In the golden psalm below, David gives us the secret to obtaining joy!!! We see that joy comes from God and being in His presence is the fullness of joy. The world will never understand what joy is because they have not connected to the source of joy. They are ever seeking yet will never find it. Joy is not an emotion, as David said he placed his trust in the Lord, joy comes from an unmovable belief which we call "faith" today. As we go through our process of sanctification our faith is perfected through our perseverance. "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything", (James 1: 2-4). The more we go through life's trials, the more we see God's hand of protection, grace, mercy, and love upon us. Once sealed by the Holy Spirit the testing and temptations will come, after the testing we will be strengthened by His presence, the more we see His Presence the greater our faith grows in Him, the more our faith grows, the deeper our joy grows. That which was just described is the unbroken circle which Jesus told us would be the covenant towards man from the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit upon receiving Christ as Lord and Savior. Walking in the presence of our Father is the only way to find Joy, He is the only source. Works will not bring it!!! Many are told the more works you produce the greater the Lord will be pleased with you, this is false by motive. God is pleased with a child who is obedient in following His Will and working when He instructs His vessel to work, but that is a fruit, not the motive. God wishes to have relationship with you through the completed work of His Son. His pleasure in you comes from seeing His Son in you. He wants to conform you more and more to His Son through the process of sanctification. The Greatest pleasure the Father receives from His children, is the child that wishes to sit in His presence and have the Father's Perfect Will poured out onto them. By sitting in His presence we get to experience the Fullness of Joy!!! Today, spend time with the Father and seek to sit and dwell in His Presence!!! Be Encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of experiencing the fullness of joy on purpose!!!!!
Psalm 16
A Michtam of David.
1 Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust.
2 O my soul, you have said to the LORD,
“You are my Lord,
My goodness is nothing apart from You.”
3 As for the saints who are on the earth,
“They are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.”
4 Their sorrows shall be multiplied who hasten after another god;
Their drink offerings of blood I will not offer,
Nor take up their names on my lips.
5 O LORD, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup;
You maintain my lot.
6 The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;
Yes, I have a good inheritance.
7 I will bless the LORD who has given me counsel;
My heart also instructs me in the night seasons.
8 I have set the LORD always before me;
Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will rest in hope.
10 For You will not leave my soul in Sheol,
Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
11 You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Soldiers of God
Ever ready for the Charge
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Lifestyle Volume 1, Issue 4
Wives there is no one more precious than you, to your husband!!! There is a great standard placed upon you as well in the covenant of marriage. God knew to set a standard of respect upon you for a very specific reason. You are the vessel that God uses to get the attention of your husband and to give him direction in certain seasons. The "woman's intuition" is actually a sensitivity to the Will and Presence of God. Men have the ability to have an intimate relationship with the Father as well, so they can gain great discernment and to listen to the Will of God. Women, have the ability to be more sensitive in general than a man, becuase of how God engineered them. So in different seasons the husband may have a decision to make and the wife has a great responsibility to be the conduit between God's Will and the Husband. This is why God asks you to respect your husbands, one because when God wants to speak through you, He does not want to be rejected by the husband because you have disrespected him in the relationship to the point that he does not listen when you speak, due to bitterness. The other reason not to disrespect him is because wives, since Eve, have used this place of position which is the "helpmate" to "usurp" the authority from God. Like Jezebel, to know that your husband has a trusting ear for your guidance is not for your own use. God wants your husband to have a heart to listen and take heed to the guidance you give him, but not for your glory and will, but for God's alone. To use that for your own will is nothing but conforming to the will of Satan. Remember there is no your "own" will, either you are a slave to righteousness unto God, or a slave to unrighteousness unto Satan. "Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?", (Romans 6:16) A wife who respects her husband and is submitted to God's Will for her marriage is of a greater value than all the diamonds in the world!!! As the husband portrays Christ in the marriage and His care for his wife as being the church, the wife's role as the church is to be lead by her husband being submissive and respectful to her leader who would die for her!!! Let us make one thing clear, your relationship to your spouse is a one to one correlation to your relationship to God. A husband who shows a lack of love for his wife, shows a lack of love towards his God. Likewise a wife who shows a lack of respect to her husband, shows a lack of respect to her God. Remember neither side can argue, "I will hold up my standard once he/she does". Just like your decission for Christ was of free will, so was your choice of who you married!!! It usually takes the sacrifice of one holding up the standard in order for the other one to come in alignment with their own standard. Today, yield to the standard that God has called you to through submission to the Holy Spirit, your value is to precious not to!!! Be Encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of obtaining a lifestyle pleasing to God on purpose!!!!!
