Friday, 1 September 2006

Devotional from 1 September 2005

We know the problems. What are the answers?

“Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?”
LUKE 1:34-35 (KJV)

So often, we allow our minds to mislead us through unbelief and so lose the blessings of God for our lives. God’s answers come so easy. “Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” John 6:28-29 For humans who trust in what they can do to get what they want, this can hardly be an answer.

The Angel said to Mary in answer to her question over the puzzle of having a baby: “...The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.”  Luke 1:35

How often we have been overshadowed by the Holy Spirit, totally overwhelmed by this sweet influence? How often we have known and felt His power, but never allowed the Spirit seed to bring forth the Son in us?

Oh, that like Mary, we can just believe what the Angel says to us through the Word and so we can see a performance of the Promise. For it is said, “And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.” Luke 1:45

Hear me saints. If we trust in God’s revealed Word to us, if we agree that no Word of God is void of power, we shall have whatever things which God has promised us!

RECEIVE

Dr. Idem Ikon
Presiding Bishop
Revival Valley Ministries International
Calabar, Nigeria, Africa
Email: bishopikon@minister.com; bishopikon@hotmail.com

Each One!  Bless One!

May the Blessing of the LORD and Favor Continue in Your Life in Your Service to GOD.

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Saturday, 2 September 2006

Devotional from 2 September 2005

Be not misled by what you think you see; the eyes see, but the mind visualizes.

Reprobate minds see delusions!

“But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;”
ACTS 26:16 (KJV)

Gift Forfeited: Improper Handling -Poorly Packaged. Have you ever been excited by the anticipation of receiving a gift/present (especially during a holiday) only to be disappointed? Sometimes the packaging/ wrapping is sparkling and bold, neatly and carefully wrapped until the curiosity overtakes us. We rip it open only to find either the box is empty or contains what we least expect, may not even like, or not even want? On the flip side, we may receive a package that has been battered/worn by misuse or abuse, and badly damaged. We are often reluctant to receive these gifts and are quietly upset, even before we decide to open them. They don’t look like what we hoped for, nor do they meet our preconceived ideas.

Just think about how God Almighty must feel when someone rejects HIS gifts and stamps them as misfit. We grumble and complain about the blessings that HE has so generously lavished upon His people because the gift did not come in the desired wrapping, size, or avenue/resource we expected. God’s people could not possibly be so selfish, ungrateful, and negative, or could we? God has given numerous ministry and spiritual gifts for the perfecting of the body of Christ. It is by His Divine Will according to His purpose that each person was created with one or several unique gifts to give Him glory, honor, praise, and for the edification of His people. He called some as apostles, some teachers, some prophets, some evangelists; then there are those that encourage others, some with the gifts of mercy, hospitality, etc. (1 Co. 12:4, 28) According to God’s Holy Word, “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” Romans 11:29

We, as believers, must be very careful not to throw away/forfeit a gift of God simply because it has not been delivered and presented in the “right or acceptable packages.” Let us be slow to judge and quick to repent if we have rejected those that God has deemed acceptable and worthy in HIS sight. God sees the heart, while man sees the packaging! Accept God’s gifts that are placed in your life!

CONVICTION

Cheryl Ford Velasquez
Metro World Outreach Center
Email: cfvelas@hotmail.com or cfvelas@yahoo.com

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May the Blessing of the LORD and Favor Continue in Your Life in Your Service to GOD.

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Sunday, 3 September 2006

With Christ, you are always a winner. What you need is within you.

“I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me—I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me, [that is, I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency].

PHILIPPIANS 4:13 (AMP)

ottery. In a past devotional I spoke about the lottery being a cousin to sortilege, which is a relative of witchcraft. There are a number of problems with the lottery:

1) It is a form of gambling; state approved gambling much like the stock market. Gambling is sinful and takes us out of right standing with God.  

2) Playing the lottery is expecting to get a great deal with little effort. This is a contradiction of the spiritual principle of work initiated for mankind in Genesis chapter three.  

3) It gives us misplaced faith and misplaced expectation. Our faith is in Christ Jesus and our Father El-Shaddai.  Our expectation is His Kingdom come. We place our faith in the hope of winning unearned prosperity. Trying to get something big for little of nothing.

4) It positions us to pray incorrectly concerning the receiving of the winning ticket. “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” James 4:3 (KJV)  

5) The lottery is a game of chance. We are not to flow through life with chance as our alley. We are to write it down our goals and make a plan. “And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.” Habakkuk 2:2 (KJV)

      You may say, they did lottery (lots) in the Bible. I can see it now. In Old Testament days, the spiritual leaders and political leaders of the twelve tribes were trying to make a decision. The head spiritual leader says, “The Lord spoke to me and said do it this way.” There was disbelief in the group. Then someone says, “Well, I am right here, why didn’t the Lord tell me too.” You know there is always one in the crowd. Then someone else says, “Let’s pull lots and see if the Lord really said what you said He said.” Thus lottery, because someone was not strong enough to carry out what God said because of man or someone was not strong enough to follow leadership.

      Life is not easy for the rich or the poor and lots of money doesn’t make it any easier. It is better to take a chance on Jesus than hoping for salvation in the lottery. Living for God and His Son Jesus Christ is the best lottery you can play—you always win when you play Jesus.

TRY JESUS AND WIN

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Monday, 4 September 2006

Everyone is producing from their heart, fruits of some kind…bad or good.

“You know them by their fruits. So men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.”

MATTHEW 7:16-17 (NKJ)

piritual fruit - 1. Here is a mystery of spiritual fruit. Typically, we often think of spiritual fruit as the things that we do or our children, the fruit of our loins. You may have heard the expression: “Fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree,” which speaks to a child being like a parent.

      Christ Jesus says: “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.” Matthew 7:19-20 (NKJ)  Now this is the setup for this mystery. He doesn’t tell you what fruit is supposed to look like. But He does tell us what the fruit is not like. I am not saying these things are not good, but I am saying they are not fruit. Jesus says: “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” Matthew 7:22-23 (NKJ)  So fruit is not prophesying, casting out demons, nor is it doing many wonders. “Then what is fruit?” you may ask.

      Fruit is… “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them…” Matthew 7:24 (NKJ) …doing the things which Jesus told us to do. “What is that?” you may ask. Jesus said a great many things, but He did say these three big fruity things…

1. “‘And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.” Mark 12:30 

2. “And the second, like it, is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:31 (NKJ)

3. “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15 (NKJ)  The key to this passage is Jesus is not talking to ministers, pastors, bishops, or preachers but those who are called by His name, all Christians. Yes, you are called by Jesus to preach the Gospel.

      So everyone who cries, Lord, Lord, and does spiritual works in the name of the Lord is not always on the Lord's team, not always Christian in their hearts, or in their actions. But you will know them by their fruits. I will list other fruits in part two of this series. Go and produce the fruits of Christ.

PRODUCE CHRIST FRUIT

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5 September 2006

Our Christian journey is a lifestyle which depends on what we input.

“But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another,

and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

1 JOHN 1:7 (NKJ)

ere is a secret to a successful Christian life. Sometimes we fail, make mistakes, and just cannot believe we did that stupid thing again. Here are a few tips we should take with us on our Christian journey.

    Being a Christian is a lifestyle, not a belief system. Being a Christian is not denominational, theological, nor does your form of worship determine our entrance into the Kingdom of Christ and our LORD El-Elyon. It is not enough to have faith.. “But without faith it is impossible to please Him…” Hebrews 11:6a (NKJ)  It is not enough to do just do Christian work. “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 (NKJ)  It is not enough to study the Bible, the Word, but the key to a successful Christian lifestyle is to get and keep putting the Word of God in us.

      Christ is the Word. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1 (NKJ)  It is extremely important for us to read the Bible daily, or listen to the Bible daily, to study the Bible (at least weekly), to infuse our lives, our days (and if possible) our nights with God’s Holy Word. Paul shares this mystery with us, “...which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27 (NKJ)  If you cannot grasp the Spirit of Christ dwelling in you, then grasp the words of the Bible entering your eyes, your brain, your heart, and dwelling in your soul. These words hidden in your soul keeps evil which visits us from entering our dwelling place and provides a defense against the enemies of God.

