Emanuel Ministries Devotionals

“Shall I pray to chance?” Ephesians 6:18” And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. “ A certain woman was crossing the Atlantic and asked a sailor one morning how long it should take them to arrive. “If it is God’s will, we will arrive in Liverpool in 14 days,” said the sailor. “If it is God’s will !” said the woman;” what a senseless expression ! Don’t you know that all comes by chance? “ In a few days a terrible storm arose and the woman stood clinging to her cabin door in agony.” How long do you think it will last?” she asked the sailor.” It seems likely to last some time, madam.”” Oh ! “ she cried, “Pray that we may not be lost !” His reply was, “Madam, shall I pray to chance? “ Oftentimes, it takes pain or trouble to get us to really pray. This is the very reason God allows us to experience difficult times; to bring us to the place where we are reminded of our great need for Him. So when God allows pain in our lives, let us not delay i

"What is your heart fixed on? " Ps.57:7" My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed : I will sing and give praise. " I heard a motto who said, "He who would not fall down ought not walk in the slippery places. Keep yourself clean. Keep yourself pure. Watch what you set before your eyes. " Are you aware that how you think governs what you see? Why do some people view films with lewd scenes and others don't? Why do some look at pornography – even becoming addicted – when others don't? Because your thought life will govern what you do. It will guard your sight. You can make up your mind you're not going to look at certain things. You're not  just a helpless victim. The book of Job recounts the life of one of the most respected man in the Old Testament. Job made himself a promise :" I made a covenant with my eyes, not to look lustfully at a woman ". (Job 31:1). He made a decision. Now, men and women – listen. You need to get a

How do you start your mornings? Psalm 5:3 "My voice shalt Thou  hear in the morning, or Lord ; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee, and will look up. " Christianity is a love relationship. You cannot love someone that you do not know, and you cannot know someone that you don't spend quality time with. To know Jesus is to love Him. To love Him is to trust Him. To trust Him is to obey Him. To obey Him is to be blessed. It begins with a daily, quality communication with the Lord. Why is it best to spend time with the Lord in  the morning? Because you are getting ready to go on a road trip through life. You don't take the trip and then read the map, do you? How are you starting your mornings? With a cup of coffee, the paper, the news on TV ? Or with a pure milk of the Word and the light of His presence? Do you look up every morning or you look down to the things of this world ? You must start the day right. Start with God every morning for 30 days

The BOOK that reads you Rom. 11:33 "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His  ways past finding out! We must guard ourselves against lowering the standards of God's Word to our level of understanding or political correctness. And we must guard ourselves against raising the standards of our traditions above the standards of his Word. The Bible is not meant to be paraded past the judgment bar of our mind. You can  argue with it, but why ? You can pick up any other book and read it, but this is the book that reads you. It pulsates with life and power. It cuts, burns, crashes, and wields mountain – moving power. His Word has a life of its own. It is the voice of God to you. You cannot refuse it, deny it, distort it, or dilute it. You can only bow before it. When was the last time you studied the history behind the Word of God? Go to a bookstore or your church's library and study how the translation we

”What distinguishes you from the rest of the world? “ Exodus 33:16 It is the presence of the Lord. Are you aware of God‘s presence every moment in your life? Do you practice the presence of God? Even when things are not going according to your expectations are you still aware of His presence? He promised that He NEVER  leaves you nor forsake you. Do you believe it? We always have the companion of Jesus and the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. John 14:15–18 “You are not an orphan because Jesus sent His Spirit to abide with you “FOREVER. “ Hallelujah ! That makes you shout a big : Glory to the Lord. “You will make me full of joy in Your presence .” (Acts 2:28). “ Set your heart at rest in His presence.” (1 John 3:19). Many call God, “Emanuel”- God with us, but God wants to dwell in us, and us in Him. In every circumstance of life God reveals Himself . In trouble -He is  the Deliverer , in sickness -He is the Healer, in discouragement-He is the Encourager, in tragedy -He is the Comforter

What kind of character do you have? Job 27:6 “ My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go; my heart shall not reproach me as long as I live.” I read a story of a pastor who boarded a bus one morning, paid his  fare, and took his seat. A few minutes later, he realized that the driver had given him too much change. Some people might have put it in their pocket and said, “Lord, thank you for your provision.” But this pastor knew that would be wrong. At the next stop, he walked to the front of the bus with the extra change and said  to the driver, “Excuse me, sir, you gave me too much change, and I wanted to return it to you because obviously you made a mistake.”The driver said, “Pastor, I didn’t make a mistake. I was at your church last night and heard you preach on honesty. I wanted to see if you practice what you preached “ Fortunately, he did. People are watching you as a Christian, virtually scrutinizing your every move. You should know they aren’t hoping you will be a

