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Series #4
PROSPERITY...
**As I have stated before, I truly believe in my heart that America will see the days of Elijah and the widow woman, again. She had just a little bit of meal and a little bit of oil, but because God had sent His prophet and had spoken His Word, neither the meal, nor the oil, ran out until the Lord sent rain....think about it!....God supplied what they needed when they needed it...Glory!
But when this situation hits America, and there is no place to buy what we need, God's people will have to stand on these promises, and believe that God is going to supply what they need, when they need it.
A portion of the Lord's Prayer states, "Give us this day our daily bread" which I feel shows us that we must trust God for our day to day needs.
His Word is going to remain faithful to those of us who are faithful to His Word!
Now, I'm not saying that it is not good wisdom to stock up on what provisions you can now, but I don't believe that any of us will be able to store enough to sustain us when hard times really fall. It is an every day trust! He desires for us to have every need supplied, today and in the future!
Let's Start - It Is Written!
Jeremiah 1:5 "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations."
**Jesus knows just exactly who you are! There is nothing about you that He does not know and most importantly, He knows your heart! Before you were ever born, He set you aside unto Himself. He has a plan for you! He has ordained everyone of us as a prophet.
Every time you speak of God's Word, you are speaking either of the Past or about the Present; and there are some that God would have speak of the Future. We all have a work to do for the Lord.
Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."
**Wouldn't it be nice to know all the thoughts that God has toward you? I think I'd rather know the thoughts of the Lord than I would the thoughts of those around me, because God is always for my good.
I'm not sure we can say the same about mankind.
That Peace that He mentions here is the peace that we all desire and seek for and the expected end, that He mentions here, is when we will forever live in His heavenly Kingdom with him....Hallelujah!
Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
**Most people want to stop after the first portion of this scripture, but in order to know the full meaning of this you have to read the whole thing.
The next sentence states, "the called" according to His purpose. When our lives line up with the purpose that He has CALLED us to, then all things will work together for our good! God will bless whatsoever we set our hands to do and that which He gives us to speak.
Romans 8:30-31 "Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?"
**God has predestinated 'everyone' to accept His Son, Jesus Christ. But sadly, not everyone will accept Him.
Those that choose to accept His calling will be saved and in the end be Glorified with Him in His Kingdom.
I heard a young man say one time, "If God be for us what does it matter who is against us?" and he's right, with God on our side we should have no fear of anything overtaking us!
There is nothing in this life that can overtake us, unless God allows it to happen.
3rd John 1:2 "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth."
**There is only one way that our souls can prosper and that is by getting into the Word of God, the Bible. We need to read it from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21, and when we finish it, read it again and then again. One thing I have learned is that as you read God's Word, your soul is strengthened and renewed and it causes our spirit to prosper.
It is the will of the Father that we prosper in all things, but we have to put forth the effort to be so.
Psalms 35:27 "Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant."
**Think about these first 5 words for a minute...what is the biggest investment that you own? For me it is my home, and if someone where to pay off my mortgage, I'd be 'shouting for Joy' no doubt about it!
And that is what Christ did for us when He died on the cross...He paid off every debt that we owned, from the sins of our past to the healing of our minds and bodies, from depressions, from financial stress...everything that will ever effect our life in a negative way.
He paid to deliver us from it all...Glory! that ought to make everyone in this room 'shout for joy!'
God takes joy in seeing His people prosper.
Psalms 103:2 "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:"
**Every single thing that is within us should be blessing Him, every day!
Proverbs 10:22 "The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it."
**Hallelujah!....this is wonderful. To know that He adds no sorrow as He blesses us with great things.
I've heard of people who have come into great amounts of money or possessions and they can't hardly sleep for fear of it being taken from them.
God doesn't want that for His children, so He has removed that worry by giving us His Word. His blessings come with peace.
St. Matthew 19:23-24 "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."
**If you stop with just this verse it is easy to believe that none of us will ever be prospers and if we were, what profit would it be if we are to lose out on Heaven? A camel can't go through the eye of a needle, so what hope does man have?
