Posted by: dailywordofdestiny | March 22, 2014

COMMISSIONING: Kingdom Disciples


“For YOU ARE ALL SONS OF GOD through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are ALL ONE in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3: 26-29)

The same day you accepted Jesus Christ as the Lord of your life, you were inducted into His kingdom service. Whether you are a new recruit or an officer, you will be called to give witness to WHO it is you are fighting for and WHAT it is that you believe in. God personally decides where your weaknesses are and be assured, He will arrange circumstances that provide opportunity for further training and strengthening in those areas. He also places you where you will be effective right NOW. You are in ACTIVE DUTY from the first day of induction. There will be no time when you can say, “I’m finished and I’m out of here” … until the end of the battle (1 Corinthians 13: 11, 12). Where you live, your job, family, friends; all are part of your personal mission/training field for this moment in time. God has given you weapons of war (gifts, talents, resources, etc.) to take the land you’re in right now for His kingdom and for His glory (Matthew 25: 14-29)!

I want to share a few thoughts regarding the commissioning of Jesus’ disciples for the mission He has planned.

“So Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you'” (John 20: 21).

We are SENT by Jesus Christ. We are not sent because of the “needs of the people”, but by the COMMAND of Jesus! The Source of our inspiration in service (Psalm 37: 4) is behind us, not ahead of us. We often tend to sweep everything together in front of us and try to make it conform to our personal definition of success. The goal is to be true to Him, to His plan. I believe one of the great deceptions today is the “seduction of the secondary.” It keeps us from daily communion with Jesus. We become so overwhelmed with things and needs we see as important, we forget the need for close communication with God’s Spirit who is giving moment-to-moment orders and strategies (Proverbs 12: 15; 22: 17; John 14: 15-17).

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…” (Matthew 28: 18-20).

Jesus did NOT say, “Go and save souls.” He said, “Go…make disciples…” and you cannot make disciples unless you are a disciple yourself. The greatest tool of ministry that God gives to you is “YOU.” What do people see or not see in you? In John 13: 15 Jesus said, “I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you” (1 Peter 2: 21-24; 1 John 2: 6). Often the saving of souls becomes a passion that is NOT God directed; but is from a personal desire to make converts to our own point of view (Acts 15: 4-11). SALVATION is a supernatural work of God’s. We do NOT do the saving, He does. To become able and active disciples, we have to KNOW Him intimately in order to become like Him in character (John 14; 7-11).

I have often heard that in a marriage, the couple seems to become even physically alike as the years go by. They know what the other is going to say before they say it and what the other is thinking without asking, and so on. It is understandable because they spend time together and go through many life-events together. Over the years they will just know all there is to know about their mate. A good disciple will seek that same kind of intimacy with Jesus and over time he/she will become Christ-like in all areas of their life (1 Corinthians 13: 9-12).

“…because they went forth for His name’s sake…” (3 John 5-8).

The key for each of us as missionaries is to be attached to nothing and to no one; EXCEPT our LORD! Jesus was in touch with the everyday things in life but, He maintained an ‘inner detachment’ from the things around Him. He continually looked to God, His Father, for every need (John 6: 35-40). When we focus on and maintain our RELATIONSHIP with Jesus, through the presence of His Spirit within; our hearts become filled with His great love. It is His love that effectively works in us as we obediently make contact with all those He places around us, right where we are (1 Thessalonians 2: 13; 1 John 4: 17-19)!

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal knowledge of him. For we are to God, the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life” (2 Corinthians 2: 14-16).

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Posted by: dailywordofdestiny | March 17, 2014

(Part Two) FIREBRAND: A LIVING SACRIFICE


“But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto the LORD” (Leviticus 1: 9, 10). Command Aaron and his sons saying, This is the law of the burnt offering: It is the burnt offering, because of the burning on the altar all night unto the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be burning in it” (Leviticus 6: 9).

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present you bodies a LIVING SACRIFICE, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be NOT conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the RENEWING of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God” (Romans 8: 1, 2).

Over the next few days I ask that you would spend some time reading and thinking about the meaning of all that you read in the following teaching. Seek God; ask Him to clearly speak into your heart! Actively listen to what He tells you. I pray that you will recognize its importance to you individually and how it effects the corporate Body of Christ.

Have you ever desired to do something for God, not out of a sense of duty, but simply because you love Him? I am not talking here about a love that gives you a warm, cuddly feeling, or a love that is given only when you have time to spare. I am talking about a love that is like a FIRE that burns continually deep within your being (Song of Solomon 5: 10-16). This kind of love is so great that you would willingly die for that person. The Scripture above relates to the flaming hot and passionate love-relationship that God desires to have with each of His sons and daughters.

