Category: Daily Word

Good morning,

     You have heard the saying, "don't try harder, do harder", right?  Well, when I was in the fifth grade, my teacher, had a lot of 'stick with you sayings'.  This was her favorite reply when I would tell her that I was trying to do something.  Well, I heard this saying in my heart today, but it was concerning doing the Word of God.  I was nagging about loving the unloving consistently and always bending over to treat others the way I want to be treated.  Sometimes we become overwhelmed when it comes to the Word.  I hear complaints from Christians when they are trying to find an excuse for not walking out the Word of God.  They usually say that it is so hard.  Most of the time we as believer's are excellent when it comes to hearing the Word, but amateurs when it comes to 'doing the Word'.  Remember, "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.  For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.  But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." (James 1:22-25)  Doers are the one who obeys and fulfills and performs the Word of God.  Hearers means to listen, to be informed by giving or paying attention to.  So in order to move from being just a hearer to a doer we have to execute or put forth energy to actually accomplish any part of the Word of God.  This is done little by little, we do the part of the Word that God is consistently bringing up before you to hear over and over again.   For instance, loving the unloving.  Then you would pursue several scripture verses that speaks of loving those who mistreat you, or, are unkind to you.  There you would begin for example in 1 Corinthians 13.  Next, you would of course meditate, and confess these verses over in your heart (listen or hear), then you would just 'do it', not try, just do it!  We have to work the Word in order to do it!  Sorry, we are laborers together with Christ. (1 Corin. 3:9) We are the righteous, who are bold as a lion, we are soldiers in God's army, we are kings and priests, we are made in the image of God our Father.

     Continuing in doing the Word usually causes us a problem, for we expect that what we do to change others, or, even the situations.  But it says that the person who does the Word and continues in it will be blessed in his deed.  First of all, continueth or continues means to remain besides or,to be always near, to go on or keep on in the same course of action.  Which means that there is no timetable on 'continuing'.  So, we couldn't or rather we shouldn't say, "I've done that enough".  I am not saying that circumstances, situations, or even people won't change [eventually], but, what God is changing is the person who continues to do the Word.  If that is you, then you will be blessed in your deeds. "For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.  For it is not merely hearing the Law [read] that makes one righteous before God, but it is the doers of the Law who will be held guiltless and acquitted and justified.  For merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right with God.  It is obeying the law that makes us right in his sight.  Merely hearing God's law is a waste of your time if you don't do what He commands.  Doing, not hearing is what makes the difference with God.  This verse is Romans 2:13, from the King James; the Amplified; the New Living Translation; the Message Bible.  So, I close with my fifth grade teacher's words ringing loud, louder still as it comes from Our Father's Word, 'do harder'.  We all have to do the Word, start somewhere today, and you will be blessed as you do it!  

 

Love,

Pastor D.

Good morning,

     "When the Lord brought back the captives [who returned] to Zion, we were like those who dream [it seemed so unreal].  Then were our mouths filled with laughter, and our tongues with singing.  Then they said among the nations, The Lord has done great things for them.  The Lord has done great things for us!  We are glad!  Turn to freedom our captivity and restore our fortunes, O Lord, as the streams in the South (the Negeb) [are restored by the torrents].  They who sow in tears shall reap in joy and singing.  He who goes forth bearing seed and weeping [at needing his precious supply of grain for sowing] shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." (Ps.126) Dream is to have visions and or images whether voluntary or involuntary, awake or asleep, it means to think or conceive of something.  As we can see here in these verse that God is the One Who fulfills even our dreams, especially the ones that are divinely given.  Quite often we struggle from the time of having a dream, and the waiting for our dreams to be fulfilled.  This is the time that Yahweh will cause our divinely inspired dreams to be manifested.  Freedom is the state of liberty rather than confinement or physical restraint; the power to determine action without restraint; openness and abandonment.  God is opening up to us the freedom to dream again and to fully realize those dreams.  Captivity means to be physically detained by force; to be constrained and confined; subjected to bondage.  Every step that we walk with God, He is taking off the confinements that have been placed on our lives, so that we can be all that He has made us to be.  All the while God is working out His plan to restore [fix, build up, heal, make restitution, revive, renew, set to rights, win back, reinforce] our fortunes.  Those things that He always planned to be ours.  It is more than material things, it includes relationships restored, physical and mental levels restored and strengthened.  Every dream, every divine vision restored.  Fortune is your inheritance; your portion; your treasure and worth.  Our Father God is going to restore our worth, our portion, our inheritance, as the torrents [heavy flow, waterfall, gush, deluge, overflow, a flood].  So here we are reminded to believe again, this is where we must push to receive.  "They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.  And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear." ( Is. 65:23-24) Let's not faint before the harvest!
    