      God’s Word must go into our ears and eyes; into our bodies. Note how much scripture is actually spoken in any preached message. Note when you leave church if you are listening to Christian music or secular music. Note if your children are listening to club, “booty-shaking,” “love-making” music. Christianity is a lifestyle and there are those naysayers who will say that inputting Christian music, the Bible, attending church most of your time amounts to brainwashing. Consider how much brainwashing we all receive from radio, television, print advertising, and from each other. Gauge what is going into your life and the lives of your children. Put Jesus in your life and keep Him there as LORD and KING.

INPUT JESUS

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Wednesday, 6 September 2006

The fruit of Christ is working daily for His Children as we spread His Gospel.

“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to preach the acceptable year of the LORD.”

LUKE 4:18 (NKJ)

piritual Fruit - 2. More mystery of spiritual fruit revealed. Remember, for those who are called by His name, for Christians, we walk the walk of Jesus. We walk the path of Christ’s Righteousness. We suffer as He suffered. We grow like He grows. We do what He did; He being our example.

      The signs of Christ in us are not signs and wonders. The signs are:

1) Loving God in a very personal relationship where He sees us in our nakedness. When we are in the middle of our nastiness, look around and talk to Jesus. Take Him by the hand and let Him walk you out of your situation. When out or moving towards the door, you then find a confidential Christian counselor or spiritual leader who can and will hold your confession within.

 2) Loving one another in an arena of forgiveness. Knowing that minute by minute we grow older and we grow more different; whether in heart, mind, or soul, our daily experiences changes us at the very least minutely. Therefore we have to accept a person where they are in life, as who they are in life, in an attempt to give them the Love of Christ, show them what true love is in Christ because we are all ever-changing individuals and we want people to change and emulate Christ Jesus.

 3) Sharing the Gospel of Christ to the world. Tell your family, friends, neighbors, and strangers about Christ, what He has done for you and what He can do for them. 

      “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built has house on a rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.” Matthew 7:24-25 (NKJ)  The rock is the Righteousness of Christ. The rain is the correction we receive for our spiritual growth which comes from Heaven. The floods are the challenges from man, which confront Christ’s Righteousness in us. The wind is the adversity from the enemies of God which seek to destroy us. The house, us; we do not fall because Christ holds us up. Seek the fruit of Christ’s Righteousness

SEEK THE FRUIT OF CHRIST

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May the Blessing of the LORD and Favor Continue in Your Life in Your Service to GOD.

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Thursday, 7 September 2006

Your spiritual miracle will come through your carnal adversity.

“Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his ear…”

JOHN 18:10 (NKJ)

“But Jesus answered and said, ‘Permit even this.’ And He touched his ear and healed him.”

LUKE 22:51 (NKJ)

arden of Gethsemane. Many will not agree that the spiritual comes through the carnal. Before man, there was only Spirit. With man, there is Spirit, spirit, and flesh. (That discussion is in the Flesh Man versus the Spirit Man book series.) The spiritual/eternal for man comes through the flesh. To bring it home, we have fleshly experiences which allow or make opportunity for our spirits to grow. Our evidence is Christ. The Son of God, Himself came through a flesh vessel, Jesus. We follow the path of Christ Jesus and therefore, our spirit man will grow through proper flesh activity. For saved, born-again, Spirit-filled Christians, proper or improper flesh activities will make opportunity for spiritual growth. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28 (NKJ)

      Why do we have to go through the flesh to get to the eternal or spiritual? Here is an example of a spiritual conflict to help our understanding of all this.  Let’s say a demon-filled person is heading towards you with a sword. As a Spirit-filled Christian you bind and cast out the demon. This deals with the evil. Remember, spirits have behavior patterns which they have to act out. People, being the vessels we are, pick up these behavior patterns and they become habit. These habits continue even when the evil spirit or force has been bound or has left; unless of course, if the deliverance was by Christ.

      Therefore the person running towards you with the sword, now in the physical, in the flesh has to be stopped. That is when you use the sword, as a defense, not as a destructive tool. So you see spiritual warfare is not only spiritual but also physical, spiritual and carnal. We have to fight the eternal enemies of God and man both in the flesh and in the spirit. When Peter cut of the ear of the high priest, a physical event, he was in the wrong spirit. Jesus being the correct Spirit healed his ear, a spiritual event. Look for your miracle, look for Christ, in and after your adversity.

PHYSICAL ADVERSITY—SPIRITUAL MIRACLE

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Friday, 8 September 2006

True fasting is serving God’s poor, hungry, naked, and oppressed children.

“‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and You have not seen? Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice?’ In fact, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, and exploit all your laborers.”

ISAIAH 58:3 (NKJ)

      Now let’s hear what God has to say about it. “Is such a fast as yours what I have chosen, a day for a man to humble himself with soul-sorrow? [Is true fasting merely mechanical?] Is it only to bow down his head like a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him [to indicate a condition of heart that he does not have]? Will you call this a fast and an acceptable day to the LORD?” Isaiah 58:5 (AMP)

      God goes on to say fasting is to loose the bands of wickedness which ensnares us, to release us from heavy burdens, to free us from the oppression of evil and its agents, and to break all yokes. (Isaiah 58:6)  God goes on to ask a question. Isn’t this the fast I require? “Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?” Isaiah 58:7 (KJV)  God is saying feed the hungry, bring the poor to your house, and stop trying to act like you haven’t heard what I have told you what to do; stop trying to hide your misbehaving (not doing God’s fast ordinance) from God and yourself.

      God is speaking through Isaiah the prophet and He is saying, if you fast like I require and not like you require, like man requires, suggests, or believes, this is what will happen. “Then shall your light break forth as the morning, and your healing [your restoration and the power of a new life] shall spring froth speedily; your righteousness [your rightness, your justice and your right relationship with God] shall go before you [conducting you to peace and prosperity], and the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.” Isaiah 58:8 (AMP)

      Let’s let go of “self,” letting go of ourselves, putting more weight on, working more in, and having more faith concerning the things which God said, says, and is going to say, and in what Jesus Christ is saying, rather than in what any man says, thinks, or does. Selah. God has said it all.

TRUE FASTING

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May the Blessing of the LORD and Favor Continue in Your Life in Your Service to GOD.

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Saturday, 9 September 2006

Keep your eyes on the Prize.

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

PHILIPPIANS 3:12 -14 (NIV)

he time has come that we must keep our eyes on the prize of God. It’s about time that we as Christians must be able to give up everything for the prize of God. Have you given out something (and given out of something or given up of something) to keep your eyes on the prize? Yes, indeed every “born again” Christian must do so for the prize of God. To keep my eyes on the prize, I had to give up soccer, fornication, and friends; I guess you have done the same.

      What is the prize? Prize is my pocket dictionary is defined as something won in competition. Anything worth striving for, Paul said, verse 14, “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Paul’s spiritual journey was to press toward the goal for the price of the upward call of God. He did not get hung on his mistakes or failures. Instead, he just asked God to forgive him, and he forgot about, because they were now covered with the blood of Jesus Christ.

      He kept his eyes on the prize, and he went for it! As we are keeping our eyes on prize, there will be lot of obstacles. But we must able to withstand the time. In my ministerial journey there has been a lot of obstacles, but I realize that I don’t have the power to resist it, but as it comes, I give it to the Father (Almighty God) who is the Overcomer, that is one of the ways I keep my eyes on prize. It came a time there was no finance to take care of the kids, no sponsors, no help coming from anywhere. I wrote to so many organizations but nothing was happening, teacher’s resigned, people we trusted to purchase things for us with our little resources, stole from us. But I kept my eyes on Jesus Christ who is the prize.

