Not a Bad Description

 I absolutely love the way God sees me.  It’s certainly NOT a bad description.

Text for Today – 1 Corinthians 1:30 – But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, Who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

Once, while preaching on the subject of faith in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, a very religious-minded brother asked what gave me the authority to speak as I did, with so much boldness.  I responded with our Text for Today, saying, “I’m redeemed, sanctified, righteous, and wise in Christ.”  Interestingly, that meeting had been arranged for a morning session in the night club of the Hotel Intercontinental.  There I stood, where the night before the bands had been playing their reggae music, and the people were smoking, dancing, and drinking.  My response came to that man so quickly, he didn’t know what to say.  Quite frankly, it came out of me so quickly, I didn’t have to think about it, and simply continued preaching.  Later that morning, the response I gave him of who I was in Jesus became the foundation for a number of healings and miracles, not the least of which was a woman being totally healed of polio.

If someone were to ask you who you are, how would you respond?  Remember, your answer to this question establishes your authority to be where you are, do what you do, and say what you say.  If a law enforcement officer asks you for identification, your ability to properly identify yourself will determine if you can stay where you are, or you must move one, or possibly be arrested. 

The verse in our Text for Today not only speaks of who you are in Jesus, but it also gives a description of who you are.  You could tell someone whatever you desire about who you are, but if your picture (description) doesn’t match your name, you lose your credibility, and in some places in this world, that could mean being arrested, or even executed.

There is a very real enemy in the world who would like to convince you that you are less than what the Word of God says you are.  Don’t believe him.  Make up your mind right now that you believe God, and in the kingdom of God, you are who God says you are.  God has said you are redeemed, sanctified, righteous, and wise.  That is God’s description of His own children, so, why should we try to appear as something else.  Keep this in mind; God will not help you to live or act in a manner that is contrary with His Word, but He will do whatever He must in order to uphold His Word and bring it to pass in your life.  Isaiah 55:11 is still true, so, if I had to describe you, I’d say you are redeemed, sanctified, righteous, and wise.

Manna for Today – Galatians 3; Romans 8; James 1

The Kingdom is NOT Non-profit

You may not be a prophet, but you may prophesy, and you should be highly profitable to the kingdom.

Text for Today – Matthew 25:27 – Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury (interest earned).

I am daily so very thankful to be living in the United States of America.  The wonderful freedoms and blessings that are ours in this nation, as it is in no other, make us a rich people.  Still, there are laws for our protection, and many of those laws are laws that afford much protection to the church and Christian organizations.  Non-profit laws are among them.

Sadly, because the church functions in our land as a non-profit organization, it seems to be the thinking of many in the church that we are to be a non-profit organism.  NOT SO! 

Today’s Second Miler is in no way intended to be a lesson in law concerning non-profit organizations, but rather to make the point that our God is a profit-making God.  Consider His laws of reciprocity.  He gave His only-begotten Son so He could redeem untold numbers of sons to Himself.  God expects a profit from every investment He makes, including His Word.  As sons of God, as imitators of God, we should be no different. 

God has a vested interest in you.  He has placed His talents, abilities, and gifts in you.  Those anointings He has placed in your life are to teach you how to best operate in them.  God wants you operating at your best so your profitability to Him and His kingdom will be at its highest, and He has made a covenant to be with you at all times to help you achieve just that.  Yes, He wants you blessed, but He also desires that you be a blessing to Him, the church, and the world in which you live.  He fully expects you to make yourself available to your anointing so He can use you most effectively as His witnesses, as His voice, as His hands, as His feet, and as His ambassadors in the present world.  In short, He expects you to profit His kingdom greatly.  To return to Him just what He invests in you is to be an unprofitable servant.  Such will cost you even what you thought you had. 

Yes, the church, as it exists legally in our world, may be a non-profit entity, but the kingdom of God has been, is now, and always will be a for-profit organism; and high profit at that.  Jesus said His Word in you should produce 30, 60, and 100-fold in your life. That is 3,000%, 6,000%, and 10,000% respectively.  That’s big profit.  So, be profitable.

Manna for Today – Matthew 25:14-20; Mark 4:14-20; Luke 6:38; Malachi 3:6-10; Mark 10:29-30

Focused and Fixed

Jesus said to watch and pray.  Watch Him work.  Listen to His Words.  The supernatural awaits you.

