METAMORA PATTER'S WEEKLY NEWSPAPER ARTICLE: THE CHURCH ON THE MOVE

THE CHURCH ON THE MOVE
BY PAT GULLEY


Gen 1:1-2
(1) In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
(2) And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. (KJV)

From the beginning of the Creation in Genesis we see the Holy Spirit of God on the move. The Day of Pentecost is a new beginning in the Creation of God, as we again see the Holy Spirit of God on the move. This day in which we are living denotes a real need for the Spirit of God to be moving in our Churches. The Apostle Peter told of a period of time when the Lord Jesus Christ would be sitting on the right hand of His Father in Heaven and when the Holy Spirit would be moving in the earth.

Acts 3:19-21
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
(20) And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
(21) Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began (KJV)

That time is NOW. That day is TODAY. The Spirit of God is at this present time moving on the hearts of fallen men and women and convincing them that they need to be saved. He is convincing them that they are knee deep in sin and cannot lift themselves out of the horrible miry pit. He is giving them a true understanding of a Devil's Hell and it is causing them to be very, very nervous and defensive.

John 16:7-8
(7) Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
(8)And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: (KJV)

The Holy Spirit and the Comforter are one and the same. I appreciate the fact that it is not God's intention to humiliate or degrade the sinner, but to convince them that they need Him if they are to ever be at peace with themselves and with God, their Creator. God loved the world when He gave His only begotten Son to live the perfect life required under the Law, and He loved the world when He led His son to Calvary to die for the sins of sinners.(2 Co 5:19) He especially loved the world when He raised His Son from the dead and set Him at His own right hand to oversee the Holy Spirit's ministry of reconciling the world to Himself. (Heb 10:12-13)

We are living in the days of Restitution. I will grant that it has been almost 2,000 years since Jesus rose from the dead and sat down at Father's right hand, but I must also point out that in each and every generation there were those who accepted the Lord as their Savior and lived their lives to tell others about their wondrous deliverance. The Holy Spirit has always been on the move in the earth and He is on the move today. I pray that you are a member of a Church that is partnering with the work of the Comforter and that you are being refreshed in your love and dedication for the salvation of the lost, the deliverance of the captives, and the securing of the hearts and souls of man to God.

LIVE IN POWER

May 31 - Live in Power

"Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."
(Romans 6:4)

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Dear Christian,

As a believer, you actually have residing in you the same new life God gave Jesus when He raised Him from the dead. The old sinner you once were has died. You've become a new creation on the inside.

You are full of the resurrection life of God!

But sin, disobedience and living a selfish, carnal life will keep that resurrection life from flowing out. Sin will separate you from the power of God, even though you're born again. Resurrection life will lay dormant in you if you walk in sin.

You can't overcome sin by trying to stop sinning, however. You overcome it by walking after the new life God has put within you; by spending time in the Word and in prayer. As you do that, the Spirit of God will strengthen you and enable you to put that sin under your feet.

Remember, though, the Holy Spirit will not subdue those old fleshly habits of yours on His own. He'll wait on you to take the initiative. Then He will strengthen you to follow through with your decision. He will teach you how to walk in the new life that is in you.

Take the first step today by asking for His help. Say, "Lord, I desire to experience the power to live by this new life every day. By a decision of my heart, I put down the dictates of sin. I declare myself dead to it. In Jesus' Name, I will spend time in prayer and in the Word today. As I do, I believe I'll receive a Holy Ghost refreshing in my life. I believe I'll begin to live out the resurrection power that You've placed in me!"


Scripture Study: Romans 7:1-6

TELL THE GOOD NEWS

May 30 - Tell the Good News

"God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation."
(2 Corinthians 5:19)
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Dear Christian,

Very few unsaved people today have ever really heard the good news. Why? Because too many Christians are busy telling the world God is mad at them. And telling them that they're terrible and wrong. Some call that good news, but it's not, and it's not what God has commissioned us to share.

He's given us the "word of reconciliation"!

He's sent us to tell the news that God has restored harmony and fellowship between Himself and men. All men. Not just believers. Not just the people in your church, but everyone!

That's right. The worst old reprobate sinner in the world is every bit as reconciled to God as you are. Look at Romans 5:10 and you'll see what I mean. It says that "when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son."

Reconciled. That word is past tense. God has already restored fellowship between Himself and the world. He did it when there was not one person on earth except Jesus who believed in the new birth. He did it when the entire world was lying in sin.

Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, God has cleansed and forgiven and restored to Himself every man, woman and child on the face of this earth. All any of us have to do now is receive that good news.

That's the good word God has given us. That's the word we need to share with those who are lost. If we'll do it, I can almost guarantee you, they won't stay lost very long.


Scripture Study: 2 Corinthians 5:10-21

DON['T HESITATE

May 29 - Don't Hesitate

"He that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways."
(James 1:6-8)

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Dear Christian,

What happens when you hesitate to do something God has told you to do? Your adversary takes the first step. The devil gets the jump on you.

If you want to live by faith, hesitation is one of the most hazardous habits you could ever have. It comes from being indecisive. The Bible says a man like that is "unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything he thinks, feels, decides" (The Amplified Bible).

If you are double-minded, the decisions you make are split. You try to live by faith and protect your fear at the same time. You make faith statements like "I believe God is going to heal me." Then your fear whispers, "But I wouldn't want to say I'm well just yet." You're so busy going back and forth between faith and fear, you can't make any progress at all.

Kick the habit of hesitation today. Make a solid decision to trust in and act on the Word of God. Settle it forever. Resolve never to entertain doubts again. When doubt comes to your mind, cast it out quickly.

When God speaks, don't waste a moment. Step right out in faith. That way, you can always keep the devil a step behind you.