Love,

Pastor D.

Good morning,

     Today I am reminded of how many of us have allowed the pruning, sifting, pressing, and the threshing that was necessary in order to push us forward into the place of reigning as sons of God in His authority.  Many promises will be apprehended, that in times past slipped by us.  Mainly because we have become more chiseled for our destiny, sharper as instruments in the loving hand of God for the Kingdom, during this time.  We are loving God with our whole heart, mind, and soul.  We are growing in the love of God for our brethren, those of the household of faith, and loving the lost and our enemies.  Everyday we depart from evil and stay on the highway of the righteous.  Praying, praising, and worshiping our Father, drawing closer to His heart.  We are the generation that will seek the Father's face.  Now, I know that there are a lot of things that are being cleaned out of the House of God, these things must happen.  Things that were hidden are now being uncovered, but remember that the Father is longsuffering.  He has patiently endured with those sins, while He gave each one time to do His Word and repent, and make the necessary changes.   That is the greatest part of transitioning, it is yielding to the Father's hand through His Word, while you are going through the press.  The Message Bible says it this way; "If people can't see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves.  But when they attend to what He reveals they are most blessed." (Prov. 29:18) When we attend [wait upon; take care of; watch over; tend to;] what God has already revealed [uncovered; known; shown, unveiled,open and disclosed] then we will not stumble all over ourselves.  So we have endured tests, trials, and difficulties in order for us to be molded and prepared for greater revelation and demonstrations of Holy Spirit.  Through it all we have been made into more faithful and competent stewards of His glory.  "Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man whom You discipline and instruct, O Lord and teach out of Your law.  That you may give him the power to keep himself calm in the days of adversity until the inevitable pit of corruption is dug for the wicked.  For the Lord will not cast off nor spurn His people neither will he abandon His heritage [us].  For justice will return to the (uncompromisingly) righteous and all the upright in heart will follow it." (Psalm 94:12-15)

     So, let's read about what God has really been doing in our lives, to keep us from stumbling all over ourselves.  "I will go before you and level the mountains [to make the crooked places straight]; I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut asunder the bars of iron.  And I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, Who calls you by your name." (Is.45:2-3) The Message Bible says it this way; "I'll go ahead of you, clearing and paving the road. I'll break down bronze city gates, smash padlocks, kick down barred entrances.  I'll lead you to buried treasures, secret caches of valuables.  Confirmations that it is I, in fact, I, God, the God of Israel that call you by name."  Most of the things that we have gone through has been allowed to straighten out certain areas in our lives that were crooked [whether, finances, relationships, physical, mental, etc.].  Keeping us from attaining to the greatest potential that God set in our destiny.  Some of the ways we thought, some of the activities that we were involved in, some of the people that were taking up some of God's time, these things had become mountains, doors of bronze, and bars of iron.  This is similar to Jeremiah 1:10; "See, I have set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, [in order] to build, and to plant."  Quite often when these things like pulling down and rooting out is going on we feel devastated by the actions.  We tend to forget that Father is clearing the field, in order to build something that will not decay or be destroyed by any other hands.  So be of good courage, God is up to something marvelous in our lives, building and planting for eternal values!  Once these things are removed we will be able to see clearly the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places.  Let's keep doing what we know to do that is right as we are being prepared for greater revelations!

 

     As we are on the road to our destiny, we encounter several tests.  How much pride we have is the first to be tested, then comes our response to being thrown into a pit.  The pit is usually a low place that our pride brings us to.  We deal with the 'palace test', when we are elevated or things are coming up roses in our life.  Usually this pushes us into the 'purity test', that is how well we deal with keeping ourselves free from any defilement or contamination once we are in the 'palace'.  When we read the life of Joseph we can see every aspect of these tests that we all must pass on the way to our destiny.  Many of us get stuck in a loop or a cycle in one or the other of the tests, because we will not submit to the Lord's guidance.  After the purity test, when Joseph was thrown in the prison because he would not sleep with Potiphar's wife, he came into the 'prison test'.  After doing what was right, not committing adultery, Joseph was put into a test of enduring prison.  Have you ever felt like, you do right and suffer unjustly for it?  ^"For one is regarded favorably (is approved, acceptable, and thankworthy) if, as in the sight of God, he endures the pain of unjust suffering.  [After all] what kind of glory [is there in it] if, when you do wrong and are punished for it, you take it patiently?  But if you bear patiently with suffering [which results] when you do right and that is undeserved, it is acceptable and pleasing to God." (1 Peter 2:19-20)  For Joseph as well as all of us, this 'prison test' is also a test of perseverance.  But we must remember what is recorded when Joseph was in prison.  ^"And Joseph's master took him and put him in the prison, a place where the state prisoners were confined; so he was there in the prison.  But the Lord was with Joseph, and showed him mercy and loving-kindness and gave him favor in the sight of the warden of the prison."  God is with us and showing us His mercy and loving kindness and giving us favor, even in the prison.  So when we choose to obey God's Word no matter what the consequences, even if the results look like the promises aren't true, God is still bringing His promise to you and your destiny to pass. 