Ephesians 5
22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
Job 1
Prologue
1 In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. 2 He had seven sons and three daughters, 3 and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.
4 His sons used to hold feasts in their homes on their birthdays, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them to be purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom.
6 One day the angels[a] came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan[b] also came with them. 7 The LORD said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”
Satan answered the LORD, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”
8 Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”
Ephesians 5
22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
Job 1
Prologue
1 In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. 2 He had seven sons and three daughters, 3 and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.
4 His sons used to hold feasts in their homes on their birthdays, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them to be purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom.
6 One day the angels[a] came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan[b] also came with them. 7 The LORD said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”
Satan answered the LORD, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”
8 Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Lifestyle Volume 1, Issue 3
A husband will be held to the standard established in Ephesians 5. Any man who has chosen to enter into the marriage covenant with a woman and God has done so with the expectation placed on him that he would live to the same standard of the relationship between Christ and the church. We know that women just like men are not perfect and we knew that before we entered into the covenant of marriage. Christ died for a sinful mankind and continues today to wash the His body with the Word of God as to present us to Himself without wrinkle, stain, or blemish. This relationship is not as a parent training up a child as many husbands might treat their wives as children. This relationship is as a man who is the owner of a precious diamond and who knows he has a treasure in it, he takes care of it and washes it so that it's beauty and value will grow and be preserved. Christ never went to others to talk about the church or chose to embarrass His church in front of the world to make a mockery out of it. He never told the world about His intimacy with the church and what they did in their marriage bed. Christ gave His life, not to gain something in return, but to just give that which was lacking to mankind and that was a full and fruitful relationship with the one and true Living God. The standard that has been set can only be accomplished by a husband who submits His life to Christ and then Christ will fulfill this standard through His vessel. Today, husbands follow the lifestyle of Christ and allow Him to fulfill the standard of you Loving your precious treasure. Be Encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of obtaining a lifestyle pleasing to God on purpose!!!!!
Ephesians 5
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.
Job 1
Prologue
1 In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. 2 He had seven sons and three daughters, 3 and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.
4 His sons used to hold feasts in their homes on their birthdays, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them to be purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom.
6 One day the angels[a] came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan[b] also came with them. 7 The LORD said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”
Satan answered the LORD, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”
8 Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”
Ephesians 5
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.
Job 1
Prologue
1 In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. 2 He had seven sons and three daughters, 3 and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.
4 His sons used to hold feasts in their homes on their birthdays, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them to be purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom.