Text for Today – Matthew 14:29 – And He said, Come.  And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

Peter succeeded in walking on the water as long as he was focused on Jesus and fixed on His voice (His Word).  He saw Jesus; he heard His voice.  He saw what Jesus was doing; he heard what Jesus was saying.  As long as he maintained his focus on Jesus and remained fixed on His Word, he succeeded in doing what He saw Jesus do.

Look into the Word of God.  What do you see Jesus doing?  Do you see Him healing?  Do you see Him restoring?  Do you see Him defeating darkness?  Do you see Him casting out demons?  Do you see Him delivering the oppressed?  Do you see Him fulfilling the Isaiah 61 prophecy?  If you see Him doing those things, focus on Him in the act.

Now fix your hearing on His voice.  I am not speaking here of an audible voice, though He can speak to us in that way.  I am talking more specifically of the logos, the written Word of God before our eyes, all the while understanding that His written Word to us is a more sure Word of prophecy than hearing the very audible voice of God Himself.  Simply stated, to be fixed on His voice is to be intent on obeying His Word.

Being focused on Jesus in the act of performing the Word, and be fixed on hearing and obeying His Word puts you in a position to walk on the water.  In other words, it puts you in position to do the impossible, knowing Jesus is beside you to assure your success, just as He was with Peter on the return walk to the boat.  Here me, and hear me well, dear reader; if you are walking with Jesus, focused on His every step, demonstrating your fixation on His voice by intently obeying Him, He will NEVER allow you to go under.  Distractions won’t matter as long as you don’t allow them to distract you.  When you are focused and fixed on Him, distractions are no more than minor nuisances. 

You have a life before you that is filled with good works that He has ordained for you to do.  He has said you can do what He did, and greater works than He did.  So, make up your mind today, and as you begin every day of your life, that you are going to focus on Jesus in the act of performing His Word, and maintain a constant fixation on His voice, intent to obey His Word.  The water is waiting to bear your footsteps as long as you remain focused and fixed on Him.

Manna for Today – Philippians 4:13; Isaiah 26:3-4; Matthew 14:2; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Hebrews 12:1-3;        John 14:12-14

Prudential Solutions

When you stand in Jesus, you are absolutely safe.

Text for Today – Proverbs 27:12 – A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.

Everyone makes mistakes, even professionals.  A wild pitch could critically injure or even kill a batter in baseball; therefore, they wear batting helmets.  An investment advisor can give the wrong advice; therefore, the wise investor diversifies.  A person can fall asleep at the wheel while driving, therefore we have seatbelts and airbags.  These are all mistakes. 

Sadly, our world has become so adept at blaming others for problems that sin is no longer sin. Today it is most often called a mistake.  Don’t be deceived, my friend.  Sin is NO mistake.  Mistakes CAN kill; sin DOES kill.  The Scriptures warn us repeatedly to avoid certain things, because they entrap us into places and actions that destroy.  We should avoid the very appearance of evil, avoid evil communication (consorting with the wrong crowd), have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them, and flee youthful lusts; and this is only a few of the warnings in the Word.

If you have problems in some area of your life, recognize that fact, be honest with yourself, and deal with it.  One of the greatest ways to deal with it is to avoid it before it happens.  Make plans to overcome what you already know you will face.  That sounds quite simple doesn’t it?  However, we all know how we can be drawn into situations where we don’t belong.  Once again, make plans to avoid those situations.  If you walk down a street with a gaping hole in it, and you know the hole is there, and where it is, it would seem the intelligent thing to do is to at least walk around the hole.  Even smarter would be to go down a different street.

One of our biggest issues is stubbornness.  Get over it, dear reader!  Stubbornness is as idolatry.  You hold your own will and intellect above that of God’s.  Be honest with yourself; your will and intellect are NOT worthy of worship.  My father told me often, especially when I demonstrated my own personal brand of stubbornness, that “a hard head makes for a soft back-side.”  He was absolutely correct.  And that statement is still true.  Listen to the wisdom of those who have walked where you have yet to go, and hold fast to the wisdom of the Word of God.  When human wisdom is born up by the Word of God, don’t be stubborn and go your own way.  Show a higher level of intelligence and save yourself much hurt, injury, and pain in life.  Stand firm on the Rock, the prudential Rock of the Word of God.  It’s the safest place to be.

Manna for Today – Luke 14:25-33; Galatians 6:1-10; Genesis 1:11-12

Prudential Solutions

When you stand in Jesus, you are absolutely safe.

