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Prior to the revelation of the magnitude of things God can do through us according to our faith level, the writer of Ephesians, Paul, establishes the depth of God’s love for us. And since God is love (1 John 4:8), the writer wants us rooted and established in Love. When we process the depth of God’s love for us, we position ourselves to execute higher levels of faith allowing God to reach more people through us.
Ephesians 3:16-21 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
John 1:46 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.
“Come and see,” said Philip.
Nazareth could have been known as the hood or the ghetto. It was a place where you really didn’t want to go after dark. However, God allowed the Messiah to be raised in that area. In that time, most people believed the Messiah was going to be born into royalty, living in palaces, however, God chose the foolish things to shame the wise (1 Cor 1:27).
What does this mean for us? It doesn’t matter where we’re from or what our background looks like, God can raise all of us up to impact the world. As we impact the world, God receives more and more glory. The recognition that God receives will draw others closer to Him.
Don’t limit yourself from dreams and possibilities just because you can’t physically see how you’re going to get there. Trust God and believe that you received every dream that enters your spirit.
Be Blessed.
Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
The pathway to a good life is found in God’s word. It’s not found in our education, our experience, or our employment. It’s found in God’s word. There is no separation between God and His Word. We know this from John 1:1 which says, in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. So, when we have the word, we have God.
Every time we read the Word of God, we’re reading the mind of God. By walking the pathway God has set through His word, we’ll see things no one has ever seen, go places no one has ever gone, do things no one has ever done, and most importantly bring glory to God.
Find the pathway God has set for your life by reading the mind of God.
There comes a time where life will see what we’re really made of. We will either remain in faith or fold under the pressure.
During these trying times, it’s the enemy’s job to make us feel down, depressed, and make us feel like there is no hope. The enemy will send thoughts in our mind that will magnify our current situation and will be contrary to the Word of God. The only way to combat these thoughts is by speaking the Word of God, however, we can’t speak what we don’t know. That’s why it’s so important to pray, feed our faith by hearing the Word of God, read our Bible, etc. These things don’t make us righteous but, it does prepare us for life’s tribulations.
If an athlete never trains, never eats properly, and never studies their sport, their performance will be poor for game day. It’s the same way with us. We have to do the necessary things to remain in faith and combat the attacks of the enemy.
James 1:12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
Romans 3:4a God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar;
Certain people will attempt to speak things into our life that are contrary to the word of God. That man is a liar. People feel like their negative experiences gives them a license to tell others how certain situations in life will be. Just because someone had three failed marriages doesn’t give them the right to tell others “marriage is difficult” or “all men/women are no good.” The truth in God’s word is when God created marriage between Adam and Eve, He blessed them (Genesis 1:28). And what God does for one, He must do for another therefore, marriage is a blessed union.
Also, we need to be mindful that we’re not being the liar by speaking contrary words over our own life. If we’re not mindful, we’ll speak something into our life that we really don’t want. When life is at its most difficult moments, people have the tendency to say “life sucks” or “things will never get better.” That’s not true. The truth in God’s word says Jesus gave us an abundant life (John 10:10).
Learn the truth in God’s word and don’t accept or receive everything that man says.
Proverbs 11:21 Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.
This is an awesome promise. Our righteousness has the power to deliver our children.
Righteousness is not how we act or how we conduct our lives but, it’s Who we believe. By making Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, we are made righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21). With this righteousness, we have a God-given promise that our children are delivered from the hands of Satan. It doesn’t matter how far they stray from the path of holiness or how they’re conducting their lives at this moment, eventually they will return and be delivered.
Continue the cycle of deliverance in your family by personally accepting Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior.
Romans 8: 1There is therefore now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Romans 8: 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creation, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- Pray to and converse with God.
- Confess what God says about you (Romans 5:19, Romans 8, Joshua 1:5).
- Be patient with yourself (Romans 8:1, 37).
- If you seem to regress, repeat steps 1 – 3.
2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
God has not given us the spirit of fear but, He has given us the spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. Since this is true, the same has to be true for the opposite. The spirit of fear produces weakness, hatred, and an unstable mind.
Weakness: When people become afraid, their courage is removed and they end up doing something they really didn’t want to do. They succumb to peer pressure from their “friends” or loved ones because they’re afraid of rejection or abandonment.