6 One day the angels[a] came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan[b] also came with them. 7 The LORD said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”
Satan answered the LORD, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”
8 Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Lifestyle Volume 1, Issue 2
Sadly, many children of God today believe that they are living a life that is pleasing to God, based on criteria that men have established in their gatherings. God's standard is that we Love Him and Love Our Neighbors, Matthew 22:37-40. That love encompasses all of mankind, just like Christ, we must love the sinner (as we all are) but hate the sin. We must share in acts of love not just with our congregation members and not just with other Christians but where ever our feet tread. We must submit ourselves wholly unto Christ so that He can wash us, so that we are presented to Himself without stain or wrinkle, Ephesians 5:26-28. Fulfilling requirements in attendance of services or by exercising gifts in arenas of service to please other men, is less than what God has established for His children. The world shall know us by the love that we have one for another. That's not just limited to the body of Christ, but they will know us for the love that we have for them as well. We must stand out in this dark world, the light that is shining through our vessels does that. That light is coming from the source of Christ which is not limited to but encompasses freedom, love, boldness, compassion, joy, kindness, meekness, self control, patience, long suffering, and peace. But above all is love!!! A lifestyle of love for all of God's creations is the standard that the Father has set through His perfect Son Jesus Christ, as salvation was not just for the Jew but also for the Gentile. Christ's sacrifice was for all mankind, which mean His love was for all mankind. To have any other attitude towards another man that is not of love is not the standard of God. We may not all be there as we are all being processed through sanctification, but that is not an excuse to disregard His standard, it is the constant cross that is placed in each one of our faces. The passage below speaks directly to this as it has been taken out of context by many weddings, but it is actually talking about a conduct that should be experienced by all believers. Today, do not settle for what is less than God's standard, press towards the goal of your calling!!! Be Encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of obtaining a lifestyle pleasing to God on purpose!!!!!
1 Corinthians 13
1 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Job 1
Prologue
1 In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. 2 He had seven sons and three daughters, 3 and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.
4 His sons used to hold feasts in their homes on their birthdays, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them to be purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom.
6 One day the angels[a] came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan[b] also came with them. 7 The LORD said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”
Satan answered the LORD, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”
8 Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”
1 Corinthians 13
1 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Job 1
Prologue
1 In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. 2 He had seven sons and three daughters, 3 and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.
4 His sons used to hold feasts in their homes on their birthdays, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them to be purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom.
6 One day the angels[a] came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan[b] also came with them. 7 The LORD said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”
Satan answered the LORD, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”
8 Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”
Monday, May 23, 2011
Lifestyle Volume 1, Issue 1
We have heard the story of Job many times and we have turned to this book to draw strength in times of hardship. Job will forever be remembered as the man who had everything snatched from him and who truly suffered much but was restored in due season after a time of testing and proved faithfulness. There is something that needs to be pointed out, we may over look this significant truth about Job because it is spoken of in the first few verses before the testing of his faithfulness took place. Job lived a lifestyle that was pleasing to God. See Job lived his life according to a standard that please the true and living God. We have to remember that God is all knowing and all powerful!!! For God to even suggest to Satan to tempt Job, God knew that Job's heart was set affectionately to pleasing Him alone. When we die the world will judge us by our accomplishments, but the Lord will judge us on the basis of us accepting Him and our rewards will be based on the lifestyle we lived. There is a standard that God calls His children to live by and He gives us the Holy Spirit as a Help Agent to accomplish this walk but we have to be willing to be submitted to God's Will, Way, and Standard. We have to fear God and shun evil!!! Today, let us judge our own lifestyles and see if it meets the standard of the walk God has called for us to live!!! Be Encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of obtaining a lifestyle pleasing to God on purpose!!!!!
Job 1
Prologue
1 In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. 2 He had seven sons and three daughters, 3 and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.
4 His sons used to hold feasts in their homes on their birthdays, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them to be purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom.
6 One day the angels[a] came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan[b] also came with them. 7 The LORD said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”
Satan answered the LORD, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”
8 Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is none on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”
Job 1
Prologue
1 In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. 2 He had seven sons and three daughters, 3 and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.
4 His sons used to hold feasts in their homes on their birthdays, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them to be purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom.
