Without a relationship, there is no faith.

Desire to be united in the cause of Jesus Christ as it is revealed in the word of God do not attempt to change the word of God to fit your desires, but rather to change yourself to fit the plan and purposes of God.

You are challenged in the word of God today in Colossians 2:6 where it says: “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness”. Sending your roots deeper and deeper in Christ as a believer for you have been built up in Him. Too many are lost who you still must reach, so many who remain to be saved and many who are in need of support from you because of Christ in you.

So what do you do? Decide to believe God, step out in faith on what could possibly happen. Be willing to believe, that if God could take a Joshua and encourage him to only be strong and courageous, that same God could do the same for you if you choose the same path. Joshua, the leaders and the people banded together, and they received the promises of God and the land that God had for them. Discover a God who loves you and is faithful to His word.

When you Step Out on the word of God, you will discover there is no limit to the possibilities of what God will do, make yourself available to be used and know that you have been made for a mission. Recognize that in this mission, you are to demonstrate excellence in action, because you serve an Excellent God who does all things well. There is power in the unity found in Jesus Christ. When you with other Believers ban together as one solid unit, that is rooted in God, sustained by God, and directed by God, there is no limit to the potential to make a difference in the lives of others.

Until you knew of Christ, you didn’t come with a mission. But now from the power of the Holy Spirit you’ve been given a desire to do God’s will and to try to help encourage those that are in your every day journey. A lot of your success as a follower will be your willingness to believe that God loves you and if you put your trust in God, God will make a way for you.

If you are going to move forward with a united vision, you also are going to have to be united in your giving for the Kingdom of God. Do your part for the Harvest; in Christ through you many can escape eternal punishment.

Take Not The Glory!” It belongs only to God.

Miracle faith and righteousness doesn’t come overnight or without a commitment to God and it all lines up with the Cross in it. There’s a dying to self in this kind of life, so committed for His Glory to be recognized that His power and miracles are set in motion through you. It’s a matter of motive.

What exactly is the reason for you wanting to access the miraculous? Is it for God’s glory, or for your benefit? Everyone wants to be healed and made whole as only God can do. The Lord knows those who have sought Him for supernatural healing but aren’t healed yet. “Yet” because God brings each through a Process, and knows where you are in the Process of making you a believer to have an End Time Faith:“Those who know God shall be strong and do exploits” (Daniel 11:32). So is (wanting) to be healed enough to get you there? If you were completely healed or had the power to heal, then what? If you suddenly had the power in your hands to heal, could He trust you with only doing what He tells you to do, and not taking any glory for yourself?

“Take Not The Glory!” It belongs only to God. It may be that God is working on your character and your relationship with Him in order to protect you from the deceit of the enemy who would like to make you into his image, one of pride and glory-seeking for yourself. That’s what Satan’s motives are.

God seems to give the gift of healing to those who care deeply for the pain and suffering of others. He rarely gives you anything for yourself alone. The fastest way to have an anointing dry up is to keep it to and for yourself. The Kingdom of God operates on giving, not getting. “God so loved the world that He GAVE His only begotten Son” (John 3:16). That’s as “giving” as it gets.

God gives to you all the time. You must be a giver, of yourself and of what He’s given to you. Many go through a long and difficult process, the process is called “the making of a person of God.” It is a time of character building, and learning to hear Gods’ voice, to weigh issues and make godly choices, a humbling time during which you come to know God in such a way that God can trust you with what He would have you do without it destroying you or without you destroying others.

This process will teach you the reverent fear of God, and the love of God that only comes through time spent with Him, enjoying Him. For you to operate in the miraculous, you must be Adoringly in Love with God so He can love others through you.

What should one of your top priorities focus on

What should one of your top priorities focus on? “Above all things have fervent charity among yourself: for charity shall cover a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8). “If you want to know what survival is all about — to see how God is leading his people through these times — then show unconditional love to your brothers and sisters? In light of the great mercy God has shown you — in light of his unconditional forgiveness toward your past sins, his compassionate longsuffering toward you —you are to reach out with mercy to those who have sinned against you, to forgive them as if they had never committed those sins.

“God has faithfully warned the world about the economic holocaust you see coming. God has showed you these things to come and will show you how you are to survive. God wouldn’t warn you and then not tell you what to do to make it through the storm.

“Here is the main issue, your most important preparation: Get your heart ready. If this matter isn’t dealt with, all other preparations are in vain. At the end of all things, stay calm. And stay on your knees. Above all else, practice unceasing mercy and love toward your brothers and sisters. Forgive and cover their sins.” “Charity shall cover a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8).

You may say, “But I’m not holding onto any grudges. I don’t have any bitterness toward anyone. I only have love for my brothers and sisters.

At the end of all things the Holy Spirit will come in a great wave upon the earth, filling God’s people with joy when the world is in upheaval. This won’t happen, for you however, if you hold grudges and wounds are left unresolved.

God is asking you, “Do you want to be ready for what’s coming? Do you want to be fully prepared when all things are being shaken? Then make sure you have nothing in your heart that hinders the flow of My Spirit. Something wonderful is just ahead. Make sure you are not left out of it.”

The prophets — from Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel down to the Minor Prophets — reveal that in the last days God’s Spirit will once again fall on a prepared people. This event is referred to as the “harvest rain.” It is promised to be greater even than the “former rain,” which was the Spirit’s mighty outpouring at Pentecost.

No one can see the Kingdom of God unless you are born again.

As you walk out into the field, you must remember that God's message of Salvation is not about a new set of regulations; you are not saved by trying extra hard to live according to God's commandments. His commands are an essential guide for your spiritual walk, but no amount of obedience will ever result in the transformation which identifies you as a child of God. Your effort will never yield eternal life and you hinder the harvest when you spread such a message!

Jesus said, "no one can see the Kingdom of God unless you are born again" (John 3:3). So the second birth is not of the flesh but of the Spirit. When you believe in Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins, God's grace gives you a spiritual birth as a new creation; "The old you where the flesh is in charge has gone, the new you where The Holy Spirit Guides your daily walk has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17).

To believe in Jesus you have been "born again" and have become "new creation" in Christ. Your first birth resulted in your physical body - praise God! But, one day, your earthly vessel in which you live is guaranteed to run down and stop functioning - you were birthed of a perishable seed. In contrast, your second birth is of a seed which does not perish - a seed which results in eternal life.