In preparing this lesson, I decided to look up the Hebrew and Greek meaning of some key words within the above verses. As I did, Holy Spirit gave me new revelation of His Word. In the Old Testament we read that the sacrifice for the burnt offering was to be a male without blemish (Leviticus 1: 10). MALE (to be mindful, bring to remembrance) and WITHOUT BLEMISH (entire, integrity, truth; uprightly “whole”). Therefore, I understand this to mean that the sacrifice had to be PURE.

We then read that the INWARDS (heart, inward (self) thought) and the LEGS (from knee to ankle; to bend the knee, prostrate, bow) have to be WASHED (life; semen) first. This suggests that our heart and thought life must be humbly submitted to God to be filled with His life. You see, the love of God is not created; it is His very nature. When we receive the Life of Christ through faith, Holy Spirit begins to UNITE us with God so that His love is demonstrated within us! Holy Spirit also gives us revelation of God’s will and love through His Word.

The PRIEST (one officiating; chief ruler) then lays all of it on the ALTAR (slay; kill) to be a BURNT (stairs ascending; come up) SACRIFICE (slaughter flesh). I believe this refers to each of our ‘old nature’; basically the parts of our life we want to hold on to, even though we have supposedly died to it. We have been given “free will” so we are the chief ruler who makes an active choice about whether we will allow the slaughter of our FLESH nature. It is only when we choose to bow in submission to the Lord through our obedience to what He clearly states in His Word; and through prayer, that we will come up to the higher call God has placed upon our life. I believe this verse also alludes to whether we are willing to pay the cost of discipleship. 1 Samuel 24:24, “But the king (David) replied to Araunah, ‘No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.’ ” Jesus also addresses the cost of discipleship in Luke 14: 25-33.

The OFFERING (something brought near the altar; a sacrificial present; to bring near, join) made by FIRE (flaming; hot) is of a SWEET (pleasant, delight; to rest, dwell) SAVOR (odor, breathe, makes quick understanding) unto the Lord. This is so awesome I hardly know how to get the message to you. Our choice to passionately love God so much that we choose to slaughter our old nature is actually CAUSED BY HIM to JOIN US TO HIM! It is then with great joy that He comes and dwells within us. As many of you already know; it is only when we live with someone that we really get to KNOW them!

The last line of verse 9 also says that the fire on the altar is burning all the time. To me this means that our “flesh” has to be continually slain; moment to moment. It doesn’t say that it’s totally gone in the first few flames; Oh, no! It can take a LIFETIME of continual burning to get rid of all of “self”. I love the last part, “and the fire of the altar shall be burning IN IT.” Daily, as we willingly choose to offer our lives (body, soul, and spirit) to be washed with and in His LIFE! Holy Spirit’s FIRE and PASSION will burn in and through us! Hallelujah! What a promise for all who would choose to believe!

The words in Romans 12: 1,2 confirm the Old Testament scriptures just spoken of. They say we are to present our BODY (sound “whole”; save self) as a LIVING (lifetime) SACRIFICE (slaughter for any purpose; the act, or the victim). The Word of God calls us to slaughter our SELF our whole lifetime; to be purified and ready to be used in whatever capacity He chooses. Sacrifice is an ACT of intent; we choose to do it. God waits to see if we will submit to being a burnt offering.

The end of verse 1 basically says that we aren’t doing Him a favor by offering our all to Him but, that it is our reasonable service. I believe this to be an important KEY to discipleship. I see that the offering of our self as a living sacrifice is actually RATIONAL WORSHIP. It is the highest form of worship we can give to God because it’s performed with the heart, mind, and soul of intelligent beings, in contrast to the worship of idols (Romans 1: 25).

Finally, I ask you to read John 17: 13-19; 1 Thessalonians 5: 19-24; Hebrews 13; 11-15; Titus 2: 11-15. JESUS was the perfect Lamb, slain from the foundation of the world. He was Himself an offering for us, an offering and sacrifice to God, for a sweet-smelling aroma. It is done; Jesus paid the price (sacrifice) for all! For those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior; “We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death (dying to self) for Jesus’ sake, so that His life may be revealed in our mortal body…” (2 Corinthians 4: 10-12). It is through our COMPLETE surrender and passionate love for Him that we then become transformed through a supernatural change in our spirits because we become totally ONE with Him. When we carry the continually burning FIRE OF HIS PRESENCE within us… we are truly His FIREBRANDS. Wherever we go, He goes with us, to ignite the world with a passion for more of Him.

