It’s Not About You!

Charles Swindoll

I need to underscore a foundational fact: God's goal is not to make sure you're happy. No matter how hard it is for you to believe this, it's time to do so. Life is not about your being comfortable and happy and successful and pain free. It's about becoming the man or woman God has called you to be. Unfortunately, we will rarely hear that message proclaimed today. All the more reason for me to say it again: Life is not about you! It's about God.

How can I say that with assurance? Because of Paul's response in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10:

Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

That's it! He got it, too. And he went with it for the rest of his days.

When you and I boast of our strengths, we get the credit, and we keep going under our own head of steam. But when we boast in what He is doing in the midst of our brokenness, inability, and inadequacy, Christ comes to the front. His strength comes to our rescue. He is honored.

Don't miss that point. The very things we dread and run from in our lives are precisely what brought contentment to Paul. Look at the list: I am content when I lose. I am content when I am weak. I am content with insults. I am content when I am slandered. I am content in distresses. I am content with persecutions. I am content with difficulties and pressures that are so tight I can hardly turn around. Why? “Because when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10). Knowing that brought the apostle, ablaze with the flaming oracles of heaven, to his knees. What a way to live your life-content in everything-knowing that divine strength comes when human weakness is evident.

Paul recommends an attitude of unselfish humility. Quite remarkably, you never read where Paul said to his Roman guard, while he was in prison: “I need you to do me a favor. Next time you happen to be near one of the Emperor's assistants, urge him to get me out of this dump. I shouldn't be here in the first place. I've been here for one year, seven months, four days, five hours, and nine minutes, and that's long enough.” Paul's attitude of unselfish humility prevented him from keeping meticulous records of the wrongs done to him in Rome, or anywhere else for that matter. He was in prison by divine appointment. He willingly submitted to his situation.

Christ modeled the great emptying-out principle that permeated Paul's remarkable life. If we want to learn contentment, developing an attitude of unselfish humility is the perfect place to begin. Start with your family or neighbors. Model it before your employees or clients. You won't believe the impact that sort of selfless mental attitude will have on the people. You won't have to raise flags or pass out tracts. Just demonstrate an attitude of unselfish humility. The results will amaze you.

Paul exhorts believers to have an attitude of joyful acceptance. Paul minced no words about how believers should relate to one another. “Do all things without grumbling or disputing; that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:14-15). He sought an attitude of joyful acceptance, free of petty disputes and bickering. He pled for authentic joy. Nothing is more contagious!

Adapted from Charles R. Swindoll, Great Days with the Great Lives: Profiles in Character from Charles R. Swindoll (Nashville: W Publishing Group, 2005), 313, 337.

Definition of Love

Dr. Frederick K.C. Price

I have a very simple – maybe even a corny and oversimplified definition of love. When I say, “I love you,” it means I want to spend the rest of my life making you happy. I want to be your companion, your provider, your lover, your confidant, your advisor, your friend. I want you to be the only woman in the world that carries my seed and mothers my children. I want only you handling the affairs of my household. I mean that I want to spend my life with you in every conceivable intimate way that there is imaginable. I am yours for life. I want you to be mine for life. That is the best way I can define love.

Some people are marrying because someone says they love them and because the person is a Christian and goes to church every Sunday. But that does not mean a thing! You could still be unequally yoked. It is so important to be equally yoked in spiritual matters first. Both of you should be filled with the Holy Spirit and speaking with other tongues. You should both believe in tithing. If either one does not believe in either of these two matters, you are unequally yoked.

II Corinthians 6:14:
Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

This scripture usually is attributed to a Christian not marrying a non-Christian. But based upon what I have been able to see from the Word and from life, I believe being unequally yoked involves some additional criteria.

If one believes in divine healing and in exercising faith to believe God for healing, along with whatever help one may be able to get from the doctor, but the other does not believe that, then you are unequally yoked.

I think you should be equally yoked on the things that mean the most to you in life. Even though you may both be Christians, you need to sit down and talk about all these other areas, with spiritual things being first.

When you talk openly, you will discover what the other likes and dislikes. My wife likes a particular food that I do not like, but it has nothing to do with our relationship. I allow her the privilege to like it, and she allows me the privilege not to. So, we are equally yoked in that sense.

Such natural things can be adjusted. However, if you do not agree on the spiritual matters, like tithing, you are going to have real trouble. Start with the spiritual matters, then go on and talk about other concerns from there.

You must use honest communication; otherwise, you will be talking a lot and saying nothing. alk about whether or not you want children. Talk about where you want to live. What church you both will attend. There are many areas of living that need to be discussed before a couple walks down the aisle and says, “I do.”