Text for Today – Proverbs 27:12 – A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.

Everyone makes mistakes, even professionals.  A wild pitch could critically injure or even kill a batter in baseball; therefore, they wear batting helmets.  An investment advisor can give the wrong advice; therefore, the wise investor diversifies.  A person can fall asleep at the wheel while driving, therefore we have seatbelts and airbags.  These are all mistakes. 

Sadly, our world has become so adept at blaming others for problems that sin is no longer sin. Today it is most often called a mistake.  Don’t be deceived, my friend.  Sin is NO mistake.  Mistakes CAN kill; sin DOES kill.  The Scriptures warn us repeatedly to avoid certain things, because they entrap us into places and actions that destroy.  We should avoid the very appearance of evil, avoid evil communication (consorting with the wrong crowd), have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them, and flee youthful lusts; and this is only a few of the warnings in the Word.

If you have problems in some area of your life, recognize that fact, be honest with yourself, and deal with it.  One of the greatest ways to deal with it is to avoid it before it happens.  Make plans to overcome what you already know you will face.  That sounds quite simple doesn’t it?  However, we all know how we can be drawn into situations where we don’t belong.  Once again, make plans to avoid those situations.  If you walk down a street with a gaping hole in it, and you know the hole is there, and where it is, it would seem the intelligent thing to do is to at least walk around the hole.  Even smarter would be to go down a different street.

One of our biggest issues is stubbornness.  Get over it, dear reader!  Stubbornness is as idolatry.  You hold your own will and intellect above that of God’s.  Be honest with yourself; your will and intellect are NOT worthy of worship.  My father told me often, especially when I demonstrated my own personal brand of stubbornness, that “a hard head makes for a soft back-side.”  He was absolutely correct.  And that statement is still true.  Listen to the wisdom of those who have walked where you have yet to go, and hold fast to the wisdom of the Word of God.  When human wisdom is born up by the Word of God, don’t be stubborn and go your own way.  Show a higher level of intelligence and save yourself much hurt, injury, and pain in life.  Stand firm on the Rock, the prudential Rock of the Word of God.  It’s the safest place to be.

Manna for Today – Luke 14:25-33; Galatians 6:1-10; Genesis 1:11-12

Heaven’s Rewards Will Wait

God’s banking system is divine, inflation-proof, and cannot be defaulted.  It is perfect.

Text for Today – John 17:20 – Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word.

I once heard someone say (and I don’t recall who it was) that in serving God, “the pay ain’t bad and the retirement is out of this world.”  While that adage may be thought to be somewhat facetious, it is still true.

God will owe no man anything.  He has said the laborer is worthy of his hire.  To that end, you can count on the fact that you will not live this life in service to the Lord for naught.  He will take care of you.  David writes in the Psalms that he had never seen the righteous forsaken, nor the seed of the righteous begging for bread.  Once again, it sounds like God not only knows how, but does indeed take care of those who belong to Him.  God surely takes care of His Own, especially those who serve Him faithfully.

But you also have rewards waiting on you in heaven and in the world to come.  The Scriptures teach plainly that your works will be judged; tried by fire by the Lord, and if they stand the test, you will receive rewards for them.  But think of this; you won’t receive all your rewards in heaven immediately upon your arrival there just after death.  “But why not?” you may ask.  “I’ve earned them.”  You’re partly correct.  You’ve earned some of them, but just because you die doesn’t mean your earnings have ceased.

Let me ask you a question.  If you put money in the bank, making monthly deposits for many years, knowing you are earning a certain percent of interest, does the interest stop accrual just because you cease making deposits?  NO!  Because you have made deposits, you will continue to earn interest on those deposits as long as the money remains in the account.  And more than that, as your interest is added to your deposit, you will earn interest on your interest.

Now think of this; what about the people you have led to the Lord, prayed for, blessed with your giving, and discipled to follow you as you followed the Lord?  Do you expect to receive rewards for that?  You should; you’ve earned them.  But what about the people they won to the Lord because you won them?  What about all those who are ministered to by those to whom you ministered.  There’s reward there for you, too.  It’s the interest on your deposits.  Every person who has ever accepted Jesus has done so in some way or other through the Words written in Scripture by the Apostles.  They’re still earning heavenly interest.  So am I, and so are you if you are a faithful witness.  Stay faithful, and keep earning!

Manna for Today – Ephesians 2:10; Romans 13:8

More Than Conquerors

I wear the victor’s crown for a battle I did not fight.  Oh, the joy of following Christ.