Well, there is a door, over in Israel, called the "Eye of the Needle" and when a camel is brought to it they first have to unload the camel of everything it is carrying. Then the camel has to be lowered to its knees and led through the door (it is a very low door).
This stands as an example of how we must come to Christ. We must enter in at the door (Christ) but before entering in we must unload all the things that we are carrying (sins, heartache, etc) and then fall to our knees in asking for forgiveness and then we are led in by the Holy Spirit.
Now this example is a very good one, but most importantly it shows that a rich man can enter into the Kingdom of God, if he goes about it in the right manner.
St. Matthew 19:25-26 "When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible."
**It is my understanding that the disciples were rich! They had servants and the scriptures state that as Jesus called them to the ministry, that they left their servants and followed Him. One was a Doctor, one was a Tax Collector, so these were men of means. So, in hearing that a rich man would hardly make it into the Kingdom, they were fearful that they did not have a chance to enter in. But Jesus assured them that His Heavenly Father made a way for all things to be possible and that they needed to put the Works of God before monetary gain.
St. Mark 10:29-30 "And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life."
**To do these things is impossible if we are doing unto 'self' but possible as we do it unto Him. Letting go of family is tough. I know, I have a son that is out in the world and I've had to let him go. I pray for him and try to help him when I can, but I cannot allow his situation to overtake my work for Christ.
And as we all know, persecutions in this life are hard to bare, but we must remember that as we suffer now, we shall reign with Him in His Kingdom, if we endure until the end. Everything that we might consider a loss, in this life, will be greatly made up for in His Kingdom!
St. Matthew 13:24 "Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:"
**The good seed is the Word of God and each and everyone of us sow that seed by the things we say and do.
St. Mark 4:26 "And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;"
**The ground, into which we sow the seed of God's Word are those that we meet in life (men, women & children). We are all the planting of the Lord.
Now, some plants bloom/produce a great deal , while some may only bloom/produce once, during their lifetime.
St. Mark 4:20 "And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred."
**Those that receive the Word of God are the good ground and they will go on to sow more seed and bring forth, some in greater measure than others. But remember, we are ALL doing a work for the Master.
St. Mark 4:11 "And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:"
**I believe that the Lord doesn't want anything hidden from His children, but will reveal all that is needed to help them to continue on for Him. When Jesus walked with His disciples, He always spoke to the people in parables; yet He always explained to them that which He spoke about. He opened the eyes of their understanding so that they could be encouraged to follow on. Jesus is doing the same for us today.
To those that are not saved, all things, about God's Word, makes no sense, but unto His children He reveals His Word...as they are able to understand it. 1st Timothy 6:17
"Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;"
**One of the meanings of the word 'Charge' is to 'Hold Responsible' and that is what I am doing right now. I am holding all that hear me to be responsible for that which they have, monetary or otherwise. I've actually heard people say that they, themselves, are solely responsible for the money/substance that they have, that it was not given/provided to them by anybody. They give no acknowledgement to God for their blessings, and for these people my heart is saddened. All that any of us have is a gift from God, pure and simple.
Proverbs 13:22 "A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just."
**I believe this means that we, as the children of God, will experience a time when others (those not saved) will supply the needs that we have in seen and in un-foreseen ways.
Proverbs 23:7"For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee."
**Now, this is something that I have learned the hard way. There are a lot of 'so-called- Christians' out there that are not your friends.
In fact, they can be your worst enemy. I know this sounds crazy, but the enemy comes in all shapes and forms. Many of them don't want to hear the truth of God's Word.
Pray that God will show you those that He would have you refrain from knowing.
Deuteronomy 8:18 "But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day."
**I am not a believer of the 'blab it and grab it' movement that is going on, but I do believe that as we serve God and strive to know His will and to walk therein, He will bless us with many, great things. As I said before, as we serve, He blesses.