“Releasing the old—taking hold of the best “ Psalm 18:1” I will love Thee, O Lord, my strength.” Have you ever tried to get a bone away from a dog? It’s not too easy, unless you have something better for him. Try offering a T-bone steak, and  that dog will drop his bone like a bad habit. In the same way, the writer of Hebrews tries to encourage the Jewish Christians, new believers who had a tendency to cling to the old customs of the Old Testament, to leave the dry bones of ceremonies and feast upon the delights of the Lord Jesus Christ. It’s a lesson we all must appropriate in our lives. It can become comfortable for us to hold to our traditions, rather than try something new. But my friend, there is no one and nothing that can compare with Jesus. You may learn to love Jesus better, but you can never love anything better than Jesus. Ask God to begin showing you the delights of a close relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus our Savior and Lord likes to hear this kind o

“Happiness is a choice. ” Psalm 7:17 “I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the Lord most high. “ Did you know that happiness is a choice? A man said to a beggar one day,” Good day my friend.” The beggar answered ,” Well, thank you, but I never have a bad one.” The man responded, “Well, may God give you a happy life, my friend. “ And the beggar replied, “ I thank God that I am never unhappy.” The man was speechless. And the beggar continued ,”When I have plenty to eat, I thank God. When I am hungry, I thank God. If it is God’s will for me to endure this, then whatever is God’s will for me makes me happy. “ He chose to be happy. What do you want? Do you want to be happy? Then choose to be happy today no matter your circumstances... by praising God. You are called to praise the Lord and sing praise to the name of the Lord not according to your circumstances or what He can bless you with, but according to His righteousness and bec

"The sin of silence " 2 Kings 7:9 "Then they said one to another, "We are not doing right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves.If we wait till the morning light, punishment will come upon us : now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king's household. " Andrew Murray said, " There are two classes of Christians: soul winners, and backsliders. There are two great sins a Christian can commit : the greatest is to fail to love the Lord Jesus. The second greatest is not adultery or drunkenness, but is the sin of silence – to refuse to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. Suppose you knew the cure for cancer. Would you not tell it? Suppose you were on an island where people were starving to death and you knew where there was a vast hoard of food . Would you not tell it? Ours is the greatest mission, the greatest message, the greatest Master the world knows nothing about. Our mission is the Great Commission . Our message

"It came to pass." Matt.11:1 It is said that King David once called a jeweler and said,"Make me a ring who's appearance will gladden my heart when I am sad, and make me sad when I am joyful. You have two days for this. If you bring the ring, you will be richly rewarded . If not, your head will be where your legs are now." The jeweler left in despair. He knew his life would be forfeited. Who could make such a ring? When he crossed the palace yard, little Solomon, who was playing, observed his grief and asked him what it was about. The jeweler told him of the foolish demand the King had made. The child laughed and said,"Make him a simple ring of tin  and write on it the words," Gam ze iavoh"- “This will pass, too."  Nothing more is needed. In moments of darkness, the king will read that this will pass and find comfort. In revellings the ring will remind him that joys in this world are transitory." The jeweler made the ring and rece

“Ministers of deception “ 2Tim.4:3” For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears.” Did you know Satan has put his ministers all across America? On Sunday, people will come down and sit in a service, and the man in the pulpit will look like a minister, but he will be a minister of Satan. Isn’t that frightening? You need to understand that Satan is not against religion. He’s always wanted to be like God. His temptation to you is not to be ungodly, but to try to be like God , but in Satan’s way. Satan is the master of deception. Matt.24:24” says,” If it were possible, he would deceive the very elect. That’s the reason we have to be discerners of truth. When you go to church don’t just sit and soak in the service. Test the message against the Word of God and apply it to your life. The time has come when many believers like to hear teachings that will tickle their ears but not

"What is the crucifixion ?" Rom.5:6-11 Most of us are overwhelmed by the physical and emotional suffering that He endured-the scourging, beating,thorns,nails, mocking, and shame. But during crucifixion, far more was happening that the eye could see. God was carrying out His plan to rescue mankind,providing everything we need for salvation : 1) Redemption -Jesus paid the full price of the debt we owed for transgression : death. His payment set us free from bondage of sin. 2) Forgiveness- God could now release us from the punishment we deserved. 3) Propitiation Chris's payment satisfied the Father by fulfilling His demand for justice while letting Him forgive us. 4) Justification -On the basis of Jesus' sacrifice ,the Lord now declares believers not guilty. This is a legal declaration that can never be reversed. 5) Reconciliation -The sin barrier that separated us from the Father was removed by Christ's death on our behalf. We're now God's child