I know of a situation where after the couple was married, the lady said, “Honey, I am ready to start having children.” The husband said, “What? I do not plan to have any kids!” Now what is she supposed to do? They are unequally yoked. They should have discussed that issue until each one understood clearly where the other stood. Here, she has given herself to this man and he doesn’t want kids. This is trouble with a capital “T.”

I think two people can make a relationship work under any circumstance if they agree as to what they are going to do. Some situations cannot be pre-planned, of course, but most things can.

Do your homework before you ever decide to get married because you are still going to have to adjust to each other. Just the psychological and physical adjustment alone is a big responsibility. So, all the other stuff should be ironed out beforehand.

Your focus during the spring season of romantic thoughts, leading possibly to marriage should be: Talk honestly. Get into agreement about things. Be equally yoked together. Then put things into operation.

The most important thing to remember is that God knows more about you than you do, so let Him in on your heart’s desire. He can arrange for you to have the best life partner that you could ever imagine. Before you start your game plan, before you begin talking to him or to her, talk to your Heavenly Faith first!


This devotional was excerpted from Dr. Price’s book, “Golden Nuggets: A Treasury of Wisdom for Both Ministers and Laypeople.” Please call us at (800) 927-3436 for a complete list of his products.

Dr. Frederick K.C. Price is the founder and pastor of Crenshaw Christian Center West in Los Angeles and CCC East in Manhattan. To obtain more information about his ministry, please call (800) 927-3436 or visit www.faithdome.org.

Uncommon Protection

Kenneth Copeland

"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy."
(John 10:10)

Considering how much the devil hates people and how dead set he is on destroying them, it's no wonder we see so much tragedy and disaster in the world. In fact, it's amazing that we don't see more!

I asked the Lord about that one time and He told me it takes the realm of darkness a long time to set up major disasters. Take the aviation industry, for example. It's highly regulated and works hard at policing itself because safety is its product. You take a highly regulated system like that and the devil has to work terribly hard to cause disasters.

He can't just come roaring in and rip things up any time he wants to. If he could, he'd knock every plane out of the sky tonight. But he can't do it.

Why? Because he's bound. The Bible says he's bound to things that are common to man. He has to line up certain things in this natural, human realm before he can lay a finger on you. He has to use people to get his work done.

But, bless God, we're not bound to what's common to man. We're free to use what's common to God! We fight our warfare with uncommon weapons. What does that mean? It means you ought to have the devil wrapped up and sewed up. You ought to put him in a sack with a ribbon on top.

The devil can't cause disaster in your life unless he has been given place. He can't come in and start destroying and stealing from you unless he can get you into a place of sin, doubt, ignorance, or disobedience. So if he's been giving you trouble, ask the Holy Spirit to show you where you've let those things in. Then repent and get rid of them.

Once you've done that, pull out the weapons God has given you and fire away with both barrels. Pull out the Word. Pull out prayer. Pull out faith and use it to tie the devil in knots. Use the uncommon power of God to keep him bound and he won't be able to put anything over on you.

Scripture Study: Ephesians 6:10-18

Entitlements

Os Hillman

Philippians 2:8
And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death-even death on a cross!

Society today has duped many of us into believing that the world owes us. It owes us a good living, a loving spouse, good health throughout our whole life, sexual pleasure when we want it, and paid vacations the rest of our lives. The world has told us if we work hard and do right, we are entitled to these things. This is the Esau perspective on life. For a mere meal, he sold his own birthright for a simple pleasure to which he felt entitled.

Society and even the Church is more pleasure-focused than ever before. George Barna, the Christian researcher, cites,

We are not a society that simply enjoys its time off. Our leisure appetites drive us. It is increasingly common to hear people turning down job offers because the hours or other responsibilities would interfere with their hobbies, fitness regimens and other free time activities. Even our spending habits show that playing has become a major priority. The average household spends more money on entertainment than it does clothing, health care, furniture or gasoline. Recreational activities have jumped more than 10 percent in the amount of time given to them. [George Barna, Frog In The Kettle (Ventura, California: Regal Books, 1990), 82.]

What are the motives for our work life? Is it only to gain increased pleasure and leisure time? Jesus said He came only to do the work of the Father. I am sure that Jesus had times of refreshment in His life that allowed Him to get recharged for the mission God called Him to. However, He understood the balance of maintaining mission and play. When we view life with an attitude of entitlements, we are susceptible to becoming disappointed, resentful, and even bitter when our expectations go unmet. Ask the Lord if you need to relinquish any rights that may be hindering your freedom to experience His love and grace.

Changing Besetting Habits-The $10 Challenge

Os Hillman

John 8:34
Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin."