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Posted by: dailywordofdestiny | March 9, 2014

FIREBRAND


“And the LORD spake unto Moses saying, ‘Command Aaron and his sons saying, This is the law of the burnt offering: It is the burnt offering because of the burning upon the altar all night unto morning, and the FIRE of the altar shall be burning IN IT…. And the FIRE upon the altar shall be burning; it shall not be put out: and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order upon it; and he shall burn thereon the FAT of the peace offerings. The FIRE shall EVER be burning upon the altar; IT SHALL NEVER GO OUT’.” (Leviticus 6: 8-13)

Firebrand: a burning stick taken out of the fire; a person who causes trouble (Oxford Dictionary).

Fire: In the Bible, fire often appears as a symbol of God’s presence and power (Genesis 15: 17-21). Fire worship was practiced and still is in many cultures (Deuteronomy 12: 29-32). In the Old Testament, fire and flame were closely associated with Israel’s worship and religious life. The consumption of offerings by flame assured them that God had accepted the people’s sacrifices (Leviticus Chap. 1-10; Judges 6: 18-22; 1 Kings 18: 25-40). There are numerous references to fire as a symbol of God’s judgment on wickedness and unbelief; God is as a “consuming fire” (Exodus 24: 15-18; Hebrews 12: 25-29). Fire is also pictured as God’s agent to purify and illuminate. The coming Messenger of the Lord is portrayed as a “refiner’s fire” (Malachi 3: 1-5). The tongues “as a fire” came with the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost; reinforcing the purging and illuminating quality of God’s Truth (Acts 2: 1-8).

In the year 2002 God gave me the word firebrand and had me do a word study on it. I had never done a word study. I diligently looked up the word in the Concordance and read every outlined verse of Scripture. I went to every Scripture cross-reference and read each of them. After a couple of weeks I phoned a friend and asked her how long a word study was to take. Her wise response was, “Until you get the message God is trying to give to you.” Well, I eventually did get the message: “You are My firebrand; you are to go to those whose heart embers are dying and you are to stir the embers until they are red hot again (Revelation 2: 4-7). Then you are to pluck them out and scatter them and they will ignite a brushfire that shall consume the enemy before and around them” (Judges 15: 1-5). I was excited beyond measure, but found that weeks and months passed and nothing happened. I finally just packed the study away.

Years have passed and a lot has changed in my life since 2002. The Lord has taught me much about myself and I now realize that every day is time in training to become more like Jesus. He will place you in situations that will squeeze, stretch, pull apart, and burn the flesh right out of you. For many years I ran from Him in rebellion, but one day, He reached into the burning chaos of my self-made life and pulled me out.

Psalm 18 is one of my many favorite passages of Scripture. This written Word speaks of my life and perhaps yours as well. The verses that thrill me to the very core of my being are those that say God HEARS our cry and He LEAPS up to fly to our rescue: “…there went up a smoke out of His nostrils, and FIRE out of His mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it (vs. 8). At the brightness that was before Him His thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of FIRE. The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave His voice; hail stones and coals of FIRE.” (vs. 12, 13) Then, some of the greatest verses of His love; verses 16-19, “He sent from above, He took me, He drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me. They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay. He brought me forth also into a large place; He delivered me, BECAUSE HE DELIGHTED IN ME.” Hallelujah! Oh what a SAVIOR!

Well, I made a PRO-CHOICE for Jesus and He now reigns as Lord of my life. It was for this very season in time that I was in preparation; because He is NOW using me as His burning stick. I am one of many He has pulled from the fire of destruction and who are now causing trouble for the enemy… I am, you are, a FIREBRAND! In the above Scripture you see the FIRE is in His mouth; it is in ours as well… IF we are reborn and allowing His renewal in every part of our life. In Isaiah (Isaiah; Chap 6) verse 5, “Then said I, Woe is me! For I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.” The Lord showed Isaiah his NEED for renewal and when Isaiah recognized his need, the LIVE COAL was laid upon his MOUTH by the seraphim and then the Lord said, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then said I (you), “Here am I; send me (us)” (vs. 8). In Revelation 19:15 it tells us of Christ’s return and the verse says, “And out of HIS MOUTH goeth a sharp sword, THAT WITH IT HE SHOULD SMITE THE NATIONS: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.”

The KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS will use the Word of God to judge the nations. We will be judged according to our obedience to His WRITTEN WORD! “Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18: 25; John 5: 28-30). He will deal fairly when He judges the secrets of men and women by Jesus Christ according to His Gospel. In every nation there are those who fear Him, and work righteousness and are acceptable to Him. And He, JESUS, whom God raised on the third day, anointed of the Holy Spirit and with power, shall judge the quick and the dead. And whoever believes in Him shall receive remission of sins (Romans 2: 1-16).

My question to you: “Are you a blazing firebrand… ready to be used?”

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Posted by: dailywordofdestiny | March 4, 2014

CHANGE … I MAKE ALL THINGS NEW!


“Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown in the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?…But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6: 30-34).