Hatred: The hate we see from one another is often associated with fear. People are afraid of change, they’re afraid of the unknown, they’re afraid of being replaced, and afraid to adjust.
Unstable Mind: The root to an unstable mind is fear. An unstable mind includes the numerous phobias psychologists developed and the anxiety attacks people experience. These, along with panic attacks, nervous breakdowns, and stressors are all family members of fear.
With God truly on our side, we have NO REASON to be afraid. God will never leave us, therefore, we don’t have to be afraid of being alone. God’s Spirit leads us, therefore, we don’t have to be afraid of the unknown because the “unknown” is revealed to us by His Spirit. God is faithful, therefore, we don’t have to be afraid and worry because God will do what He said He will do.
Trust Him and don’t be afraid.
Proverbs 10:22 The blessing of the LORD, it makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.
When we accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior the blessing of Abraham, which was promised by God, came upon us (Galatians 3:14). With this blessing there is no sorrow with it. Synonyms for sorrow include grief, sadness, woe, pain, distress, or regret.
Marriage is a blessing, however, there are a lot of people willing to accept sorrow within their marriage. Some people feel like they must have sorrow, arguments, or pain in order to be closer with their spouse. Marriage was never intended to be this way. By accepting sorrow within marriage we create, from our flesh, our own definition of a blessed marriage. Anything from our flesh is destined to fail.
-There may be disagreements but, disagreements don’t have to be arguments.
-Miscommunication can be resolved without anger.
-Discover ways to serve each other.
***Be Holy Spirit led.***
Receive a God-blessed marriage and enjoy it to the fullest.
Isaiah 26:4 (ESV) Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.
We buy movie and concert tickets in advance with an expectation to be entertained. We base our expectation on previous experience or relying on the word of someone we trust. If we can buy tickets in advance with an expectation to be entertained, why is so hard for some of us to trust and have an expectation from Someone Who’s had a perfect track record for over 2000 years?
All the signs are there. God’s reliable, all-knowing, and all-powerful. Why not trust Him? Why not expect Him to do great and mighty things for us? Faith is not relying on something we can see. Faith is relying on an invisible God, to do impossible things, for His individuals.
-Inspired by Pastor D. Golden (thencfc.com)
Every now and then, when someone suddenly dies people will say “life is too short.” When we say “life is short,” we’re allowing our words to confess something we really don’t mean. We’re also saying something that doesn’t align with God’s word. God’s word says…
With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation.-(Psalm 91:16)
He asked life of you, and you gave it to him, even length of days forever and ever.-(Psalm 21:4)
…For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people; my chosen ones will long enjoy the work of their hands.-(Isaiah 65:22)
We were created in the image of God. When God said something, it happened. We were created to do the same thing. It was the trick of the enemy to make people believe that their words don’t have meaning. Proverbs 18:21 says death and life are in the power of the tongue.
Let’s be mindful of the words we speak because what we speak, we shall have.
-Inspired by Pastor B. Winston
Psalm 139:7-10
7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
Our God is always present in our lives. In our good times and in our not so good times, God is present. We may be crossing every “t” and dotting every “i” in following His commandments or we may be barely getting one right. No matter where we are in life, when we call on the name of the Lord, He loves us enough to extend His helping hand.
Recognize and understand that God has not, nor will not, ever leave us. There is no sin that can separate us from His love. Reach out to God because with God things can only get better.
Be Blessed!
2 Corinthians 10: 3For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.
We must understand where opposition comes from. The root is not in the negativity that we see, but in the spirit realm. To kill a weed, we must uproot it, not trim it. To change our circumstances we must believe in the power of prayer and faith to improve our situations. Recognize struggle, strife, negativity, and challenges as opportunities to pray.
Ephesians 6: 10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
When we got saved, most of us made our good confession (confessing Jesus is Lord) in the presence of many witnesses. It took faith to receive our salvation.
If we confessed our salvation, through faith, in the presence of many witnesses, why don’t we confess our healing, deliverance, or prosperity in the presence of many witnesses? It’s like some of us want to hide what we’re in faith for until we can physically see it. That’s a sign of fear. Some of us are afraid to confess what we are believing because we don’t want to be ridiculed or feel ashamed if it doesn’t come to pass. We can’t think that way.