Scripture Study: James 1:1-8

RECEIVE THE MAN OF GOD

May 28 - Receive the Man of God

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me."
(John 13:20) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Dear Christian,

I can't tell you how many born-again, Holy Ghost-filled Christians pick their pastor apart on Saturday night and then expect him to pray the prayer of faith for them Sunday morning! They'll constantly make critical comments about the evangelists and preachers that God has sent to minister to them and then wonder why the rain of the Spirit has all but dried up in their churches.

Most of those folks would never dream of criticizing the ministry of Jesus. Yet, according to the Word of God, that's precisely what they're doing. You see, Jesus said, "He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me."

I know ministers fail sometimes. I know they make mistakes. Jesus knew they would too. But, even so, He said, "If you receive them, you receive Me."

If you think some preacher's doctrine is wrong, then pray for him. Stop sitting under his ministry if necessary. But the Scripture says, "Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand" (Rom. 14:4, NIV).

The ministers of the gospel are not your servants, they're God's servants. Whether they're right or whether they're wrong, love them and respect them if for no other reason than to honor the One who sent them.

Learn to receive the minister of God that Jesus sends to you with the same respect and the same honor that you would give Jesus Himself. You'll open the door for great spiritual power to be released. You'll clear the way for God to meet your needs. The anointing of God will be released through the man of God to you.

Refuse to let criticism hold back the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Then get ready to be blessed because, I guarantee, He won't hold out on you.


Scripture Study: Numbers 12:1-16

GOD WANTS YOU WELL

May 27 - God Wants You Well

"If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee."
(Exodus 15:26)
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Dear Christian,

Has the devil ever tried to put you under condemnation by telling you that it's contrary to the principles of faith to use doctors and medicine when you need healing? If so, here are some encouraging words that I believe will help you put your heart at rest.

It is God's will to heal you. That's the first and most important thing for you to understand. If your faith is strong and you can believe the Word without wavering (regardless of what circumstances or symptoms come against you), then you'll be able to receive that healing by faith alone.

But that kind of faith takes more than just hearing a few sermons about healing. It takes a deep personal revelation of God's healing power. So, if you haven't yet developed that kind of faith, the doctor is your best friend.

If you're not certain whether your faith is strong enough or whether you need a doctor's help, follow the instructions of the Apostle Paul (Col. 3:15) and let peace be your umpire.

If fear rises up within you when you think about doing without medical help, then go to a doctor. And go in faith! On the other hand, if you have a sure confidence within you that healing is yours strictly by faith, let your faith do its work and receive your healing directly. Whether or not you go to the doctor is not the issue. It is what you do with your faith.

Either way, you can rejoice knowing God is working with you, meeting you at the level of your faith. Thank God for your healing--however it comes!--and do not let Satan put you under condemnation. It is none of his business!



Scripture Study: Deuteronomy 7:8-15

DISCOVER WHAT THE NAME CAN DO

May 26 - Discover What the Name Can Do

"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth."
(Philippians 2:9-10)
Dear Christian,

Once you make up your mind to keep the commands of Jesus and begin to allow the Word to dwell in you richly, the Name of Jesus will become far more powerful to you. It will become more than just a word. It will become a force that will cause every circumstance and every demon that tries to stand in your way to bow its knee to your command.

I tell you, the Name of Jesus works. There is far greater power in it than any of us have yet realized.

My faith is so set on the authority of the Name of Jesus that there are times I just say, "In the Name" and the power of God comes on the scene.

In fact, I've discovered that the Name of Jesus--just the Name alone-- is effective when spoken by a Word-abiding believer. Revelation 19:13 says the Name of Jesus is the Word of God! So, when an evil spirit is trying to bring sickness, poverty, depression, or any other garbage into my household, I don't have to quote every scripture I know to stop him. I can just point my finger at him and say, "Jesus!" That's like throwing the whole Word of God in his face at one time!

Discover for yourself what the exalted Name can do. Begin to speak it with confidence and authority. There is power in the Name of Jesus.


Scripture Study: Acts 3:1-16

AWAKE TO RIGHTEOUSNESS

May 25 - Awake to Righteousness


"Awake to righteousness, and sin not."
(1 Corinthians 15:34)

Dear Christian,

When your alarm clock goes off tomorrow morning, don't just wake up to another day. Do what the Word says to do and "awake to righteousness!" Reawaken yourself to the glorious fact that you've been made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus and given right-standing with Almighty God.

Why? Because tomorrow--and every other day of your life on this earth-- Satan is going to try to convince you that you don't have any right to the things of God. He's going to try to bring you into bondage again to sin in order to control your life. But he won't be able to do it if you'll reawaken yourself every day to who you really are in Jesus.

Here's a prayerful confession to help that revelation come alive in you:

"Father, I confess anew Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior today. Lord, You are the head of my life. I completely yield myself to You. My will is now Your will. My plans are now Your plans.

"As a new creation in Christ Jesus, I accept the gift of righteousness and all that gift includes: health, prosperity, peace, joy and life abundant. I put aside every weight and the sin that so easily besets me. I now look unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of my faith.

"According to Your Word, I can now reign in this life as a king. The power of sin and death in my life has been overcome. No longer am I ruled by the forces of evil but by the God above all gods. I am more than a conqueror through Him who loves me.

"I determine today to walk conscious of my right-standing with You, Lord, and with every step to draw closer and closer to You. Thank You for the gift of righteousness. Because of that gift, I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me.

"In Jesus' Name. Amen!"


Scripture Study: Colossians 2:9-15

METAMORA PATTER'S WEEKLY NEWSPAPER ARTICLE

GOD'S SECRET PLAN FOR MAN
PAT GULLEY


1 Cor 2:8
Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. (KJV)

Nothing about mankind takes God by surprise. That is why the Lord had a secret plan in place before the world began. I believe that the Lord created all things just like the Bible says He did. I also believe that God knew he would need to have a back-up plan. (After all, He is GOD) This plan would secure the will of God being done on earth as well as in heaven. God's desire for a family who would love Him and trust Him is evident in the patience He exhibited with Adam and the human race. It is also apparent in the person and life of Jesus Christ.