2nd Corinthians 9:8 "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:"
**One thing I have found, as we do things God's Way, we prosper!
One example I can share with you is there was a time, in the late 70's, that I worked for the Governor of Arkansas. And I visited many organizations and groups, promoting Volunteerism throughout the state.
Well, when I saw an opportunity to share the Word of God with the groups or individuals I was working with, I did. I was informed one day that I could not do this. I could not mix Church and State, this coming directly from the Governor. I told them to tell the Governor that I worked for the Lord first and him second. I went on to be the best employee that they had in this field.
We must never come to the place, in any job or situation, were we put God on the back burner, not if we expect to be blessed!
St. Luke 6:38 "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again."
**I have heard various churches use this scripture during their Tithe/Offering time, but I don't believe that this is all this scripture is about. I believe that this is not only dealing with the giving of finances, but more importantly, it is about giving of yourself and of your talents for the work of the ministry!
St. John 14:6 "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
**He is the ONLY WAY by which man can come unto Salvation, the only way. He paid the full price so that we could come unto the Father and have a greater life.
St. John 3:5 "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."
**This is a great scripture when it comes to prosperity. As we come up out of that water, the old is left behind and the new then guides us. The Holy Spirit gives us the strength and teaches us how to face each and every day. And as we walk, He is prospering us to the fullest.
We have prospered by Salvation, by Baptism and by the infilling of His Holy Spirit. He fills us up completely!
Joshua 1:8 "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success."
**Plain and simple...God wants to bless us, but He has an ordained way in which He does it. As we mediate, He blesses. As we obey, He blesses.
Psalms 1:3 "And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."
**The water he is talking about here is the water of God's Word. We, as trees, are planted by the Lord and the Word will nourish us. As we draw from the Word, we will grow in Him. We are to be a living, growing blessing unto all.
St. Mark 8:36 "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"
**If you don't have Jesus, you are not going to have peace of mind. If you don't keep His Commandments, you will not be blessed. Without Jesus, you have no assurance of a life beyond this one.
Don't be without Jesus, my friends. Nothing in this life is worth missing out on knowing Him!
St. John 10:10 "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."
**Satan is the thief and his mission is to destroy all of God's children! But what did Jesus say here?...He is come so that we can have life and that more abundantly...Glory!
Jesus wants us to suffer no lack, no hardship, no sickness, no harm. He wants us to prosper in everything.
Proverbs 18:16 "A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men."
**We saw this in David's time. He had the gift of music and the Lord used that in a mighty way. Each of us has a gift and the Lord expects us to use it or we'll lose it.
The gift that I have, I don't want to lose. The gift that God gave was His Son Jesus, and He is the greatest gift we will ever receive.
So, whatever gift you have, use it for God's Glory.
St. John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
**God loved us so that He was willing to give His only Son, to die, so that we could have the opportunity for a greater life. God gave then and He is still giving today!
Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"
**This is a true statement, all of us 'HAVE' sinned, but now, through Christ, we are no longer Sinners! If you are a sinner, then you need to get saved. That is not to say that we may not commit sin during our daily walk with Christ, but we still have a mediator between us and God (Jesus) that we can ask forgiveness and continue on in His service.
St. John 8:32 "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
**What is Truth?...the Written Word of God...that is Truth. And it is the only thing that will set you free from the hold of enemy.
So, in knowing the Truth of God's Word, we must live by it if we expect to be free from all things that try and bind us.
Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."
**Some people say that all you have to do is believe and you've got it made, but I don't believe that is what this scripture is saying.
As the children of God, we must have Works to add to our Faith. Faith alone will not save you. A person can believe all they want about an issue that they are facing, but unless they put forth the effort to pray, study and (as this states) to SEEK Him regarding it, faith alone won't bring the answer.
I believe Faith is an action word, just like Love. If you only said you loved someone and never did anything to show it, it would be hard for them to believe that you loved them. That's how it is with Faith, just believing is not enough.
Psalms 34:19 "Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all."