Never settle for a "good" life or allow your message to stop with good morals and "right" living. These are also perishable seeds which will fade away and lead to death. True life which is abundant and eternal is only found by His grace through faith in the forgiveness of Jesus Christ.

(The Holy Spirit to ME) 1 Peter 1-25

¹ To you, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, ² you have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, you are to be obedient to Jesus Christ because you have been sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace is yours in abundance.

Praise to God for a Living Hope

³ Praise be to the God and Father of your Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given you a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, ⁴ and you have an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, ⁵ you are through faith shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. ⁶ In all this greatly rejoice, though the moments of life’s experiences that has been given to you. In your life’s experiences you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. ⁷ These trials have come so that you can be proven genuine of your faith—a faith greater worth than gold, which perishes though purification by fire—to be a result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. ⁸ Even Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, ⁹ for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your soul.

¹⁰ Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, ¹¹ trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow? ¹² It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told to you by those who have preached the gospel to you from the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.

Be Holy

¹³ for that reason, with a mind that is alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. ¹⁴ As obedient child, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. ¹⁵ But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; ¹⁶ for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

¹⁷ The Father judges each person’s work impartially, so live out your time as a foreigner here in reverent fear. ¹⁸ For it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life that was handed down to you from your ancestors, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood of Christ. ²⁰ Jesus was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. ²¹ Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

²² So purified yourself by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. ²³ For you have been Born Again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. ²⁴ For, “All are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, ²⁵ but the word of the Lord endures forever.”

Fear is a Trick

" For God gave all not a spirit of fearfulness; but of power and love and discipline... He who saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before times eternal; For which cause I suffer also these things: yet I am not ashamed; for I know him whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to guard that which I have committed unto him until that day. " (2 Tim 1:7, 9, 12)

Fear is a trick. It is an acronym for False Evidence Appearing Real. It is a tool of the Adversary, the demon Satan. He uses it to control and weaken you. But the Holy Spirit is your strength and defense against such a worker of iniquity. The Adversary has no power over you that you do not give him. Therefore, you should never be afraid. You have found the protection of the Savior to be a genuine fortress in the day of evil.

There is a great composure that comes when the Holy Spirit lives in you, especially in turbulent times. Times you may face throughout life, but particularly in the end of days. Consider what the Holy Spirit did in history. He came upon the virgin chosen to bear the Christ child. She was overcome with great fear, as the messenger of God spoke to her, telling her of the miracle she was to know. Then, "... the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee: wherefore also the holy thing which is begotten shall be called the Son of God. " The Power of the Holy Spirit causes miracles to be and then, to prosper!

When the beloved physician, Luke, wrote Acts, he spoke prominently of the power of the Holy Spirit's ability to change fearful things into blessings. The hearers of Luke's words were reminded that, previously, they wondered about the restoration of Israel, to which Luke recounted the Lord's words: It is not for you to know times or seasons, which the Father hath set within His own authority.
But you shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit has come upon you: and you shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:7-8) Through His witnesses, the power of the Holy Spirit would bring the grace to testify of the Lord's work on earth. That same witness is still with YOU, here, now. It is the love of the Lord which inspires you to confess His Holy Name and witness throughout the world, without fear (even though sometimes, there is great uneasiness...do it anyway, for it shall be counted as righteousness unto you).

Discipline yourself to know where your power comes from. It comes not from your own efforts, but by the Holy Spirit that resides within you, as children of the Most High, and joint heirs in Christ Jesus. Your flesh is weak and given to doubt and fear; His Witness (the Holy Spirit) is strong and works wonders within you, to do that which you were meant to do: Proclaim the Lord's Name and the Glorious Life which is in Christ Jesus, that the world may know the freedom from fear!!!

This world is absolutely desperate to control you!! But remember that God controls and supplies your eternal life and there is NOTHING that this world can bring against you that His Power cannot subdue. Blessed be the Name of the Lord!

CONTENTMENT IS LEARNED

Philippians 4:11: I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I have learned to be content.

You must realize that contentment must be learned. It doesn’t come naturally. It is learned. Contentment is not something that comes naturally. Paul said that he had to "learn to be content". Naturally, you are prone to, compare yourself with others to always want more than you have (remember Adam and Eve?) Most interpret someone else’s good fortune as coming at their expense.

No one needs to teach any of these things to you they come naturally to you. If that isn’t enough, the world provides many tools to help you to be discontent. Contentment robbers include mail-order catalogs, shopping malls, TV, magazines, and the internet. Contentment doesn’t come naturally. It must be learned. There are 3 things you must learn in order to find contentment.

II. THREE SOURCES THAT GIVE YOU CONTENTMENT

1. You must learn to trust: The overruling providence of God – Philippians 4:10: Paul’s not frustrated. He says: you just didn’t have an opportunity, which means God never made it happen. And if God didn’t make it happen, it didn’t happen. If God wanted it to happen, it would happen. It’s confidence in the providence of God. Read the story of Joseph. Nothing is an accident. These things happen according to the providence of God.

2. You must seek: The unfailing power of God – Philippians 4:11-13: you will not find contentment apart from Jesus Christ. You often emphasize the crucifixion of Jesus, forgetting the resurrection of Jesus. Jesus died, paying for your sins. He rose, to give you the strength to live the new life. John 15:1-8

3. You must believe: The unfailing promise of God – Philippians 4:14-20: Whom have you in heaven but Him? And earth has nothing you desire besides Him. Your flesh and your heart may fail, but God is the strength of your heart and your portion forever. [Psalm 73:25-26] Contentment begins to grow when you come to understand that your greatest treasure is your relationship with the Savior.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face. And the things of the earth will grow strangely dim In the light of His glory and grace.

Family Values

In today's world you are confronted by many things that cause within you a condition of disturbing bewilderment. It is an indication of the things that are wrought when the Adversary turns his face against you with his full venom and rage. Yet, there is a way to find tranquility and remember from where you came and where you are going, when this current system is finally put at peace...God's Peace.