6 One day the angels[a] came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan[b] also came with them. 7 The LORD said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”
Satan answered the LORD, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”
8 Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is none on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”
Friday, May 20, 2011
Divine Appointments Volume 1, Issue 4
Ephesians 1
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5he[b] predestined us for adoption to sonship[c] through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he[d] made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
11 In him we were also chosen,[e] having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
The greatest divine appointment that a man or woman can experience is the appointment of a believing heart receiving Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and the Joining of the Holy Spirit into their vessel. That blessed day a joining of Soul and Spirit meet for the first time and a seal is produced to never loose the Holy Spirit from that Soul. This appointment has angels in heaven rejoicing and singing praises to a wonderful God. This appointment brings tears of joy and hope to a praying family member or friend whose knees have been scared on your behalf. This appointment gives the earth itself a reason to rejoice as the rocks cry out to the glory of God. When we have been sealed with the Holy Spirit we become more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus!!! We conquer the penalty of sin which is eternal death and we gain the power to overcome sin. We gain a comforter who intercedes according to the needs of our soul!!! This divine appointment brings us into the presence and son ship of a Marvelous God, who we can then cry out "Abba, Father"!!! As we experience this appointment and wish this for every man and woman walking the face of this earth, we can sing with everything in us a sweet worship unto a Loving God, who has saved mankind from the depths of Hell, that we may have life and have it to the full. Let us celebrate this divine appointment by submitting our vessels to God, which He created to use in the earth to bring His Good News to others!!! Today, let us be the instrument used in someone else experiencing a divine appointment!!! Be Encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of experiencing divine appointments on purpose!!!!!
John 4
Jesus Talks With a Samaritan Woman
1 Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John— 2 although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. 3 So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee.
4 Now he had to go through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.
7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)
9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.[a])
10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”
13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”
16 He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.”
17 “I have no husband,” she replied.
Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. 18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”
19 “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”
21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”
26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5he[b] predestined us for adoption to sonship[c] through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he[d] made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
11 In him we were also chosen,[e] having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
The greatest divine appointment that a man or woman can experience is the appointment of a believing heart receiving Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and the Joining of the Holy Spirit into their vessel. That blessed day a joining of Soul and Spirit meet for the first time and a seal is produced to never loose the Holy Spirit from that Soul. This appointment has angels in heaven rejoicing and singing praises to a wonderful God. This appointment brings tears of joy and hope to a praying family member or friend whose knees have been scared on your behalf. This appointment gives the earth itself a reason to rejoice as the rocks cry out to the glory of God. When we have been sealed with the Holy Spirit we become more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus!!! We conquer the penalty of sin which is eternal death and we gain the power to overcome sin. We gain a comforter who intercedes according to the needs of our soul!!! This divine appointment brings us into the presence and son ship of a Marvelous God, who we can then cry out "Abba, Father"!!! As we experience this appointment and wish this for every man and woman walking the face of this earth, we can sing with everything in us a sweet worship unto a Loving God, who has saved mankind from the depths of Hell, that we may have life and have it to the full. Let us celebrate this divine appointment by submitting our vessels to God, which He created to use in the earth to bring His Good News to others!!! Today, let us be the instrument used in someone else experiencing a divine appointment!!! Be Encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of experiencing divine appointments on purpose!!!!!
John 4
Jesus Talks With a Samaritan Woman
1 Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John— 2 although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. 3 So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee.
4 Now he had to go through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.
7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)
9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.[a])
10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”
13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”
16 He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.”
17 “I have no husband,” she replied.
Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. 18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”
19 “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”
21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”
26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Divine Appointments Volume 1, Issue 3
Divine Appointments happen for many reasons according to God's Will. God will send vessels our way to preach a word that convicts us about an area of sin that has not yet been dealt with. Our God chastens us in many ways because He loves us and for us who Love Him we know that He called us for a purpose according to His Will. If there are areas in our life that stand in the way of our obedience to the Father, He will prune us to be sure to cut away that which He cannot use for His Glory. We can see a divine appointment happen between the Lord and the Pharisee Saul, who later becomes our Apostle Paul:
Acts 9
Saul’s Conversion
1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
As we see when the Lord desires to get our attention, we should really submit to His chastening. Paul turned out to be a very strong vessel for the Lord, but it was His response to the divine appointment that took place of the road to Damascus. Today, pay close attention to the divine appoints the Lord has set in order for your life, they will bring life!!! Be Encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of experiencing divine appointments on purpose!!!!!
John 4
Jesus Talks With a Samaritan Woman
1 Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John— 2 although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. 3 So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee.
4 Now he had to go through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.
7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)
9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.[a])
10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”
13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”
16 He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.”
17 “I have no husband,” she replied.
Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. 18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”
19 “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”
21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”
26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”
Acts 9
Saul’s Conversion
1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
As we see when the Lord desires to get our attention, we should really submit to His chastening. Paul turned out to be a very strong vessel for the Lord, but it was His response to the divine appointment that took place of the road to Damascus. Today, pay close attention to the divine appoints the Lord has set in order for your life, they will bring life!!! Be Encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of experiencing divine appointments on purpose!!!!!
John 4
Jesus Talks With a Samaritan Woman
1 Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John— 2 although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. 3 So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee.
4 Now he had to go through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.
7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)
9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.[a])
10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”
13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”
16 He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.”
17 “I have no husband,” she replied.
Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. 18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”
19 “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”
21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”
26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Divine Appointments Volume 1, Issue 2
Divine Appointments happen to draw mankind unto God through His perfect Will. When we don't understand the Word of God as we pursue Him, God will send one of his vessels to bring understanding. We are to take full advantage of that time spent with this vessel. God is such a caring Father and delights when one of His children seeks Him through His Word!!! As we see in Acts 8 how God sent his servant Philip to the Ethiopian to explain the scriptures for which he was reading. There is nothing too great for our Father, if you struggle with the understanding of scripture just ask the Father in the name of Jesus to give you understanding, either through the Holy Spirit resting in you or through an external vessel God is faithful to provide for each one of His children!!!
Philip and the Ethiopian
26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian[a] eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”
30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.
31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
32 This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading:
“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth.33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.”[b]
34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” [37] [c] 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. 40 Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.
The Father cares and all power is in His hand to send a divine appointment to whom believes. What ever you are going through this day, cast your cares onto the thrown and open your eyes to see the appointment God sent specifically for you!!! Be Encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of experiencing divine appointments on purpose!!!!!
John 4
Jesus Talks With a Samaritan Woman 1 Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John— 2 although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. 3 So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee.
4 Now he had to go through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.
7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?”
8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)
9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.[a])
10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”
13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”
16 He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.”
17 “I have no husband,” she replied.
Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. 18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”
19 “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”
21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”
26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”
Philip and the Ethiopian
26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian[a] eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”
30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.
31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
32 This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading:
“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth.33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.”[b]
34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” [37] [c] 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. 40 Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.
The Father cares and all power is in His hand to send a divine appointment to whom believes. What ever you are going through this day, cast your cares onto the thrown and open your eyes to see the appointment God sent specifically for you!!! Be Encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of experiencing divine appointments on purpose!!!!!
John 4
Jesus Talks With a Samaritan Woman 1 Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John— 2 although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. 3 So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee.
4 Now he had to go through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.
7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?”
8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)
9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.[a])
10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”
13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”
16 He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.”
17 “I have no husband,” she replied.
Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. 18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”
19 “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”
21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”
26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”
Monday, May 16, 2011
Divine Appointments Volume 1, Issue 1
Luck!!! There is no such thing for a believer in Christ. As children of God we know that He holds all things in His hand. There are no chance encounters or meetings. To have something "good" happen to us and say that we must have been in the right place at the right time, takes the glorification away from the source and places it on ourselves. To say someone is lucky or to say we have luck is to once again negate the source of the blessing or movement. God allows divine appointments to take place in our lives each day. We can see these appointments when we allow Him to open our eyes, ears, and hearts to see Him move. When we take a look at the passage below we see a woman who was living her life doing a simple ordinary task of drawing water from a well. There see meets God walking in the flesh. This occurrence was not just for happenstance, we draw understanding that the Lord sees all and knows all about us. We also see that drawing from the well of Christ will never leave us thirsty. God cares about people first and foremost, He sends His vessels to intersect with us at specific points in our lives to draw us unto Him. Just like that woman went to draw water, God draws mankind through divine appointments and allows us to consume the fulfilling water of Christ Jesus. Today, remember and meditate on all the God ordained divine appointments, were people spoke encouraging words, or comforted you in times of pain and suffering, you will see that God has been in your life longer than you thought, GIVE HIM GLORY!!!! Be Encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of experiencing divine appointments on purpose!!!!!