**If you or someone you know is facing a sickness or another type of affliction right now, take this scripture to heart, trust it and continue to seek God's face.
Our faith must come to the place of being greater than what we are facing if we are going to survive! Don't give up hope, the Lord is still in the business of delivering His people!
1st Chronicles 4:10 "And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested."
**The word 'Indeed' here, I believe I read somewhere, means 'to the 10th power' which means that if someone were to give you something, to the 10th power, you can expect to get a lot of it!
And remember what Jesus prayed, to the Father, regarding those that were following Him during His time on earth...."
I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil." (St. John 17:15)
He is doing the same for us today. He is keeping us from the evil of this world. In every instance, Jesus has made a way for us to prosper. He alone can do this for His people.
So, be encouraged by knowing that, as His child, you can have a wonderful, full and bountiful life in Him!
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Additional Nutrients #1
COUNSEL/GUIDANCE/HEALTH
**Counsel/Guidance**
Psalm 1:1-6 "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish."
**How many of you want to be blessed? I know I do and I'm sure you do too. We can be blessed abundantly by doing the Word of God, not just hearing it. We are not to walk (do) anything that is of the world and standing in the counsel of the ungodly is not a place for a child of God.
We are to walk only in God's Counsel, in all things that pertain to us. One thing that we need to make sure of is that we do not stand in agreement with anyone that is not a Believer.
If we know that what others are doing is wrong, in God's sight, and we do not stand against it, then we are standing for it and that is wrong!
To love the Law of God is to do the Law of God, it is always for our good. And meditating on the Word is sweet and refreshing to our souls.
This part about being a "tree planted by the rivers of water shall bring for its fruit"...is so true.
I once brought some slips of Cypress trees home and planted them. Over a period of time one died and the other looked to have dried up. My wife wanted to pull it up, but I reminded her of the scriptures found in Job 14:7-9, "For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant."
In the next few months the tree began to put forth new growth from the bottom of it.
Today it is a very large tree. It had withstood the elements of life and thrived!
And so it is with us...we must withstand the elements of life and dig our roots deep into the Word so that we can bring forth fruit unto the Lord!
As we grow and become strong in the Lord, everything we do shall prosper. This is a promise of God that you can hold onto to!
**Health**
Psalm 23:1-6 "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. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever."
**I have, again, listed this scripture as a reminder for us to always allow the Lord to guide our lives, in every aspect!
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Additional Nutrients #2
DEVOTIONAL/FAVOR....
**Devotional**
St. Matthew 6:9-13 "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen."
**I guess it is appropriate when talking about Prayer to mention this prayer that the Lord taught His disciples to pray.
You know, when we are born, we have to learn to walk and talk, then we learn how to read and to write. But we really need to learn how to do is Pray!
And Jesus didn't say to them "repeat these words" He wanted them to get it on the inside, not just to recite the words.
When you think about when Jesus was in the garden and He was praying, just before He was crucified, and He asked the disciples to Watch with Him and to Pray that they would not enter into temptation. And when He returned from praying He found them sleeping and He asked them, "What, could ye not pray with me one hour?"
And when He taught them this prayer we could ask, "Why did you, Jesus, say just this short-little prayer, that takes hardly a minute to say and yet you are asking them to pray for an hour?" But Jesus wanted them to go deeper into this prayer.
(Instructions on how to pray this prayer is found in your booklet under "Pray The Price" Series #6)
**Favor**
St. Matthew 18:18-20 "Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."
****The first part of this scripture shows me that we have power in "two" places....Earth and Heaven...Hallelujah! And as far as two people standing in agreement on any given subject, that's hard to do in this day and time! There is way too much division within the body of Christ, So many today want to go 'out' of God's Word and go into other men's writings, various versions of other Bibles, and even listen to lies from various pulpits! But even at that, those things cannot stop the effect the true Word of God....His Word is going to do the work, if we will only follow it...God's Word Works!