"I hate being late," my friend lamented. "It has been a problem for me all my life."

"Do you really want to change that?" I asked.

"Yes, I do."

"All right. Every time you are late to work or anywhere else where you have committed to be at a particular time you must give me $25."

"No way!" my friend responded. "I would go broke! But I will do $10."

"All right, $10 it is. It has to be a large enough amount of money for it to hurt your pocketbook."

"Believe me, that will hurt," my friend said. About a month later my friend found great motivation to be on time to every place she had to be. In the first week, I got only $10 from my friend. The next week, $20. The third week, nothing. By the fifth week, my friend had changed a lifelong habit that had hindered her all her life. In order for my friend not to be resentful of me for the money she had to give, we put it in a jar to be given to some other Christian cause. This ensured my motive was only for her best interest.

Some might be reading this now and say it is legalism. For my friend it was freedom. For the first time she had some means of changing a behavior that had caused her problems in relationships and her own work habits. Psychologists tell us that it takes 21 days to form a habit. So, if you need to change some habit, you need to be actively engaged in that new behavior at least 21 days. My friend needed help to change a habit she didn't like about herself. It took another individual to hold her accountable, and it took a potential loss of something to provide the added incentive.

A successful businessman was experiencing a difficult marriage. When counseling the couple over dinner one night, a friend of mine noticed that the man often criticized his wife. After further counsel it was determined the man simply could not love his wife. My friend asked him if he truly wanted to see change in his marriage. When the man said he did, my friend said, "Every time you criticize your wife you must agree to give me $100." This man was well-off and needed substantial incentive to change his behavior. After the man rebelled and retorted, he agreed in front of his wife. A few weeks later a report came back that things were changing. This man did not want to write any checks to my friend. Although it was a competitive game to the man, it was also yielding some positive changes in his marriage. He began to acquire the habit of avoiding criticism of his wife, which was killing her spirit.

What are the habits that keep you from becoming all that God may want you to become? Do you desire change enough to be accountable in a way that it costs you something when you fail? Ask a friend to hold you accountable in an area that needs change. You will find new freedom as you conquer old besetting habits.

Deliverence From Temptation

Bishop Keith Butler

The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: 2 Peter 2:9 (KJV)

God can and will deliver you from temptation. You just need to know what you must do to get free from a bad situation. Notice, in 2 Peter 2:9, that deliverance is linked with temptation. And note the word "deliver" in this verse, it means to rush or to draw. The literal Hebrew says, "It is the idea of water with a rushing current." In other words, to draw you right past it or to move you right by it.

For example, the Bible says flee fornication. What does the word "flee" mean? Flee is not hanging around to try and prove how strong you are. Flee means to leave quickly. When you obey the Word of God, God said He is going to draw you -- He is going to move you away from this situation. He is going to rush you past this. Because temptation is never supposed to be something you sit down and contemplate.

You are not supposed to sit down and contemplate any kind of temptation. If you do, I'm telling you now, the temptation will win. The reason why it is temptation is because it's tempting. And the more you stand there and look at temptation, the more your body will talk you out of moving away from it. It will rationalize; it will lie to you. Your body will tell you to just stay there for two more minutes and then you can go. But your deliverance is in the word of God, which says, "flee fornication."

Now, you can be delivered from all kinds of things. You can be delivered from him, you can be delivered from her, you can be delivered from them, you can be delivered from danger, and you can be delivered from drugs. You can be delivered from temptation. You can be delivered from financial bondage. Deliverance can cover a whole lot of things. And God will respond with deliverance based on the situation, the person, and their willingness to hear.

I am just giving you some information because people can often miss their deliverance by not listening to the Holy Ghost. They hear the Word taught and understand God will deliver but then they miss the fine print. As a result, they choke their deliverance.

It is established that God does deliver you. Now you need to ask yourself, how is He going to deliver you from the particular situation you are facing. Don't always look for a quick fix. Look for the prompting of the Holy Ghost. And look in the word of God.

Scripture References: Mark 14:38; Luke 22:46; 1 Corinthians 10:13

Bishop Keith A. Butler is the founder and pastor of Word of Faith International Christian Center in Southfield, MI, and Word of Faith Christian Center in San Antonio, TX. Bishop Butler ministers extensively in churches, conferences, and seminars throughout the U.S. and abroad with an emphasis on instruction and no-nonsense, practical application of God's Word. Click here to read more!