Confess what God has promised us in His Word. Confess that dream or desire God has placed in our spirit. Be like Joseph. Joseph confessed to his brothers what God had showed him in a dream. After positioning Joseph, God confirmed His Word.
This is not the time to back down and shrink. Confess every promise God has given to you.
Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
The Bible lets us know that no one can serve two masters. We cannot serve God and money. This scripture implies that money is a type of master that attempts to take our heart, mind, and soul away from God.
This shines the light on why so many people are willing commit murder, prostitute themselves, or do unlawful things just to have money. This sheds insight to why money issues can destroy relationships and marriages. This also could be the reason why so many Christians have a hard time giving to God. In one ear the Spirit of God is telling us to graciously give to a loving God. In the other ear, our flesh (who may be controlled by money) is letting us know to hold on to that money because we have needs or desires that must be met.
Take time out to evaluate your life. See if money impacts your life, your earthly relationships, and your relationship with God in a negative way.
Let God be your Master.
Deuteronomy 20:1 When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them, because the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you.
When God gives us a big idea, vision, or dream where it will have to take faith to manifest, the enemy will be right behind Him with fear, doubt, and unbelief. The good fight of faith is between our spirit believing and standing on the promises of God verses our flesh being afraid of failure, what we see, and the unknown. The battle ground of that fight is in our mind.
The responsibility we have is to combat the attacks of the enemy with the Word of God. Just like Jesus combatted Satan during His fast, we too must combat the attacks of the enemy with the Word of God.
Stand in faith regarding that dream God has placed into your heart. Don’t back down. Make a difference in the world.
1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
Acts 16:31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved–you and your household.”
When people say believe in the Lord Jesus, a vast majority of us limit our belief to the areas of Son of God and Savior. These two areas are the most important areas to believe in however, there is so much more to Jesus.
In addition to Jesus Christ being our Lord and Savior, we should believe in the finished works of Jesus. The finished works of Jesus are the works He has made available to us through His sacrifice.
Some of the finished works include: divine health, deliverance, prosperity, wealth, provision, blessings, being made the righteousness of God, forgiveness, and so much more.
When we say believe in the Lord Jesus, let’s take the limits off and truly believe in all of the things that Jesus has done.
According to 1 Corinthians 2:9-10, the great, unknown, unimaginable things God has purposed for our life is revealed to us by His Spirit. God will not only reveal His purpose for our life but, He will fulfill His purpose for our life. We don’t have to use our own efforts, skills, and strength to get this done. God made Himself responsible for revealing and fulfilling His purpose for our life.
Our job is to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to lead and guide us in everything we do.
Psalm 57:2 I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill His purpose for me.
We continue to share the gospel with unbelievers because we know what happens to sinners according to 1 Corinthians 6: 9Know you not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
But, we are made righteous through Christ, so what are we called to do as believers?
1 Corinthians 6: 11And such were some of you: but you are washed, but you are sanctified, but you are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 12All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
We are called not to be bound by our flesh. So, as believers, rather than determine through our flesh what things are lawful for us to take part in, we choose to develop in walking by the Spirit. That means we do not form our opinions by religion, the world, or our feelings, but we seek God and allow His peace to govern our actions.
Galatians 5: 16This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 25If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
As believers, we have been made righteous (1 Corinthians 6:11). So while we do not earn a righteous state through our works, but only by grace, we are still instructed to walk by the Spirit of God.
When we continue to direct our paths doing what we feel or think is right, we reap the results of our limited past and present insight. So instead we should choose to consult the Spirit and give God, with His infinite past present and future insight, the opportunity to govern our lives. We then get to reap a continual guaranteed harvest from the Spirit.
Numbers 32:13The Lord’s anger burned against Israel and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until the whole generation of those who had done evil in his sight was gone.
The reason why the Israelites were in the wilderness walking around the mountain for so many years was because there were some things they had to do, things they had to learn, and areas they had to mature in before entering the promise land.
In our life, in order for us to stop walking around the mountain and walk into the promise God has for us, there are some things we have to do, things we have to learn, and areas we have to mature in.