The next thing I want to cover is this phrase:"Whatsoever you bind on earth." You know, the Lord sends a lot of things our way in life, and some of them can be quiet dreadful....like a tornado...when they come they can cause a lot of damage and can take the lives of many.
Now, I believe that when the Lord sends such storms, we as the children of God, can pray for the Lord to bind up the violence and destruction of the storms, that no harm or damage come to those that are sheltered under His care. We have the power to do so, thru His name!
What I love to do in the storms is to see the awesomeness of God's power and might, but not to be afraid of it. We can bind the violence of it so that we may see the beauty of it!
And we can walk in peace, being free from fear, because the Lord does not want His children to be fearful, of anything.
We have the power to bind sicknesses and loose healing and wholeness, not only for ourselves but for our loved ones and those that we know. We are instruments of His work and as such we must be attentive to the needs that are in the world today.
Every time I hear or see an ambulance I begin to pray for the one that is in need. I bind up the enemies work and I loose healing to that person. They may not have anyone else who cares or prays for them.
God cares about every person and He wants to see them whole (in every way).
And no matter who or what we are praying about, we must expect the answer to come....that is believing!
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Additional Nutrients #3
ADMONITION/PROTECTION....
**Admonition**
Romans 13:12-14 "The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof."
**Time is running out Saints! And if Jesus, who came in the end of the world, as stated in Hebrews 9:26, "For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself," how much closer are we today to Christ' return? We must make every effort to stay on guard and be ready when He returns.
Evil is always present, but God's Word has greater presence....Glory!
How many of you like to fish? I do...I fish every chance I get.
So, for those of you who know how to fish, you will understand what this word "cast" means...it means to "throw with force." And that is exactly what the Lord would have us to do when it comes to "casting off the works of darkness." God would not have us to hang onto or take part in any kind of darkness, but to cast them away from us.
The scripture continues by telling us to "put on the armour of light" so that we can see to walk the right way.
A great many kinds of sins happen under the veil of darkness and there is a reason for that, those committing such things don't want to be seen in the light of day.
All the things mentioned in this scripture are against the very nature of God and so they must be against our nature as well, if we belong to Christ!
It takes a daily effort to keep ourselves worthy of His calling, but He has made a way for us to be able to succeed...He has given us His Word. It is the best guide book ever!
**Protection**
Ephesians 6:13-20, "Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak."
**Without the armour of God, we are naked! As most of you know, this is an easy scripture to quote....but let's look at it a little closer. We are to have our "loins gird about with truth" - what loins is He talking about?....our minds (loins of our mind).
And, what is truth?...the Word of God is Truth and when you wrap that around yourself, you've got power!
Then we go to: "having on the breastplate of righteousness."
It is my understanding that the breastplate was heavy and so a person had to be strong in order to fight in the wars they had back then.
So it is with us today, the battles that we fight are no less difficult and we need the strength that God provides in order to wear the armour of God.
And righteousness is nothing more than living right!
On we go to: "having our feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace."
Now, I know, from being a shoe salesman long ago, that most ladies do not want to be known as having big feet. Women used to come into the store and ask for shoes that were 2 sizes too small for them. Needless to say, when I brought out what they said they wore, I couldn't get it on their foot, but most would not let me size them in order to find the right size, they were determined to wear that small shoe.
And I also know that if a person wears a shoe that is too small for them, they are going to eventually hurt all over! But when you have the right size shoe on your foot, you're going to be comfortable and pain free. So it goes for us in being messengers of Peace! When we carry peace with us, we will offer peace to all. And we must hold up the Shield of faith...
Jesus is the faith! As we hold up that shield, we can be protected from all the harm that is out there and there is a lot of harm in the world today!
Then we have the "Helmet of Salvation"...God's Word...to protect our minds and our thoughts.
Last, but not least, we must take up the "Sword of the Spirit," which is the Word of God. So, the Lord has made a way for us to be fully clothed in God's protection.
But the most important thing to remember about wearing and using this Armour of God, is to realize that it takes practice in order to gain skill. That's why is it so important for us all to read these scriptures, every day, and to learn to use them skillfully in service to Him.