The Lord's beloved disciple, John, wrote in his 1st Epistle, about the family of the Lord.
"" Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: and every spirit that confesses not Jesus, is not of God: and this is the spirit of the antichrist, where you have heard that it cometh; and now it is in the world already.
You are of God, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore they speak as of the world, and the world listens to them.
You are of God: he that knows God, hears you; he who is not of God hears you not. By this you know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. Beloved, love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loves is from God, and knows God. He that loves not, doesn't know God; for God is love. ""

(1 John 4:1-8) In your family there may be strife and discontent. But there is also love and that love overrules the other disappointments and troubles. When you come to each other within your family, you are motivated by a desire to comfort and help your family member. There might be job issues, or money issues. When there is disease or other infirmity, you assist and pray for their healing. Sometimes healing comes, and sometimes it doesn't. When healing doesn't come, for whatever reason, you draw nearer to your loved ones, that their suffering will be softened by the joining of your spirits together, in harmony and compassion. You come into agreement before your Lord that even if the infirmity should take your family member away from you, there will be a consoling knowledge that your dear one will then be in the presence of the Lord.

Knowing that the Spirit of the Lord is upon you and your family has a reassurance that can only be understood from within your own spirit...the same Spirit that he imparted to you, when you became one of His children, in His Heavenly Family! But your "family" isn't confined to those of your own flesh and blood. Your "family" is the entire Church of the Lord, because you are a member of the same Body. Christ's Body. You are inspired toward your extended family, just as you are inspired to your own immediate family, and that is the way your Father wants it! "LOVE one another as I have loved you !", said Jesus to His brethren. That was His New Commandment.

You will face many burdens and hurdles in this world. You may become distraught and heavy with grievous afflictions, anxieties and obstructions to your progress. Your Father in Heaven knows this, and for that reason, He blessed you with the sacrifice of His Beloved Son and the presence of the Holy Spirit, and with a loving and spiritually giving family!! It is in this Spirit that you are able to transcend the limitations of the worldly restrictions barring true compassion for your neighboring brethren...for they are your family too. The Lord directed you to love even your enemies, just as He did at the Cross. The Savior said, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do". He prayed for forgiveness even for those who were putting him to the crucifixion.

So when your family has obstacles and setbacks and torment and despair, recall that the Savior suffered those things before you did. Recall that Jesus loved YOU enough to lay down His innocent life at the Cross for you and all in the family. Recall that He conquered all the things you are faced with, and claimed Victory in your name, underwritten by His name, in front of His Father, your Father...for yesterday's woes, today's sufferings and tomorrow's disappointments.

He will turn everything into a Victory, on that joyful, glorious day when He comes to call you from this world given over to avarice, temptations to sin and infirmity of the flesh...in fact, you and the whole family of the Lord, can claim Victory in Him, today! When you look to the sky and wonder where the next arrow will come from, remember that He already caught that arrow for you and your family, and broke it in half. It no longer exists in the Eternal paradise that He has gone to prepare for you! And that "arrow" isn't even real. The Adversary just wants you to think it is. If he can distract you from the Love and Knowledge of the Lord, he has won.

You, inside the family of God, will not let him win......will you? Your family is blessed and protected by the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Who, therefore, can stand against Him, OR YOU?
That's right: nothing and no one! You are part of the FAMILY! Rejoice and be exceedingly glad! Lift up your family, wherever they are and whoever they are, that they may be comforted in their times of hurting. Help them through thick and thin. Pray for them, through thick and thin. LOVE them through thick and thin. Be content in the Lord and you will find contentment on earth.

Sin will short circuit the work of the Holy Spirit in your life

Ever known somebody who was what you can call the total package. There personality is one of those that everybody just liked them...everybody did. Most of the time good looking and talented, maybe even exceptional communicator. They are just a total package. The person people looked at, listened to, and said, "Wow, that person is going a long way." and they could have, but then it turns out they had sin in their life that they harbored. Sin in their life that they never confessed. They tried to look better than they was and did that all the time. You could kind of sense there was something wrong. Then the sin inside of them controlled their inner person. It happens kind of all at once although it took time. Behind the scenes it was taking time, but to those who knew them, it happened all at once. At first, they lost their honor. Then lost their place in charge and then maybe even lost their family and then they almost or do lose everything.

First you or anyone can be drawn away by your sin. Something entices you. You know, subtle habits start to creep in...Something you enjoy. Maybe it’s a lust for sex. Maybe it’s a lust for food, or maybe it is pride, or maybe it is anger. You can start to justify it. Maybe it’s the love of power or recognition, jealousy, whatever it is, but it starts to draw you away...it becomes a secret.

Secondly you start excusing your sin. You start backing away from Scripture. You don’t even want to hear it. We develop a secret suspicion that, Maybe God has it wrong on that.

The third thing is you begin to be distant. Then the fourth thing that happens is that your heart becomes hardened. Paul in Ephesus calls it a calloused heart. You’re convinced of your rightness and suddenly God is distant.

See you can tell when someone is slowly starting to turn away from God because they start making excuses for their sins.

Isaiah 59, verse 1, says, "Listen! The Lord is not too weak to save you and He is not becoming deaf. He can hear you when you call." But there is a problem. "Your sins have cut you off from God. Because of your sin, He has turned away and He will not listen anymore." That’s why sin is so big. It short-circuits the work of the Holy Spirit in your life and you can pray and God doesn’t listen.

It’s like going into a dating relationship that you know God doesn’t want you in and pray that He’ll bless it anyway. God is not listening to you. The Holy Spirit is not going to work through you and reward your disobedience. Sin is a big deal because it short-circuits what the Holy Spirit wants to do in your life.

Here is the truth. Sin is a big deal for God because it short-circuits the work of the Holy Spirit in your life, and also in the community. It needs to be a big deal for you.

But here is the good news, "But the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ your Lord." You’re a hope dispenser. You’re a life dispenser. That’s why you need to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Remember, if you’re not filled with the Holy Spirit, you’re going to be filled with something.

Galatians 6:1 says, "Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path." Listen, godly doesn’t refer to some elite spiritual class. Godly refers to you. You’re just a page ahead. You’re not doing what they’re doing, okay. You’re a page ahead. You ought to restore them humbly and gently, willing to help a brother out because their life depends on it.

What real thanksgiving looks like.

Real thanksgiving, biblical thanksgiving, is much greater and deeper than you realize. It is based not on your circumstances, but on God's sufficiency; not on your production, but on God's provision; not on your performance, but on God's providence. Scripture described real thanksgiving with this admonition: "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (I Thess. 5:18).

In, 2 Tim. 1:11-12, Scripture shows you what real thanksgiving looks like. Paul is in a dungeon, chained to a Roman guard. It is dark down in that hole. He can barely see well enough to write. He thinks back over thirty years as an apostle, teacher and preacher.