Putting God’s kingdom first must take priority as each of us pursue His call on our life. It requires that we turn first to His Word, which is the atmosphere in which we are able to understand His will, recognize His way of doing things, and it opens our ears to hear the voice of Holy Spirit (Psalm 119: 18). We must watch for the little things, the small signs along the way, not in the great wind, earthquake, or fire, but rather in the “still small voice” (1 Kings 19: 11-13). Often it is the small, seemingly insignificant things or events that ultimately determine our destiny. God will open unexpected doors that usher us into His plan and purpose (Revelation 3: 7, 8) and when He does, and there is clearly no question that it is God opening the door—not yourself or someone else—move forward! (2 Samuel 5: 17-25).

Hebrews 11 is a passage of Scripture that truly BUILDS MY FAITH!
Faith: established conviction concerning things unseen and settled expectation of future reward. It is the TITLE DEED of the things I hope for and my assurance rests in God’s promises (2 Corinthians 1: 20-22). The people of faith listed in Hebrews 11 obtained a good report not because of achievements, personal holiness, or passive acceptance of God’s divine promises, but by ACTIVE OBEDIENCE, PERSISTENCE, and SACRIFICE! These people maintained their faith that God would do what He said and because of their close relationship with God, they could not feel at home in their earthly surroundings. Their personal shortcomings were overcome as they looked away from themselves to the greatness of God (John 3: 30).

Faith does not provide exemption from hardships, trials, or tragedy. The experience of such difficulties DOES NOT imply that the people undergoing them possess less faith than those who are not afflicted. The same faith that enables some to escape trouble enables others to endure it. The same faith that delivers some from death enables others to die victoriously. Faith is not a bridge over troubled waters; it is a pathway through them. Discerning the pathway and the source of any hardships requires aggressive prayer and worship (praise and thanksgiving) and it is through these means that God’s perspective becomes focused! Hallelujah!

I have a dear friend and sister in Christ who recently decided to quit taking chemotherapy. She did this only after much prayer and waiting on Holy Spirit’s direction. Two weeks ago she called and told me she wanted to meet with me for prayer. I believed she wanted me to pray in agreement with her for strength and continued healing; she didn’t. She felt God wanted her to anoint me and pray for the next phase of my ministry … to pray for Him to grant me wisdom and strength, to bring my focus clearly onto Jesus and His righteousness. I cannot tell you how humbled I felt in the presence of Holy Spirit’s anointing on this FAITH-FILLED woman of God. A couple of hours earlier she had shared with me her experience of going through the most excruciating pain she’d ever had and it had occurred that very morning. As she was relating what had happened, I just KNEW she had reached that place of God’s perfect REST. Until that afternoon, I had often wondered about God’s promise of REST:
“Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it … but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it…” (Hebrews 4: 1-5).

Hearing the Gospel is not enough; it must also be BELIEVED! My friend believes God’s Word is truth and she stands on His promises regardless of what is happening in her body or in the world circumstances surrounding her. She said that the pain was so intense that she could only cry, but then she began to call on Jesus and she said a great peace began to arise within her. As she continued to praise Him and thank Him for His peace, more peace came until the peace took her out of the pain. I thought of the Scripture in Psalm 110: 1, “The LORD said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.'” Oh hallelujah! Friends, I remind you of one of God’s promises clearly stated, “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus …” (Ephesians 2: 4-10). My sister BELIEVED and she RECEIVED His promise and she came to that place in Him FAR ABOVE all principalities and powers of darkness (Ephesians 6: 10-13) and the enemy knew she had won the victory and her pain went away! What testimony of His greatness; of His unconditional love! I give Him praise! HALLELUJAH JESUS!

We all need to find that place of peace in Him each day. That place where no matter what is happening within your individual lives, or around you; you can be CENTERED in Jesus; in perfect peace. I believe the Lord is taking me down a new path in these coming days. It has been increasing in my spirit since November 1, 2008 and He has provided many witnesses to attest that it is time to begin. I believe He wants me to be bolder in speaking to the Church; that time is short and there is much to be accomplished in these next weeks and months. I am not sure what will be done, but I have peace about it all. I KNOW He has a plan and I am very eager to work with Him in any way He chooses to use me. I have had two people prophecy that I am in His “Secret Service” and I believe that to be so; for both myself and for many of you as well.