"Jesus our substitute " Lk.23:33"When they came to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, along with the criminals, one on the right, the other on His left." Jesus carried our sin to the cross. The spot where that happened was Calvary, also called Golgotha-the same spot known as Mt.Moriah where in Genesis Abraham offered Isaac to God. Mt. Moriah, the Temple Mount , and Calvary are all on the same limestone ridge-all the same mountain. Centuries before Christ was born, God told Abraham, the brightest star in the Hebrew heaven," Abraham, I want you to take your son, your own son, the son that you love,the son of promise, to a place I will show you . Not just any place-a certain place. And there you are to offer your son." That spot is the very spot where one day , centuries later, Jesus Christ would be crucified. For Abraham and Isaac , a ram caught in a thicket provided the substitute. There was no such substitute for Jesus Christ-for He was o

"You must hold on with both hands."  James 2:5 “ Listen, my beloved brethren : has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?  Are you facing a struggle in your life today? Perhaps there is a decision that you need to make, but don't know what to do. My friend, let me tell you the way to find what God wants for you .Take hold of the Lord with both hands and in faith tell Him, " Sink or swim, live or die, once and for all, now and forever, I'm going for You, God. "  John Dryden, the famous English poet, said, "Reason saw not, till faith sprung the light."  Charles Spurgeon said, "Faith goes up the stairs that love has made and looks out the window which hope has opened."  You don't know what God can do through you until you step out in faith.  Take that step today. Do you believe that you are rich in faith ? Where do you get faith from?  &quo

"How do you build up your intimacy with God? "  Intimacy with God doesn't just happen. It requires determination and a significant investment of time and effort. As we seek intimacy with Him, we must learn : 1) Conflict resolution. God is always right. No matter the circumstances, tension with God can be resolved by yielding our desires and seeking His viewpoint. 2) Trust- intimacy grows only in an atmosphere of trust. As we understand God's character better, our confidence grows, and we are drawn closer to Him. Our part is to show ourselves trustworthy. 3) Risk taking – the more we reveal who we are in Christ to those around us, the more we risk facing arguments, experiencing rejection, or being misunderstood. 4) Agreement – for us to maintain a close affinity with God,our schedule and plans must reflect that He is a priority. We are to be available for His use and open to His direction. God designed us for intimacy with Him.  All that He requires is our

"Do you want a renewed mind? Do you want a clean heart? "Proverbs 23:7 "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink,he says to you but his heart is not with Thee." A teacher asked a little boy to finish this proverb :"Cleanliness is next to..." He answered, "Cleanliness is next to impossible." Well, my friend, He wasn't far wrong, was he ? It's amazing what people do to try to purify themselves – fast, pray, kneel, walk, self- flagellate, hibernate, isolate . But sadly, they discover that human efforts aren't the pathway to purity because they keep doing what Zig Ziglar calls "stinkin'thinkin'.  Before we can hope to have a life of purity, we must have a clean thought life. God works from the inside out. He knows you can't purify the water by painting the pump. When was the last time you memorized a verse of Scripture? It's easier to stay away from "stinkin' thinkin' when your min

“ What are you afraid of? ” Psalm 23:4 “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil ; for You are with me ; Your rod and Your staff they comfort me. “  In Matthew 25, we read the parable of the talents. When the master who had distributed the talents came to see the stewardship of those talents, one man had taken his talent and hidden in the ground. You may have a buried talent, but you’ve been covered up by the sinister minister or fear, who keeps you from achieving your dreams.  You say,“ But what if I fail? “You can be so afraid of making a mistake that your  entire life will be a mistake. The fear of failure keeps so many from competing that they never even get in the race. They just lose by default !  Sir Walter Scott was called a “dunce “by his teachers. Napoleon Bonaparte was next to last in his military class. Walt Disney was fired as a cartoonist because the newspaper said he couldn’t draw ! It’s not bad to fail. We all will fail. B

“ Jesus has overcome the world. “  Hallelujah ! John 16:33 “In the world you will have tribulation : but take heart I have overcome the world.”  Do you struggle with trials and anxieties?  Are you desperate and discouraged? The will of God will never take you where the grace of God cannot keep you. His power is ever present in your life as His child.  If I could have been there in the days of His flesh, I would have wanted to see Him walk across the sea and calm the waves. I can just see the kingly form with the wind in His hair, putting His footsteps on the sea, His garments billowing back, smiling at the storm. When the disciples saw Him walking on the water what was their biggest problem? The water. Jesus, in essence, was saying, “What looks like is going to be over your head, is already under My feet. “Ps.68:19 “Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. 2 Cor.2:14 “But thanks be to God who always carry us in His chariot of victory in Christ Jesu