      The prize is eternal and everlasting life and it is in Jesus Christ. We should feel that we have already reached the top because we are speaking in tongues, or we can give prophecy, or preach and people get healed. We keep pressing on and forget those things that are left behind and keep reaching forward to those things which are ahead. In keeping eyes on the prize, we must say as Paul said in the book of 2 Timothy 4:7-8 (NKJ), “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have kept the faith. (verse 8). Finally, there is laid up for me the crown (Prize) of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but to all who have  loved His appearing.”  

KEEP PRESSING ON

Evangelist Sylvester Y. Harris
Children for Christ Ministries International
P. O. Box 1639, New Georgia Estate–West

Gardnersville, Liberia, Africa

Telephone: 011 – 231- 6528243 / 5624994 / 77206040
Email: chil4christ@yahoo.com

Please Bless the

Children for Christ Ministries International

with your Support and Prayers! 

You Make a Difference!

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May the Blessing of the LORD and Favor Continue in Your Life in Your Service to GOD.

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Sunday, 10 September 2006

Expand God’s territory; spread the Fruit of Christ to all of God’s Children.

“Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”

MATTHEW 7:19-20 (NKJ)

piritual fruit - 3. Mystery of spiritual fruit continued; the Fruit of Christ. This is not to be confused with the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22).  Most of my Christian life I fully expected the signs which show Christ was coming soon to be the manifestation of signs and wonders in preachers, evangelists, bishops, and the spiritual leaders of the church, primarily the large churches which the LORD seemed to be blessing with prosperity. Surely signs and wonders would follow the sign of prosperity.

      More recently, the Holy Spirit showed me the sign of Jonah as a sign of the near coming of Christ. (Jonah; Matthew 12:40) Everyone sees the sign of Jonah being in the whale for three days as analogous with Jesus being in the grave for three days (and let’s leave that discussion for another day). The Holy Spirit showed me some time ago that one sign is that of Jonah. Jonah going to Nineveh (an evil, idolatrous city and people) to share with the people of Nineveh about God; to spread the Gospel of Old. For Jonah to pass through the city’s gates which were adorned by statues of idols, he would not be allowed back into the Holy City of Jerusalem and definitely not back into the church. He had to lose himself in his mission; to lose “self” in God’s Work. Jesus lost “self” on the cross. This represents sign number three: go out to all the world and spread the Gospel. (Matthew 28:19; Luke 24:47)

      Every Sunday, the LORD’s Heart cries out because He sees that satan has divided His people racially, denominationally, culturally, and continues to do so any way he can. People say, “Christ is coming back soon with a mighty army.” Let’s hope He doesn’t come back soon, because surely He will not find His Church without “spot or wrinkle.” If He comes back soon, there will only be a small remnant of those who are raptured and who go back with Him or join His Army. This represents sign number two: treat your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22:39; Mark 12:31)

      This is sign number one: love. (Mark 12:33; Luke 10:27) Imagine how much you love your mother, how much you love your children, or how much you love whatever it is you love. Imagine the love you have towards anything, anyone, any place, action, or thought. Here is a small barometer of that love. How much time do you spend thinking about that person, place, or thing? How much time do you give to that person, place, or thing? Now, compare that love to the love you have towards God, towards the sick, the homeless, the imprisoned, towards Christ, the hurting, the lost, the dying, towards the Holy Spirit, the orphans, the widows, your enemies, or the true things of God. I am not talking about time at church or at church functions; I am talking about launching out into the deep in the things which are in God’s heart. Expand God’s territory in the physical, spiritual, and mental by spreading the Fruit of Christ to all of God’s Creation.

SPREAD THE FRUIT OF CHRIST

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Monday, 11 September 2006

Live in the power of God’s Glory by following Jesus’ and God’s Words.

 “If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves I behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.”

ISAIAH 58:9-10 (NIV)

rue Worship -2.  A fast is an act which people do to draw closer to God through the loss of “self.” One of the fastest ways to relieve yourself of “self” is to deprive yourself of that which the body needs. Food is a great way to physically “feel” the effects of losing “self” with the ultimate result being able to “feel” the spiritual power which follows; but this feeling is short-lived.  In all actuality, this spiritual power within, is always there, but due to our confidence in our abilities and not that of Christ, we often allow the Spiritual Power of Christ within us to lie dormant. “…For in the image of God He made man.” Genesis 9:6 (NKJ)

      A physical fast is a carnal fast. It is a fast which will only last hours, weeks, or at the most a few months before permanent bodily damage occurs; few fast for extreme periods of time. It is powerful spiritually, but it is short-lived; it is pointed and according to Jesus is used in line with prayer to deliver people from specific types of demons/evil spirits. “However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” Matthew 17:21 (NKJ)

      A spiritual fast is the type of fasting which God says is acceptable.  (Isaiah 58:6-7)  A spiritual fast last not hours, weeks, nor months, but this fast lasts a lifetime because it is a lifestyle…it is a Christ-like lifestyle. Unlike a physical/carnal fast which gives short-lived spiritual power, a spiritual fast gives lifelong spiritual power which is not “felt” but is “known.” You know through your faith, that God said what would happen if you did an acceptable fast as He ordained. “Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I…” Isaiah 58:8-9 (NIV).

      A carnal or physical fast is like using our confidence we have in our spirituality or righteousness to fight and defeat evil in our lives. A spiritual or eternal fast is like using the Confidence of Christ, our confidence in Christ Jesus to overcome, defeat, and overturn evil in the world; we have no doubt in God’s faithfulness and His Ability to do what He promised. Which would you choose? Our confidence in ourselves or our confidence in Christ Jesus?

A LIFETIME OF FASTING

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Tuesday, 12 September 2006

Trusting God in all things.

“One day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them, The LORD said to Satan, ‘Where have you come from?’ Satan answered the LORD, ‘From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it.” 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.”

                                                                                JOB 1:6-8  NIV (Job 1:6–12)

od has sovereign control as both Creator and Sustainer of the physical and spiritual universe. The recognition of this truth should govern our every thought, as well as our reactions to the situations and circumstances of life. There are times we find ourselves tested in ways that we don’t have understanding of. It is than that we must choose to believe and trust in God, regardless of what may seem to be going on around us. Although it is true that He allows us to be tested, He always set straight limits on the test (Job 2:3–6). He knows all about us (Job 7:17-18) and is intimately involved with our lives in ways we often don’t understand. We don’t understand what is going on in the midst of our adversity or the adversity of others. We can be assured that Christ is our Advocate with the Father (1 John 2:1), always pleading our case for us (Job 9:33-35; 16:19-22).

      We can never completely know or understand God in our finite (limited) minds. But as He reveals Himself to us, we can begin to comprehend His true nature. This understanding will lead us to hope in redemption to eternal life. Even in our daily lives, we are encountered with lots of problems that we can’t even understand. We wonder what is happening to us, but we continue to trust God, because He will carry us through. In every situation, we must trust God because He is bigger than the situation, and He is the author and Finisher of our faith.

One year before my wedding, I wrote a letter to God telling him I needed a wife to help me in ministry and I listed the character of my wife. He provided that character in my wife. We started dating and finally decided to marry. Before our wedding, again I called to God to provide the finances. He started the process. One week before our wedding, things began to be tough. I met my wife in town and she was very sad. So I asked her what the problem was. She said she was worried about money to bake cake and had not finished paying for my ring. I laughed and told her to keep on (focus on) Jesus. I later asked her if she could add one hair to her head. She said, “No,” and I told her God was in control. At the 9th hour, God provided and my wedding was a blessed and wonderful one, because I trusted in God. Trust in God today. Your adversity is not what it looks like.

HABITUAL TRUSTING IN GOD

Evangelist Sylvester Y. Harris
Children for Christ Ministries International
P. O. Box 1639, New Georgia Estate–West, Gardnersville

Liberia, Africa

Telephone: 011 – 231- 6528243 / 5624994 / 77206040
Email: chil4christ@yahoo.com

Please Bless the

Children for Christ Ministries International

with your Support and Prayers! 

You Make a Difference!

Each One!  Bless One!

May the Blessing of the LORD and Favor Continue in Your Life in Your Service to GOD.

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Wednesday, 13 September 2006

Take it all to Jesus and He will show us how to live life God's Way.