Text for Today – Romans 8:37 – Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.

From many years ago, I recall watching a television interview with Mohammed Ali, the then heavy-weight boxing world champion.  It was following one of his much-touted bouts in which he had successfully defended his title, and won a purse in the millions of dollars.  During the interview, his swollen face was obvious.  He commented on his sore arms and shoulders that had taken so many blows from his opponent, as well as sore ribs and mid-section.  He commented on his sore hands from delivering so many blows to his opponent.  During that interview, he also spoke about providing for his family.  As he commented on that particular issue, revelation of our Text  for Today became so much clearer.  Mohammed Ali was the conqueror; he was the one who had won the fight.  But his wife and children were the ones who received every benefit his winnings could provide, and that without either giving or receiving a single blow.  They were “more than conquerors.”  They are the ones for whom Ali had fought.  They would enjoy all the benefits the millions of dollars could provide, pain free, and without any struggle.

I think you may already see where I am going.  It was Jesus Who won the fight of the ages; He conquered death, hell, grave, sin, sickness, disease, bondage, poverty, lack, and danger once and for all.  He IS the CONQUEROR for us, so that you and I can live as MORE THAN CONQUERORS.  There are no holes in my hands or feet, no scars on my head, no stripes on my back, and yet I have already been crowned.   He bore my pains, disease, and sorrows, and yet I can live daily with such a high hand that one could think I did it myself.  I know I did NOT.  I know JESUS DID!  I did not have to face Satan or his minions in that hellish confrontation for the authority of the ages, but I live today with authority and power in the Name of Jesus that can vanquish from my life all that Jesus conquered.  Not, that’s living life MORE THAN A CONQUEROR. 

What did you face yesterday?  What will you face tomorrow?  What are you facing today?  Regardless of your answer, the solution is the same in all cases.  Jesus has already conquered it all so that you can life as MORE THAN A CONQUEROR.

Manna for Today – Genesis 3:13-29; 1 Peter 2:24; 3 John 2-4

Use Your Advantages: All of Them

We have supernatural tools given to us by God.  Why would any sensible person NOT use them all?

Text for Today – Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

When Satan tempted Jesus, one of our Lord’s responses was, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.”  I believe Jesus was telling us that every Word that God has spoken can be used as a weapon against our enemy, Satan.  With such an arsenal at our disposal, how could we even consider the possibility of being defeated at any point in our lives?

Then when you consider all the limitations the Lord has placed upon Satan, the term “more than conquerors” takes on a whole new meaning.  Think of this.  Satan has made two major attempts, as recorded in the Scriptures, at defeating our Lord.  At his first attempt, he was kicked out of heaven, and hell was prepared for him and his angels.  At his second attempt, he lost the keys to his own house when Jesus defeated him for time and eternity, and redeemed us from the curse of the law.  Oh, and there’s another defeat.  Not only can Satan not defeat our Lord, now he can’t rule over us.  We are the redeemed, and are overcomers in Jesus.

Satan can’t defeat the church.  Jesus said that the gates of hell cannot and will not prevail against the church Jesus has raised up and established upon the rock of revelation knowledge of His Word.  Further,, ;Satan cannot overcome the Word, for it is “by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of our  testimony” that we overcome the enemy of our soul.

Let us go yet further.  None of the weapons the devil can use against us are supernatural, since they are all “common to man.”   On the other hand, none of our weapons against the devil are natural, or carnal, but they are “mighty through God.”  What a marvelous combination of factors the Lord has given us to ensure our victory in this present life.  All we have to do is fight the good fight of faith.  Our God has given us His Covenant, His Word, redemption, His Name, His whole armor, and Holy Spirit.  There is little wonder the Word declares, “Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.”

Neither time nor place would permit me to enumerate all the supernatural advantages the Lord has provided to us that we might win every battle we face, and do so with resounding success.  Needless to say, our God, El Shaddai, the God Who is more than enough, has provided us with far more than enough to live in total victory every day of our lives.  So, use your advantages every day.  Use every one of them, and WIN!

Manna for Today – Romans 8; Revelation 12:11; 1 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Corinthians 10:3-6

Roots and Shoots

We all need to reap, but to reap, one must first sow.  Pleasant sowing, and bountiful reaping to you.

Text for Today – Mark 4:14 – The sower soweth the word.