”Temporary troubles. “ 2Cor. 4:18 “So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now ; rather, we fix our gaze on the things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. “ Adversity prepares us for what God has ahead . God‘s people will be better off eternally because they suffered temporarily. The trade-off in eternity will bear this out. Our troubles won’t last forever. As 2Cor.4:17 says,” For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. “ We need to look at our suffering and say,” It will make all sense in eternity, and it will produce something that would not have been there otherwise. So in faith, I am going to accept this truth and wait to see the outcome. Despite the worst tragedy, God can bring good out of bad. That doesn’t mean He makes bad things good. But it does mean that despite bad things, He can bring good. Sometimes life works that way. It did f

“Victory over your situation is just a prayer away.  “Psalm 119:116 “Uphold me according unto Thy Word, that I may live ; and let me not be ashamed of my hope.” Paul did much of his writing from a prison cell. Maybe you also feel like you are in prison of sorts today with every door shut in your face. Maybe you are in prison of despair and doubt. Perhaps you just heard from the doctor and received a bad report, or are dreading a visit this week. Maybe you’re in a financial prison of debt or a domestic prison of abuse and you feel there is no way out. My friend, I want to tell you that there is a way out for you. God is still on the throne. He hears and answer every prayer. Victory over the situation is just a prayer away. The circumstances may not change, but your perspective and attitude will change as you begin to pray and praise God. You and I don’t have a need that God cannot meet. Also His Word can uphold you in your situation no matter how difficult it is. Do you want to

"Can you sleep? "Ps. 121:4" Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither sleep nor slumber."  I read about a man who was in a crisis and couldn't sleep. He thought about this verse of Scripture, "He that keepeth Israel shall neither sleep nor slumber." He said, "Well, Lord, there's no need for both of us to stay up all night. Good night, Lord. I'm going to sleep while you stay awake."  The Bible says,"Thou will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee because he trusteth in Thee. (Isa.26:3); It may sound like a paradox : on one hand, pray earnestly. On the other, get some sleep. But Phi. 4:6,7 tells us , "Don't worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God. And the peace of God ( listen to it ), which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. " Peace is the absence of anxiety.My

“ The danger to do something!” Psalm 46:10” Be still, and know that I am God ; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth !”  I  read about a fighter plane that fired off a weapon and was moving so fast that it overtook the bullet and shot itself down. Literally ! There are a lot of folks I know doing the same thing. They are shooting themselves down. They don’t take time to slow down and to be still and know that God is God. They don’t take time to experience His serenity and inner quietness. Isaiah 30:15 says, “ In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.”  How much time do we take to be quiet before the Lord? If you don’t have time to do this, you are too busy ! You’re going to miss life looking for it. For example when we are sick, the first thing is to find medicine, or a doctor to take care of our sickness. But the Bible says in James 5:13 “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.” What do you do whe

"Do you trust God completely? "!Psalm 37:3  "Trust in the Lord, and do good ; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. "  This word "trust "is an interesting word. Its root is from the word that means "to lie face down on the ground." The idea is that a person is totally helpless. He has been cast down and has nothing to stand upon. The pins have been pulled from underneath him. He has no visible means of support.  That's the place God wants to bring us to -where we have no visible means of support, and all we have is God. In fact, did you know God will sometimes knock your feet out from under you so you might learn to trust Him?  At that point, faith is no longer an option or a luxury ; it's a necessity. To the world your situation looks hopeless, but that's right where God wants to show Himself powerful in your life. Is there an area in your life today for which you must trust God completely? Is trusting

“Do you live under the power of fear?”  Part 2. What is the antidote for fear or cure for fear? 2 Cor.10:5 ”Guard your mind...bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” Don’t welcome fear in your mind. If you don’t make every thought captive, you will become a captive to that thought. Gen. 3:10 Disobedience brings fear. Prov. 29:25” The fear of man brings a snare.” 2Chro.20:3,17, 21, 22 “Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to SEEK the Lord and proclaimed a fast...Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you...” We always want to do something when we fear. Big mistake. Ver. 21”...He appointed those who should sing to the Lord...” Praise the Lord for His mercy endures forever.” And... When they began to sing and to praise , the Lord set ambushes against their enemies...and they destroyed themselves...Hallelujah! Isaiah 41:10” Fear not for I am with you ; be not dismayed for I am your  God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will upho