Praise His Name!
These scriptures will be expounded on more as we continue in this series; these are just highlights to encourage you to continue on in the fight. We are truly in the fight of our lives!
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Series #5
THE 23RD PSALM....
**Special Note: I read this Psalm every day, twice a day (just the scriptures) but we will be taking a closer look at what each passage of this scripture means in this series.
The 23rd Psalms is one of the most powerful and most used chapters in the Bible, and yet many only take the time to quote it, never fully looking at what came forth from the heart of the Psalmist.
I read a book many years ago about a rich man that was dying and no physician or medication could help him. He met a man of God one day, who was also a Psychologist, and he told him he could give him a prescription that would cure him, or in any case give him more time to live. Surely it couldn't hurt, and would he be interested?
The rich man was at the point of no return and decided to give it a try. The man of God told him he would have to take it, as he prescribed it - just like a medication. The rich man agreed to the terms.
This is what he told him to do:
Read the 23rd Psalm, 3 times a day for several weeks and to look beyond what could be memorized or quoted in mere seconds.
He wanted him to eat the Word, let it do its perfect work, on the inside.
The rich man stated reading, started seeing the deeper meaning of what he was reading, more with his heart instead of his eyes. His body began to heal.
We too, can reap wondrous things from God's Word. The words printed of the life and teachings of Jesus contains the answers to all our needs.
It is my prayer that in learning to look deeper into David's prayer, you will be healed, not only in body, but in Spirit and Soul.
So, let's start - It Is Written!
The Lord Is ~
**This is a very bold statement that declares the existence of our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus. As the Shepherd is a provider and a deliverer to his flock, so our Heavenly Father is to us....Jesus is all in all....that's who He is!
My Shepherd ~
**Think about who and what a Shepherd is. What is his manner of life? What does he do? Think about every aspect of the Shepherd and how it might apply to you. A shepherd leads, guards and feeds the flock. When they are injured, He tends to them. If they go missing, he searches until he finds them and restores them to the fold
.
Whatsoever the flock has need of, he supplies it, to the fullest. We, as the children of God, have a Heavenly Shepherd that knows every, single need we have and He longs to care for us because He loves us. We are the sheep of His pasture...
I Shall Not Want ~
**Let's look at his issue of 'want' a little differently. I heard a man one time say, before he was saved, that until the Lord began to deal with him about changing his life, he didn't "want to" change, but after he got saved, he said that God changed his "want-to's!"
Now, the only wants that he has is to grow closer to the Lord and do His will. This is true for all of us....our wants have changed to something better!
He Maketh Me To Lie Down In Green Pastures ~
**Sheep love the cool softness of green grass and the Shepherd will bring them to a place of safety and make them lie down so that they can digest their food and take rest. The same is true of our Heavenly Father. He makes a way for us to rest from our toil and to enjoy the life that He has given us, that it may be more abundant in Him.
He Leadeth Me Beside Still Waters ~
**Sheep are basically afraid of swift moving water. The Shepherd takes his staff or some other item, lays it in the water thereby making a calm, smooth pool of water where even the smallest lamb won't be afraid to take a drink. He is the Great Shepherd of our souls and refreshes us as we draw closer to Him!
He Restoreth My Soul ~
**We have all experienced the exhaustion of daily life and how that it can exhaust not only Soul and Body, but also our Spirits! But Shepherd is able to replenish that which you have used up.
I am reminded of the little widow woman in the Bible that had a little bit or meal and a little oil. She was going to gather sticks, to make a fire so that she could make herself and her son a cake to eat and then die (a dearth was in the land at the time) when she was met by the prophet Elijah. He ask her for a cake, at which she replied that she only had enough for her and her son. But Elijah commanded her to make a cake for him first. He encouraged her by telling her that the Lord said the meal would not waste, nor the cruise of oil fail until the Lord sent rain!