The Value of Words

Os Hillman

And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your "Yes" be "Yes," and your "No," "No"; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. -- Matthew 5:36-37

Imagine for a moment that you are living in Jesus' time. It is before Jesus has begun His public ministry. He is a carpenter in your local town of Nazareth. You have asked Jesus to make a table for you. You're on a deadline and you must have it in a week. You agree on the price of $100 for the table and the date of one week for completion. A week later you arrive to pick up the table. You lay your money down on the table and Jesus says, "Mr. Johnson, I am sorry but the table is not ready. I ran into complications. Also, I can no longer honor the price I gave you. It is now $150 instead of $100."

Two years later you hear about this same Jesus who is preaching to the local townspeople. How are you going to view this Jesus? You probably won't give much credence to His message because of your personal experience. Our lives have an ability to reinforce the message we stand for, or they can violate it and make it totally ineffective. This literally happens all over the world in different settings with Christian businesspeople. Our message becomes ineffective because we have not done what we said.

I know people who, when they tell me they plan to do something, I can expect them to follow through about 50 percent of the time. I am sure you have had the same experience. Words and commitments are made with little meaning behind those words. However, I know others who will follow through almost every time. The only time they don't is when something falls outside their control. I quickly learn whose words have substance behind them.

There are times when we are unable to perform or deliver what we promised due to outside influences. The key to turning these potentially negative circumstances into a witness for Christ is communication. If we are unable to pay a bill on time, we must communicate with those we owe and make a good faith effort to resolve it within our means. In these cases, God's purposes are being performed as well if we seek to do the right thing.

Do your words mean anything to those who hear them? Do you make commitments and fail to follow through on them? What would others say about how you follow through? Ask the Lord today to show you how you are doing in this area. You might even want to ask three people who are the closest to you how you fare in this area.

Your Daily Kick in the Pants

Jim Messmer - Washington, Illinois, USA

Proverbs 3:11-12 - My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. (NIV)

Exodus 15:7 - In the greatness of your majesty you threw down those who opposed you. You unleashed your burning anger; it consumed them like stubble. (NIV)

I must reluctantly wonder whether the average person checking in on a daily devotional seeks praise instead of reproof, and a pat on the back instead of a kick in the pants. However, I'm finding that I'm continually judging myself, attempting to reprove myself, as sometimes there is no one else around to do it, except the Holy Spirit. When it comes to daily devotionals, I believe that reproof is as much needed as praise, and, personally, I would prefer reproof most of the time, over being schmoozed.

I know I'm a sinner in need of daily realignment and continual growth, and I would hope that's how everyone else would feel too. God scourges those He loves, and these days a good spiritual scourging is so hard to come by. You're more likely to get, "Oh, that's okay, don't be too hard on yourself. God loves you anyway, knowing you're the product of a dysfunctional family." Who will discipline us in righteousness, if not the church? We love to bask in the warmth and mercy of the "suffering servant", but have we repressed the reality of the approaching "conquering King", whose holiness consumes sin like dried stubble? Has the church become too soft, too conciliatory in our day? Is righteousness and obedience being promoted as strongly as they should be?

Who dares call anything sin any more? It's as if we now believe in universal salvation, because everything has an explanation, and is justifiable in its own relative context. God has been reduced to the one who cleans up all our messes. He is our servant, who makes things right again, after we have allowed ourselves to experiment with unlimited self-fulfillment. God has become the icing on the cake, not the bread of life. And then there are those who believe godliness is the end point of man's own spiritual evolution, as if all we needed was enough time to get there on our own, with Jesus, Buddha, and whoever else we might admire setting the example to follow. All interesting psychology, but erroneous theology! How does one incorporate original sin, moral depravity, and sanctification into a light and fluffy devotional? The kind of devotional we need should be entitled, "Your Daily Kick in the Pants"!

Lord, we invite You, in Your great love for us, to discipline us into the ways of Your holiness.

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (Psalm 139:23-24).

Kenneth Copeland: "Hit Him With the Rock"

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters." (Psalm 23:1-2)

Have you ever thought about David and wondered how a shepherd boy could become a man after God's own heart? A man so strong in spirit that God chose him to be king of Israel? I have.

In fact, I asked God about it, and He showed me that revelation was what turned David into such a spiritual powerhouse--revelation that came to him through hours of thinking about the things of God. I imagine the day he wrote Psalm 23 he was just sitting and singing praises to God and meditating on His goodness. Just fellowshipping with Him when suddenly the anointing of the Lord came upon him and he said, "The Lord is my Shepherd!"

Suddenly he thought about the sheep he watched over as a boy, I faced death for those sheep. I led them where pastures were green and waters were cool, clean, deep, and peaceful. He kept on meditating on that until it started to thrill him. When the lion and the bear came, didn't He prepare a table before me in the presence of those enemies? He gave me victory. "My God! My God will fight for me. The Lord is my Shepherd! I shall not want!"