The LORD would have me say to you:
“BUT this is a NEW DAY; the trumpet has sounded the battle cry and I call out to you dry bones, “STAND UP and LIVE!”
I say to you bones, “YOU ARE ALIVE IN MY SON, JESUS!” I SEE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF YOU, WHO ONCE FELT LOST, HOPELESS, DISCOURAGED, REJECTED, AND ABANDONED. I SEE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS WHO ONCE FELT NO ONE LOVED THEM! BUT SUDDENLY, YOU ARE FEELING MY LIFE, MY FIRE BURNING WITHIN YOUR SPIRIT AND YOU CAN’T STAY DOWN; YOU ARE GETTING UP, YOU ARE PICKING UP YOUR ARMOR AND MANY OF YOU ARE BEGINNING TO POLISH IT AND AS YOU DO THIS, JOY IS RISING UP WITHIN YOUR SPIRIT. YOU PICK UP YOUR RUSTY SWORD AND BEGIN POLISHING IT AND AS YOU DO, YOU ARE FEELING GREAT ENERGY SURGING UP WITHIN YOU. YOU STAND NOW, WITH THE THOUSANDS OF OTHERS AROUND YOU; A MIGHTY ARMY SHINING WITH MY GLORY! STAND QUIETLY, FULLY ALERT, AND LISTEN FOR MY STILL, SMALL VOICE … YOU WILL HEAR ME SHORTLY.” (2 Samuel 5: 23-25).

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Posted by: dailywordofdestiny | March 2, 2014

SEDUCTION OF THE SECONDARY


“For YOU ARE ALL SONS OF GOD through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized INTO Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are ALL ONE in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s SEED, and HEIRS according to the promise.” (Galatians 3: 26-29)

The same day you accepted Jesus Christ as the Lord of your life, you were inducted into His kingdom service. Whether you are a new recruit or an officer, you will be called to give witness to WHO it is you are fighting for and WHAT it is that you believe in. God personally decides where your weaknesses are and be assured, He will arrange circumstances that provide opportunity for further training and strengthening in those areas. He also places you where you will be effective right NOW. You are in ACTIVE DUTY from the first day of induction. There will be no time when you can say, “I’m finished and I’m out of here” … until the end of the battle (1 Corinthians 13: 11, 12). Where you live, your job, family, friends; all are part of your personal mission/training field for this moment in time. God has given you weapons of war (gifts, talents, resources, etc.) to take the land you’re in right now for His kingdom and for His glory (Matthew 25: 14-29)!

I want to share a few thoughts regarding the commissioning of Jesus’ disciples for the mission He has planned.

“So Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you'” (John 20: 21).

We are SENT by Jesus Christ. We are not sent because of the “needs of the people”, but by the COMMAND of Jesus! The Source of our inspiration in service (Psalm 37: 4) is behind us, not ahead of us. We often tend to sweep everything together in front of us and try to make it CONFORM to OUR DEFINITION OF SUCCESS. The goal is to be true to Him, to His plan. I believe one of the great deceptions today is the “seduction of the secondary”. It keeps us from daily communion with Jesus. We become so overwhelmed with things and needs we see as important, we forget the need for close communication with God’s Spirit who is giving moment-to-moment orders and strategies (Proverbs 12: 15; 22: 17; John 14: 15-17).

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…” (Matthew 28: 18-20).

Jesus did NOT say, “Go and save souls”. He said, “Go…make disciples…” and you cannot make disciples unless you are a disciple yourself. The greatest tool of ministry that God gives to you is “YOU”. WHAT DO PEOPLE SEE, or NOT SEE IN YOU? In John 13: 15 Jesus said, “I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you” (1 Peter 2: 21-24; 1 John 2: 6). Often the saving of souls becomes a passion that is NOT God directed; but is from a personal desire to make converts to our own point of view (Acts 15: 4-11). SALVATION is a supernatural work of God’s. We do NOT do the saving, He does. To become ABLE disciples, we have to KNOW Him intimately in order to become LIKE Him in character (John 14; 7-11).

I have often heard that in a marriage, the couple seems to become even physically alike as the years go by. They KNOW what the other is going to say before they say it and what the other is thinking without asking, and so on. It is understandable because they spend time together and go through many life-events together. Over the years they JUST KNOW all there is to know about their mate. A good disciple will seek that same kind of intimacy with Jesus and over time he/she will become Christ-like in all areas of their life (1 Corinthians 13: 9-12).

“…because they went forth for His name’s sake…” (3 John 5-8).

The key for each of us as missionaries is to be ATTACHED to NOTHING and to no one; EXCEPT our LORD! Jesus was in touch with the everyday things in life but, He maintained an INNER DETACHMENT from the things around Him. He continually looked to God, His Father for every need (John 6: 35-40). When we focus on and maintain our RELATIONSHIP with Jesus, through the presence of His Spirit within; our hearts become filled with His great love. It is HIS LOVE that effectively works in us as we obediently make contact with all those He places around us, RIGHT WHERE WE ARE! (1 Thessalonians 2: 13; 1 John 4: 17-19)

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal knowledge of him. For we are to God, the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life” (2 Corinthians 2: 14-16).