John 4
Jesus Talks With a Samaritan Woman 1 Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John— 2 although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. 3 So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee.
4 Now he had to go through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.
7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)
9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.[a])
10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”
13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”
16 He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.”
17 “I have no husband,” she replied.
Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. 18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”
19 “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”
21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”
26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”
John 4
Jesus Talks With a Samaritan Woman 1 Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John— 2 although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. 3 So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee.
4 Now he had to go through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.
7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)
9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.[a])
10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”
13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”
16 He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.”
17 “I have no husband,” she replied.
Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. 18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”
19 “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”
21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”
26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Spirit of Fear Volume 1, Issue 4
Fear is real, and there is a real enemy trying his best to keep you paralyzed from running your race. Today, meditate on these scriptures and allow it to renew your mind and bring you encouragement!!! Peace be unto you always!!!
Psalm 27
A Psalm of David.
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the strength of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked came against me
To eat up my flesh,
My enemies and foes,
They stumbled and fell.
3 Though an army may encamp against me,
My heart shall not fear;
Though war may rise against me,
In this I will be confident.
4 One thing I have desired of the LORD,
That will I seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the LORD
All the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the LORD,
And to inquire in His temple.
5 For in the time of trouble
He shall hide me in His pavilion;
In the secret place of His tabernacle
He shall hide me;
He shall set me high upon a rock.
6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me;
Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.
Peace be unto you always!!! Be Encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of living free from the Spirit of Fear on purpose!!!!!
2 Timothy 1
3 I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, 4 greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, 5 when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. 6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Psalm 27
A Psalm of David.
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the strength of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked came against me
To eat up my flesh,
My enemies and foes,
They stumbled and fell.
3 Though an army may encamp against me,
My heart shall not fear;
Though war may rise against me,
In this I will be confident.
4 One thing I have desired of the LORD,
That will I seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the LORD
All the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the LORD,
And to inquire in His temple.
5 For in the time of trouble
He shall hide me in His pavilion;
In the secret place of His tabernacle
He shall hide me;
He shall set me high upon a rock.
6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me;
Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.
Peace be unto you always!!! Be Encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of living free from the Spirit of Fear on purpose!!!!!
2 Timothy 1
3 I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, 4 greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, 5 when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. 6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Spirit of Fear Volume 1, Issue 3
The enemy's weapon of mass destruction is death. He frightens mankind with the thoughts of death, so man tries to fulfill this fear with what they deem as "living". The other side of the coin is to beat mankind down with death so much that there is no "hope" for life. Unfortunately this is why the generations of youths in our society have no value of life because they have no hope, they don't care about taking your life because they don't care whether they live or die. The answer is to go to the source of life in order to find that hope and strength to stand against the attacks of the enemy. That source of life is the unblemished atoning blood of Jesus Christ!!!
John 6
53 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For My flesh is food indeed,[h] and My blood is drink indeed. 56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me.
While our Savior's mission was to bring life to mankind, the enemy has sought since day one to take it. When we come to Christ and gain eternal life, Satan then uses his agents of fear to keep us paralyzed from growing deeper in Christ which means we become free from this world and all the cares thereof. "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour", (1 Peter 5:8). A roaring lion produces fear in the whole jungle, unless the animals know that they out number the lion. See he's roaring to get one of God's sheep alone so he can devour them. By staying in the protection and care of the Good Shepherd and listening to His voice alone, we do not stray outside the flock were we can be devoured. The fight between you and Satan is a personal one and the only protection you have is the Christ in you the Hope of Glory!!! Today, listen to the voice of your Savior and when the Lion Roars, keep your eyes fixed on Christ, STAND!!! Be Encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of living free from the Spirit of Fear on purpose!!!!!
2 Timothy 1
3 I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, 4 greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, 5 when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. 6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
John 6
53 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For My flesh is food indeed,[h] and My blood is drink indeed. 56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me.