That revelation welled up in David so strong that the devil couldn't beat it out of him. So when Goliath tried to make a fool out of Israel, David went after him. Goliath was able to scare off everyone else, but he couldn't shake David because he had a revelation inside him that said, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for my God is with me." That revelation enabled David to say, "I come against you in the name of the Lord of Hosts" and to send a rock sailing into that giant's brain.

Is the devil out to destroy you? Do what David did. Meditate on God and His Word. Sing praises to your King. Fellowship with Him until the revelation of who He is in you starts to thrill your soul. Then tell the devil, "You're not going to kill me. The Lord is my Shepherd!" Hit him with the rock of revelation knowledge, and you'll knock him flat every time.

Scripture Study: Psalm 23

When God Seems Far Away

Os Hillman

Psalm 10:1
Why, O Lord, do You stand far off? Why do You hide Yourself in times of trouble?

One of the great mysteries of God is His ways. Some of His ways almost appear to bring us into the most difficult places, as if He were indifferent to our circumstances. It would appear that He is turning His head from our sorrows. These events in our lives have a particular objective to perform for us. That objective is to bring us to the end of ourselves that we might discover the treasure of darkness. "Yet when I hoped for good, evil came; when I looked for light, then came darkness" (Job 30:26).

When we are taken into these dark periods, we begin to see light that we never knew existed. Our sensitivities become heightened and our ability to see through spiritual eyes is illuminated. Unless we are taken into these times, our souls never develop any depth of character. We do not gain wisdom, only knowledge. Knowledge is gained through understanding; wisdom is gained through the experience of darkness.

After we go through these periods, we discover that God was, in fact, with us throughout the entire time. It does not feel or appear that He is there when we are in the midst of the dark periods. However, He is there walking with us. He has told us countless times that He will never leave us. However, when we are in those dark periods, it does not feel like He is there because He does not rescue us from the circumstances. He does this for our benefit in order that we might become more like Jesus. Jesus learned obedience from the things He suffered (see Heb. 5:8). What does that say about how you and I will learn obedience? Embrace the dark times and gain the wisdom that God intends for you from these times.

Sometimes You Get Stuck on the Highway of Faith

Today’s Scripture Reading: Matthew 17:14–21
Key Verse: : Matthew 17:20

I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.

God, is something wrong with me? Why is nothing happening?” Have you ever felt stuck, even though you knew you were operating in a degree of faith? Do not stop; you are experiencing only a temporary delay.

Always remember that when God speaks to you and gives you vision, He never gives you a bad idea. Because of His nature, the Creator can give you nothing but perfection. He is perfection itself.

This also means that God does not have nightmares and or get nervous about the future. He knows the end from the beginning. So although things do not look good now, just keep diligently seeking Him by faith. You need to be diligent in order to turn that corner and escape that temporary “sticking point.”

The flip side of all this is simple: if you do not keep after faith—if you do not go after God—then your hope and inspiration will die. Remember: you do not diligently seek Him merely by showing up at church on Sunday!

Stick with it. Do not give up on your dream or on the all-wise God who gave it to you. Keep after it in faith!

Today's Prayer:
Make this faith declaration with me: Jesus, I refuse to give up! I will turn this corner. I look to You more and more. I believe that with Your help, this too will add to my destiny.

Psalm 15

A psalm of David.

¹ LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary?
Who may live on your holy hill?

² He whose walk is blameless
and who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from his heart

³ and has no slander on his tongue,
who does his neighbor no wrong
and casts no slur on his fellowman,

⁴ who despises a vile man
but honors those who fear the LORD,
who keeps his oath
even when it hurts,

⁵ who lends his money without usury
and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things
will never be shaken.

Is Your Gift Bigger Than You?

Bishop Donald Hilliard

O Lord, who may dwell on Your holy hill? He who walks with Integrity." Psalm 15:1-2 NAS

You wouldn’t give your 5-year-old a 12-gauge shotgun or a big Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Shotguns and motorcycles are great – but they’re for adults. You need maturity to handle them. Giving such gifts to your child would endanger them, and everybody else around them. The gifts just don’t fit the person.

Perhaps you’re a talented individual. God’s given you some large gifts like the ability to speak well, or organize things, or create and design. But we sabotage ourselves when our gift becomes bigger than we are. How does this happen? When we begin to lean on the talents God gave us and don’t mature emotionally and spiritually – we ruin our chance to use those talents as God designed them. When our character doesn’t keep up with our talent, we learn to “wing it” through life. We live on the surface but lack real strength underneath. And it shows up when the crisis hits, the storm comes, or we are under pressure. You can’t “wing it” when it comes to character building.