When God created Adam and Eve, He created them in His own image. They were spirit beings just as God is Spirit. They were formed by a loving Creator and were given the ability to be fruitful and to multiply.

Gen 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. (KJV)

Mankind was made to fellowship with God. This fellowship was very important to God but as it turned out, God had to put his back-up plan in place. But He had to keep it a secret. It was crucial that the Devil, who is the enemy of God and of all God's creation, not know of this plan.

This plan was kept hidden through the ages until Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary. But even then the Devil did not know which baby was the child of God. He didn't know that bit of information until John baptized Jesus in the Jordan River and God announced to the world. "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

Satan, that adversary of all that is Good, then began to tempt Jesus and try to trap Him as he had trapped Adam so many years earlier. When Adam sinned, that sin was passed on to all who were born of the seed of man. But Jesus was conceived by the Spirit of God and not by the will of man. (Part of the plan)

Now there was more to this plan that just to get Jesus born into the earth. He had to die. And in order to die, he had to be united with man. This took place on the Cross when Jesus took man's sin upon Himself. Then He had to be buried and to be raised from the dead. And since we as sinners were joined with Him in His death, we were also with Him when He was raised from the dead. (Rom 6:5-6)

One of the last things Jesus told His followers was about this secret plan that God had kept hidden from Satan for thousands of years.

John 12:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. (KJV)

Jesus died so that the Family His Father longed for could be birthed. Jesus promised that whoever would love Him and receive Him would be loved and received by His Father. (John 16:17) When you receive Jesus as your Lord, you do it because you know God loves you and that He sent Jesus to redeem you and give you new life. That was the plan all along. Church, we were born of Love so that we could love God and one another. This is not a fairy tale. This is the Word of God. This is what I believe. Jesus is my LORD.

SURE TO WIN IN HIM

May 24 - Sure to Win in Him

"Wherefore remember, that...at that time ye were without Christ...having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ."
(Ephesians 2:11-13)

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Dear Christian,

Have you ever really thought about what it truly means to be in Christ Jesus? Have you ever gotten a clear revelation of that? Once you do, it will revolutionize your life.

You see, it's in Him that we're raised up from our sins. It's in Him that we're made to sit in heavenly places so that God can show us the exceeding riches of His grace. It's in Him that we're made the righteousness of God!

If you want that revelation to explode in you, start searching out scriptures that refer to being in Christ. Watch for the words in Him, with Him, through Him, or in Whom. Mark those and meditate on them until the truth of them gets down into your spirit man. They'll give you some powerful ammunition against the attacks of Satan.

When he tries to tell you, for instance, that you're just a sinner and God doesn't want to be bothered with your problems, you'll know he is lying. You'll be able to answer him boldly and say, "Thank God, I was a sinner, but now I'm the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. I've been raised up to sit with Him in heavenly places. Now I'm in Him and you can't touch me at all!"

Be prepared the next time Satan comes at you with doubt, unbelief, and condemnation. Be ready to fight back with the scriptures about who you are in Jesus. You're sure to win once you truly know you're in Him!



Scripture Study: Ephesians 1:1-14

THE BRIDEGROOM COMETH

May 23 - The Bridegroom Cometh

"And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him."
(Matthew 25:6)
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Dear Christian,

The Spirit of God is delivering a vital message to you today: Get ready for Jesus' return! It's an old message. But there's a fresh urgency to it. An urgency you can't afford to ignore.

Some believers make the mistake of saying, "Oh well, I just don't think we're supposed to know about the Second Coming. It's supposed to come upon us like a thief in the night!"

But they're wrong. The Word of God says that as children of light we shouldn't be taken by surprise. We should be so keen in the Spirit that even though we don't know the day or the hour, we should sense that the season of Jesus' return has come.

First Corinthians 2:10 tells us that God reveals His plans to us through His Spirit. I suspect that those who are walking in the Spirit on the day the Lord comes again will actually begin to anticipate that something is about to happen.

Be like the five wise virgins in Matthew 25 who were prepared when the bridegroom's arrival was announced. Stay full of the oil of the Holy Spirit and with your light shining!

Don't get caught sleeping when Jesus returns. Wake up now to the Holy Spirit. Let Him put you on the inside track and get you ready for your Lord. Because just as Jesus foretold, there is a cry going out at midnight. The Spirit of the Lord is announcing His return.

Can you hear it in your spirit? Can you sense the Lord saying, "Get up and come out to meet Me. Fellowship with Me. Get in the light now, and at that crucial hour, you'll be on the inside of My plans."

Obey Him quickly. For, behold, the bridegroom cometh!



Scripture Study: Matthew 25:1-13

SILENCE THE CRITICS

May 22 - Silence the Critics
"For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men."
(1 Peter 2:15)


Dear Christian,

I know from personal experience that when people start to criticize you and persecute you because you live by faith, your natural human response is to want to strike back. It's easy to want to start dishing out a little criticism of your own. "Maybe if they get a taste of their own medicine, they'll shut their mouths," you think.

But you know what? They won't. Your words will just add fuel to their fire and they'll criticize you harder and louder than they did before.

According to the Word of God, however, there is a way to silence them. Not by arguing with them. Not by defending yourself. But by keeping quiet and continuing to do the good works God has called you to do.

Jesus was highly criticized by the religious establishment of His day. But He never fought back. Instead, Acts 10:38 says He simply went about doing good.

When people start riding you about living the faith life, be like Jesus and just keep on blessing people. Keep on praying for folks who are oppressed by the devil and get them delivered. Keep on laying hands on the sick and get them healed. Keep on doing what God has called you to do.