"Do you live under the power of fear? "Mark 5:36 -Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue :..."DO NOT BE AFRAID ; ONLY BELIEVE . " Mark 6:50 "Take courage or be bold. It is I . Don't be afraid." Unbelief brings fear and fear will dominate your mind, body, and soul. In the Bible is mentioned 366 times God's promises :"Fear not, for I am with you. " That's one promise for everyday. It's not just a promise but a command of Jesus. But you still fear. Fear in sickness, losing your job, unable to pay your bills, rebellious children, fear of tomorrow, fear of death, etc. How can we overcome fear? Remember what you have received from God. 2Timothy 1:7 "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of POWER ,and of LOVE and of SOUND MIND." Romans 8:15" For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of ADOPTION by whom we cry out, ABBA, FATHER. " Hebrew 2:14,15..." tha

"The master broadened the bread . " Matthew 14: 19 "...Then He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people."  The five loaves and two small fishes were just enough to feed one little boy, but they were woefully insufficient to feed a vast multitude. However, when they were blessed and broken by the Master, their ability was  is broadened. He took what was designed for one and use it to feed as many as 25,000 ! That is what the Master can do with those things He blesses and brakes! God only breaks us so that  He might broaden our ministry!  Therefore, do not try to run away when the hand of the Lord lays heavy on your life ! When He is breaking you, it is so that He can use you in a greater manner ! Think of: Elijah, Jacob ,Moses, Paul in prison, Mary"alabaster box of ointment, Joseph, etc.  If you have been blessed and broken for the Lord, then get ready, He has a plan for your life that is glorious beyond imagination. But you nee

"Are you trying to figure out God? " Job 28 24–25"  For He looks to the ends of the earth, and sees under the whole heaven ; To make the weight for the winds ; and He weights the waters by measure." There are  certain things God is not going to reveal. And that is good news.  Who wants to believe in a God that they can put in a box and completely understand? Not me. You can take a bucket down to the ocean and dip out a bucket full of water. Everything in that bucket is ocean, but not all the ocean is in the bucket. Amen ? And with our bucket-size minds, we are never going to know all there is about God. I'm not. You're not. Nobody is.  Deuteronomy 29:29 "The secret things belong unto the Lord our God : but those things which are revealed belongs unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law." Someone said ,"God is like a mountain, the closer you get the bigger He is."  The only thing that you can

“Waiting is hard, but we must learn to do it. “Psalm 37:7 “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him : do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.“ We don’t like the word “rest,” do we? We’re always running around pulling up our radishes  by the roots to see how they’re growing, and then cramming them back into the ground. Yet Isaiah tells us, “And therefore will  the Lord wait, that He may be gracious unto you, and therefore will He be exalted that He may have mercy upon you : for the Lord is a God of judgment :  blessed are all  they that wait for Him.( Isaiah 30:18). You’re not going to hurry God because He is not interested in time. He’s interested in timing. Lean back, watch, wait, and trust. He knows what He is  doing. Titus 2:12-13” And the grace of God is teaching us to say no to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope — the g

“Did you lose your hearing or your faith? “ Rom.10:17” So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” Have you ever wondered why some people seem to have so much faith, others have weak faith, and some have no faith at all? Is God unfair? No, God is no respecter of persons (see  2 Chron. 19:7). He is given to every man a measure of faith see (Romans 12:3) And so, what is faith? Let me first say what it is not. Faith is not positive thinking or optimism. It is not a feeling that you can do something. It is not a hunch or looking on the sunny side of the street. Faith is getting a word from God and acting upon it. You see, you can get a word from God and believe that word. That this belief. But when you act upon it, that is faith. Faith is belief with legs on it. Today is the day that you put your foot of faith upon the promises of God and say, “ That promise is mine ! “Get back to the Bible. Your hearing and your faith will be restored. Let Jesus speak to this heart

"Live each day like it's that day ." 1Peter 4:7"But the end of all things is at hand : be ye therefore sober , and watch unto prayer. " Years ago, G.Campbell Morgan who was a great expositor of the Word of God said," I never lay my head on the pillow without thinking that perhaps before I awake the final morning may have dawned . I never begin work without thinking that He may interrupt it to begin His own." Every night before we go to sleep we ought to say, "Jesus may come tonight. "And every day when we get our tools and go to work, this may be the last day of work that we do. We are to be looking for His return. We are also to be longing for His return. We must live with the perspective of His kingdom every day. We must be aware of the greatest event that is going to happen - the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ. Are you ready for it ? Are you hastening His coming? Are you praying for Jesus to return? If you love Him, you ought t

Are you a new creature?  2 Corinthians 5:17 “ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation ;  old things have passed away ; behold, all things have become new. “  I read about an old farmer, his wife, and their son who had never been to the big city. So they got into their old pick up truck, drove to the city, and found a place to park. The farmer’s wife decided to wait in the truck while her husband and son walked to a gleaming skyscraper hotel to get a room. As they entered the massive lobby, they watched as a set of mysterious doors opened and an elderly woman stepped inside. Then the doors closed. After a few moments passed , the doors opened again, and a beautiful young woman walked out. The old farmer turned to his son and said,” Junior, quick , go get mama !” Wouldn’t it be great if we could walk into church as one person and leave as another?   The Bible tells us that when we became Christians, we turned from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God.