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Posted by: dailywordofdestiny | February 27, 2014

A SPIRITUAL GIANT


“David said to the Philistine, ‘You come against me with a sword and a spear and javelin, but I come against you in the NAME of the LORD ALMIGHTY, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the WHOLE WORLD WILL KNOW that it is NOT by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the BATTLE IS THE LORD’S, and He will give all of you into our hands.’ ” (1Samuel 17: 45-47)

In the past I have begged God to make me into a greatly muscled, spiritual giant; to make my life so “super strong” that Satan and all his hosts couldn’t touch me! I studied God’s Word, prayed and even fasted on many occasions, went to Church each week, took several spiritual-building classes, read many Christian books, and really did study hard to DO ALL the RIGHT THINGS to get me into the “SPECIAL FORCES’ (Romans 9). Months and years passed and I waited expectantly to be called up into the higher ranks, or to the frontline because I presumed I was READY for any battle that God could call me to. In fact, the bigger I thought the battle, the more my arms would wave about to get God’s attention: “Here I am God, send me! I can do it, I want to do it!” Do you ever wonder if God is BLIND to the fact that you have GRADUATED from boot-camp; that you’re NOT in TRAINING anymore?

One day, I was studying Ephesians 6 and Holy Spirit used the verses 10-18 to tell me that God DID HEAR me and that He DID KNOW where I was and how ready I was. The words seemed to say, “BE STRONG IN HIS LOVE and IN THE POWER OF HIS GRACE.” As I pondered this thought, I realized that the strength of God is LOVE; the whole armor of God is LOVE, and the wisdom of God to use it is LOVE. I had not realized that the “battle or crisis” isn’t the end in itself. A crisis does NOT build something within us; it simply REVEALS WHAT WE ARE MADE OF ALREADY (Proverbs 24:10). God revealed to me that my daily surroundings have been engineered by Him and how I react in, or to them are my “spiritual-building nutrients.”

Each day God places me in situations, or around individuals that REALLY STRETCH my spiritual muscles. There have been MANY times that my TRUE COLORS begin bleeding to the surface through my façade of self-righteousness. I’ve often heard that the NEGATIVES we see in someone else are really the reflection of your own character; I believe this to be true. Holy Spirit scrubs away our DELUSIONS of GRANDEUR and EXPOSES our nakedness and need for the covering of God’s mercy and grace!

If I am to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, I will be made a disciple supernaturally. Jesus told His disciples that they were to tarry until they were ENDUED WITH POWER from on High (Acts 1: 4-9). It is Holy Spirit who recreates my heart muscle by filling it with God’s LOVE. He breathes in LOVE’S ability to use words that are filled with power (Matthew 12: 33-37). Out of the abundance of this NEW HEART of LOVE, I cannot speak words of bitterness, arrogance, anger, malice, envy, etc. As with David, I come with God’s Words and no human being has a shield that can protect them from words burning with God’s LOVE (1Corinthians 13).

At present, I continue to train in God’s boot-camp. God brings new and daily exercises to strengthen and bring definition to the muscles of this body. I have come to accept that He is my personal Trainer and He has me right where I am for His overall plan. Sometimes, I do get called up to the front lines and I go willingly, knowing it is in His LOVE and GRACE that I will find my strength.

My question this week: “What shape are you in; who is your personal trainer?”

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Posted by: dailywordofdestiny | February 24, 2014

NEW BIRTH


“Jesus replied, ‘With all the earnestness I possess I tell you this: Unless you are born again, you can never get into the Kingdom of God.’ ” (John 3: 3)

Holy Spirit has guided this week’s writing to speak to those of you who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus or, to those of you who have come to a dead-end in your relationship with Him.

A conversation between Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader and Jesus is covered in John 3:1-7. In verse 6 Jesus says, “Men can only reproduce human life, but the Holy Spirit gives NEW LIFE from heaven.”

In a past article I spoke of God’s nature which is LOVE (Agapa). Christianity is God imparting His nature to our spirits; recreating them. Ezekiel 36: 26 becomes prophecy fulfilled; “And I will give you a NEW heart – I will give you NEW and right desires – and put a NEW spirit within you. I will take out your stony hearts of sin and I will give you NEW hearts of love.” Heart and spirit is the same thing; your spirit is your REAL SELF (your conscience).

So what He was saying to Nicodemus was, “I’m going to take out the old self and give you a NEW SELF that is born of Me. I am going to give birth to a New Self in you. The New Self will know Me and will understand Me and will enjoy My company. Holy Spirit will take all of My abilities and My nature and impart them into your New Self.”

What I say is true; it is the reality of God breaking into the sense realm of fallen man. It is God imparting His own nature into the human spirit. “And He (Jesus) is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature.” (Hebrews 1:3). Holy Spirit changes our nature to become like Jesus Christ’s!