And I believe it is going to get to that point again on this earth....were we will have to trust the Lord, day-by-day, for those things that we have need of. We are coming to the place of total dependency upon God's mercies. None of us will be able to store up enough food to last the duration of what is to come, but we can trust that God will supply everything as we need it. He shall restore us in a greater measure!
He Leadeth Me In The Paths of Righteousness For His Name's Sake ~
**Just like a Shepherd, the Lord helps us to stay on the right path. He shows us the way to live a right life. Because of what His son, Jesus - His name sake did, in living a righteous life during His time here on earth, we can also live a righteous life. It is possible!
Yea, Though I Walk Through The Valley of The Shadow of Death, I Will Fear No Evil ~ **The valley of the shadow of death that he is talking about here is this earthly body in which our soul lives. From the day that we are born, our bodies begin to die, but we do not have to fear, in our daily walk, because Jesus walks right along with us.
For thou art with me; thy Rod and Thy Staff They Comfort Me ~
**The Shepherd walks with the sheep, guiding them along the way. His Rod and Staff both serve in different capacities. The Rod is used to drive off predators.
The Rod of God (His Word) does the same thing for us. By using the Word we can drive away the evil that comes against us every day. The Staff is used to guide the sheep, to pull back into the fold those that may try to stray. God's Staff (His Spirit) does the same for us. The Staff leads us, teaches us and guides us in all truth...Glory!
Thou Preparest A Table Before Me In The Presence of Mine Enemies ~
**I heard someone say one time that there is a type of grass or weed, in Jerusalem, that has nettles on it and that the sheep are unable to eat it, it is harmful to them. So, the Shepherd will go before the sheep and remove these so that the sheep are not hurt by them. He prepares the table (field) before them with only that which will nourish and benefit them.
Looking at it in another way, remember Queen Esther? She had the greatest enemy (against her people-she was of Jewish heritage) present at the banquet (table) that she had prepared, but God, in the end, made a way for her enemy to be defeated and her people were delivered from destruction.
That kind of wisdom only comes from seeking God's face and following His direction. His table is always filled with the goodness of His Word.
Thou Anointest My Head With Oil ~
**We spoke earlier about how if a sheep is injured the Shepherd will tend it back to health. That is what the Oil of God's Word does for us. In the midst of our pain and suffering (physical or otherwise) it heals our wounds, gives us hope and keeps us from failing.
My Cup Runneth Over ~
**A Shepherd's life is full, it is ever consuming....caring for his flock. Nothing else in his life is more important. What blessings and love have filled our lives since we have given all we have to the Great Shepherd! Truly our cups are filled to overflowing!
Surely Goodness And Mercy Shall Follow Me All The Days Of My Life ~
**The Shepherd not only leads, but he follows the herd, guarding them from all directions. Without a doubt, God's Children, will live protected on all sides and in perfect peace in the place where the Great Shepherd is.
And I Will Dwell In The House of The Lord Forever ~
**As the sheep have need, the Shepherd seeks shelter and brings them into safety. Our Heavenly Shepherd keeps us safe from harm as well. And our bodies (temples of the Lord) one day will conform from mortal to immortal and our dwelling with Him shall then be eternal...
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Series #6
PRAY THE PRICE / THE LORD'S PRAYER....
Jesus taught His disciples how to pray in giving them what we call "The Lord's Prayer" as found in Matthew 6:9-13.
I don't believe that Jesus just simply wanted them just repeat these words, but He was giving them an example of how to pray.
As you will notice, Jesus didn't say "repeat after me" or "speak these words", but He said, "after this manner therefore pray ye."
The first thing he says is "Our Father" which shows that Jesus is identifying who He is talking to.
Now, I have taken these scriptures and I have expounded on them, in my own way. My challenge to you is to take these scriptures and expound on them for yourself.
Make them come alive for you!
The example that I give, in accepting this challenge, is the story of David when he went up to fight the giant Goliath. He had 5 smooth stones and a sling in which to fight. The King gave him his personal armour in which to fight, but David refused stating that he had not proved the armour and did not know if it would benefit his ability to fight.
