Luke 18:9 - "To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable:"
Most people are unaware that there are two kinds of righteousness. One form of righteousness is our own righteousness. These are the acts of holiness that we do in an attempt to fulfill the commands of the Old Testament law.
This is an imperfect righteousness because human nature is imperfect and incapable of fulfilling the law. A person who believes th
Mark 11:22 - "Jesus responded to them, 'Have faith in God!'"
Sometimes you are in a bad place and wondering how you will ever get to your destiny. You feel lost. You feel drained. and the pain can seem overwhelming. But if you want to meet your destiny, you're going to have to get up and get moving -- even if you still feel the pain.
What you focus on is what you will feel. What you keep your mind stayed on is what will drive you. Focus on what lies ahead, and then believe in Go
2 Corinthians 3:18 - "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."
Many believers are mere products of their environments, allowing themselves to be victimized by the opinions of others and the assessments of human analysis. They lack the will to change or challenge the limitations placed upon them by themselves and others.
You are not designed to d
Romans 10:8 - "But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth, and in your heart." That is, the word of faith which we proclaim,"
Many believers walk around saying things like, "Well, I am just so tired...I'm so weak...Things are looking so bad." then suddenly, they think they're going to jerk their faith out from under the table and obtain a miracle.
Faith needs to be kept in action every day so it can grow. Why do you have to be so diligent with the Word? Because t
James 1:4 - "But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."
There is another force that goes along with faith that's just as important. It's patience, the ability to stand fast on the Word of God even when your victory seems slow in coming.
When you run into some kind of trying circumstance the devil's brought your way, let patience have her perfect work. If you remain consistently constant, trusting in and relying confidently on th
Matthew 11:28 - "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
A place of rest is where God does His most significant work in us. If we are willing to learn how to rest, we will experience a depth of faith not known in a restless place.
God gives us the power and authority to engage in greater exploits in His Kingdom from a place of rest. This rest is purposeful, scheduled, and sacred. This rest must become a lifestyle, a constant way of thinking and
2 Timothy 1:11,12 - "And God chose me to be a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. For this reason, I also suffer these things..."
The reason Paul was never defeated by satan's attacks is that he had made a decision. He decided he would not stop or give up until he had apprehended that for which Christ Jesus had apprehended him (Philippians 3:12).
Likewise, the only way you'll be able to resist the devil's attacks and successfully achieve your calling in Christ i
2 Corinthians 3:4 - "We have such trust through Christ toward God."
We need to get to a place where we are beyond trusting in ourselves. The only sure place to rest is where you are trusting fully in God.
God is the lover of our soul! Our confidence can only be placed in the rest upon the One who never fails, the One who knows the end from the beginning, the One who is able to come in at the midnight hour as easily as at midday.
To the person who rests completely in
Job 5:19 - "He shall deliver you in six troubles, yes, in seven no evil shall touch you."
God will deliver you from all your troubles. (Psalm 34:19, 2 timothy 4:18). When trouble comes, God does not want you to be discouraged.
He wants you to know that it is only the devil trying to steal His Word from your heart. He will do so by telling you, "Look, your child is sick, Where is God now?" You must not respond by saying, "Well, I guess it does not work. Mabe God's promises of de
Joshua 3:5 - "Then Joshua said to the people, 'Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.'"
God was telling His people that the only way they were going to be able to defeat their enemies was to prepare themselves -- it was not a matter of strategizing their warfare but preparing their hearts.
Rise up and get ready to take those first steps. Make ready to step into the deep and confront your fears. You have been equipped, p
2 Corinthians 3:6 - "The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life."
People who are spiritual can only be fed with spiritual food. Jesus says He does not speak or act of Himself:
"The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works." (John 14:10).
Hunger for life in the Holy Spirit immerses us into an intensity of zeal, into a likeness to Jesus; it makes us into pure, liquid metal so hot for God that it travels like oil f
Isaiah 61:4 - "And they shall rebuild the old ruins. They shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations."