That will aggravate the devil because his primary purpose is to make you ineffective for the kingdom of God. He wants you to get wrapped up in the criticism. He wants to distract you, to get your mind off the job God has given you. He really wants you to quit.

Don't do it! Instead, follow the instructions in 2 Timothy 3:14 and "continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of." Silence the ignorant criticisms of men by continuing to do good and by continuing to live by faith. And when all their foolish words have faded away, you'll still be standing strong.


Scripture Study: Luke 23:1-9

POSSESS YOUR PROMISED LAND

May 21 - Possess Your Promised Land

"When ye are passed over Jordan into the land of Canaan; Then ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you...and dwell therein: for I have given you the land to possess it."
(Numbers 33:51-53)
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Dear Christian,

God has given you a Promised Land. It's a place flowing with milk and honey, where your every need can be met. A place where you can keep sin underfoot as you rule and reign with Christ. A place where no weapon formed against you will prosper. A place where you are seated with Christ in heavenly places, far above principalities and powers--far from oppression.

As you study the Word of God, you'll find that's an accurate description of the kind of victory you should be experiencing in Christ--not in the sweet by-and-by--but right here, right now.

You may say, "Yes, that sounds nice in theory, but I'm dealing with reality here. The rent is due, and all I see is sickness, oppression and fear. This doesn't look like much of a Promised Land to me."

Are you still letting the devil live there? He's not just going to pack up and go home, you know, just because God has promised you victory. You have to kick him out.

But don't let that scare you. God has given you the power to do it. Remember what Jesus said? He said, "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you" (Luke 10:19).

What's more, the devil is totally unarmed! Colossians 2:15 says, "[God] disarmed the principalities and powers ranged against us and made a bold display and public example of them, in triumphing over them in...[the cross]" (The Amplified Bible). You have absolutely no reason to cower before the devil. Jesus defeated and disarmed him through His death, burial and resurrection. The devil can't defeat you unless you let him. All he can do is make empty threats.

But beware! Empty threats can stop you cold if you believe them. So don't. Believe the Word of God instead. Use the Word and the Name of Jesus to drive the devil out of every last detail of your life.

Don't let him dwell in your territory. Force him to pack up and go home. Start possessing your Promised Land!



Scripture Study: Mark 16:17-18; James 5:7-9

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CURTIS

It is hard to believe that Curtis will be four years old on the 22nd. We just had a birthday party at his house and a great time was had by all.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CURTIS

FREE FROM THE CURSE

May 20 - Free From the Curse



"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree."
(Galatians 3:13)


Dear Christian,

You know the story. Satan came to Adam's wife in the form of a serpent and deceived her into disobeying God. Adam, although he was not deceived, followed suit.

When Satan came into the Garden that day, he didn't have any power at all. He had to come in like a sneak, not even talking to Adam directly but talking to his wife.

Now Adam was standing there, and he should have kicked him out right then. But he didn't. Instead, he set aside the command God had given him and did what Satan told him to do instead...and when he did that, he made Satan his lord.

In bowing his knee to Satan, Adam gave Satan the authority that God had given man. He made Satan the illegitimate ruler of the earth. Immediately things changed. Through one man's trespass, death passed to all men (Rom. 5:12).

The earth and everything in it was suddenly cursed.

"Okay," you say, "are we to live under this curse for the rest of our lives? Wasn't there anything God could do?"

He could and He did! He sent Jesus. Through Jesus, He set us free from the curse (Gal. 3:13).

The moment you made Jesus Christ Lord of your life, you were delivered from the lordship of Satan. You were redeemed from the curse. I didn't say the curse wasn't out there anymore. It is! You can see it all around you. But now you have a choice. You have authority over it in the Name of Jesus, so you can stand against it.

God's done everything that love can do. He sent Jesus to redeem you from the curse. The rest is up to you. Now you must appropriate what has already been done for you.



Scripture Study: Romans 5:12-21

May 19 - Don't Waste Time Wondering

"Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is."
(Ephesians 5:17)
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Dear Christian ,

Sometimes, believers wring their hands and worry about whether or not they're praying according to God's will. "Oh, dear me," they say, "I certainly can't expect God to do something for me that's outside His will." And they're absolutely right.

But they don't need to waste time standing around looking puzzled. They need to grab their Bibles and find out what the will of God is.

God has made some very specific promises in His Word and it's His will to fulfill every one of them in your life. In fact, those promises are divinely guaranteed by a contract that's been signed in the blood of Jesus.

Think of it this way. Your Bible is the last will and testament of Jesus Christ. It is a record of your inheritance. Everything that belongs to you has been written down in that book and the smartest thing you can do is to find out what is in it. Don't leave it lying on the coffee table and hit the floor crying, "Oh, God! Oh, God! I'm searching for the truth."

Pick up your Bible from the coffee table and find out what belongs to you! Find out how you need to change to get in line with God's will.

Some people don't do that. They try to change God instead. They'll go on and on trying to convince God just how badly they hurt or how poor they are. They'll beg and plead and wheedle, all the while acting as though they had to somehow change God's mind about the situation. Those folks are in for a long wait.

God is never going to change. The Bible says He's the same yesterday, today, and forever. His will is too. So don't waste your time wondering if your prayers are in line with it. Get the Book and base your prayers on it. Then you can rest assured the answer is on the way!


Scripture Study: Proverbs 2:1-12

HE' LL BE LISTENING

May 18 - He'll Be Listening

"And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him."
(1 John 5:14-15)
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Dear Christian,

Have you ever been in prayer and suddenly had the disturbing sensation that God simply isn't listening?

It's happened to all of us. We limp along praying the same old prayers, half-hoping those prayers are heard and half-suspecting they're not.

Today I want to show you how to resolve that dilemma once and for all. But let me warn you, I'm not going to slap you on the back and assure you God will listen to any old doubtful, self-centered thing you say to Him. He won't. He's only promised to listen to prayers that are prayed according to His will. The Apostle John says when you pray like that, you'll know that you have the petitions you desire of Him.