The things we have to do, learn, and mature in are the following:
1. Believe in the finished works of Jesus Christ.
2. Be led by the Holy Spirit.
3. Act on God’s word by walking in faith and not fear.
We have to believe with all of our being that Jesus Christ has provided and made available all the things we would ever need or desire in this life. Next, we must be led by the Spirit. The Holy Spirit positions us to receive God’s best in our lives. After being positioned, our faith lays hold to the promise until the promise comes to pass.
Let’s quit going around in circles never pushing the limits of our faith and let’s receive what God has for us and impact the world.
Inspired by Pastor D. Golden
So many people feel like after sinning or living a lifestyle of sin, they are unqualified to represent the Kingdom of God. Unfortunately, some Christians have adopted this mindset and are condemning people who have messed up and missed the mark.
For those who feel condemned and for those who condemn others, understand this: David had lust in his heart for a married woman, committed an adulterous act with that woman, and used his power to have the woman’s husband killed (2 Samuel 11). God knew David would commit these acts, but God still called David a man after His own heart. Not only was David a man after God’s own heart, but God used David’s bloodline to send Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.
If God can use David and all his flaws to send the Savior of the world, He can use anyone one of us to represent His Kingdom. Remove the guilt and condemnation because the blood of Jesus has cleansed us from all our past, present, and future sins.
Acts 13:22 After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.
1 Corinthians 2:9 However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” — the things God has prepared for those who love him—
The qualification to receive the great unimaginable things God has for us is based on our love towards Him.
Our love is not just lip service but, action. John 14:23 says we love God through our obedience. In John 21:15-17 Jesus tells His disciples to feed or watch over His sheep if they love Him. Even in our own life, God shows us His love through His actions by sending His Son just for us.
Let’s correlate our actions with our faith to position ourselves to receive the promises of God.
Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
Have you ever wondered what the correlation is between staying free from the love of money and God never leaving nor forsaking us?
I submit to you this scripture is telling us not to be concerned with loving and obtaining money but, be content with what we have. What we have is a God Who will never leave nor forsake us. What we have is the finished works of Jesus. What we have is the guidance, direction, and revelation knowledge by the Holy Spirit.
Money, or as the bible calls it mammon, attempts to replace the role of God in our lives. Money comes and goes but, God is letting us know He is ever-present in our lives.
As a child of God, the money, favor, and prosperity will come but, that shouldn’t be the focal point in our lives. Our focus should be on a loving, giving, ever-present God.
Stay focused!
Galatians 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
Believe what?
Believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Believe that Jesus Christ bled and died for our sins and our sins are forgiven.
Believe that Jesus Christ released every promise that God provided for us.
When we believe the three things above, we are believing in the finished works of Jesus Christ. We can’t take credit for anything. Every good thing we have is because of Jesus Christ. The blessings we have are not based on how much we attend church, how many scriptures we read, or how often we pray. These things are good to do but, it’s not at the catapult for our blessings. Everything is based on our belief in the works of Jesus Christ. Anything we feel we need to do to receive a blessing, besides believing, is an act of the flesh.
Believe that Jesus Christ has done it all and quit trying to force something that already happened.
Exodus 1:15 The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah, 16“When you are helping the Hebrew women during childbirth on the delivery stool, if you see that the baby is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live.”
17The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live. 20So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous. 21And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own.
Even if our role does not seem important, we have a God-given purpose to fulfill. These midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, feared God and chose to honor Him above the most powerful man on earth. Because they chose to honor God, Moses was born and saved the Hebrew nation, and the midwives were blessed with their desires.
Choose to seek and honor God so that the extent of your influence can be fully realized; positively impact lives!
Genesis 39:20 So Joseph’s master took him and put him into the jail, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined; and he was there in the jail. 21 But the LORD was with Joseph and extended kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer.…
When we are blessed and move up in a position of power, Satan will tempt or distract us with various things to make us doubt God. Trials and distractions will come but, our responsibility is to remain steadfast and unmovable always abounding in the work of the Lord. Joseph continued to remain faithful and because of his faithfulness, God elevated him into a position he could only (literally) dream of.
As we continue to keep our eyes on God, our current situation must change in our favor.
Let’s continue to stay focused keeping our eyes on The Changer and not our circumstances.
No matter how improbable, no thing is impossible for God. Keep seeking God, following the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and believing and declaring the manifestation of your desires.
Genesis 18:14 Is anything too hard for The Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”