"Surely none of the man who came up from Egypt... shall see the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob...,except Caleb  and Joshua are the son of Nun, for they have wholly followed the Lord ."During the war between China and Japan a Chinese soldier was flying his plane against the Japanese people when his plane was bombed and crashed to the ground. He was able to jump with a parachute and when he got on the ground he checked the plane which  was a mess,but he found that his   shotgun was intact . He pick it up and walked for 20 miles  to the camp caring his shotgun and when he arrived he asked his supervisor, "Can I have a plane for my shotgun? "That's persistence. What kind of perseverance do we need? 1) In PRAYER Lk.18:1,7 " Then Jesus spoke a parable to them, that man always ought to pray and not lose heart.  2) In the WORD-Ps.1:2" ... and in His law he meditates day and night.  3) In FAITH-1Pet.1:7" ... that the genuineness of y

But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of Me." God blessed us with many things including His indescribable Gift-His  Son Jesus Christ. And Jesus has blessed us with the Comforter, the Holy Spirit to be with us all the days of our lives. The Holy Spirit has one cause : to testify of Jesus Christ. He is very single-minded . He's not interested in doing ten things for God,  just one. There are some who get caught up in the Holy Spirit. They focus on what He is  doing through miracles, healings, tongues ,and more. My friend, be aware of those who focus on making the Holy Spirit the figurehead of their faith. The mark that a man is filled with the Holy Spirit is that he is always talking about Jesus Christ. He can't do any more. He can do no less. I challenge you to make this pledge to God :  I  will bring my talents, my business, my time, and  my resources, all for

“In the world you will have tribulation : but take heart I have overcome the world.” Do you struggle with trials and anxieties? Are you desperate and discouraged? The will of God will never take you where the grace of God cannot keep you. His power is ever present in your life as His child. If I could have been there in the days of His flesh, I would have wanted to see Him walk across the sea and calm the waves. I can just see the kingly form with the wind in His hair, putting His footsteps on the sea, His garments billowing back, smiling at the storm. When the disciples saw Him walking on the water what was their biggest problem? The water. Jesus, in essence, was saying, “What looks like is going to be over your head, is already under My feet. “Ps.68:19 “Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. 2 Cor.2:14 “But thanks be to God who always carry us in His chariot of victory in Christ Jesus.”  Rom.8:37...”In all these things we are more than overcomers thro

Be sober, be vigilant ; because your adversary the devil ,as a roaring lion, walketh about ,seeking whom he may devour.” When you were born again, you were born to win ! Your new birth in Christ Jesus has fitted you for victory. You can detect Satan’s  schemes and overcome his world system. You can “march to the beat of a different drummer. “ You can live with victory over the desires of your flesh,habits, attitudes, unclean desires, worries ,anger, and dissipation must yield as you exercise authority over your mind, emotions, and will. You can actually put Satan and his demons to flight. You don’t have to be afraid of him – he will be afraid of you ! Are you feeling defeated about something? Say this out loud,” I was born to win !” Doesn’t that feel good? Now, look in the mirror and say it again !  “ I was born to win ! I can do all things to Christ, who strengthens me. “(Phillipians 4:13) Do you believe that? Do you believe in the power of the Word of God? Then be bold and move on a

“If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” In that day the cross was an instrument of shame, humiliation, suffering, torture and death. Sadly, the message has become clouded in our day. Some people say that a lost job, abusive spouse, a wayward child or a crazy boss is their cross.Some people think that an illness or a physical handicap is their cross. The trials and hardships you face in this life are not your cross ! Jesus is calling us to die to ourselves. He is calling us to commit to a lifestyle of living death. Galatians 2:20 He is calling us to willingly bear the shame, the reproach, the humiliation, the suffering, the hatred, the alienation and even the death that may come to those who are associated with Him. We take up our cross when we choose the narrow way over the way of the world, regardless of the cost. We take up the cross when we live out biblical ethics in our personal lives and in our business relationships, regar

