of us could have been that emotionally unstable person but, God kept us.
There’s nothing wrong with praising God for where He’s brought us but, never forget the flip side and praise Him for how He’s kept us.
What does it mean to pray over our food?
When we pray over our food we…
1. Thank God.
Many times we forget to tell God thank you. Some people don’t know where their next meal is coming from and we have the tendency to make light of great meals in front of us. Tell God thank you.
2. Release the blessing over what we’re about to ingest.
God has given us the ability to use our speech as a weapon to bind and lose things in the earth, speak death or life into our situation, and speak the manifestation of what we believe in Jesus name. When we pray over our food we are binding every unclean thing in our food and allowing the blessing to override all impurities.
Some may pray over their food all the time and some may not. This is a little insight of why we should pray before eating.
Luke 9:16 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to set before the people.
“You make all things new; yes, You make all things new and I will follow You forward.”
~Israel Houghton
This song is based on the Word of God.
Revelation 21:5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
What does God make new?
-Any and every thing we desire.
God can turn a seemingly dead situation and make it alive again. God can make a wayward child return home and be a witness to the world. God makes dreams, visions, and desires manifest into this world. He can make our attitudes new, our bank account new, and our relationships new. With God all things are possible. If we let Him; He can make all things new.
Bless the name of the Lord!
Ephesians 4:24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
When we accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, the scripture says we are created to be like God. This means not only should our behavior line up with God’s image but, our actions as well. It doesn’t mean we are GOD but, we are gods (Psalm 82:6).
God has given the earth to man. Man was to dominate, cultivate, and multiply in the earth. When man sinned, our dominance was taken away. But, through the blood of Jesus, our dominance was restored. Believers now have the opportunity to receive a restoration of dominance. Like a property owner has the ability to lord over their property, we have the ability to lord over this earth.
Praise God for dominance!
1 John 5:1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.
When children are born, some look like their mother, some look like their father, and some have a combination image of both parents. Not only do they look like their parents but, they innately act like their parents.
When we get born again, we become children of God. This means, we should do things and act in a way that reflect the image of God.
God’s image is to speak life (positive) into a situation; not death. God’s image is to be bold and declare the things we desire into existence. God’s image is to not be moved by fear or the things we see but, to walk by unwavering faith.
The image of God is found in His Word. Activate this God-like nature in every situation of your life.
If you are a child of God, act like it!
When seemingly negative situations occur, confess and choose to have faith in God’s will for your life. No matter what has happened, seek, praise, and thank God for the manifestation of His promises to you!
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Luke 12: 31But rather seek you the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Romans 8: 28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Ephesians 3: 20Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men. (Titus 3:8 NKJV)
‘Doing good’ is a sowing and reaping principle that remains true for all. The difference between us and an unbeliever is that we have been forgiven for those times when we fall short. So, we walk this life overcoming sin through the grace given to us through Jesus’ victory. And, we choose to continue doing good works to bring glory and honor back to Him. Praise God!
The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15:56-58 NKJV)
Previously, we realized that God’s forgiving power is greater than the feelings of guilt, shame, or condemnation. The importance of removing the guilt and shame is to keep our confidence. Condemnation robs us of our confidence.
1 John 3:21-22 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.”
Where condemnation is present, faith cannot operate. How do we expect to receive the promises of God feeling low, down, sad, mad, or depressed because of our actions? When we miss the mark, we receive our forgiveness, and keep it moving.
News Flash: Feeling unworthy and unloved and condemned is not of God! Snap out of it! Remain confident in His Word and His promises.
Be Free!
1 John 3:20 whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.
Our hearts, in this verse, represent our feelings or emotions. This verse is letting us know no matter how bad we feel when we miss the mark, God’s power of forgiveness is greater than that feeling. No need to sit and cry every time we sin; just remember because of Jesus we are forgiven of all our trespasses. When we magnify our forgiveness and diminish the guilt and shame, we can live free. Who the Son sets free is free indeed.
Recognize your forgiveness and be free.
Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Ever since the fall of man, there have been evil spiritual forces at work in the earth. These spiritual forces are responsible for death, disaster, disease, disfunction, deception, and poverty. Once again, these are spiritual forces which means we can’t use our natural strength to combat these forces. Natural strength, will power, and acceptance are all foolishness when facing spiritual darkness.
However, because of the sacrifice of Jesus and the Spirit of God living inside of us, we don’t compete with these spiritual forces; we destroy them. 1 John 4:4 says we are from God and have overcome them, because the One who is in us is greater than the one who is in the world. Jesus said in Luke 10:19 He has given us authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm us.
We don’t physically fight the sinful temptations of Satan; we can overcome using God’s power. We don’t have to accept the deceptions of the world; we can transform ourselves and our world with God’s power. With God’s power we always win.
Psalm 100:4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.
This is such a true statement.
Every breath that we take is an opportunity to tell God thank You.
Every time our hearts beat is an opportunity to tell God thank You.
For our life, our health, and strength; we thank You.
For loving us so much so, until You sent Your only Son to save a mere creation; thank You.