The word petition is defined as "a formal written request addressed to a sovereign superior of a particular right or grace," and that's exactly what you need when you're praying about something serious.

How do you put together a solid petition, one that's in line with the will of God?

First, you have to roll up your sleeves and dig into the written Word. Find scriptures that apply to your situation and make those the foundation for your petition.

Then get on your knees and consult with the Holy Spirit. Let Him help you develop your petition in detail. The best way to do that is to spend time praying in other tongues. (See Romans 8:26-27.) Expect God to reveal things from His heart to yours. He wants you to know His will. So, while you're praying, listen!

Last of all, write it down. Make a formal written request by writing down every scripture you found. Also, as you're listening to the Holy Spirit for the details, write down the impressions and ideas He gives you.

Take your time. Let the Spirit develop your prayer. Let the truth He reveals to you settle in and begin to work in you. Get your petition firmly in mind, then when you're ready, present it to God.

Believe me, He'll be listening.


Scripture Study: 1 John 5:1-15

WALK IN THE LIGHT YOU HAVE

May 17 - Walk in the Light You Have

"But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them."
(2 Timothy 3:14)
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Dear Christian,

If you're born again and have the Word of God in your heart, you can live in victory. You may not have all the answers. There may be a great many spiritual things you don't understand. But it's not those things that are most likely to destroy you. It's the things you know to do--but don't--that usually make you fall.

Just think about walking at night down a dark, unfamiliar path in the middle of a jungle. The guide up ahead has a flashlight to keep you on the right path. But then, you just decide to wander off into the darkness by yourself. What do you think will happen to you? You'll probably stumble and fall. Very likely, you'll get hurt.

That's exactly the same thing that can happen in your walk with the Lord. He knows what's ahead and He shines just enough light for you to take one step at a time. You have to continue walking in that light in order to get where you're going.

You may not know why He's leading you a certain way. You may not understand all the things involved. But God will make up for your ignorance by the Holy Spirit. He'll see to it that you have victory if you continue in what you know.

It's good to keep studying. It's good to keep learning. But, remember, it's not the great revelation you haven't yet had that will cause you the most trouble. It's failing to walk in the ones God has already given you. So be faithful in those things. Continue in them day after day after day. You'll make it through just fine!

Scripture Study: 2 Peter 1:2-11

DON'T FORGET THE JOY

May 15 - Don't Forget the Joy

"Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice."
(Philippians 4:4)
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Dear Christian,

Years ago, I decided I was going to walk by the Word of God. I told God that, as far as I was concerned, His Word was final and I'd confess it the rest of my life no matter what. That was the most important decision I've ever made.

Not too long after that, I decided that no matter what happened, whether I felt like it or not, I'd walk in love. Because the Bible clearly says "faith worketh by love." It won't work any other way.

Those two decisions--to operate by faith in the Word of God and to walk in love--are the two most important decisions I've ever made in my life.

Recently, though, God pointed out to me that there was something I'd been leaving out. The force of joy. He told me I have no right to walk by faith and love and just leave joy dormant in my spirit. It's too important. As He taught me about it, I soon came to realize that joy is an essential part of a life of victory. Without it, I might have an occasional triumph now and then, but I wouldn't be able to sustain them. They'd quickly slip away.

You see, joy is what gives you the strength (Neh. 8:10) to hold steady when the circumstances get rough. Joy gives you the ability to laugh in the devil's face when he starts trying to knock you off your faith. Joy gives you a kind of staying power that will make you a winner again and again.

So make a commitment to God that you're going to walk, not only in faith and in love but in joy as well. Make it a point to rejoice in the Lord always...and there won't be anything the devil can do or say to steal your victory from you!



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Scripture Study: Psalm 84:1-7

PRIORITIES OF PROSPERITY

May 14 - Priorities of Prosperity

"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."
(Matthew 6:24)

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Dear Christian,

God isn't against your having money. He's against money having you. He's against your making it your priority and putting your trust in it instead of in Him.

Why? Because He knows money makes a lousy god. Its power is limited. It will only buy so much. It will only go so far.

If you need healing from an incurable disease, money won't help you at all. If your family is falling apart, money won't mend it. But if you'll seek God first, His prosperity will reach into every area of your life.

God is so generous that He desires you to have the best on this earth, just as you desire the best for your children. His plan is for you to have all of your needs met according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Get in on that plan by keeping your priorities straight. Seek Him first and His righteousness.

Make pleasing God your number one priority. Set your eyes on Him above all else and all these things will be added unto you.



Scripture Study: Mark 10:17-27

TAKE YOU PLACE

May 13 - Take Your Place


"[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding [the wonders of His Person]more strongly and more clearly. And that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection."
(Philippians 3:10, Amp)

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Dear Christian,

The more you fellowship with God around His Word, the more you'll know the "power outflowing from His resurrection." You'll develop joy. You'll develop faith. You'll start developing God's own characteristics... just by fellowshiping with Him. You'll begin to understand who you really are in Jesus.

I remember one day I was reading the story of the woman with the issue of blood who touched the hem of Jesus' garment and was healed.

I'd read the story many times and pictured myself as almost everybody in the story...just experiencing how it would feel to be someone in the crowd or even the one who was healed.

Suddenly God spoke to my spirit and said, "Read that again and this time picture yourself as the one wearing the garment."

I was stunned. "Lord," I said, "how can I do that? I can't take Your place!"

"That's just what's wrong with the Body of Christ," He told me. "That's the reason the world doesn't know anything about Jesus. You identify with everyone except Me. But I sent you to be MY witnesses, to imitate ME, to stand in MY place...not everybody else's!"

So, I read that story again. This time I pictured myself in the role of the one with the anointing of the Holy Ghost. Instead of crawling up to touch the hem of His garment, I was the one wearing the garment, freely giving what God had given me. After all, the Bible does say, "Clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ."