Most people in such a situation feel sorry for themselves. Can't you hear yourself crying out, "Lord, you certainly have a strange way of showing your love for me? I have sacrificed and suffered for you. What do I get for it? I'm locked up in this hole, and I'll probably be executed within a month. Thanks a lot!" But that's not what Paul said. Instead, he declared, "I am not ashamed of the Gospel." Then he gives two reasons for his confidence, even in a dungeon, even face to face with death. If you can claim these same two reasons, you can celebrate real thanksgiving in your life.

Paul said, He Could Be Confident because he Knows God Personally. There is a huge difference between knowing about God and knowing God. Even the devil knows about God, and trembles because of what he knows. To know God personally is to love and serve Him as Savior, leader, counselor and friend.

As a believer you can actually know God personally and can be assured that you have been saved, born again and reconciled to God. The key Bible verse is Romans 8:16: "The Spirit testifies with your spirit that you are God's child."

How do you get that type of inner assurance?" God alone gives it. But you can place yourself squarely in the bulls-eye of God's grace by taking these five steps: First, talk with God each day in prayer, even if at first you feel as though your prayers are pointless. Second, read God's inspired book each day, even if at first you read just a few verses. Third, as you begin to sense God's spirit touching your life, make a personal commitment to Christ. Dare to confess your sin to Him and believe that He paid for your sin on the cross. Invite the risen Christ to be the leader of your life. Step number 4 is this: gather regularly with other believers to worship God. Yes, you could worship alone in a trout-filled stream or on a manicured golf course. But Jesus said, "Where two or three come together in my name, there I am with them." (Matt. 18:20) The final step in getting personal with God is to take some risks with Him. Dare to do something that is not likely to succeed without God's help. Reach out to some alienated person. Try to tutor a child at a local school. Tithe your income.

When you take God-approved risks, you come to know God better and trust Him more. Where in your life are you taking God-approved risks that are not likely to succeed without God's help? If you want to know God personally, risk-taking is essential.

It is not enough to know about God. It is not enough to be an excellent student of the Scriptures. In order to celebrate real Thanksgiving, you must know God personally. Paul gave a second reason for confidence: He Could Be Confident Because God is Able to Guard All That He Entrusts to Him.

Your only assets that are absolutely secure are those that have been entrusted to Christ. When Wall Street is smoldering on the trash heap of history, your investments in Christ will be shining like pure gold.

You don't know what a day may bring, much less a year. Yet you can dare to give thanks to God because you can say, "You know whom you have believed, and your convinced that he is able to guard what you have entrusted to him " (1 Tim. 1:12).

Though the heavenly Father does not control you like a puppet, there is a kind of invisible rope between Him and you. He has wonderful and mysterious ways of pulling you out of trouble and keeping you secure in Him. For that you can be so thankful. Believe that with all your heart, then you’ll know the secret of your confidence, and you're ready for Thanksgiving!

Struggle is necessary.

How much do you want life eternal? Are you willing to, think in terms of what you must do to overcome and change? What are you willing to do to pursue eternal life, and how far will you go? Look at Hebrews 12. Jesus struggled against temptation. He was in all points emptied as many are, yet without sin. In that sense He's been tempted more than you have because you've given in at least once, probably more. He struggled to the greatest extent, to the greatest extent of the temptation and didn't even give in.

It's so easy to focus on the trials that are set before you, or the struggles or the temptations, but Christ focused on the joy that was before Him. Where He was going, what would happen if He endures, if He remains sinless, if He can carry this through He will be the Savior of humanity. He will sit again at the right hand of God in glory and all eternity.

You know, it takes less work to live with a problem than to change it. You get comfortable and it's so important that you don't have attitudes that discourage change in your life; attitudes that hold you back, ways of looking at change that are roadblocks or stumbling blocks for you. There are no shortcuts to salvation. You will struggle if you’re going to overcome. That's a simple fact. You struggle if you overcome and thankfully God is there to help you. Why doesn't He get rid of the struggle? Wouldn't it be a lot easier if you could just decide to change and you were changed? It would be a lot easier if that were the case. Why doesn't He help more and decrease the struggle?

God looks at you, and He sees that struggle is necessary. Yes, change is hard but the struggle is absolutely essential to your spiritual life. You mustn't be unwilling to struggle.  All go through different types of struggle, and God is willing to help you and give you strength to go through your struggles, and He's not going to end the struggle because He knows that that's part of your very character. You will value the definition of your character even more if you’ve had to stand your ground for it. You will be able to help those who do struggle with sin because you've struggled with sin. There's an important aspect to your growth that involves being willing to struggle, to change.

What do you think about change? What's your attitude toward change? Are you making excuses? Are you putting it off? How deeply do you desire change and be like Christ and to be in His kingdom and live forever? In this life a life, you can be thankful that Christ went before you, died for you and enables you and strengthens you. That's your encouragement when you're thinking about change. But remember that it is a struggle, and with the right attitude it will bring happiness in this life. And it brings a tremendous reward in the life to come.

Until you put Him first, life won’t work.

If God is not at the center of your life, even if you get what you think you need it won’t be enough. God asks you today: “Take a look at the mess in your life and what’s been happening when you put yourself first. Sometimes God gives you what you want so that you’ll experience some consequences, with the ultimate goal being that you turn back to Him. Psalm 106:15 says: “So he gave them what they asked for, but sent a wasting disease upon them.”

If you put your purposes above God’s priorities, you will never get what you’re after. Here’s a news flash: Only God can satisfy your soul. Until you put Him first, life won’t work. The more you marginalize Him, the worse things will get.

It doesn’t necessarily mean that because you are having problems that God is punishing you. There’s often not a direct connection between your suffering and your sin. Just ask Job or Jeremiah. Bad things happen in this sinful world. “Blessing is not always the reward for obedience (Psalm 73) and curse cannot always be tied to disobedience (Job).”

If you end up broken and on your knees, that’s a good thing! “Experiences of hardship should always become opportunities for spiritual reflection.” When you go through something challenging or difficult or sad, ask these kinds of questions: “God, what are you trying to teach me? Is there a sin I need to confess? What do you want me to change in my life?”

God cares too much to let you roam through life, pursuing only your own pleasure. “God whispers to you in your pleasures, speaks in your conscience, but shouts in your pains; it is His megaphone to awaken a deaf world.” He blows stuff away and calls for a drought so that you will return to Him. If it seems like what you’ve been chasing has just vaporized before your eyes, if you make money only to find it flowing through holes in your pockets, if you feel like you never have enough, the Lord Almighty may be knocking out the props in your life to get your attention.