”If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and He will rescue us from your hand, O King. But even if He does not...” This last statement is not a doubt but a confidence in God‘s will, an absolute surrender to God‘s plan and purpose, a desire to see the glory of God revealed. Are we totally convinced that our God is sovereign? Does our faith resist the fire? There is a war out there that every genuine Christian must fight. Do we have an “ but even if He does not “moment in our lives when we’ll go through the burning fiery furnace? If our business is not going well and will go bankrupt, if we struggle financially, if we are sick or get old, if someone dear to our heart dies, or if you are still single for so long, if our plans are not accomplished, if our ministries don’t have the results that we expect, if we don’t get promoted, or we don’t pass the exam, or we don’t get the position, or we don’t get accepted in the college that we dreamed a

If it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourself whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." If you are trying to live in two worlds you're not happy. Am I right? When you spend time around other Christians, you're uncomfortable because of your sin. On the other hand, when you're doing things you know you shouldn't as a Christian, then you have the conviction of that sin. Stop doing that stuff. Make your choice. "Choose for yourself this day whom you will serve...But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Every one of us must make that decision. I can't make it for you, and you can't make it for me. Are you in a relationship that is dragging you down? Are you doing things that are weakening your resolve? Stop doing those things. I'm not saying it is easy

Yet I hold this against you, that you have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen. Repent and return to do the things you did at first. Or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lamp stand from its place – unless you repent. “The biggest problem we have is a personal problem with the Lord Himself. After commending them for their works, Jesus condemns them for their lack of love for Him. We have offended a Holy God. It is a passion problem. We don’t love Him like we used to do. But Jesus is giving us the second chance in 2020, the prescription to come back to the First Love. 1) REMEMBER – Rewind the film of your life, to the moment when you accepted Jesus. Where and when did you meet Jesus? What were the first things that you did? How was your relationship with your wife, children, friends, neighbors, co-workers, after you’ve met Jesus? How was your desire in praying, reading the Bible, going to Bible study, your fellowship, going to Church, s

A church that sent people to Hell - Urgent Warning / David Wilkerson

”And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today you will never see again.” It’s not enough to pass your past, but you must break its power that it has over you, otherwise the past will hunt you for the rest of your life. When you are delivered from something that always tries to overcome you, it is essential to overcome it once and for all, to be able to have a victorious life. In Luke 10: 19 Jesus said, “I have given you authority to overcome all the power of the enemy, nothing will harm you. Get up today and say “ In the name of Jesus, I refuse to fall again, I refuse to have nightmares, I refuse to let sadness overcome me, I refuse to be inferior, I refuse to be confused and disturbed and stressed, because ... “If the Son set you free you will be free indeed. (John 8:36) .When you believe that its over but discover that is not, you get discouraged. Don’t for

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” A man took his wife to see the doctor, and as he was sitting in the waiting room, he saw the doctor come rushing out ,asking if someone had a screwdriver. He returned to the exam room with the screwdriver, but a few minutes later, he came running out again and asked for a pair of pliers. The man was getting concerned at this point. Moments later, the doctor came out and asked if anyone had a hammer. Unable to stand it any longer, the husband said, “ Doctor, what is going on in there? What is wrong with my wife? “ “I don’t know, the doctor replied.” I can’t get my medical bag open. “ When it comes to our Bibles, the same is true for a lot of us. We haven’t even opened them. This is why I think it is very important to bring your Bible to church. It is also why there is no

January 2020 Romania- Outreach All the praise ,honor ,and glory , and Thanksgiving belong to the Lord. We are back in US after two weeks of evangelism in Romania. The Lord worked beyond our expectations. As soon as we arrived in Romania the next day in the morning I was called to Credo TV where they recorded me for four hours. In the same day, in the evening we had five hours evangelism in a church, in Blaj where the Lord saved and delivered people and revived them. The next evening we had church service in the same place for 4 hours where we experienced salvations, returning of a prodigal daughter, healing and deliverance. A special case was with two years old boy who was demon possessed with the cell phone.His grandma brought him over telling us that the demons are tormenting him all night long ,to keep him on the phone, and he speaks with the demons from the phone ,and in the morning he is wiped out ,so exhausted. We laid hands on him and the Lord set him free for good .  Next da

Lk.13:9 "Perhaps if he bears fruit this year, fine. " Perhaps if he will see his own condition he will repent, perhaps he will reconcile with his wife, or her with her husband, perhaps he will love her as Christ loved the church and died for her, perhaps he will ask for forgiveness to his children or to those he did wrong, perhaps he will read the Bible this year, pray and start going to church, perhaps he will start to manifest the fruit of the Spirit in his life from Galatians 5:22, perhaps he will change his priorities this year-seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, perhaps he will start to give Me preeminence in all things, in his life, including the hidden and favorite things, perhaps he will have an absolute surrender this year, perhaps he will give up his ambitions, pleasures, sins, and addictions that he is compromised with for so long, perhaps he will have agony for the lost and bring at least one soul to Jesus this year, perhaps he will have compa