Did you know who scares the devil most of all? Believers who've found out they can do that. Believers who, instead of begging for a little touch from Jesus, are letting His very life flow out to others.

Come on, give the devil a scare. Fellowship with your Father around the Word and start discovering who you really are today.


Scripture Study: Luke 8:40-48

DAILY BREAD FROM KEN AND GLORIA

May 12 - River of Revelation

"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves."
(James 1:22)
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Dear Christian,

Have you ever been in the position in the past where every time you opened the Bible you received a river of revelation? Does it seem lately that the river's run dry? If so, I strongly suggest that you backtrack to the last revelation God gave you. Back up and see if you acted on it, if you did what God showed you to do. If you didn't, start again, digging into that revelation and then putting it into action in your life. You'll soon find new revelations are beginning to flow.

You see, revelation is most prolific when you are acting on the Word. I've discovered that for myself again and again. The more I act on the Word, the more I see into it. That's why James 1:22 tells us to not only hear God's Word but to DO IT!

It may seem that the things God has revealed to you are very insignificant. They may not even make good sense to your natural mind. But do them anyway! If you had insight into the spirit realm, you'd see they're far more important than you think.

Open God's Word anew today. Come before Him expecting a fresh revelation of the Scripture and commit to Him to follow it up with obedience. Be a doer of God's revelations and not a hearer only and your river will never run dry.


Scripture Study: James 1:22-27

DAILY BREAD FROM KEN AND GLORIA

May 11 - Never Fall

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed."
(2 Timothy 2:15)
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Dear Christian,

A lot of people have been playing games when it comes to the Word. They claim to be faith people in public. But, in private, they never open the Bible at all. Then, when a time of trouble comes and they try to stand on the Word, they fall flat on their spiritual faces.

Well, the time for playing games is over. It's time for us to realize that real faith involves action. James 2:20 says faith without works [or corresponding action] is dead.

If you want the kind of faith that will keep you on your feet when others are falling around you, you need to take some action where the Word is concerned.

First, you need to study. You can study the Word in many ways. You can not only read it, you can dig deeply into it with concordances, Greek/Hebrew dictionaries and other study guides. What's more, if you have a cassette player, you can walk around half the day listening to teaching tapes. It's only one way of study, but it is a powerful one.

The second thing you need to do is go where the Word is being preached. When Romans 10:17 says "faith comes by hearing," it's talking about the preached Word.

Whenever I start feeling surrounded by problems and I'm having trouble hearing from God, I drop everything and find some place where I can hear the Word preached. I've received more answers from God that way than I can count. Even though the preacher may not have been preaching about anything even remotely connected with the issue I was struggling with, some Word of Scripture would suddenly start my thoughts in a certain direction. I'd realize, "That's the answer to that problem I've been dealing with for the past six weeks!"

Third, you need to start confessing the Word you've heard. Find the promise of God that covers your situation and then declare it out loud as if it had already come to pass in your life.

Get serious about the Word of God. Study it. Go hear it preached. Confess it. Become such a diligent workman that the devil himself will look at you with fear and say, "There's one believer who's not playing games anymore."


Scripture Study: 2 Peter 1:3-10

DAILY BREAD FROM KEN AND GLORIA

May 9 - The Father's Heart

"But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him."
(Luke 15:20)

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Dear Christian,

How much love do you have for sinners?

That may sound like a strange question, but it's one I want you to think about today. All too often, once we get saved and get our lives cleaned up a little bit, we lose our compassion for those who are still lost. We look at the drunk stumbling down the street or the guy at the office who lies to the boss and tells dirty jokes and turn up our spiritual noses.

But if we ever truly understood the heart of our heavenly Father, we'd never do that again. Jesus told a story that can give us a glimpse of that heart. It's the story we call the prodigal son.

You've probably heard it many times, how the son rebelled and dishonored his father, and how the father, in spite of it all, received him home with joy when he repented. But there's one phrase in it I want to draw your attention to today. It's this one: "But when [the prodigal son] was yet a great way off, his father saw him."

That phrase gives such a moving glimpse of the heart of that loving father. It tells us that even before his boy had repented, even during those long days when he was up to his eyebrows in sin, that father was watching for him, longing for him to come home.

Every morning he scanned the horizon, hoping to see the silhouette of his returning son. And the last thing every night, he'd look again... straining his eyes in hope. His son was constantly on his mind, and his heart was always full of love for him. The kind of gut-wrenching love that, on the day his son came home, drove that father to run to him and kiss him.

That's the kind of heart our heavenly Father has for those who are lost. It's the kind of heart He had for you while you were still wandering in the world. It's the kind of heart that embraced you with open arms even when you were still covered with the grime of sin.

There's a whole world full of weary people out there who haven't yet found that embrace. They're more than just "sinners," they're our potential brothers...lost ones in desperate need of a loving heavenly Father. God forbid we should ever turn up our noses at them. May He help us instead to start bringing them home.


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Scripture Study: John 8:1-11

DAILY BREAD FROM KEN AND GLORIA

May 8 - Keep Quiet

"A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards."
(Proverbs 29:11)


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Dear Christian,

One of the things that you and I as believers must learn if we want to be faithful servants in the kingdom of God is how to keep our mouths shut. We need to master that skill.

When we get our backs up about something, we think we have to let everybody know about it. "I'm just going to give them a piece of my mind," we say.

Don't make that mistake. Nobody wants or needs a piece of your mind-- and if you give it to them, you'll only end up alienating people and bringing harm to yourself. Instead, learn to keep quiet.

This especially applies in the area of spiritual insight. When the Holy Spirit gives you discernment about a situation, don't go spreading it all over town. If you do, you'll come to the place where the Lord can't trust you with revelation and insight into things and situations.