As you learn in 1 John, it’s not enough to just say you love God; you must live like you do. Words are good, but actions are better. If you want things to change, then how badly do you want to get better? You see, if you sort of want to get back where you need to be spiritually, it probably won’t happen. You have to go after God if you want to change because your default setting is selfishness and procrastination.

The more you focus on your own happiness the unhappier you will become. Sin will take you further than you were planning to go and keep you longer than you were planning to stay. Pleasing God is the only pursuit that will give you ultimate pleasure. Things work when God is worshipped. Your needs are met when you live like God is all you need. Obey Him and stop running after your selfish pursuits.

The battle for your mind continues to this day.

When you became a Christian no one put your old way of thinking into the “recycle bin” and then permanently deleted it. Everything you learned through life and all the feelings that came along with it were still programmed into your mind even after you accepted Christ as your savior. The battle for your mind continues to this day. Your thoughts can still conform to the pattern of the world; your thinking can still be out of control.

Scripture tells you not to “conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2). Your thinking has to be reprogrammed; you have been given the mind of Christ only now you need to learn to use it.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5: For though you live in the world, you do not wage war as the world does. The weapons you fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, THEY HAVE DIVINE POWER TO DEMOLISH STRONGHOLDS.
Within your thinking you have given Satan strongholds. The devil has a vice-like grip on your thinking and won’t let go; Satan has fortified his position and wants to continue to influence your thinking. The devil won’t let go of his stranglehold on your life as long as you continue to follow your old way of thinking.

Defense mechanisms are the strongholds the enemy will use to control your life. They are the patterns of thinking Programmed Thoughts that are in your mind when you lived independently of God.

Scripture says: the weapons of our warfare have divine power to demolish strongholds! The wrong way of thinking can be reprogrammed. If you believed a lie, then you can renounce the lie and choose to believe the truth. Satan won’t just leave you alone because you are a Christian. He will run Programmed Thoughts or strongholds in your mind that were built up before you came to Christ. The devil still tries to manipulate your thoughts to accomplish his desires. Satan wants to continually penetrate your thoughts with his thoughts, to reinforce the lies you have believed and distort God’s truth. Why? SATAN KNOWS THAT IF HE CAN CONTROL YOUR THOUGHTS THEN HE CAN CONTROL YOUR LIFE.

How are you to overcome the strongholds you have allowed Satan to build in your life?
2 Corinthians 10:5: You demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and YOU TAKE CAPTIVE EVERY THOUGHT TO MAKE IT OBEDIENT TO CHRIST.

What happens when you die

Whats going to transpire when you die, basically four things will happen.... if the Lord tarries you will go through these four things...

1. First there is a departure of the spirit from the body Your tent/the body you have is just an outer casing. Inside your body is a spirit that gives your body life. It is this spirit that makes you who you are. When you die the body deteriorates its form returns to dust but the spirit that gave it life departs. When Jesus came to the daughter of Jarius the synagogue ruler to bring her back from the dead, the Word of God says that, "HE TOOK HER BY THE HAND AND SAID, `MY CHILD GET UP!’ HER SPIRIT THEN RETURNED AND SHE AT ONCE STOOD UP!" WHEN YOU DIE YOUR SPIRIT LEAVES YOUR BODY.

2. After the departure from the body comes the immediate presence with the Lord Scripture says: "YOU ARE TO BE CONFIDENT AND PREFER TO BE AWAY FROM THE BODY AND AT HOME WITH THE LORD." There is no intermediate state for you as a Christian as some believe, to take care of and purge their sins. Jesus took care of that at the cross. And when you die you are immediately in the presence of the Lord....What a Glorious moment.

3. Following this will be the receiving of your new body at the return of Christ (His second coming) Scripture said, "You will not be found naked." {w/o a body}. {Corinthians 15:50-57}
You are not going to spend eternity as some disembodied spirit floating on a cloud in the middle of nothingness; you are getting a new body when Christ returns. (I Thess 4:16-18) 

4. After this comes the judgment, WE ALL MUST APPEAR BEFORE THE JUDGEMENT SEAT OF CHRIST, SO THAT EACH ONE MAY RECEIVE WHAT IS DUE HIM FOR THE THINGS DONE IN THE BODY WHETHER GOOD OR BAD."

The Judgment for the non - Christians will be a judgment of sin. They will receive the sentence for their sins eternal death (ETERNAL separation from God and all that is good).

The judgment of Christians is not for sins, your sins have been washed away by the blood of Jesus Christ... you are not accountable for them. Your judgment will be to determine your rewards. "YOUR WORK (THE THINGS YOU DO AND THE LIFE YOU LIVE FOR CHRIST), WILL BE SHOWN FOR WHAT IT IS.. IT WILL BE REVEALED BY FIRE, AND THE FIRE WILL TEST THE QUALITY OF EACH ONES WORK. IF IT SURVIVES, YOU WILL RECEIVE YOUR REWARD. IF IT IS BURNED UP, YOU WILL SUFFER LOSS; YOU YOURSELF WILL BE SAVED, BUT ONLY AS ONE ESCAPING THROUGH THE FLAMES." (I CORINTH 3)

THAT’S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE DIE; YOUR SPIRIT DEPARTS AND YOU GO TO BE WITH THE LORD -- IMMEDIATELY. THEN AT THE RETURN OF CHRIST YOU GET A NEW BODY, YOU’LL STAND BEFORE CHRIST TO RECEIVE YOUR REWARDS AND THEN COMES PERFECT EXISTENCE IN ETERNITY WITH JESUS.

When you realize that you are now only living in a tent, when you understand what happens when you die, you can eagerly anticipate eternal life. The longer you live the more attractive heaven should BE TO you. Call it: “Homesick for heaven. “

There is loneliness in the heart of all humans

There is loneliness in the heart of all humans, who has known or not known love; the longing to be held and recognized. To be full with a person whose power stimulates and shares life... but that longing or "loneliness" is ripe for exploitation from the Adversary. Satan is more crafty and deceptive than you are aware of.