The greater the size of your gifts, the more you must dedicate time to developing your character. Eugene Peterson paraphrases the Psalmist in The Message: “God, who gets invited to dinner at your place? How do we get on your guest list? Walk straight, act right, tell the truth. Don’t hurt your friend, don’t blame your neighbor; despise the despicable. Keep your word even when it costs you, make an honest living, never take a bribe. You’ll never get blacklisted if you live like this” (Ps 15:1-5 TM).

So, do you live that way?

Bishop Donald Hilliard, Jr. is the Pastor of one church in three locations in New Jersey: Cathedral International in Perth Amboy, Cathedral Assembly by the Shore in Asbury Park, and Cathedral Assembly in the Fields in Plainfield. Dr. Hilliard's willingness to say "YES" to the Lord fostered his ability to grow the church from 125 in 1983 to well over 5,000 members today. As a result of Dr. Hilliard's unwavering faith, multifaceted mindset, and ability to trust in the Lord, over fifty ministries are at work within the three cities. For more information on Bishop Hilliard's ministry, visit www.thecathedral.org.

Kenneth Copeland: "Make His Word the Last Word"

"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty." (Revelation 1:8)

Jesus is the beginning and the ending. He is the Almighty. When He told us that in the Book of Revelation, He wasn't just giving us a general piece of information about Himself. He was giving us a powerful truth we can apply now, today!

Let me show you how. He said He is the beginning. So no matter what challenge or situation you may be facing right now, you need to start with Him. John 1:1 says Jesus is the Word. That means, if you're going to start with Jesus, you're going to start with the Word. Don't do anything until you find out what the Word has to say about it.

Then, stay on the Word. As Colossians 1:23 says, "Continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard."

Continue in the faith. The only way the devil can defeat you is to pressure you into throwing away the Word. Everything he does, every challenge he brings you is intended to make you doubt the Word of God. So don't let go of the Word, no matter what may happen. Settle it with God in prayer and stay with it forever. It is written!

Then end with the Word. Jesus said He was the first and the last. That means the word of your doctor is not the last word. Even the word of your pastor is not the last word. The Word of Jesus is the last Word!

Remember this: You are now what the Word says you are. You can do what the Word says you can do. And you can have what the Word says you can have. Begin to believe that. Begin to say it out loud in faith.

Now shout the victory. Yes, now! You don't have to wait to see the outcome to celebrate. You have Jesus' Word on the matter, so you know beyond any doubt that your breakthrough is coming. Once you've settled yourself on Him, you can be assured that He will have the last word!

Scripture Study: Proverbs 1:1-9

Kenneth Copeland: "Just Do It"

"And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day."
(Luke 13:14)

Religion is dangerous. Religion would rather debate about healing than see somebody healed. Religion would rather argue about deliverance than see somebody set free.

You can see an example of that in Luke 13. Jesus healed a woman who had been bowed over for 18 years. Think of it, a dear old woman--a daughter of Abraham Jesus called her--set free after being bound by the devil for nearly two decades. You'd think the temple rulers would have been rejoicing at what Jesus had done. But, no! They were angry because He'd done it on the wrong day.

Do you know what's worse? Those very same religious leaders who criticized Jesus for healing on the Sabbath could have ministered healing to that woman themselves on any of the other six days of the week if they'd cared enough to do it.

That's why Jesus was so indignant with them. They had the same covenant of Abraham as Jesus. But their religion had kept that woman bound instead of setting her free. It always does.

Remember that next time someone tries to get you sidetracked into a religious debate about healing or deliverance. If someone needs to be delivered from a demon, just do it! Don't get all hung up on theological questions about where the demon is.

"Is it in his body? Or his brain? Or his spirit? Or his pocket?" While you're arguing about questions like that, the demon will be driving the poor guy up the wall.

The question isn't, "Where is the demon?" The question is, "Why haven't we gotten this man delivered? He's our blood brother in the Name of Jesus and he ought to be free!"

Once you start asking that question, you won't care whether that demon is inside or outside, hovering over or sitting under. All you'll care about is getting that person free!

That's the difference between religion and the love of God. Religion argues. Love acts. Choose love today.

Scripture Study: Luke 13:11-17

Think on These...

From freshoutlookmag.com

• Everyone wants to change the world…begin with changing yourself.
  
  
• You can’t hit a home run if you never step up to the plate.
  
  
• Act as if it were impossible to fail.
  
  
• Bad habits are like a comfortable bed, easy to get into, but hard to get out of.
  
  
• The obstacles of your past are the gateways of new beginnings.
  