I've seen that happen. I've known intercessors who have received revelations about someone's weaknesses or needs. They have been given insight into the problem in someone's life, so they could pray for that person. But, instead of keeping that information between themselves and God in prayer, they told others about it. As a result, they lost their effectiveness as an intercessor.

Don't let that happen to you. Develop the quiet art of the wise man, and the devil will find it increasingly difficult to harm your prayer life and ministry to others.


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Scripture Study: James 3:1-13

DAILY BREAD FROM KEN AND GLORIA

May 7 - The Grace of Giving

"Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also."
(2 Corinthians 8:7)
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Dear Christian,

How do you give to the Lord?

Do you just drop some money in the plate at church without much thought? Or do you just write a check to God at the first of every month and pay Him like you pay all your other bills?

You need to think about that because how you give is a matter of deep concern to God. He's particular about how offerings are given. He won't receive just any old thing however you feel like giving it.

In Malachi, for example, God refused to receive Israel's offerings. They were bringing Him their defective animals, their blind calves, and the injured ones they couldn't do anything else with--and God said it offended Him. He told them, "You don't have any reverence or honor for Me, and I'm not going to accept your offering."

That kind of thing didn't die out after the book of Malachi. Many today don't have any reverence for God at offering time. People wait for the preacher to beat them over the head until they feel so guilty they have to reach down in their pocketbooks and get some money out.

But I want you to know, that's offensive to God. In fact, He spoke directly to a friend of mine about it. The statement He made to her so impressed me, I wrote it down word for word.

"It grieves Me when the Church takes offerings," He told her. "I said to worship Me. Don't take from the people, but let them bring their gifts and worship Me. Then they will see the fruits of their giving."

If you and I want God to be pleased with our offerings, we're going to have to do what the Apostle Paul wrote about in 2 Corinthians 8:7. We're going to have to learn to "excel in this grace of giving." We're going to have to quit being casual about it and to learn to give with faith and reverence in worship.

Next time the offering plate is passed, don't just drop your gift carelessly in the plate. Get serious. Determine to obey God. Worship Him with your money and be thankful. He'll do more than simply receive it, He'll open the windows of blessing for you.


Scripture Study: Malachi 1:1-14

DAILY BREAD FROM KEN AND GLORIA

May 6 - Put the Word Into Action

"Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock."
(Matthew 7:24)


Dear Christian,

If you want your deeds to be blessed, if you want to see supernatural results in your life, you'll have to do more than simply read the Word of God. You'll have to put it into action.

Years ago when I realized that God was the one who had the answers to all my problems, that He was the one who could supply all my needs, I committed myself to do everything His Word told me to do. I made a quality decision to step out in faith on every command I saw there.

When I found out, for example, that God's Word instructed me to tithe, Gloria and I were already trying to stretch what little money we had further than it could possibly go. We were up to our necks in debt! We couldn't possibly afford to give away ten percent. But we did it anyway. We stepped out on faith and kept our commitment to do every command we saw. Before long we began to see financial increase.

Keep on reading and studying the Bible. Listen to teaching tapes. Go to church and hear the Word preached. But don't stop there. Go one crucial step further by taking the Word you've heard and put it into ACTION!


Scripture Study: Matthew 7:17-27

DAILY BREAD FROM KEN AND GLORIA

May 5 - Take Time to Listen

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."
(James 1:5)




Dear Christian,

When you're facing a problem, the very first thing you should ask God for is wisdom. Not money. Not power. Not even healing. But wisdom.

God's wisdom is the key that will unlock every door in your life. It will turn your every failure into success. So, stop wasting your prayer power begging God for things you think you need and spend some time instead listening to what He has to say about your situation.

If you've never tried that before, practically speaking, here's what you need to do.

First: Lay out the entire problem before the Lord, not because He doesn't know what you're going through, but because laying it out helps you. It helps you see things from a more objective point of view.

I remember when I used to take my problems to my father, A. W. Copeland. Somehow, when I was explaining them to him, they began to look different to me. I'd get a new perspective, and as I talked, he'd point out areas I hadn't considered yet. Explaining your problems to God, point by point, will help you accomplish the same thing.

Second: Listen for the Spirit of God to advise you. Pay particular attention to what He says through the written Word. Most likely, the care of your problem has choked the Word of God right out of your heart (Mark 4:18-19). If so, you need to get the Bible and begin to put that Word back in again. Then the Holy Spirit will begin to speak to you through it.

As you're listening, be sure to remain teachable. Be ready to accept rebuke if necessary. Be very honest with God. Look for ways in which you've been wrong and confess them to Him. It's all right. Those sins won't come as any surprise to Him. He already knows about them. Confession just gives you the opportunity to get rid of them.

Third: Act on the wisdom God gives you. Let go of your own methods and put His methods into operation. Be obedient. If you don't, that wonderful wisdom won't do you any good at all.

As you pray today, set aside your own ideas and start seeking the wisdom of God. It's the only thing that can permanently solve the problems you've been facing. It's truly the most precious gift God has to give.

Seek wisdom.



Scripture Study: Proverbs 8:10-36

DAILY BREAD FROM KEN AND GLORIA

May 4 - No More Surprises

"But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God."
(1 Corinthians 2-10)

Dear Christian,

God is not full of surprises. He's not an unpredictable being who likes to keep you guessing. Countless believers, however, have the idea He is.

"You just never know what God is going to do," they say. They base that idea on 1 Corinthians 2:9 which says, "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." They interpret that scripture to mean that God is keeping secrets from his people.

But, praise God, He isn't!

In fact, verse 10 says He's given us His Spirit to reveal those secrets to us! He wants us to know everything that's on His heart.

If you're in the dark about God's will for you, you don't have to stay that way. He wants you to know about His plans and provisions for your life. He'll show them to you if you'll let Him.