“Come now, you who say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a city and spend a year there and carry on our business and make money. You ought instead to say, If the Lord is willing, we will, we shall live and we shall do this or that [thing].

JAMES 4:13,15 (AMP)

s Christians, we must stand up and speak up for what we know is right. Not what everyone else thinks  is right or is doing, but what is truly right. Grow up spiritually and show some backbone. Often, we will use the phrase: “As the Lord leads,” as a way out of tough questions; a way to say “no” without saying no. A way to move out of an area of growth for us.

      We should just say, “You know, I am not interested in that.” Or saying, “I just cannot do it at this time.” Or by saying, “That is not in my current or future plans. No thank you.” But instead we will say, “As the Lord leads,” or “Let me pray about that,” or in the most arcane response, “If it is not in the Bible, I’m not buying it; I’m not believing it.” The correct phrase is not “as the Lord leads,” it is “as the Lord wills.”  As the Lord leads refers to Proverbs 3:6, “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (NKJ) This means bring any, every, and all things to Jesus, to God, not to make you not make decisions, but to honor God with His ability to handle everyone’s situations, His desire for us to be vulnerable enough to take our troubles, our issues to Him. The way for the Lord to lead us is for us to take it all to Him and He will show us the way; the way out, the way up, the way down, the way around, the way to live life His Way.

      “As the Lord wills, we will do this or that.” This means God is in control. This does not mean wait until the Lord speaks to your heart, soul, or mind before you do anything in your life. If that was the case, you may be still laying in the bed waiting for God to tell you to get up.  We act, we do millions of things all the time without consulting God—and that is wrong. Jesus says, “I will never leave you;” that means, “Hey Johnny!” “Hey Susan!” “Hey Shileka!” and let’s not forget “Hey Joi!” I am right here with you girlfriend. What is going on with you? As if I don’t already know, but I have to know that we have that kind of relationship where you are intimately exposed and vulnerable. And you see that I won’t hurt you, but will only help you.

      What do we do instead? We go to our girlfriends, our friend guys and share our nakedness when we are hurting so bad, we can’t stop the tears. Let’s have depth of character, and talk to Jesus. Let’s not be shallow of goodwill and help one another. Let’s have depth of motivation for the things of God, instead of desire for the adoration and prideful praise of man.

DO GOD’S WILL, FOLLOW JESUS’ WORDS

Each One!  Bless One!

May the Blessing of the LORD and Favor Continue in Your Life in Your Service to GOD.

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Thursday, 14 September 2006

Love does not seek its own, but extends itself to hurting people.

“A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city, and contentions are like the bars of a castle.”

PROVERB 18:19 (NKJ)

 prison life. Many are unable to function properly in their calling because of the wounds and hurts that offenses have caused in their lives. They are handicapped and hindered from fulfilling their full potentials. They construct walls when they are hurt to protect their hearts and prevent any future wounds. It becomes intense sometimes, so intense that we become selective, denying entry to all, for fear that they will hurt us. We open our lives only to those who we believe are on our side.

      Yet often the people who are on our side (wives, husbands, girlfriends, boyfriends, and/or friends) are offended as well. So, instead of releasing our lives to those who love us and care for us, we add stones on the prison wall. We are not only careful about who comes in, but in terror, we can not venture outside of our so-called protection. Our energy is consumed with making sure no future injuries will occur. If we do not risk being hurt, we cannot give unconditional love. Unconditional love gives the right for us to be hurt.

      Love does not seek its own (not self-centered), but “hurting” people become more and more self-seeking and self-contained. Look at the Sea of Galilee; it freely receives and gives out water. It has an abundance of life, nurturing many different kinds of fish and plant life. But the Dead Sea only takes water in and does not give it out. There is no living plant or fish in it. The living waters from the Sea of Galilee become dead when mixed with the Dead Sea. Life cannot be sustained if held on to. It must be given freely or else it becomes a prison of life. Put your life together and let go of the past. Jesus said it is impossible that no offense should come (LUKE 17:1). It is not a question of opportunity to be offended, but what your response will be, for Jesus Himself was greatly offended.

      In His greatest hour of need, His closest friends deserted Him. Judas betrayed him. Peter denied him. The rest fled for their lives. He had cared for them for over three years; feeding and teaching them. Yet, as He died for the sins of the world, He forgave all. He released all of them, from his friends who deserted Him, to the Roman guards who had crucified Him. They didn’t ask for forgiveness, yet He freely gave it. Release yourself from a life prison and enhance your calling.

RELEASE YOURSELF

Minister George Festus Blamoh
Victory Assembly Church

P.O. Box 4715; New-Georgia, Caldwell Motor Road
Monrovia, Liberia, Africa
Mobile: 00231-7-7020-337
 

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Friday, 15 September 2006

Legalism and tradition can be tools which work against us.

“This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own.”

ISAIAH (ISAIA) 58:6-7 (SJB)

rue Worship - 3.  God spoke the above through Isaiah, the prophet. Tradition has passed fasting along to us as giving up food like ice cream and chocolate during the season of Lent; or giving a spiritual accounting during Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement).  Concerning fasting, Leviticus 16:29 states that: “ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all…” (KJV)  Following God’s design for fasting truly afflicts the soul, whereas tradition and today we afflict the body during our fasting. Traditionally, “afflict the soul” was interpreted as not eating food, not washing the body, and not doing any work.

      Who knows how much politics, legalism, socialism, or religiosity was involved in determining these traditions. But Jesus came to preach social and spiritual action, not legalism nor tradition. Old legalisms were rules upon which they added more rules; thus “Don't eat this, and do eat that,” and added more traditions along with more church programs and buildings.

      In Isaiah 58:6-7, God describes what constitutes a good and acceptable fast. Therefore, when Jesus teaches that in order to break certain strongholds, we must pray and fast. We must pray and fast in a manner that is acceptable to God. Why would we fast by withholding food or beverage,  a manner deemed acceptable by man, when God has already said what He deems acceptable? “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance, For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.” Matthew 6:16 (NKJ)   Therein lies a MYSTERY which will be explained in True Worship - 4.

      So, while fasting by doing good works, we should be happy in the midst of our work. And since the second greatest commandment we have is to love your neighbor as you love yourself  (Matthew 22:39), doesn't it make sense that the spiritual power to break strongholds (daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, seasonal, and generational curses) would come from holding a fast which lasts all year long by following the second commandment of Jesus by having a good and acceptable fast?  Do God’s true fast all year long—all life long.

FAST LOSING ONE’S SELF

Each One!  Bless One!

May the Blessing of the LORD and Favor Continue in Your Life in Your Service to GOD.

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Each One!  Bless One!

May the Blessing of the LORD and Favor Continue in Your Life in Your Service to GOD.

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Saturday, 16 September 2006

Look to God for that which man cannot and will not provide.

“I will lift up my eyes to the hills—from whence comes my help?

My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. ”

PSALMS 121:1-2 (NKJ)

here does your help come from? – 1 Greetings to all Christians all around the world. I want to share these few thoughts from our Lord Jesus Christ, to strengthen us in the faith our Lord Jesus Christ. Sometimes things get so hard that we don’t trust God. At such time what do you do? Sometimes you get so sick, as though you are going to die. That very moment what do you do? Sometimes it’s your wife, husband, or children. Sometimes it’s your parents. What do you do? In these instances, where does your help come from?

      I had this experience during the civil war in our country (Liberia). I joined the rebels as a secretary. But my prayers were, “Oh Lord, don’t allow these guys to tell me to kill anyone.” And indeed God was there for me. I then later went for training on the rebel base. Things were really rough, but my prayers was always, “God my life is in Your Hands.” As God said in His word in the book of Psalms 121:5–8, “The Lord watches over you—the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” (NIV)  

      So I trusted God for everything. We were to go on an attack one morning, but I did not feel good in my spirit, so I took my small New Testament Bible and started to read it. I tell you brothers and sisters, I felt death that day at that moment. My friends became concerned about my attitude. I told them I was not just fine and that wasn’t all. I did not want to go. I did not even eat. We were later in formation for arms and ammunitions. I kept praying that God should preserve my life. I tell you brethren, God Himself came in the form of a special force and counted two persons from ahead of me, up to twenty persons. We were to leave the line and he was sending us somewhere else.