  
• Never let the fear of failure get in your way.

Refuse the lie

Fresh Outlook Magazine

Having disarmed principalities and power, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. Col. 2:15

A few days ago I watched a movie about a man who had cancer; it was contained in his arm. Therefore, if the doctors took off his arm, what had the ability to kill him would lose its power. The cancer would be cut off ~ and could do no more harm. Now, I am not making light of having a limb removed, I simply want to show you something that God has shown me in this analogy. You are going to love it. I have been so excited about this that I can’t sit still to write to you today.

There is an occurrence that happens to amputees when they have a limb removed, doctors call it phantom pain. It is simply this, even though the arm or limb has been removed, the patient will often feel pain where the limb once was. They feel pain and discomfort and other sensations. There is no logical reason for this because the limb is gone – but nevertheless, the pain is very, very real.

The Lord began to speak to me about this. This is the way the enemy works with us. Colossians 2:15 tells us that Jesus disarmed the enemy – cut off all his power and even made a spectacle of him. He has NO POWER OVER YOU ANY LONGER! Yet, he often comes at you with lies. He comes at you with feelings and thoughts, things that seem very real to you, but, John 8:44 tells us that Satan is the father of lies. He has no truth in him. If we could ever see him for who he really is AND for who he really is NOT. What do I mean by that? I feel that many Christians believe the devil has more power than he really has. We think he has the power to put sickness on us. We feel he has the power to destroy our marriages. We feel he has the power to ruin our finances. But he doesn’t. Jesus took all his power, he has none. That is why the Bible declares that he roams about ‘as a’ roaring lion. You see, he is NOT a roaring lion – he just acts like one. He only has the power you give him.

If you refuse to give in to his lies, he loses. He may tell you that you are going to have cancer and die. The doctors may even agree with him, but if you refuse to give in to it, if you refuse to accept it – he will have to back off. Why? Because the greater One lives in you and the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, it will quicken your mortal body and bring life to it.

There was a situation with my daughter that the enemy has come at me with all week, telling me that it was never going to happen and it was all my fault. But, it was a lie. Exactly what I had been confessing and praying came to pass, this very morning. The thoughts coming at me were lies and I didn’t give into the lie. Sure, he can lie to you, but if it goes against the Word of God and you refuse to receive it, God will show Himself faithful every time.

Let me share something else with you that happened this very week. If you are a person who decides to follow God and be used of God, the enemy is going to make sure you have many pressures come your way – but again, you don’t have to bow to them. Take them to God and lay them at His feet, He can handle them. Anyway, the pressures were intense but I was refusing them. At night, when I wasn’t on guard because I was sleeping, the devil began to try to put symptoms of stress on my body. I lay there in bed and refused it. I continued to say ‘no, I am not having this in my body, you cannot come on my body.’ And it left. That happened for three nights this week and I continued to refuse his lie – and that is all it was – a lie. Had I received his lie, my body would be suffering from effects of stress, but I continued to say what the Bible said about my body. If you can’t find it in the Bible, if it is not something God said we have to endure, then it is a lie from the devil.

He has no legal authority to attack your body, your finances, your marriage, your ministry, your children, or your mind…if he tries, he is on your turf and you have the legal authority to back him off and tell him to go.

If I could get you to see one thing today it would be this; whatever he is telling you – it is a lie and he does not have the power to back it up. He doesn’t have the power to cause it to come to pass…unless you come into agreement with him. Don’t agree with him. Don’t let words of defeat come out of your mouth. Don’t agree with him. Don’t let words of fear come out of your mouth. Don’t react to fear. Run at it, instead. If he says ‘you are not going to make it this time.’ Laugh in his face, that’s what the Bible says that God does. Imitate God. Laugh at him and tell him that you are not only going to make it but you are going to tell the whole world what God has done for you.

If you stood in a boxing match and let the opponent hit you over and over and you just stood there and took it, you would be defeated, right? But, if every time he hit you, you hit him back, with God on your side, you would win the match. Just as you will win the match you are in today. You must hit back every time the enemy throws something at you. Don’t just stand there, hit back. Don’t just listen to him and meditate on his lies, hit back. How do you do that? With the Word of God, with scriptures, with prayer, with fasting, with walking in love, with tithing and giving. Hit him back – and hit him where it hurts. Ask the Lord how you can hit him where it hurts and begin to hit back. Don’t sit in the corner and whine and complain that the devil is beating up on you – he’s too small to accomplish that – and he doesn’t have that power. Stand up! Fight back and refuse to back off what you know is yours – with God on your side, you can’t fail. Now…get up and fight!

editor@freshoutlookmag.com

Kenneth Copeland: "Don't Be Stony Ground"

"And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended."
(Mark 4:16-17)

There seems to be an abundance of "stony ground" Christians these days. Initially, they get excited about the Word of God. They'll hear a message on prosperity, for instance, and they'll go home saying, "Hallelujah! I'm going to prosper in the Name of Jesus!" But then, somehow, things don't work out like they thought they should.