The very fact that we can see and read this message is an opportunity to tell God thank You.
Thank God not only for the massive things He’s done but, the things that we tend to forget about at times.
Father God, We thank You.
Romans 8:1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.
At the end of this verse is a period, which indicates the statement is over.
When we give our lives to Christ, immediately, our sins are forgiven and God holds nothing against us. God is not keeping a tally mark of all the wrong we are doing. Our entire life of (right and wrong) will not be weighed on a scale when we get to heaven. Because of Jesus, we have no condemnation. God looks at our past, present, and future sins and says, not guilty. Don’t get it misunderstood, God is not pleased with our sin but, because of Jesus we are not condemned.
It’s good to have Jesus because through Him, we are not condemned.
Get saved!
If you are saved, help save someone else by introducing them to Christ.
1 Peter 1:25 but the word of the Lord stands forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you.
Many things pass away but, God’s word stands forever. People pass away, relationships pass away, and money passes away but, God’s word stands forever. This is why God instructs us to put our trust in nothing else but Him and His word. When we trust God completely, our trust is eternal. When we place our trust in worldly things, those things are short lived.
They are not just words on a page but, words of a powerful, all knowing, all seeing God. Throughout the Bible, God is literally begging us to use His words in every area of our life. Understand the power of God’s word and use that power daily.
God bless!
There is so much negativity in the world. As people of a positive nature (the light), we have to be that positive energy for such a negative world.
Gossiping is one of the main ways people of the light (Christians) speak darkness. We think because it’s true, we can speak on it. The Bible instructs us in Proverbs 20:19 not even to associate with a gossiper more or less be a gossiper.
Complaints is another way believers spread negativity in the world. The Bible instructs us in Philippians 2:14 to do all things without complaining.
Fault finding is one of the final ways Christians spread a little negativity in the world. Some Christians feel superior over unbelievers. They feel like because they’re saved and got their act together, they can find fault in others. News flash; we weren’t always saved! Condemning people is not helping them. It actually repels them from the body of Christ. What person wants to be around a bunch of judgmental Christians? God loved the world so much until He sent His son to preach to them not, find fault in them. Check the splinter or beam in your eye before getting splinters out of others’ eyes (Luke 6:42).
Be positive!
Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Proverbs 3: 5Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding. 6In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.
Often we want God to be a fortune teller and give us every detail about His plan for our lives. And sometimes when He doesn’t, we may start to try to force things to happen on our own.
When God told us to seek and trust Him, He meant for us to continuously do so without wavering, without doubting, and while being content if He only reveals one detail at a time. Stop wondering how He is going to complete the picture and remember that He works ALL things to the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28).
Hebrews 11:1, 6 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
As we continue on in faith, Hebrews 11 contains many of the multitude of instances where God did the impossible for those who remained in faith. So as we believe God to manifest His promises and our desires in our lives, we can encourage ourselves by reading the entire chapter and its accounts of the greatness of God.
We are not righteous because of our works; we are righteous because of Jesus. We can’t read the Bible enough, we can’t pray enough, and we can’t worship enough to become righteous. All of these things are what righteous people do. When we do things in the efforts to be righteous we undermine what Jesus really did. What Jesus did is what makes us righteous.
2 Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Through Jesus, we are made righteous.
Isaiah 54:10 Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you.
God promises us not only peace but, a covenant of peace. A covenant is more intense than a promise and it is something that cannot be broken. When God makes a covenant, God is bound by His word.
So, when everyone else is stressed and freaking out about life; remember your covenant with God and receive peace. When everyone else allows the situations in the world to determine their happiness; remember your covenant made with God and receive peace.
We have to receive this peace by faith (believing without seeing) because in the natural it appears we have every right to be stressed and upset regarding certain situations in our life. We have to make our mind up and say no matter what comes, I have my peace in God.
Keep your hair; don’t let it fall out!
Example 1: Remember when Moses brought the children of Israel out of Egypt? They didn’t know where their next meal was coming from and eventually they became upset with Moses for leading them into the desert. But, as Moses continued, obeying the voice of God, God provided for them daily.
Exodus 16:8 Moses also said, “You will know that it was the Lord when he gives you meat to eat in the evening and all the bread you want in the morning, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we? You are not grumbling against us, but against the Lord.”
Example 2: God told Abraham to take his family and leave his country. At the time, Abraham didn’t have any proof that the place where God was going to show him was better than where he was currently. In reality, Abraham didn’t know where he was going to lay his head. But, when Abraham obeyed, God provided.
Genesis 12:1 The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.
As we live out our life, we should walk by faith and not by sight. We have dreams and desires and often times we don’t know how or when God will make it happen. We may not know every step or detail to our destination but, as we obey God, provision for our dreams and desires will manifest. The key thing is to obey.
Trust God!
Ephesians 1: 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,
We have that same power, but how do we access it?
1. Pray and thank God for His Spirit of wisdom and revelation.
2. Get to know Him better by reading the bible, praying, and obeying Him.
With that comes the revelation and acceptance of all power to overcome, to do great things and to bring glory to Him, that He has equipped us with. Amen!
Graced To Do God's Will 