While our Savior's mission was to bring life to mankind, the enemy has sought since day one to take it. When we come to Christ and gain eternal life, Satan then uses his agents of fear to keep us paralyzed from growing deeper in Christ which means we become free from this world and all the cares thereof. "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour", (1 Peter 5:8). A roaring lion produces fear in the whole jungle, unless the animals know that they out number the lion. See he's roaring to get one of God's sheep alone so he can devour them. By staying in the protection and care of the Good Shepherd and listening to His voice alone, we do not stray outside the flock were we can be devoured. The fight between you and Satan is a personal one and the only protection you have is the Christ in you the Hope of Glory!!! Today, listen to the voice of your Savior and when the Lion Roars, keep your eyes fixed on Christ, STAND!!! Be Encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of living free from the Spirit of Fear on purpose!!!!!
2 Timothy 1
3 I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, 4 greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, 5 when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. 6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Spirit of Fear Volume 1, Issue 2
Discerning God's voice is hard for many of His Children. There are two main reason's why a child does not recognize their Father's voice. One is that they have not read enough of God's Word with understanding to see "how, why, and when" God speaks. If you know your best friend, you have spent years of hearing him or her talk. You know their favorite catch phrases. You know their tone in which they most likely speak, whether it is sarcasm, heartfelt, goofy, straight, angry, cheerful, or forceful. You can pick their voice out in a crowded room. If someone came to you and said that they spoke a word, you would know if it came from your best friend or not, based on their character. This is why it is so important to study the scriptures. We gain the benefit of learning how our Father speaks, what is in His Character, and how He deals with His children directly.
The other reason why the Children of God cannot discern His voice is due to distractions. Many do not understand that God loves to talk to His children daily, but we do not take the time to listen. How many times in our own lives did we have wise counsel from a parent, family member, or friend and we ignored it based on our own motives or self knowledge. God wishes that all His sheep know His voice and will not answer to any other Shepperd. "But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers", (John 10:2-5).
God's children should know with everything in their body, that He does not speak in a Spirit of Fear. When we feel fear, that is not God's voice. Does God warn us about troubles and certain roads not to travel down, of course He does, but it's with a caring and peaceful voice!!! We are to fear God, not with the same fear that the enemy evokes, but this fear is actually respect. We are to respect God our Father with a reverence for His Holiness. When you hear that voice and it is evoking fear or takes you back to a dark place in your life that brings fear, that is the voice of the enemy. God tells his children well over a hundred times in the bible to "Take Courage" or "Fear Not"!!! Our Father is not double minded. We are to know our Father's voice and to know that He gives us a Spirit of Power, Love, and a Sound Mind (Strength) as we see below. Today, listen to you Daddy's voice and hear the Goodness of His Will, Fear Not!!! Be Encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of living free from the Spirit of Fear on purpose!!!!!
2 Timothy 1
3 I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, 4 greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, 5 when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. 6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
The other reason why the Children of God cannot discern His voice is due to distractions. Many do not understand that God loves to talk to His children daily, but we do not take the time to listen. How many times in our own lives did we have wise counsel from a parent, family member, or friend and we ignored it based on our own motives or self knowledge. God wishes that all His sheep know His voice and will not answer to any other Shepperd. "But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers", (John 10:2-5).
God's children should know with everything in their body, that He does not speak in a Spirit of Fear. When we feel fear, that is not God's voice. Does God warn us about troubles and certain roads not to travel down, of course He does, but it's with a caring and peaceful voice!!! We are to fear God, not with the same fear that the enemy evokes, but this fear is actually respect. We are to respect God our Father with a reverence for His Holiness. When you hear that voice and it is evoking fear or takes you back to a dark place in your life that brings fear, that is the voice of the enemy. God tells his children well over a hundred times in the bible to "Take Courage" or "Fear Not"!!! Our Father is not double minded. We are to know our Father's voice and to know that He gives us a Spirit of Power, Love, and a Sound Mind (Strength) as we see below. Today, listen to you Daddy's voice and hear the Goodness of His Will, Fear Not!!! Be Encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of living free from the Spirit of Fear on purpose!!!!!