Colossians: Chapter 1 says all this very well and it would be more understandable to read it in the New International Version or the Living Bible translation. I draw attention to verse 27: “And this is the secret: that Christ in your hearts (spirits) is your only hope of glory.” (Living Bible)

Matthew 5:3, “Blessed are the POOR in spirit (hungry in heart)…for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” We must know that we NEED salvation. The Bible says, “For ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3: 23) All of us are sinners and face God’s judgment. The consequence of sin is separation from God (go back and read earlier articles). Since God is the SOURCE of LIFE, eternal separation from Him means ETERNAL DEATH (Romans 6: 23). John 3:16 clearly states how you can have salvation and eternal life. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5: 8).

Have you personally trusted Jesus as your Lord and Savior? If so, then on the authority of God’s Word you have eternal life.

IF NOT…you can trust Him right now! The Bibles says, “EVERYONE who calls on the name of the Lord WILL be saved” (Romans 10: 13). You can receive Jesus as Lord of your life RIGHT NOW by praying a prayer like this:

“Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe that You are the Son of God and that You came to this earth as God in the flesh; that You loved me so much, You chose to die for my sins. You were raised from the dead and are alive in heaven right now and will soon come back for all who know You as Lord. I want You to come into my life and into my heart right now and take the sin from my life. I want to turn away from my sins and live for You. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. Amen.”

Be ASSURED of your salvation; BELIEVE by faith you are a NEW CREATION and Holy Spirit will begin to change you…from the inside to the outside. You will NEVER BE THE SAME and for the first time you will experience the PEACE in knowing you have ETERNAL LIFE! The presence of the LIVING GOD (Holy Spirit) now lives within you to make you into the image of JESUS. There is nothing you have to do except believe that He IS ABLE to make all things NEW!

God bless you as you begin NEW LIFE!

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Posted by: dailywordofdestiny | February 22, 2014

BLESSED ASSURANCE


“…Yet I am not ashamed, because I KNOW Whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He IS ABLE to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day” (2 Timothy 1: 12).

The song, “Blessed Assurance” has words that ring like bells through my spirit and soul; how awesome is our God, that He is able to bring this heart such joy and such peace amid the tumultuous world about me! I praise His holy name!

I am bursting with love for my Jesus. He has given me assurance of eternal life and oh how glorious that will be. I am a joint heir with Jesus, God’s Son because of the cross of Calvary. Jesus purchased my salvation; I am filled with His Spirit and I am washed clean in His blood. His blood; what wonderful POWER there is in His blood, power to break chains of slavery, to forgive ALL my sin, to heal every cell in my body, and to protect me. Hallelujah!

Awake, you who sleep; arise from the dead and Christ will give you light. It is high time to awaken out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed (Ephesians 5: 13-20). Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation (Romans 13: 11-14; 1 Thessalonians 5: 4-9). Gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Be of good courage, and let us be strong for our people and for the cities of our God. Watch and pray; stand fast in the faith, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.

“Arise and shine for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you and His glory will be seen upon you (Isaiah 60: 1-3).

“An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord. This shall be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests” (Luke 2: 9-14; John 17).

As the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself. As the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life (1 John 5: 11, 12). Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift (2 Corinthians 9: 15)!

“Make a JOYFUL SHOUT to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name” (Psalm 100: 1- 4). “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be on His shoulder. And HIS NAME will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9: 6; Luke 1: 46, 47). Hallelujah!!

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be GLORY and MAJESTY, DOMINION and POWER, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before ALL ages, NOW and FOREVERMORE! Amen” (Jude 24, 25).

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Posted by: dailywordofdestiny | February 19, 2014

RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE


“YOU are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let YOUR light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5: 14-16)

I was blessed by the opportunity to bring an extra message this month. I have not had much time in prayer for this particular word, but on the way home from work tonight Holy Spirit brought the following thoughts into my spirit. I acknowledge His presence and direction as I write.

There are many great ministries in the world today. Some preachers have congregations that number in the thousands. I imagine that any pastor alive would be extremely happy if their weekly attendance averaged one thousand, or perhaps one hundred. What would they think about fifty, or how about five? What if there was only ONE? If you were the pastor, would you be disheartened with preaching to one person every Sunday? I know of one man who didn’t care. In fact, I believe he was just as excited about ministering to one as he was to five thousand. Jesus, the Son of Man, ministered in obedience to His Father, and He ministered out of love, compassion, and wisdom to all people individually (John 4: 7-26) or, in a large group (Luke 9: 10-20).