As imitators of Christ, we know that we were created and called to serve others.
Will you accept the call?
God grants us favor when we are aligned with His purpose for our life so that He can use us to accomplish His divine purpose on the earth. We are all called to advocate for someone.
John 1:12 - "But as many as received Him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name."
We need to stop laying claim to our family's genetic problems, inheritable sicknesses, dysfunctional behavior, disorders, hang-ups, curses, or any other negative thing that was a part of our life before Christ.
That old person no longer exists. "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away behold all things are become new
John 11:44 - "The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, 'Unbind him, and let him go.'”
Lazarus had to be untangled before he was free to see, walk with, and touch Jesus again. Get free from everything that hinders your ability to hear, see, touch or walk with God.
It's time to come forth in resurrection power!
When we do remember and call Him, and He comes and acts, He does all th
John 21:11,12 - "11 Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.”
When Jesus first came to the disciples on the shore, after the resurrection in John 21, He was ready and waiting to prepare a feast for His beloved.
It's time for us to become like Peter in this passage, and stop waiting for Jesus to come out to us, but rathe
John 11:25 - "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life....."
God wants to resurrect things that have died in you. You may think that your window of occasion is past the time that anything good can happen, but remember we serve the God of the resurrection.
We are to be continually taking ground for the Kingdom of God as we position ourselves in the place that He has called us to. As we continually experience His person our eyes are opened to see from His heavenly pe
1 Corinthians 5:9 - "I wrote you in my previous letter not to associate closely and habitually with unchaste (impure) people."
The company you keep has such an influence on your spiritual life. If you want to walk in the things of the Lord don't choose friends who talk and act ungodly, who don't give God any place in their lives.
As you rub shoulders with them, you'll expose yourself to temptation. You'll get so familiar with sin it will start to appear less repulsive to you. So
Joshua 1:9 - "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."
Those Believers who are pursuing their calling in Christ have to be risk takers -- getting into deep water is scary because there's a possibility that you could drown. Getting into the water is scary because it's cold. But getting in is the only way you will learn to swim. You can't learn hanging on the edge.
Getting t
"Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves." - Matthew 10:16
A TRECHEROUS FOE
Before we engage in spiritual warfare, we should know this about satan: he is an ancient and extremely treacherous foe. Therefore, be bold but never arrogant in your prayer life
Whatever lofty spiritual plane you imagine that you are on, remember: Adam was in Paradise when he fell. Before your increased knowledge and religious experiences mak
Jesus Christ, as the supreme Apostle ("...Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest whom we confess," Hebrews 3:1), was the One who broke through the temple veil and made a new and living way for us to follow into the presence of God. "...Since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the Blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us..." - Hebrews 10:19-20 Jesus, our chief Apostle, broke through and opened a new and living way. In order to truly be effective in the Great Commission, a
Jesus Christ, as the supreme Apostle ("...Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest whom we confess," Hebrews 3:1), was the One who broke through the temple veil and made a new and living way for us to follow into the presence of God.
"...Since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the Blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us..." - Hebrews 10:19-20
Jesus, our chief Apostle, broke through and opened a new and living way. In order to truly be effective in the Great Com
"Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called," - Ephesians 4:1
"For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning" - 2 Peter 2:20
Scripture instructs us to come to understand and carry out our Christ calling, bearing fruit that remains for H
"Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called," - Ephesians 4:1
"For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning" - 2 Peter 2:20
Scripture instructs us to advance forward in our calling and to be more like Jesus. It exhorts us not to
"Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called," - Ephesians 4:1
"For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning" - 2 Peter 2:20
Scripture instructs us to advance forward in our calling and to be more like Jesus. It exhorts us not to
2 Kings 2:8,9,13 - "And Elijah took his MANTLE and wrapped it together and smote the waters....And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy Spirit be upon me....He took up also the MANTLE of Elijah that fell from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan. And He took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters."
The word "mantle" means, "That which is thrown on or around--a physical covering." An actual mantle, cloak or robe, is an article of clot