Lk.13: 7–9 “Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, “Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down ; why does it use up the ground?” But he answered and said to him,” Sir, leave it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine ! If not,then cut it down.” Does Jesus need to intercede for you, that you may bring fruits in 2020 ?  I have good news for you. Jesus is not just interceding for you, but Jesus was anointed by the Spirit : Lk.4:19...”To proclaim the year of mercy of the Lord. “ Jesus is giving you another chance in 2020. Hallelujah and thank you Jesus. First, the fig tree did not grow by itself, but a certain man planted it in his vineyard. If you repent, being born again, and accept Jesus, He will plant you in “ His vineyard”, not anywhere, not just to be there, but to bear fruits. Psalm 92:13,14 “ Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts

Gaining a new perspective on life in 2020. Hebrew 12:2” Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith...” There was a workman and at the end of the working day, he was leaving his factory    pushing out his wheelbarrow. Inside of the wheelbarrow was a small box. He was stopped by security guard. The guard said, “ What have you got in your wheelbarrow ? He said, “I have a small box. “The guard says, “ I know you got a small box. What is in the box? “ He says, “Well, you know the sawdust that’s on the floors at the end of the working day, and is swept up and is thrown away? I needed some. So I put it in the box and I’m going to take it home. “ The guard says, “Open the box. “He opens the box and saw sawdust. He said , “ Out you go.” Next day same thing, third day same thing, fourth day same thing. Fifth day he pushed out his wheelbarrow , inside was the small box. It was the same security guard. The guard says, “It’s you again.” What have you got in your wheelbar

Do you desire it or you are satisfied where you are, with what you have, and what you do? Were you happy with your accomplishments in 2019 ? There are some practical ways to experience revival in your life in 2020. 1) Changing priorities. Give God your FIRST HOUR every morning when you wake up. Reading the Word and praying. Matt.26:40 ; Read 2 Chapters from the Old Testament and 2 Chapters from the New Testament. In this way you will finish the Bible in one year ,the Old once and the New twice. Memorize one verse daily. Ps.119:12 ; Have a list of prayer for 2020 with : 1) Unsaved people ; 2) Restoration of the prodigal sons and daughters ; 3) Reconciliation of broken marriages; 4) Deliverance from addictions,slavery of sin and demon possessed; 5) Healings ; 6) Interceding for ministers and missionaries;7) People who struggle financially, and need a job ; 8) Widows and orphans; 9) Barren women; 10) People who desire to get married; 11) Look warm Christians to get on fire 12)Churche

For Demas has forsaken me for the love of this present world... " A man bought a hunting dog. Anxious to see how good he was, he took him to hunt a bear. In few minutes after they arrived in the forest, the dog was tracking a bear. Suddenly he stopped, smelled the ground and changed direction. He detected a deer scent who intersected the path of the bear. After few moments, the dog stopped again, smelled the ground, and took another direction, because he smelled a rabbit who intersected the path of the deer. Finally, the hunter chasing after his dog, who changed directions over and over again, found him barking triumphantly over a nest of field mice. We, as Christians do the same as the hunting dog . Every beginning of each year we start with great resolutions, to give Christ the first place in our lives, to live for Him, but very soon our attention and lives are attracted by the little and insignificant things of this world, and by the end of the year we see ourselves drifted awa

Drumurile vieții noastre, nu de puține ori , coboară. Prin valea DURA. Acolo unde trebuie să stai în picioare pentru Dumnezeu în timp ce colegii tăi îngenunchează zilnic în fața idolilor, Prin valea Terebinților. Daca mai ai vreun Goliat pe care nu l-ai învins încă să fie 2020 anul în care să ieși victorios asupra oricărui păcat în numele lui Dumnezeu. Prin valea umbrei morții. Îți vor spune doctorii că nu mai ai șanse, vei fi în situații limită, dar tu să spui la fel ca David: ”Nu mă tem de nici un rau, caci Tu ești cu mine” (Ps. 23: 4 ) Prin valea plîngerii. Pentru ca lacrimile curațesc ochii. Cînd ochii varsă lacrimi, inima simte pe Dumnezeu mai aproape. Prin valea EȘCOL, Acolo unde doi oameni trebuiau să care un strugure… Cînd vei avea mai mult decat ai nevoie în viață, să nu uiți de cei ce trăiesc la limită… Alteori urcăm. Calatoria noastră în anul care vine ne va duce peste munți. Probabil ne vom întîlnii cu muntele MORIA. Acolo se dau testele ascultării. Acolo u