It is your DNA to nurture and be caregivers, while at the same time to be wanted, loved, cherished and desired. Woman was drawn from the body of man, and long to be joined back to him as man, also man longs to be joined with the woman...so all embark on life’s search. It's in woman’s nature to yearn for the strength of a man's arms to enfold her and protect her and for man to want to protect. But it is also a tool of the Adversary to use that same need in you, to weaken you to engage in sinful surrender to temptation, as he snares you into wrongdoing.

The same tricks have been used on man & women ever since. First, you are given to excited confusion over what is real and not real, so you chose the flesh side in fantasy. Then you are given conflicting signals about what that excitement actually means to you, in your flesh and in your psychology. Hormones become inflamed and the choice of passion is controlled by the flesh. Then you doubt that the Lord will hold you accountable for your failure, because he is a loving God, a forgiving God and would want you to be happy. THEN, you are seduced with the false feeling of power, in that you can chose to do with your body as you see fit...IT'S YOUR BODY! you say to yourself, thus excusing your sin.

But is it your body? Or is it what God created for you to live in? Your body is the Temple of God? You have a responsibility to God to honor His temple “your flesh”, by respecting your body and only giving it as a gift to the person who God would have you share it with in HONOR and in love, not simply momentary lust? For lust fades, sooner or later, and leaves the bearer with guilt over the sin committed. It’s a guarantee.

A man will not respect a woman he can seduce within a few hours. They don't take those kinds of girls home to mother, and they rarely take those kinds of girls to the alter. A man wants a woman to cherish, protect, honor, and be proud of, love with all his being. Saying NO takes strength and self respect. It inspires a man to return that respect, and look at the woman who told him no, in 1 of 2 ways. Either he is a dog and will look for another woman to seduce (which he will do immediately after achieving conquest of the first woman, anyhow) OR he will discover that this is a woman to which he will be drawn to for her honor, courage and self respect. He will be able to build a cherishing and nurturing relationship with her, because he will find her to be a noble creature, principled and virtuous.

THAT is the kind of woman GOOD men desire...the rest they throw away. Being thrown away creates heartache and disillusionment in the woman. It makes them suffer and cry tears of regret at missing the mark again. That is how the deception of the adversary works. Make you think that your are going to have a roaring good time and find the gem you have been looking for, so you opened up to that person you just met and fulfilled the lust of the flesh. Soon, however, that person loses interest and  "down the road" to the next bus stop. The flesh is weak and it will perish, right along with the love affair.

God blessed you with rare qualities and you are not to waste them on heathens who are only looking for a good romp in the hay for a night or a few weeks.

If we stand strong, and faithful to the Lord's commandments and not engage in fornication and adultery, then you will have heightened self esteem and know that you are victorious over your sin.

You will know your loved ones in heaven.

Heaven will be interesting and exciting because you will never stop growing spiritually and intellectually. You will understand things in new ways, for “Now you see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then you shall see face to face. Now you know in part; then you shall know fully, even as you are fully known” (1 Corinthians 13:12). A new understanding will be given to you that will help you to know and understand things that you could never understand here in this fallen and limited world. But for all eternity, you will be growing and developing. You will be becoming more like Christ. Your character will more and more take on God’s qualities. You will gain new skills and abilities to serve God and work for him. There will be continuous progress and the excitement of new discoveries.

Heaven is a place of fellowship. Will you know your loved ones in heaven? Scripture points to the reality that you will know each other, and even know each other better than you do now. “Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known” (1 Corinthians 13:12). There is nothing in the Bible to suggest that you will not know one another.

(Luke 16:23). The rich man recognized Abraham even though he had never seen him, as well as recognizing Lazarus — even though his appearance and condition had changed radically. So not only do people know each other in heaven, but people in hell know each other — and see and know people in heaven, which is part of their torment. Part of what makes heaven so wonderful is the wonderful, deep relationships you will enjoy there.

The Bible says that you are currently surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses (Hebrews 12:1). This cloud of witnesses is made up of the citizens of heaven. They are together in a heavenly fellowship of love, and you shall soon join them. The great joy of heaven will not only be a renewed relationship with God, but renewed relationships with those you have known, loved and lost. Love is the new food of heaven, and there will be plenty to go around. The rich love and fellowship of believers is one of rewards of heaven.

The Bible says, “You will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter ?1:11). Who is it that will welcome you? God and the host of heaven, to be sure. But there in the crowd will be those whom you have loved and known before. You will see them, speak to them and be joined to them — never to be separated again. And your relationship with them will be more than it was before, not less.

You are called to be His witnesses to a perverted and evil world.

And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. If anyone teaches otherwise, and live by wholesome words, even the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the doctrine which is according to godliness, you are a proud person, knowing nothing, but disputes over the petty of words, lacking of any truth, the flesh thinks that gain is godliness: from such a person withdraw yourself. But you’ll find that godliness with contentment is great gain. For you brought nothing into this world and it is certain you can carry nothing out. And having food and housing, be content. But they that are rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown them in life’s destruction and victims of eternal punishment. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some live their entire life for, they have fallen from the faith, and pierced themselves with many sorrows. But flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, and have lived a good life before many witnesses.

You are called to be His witnesses to a perverted and evil world. You are IN the world, but you are not OF the world any longer. You can see the door is open and the Lord beckons you to come through it. You became new in Christ at the moment you confessed His Holiness and His sacrifice on the Cross. When you confessed that you were a sinner and could not gain Eternal Life through the law, but only through Him. You asked Him to come into your hearts and be your Savior for evermore. Having done this, you received the Gift of Salvation and Eternal Life in Him.

Then be available to those who are new babes in Him, that their walk may be strengthened, that they may grow in Him, for He wishes for none to perish, but for all who would desire Him, to have life eternal, and have it abundantly. You have certain obligations to Him, before others. You are to be wise in His Spirit and to seek His protection in Knowledge of the Truth; you are to put on the whole armor of God, that in “the last days” you will be able to stand, and withstand all things that the world may throw at you..

That time is now. The Holy Spirit is heavily making an impression upon your heart to prepare for the Day of His calling, and to bring as many souls along as time and effort will allow. HE paves the way; it is your duty to Him to keep your feet firmly on His path, that His Name may be glorified and that you as His child KNOW you have refuge in Him, no matter what may happen in this present world.

