What Are You Hearing?

With so many opinions, ideas, and perspectives in the world today, it is critical that Christians know the truth of God’s Word and allow it to be the final authority in their lives. This means finding out what the Word has to say for ourselves through our personal study time, along with asking the Holy Spirit to illuminate the Scriptures to us. It also means making sure we are receiving sound, Bible-based teaching that does not add or take away from the Scriptures. In these last days, deception about the Word is abounding; and there are individuals in ministry who are preaching and teaching, but what they are sharing with their congregations does not line up with the Word of God.

Receiving proper teaching from the Bible from someone who is a seasoned, proven, man or woman of God with the character to back up their calling, is essential to staying on the right path as a Christian. Otherwise, you run the risk of being led in a direction that contradicts the Word of God. This is especially true since we are living in a time when emotionalism and intellectualism are on the rise.

The Word talks about being aware of and protecting ourselves from deceptive ideas, teachings, and beliefs that contradict the pure, unadulterated Word of God. Colossians 2:8 in the Amplified Bible says this:

See to it that no one carries you off as spoil or makes you yourselves captive by his so-called philosophy and intellectualism and vain deceit (idle fancies and plain nonsense), following human tradition (men’s ideas of the material rather than the spiritual world), just crude notions following the rudimentary and elemental teachings of the universe and disregarding [the teachings of] Christ (the Messiah). Go Here to read more...

Feel free to subscribe and leave a comment. Have a blessed day!

How Strong Is Your Desire

Change begins in your mind, and you have to desire it before it becomes a reality in your life. Napoleon Hill, author of the best—selling book, Think and Grow Rich, said "The starting point of all achievement is desire. Keep this constantly in mind. Weak desires bring weak results, just as a small amount of fire makes a small amount of heat." Even when we talk to God about our problems, we must have a true desire to see manifestation. The Bible says, "…What things so ever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them" (Mark 11:24).

In John, Chapter 5, the Bible gives an illustration of how important it is to have a desire to change our circumstances. There was a pool in Jerusalem, called Bethesda, and an angel would visit this pool during a certain season and trouble the water. Whoever stepped into the bubbling water was healed of whatever illness or infirmity he or she had. Many people flocked by the multitudes to this pool to be healed. Some of them were blind, impotent and crippled. These people would wait desperately by the pool for the angel to trouble the water; however, not everyone received their healing. It was their desire to be healed that made the difference.

John 5:5, in The Amplified Bible says, "There was a certain man there who had suffered with a deep—seated and lingering disorder for thirty—eight years." Thirty–eight years is a long time to deal with a deep–seated and lingering disorder. It would be easy to take pity on the man. However, Jesus approached the situation differently. Having real compassion on the man, Jesus didn't have a pity party with him but instead asked, "…Do you want to become well? [Are you really in earnest about getting well?] (John 5:6, The Amplified Bible).

What is the deep—seated and lingering disorder in your life? Is it a healing issue? Is it a habit from which you need deliverance? No matter what area of your life is affected by trouble, you must ask yourself today, "Do I really want to get rid of this? Do I really want to be set free from this problem that has haunted me for so long?" Just picture yourself at that pool. What would you say if Jesus asked you, "Do you really want to become well?" In John 5:7, the man replied that there was no one to put him into the pool when the water was troubled. Jesus told the man to get up, pick up his bed and walk. This man instantly became well and his strength was recovered when he took initiative and stepped out on his desire to change his situation.

Understand that excuses won't get you anywhere. When you make excuses, you postpone your deliverance. Many times, you have to encourage and motivate yourself. You have to stir those desires in your heart and say to the Lord, "Yes, I really want it!" rather than make excuses.

Feel free to leave a comment. Be Blessed!

No Fear Hear!

What is fear? It is a spiritual force, just like faith. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Fear is the substance of things not hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen. You see, faith and fear operate by the same spiritual laws. One is the reciprocal, or opposite, of the other.

To better understand faith and fear, you must comprehend the platforms from which these forces operate. Everything in the Kingdom of God operates by love, and since faith works by love, it is love that forms a foundation for faith. On the other hand, the world system operates by selfishness. Therefore, fear can only stand on a platform of selfishness.

To get rid of fear, you must first address any areas of selfishness in your life. Even a fear of heights or of danger is tied to selfishness. When you are afraid for your safety, it is as if a switch in your spirit is turned on that signals a self-preservation mechanism. When you are concerned with preserving yourself, you have essentially crowned yourself god and rejected the divine protection of God. When this type of fear is in place, you actually connect yourself to the very thing you fear.

Understand there is no such thing as a “little” fear being okay. God puts those who are fearful in the same category as liars, murderers, and whoremongers! To be a Believer and harbor fear in your life is a slap in God’s face. He has given you direct access to every spiritual blessing in Heaven—from finances to protection. You have nothing to fear!

Be Blessed! Until next time...

No Worries!