      I felt like leaping that very moment and I knew God was real. Now no one had to tell me it was God that had made me safe. Sometimes in situations, God can take the form of a man to do wonders. And so you see, despite of the situation, I knew my help was going to come from the Lord. Let your help come from God, because He is the author and finisher of our faith. God’s blessings be upon you all as He strengthens you to look to Him in every situation instead of looking to man. God bless you.

GOD OUR HELP AND STRENGTH

Evangelist Sylvester Y. Harris
Children for Christ Ministries International
P. O. Box 1639, New Georgia Estate–West 

Gardnersville, Liberia, Africa
Telephone: 011 – 231- 6528243 / 5624994 / 77206040
Email: chil4christ@yahoo.com

Please Bless the

Children for Christ Ministries International

with your Support and Prayers! 

You Make a Difference!

Each One!  Bless One!

May the Blessing of the LORD and Favor Continue in Your Life in Your Service to GOD.

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Sunday, 17 September 2006

Move in your life, in the Spirit of Christ. You only get one of them—life.

“For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy;

I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is on a contrite and humble spirit,

to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”

ISAIAH 57:15 (KJV)

 woke up this morning in tears. It was the end of a dream. I asked the LORD to help my people, to help me help my people. I know the Lord will not deny a contrite spirit and a humble heart. I was traveling in Africa, from rural village to distant village, many not far from city centers. In the last mud, clay, straw hut, an elderly lady showed me an old exercise bicycle, dirtied with rust and time, sitting on a dirt floor.

      I thought, then said to her, “People throw and give these away in America all the time.” She didn’t quite understand me. I don’t know what tribe she was from or what country we were in. The lady said something in a heavy African dialect which I understood not. Then I said as I visualized, “They throw more “stuff” like this than you can ever imagine and even better “stuff” away in the trash dumpsters everyday.” She laughed, held me tightly in her embrace and replied, “Then you need to bring some to me.” Let’s bring some to them.

      Many in Africa and around the world, live and sleep on dirt floors without running water. Sanitary conditions are deplorable in many places and while we live in the lap of luxury and complain. Complaining the coffee’s not hot enough, there is a dent on the car door, this house is not big enough, I need to lose weight, or this television is not big enough. Many children around the world are without parents and have no idea what a “nuclear family” is like. Some families eat only one meal a day. We desire to change cars as often as we change families and fill the latest, hippest designer clothes and handbags with “stuff” while we fill our brains with “mush;” while many of our brothers and sisters in Africa languish in the hope that their long lost, betrayed, sold, now Christian brothers and sisters, both black and white, and every color in between will come to help their fellow Christians. They have not been cursed by God. The have been forgotten by us. We have to change our focus from us, from being like Solomon, to helping the next person right next door, to helping the children of  the world who have done nothing to deserve what the enemies of God and man is serving them on the plate of life.

      What will you do to help? Won’t you help feed the hungry, clothe the naked, provide shelter to the homeless, give time to the lonely, give medicine to the sick, and extend a kind, helping, loving hand filled with the fruit of Christ, money, hard work, ideas, and plans to secure the future of Africa’s children and less fortunate people suffering at the hands of the evil ones. Extend the hands of God to reach the unreachable, to preach to the unpreached, and give peace to a world seeking answers to its problems.

HELP ME, HELP MY PEOPLE

Each One!  Bless One!

May the Blessing of the LORD and Favor Continue in Your Life in Your Service to GOD.

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Monday, 18 September 2006

The Lord Christ Jesus preserves, keeps, and guards us from evil.

“The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil:  he shall preserve thy soul.”

PSALM 121:7 (KJV)

“The Lord will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life.”

PSALM 121:7 (AMP)

“The Lord will guard you from all evil; he will guard your life.”

PSALM 120:7 (SJB)

here does your help come from? – 2  Greetings to all Christians all around the world. I want to share these few thoughts from our Lord Jesus Christ, to strengthen us in the faith our Lord Jesus Christ. Sometimes things get so hard that we don’t trust God, we don’t see God in the circumstance, and at such time what do you do? Sometimes you get so sick, as though you are going to die and can’t believe that this is happening to you or your Christian friend or family member. That very moment what do you do? Sometimes it’s your spouse, children, or an elderly Christian pillar in the church. Sometimes it’s your parents. What do you do? In these instances, where does your help come from?

      In a previous devotional, I spoke to you about an instance where God intervened in my life. Another instance is when I was taking a car to the headquarters of the then rebels. The car had a tire blowout. I tried to repair the tire, but was having no luck. I decided to give up, so I decided to go buy something to eat. On the way, I met a special force of the rebels questioning a little boy. I said, “Oh please, he’s traveling with me.” I tried to tell them that the child had asked me to take him along with me so he could go and be with his parents. They did not want to listen. While trying to convince the lead soldier, he shot at me at a very close range. He missed me. It was impossible for him to miss me from where he was standing. It was only the Divine Grace of God that saved me. Otherwise, I would have died on that spot.

      So what I want you to know is that if our help doesn’t come from God, there’s nobody that can give it to us. As you listen to this living testimony, think about where your help comes from? Think about what the Lord has done to help you in your life. Let your help come from God, because He is the author and finisher of our faith. God’s blessings be upon you all as He strengthens you to look to Him in every situation instead of to man. God bless you always.

GOD: AUTHOR, FINISHER OF FAITH

Evangelist Sylvester Y. Harris
Children for Christ Ministries International
P. O. Box 1639, New Georgia Estate–West

Gardnersville, Liberia, Africa
Telephone: 011 – 231- 6528243 / 5624994 / 77206040
Email: chil4christ@yahoo.com

Please Bless the

Children for Christ Ministries International

with your Support and Prayers! 

You Make a Difference!

Each One!  Bless One!

May the Blessing of the LORD and Favor Continue in Your Life in Your Service to GOD.

Tell your friends and family about eBlessings!  Spread the Word!

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Tuesday, 19 September 2006

God gave us faith. Jesus nurtured our faith. We must grow our faith.

“But they have not all obeyed the gospel…

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

ROMANS 10:16a-17 (KJV)

ystery of the Mustard Seed -1.  I believe that if we have the faith of a mustard seed, we through Christ Jesus, Christ being in us, the impossible can happen through us in Christ. “…For if you had faith even as small as a tiny mustard seed you could say to this mountain, ‘Move!’ and it would go far away. Nothing would be impossible.” Matthew 17:20 (LB) (Luke 17:6)  I, like you, believe that we must have faith, for without faith it is impossible to please God. (Hebrews 11:6) 

      Now the questions are: “How do I get that mustard seed of faith?” “How long must we hold that mustard seed of faith?”  To get that mustard seed of faith, we must believe.  We must believe that God has placed faith in us. You know we have faith, because we have faith in the grocery store being there, the car starting, the lights coming on and staying on, and the faith that tomorrow we will meet another day. We have faith; but it must be in God, not in ourselves. “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.” Romans 12:3 (NKJ)  God has given us faith/belief and it is generally activated or stimulated into action through prayer and the Word of God.  (Romans 10:17)

      The key to prayer is, our faith is activated by our moving into action, in spirit, in faith to pray. It is imperative that our faith grows, so we can please God. “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, the just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:17 (KJV)  Faith in God, faith in Jesus, faith in Christ in us; not faith in man.  We must live trusting in God by living from one faith event to another faith event, trusting Christ Jesus will lead us through each and every tribulation as we grow spiritually. The just, the Christians shall live by faith. (Romans 1:17)

      We have to activate our faith through humble, emotional prayer. Let the mustard seed of faith grow by holding onto our belief in Christ Jesus by having focused expectations and plan on the eventuality of our prayers already having been answered by God. He knew what we were going to ask before we opened our mouths; but God is looking for our faith, our faith in action; our following the Commandments of Jesus. “And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.” Mark 11:22 (KJV)

FAITH IN GOD AND CHRIST JESUS

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Wednesday, 20 September 2006

Work your mustard seed of faith. Focus on it; give it your time and energy.