So, you've got to take this prayer and prove it for yourself, and the only way to do that is by taking each verse and making it your own!
By doing so, the Word will cause your body and mind to conform to it, making it the best armour for the battle.
I have been advocating, all my life as a child of God, that Prayer is the KEY!
I pray this prayer every morning and every night. I pray it for my wife, my children and my family. And I pray it for the family of God as well.
So, if you have a desire to extend your prayer life, this will show you the way. You can go from praying for just a few minutes to praying for an hour or two.
Prayer is one thing we, as God's children, we can never do enough of.
My prayer for all of you is to gain new heights in Christ. To find the best way for these scriptures to minister to you. I pray that you will find peace in God's Word.
Let's Begin:
THE LORD'S PRAYER - St. Matthew 6:9-13
Our Father, which art in Heaven; Hallowed be Thy Name:
**Holy and righteous Heavenly Father; Father of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; Father of Jesus; Father of all who have Believed, and been Redeemed, Washed in the Blood of the Lamb; Merciful and Mighty God; Bow Down the Heavens and Hear; give Ear; Form Bright Clouds and Rain Upon each one's grass in the field.
Thy Kingdom Come. Thy Will Be Done, in Earth as it is in Heaven:
**Come kingdom of God, be done Will of God; Holy and Righteous Heavenly Father, Establish Thy Government, Thy Kingdom, Thy Power, and Authority, Thy Judgment, Mercy and Grace, Thy Dominion and Peace, Thy Healing, Deliverance and Forgiveness in me. Cause Thy Perfect Will to be Accomplished in me so that I might be found to be Holy and Acceptable in Thy Sight. Cause me to Put on the Mind of Christ.
Give us this day Our Daily Bread:
**Bring me into thy Banqueting House. Cause me to sit at thy Table and to Feast upon the Bread of Life. Give unto me the Spiritual Teeth and the Ability needed to Ingest, Digest, and Accumulate the Meat of thy Holy Word. Cause my soul to be Strengthened in the Wisdom, Knowledge and Understanding of thy Holy Word; that I might be able to Work the Works of Jesus. Cause me to drink deep and long from the Wellspring of the Water of Life that I Thirst No More. Baptize me a' fresh in the Holy Ghost and Fill me to over-flowing with the Gifts and Powers thereof that I come not behind in any Gift.
And Forgive us our Debts, as we Forgive our Debtors:
**Create in me a Clean Heart, O Lord and Renew a Right Spirit within me. Give unto me a Heart of Love and Compassion that I will always be willing to forgive those who transgress against me. For Thy Names’ Sake, Heavenly Father; Pardon Thou my sins and my iniquities and let not satan or his angels have power or dominion over me, but be Thou continuously Delivering me from all the power of the enemy “every evil.”
And Lead Us Not Into Temptation:
**Pick me up and Remove me out of the path of the wicked. Convey me Away, Set me down and Establish my feet in the Highway of Holiness that I might be found walking therein and be Acceptable in Thy Sight.
But Deliver Us From Evil:
**Remove far from me all forms of sickness and poverty, murmuring and complaining, anger and fear, anxiety and depression, afflictions and disease, bad bacteria, germs and viruses; all mosquitoes, ticks, redbugs (Chiggers), fire ants, fleas and no-seeums, crickets and cockroaches, mice and rats, flies and gnats, wasps, hornets, yellow-jackets, bumble bees, poisonous snakes, poison oak and poison ivy, frogs and all other forms of pestilence.
For thine is the Kingdom: and the Power, and the Glory…Forever. Amen
**Clothe me in Thy Armour of Light; Cause Thy Holy Light to Shine within me (us) in so much; Cause all darkness to Flee from within and from without around about that I will be able to Walk in the Light as Thou Art in the Light and Give you Praise…in Jesus Precious Holy Sweet Name…Amen.
Praise His Name!
Believe The Word
Minister Stewart
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