There have been many times I’ve had “brain storms” in how to do a ministry outreach. I’d be “on fire” with ideas and with getting programs, letters, etc. all printed with the great expectation of at LEAST a hundred gathering to be blessed by what I had to say! My best friend would say, “Judy, I think you’re way ahead of God”, or something similar. I’d turn to her and say, “No, I KNOW it is God and He has a plan. God will bring those He wants and whether there’s one or a thousand, it will be spectacular!” I never for a moment let up in my determination to complete the “mission” and finally the big night would arrive.

Well, I have to tell you, there were never ONE hundred there, nor fifty either. Most of the time it was twenty or less; sometimes it was only five and they were frequently friends who felt obligated through “association.” But, I have to say, there was never a single time that I did not feel God’s presence in a special way and every time there was at least ONE person who KNEW the message, or timing, was for them personally and that it had been orchestrated by God!

Many people ask me to pray for them, their family, and ministry. Often the request involves agreeing with them for a DIFFERENT “set of circumstances.” I believe God has placed each of us EXACTLY where He wants us for a specific time. We may not LIKE where we are. Things around us may not be going exactly the way we envisioned. However, it may be that God needs to “prune us” (John 15: 1-8); “renew” more of our inner man (2 Corinthians 4: 16-18); help us recognize our “need for Him” (Matthew 5: 1-10); or, draw us into a “deeper relationship” with Him (Psalm 139: 7-12). I want to suggest ONE other valid reason we are right where we are. It is because there is at least ONE “SOUL” where you are who needs the comfort, love, or reassurance that ONLY YOU can give; it is a “DIVINE APPOINTMENT” (2 Corinthians 1: 3-5). Jesus ministered to ordinary, hurting, sick people every day as He walked from one place to another; every individual was important (Mark 10: 46-52).

I encourage each of you to look around and see if there is not an OPPORTUNITY for a SPECTACULAR ministry right before you in ONE life.

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Posted by: dailywordofdestiny | February 14, 2014

LOVE


“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 John 4: 7,8)

‘Love’ is a very confusing concept these days. People use the word ‘love’ to describe very different things: people ‘love’ their dog, ‘love’ their car, a dress, a boiled egg, a sexually intimate partner, a song, a book, a movie, a country, and the list goes on.

What can ‘love’ possibly mean if it applies equally well to a person, food, pet, thing, etc.?

Everyone believes that love is important, but love is usually thought of as a feeling and feelings can and do change according to external/internal conditions in and around a person’s life. In reality, ‘love’ always involves CHOICE and an ACTION. You will display your love or lack of love in the CHOICES you make and in the ACTIONS you take in any given relationship.

There are two Greek meanings for love: ‘phileo’ and ‘agapao’. At times ‘love’ is practiced within the scope of each meaning; at other times the meanings get mixed together (like the scrambled egg). Jesus addressed this very issue with Peter in John 21: 15-19.

Phileo means to have ‘tender affection and feeling’ for something or someone and it is often more ‘impulsive’. This is the love a man may have for a son or daughter, a wife, a mother. The meaning of this ‘love type’ conveys the thought of cherishing the ‘object’ above all else.

In today’s world system we frequently see a negative ‘twist’ stirred into choices made and actions taken in the ‘name of love’. I have frequently heard it said, “It just happened; I just knew she/he was the one”. I have also noted that there appears to be no attached consequences, no responsibility, no lasting quality, and that it can change as quickly as the weather. I see this as the kind of love that makes a person ‘feel good’ and it is all right to sacrifice your moral principles and the other’s rights in order to obtain such a love.

The other word, agapao (agape) means ‘to have esteem or high regard for’ and it is used in several different ways in the Bible. It is love that is born out of respect and the feelings that develop in this relationship occur over time. There is genuine ‘caring for’ the other person; placing their comfort above your own.

Agape love is seen in God’s love toward His Son (John 17: 26) and toward the human race (Romans 5: 8). It is the love that God desires His children to have for each other (John 13: 34, 35) and it expresses the very ‘nature’ of God (1John 4: 7, 8). This kind of love can be known only from the positive actions it prompts, as seen in God’s gift of His Son (1 John 4: 9, 10).

Agape love is like ‘oil’ to the wheels of obedience. I am not forced to love my brother or sister; I do it because of my love for Jesus. I make a CHOICE to love others (friend, foe, brother, sister, black, white, rich, poor) and this ‘Spirit-inspired’ love never fails (1Corinthians 13: 3) and it always grows.

God’s love is the SOURCE of all human love and it spreads like fire. In loving His children, God kindles a flame in their hearts. In turn, they love others, who are warmed by God’s love through them. GOD IS LOVE. His love surpasses our powers of understanding; it is everlasting, it is free, it is sacrificial and it endures to the end.

RECEIVE HIS GIFT OF LOVE TODAY!

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” (John 3: 16, 17)

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