“Then He said,

‘What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it?

It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden;

and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches.’”

LUKE 13:18-19 (NKJ)

ystery of the Mustard Seed -2. The Holy Spirit shared with me this morning as I began to write this devotional, to let you know that not only is there a mustard seed of FAITH, but also, LOVE, PEACE, JOY, CARING, SHARING, CONTROL, and GENTLENESS. (Galatians 5:22) The fruit of the Spirit are mustard seeds which we must nurture to deepen our relationship with God through Christ Jesus. Nurturing these seeds, these attributes , these characteristics of God, help us become whole in Christ.

      The question: “How do we get the physical manifestation of our prayers of faith?” Part two speaks about the “misdirect” of the parable of the talent as it concerns the mystery of the mustard seed. A “misdirect” is when the enemy wants us to look the wrong way at something biblical or in life, to see something in an incorrect way, or not to see a thing, a scripture, a Bible lesson, or the TRUTH in its true power to hold back our epiphany or our empowerment in things concerning the Spirit, Christ Jesus, or God Almighty.

      The focus of the parable of the talents (Matthew25:14-30), is generally on the person who did wrong. That is a “misdirect.” I am not blaming the preachers and teachers here. But listen. “…whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” Philippians 4:8 (NKJ) 

      Our focus must be on the positive… then we will see the positive and move, living in the positive. My focus is on the other two gentlemen in this parable. They were given talents—for our example, mustard seeds of faith. “…as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.” Romans 12:3b (NKJ)  These guys worked their faith. They placed time and energy working on their talents, on their faith, on their peace, on their love, on their caring, on their joy, on their control, and on their gentleness. They consciously spent focused time and energy on pleasing God by growing that which they knew He desired from them to grow and that which He had placed in them. God wants us to work our faith, not hide it in the dirt, in a box, putting Him in a box and limiting Him and His power in us through Christ. Work your mustard seed of faith…

WORK YOUR MUSTARD SEEDS

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May the Blessing of the LORD and Favor Continue in Your Life in Your Service to GOD.

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Thursday, 21 September 2006

Plant seeds of faith, selflessness, thanksgiving, expectation, and preparation.

“This led Him to say, What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it?

It is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and planted in his own garden; and it grew and became a tree, and the wild birds found shelter and roosted and nested in its branches.”

LUKE 13:18-19 (AMP)

ystery of the Mustard Seed - 3.  In this parable, the man, the person is a worker, not slothful; he has a garden already and it is his own. The person planted and nurtured the seed until it became a tree. Nurturing is adding things to the seed, like water, fertilizer, love, and expectation. Nurturing is also taking things away from the seed; removing weeds, removing rocks, dead limbs and keeping pests from it. Once we receive the fruits of our labor, the tree, it becomes a place of refuge, a source of food, shelter, and a place where God’s Creation rests and replenishes.

      When we pray, we make our supplications known to God. Our prayers are like seeds planted in our garden of prayers. In our prayer garden, we have different prayers planted and not the same prayers planted over and over again, or not too many of the same prayers planted in the garden because this tends to give our garden, not the most beautiful effect visually.

      Our prayers are prayers of faith. We hope and believe or try to believe that the Lord hears, received, or will answer our prayers in a timely fashion or at all. Our prayers are like seeds. We go to our prayer closet, our prayer space, our prayer position, or our prayer time and we plant our seeds of faith. The next time we go to our prayer garden, it is not prudent to dig up that prayer seed which was planted and re-plant it again; or, plant the same prayer of faith seed which is to produce the same fruit as the seed of faith prayer which was planted the day before.

      Example: We may pray for a house. Everyday for a month we pray for a house. Let’s say the LORD answers with three houses,. Now what are we going to do with three houses. 1) We will be sanctimonious and say they are and will be to God’s glory. 2) Often self, ego comes into the picture as we tell people what the LORD has done and they tell us how blessed we are and suddenly someone is puffed up, and I won’t say who. 3) Then reality sets in; there are taxes, the yards to be mowed, and the general care of the houses; then we move to a posture of “what are we going to do?”

      A more prudent posture is to go to our garden, plant the seed of faith, plant the seed of selflessness, plant the seed of thanksgiving, plant the seed of praise, plant the seed of expectation, and plant the seed of preparation. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Work your seeds and work your garden.

PLANT THE SEEDS, WORK THE GARDEN

Each One!  Bless One!

May the Blessing of the LORD and Favor Continue in Your Life in Your Service to GOD.

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Friday, 22 September 2006

God’s acceptable fast is a lifetime of abstaining self while serving humanity.

“And now about fasting. When you fast, declining your food for a spiritual purpose,

don’t do it publicly, as the hypocrites do, who try to look wan and disheveled so people will feel sorry for them. Truly, that is the only reward they will ever get.”

MATTHEW 6:16 (LIVING)  

rue Worship - 4.  Abstain the pleasures of life for a spiritual purpose. The MYSTERY of how not to appear to be fasting when our bodies are hurting, our bodies are weak, our blood sugar is low, and our minds are slow from the lack of food. When we fast, people are not to know that we are fasting. They are not to know we are about to go on a three-day fast or a three-month fast. When people are telling you they are fasting and showing the signs of fasting… see what spirit they are battling and join the battle.

      Fasting is not to be a spiritual badge of courage, a badge of spiritual superiority (Luke 18:12), with exclamations of how the Lord revealed this or that; a badge of I did it, how I overcame and didn’t help the other brother or sister to overcome; when as we come off of the fast we go right into fleshly things, selfish things harder and faster than we did before we began the fast. We even have the audacity to fast for the “increase of Solomon,” when Jesus clearly tells us how difficult it is for a rich man to get into Heaven. (Matthew 19:23) God wants us to follow Jesus’ 2^nd commandment, “Love thy neighbor as thyself” (Matthew 19:19).  

      The fast that God accepts is one where through our abstinence, through our sacrifice, others, especially children can go to bed with food on their stomachs, their heads laying on a pillow and not the ground, their lives not endangered because of poor nutrition, poor health conditions, or the lack of medication. It is time we fasted, God’s fast. “[Rather,] is not this the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every [enslaving] yoke?” Isaiah 58:6 (AMP)

     People will say, Jesus fasted. Yes, Jesus fasted 40 days and nights in the wilderness at the start of His ministry. He then committed His entire lifetime to God’s acceptable fast. Have we made the decision to do that? Jesus showed us the spiritual fruit which occurs when we do God’s acceptable fast. Focus on building up others and not tearing them down. Focus on lifting others up, not building up our egos. When we focus on others for Christ’s sake, He lifts us up, glorifies us, and gives us the unimaginable dreams of our lives. Do God’s true fast.

FAST GIVING OF ONESELF

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Saturday, 23 September 2006

In spiritual battles, give God the opportunity to join the fight. Victory is ours.

“‘You will not have to fight this battle.

Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem.

Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.’”

2 CHRONICLES 20:17 (NIV)

ystery of the Mustard Seed of Prayer - 4. The Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel and told the Israelites the above passage. A) Don’t be selfish. You cannot do it alone. God will fight for you. B) Prepare for battle as usual; prepare to deal with your situation. C) Have faith and believe God to be faithful; and see His faithfulness. D) Be strong; fear only the LORD and be encouraged. E) Move into action with the expectation of victory. And before the battle, in the midst of our situations, and after the battle… “And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem bowed before the LORD, worshipping the LORD.”  2 Chronicles 20:18 (NKJ)   F) We must praise God.  G) We must plant seeds of prayer. (2 Chronicles 20:3-13)

      Victory through the mustard seed of prayer. Receiving what we pray for. How do we get our prayers answered? How do we overcome?

1)       Submission though a penitent, contrite spirit (Psalm 51:17); humility of heart in prayer; emotional, fervent prayer (James 5:16); not long prayers (Mark 12:40) and praying over and over again as though God didn’t hear you the first time.