2 Timothy 1
3 I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, 4 greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, 5 when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. 6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Spirit of Fear Volume 1, Issue 1
As Children of the most High God we face a Spirit of Fear daily. We face it through one of two ways, we either face it through the fact of growing deeper in our relationship with Christ and our Father, or we face it from an enemy who tries to keep us from a deeper relationship with our Father. When we look at the Word of God and it says that we must lose our life in order to find it in Him, this understandably brings fear. The fear is produced out of the wonder of the unknown. Many people suffer from bondage not because there is not freedom out there to be sought but because they have learned how to operate and function in bondage. The Son has freed us for freedom sake as it says in Galatians and we are no longer to be enslaved.
Take a man or woman who has been in jail for more than a decade. When released some will perform a crime in order to go back to the safety of the jail. They have been institutionalized in the sense that they fear life outside of the life in the jail. They have lived life more in bondage than in freedom and the fear of having to adjust and learn a new way to live becomes too frightening and they prefer to go back to the known confinements of jail. This same institutionalization has happened to many of God's children. The thought of getting salvation from the penalty of sin was one that was freeing and wonderful. The idea of allowing God to take over your life is one that brings fear because we do not want to know what life will be like without our security blankets of anger, hurt, pain, selfishness, gluttony, control, lust, vanity, and laziness. Knowing that God will strip us of all the baggage and bondage leaves us with the understanding that we will no longer be who we once were.
Who will we become??? We will be exactly what God created us to be, a vessel for His Son to be magnified through. We will operate according to His Will and not our own. We will not operate in a Spirit of Fear, but we will Live and operate out of a Spirit of Love. We will be made whole thought the burning process of a Loving Father who does not want to see His Children hurting and left in bondage to an enemy who just wants to steal, kill, and destroy!!! While living life as you always have may bring you comfort, a life lost in the Father's Hand is one that is free from Man, the penalty of Sin, the Fear of Death, and the Fear of Life!!! Today, choose freedom against bondage, life against death, love against fear, and live out the life God created you for!!! Be Encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of living free from the Spirit of Fear on purpose!!!!!
2 Timothy 1
3 I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, 4 greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, 5 when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. 6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.from the dead, 31 and for many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to our people.
Take a man or woman who has been in jail for more than a decade. When released some will perform a crime in order to go back to the safety of the jail. They have been institutionalized in the sense that they fear life outside of the life in the jail. They have lived life more in bondage than in freedom and the fear of having to adjust and learn a new way to live becomes too frightening and they prefer to go back to the known confinements of jail. This same institutionalization has happened to many of God's children. The thought of getting salvation from the penalty of sin was one that was freeing and wonderful. The idea of allowing God to take over your life is one that brings fear because we do not want to know what life will be like without our security blankets of anger, hurt, pain, selfishness, gluttony, control, lust, vanity, and laziness. Knowing that God will strip us of all the baggage and bondage leaves us with the understanding that we will no longer be who we once were.
Who will we become??? We will be exactly what God created us to be, a vessel for His Son to be magnified through. We will operate according to His Will and not our own. We will not operate in a Spirit of Fear, but we will Live and operate out of a Spirit of Love. We will be made whole thought the burning process of a Loving Father who does not want to see His Children hurting and left in bondage to an enemy who just wants to steal, kill, and destroy!!! While living life as you always have may bring you comfort, a life lost in the Father's Hand is one that is free from Man, the penalty of Sin, the Fear of Death, and the Fear of Life!!! Today, choose freedom against bondage, life against death, love against fear, and live out the life God created you for!!! Be Encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of living free from the Spirit of Fear on purpose!!!!!
2 Timothy 1
3 I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, 4 greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, 5 when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. 6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.from the dead, 31 and for many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to our people.
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