Bring His Word to a population of hungry babes lost and in need of hidden manna. Be an island where people may find comfort and rest in His mercy and love; Desire for His word to be spread far and wide like the Waters of Life flow from the Savior. Be bound to His Purpose with steadfast determination. Hear the cries of those who are teetering on the edge of sanity: For those who have thought more than once about ending their lives, because of the persistent beatings of this world system. See the miracles of redemption and awakening by the loving words of Christ. You are to be LIKE Him in your concerns for your others, and to open up to them The Word, that they may believe, see the Lord touch lives with His healing Spirit, that they may be released from the fear that grips so many hearts in this day and age. You are HIS workmen, and you must be about His work! Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven!

Curses from sexual immorality are the strongest curses to break.

Curses from sexual immorality are the strongest curses to break. They can take weeks to break during the deliverance of a victim. That is why the Bible says that God is not too worried about sins outside the body as He is worried about sins in the body, Fornication and adultery.

Understanding the true nature of your identity as a believer provides boundaries that promote sexual purity and expose sexual immorality and speak with power to the realities of sexual struggle.

A believer must not let himself be mastered by anything other than Christ, and realize that sex can be a life-dominating master. Do not let yourself live for just the sex moment, and realize that sex creates a narrow focus on present pleasure with little awareness of the future. Do not allow yourself to function in independence, and realize that sex draws you to meditate on what you want and 'need.' Sex is often about power, control, ownership, and entitlement. Don’t allow yourself to function from a position of ownership.

Sexuality is a key revealer of your heart (Eph. 5:3-7). In the Sermon on the Mount, Christ declares sexuality to be an issue of the heart, 'Whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart' (Matt. 5:28). It is not enough to say, 'Because you have not physically committed adultery, therefore you are pure,' for lust itself breaks the command against committing adultery.

Scripture states it very plainly in Ephesians 5:5: the sexually immoral person is an idolater. Sex always involves the thoughts, motives, desires, demands, expectations, treasures, or idols of the heart. When you deal with sexual sin, it is not enough to simply avoid committing acts of physical immorality. It’s shutting down the evil spirit that pulls you. Using spiritual weapons to defeat the temptations, the battle is one with your first Victory. Start with one success at a time and Journal on a calendar each Victory or each defeat you experience.

It is when you are confronted with your utter inability to meet the demands of God's standard that you are also confronted with the reality and majesty of His grace. 'Where sin increased, grace increased all the more' (Romans 5:20). In this way, your sexuality reveals your profound need for the inner power and desire to obey God that comes only from God. God calls you to sexual purity.

It is vital that you as a believer connect your sexual struggles to gospel themes that will work in your life. For in sexual Immorality the truth of God has been exchanged for a lie. The worship and service of the Creator has been exchanged for the worship and service of created things. By exposing idolatry and self-love that is at the heart of sexual sin, the need for Christ will be clearly demonstrated.

Harvesting for the Lord

You do not receive because you ask with the wrong motives. When busy working in this world, you can lose sight of the One True reason for success. Jesus. Jesus is faithful to provide in your darkest moments. He provides a soothing reassurance of His care for you. He may not bring you what you WANT, but He will always bring you what you need.

He knows when the harvest is ripe for you, and He speaks to your inner spirit so you will know when it is time to do what you must. Times are confusing because of the outside distractions and obligations; His voice is softer and sometimes you will not hear it. But the Lord is faithful to never leave you, once you have given yourself over to Him. He will never leave you, even in times of distress. In fact, that is when He is at His finest! When you are weak, He is strong!

He charges you with duties for His Kingdom. One of them is to know when it is time to harvest what He has prepared for you to accomplish. Harvesting for the Lord is not always sharing the Word with people, or to be His earthly guide for their salvation.. Sometimes, it is to bring fulfillment to what He has planned for you to do. Listen for His Word to you and then, with faith, do it!

In Joel 1:11, we find the meaning of failure in harvesting what God has provided for you to do. Be ye ashamed, O ye husbandmen; howl, O ye vinedressers, for the wheat and for the barley; because the harvest of the field is perished. He tells you that you should have done as He provided for you to do, and since you didn't, the provisions He made for the health of the people, has gone to rot. Yet, when you are faithful to do His holy work, He blesses the faithful workman fully! Be faithful in your work and know when the time to harvest is.

You look around and say, but what is there to bring in for the Lord? What can I do? I am only one person! I am not equipped to bring in a harvest for the Lord. OH!! BUT YOU ARE! He equips you for all good things. Things that glorify Him! You study, live cleanly, put hate and malice aside, share your bounty, confess the Lord, live uprightly before mankind,  do things that are in His interest; and He will bless you! He sees in secret, as you do in public and at home.

Know the signs of the times for Harvesting. His open arms are waiting to greet you into the eternal kingdom. 2 Timothy 2:15 says, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of Truth”. Be discerning and understanding of His directions. Don't be lazy in these final days. Be fruitful and multiply His harvest. And finally, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

Your Choices determine if you are Stressed or Blessed.

Luke 10:38-42 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" Martha, Martha, the Lord answered, "You are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

Life has many distractions that can overwhelm you, even divert you from fully sensing Jesus’ peace and presence. Scripture gives you a good example for facing life’s obstacles. You can either be blessed or stressed. That was the difference between Mary and Martha. Mary was occupied with Jesus and was blessed Martha was preoccupied with her situation and was stressed. Scripture applies it to your life. Martha was distracted; you can fill your time with activities and your home with noise so that you can shut God out. Your relationship with Christ cannot grow properly or fully if you are living with constant distractions.
Life is so full of distractions that you end up living for no higher purpose than to get through another day.

Martha, Martha, on several occasions, according to Luke’s account, Jesus repeated a name when he wanted to make some unusually impressive statement. Understand the spiritual implications If you are worried and upset about many things, Worrying accomplishes little or nothing. Proverbs 12:25 - "An anxious heart weighs a person down."

But only one thing is needed, No matter what your circumstance, you CAN be set free! You may need to adjust your priorities and eliminate some things, which consume your time and clutter of your thoughts; but true worship at His feet is worth it ALL.

The one thing is needed Matt 6:33: Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Your primary concern in this life should not be pleasing and serving yourself. It should be to know and serve God. His "kingdom" is His rule over the earth, His authority over you as His creation.

Your first concern should be understanding who God is and how you can be right with him.
Mary has chosen what is better She was listening to Jesus teach God’s Word. That precious Word was more important than anything Martha might be busy doing.