     Joseph had a big destiny, but God was developing big character in him as well.  We have the luxury of knowing the outcome when we read it as a story or history, but Joseph had to go through it and trust God.  He had to walk by faith and not by sight.  No matter what situation or circumstances came into his life, he had to lean his whole personality on God.  One of the character traits that is necessary in order to receive the promises of God is that you must have perseverance and or be patient.  "Let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us." (Heb. 12:1)  "That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises." (Heb.6:12)   Patience is to be on slow boil; keeping our burner down during long test or trials or things that are of a long duration with joy (calm delight); waiting with contentment.  Hmm, there is the character trait that must be developed, going through any test of life with joy, calm delight and contentment.  Have you mastered that yet?  Perseverance denotes fighting the battle with calm delight; continuing in a course of action without regard to opposition, time, or previous failure.  That is most important too, having no regard to the time it will take or the type of opposition, and especially inspite of previous failures.  We will be working on that until the Lord comes, but at least we are working towards it, right?  We get back up after we fall and keep the course towards our destiny.  We do not allow the 'accuser of the brethren' any place in our heart.  So that even as you persevere the prison test, suffering unjustly, you will remember that God has already made us overcomers in this test too.  Let's get out of the loop and move forward.  "I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence.  In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]!  For I have overcome the world.  [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]"

 

Good Morning,

    

     We are always sowing or reaping something in our lives at all times.  Quite often I am reminded to apply this verse in a far more wider scale than just applying it to my financial arena.  ^"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting."(Gal.6:7-8) The verse that follows is highlighting the most important arena that we need to address when it comes to sowing seeds, that is to the flesh or to the Spirit.  Today you and I were busy sowing seeds, whether to the flesh or to the Spirit, you know as well as the Father where you were specializing.  Seeds produce fruit, that is why we get a harvest to reap.   Fruit here denotes that which originates or comes from something (seed); an effort or result; work, act, and deed.  So the fruit that the seeds of the flesh produce is described to us in some detail in Galatians 5:19-21; "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."  Flesh seeds produce flesh fruit which gives a flesh harvest.  Now there are some things noted in this list that we as Christians work hard at to make sure that we don't sow any seed to, like adultery, fornication, drunkenness, witchcraft, murders, etc.  We tend to sow seeds a little more easier into fields like, wrath, envy, strife, hatred, etc.  We have to understand that we sow seed in advance for our harvest that we are going to reap.  Just the same way that we take our money and sow it into our church, ministries, or into individuals lives, is the exact same way that we are taking hatred, wrath, envy, etc., and sowing it.  Once we have sown our financial seed we water it with thanksgiving to God and expect a harvest, a return, fruit to come back to our account.  Well, it works the same way when it comes to the seeds that we sow to the flesh, it will come back.  We usually don't want to recognize that harvest.  And when it does bring forth fruit, we are the first one to ask, "Why is this happening to me?"  Or, "What have I done to deserve this?"  No one is standing in line for more hatred, wrath, envy, and strife to come back to us, pressed down, shaken up and running over.  I don't think so!  Then let's not give into it anymore.

 

Good morning,

     As we have been waking up and arising to the realization that signs and wonders follow the believers.  (Mark 16:15-18)  "ARISE [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you–rise to a new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you!"  This is the next level for God's children, we are refusing to live and walk in the low living, it is time that we stretch towards the higher ground, to live our lives boldly for the Kingdom and the purposes of God.  As we meditate on this we must keep in our hearts and mind that this too is a gradual process.  "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image [of God] from [one degree] of glory to glory." (2 Corin. 3:18)  God's weightiness, His glory is being given to us degree upon degree.  So no matter where we are we are growing into another level.  God is encouraging us forward to where we walk and live in the realm of the heavenlies.  Our part is to keep a habitual fellowship with God, so that we that are ordinary, become extraordinary.