Roots must precede shoots.  In the parable of the sower, the Lord states clearly that after a seed is sown, the first thing we see is the blade (shoot), then the ear, and then the full corn in the ear.  But we know that before the shoot is seen, the germinating seed first sends out its initial roots in order to gather the nutrients necessary to produce growth leading to fruit.

The roots grow downward and outward into its source of nutrition, the soil in which it is planted.  The level of the nutrition within the planting soil determines the amount of nutrition the plant has in order to provide the needed nourishment for growth.  As necessary as the light of the sun is for the plant to be able to grow, it must first access a source of nutrition before it can access a source of light.  Without proper nutrients and water, the seed will never be able to produce and sustain the shoot and all that follows in the growth and fruit producing process.  Even if the seed is able to send froth roots and the first shoot, without proper nutrition, the light of the sun will only scorch the tender shoot.

Good roots produce good shoots.  Properly prepared ground offers the greatest potential for good roots, and therefore the greatest potential for strong shoots.  In fact, a good root system can produce such strength in the early shoots that those early shoots can spring froth through surfaces paved with asphalt or concrete.  How often I have seen paved surfaces, even recently paved, broken through by the most tender grass shoots.  How about you?  What is the condition of the soil (your spirit) in which the seed of the Word of God is sown?  Has that ground been properly prepared?  Are the rocks and stony places cleared so the ground is rich and deep with soft soil?  Have the thorns, briars, and thick weeds been removed, and are they kept from growing, in order to keep the shoots that reach maturity from being choked out?

As you probably already understand, ground does not prepare itself.  For ground to be properly prepared for the sowing of good and highly productive seed, great diligence is necessary.   Then, over time, diligence is still required as new seasons allow deeply seated rocks to rise to the surface, requiring  removal.  Finally, due diligence must be given to the cutting down and removal of grass, weeds, thorns, and briars, that will continually attempt to grow and choke out the desired crops.  So, daily prepare your spirit to receive the Word, and daily plant the Word of God in your spirit.  Give due attention to the soil.  The Word will produce as God pleases; first the root (unseen), and then the blade, ear, and full corn in the ear (all seen).  Enjoy your harvest!

Manna for Today – Isaiah 55:11; Joshua 1:6-9; Mark 4

Die Once

I have already died, been judged by God, and determined to be righteous.  How about you?

Text for Today – Hebrews 9:27 – And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.

Please examine our Text for Today closely.  PLEASE not that it does NOT say that a person has an appointed time to die.  I don’t know if it has been from a simple misreading or incorrect quoting of this verse that such a thought has arisen within the body of Christ, but it has certainly arisen.  If such were the case (and it is NOT), then regardless of what a person might do, he would not die until his time to die came.  And then, who would set that arbitrary time for death?  God?  Not likely, seeing that He is a faith God and no respecter of persons.  And then when we add to the discussion such passages as Psalm 91, it really serves to simply destroy such a false assumption.  If God said what He meant, and meant what He said, and He did, then it is the will of God for a man who is walking in covenant with God to live as longs as he chooses to live.  In the closing verses of Psalm 91, the Psalm actually becomes a prophetic Word from the Lord as He says, “With long life will I (God) satisfy him (the covenant man) and show him (the covenant man), My (God’s) salvation.”  The parenthetical  insertions are mine, but in no way alter the content or intent of what the Lord has said.

Another fallacy in much religious thinking is that if one is never sick, one would never die.  How utterly foolish.  Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses didn’t die sick.  These men simply got full of years and went home.  In Genesis 6:3, a marvelous statement was made by the Lord clearly indicating His desire for man to live a long life.  There He declared that the length of a man’s days would be 120 years.  on a stand-alone basis, that might indicate that the cut-off time for a man’s life would be  120 years, but when Psalm 91 is added to the equation, even more years than 120 becomes possible.  Still, it does not say that a man has an appointed time to die, but that it is appointed that a man should die once.

I died on June 17, 1959.  On that Wednesday evening, I accepted Jesus as my Lord, and was born again.  At that moment in time, the old man died and the new man, created in the image of Jesus, was born of the Spirit, immediately translated into the light of the Son of god, and judged, as our Text for Today indicates should be the case.  God’s judgment of me was that I have become the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ.  Though my works will be judged when I stand before the Lord, I will never be judged again, having already been judged by Jehovah God Himself.  Now I live to serve Him, and do so without an appointment with death.

Manna for Today – Psalm 91:14-16; Genesis 6:3; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21