2)       Unselfishness, prayer with the concerns of others at its pinnacle, not prayer with self interests (James 4:3), (self interest prayers may be answered by the evil ones).

3)       Faith, that of a mustard seed, believing it is done, knowing it is done, that the prayer is answered. (Matthew 6:8)

4)       Thanks, thanksgiving (giving thanks; a posture of giving thanks, showing thanks, acting out thanks through giving time, energy, money, ourselves, and those resources which are available to us through us and our contacts, our networks. (Psalm 26:7, 50:14)

5)       Praise and worship.  Praising God for what He has done (Psalm 138:2, 9:1-2, 28:7); believing it is done. Knowing it is done.  (Mark 18:19, John 15:7)

“And whatsoever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son." John 14:13 (NKJ)

PLANT SEEDS OF PRAYER

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Sunday, 24 September 2006

Fast for others, not for self. Fast for the attributes of God and Christ Jesus.

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures I heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

MATTHEW 6:19-21 (NKJ)

rue Worship - 5. This is a hidden MYSTERY which sits in front of us, but gets no mention. This is the mystery of the inappropriate fast—fasting for the wrong things. I know you are thinking how much power you feel when you fast—how you first feel weak and then you feel strong. How much power you feel—when you begin your fast and during your fast.

      First of all, what did we do with all that spiritual power during that fast? And two, after we fast, that power seems to slowly fade away—where did all that spiritual power go?  Are we fasting the wrong way for the wrong things? Do we fast for the Lord to change our work situation or give us a job? Or do we fast for the victims of evil who are oppressing us at work to be delivered? Or do we fast for those who do not have a job to get one? Is our fasting an acceptable fast, a sacrificial fast to God or dieting? (Isaiah 58:6-7)

      The enemies of God would have us believe the correct posture to go into a fast with is, to receive spiritual energy in order to receive material blessings, or what we perceive or what the world tells us are material blessings or the “Blessing” of the LORD. Receiving material things as blessings is not the purpose of fasting. The purpose of fasting is to grow empowered spiritually, enhance our relationship with God, Christ Jesus, God’s Holy Family, and reduce the amount of self we experience in these temples, we call bodies.

      You see, right after Jesus tell us about fasting, He tells us not to lay up earthly treasures. Do not fast for treasures of the earth; carnal treasures. But fast for heavenly treasures: Peace, Love, Joy, Caring, Sharing, Forgiveness, Understanding, Wisdom, Commitment, Longsuffering, Patience, Obedience... What we fast for and what we pray for, is a clear indication of where our treasure is, the type of treasure we are looking for, and what we plan to do with it when we get it. Remember, God knows our hearts. (Psalm 44:21)

      Imagine a lifetime of receiving after fasting—activated attributes of God, characteristics of God in us for the purpose of building His Kingdom and empowered spiritual growth for all mankind. Imagine the spiritual power that we feel during the fast, continuing throughout our entire lifetimes, by thinking more about what we can do for other people, than what we want for ourselves. Imagine that spiritual power taking the form of positive action, positive action directed towards others on the behalf of Christ Jesus.

FAST FOR OTHERS

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Monday, 25 September 2006

The heart’s emotions motivate the mind spiritually.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test my thoughts.

Point out anything you find in me that makes you sad, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”

PSALMS 139: 23-24 (LIVING)

attlefield of the LORD - 1. I started this devotional one way and the Holy Spirit revealed this series to me. When asked, Where is the true church of God? we Christians respond with, “The true church is not made of stone, it is in our hearts.” In our hearts lies the church, not in our minds. That is one reason why God “weighs the heart,” “knows the heart.” (Psalm 44:21) Where is the chief battlefield?—in our hearts—in the true church of God. “And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” Romans 8:27 (KJV) The Mind of the Spirit of God resides in our hearts and Christ Jesus makes intercession for us.

      Hold on, here we go. Personally, I believe the true battle for the soul is in the heart, because the heart rules the mind. The mind does not control the heart. The heart is a part of the body’s autonomic system. And if the heart wants to do something, the mind will follow. The mind often loses the battle with the heart. The heart will have a family member who cannot swim, jump into a lake to save a drowning brother, mother, or sister.

      You may have heard and believe the battle for the soul is in the mind. Not only is it in the mind, but it is in many other parts of the body as well. It is not limited to the mind or the heart. My son, Marcus says, “The Truth is so powerful that sometimes when we hear part of the truth, it is so powerful that we take it as the whole truth, but it is not the whole truth.” A partial truth may look, sound, and feel like the whole truth, but it is not and the enemies of God wants us away from the whole truth.

      Then the Holy Spirit revealed this to me. The confluence of the battlefield being not only in the mind and heart, but also in other areas of our lives is found in Mark 12:30, “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.” (KJV)  So the chief areas of the battle for our spirits for our spiritual lives are: our hearts, our souls, our minds, and our strength (emotional, physical, mental, spiritual strengths). The next devotionals in this series will explain further. Have a blessed day in Christ!

BATTLE FOR YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE

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Tuesday, 26 September 2006

Behold, everything is becoming new!

“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of LORD’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn.”  

ISAIAH 61:1-2 (NIV)

any people don't know God the Creator of Heaven and Earth. If you listen to them or exchange views with them, you realize they have no hope for the future. There are even some who claim that they committed too many sins—that they don't deserve forgiveness from God. He cannot tolerate our sins, so such people are to be advised in special counseling and be given new hope through God’s news.

      We, all Christians are nowadays leaning on the Word of God which is the Bible. It is in the Bible where it is written what God told the Israelites long ago in time past. And in this we read what Jesus said when He was on this world. All what was written in those times concerns us in our current life, not the past people. So dear reader, follow the Word of God and consider it like a contract or covenant between God and men; between God and you. The way you accept it is the way it will be to you and the way it will protect you. Prophet Ezekiel was shown in a vision a lot of bones in the valley. God asked him if these bones shall come back to life. He replied: O Lord, you alone know, as he knew the power of God. Then God commanded him to prophesy to the bones and say to them to hear the Word of God.

      The prophet did what God had commanded him. Then the bones came to life; they were given tendons, the flesh, and the skin. Up this until this step, they were not breathing, so God commanded him to prophesy to the breath to enter into the slain, so that they may live. He did so and they came to life and stood up on their feet. It was a vast army. Then the Lord said to the prophet: Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say: Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off. Therefore prophesy to them and say to them: this is what Sovereign Lord says: O my people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them. I will bring you back Land of Israel.  (Ezekiel 37:9-12 )

      In fact this topic is showing the way the Israelites had become worse, then they fell into a desperate situation. But God showed that it is never too late to remember a lost soul as He is a great possessor of love and mercy. God has proven that He is ever ready to welcome His people even though they fall into deep sins. So whatsoever a sinner is, God is to forgive him or her  and make him/her a new creature, as He has changed dried bones into fleshy slain, then into  alive bodies.

AWAKEN DRY BONES

Pastor Sosthene Maniraguha
Volunteer Evangelist
Association of Pentecostal Churches
P. O. Box 2531
Kigali, Rwanda, Africa
Telephone (cell): 00 250 0875 7361
Email: maniso7@yahoo.fr

Each One!  Bless One!

May the Blessing of the LORD and Favor Continue in Your Life in Your Service to GOD.

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Wednesday, 27 September 2006

 Unity is to love, forgive, have peace, harmony, work, to be on accord…

“And they said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.’”

GENESIS 11:4 (NKJ)

n intelligent, spiritual young man told me that the world works in unity; the carnal world, the corporate world works in “unity.” It may not be the most positive, or positive at all, but employees working in a company, work in “unity.” Example: People wear a specific dress code, coats, ties, dresses with stockings, short haircuts, that which denotes a trustworthy professional. People drive certain types of cars, and speak a certain professional way—corporate ease. They have a focus of purpose.