     Right where you are in your relationship with God, know that God is causing you to come up higher.     As we draw near to Him, we are being made perfect, or, mature.  "Mark the perfect man and behold the upright for the end of that man is peace." (Ps.37:37)  Upright means straight; just; most righteous; equity' conforming your life to God's law and justice without acting like it is undue hardship and without being a fraud.  We are in the time frame where everything is being brought to a closing in order to open up the door to the next level.  It is being sped up in order to bring His coming.  We are in the preparation time and being upright is the generation that He is coming for.  God is bringing the upright man to the future end which is for hope and good.  Whether the 'end' for you is the 'end' of the paragraph, or the the 'end' of the chapter, or the 'end' of the story.  It is all going to be good, trust Him!  Peace means 'shalom' which carries the idea of safety; wellness and wholeness and soundness [nothing missing and nothing broken]; happy, health, and prosperity.  Read Psalm 14:2-5; verse 5 says; "There they shall be in great fear [literally- dreading a dread], for God is with the generation of the [uncompromisingly] righteous (those upright and in right standing with Him)."

 

Love,

Pastor D.

Good morning,

     "Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose, and action), So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work."  Instructions are given to create order; steps given to obey the orders; training which relates to the cultivating of the mind and morals.  Instructions are employed for the purpose of the 'now' commands and 'now' reproof; it is information given to help one choose right and do right.  Reproof and conviction of sin is why instruction is needed in order to examine where you are in light of the instructions; to expose to the opening of the eyes; to reprimand and to bring conviction.  Discipline in obedience helps to curb passions; restoration to an upright or right state; improvement of life and character; instructions in order to reform ones life and character.  All of the Word of God is given to help us create order in our lives, if we yield to it.  We are laboring together with God to build a God-likeness.  In an effort to submit to His Lordship in our daily lives, we must be in a continual training unto more God- likeness.  Opportunities present themselves daily where we must choose the instructions that are God-breathed in the Word or the ways of death.  "He who heeds instruction and correction is [not only himself] in the way of life [but also] is a way of life for others.  And he who neglects or refuses reproof [not only himself] goes astray [but also] causes to err and is a path toward ruin for others." (Prov. 10:17)  We see over and over again the importance that the effect of our lives being lived 'holy' before everyone has on others.  We are after all a living book, so we have to 'live out loud'!  This is done by training ourselves with the instructions of the Word.  "But refuse and avoid irreverent legends (profane and impure and godless fictions, mere grandmothers' tales) and silly myths, and express your disapproval of them.  Train yourself toward godliness (piety), [keeping yourself spiritually fit].  For physical training is of some value (useful for a little), but godliness (spiritual training) is useful and of value in everything and in every way, for it holds promise for the present life and also for the life which is to come." (1 Timothy 4:7-8) The Message Bible says it this way; "Stay clear of silly stories that get dressed up as religion.  Exercise daily in God—no spiritual flabbiness, please!  Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever." (1 Tim. 4:7-8) Exercise/ train means to practice radical discipline.  Greek word 'gumnazo' where we get the word gymnasium.  It represents people who want to change and develop so much that they are willing to put themselves through rigorous and demanding training in order to achieve desired results.  This produces habitual fellowship, where we set ourselves aside to be a vessel of honor.  "And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit." ( 2 Corin. 3:18)  As we stay in the training field of God's Word and yield to instructions in our daily lives we are being made more and more into His glorious image.  He perfects us as we exercise daily and the more we train the more radical we become!

 

Love,

Pastor D.

Good morning,

     As we draw closer to the end of this year, we must keep our eyes on our purpose.  We discussed last week about making room for the miraculous once again in our lives and in the families of the earth.  When we begin to study the Word on the subject of miracles we are in fact building up our faith, for "faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God." (Rom. 10:17) Everything in the Kingdom of God starts from a seed, something that is small yet has the potential to develop into something big.  Everything that is considered to be great is comprised of smaller parts, so it is with us and what we do for and in the Kingdom.  In other words nothing that we do for God is insignificant, it is a part of the grand plan of God.  As we grow our faith for the miracles we must remember the power that we have in our declaration and decree that lines up with God's word.  "For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Rom. 10:10) What we believe (our faith) must be confessed in order to be made unto salvation [deliverance, rescue, health, safety, prosperity,] All of that defines or covers the realm of the miraculous that we believe for.  Now let's read an important verse; "And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach and publish openly the good news (the Gospel) to every creature [of the whole human race].  He who believes [who adheres to and trusts in and relies on the Gospel and Him Whom it sets forth] and is baptized will be saved from the penalty of eternal death]; but he who does not believe [who does not adhere to and trust in and rely on the Gospel and Him Whom it sets forth] will be condemned.  And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe: in My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages; They will pick up serpents; and [even] if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will get well." (Mark 16:15-18)  Just meditate on that word, "signs shall follow or accompany those who believe".  It is quite obvious we must believe that this belongs to us in our walk with the Lord as we go forth and publish the gospel.  We must be about the Father's business!  Signs here is the Greek word 'semeion' miracles, signs, tokens, wonders.  So say with me now, since confession is made unto us salvation, "Signs and wonders follow me because I am a believer who believes and I am about the Father's business to establish the Kingdom of God."