Contrary to what some may believe, worry is not a harmless emotion you can afford to entertain in your life. Worry is a form of fear that will subtly find its way into your mind, will, and emotions, causing you to make decisions that are not faith-based. When your mind is constantly bombarded with concerns, cares, and fear-based thoughts, your faith is paralyzed and you put yourself in a position to see the things you don’t want to happen to come to pass. It is time for a complete overhaul in this area of our thinking, particularly in the times in which we live. Just like faith comes by hearing the Word of God, worry comes by hearing and receiving words that contradict the Word. It is not God’s will for you to worry about anything.

Second Timothy 1:7 lets us know fear is a spirit that does not come from God. Therefore, any form of fear, including worry, is unnatural and should not be tolerated on any level. Allowing fearful and anxious thoughts to take up residence in your mind opens the door for that spirit to invade every area of your life. Often, what starts out as a small concern can balloon into a full-blown fear that you never had before. Keep in mind fear has a sibling called torment. This is why fear is connected with a nagging sense of unrest. Fearful people worry and generally find very little peace. This is a clear sign of the enemy’s torment.

You may have a million things on your plate, from managing your finances and resources, to situations on the job, but Jesus said not to worry about any of them: Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?...Take therefore not thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof” (Matthew 6:25-34).

According to Jesus, there is no increase that comes from worry. In other words, it has absolutely no benefit in your life, will it change the situation. The only guarantee is negative results. The principle of meditation is, whatever you meditate on will take root in your heart and those dominant thoughts will eventually come to pass. When you worry, you are essentially supporting Satan’s plans for your life and allowing him entry.

You may be wondering how you can stop worrying once and for all. The answer is simple; first, begin filling your mind and heart with the Word of God. Second, meditate on positive things and favorable outcomes rather than negative things that may not happen. Focus on God’s love for you and trust in the covenant of peace, protection, and wholeness He has made with you. The Word alone is what will give you confidence in God’s love, ability, and provision in your life.

As Believers, we have authority over fear. When troublesome thoughts come, open your mouth and declare the Word of God with boldness. Give the devil something to worry about by showing him his fear tactics are no longer effective in your life!

DOING IT BY THE BOOK

You can’t dabble in the Word and expect to get results. You can’t just “try it out” for a while to see if the Word works. Effective faith demands a lifestyle in which you abandon yourself to the Bible. It’s an all-out commitment to live by the Word, to think by the Word, and to talk by the Word.

You see this type of resolve in the most successful people in the Bible.

Be it according to thy word. (Exodus 8:10)
Israel did according to the word. (Exodus 12:35)
The children of Levi did according to the world. (Exodus 32:28)

According to the word of the Lord they gave him the city (Joshua 19:50)
Taking heed therefore to the word of the Lord (Psalm 119:9)
Be it unto me according to thy word. (Luke 1:38)
They hearkened therefore to the world of the Lord. (1 Kings 12:24)

Whatever you do, make sure you do it according to the Word. It’s your evidence to everything you need.

Be blessed!

Sit Down!

After Jesus and the Disciples had taken an inventory of what they had, Jesus said, “Make the people sit down!” Right there, in the tenth verse (John 6:10), we see the 5,000 hungry men. If the offering wasn’t organized, if the bread had just been thrown out to them, then the strong men would’ve elbowed out the weak men, women, and children and would have eaten up all the fish and the bread.

In sitting down, you have a chance to logically arrange your priorities. I think that’s what Jesus meant in John 6:10 when he said “Have the people sit down.” All this fussing and fighting, mumbling and grumbling- sit down! All this back stabbing and backbiting—sit down! All this finger pointing and he-said, she-said, you-said, they-said—sit down! All this running here and yonder, trying to show up and show off, sit down!

Some folks runs day and night! You need to say to yourself, Sit down. Hatred, sit down. Envy, sit down. Small-mindedness, sit down. Racism, sit down. Self-centeredness, sit down. Doubt, sit down. Depression, sit down. Poverty, sit-down. We are in a spritual warfare. Don’t let any kind of thought inhabit your consciousness. Take evil thoughts into captivity. Take authority! Take an assessment! Sit-down and let God have his way in your life!

Be blessed!

"THE TITLE DEED"

Hold on to your evidence the Word of God. The Word of God contains your title deed to all the blessings of God. It may seem as if nothing positive is happening in your life. In fact, your outward circumstances may look like its getting worse. But no matter what happens, don’t let go of your title deed. The writer of Hebrews put it this way:

Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. Hebrews 10:35

Child of God, if you’re sick, get the evidence of your healing from God’s Word. If you’re lacking finances, get your evidence of prosperity. If you’re in bondage to habits, get your evidence of power over sin. If you’re depressed, get your evidence of deliverance.

No matter how hard it gets or how grim your circumstances appear, regardless of what the doctors, bankers, or neighbors say-hold on to that title deed the Word of God. God will be faithful to come through for you right on time.

Regardless of what you’re facing today, there is promise in God’s Word that address your need, a promise you can stake your very life on. Find it; then get ready to move on to the next step in God’s divine order.