      The corporate goals are spelled out and prevalent throughout the workday in the worker’s minds, because there is a supervisor who ensures they are working to capacity; getting as much work energy out of them, pushing sometimes to the limits of personal collapse where the “unity” negatively impacts them and their families. The company goals and mottos pasted around the office, on advertising in society and the daily workload drives employees to achieve accomplishments; certificates, merits, and “at-a-boys.” Employees move supplies, resources, and personnel towards daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly short-term goals. This fosters the pseudo spirit of acceptance, fellowship, belonging, and family. This is a spiritual trap.

 “Be eager and strive earnestly to guard and keep the harmony and oneness of [produced by] the Spirit in the binding power of peace. [There is] one body and one Spirit, just as there is also one hope [that belongs] to the calling you received.” Ephesians 4:3-4 (AMP)

      The fruit of unity and the other players in the unity game are harmony, peace, love, understanding, tolerance, happiness, accord, work, diligence, forgiveness, patience, longsuffering, did I say LOVE, and myriad other attributes of God. Webster defines unity in many words; being one, wholly united, complete within itself, general concord, harmony, agreement of parts, constancy of purpose, oneness of purpose, thought, or spirit.  That which should be focused on is this: “focus of purpose,” often looks like unity.

      Unity is a positive, characteristic of God. The characteristics, attributes, or Sovereignties of God, do not move or exist alone. They work together to accomplish God’s Divine Will in all of His Creation. “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment poured on the head, that ran down on the beard, even the beard of Aaron [the first high priest], that came down upon the collar and skirts of his garments [consecrating the whole body];” Psalms 133:1-2 (AMP)  Unity blesses the entire body covering from the top of the head (leaders) to the soles of the feet (workers); with most of the oil (blessings) ending/staying at the feet which represents not only our direction and where most of the blessings must go, but where the most need is.

UNITY IN CHRIST

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Thursday, 28 September 2006

In the war for our spirits, our lives, the battle is fought on many fronts.

“Jesus answered him, ‘The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.”

MARK 12:30 (NKJ) (DEU. 6:4-5; LK. 10:27; MATT. 22:37)

attlefield of the LORD - 2.  HEART  This first commandment was to be worn on the writs of God’s children and placed on their doorposts. The heart, soul, mind, and strength represent the individual battlefields for our spirits. This is individual battlegrounds not corporate battlegrounds like family, unity, community, church, children, females, and others. These are the areas where we should protect ourselves and our loved ones from the attack of the enemies of God. Strong’s describes the heart figuratively as the thoughts, the feelings, (the mind), the will, and even the intellect. One definition in Webster is the seat of emotion; and another is the capacity for kindness. The heart, our emotions have to be fixed, focused, (“My heart is steadfast, O God…” Psalm 57:7 (NKJ)) and directed wholly on God and following His Will through the Commandments of His Son, Christ Jesus.

      “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:” Deuteronomy 6:6 (KJV) This first commandment is to be placed in our hearts, we are to emote it and carry it in our emotions, feelings, and focus on it. “I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart.” Psalm 40:8 (NKJ)  The enemy will try to replace this God-focused emotion with self-focused emotion, person-focused emotion, nation-focused emotion, shame, guilt, fear, grief, hatred, any negative emotion. These are the areas in which we are attacked emotionally; in our hearts. But never fear, because…

      “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart—these, O God, You will not despise.” Psalm 51:17 (NKJ) God often positions us to be filled with emotion which causes us to fall on our knees seeking His face. Our disobedience sometimes positions us to emotionally cry out for help. The enemies of God and man will attack us and negatively impact our hearts, but because the Lord accepts our requests from broken hearts, the enemy fails. Replace negative emotions which may come into your heart with the love which Christ Jesus has in His heart which would allow Him to be a living sacrifice for us and for our sins. “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:6 (NKJ) And Christ Jesus accepted it (our iniquity) then and He accepts us now, as we are. Focus on His Love. Have the heart of Christ.

THE LOVE OF CHRIST CONQUERS ALL

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Friday, 29 September 2006

What are our wishes unto our enemies?

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I tell you: ‘Love your enemies and pray for who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?’”  

                MATTHEW 5:43-46 (NIV)

t is not only in Old testament that we read about treating well our enemies, but even Jesus Christ taught about this issue. Prophet Elisha has been our good example, in events concerning treating well our enemies. Most people once asked in what way they should treat their enemies respond with, it could only be the evil way, misfortune, or bad luck. But the Word of God teaches us to be sons of God, to be able to pray for our enemies. 

      The Bible tells us about times when the King of Syria used to concert with his officials and conclude together to attack Israel from one plain. But the prophet in Israel could reveal the plan to Israel's king and advise him to avoid the plain because the Syrians had planned to pass there and attack from that plain.  (2 Kings 6:8-10) That fact made the King of Syria get enraged. He called all his officers to discuss it and asked them to tell him which of them was on the side of Israel's King. But one of them informed the king that in Israel there was a prophet called Elisha who foretold all plans to the King of Israel, even the words spoken in the bedroom of the Syrians.  (2 Kings 6:12)

     He ordered his officers to go and find out where the prophet was and capture him. They went and met him at a Samarian city. Elisha prayed to the Lord to strike those men with blindness.  (verse 18) God struck them with blindness as Elisha had asked. Elisha led them to Samaria. The King of Israel saw them and surprisingly thought he would kill them. But Elisha taught him to feed and give them water to drink. The King of Israel followed the prophet's advice. He gave them a great feast and let them go away and returned to their master. (2 Kings 6:22) Prophet Elisha's advice was very far different from the King of Israel 's plan of killing their enemies.

      This is a prominent example of the man of God who has true love, a good son of God who teaches with good actions. In this story, we can learn that even though an enemy is to bring destruction, the prophet has shown mercy. And he set up a good way to feed hungry enemies and offer them some water when they were thirsty, before sending them away to their land. Jesus said in Luke 6:27-28, “But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.” (KJV) (Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:35)

BLESS YOUR ENEMIES

Pastor Sosthene Maniraguha
Volunteer Evangelist
Association of Pentecostal Churches
P. O. Box 2531
Kigali, Rwanda, Africa
Telephone (cell): 00 250 0875 7361
Email: maniso7@yahoo.fr

Each One!  Bless One!

May the Blessing of the LORD and Favor Continue in Your Life in Your Service to GOD.

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Saturday, 30 September 2006

The mind is only one of the battlefields on which the spirit confronts evil.

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of you mind.

Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

ROMANS 12:2 (NIV)

attlefield of the LORD - 3.  MIND  The previous devotionals in this series speaks of the battle for our spirits, our lives being on many fronts: heart, mind, soul, and strength. (Mark 12:30)  In ancient times and some today believe the mind is in the heart or the Mind of God is in the heart. But all are mindful of the connection between the heart and the mind. Strong gives mind as: imagination, mind, understanding, with alacrity, and like-mindedness. Webster defines mind as: processes originating in the brain involving conscious and subconscious thought and a lot more.

To win the battle for our lives, we have to:

1)       Be humble… “serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me…” Acts 20:19 (NKJ) Pride and “puffed-up-ness” causes us to have separation from God. “…Be not high-minded…” Romans 11:20b (KJV)

2)       Be of the same mind as Christ Jesus, willing to give our bodies in the service to others… “Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind:” 1 Peter 4:1 (KJV) Be of one mind. “Be of the same mind one toward another…” Romans 12:16a  Which is the 2^nd  commandment of Jesus: “… ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself…’”  Mark 12:31  Take care of your neighbor like you take care of yourself.

3)       Serve the law of God with our minds… “So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God…” Romans 7:25 (NKJ)

4)       Be mindful of the spiritual realm… “For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” Romans 8:6 (NKJ)

5)       Be faithful of mind, not doubting… “And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.” Luke 12:29 KJV); willing of mind (2 Corinthians 8:12); ready of mind (2 Corinthians 8:19).

6)       Protect our minds from evil input and keep it sober. “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:13 (KJV)

BE OF THE MIND OF CHRIST

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May the Blessing of the LORD and Favor Continue in Your Life in Your Service to GOD.

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