Their bank balance doesn't double overnight. They go through some disappointments. They suffer some criticism. Then, before you know it, their faith has withered away.

If you don't want that to happen to you, make up your mind right now that you're not going to let the rough times defeat you. Decide now that you're going to hang onto the Word even when the persecutions and afflictions come--because, I can guarantee you, they will come.

When you decide to walk by faith, you don't get rid of trials. You learn to overcome them.

When you let the Word of God get down into your heart, you're going to learn more about the devil than you ever wanted to know because he's going to do his best to see to it that the Word is unfruitful in you. He's going to be trying to mess you up every time you turn around. You'll have problems, but the difference is now you have the answer--the Word of God.

Thank God, however, through Christ Jesus you have the power to defeat Satan. When he brings problems and disappointments your way, you don't have to lie down and let them steam roll over you. Just keep fighting the good fight of faith until you win.

If you get knocked down, get back up and say, "Look here, devil, I'm not going to let you steal the Word out of my heart. It's in there and I'm meditating on it; I'm saying it with my mouth; and I'm acting on it until God's blessings overtake me. If you don't believe me, just hide and watch!"

If you'll take that attitude, no matter what that devil does, he'll never make a "stony ground" Christian out of you!

Scripture Study: 2 Corinthians 4:6-18

Kenneth Copeland: "Believe the Love"

"And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us." (1 John 4:16)

One day I was walking along a highway through a park praying and I asked a simple question, "Lord, what do You want me to tell Your people?" Without a moment's hesitation, these words came ringing through my spirit and my mind:

Tell them how much I love them.

They were so filled with love and compassion that it defies words to express it. For days afterward all I could think of was 1 John 4:16. "And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us."

We've read about God's love. We've heard about it. But I don't think many of us have really believed it. If we did, it would totally change everything about us and everything around us.

It's that love that caused Jesus to lay down His life for us and to experience for Himself all the pains and weaknesses we experience. It's that love that says to us, even when we feel so unworthy, "Come to Me and get what you need. Don't be shy about it. I've been there. Come boldly to the throne of grace that you may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

Think about it. God is in love with you--so in love, He's given you everything He has! He's given you all the healing, all the wisdom, all the wealth, all the strength you could ever need.

"But what about my terrible past?"

That's what His mercy is for! It's taken care of your past. It's covered every sin and failure you ever had. All you have to do now is believe and receive His love.

What a shame it is that people suffer at the hands of sickness and disease and every other cursed thing just because they can't believe the love God has for them. Don't let that happen to you. Learn to believe the love.

Believe the love God has for you. It's already been released in the blood of Jesus.

Believe the love. It's already been released in Jesus' Name.

Believe the love. It's already been released in His Word.

Meditate that scripture over and over. Say it to yourself again and again all day, "I believe the love Jesus has for me." Once it gets down into your heart, you'll never be the same again.

Scripture Study: Psalm 139:1-18

Kenneth Copeland: "Heaven's Economy"

"Giving thanks unto the Father .. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son." (Colossians 1:12-13)

If, in spite of all the Bible's promises about prosperity...in spite of all the prayers you've prayed...you are still struggling financially, consider this question: Where do you think God is going to get the resources to meet your needs?

Many believers limit God without even realizing it by training their eyes on the limited resources of this world rather than the unlimited riches of God's kingdom. Their faith fails when they think of the troubled economy on the earth, of the shortages and scarcity that surrounds them. They wonder, "How is God going to bless me in the middle of all this?"

If that's what you've been thinking, here's some news that will turn those thoughts around!

The Bible says God has "delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son." To be translated means to be taken out of one place and put into another. In other words, your citizenship is not primarily of this earth. You are not primarily American or Canadian or Australian--you are first and foremost a citizen of the kingdom of God.

That means this planet doesn't have any right to dictate to you whether your needs are met or not. The Bible says God will meet your needs according to His riches in glory! (Philippians 4:19). You can live by heaven's economy, not earth's economy--and in heaven there is always more than enough.

Wake up to the abundance of heaven that's been made yours through Jesus. Wake up to the fact that you've been translated out of a world of poverty into a kingdom of abundance. Rejoice. Heaven's unlimited resources have been made available to you!

Scripture Study: Psalm 105:37-45