The secret for success: If you want to be distressed -- look within. If you want to be defeated -- look back. If you want to be distracted -- look around. If you want to be dismayed -- look ahead. If you want to be delivered -- look up too Jesus! Your Choices make all the difference.
The very things, which you allow occupy your heart and mind, will determine if you are Stressed or Blessed.

Advocate vs Adversary

You are living in perilous times; times you were told of by Christ Jesus. You should know that is His title; He is “the Anointed” Savior. Jesus was, still is and forever shall be, the Living Word of God...“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God; the same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him and without Him, nothing was made. In Him was Life and the Life was the light of men. And the light shined in the darkness and the darkness comprehended it not.” (John 1:1-5)

Jesus is your Advocate before the Father. When you confess Jesus as your Savior to others on earth, Jesus stands before the Father in Heaven and confesses YOU! But there is another spirit that comes before God also, to accuse you of unfaithfulness (Job 1:7). He is the Adversary, Satan, and he hates God's creation, “Man”. Why? Because YOU were made in God's image. Satan was not made in God's image. Neither were any of the angels! The Word spoke life into being, when God said, “Let us make Man in our own image”(Gen 1:26). The Adversary wants to be God and so he needs to deceive and eliminate faith in Believers, one way or another.

Most think there are many enemies, but there is really only one. It is Satan, the adversary, the father of sin, and of all deceptions and all unrighteousness. He comes to you in many ways and ithrough many people, even some in the clergy. Beware of those who do not teach you God's Word in Truth. "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction" (1 Peter 2:1).“This know also, that in the last days...men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those who are good, traitors, headstrong, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a FORM OF GODLINESS, but denying the power, thereof. From such, turn away! (2Timothy 3:1-5)

Satan tries to work against you every moment of every day. He is a cunning adversary who watches where and to whom he may cause mischief to happen and will promote errors, even by twisting the words of Scripture. But guess what? Jesus works FOR you every moment of every day. For, greater is HE who is IN you than he who is in the world (1John 4:4). You are faced with many challenges all the time, and sometimes you grow weary of the struggles; but know this: Jesus suffered everything that you have ever, or will ever, suffer. He was tempted by Satan for 40 days in the wilderness, was persecuted by those indwelt by the adversary and put to death by them...but HE came out victorious...just as YOU can be victorious, through Him! Whatever uncertainty you are in or whatever mistakes may arise near the time of Christ Jesus' coming, one thing is for certain...HE IS COMING!

For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God...then we who remain alive shall be caught up together with Him in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall ever be with the Lord. Wherefore, comfort one another with these words. (2Thess 4:16-18)

Your Advocate wins! The adversary loses. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad! You know how the story ends!!!

Your mind is the real you; the mind resides within your spirit and soul.

When it comes to the process of human thought, there is still much humans don’t understand; however, it’s been proven there is a fundamental difference between the brain and the mind. The brain is the grey matter inside your head; it is the physical organ giving direction to the other parts of your body through an intricate system of nerves. Doctors can point to different areas of the brain that control various functions of our body. When you die your brain will return to dust, but not your mind.
Your mind while somehow connected to your brain is not physical. Your mind is the real you; the mind resides within your spirit and soul. Your mind is eternal because when you die your spirit and soul separates from your body. For the believer Scripture says to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. However we won’t be mindless spirits; the mind will live on with the spirit and soul.


ILLUSTRATION: Your ability to think and reason is similar to the way a computer functions. The computer hardware with all of its wires and circuitry is like your brain; it is the physical part. However, the computer is useless without the software. Programs must be installed to the memory of the computer in order for it to function. The software, like the mind is not physical; you can add or remove software from your computer and yet you won’t make the computer heavier or lighter. The physical part of the computer remains unchanged by the software it contains. But the hardware is useless without the software.


Society assumes that if something is not working right between your ears, then it is a HARDWARE PROBLEM. If you struggle with suicidal thoughts, if you are depressed, if you are paranoid, anxious, and fearful, it must be caused by some chemical imbalance or some other physical problem with your brain. Therefore if you take the right pill, if you eat certain foods, if you do this or that, then you can cure your brain and the problem will go away. The reason doctors and psychiatrists think it is a hardware problem in your brain is because the world does not accept in the spiritual realm.


Whatever may be going on between your ears is not a hardware problem; it is a SOFTWARE PROBLEM. In other words, your problem is not physical but spiritual. You need to change the programming within your thinking, to be transformed by the renewing of your mind. You have developed certain patterns of thought that have given Satan a stronghold in your life; if Satan can control the way you think he can control your life. You don’t need a pill; you need to stop waging war as the world and use weapons with divine power to demolish strongholds by taking every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ.

The Spirit is preparing all things for the last great harvest.

The prophets — from Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel down to the minor prophets — reveal that in the last days God’s Spirit will once again fall on a prepared people. This event is referred to as the “harvest rain.” It is promised to be greater even than the “former rain,” which was the Spirit’s mighty outpouring at Pentecost.

The former (or first) rain came, watering the newly planted crops. This typifies what happened at Pentecost, when the “first rain” fell in a great outpouring of God’s Spirit. That rain watered the seed of the Word, and it grew and spread to become the worldwide church you see today.

Joel gives a vibrant picture of what it looks like when this harvest rain comes: “Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice; for the Lord will do great things. Be not afraid, beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree will bear her fruit, the fig tree and the vine will yield their strength. Be glad then, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for He hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain.

“And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil. And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. And you shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God that has dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. And you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed” (Joel 2:21–27).

Joel is saying, in effect, “Wake up, Look around you. What you see happening has been prophesied. It is beginning to rain, and the Lord has made the clouds bright and full of water. The Spirit is preparing all things for the last great harvest.”Satan knows about this final rain to come and the glorious harvest that will follow it. The devil knows what is written in God’s Word. And he is determined to hinder the great harvest he knows is coming. He has unleashed a furious attack on the believers of God, using every weapon he can to remove the peace of God’s people. Indeed, many Christians have been overwhelmed by the darkness now covering the earth, all set in motion by the fury of Satan’s activity.

The gloom and fear hovering over every nation has left people feeling helpless. Here in America, courts have made laws that glory in perversions. As the hour approaches, have nothing in your heart to hinder God’s work. He is preparing you to receive His latter rain. Be determined to continue doing just as Scripture instructed: “Be sober. Take everything to prayer. Show mercy to all.” Pray for rain in these last days!

Hold this powerful final image: “Upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe” (Revelation 14:14–15). And you’re living in that time.