So, don't depend on guesswork. Determine today that you're going to start receiving that revelation from the Holy Spirit. As you read the Word, pray in the Spirit and ask Him to reveal to you the reality of the Scriptures. Ask Him to shed His light on them and show you exactly how they apply to you.

Remember: God isn't in the business of keeping secrets from you. He's in the business of revealing them. Take time to listen to Him and you'll never have to settle for a life of uncertainty again.


Scripture Study: 1 Corinthians 2:1-16

METAMORA PATTER'S WEEKLY NEWSPAPER ARTICLE

LET THE LIGHT OF THE GLORIOUS GOSPEL SHINE
BY PAT GULLEY

2 Cor 4:4
In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (KJV)


The Apostle Paul warns the Christians at Corinth about one of the ways the god of this world keeps people stuck in the muck of sin. He blinds their minds to the truth of Jesus Christ and the love of God that sent Jesus to this earth. The Devil likes to mess with the thoughts and emotions of all human beings and loves to keep them in the dark regarding the Cross of Calvary. God paid a high price to ransom the sons and daughters of Adam and Eve from their human bondage. He not only wants to cover their sin with the shed blood of Jesus, but He wants them to have new life and to live in perfect peace with their Maker.
Yet the god of this world knows that if he can keep the Gospel of Jesus Christ from being spread throughout the land, then the light will not shine in the hearts and minds of those who are hungry for answers and for a life of purpose and meaning.

Jesus is the explicit image of God, His Father. (Heb 1:2-3) And it is amazing to me that even today people have one impression of Jesus and His gentle nature, and an entirely different impression of God. They actually believe that God is out to do them harm. They have a picture of God just waiting for them to make some little mistake so that He can call the wrath of Heaven down on their heads. That is because every mean and evil thing that the Devil does, he blames on God.

Even insurance companies call many natural disasters "acts of God". What they do not tell you is that it is not the God of Heaven they ignorantly blame, but the god of this world that is doing the killing, stealing, and destroying.

Listen to the words of Jesus as recorded by the Apostle John.

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. (KJV)

I doubt if any of us would call Jesus the thief; and He sure certainly didn't call himself the thief. Yet we continue to retain this mental image that bad things happen to people because it is God's will for it to happen. That is so turned around from the Truth. (Mt 12:24-28) God's will was Jesus to die on the Cross so that we could be delivered from the power of the Devil and his lying, destructive ways. (Col 1:13)

We should not be ignorant of our enemy nor of the fact that he is as a roaring lion stalking each and every one of us with the desire to do us harm. (1Pet 5:8) It does not matter if you are a born again believer or a Christian in waiting. The Devil hates you because God loves you. I believe that when the light of the good news that Jesus died for you, was buried and raised from the dead the third day shines in your heart, you will understand the reason Satan wants you kept in the dark. It is the Lord's will for you to have life and to have it abundantly.

LET THE LIGHT OF THE GLORIOUS GOSPEL SHINE DOWN ON YOU.

DAILY BREAD FROM KEN AND GLORIA

May 3 - Can He Count on You?

"And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?"
(Luke 12:42)
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Dear Christian,

We often praise God for His faithfulness. We're thankful that we can always count on Him to be there for us. But we rarely consider the fact that He needs us to be faithful too.

It's true. God needs people He can count on. He needs faithful and wise stewards He can trust over His household. In this final hour, He needs faithful believers to team up with, to manifest Himself in the earth more than ever before.

"Oh Gloria, God doesn't need me!"

Yes, He does. Ever since the Creation, when He gave man dominion over the earth, He's needed people to work with Him to get His will done here. You can see that all through the Bible. When the children of Israel were in bondage in Egypt and He wanted to lead them out, He teamed up with a man, Moses, to get the job done. Moses' responsibility was to stretch out his hand in the earth and command the will of God to be done.

Why did He choose Moses? Because He needed someone who was faithful and would dare to act on His Word. He needed someone He could count on, and He knew Moses was that kind of man.

Psalm 103:7 says, "He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel." If Moses hadn't been faithful to know God's ways, the children of Israel would never have seen God's acts!

God needs you just as He needed Moses. He needs you to be faithful and alert to spiritual things. He needs you to be someone He can trust to know His Word and be obedient to it. He needs you to be a steward who will stretch out his hand like Moses did so that He can perform signs and wonders before the people.

Will you be faithful? It's a decision you have to make. No one can do it for you. Right now, commit yourself to be that wise and faithful servant. Say in your heart and with your mouth, "God, You can count on me."


Scripture Study: Psalm 105:23-45

DAILY BREAD BY KEN AND GLORIA

May 2 - Train Your Spirit

"It [grace] has trained us to reject and renounce all ungodliness (irreligion) and worldly (passionate) desires, to live discreet (temperate, self-controlled), upright, devout (spiritually whole) lives in this present world."
(Titus 2:12, Amp)



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Dear Christian,

When an athlete goes into training, he practices to improve his skills. He works hard, repeating the same motions over and over until they become what we'd call "second nature" to him.

Most of us understand how crucial that kind of training is in the physical realm. We know that you simply can't be a winner without it. But did you know we can train ourselves that same way where spiritual things are concerned?

That's right! Hebrews 5:14 says we can train our senses to discern between good and evil. When you train, or practice, for something you expose yourself daily to whatever it is you want to become. You practice it over and over until it becomes second nature to you. People who are lazy have practiced being lazy. People who are disciplined have practiced being disciplined.

Spending time with God is "spirit" practice. As you do it diligently, your spirit will grow stronger and will start to overcome the habits of the flesh.

If, for example, you have trouble getting up in the morning to spend time with God before the busyness of the day begins, if you've been giving in to your flesh and staying in bed, then you'll have to start practicing getting up. The more you practice it, the easier it will be.

Don't expect yourself to do it perfectly right from the beginning. Don't get discouraged when you stumble and fail. You're just out of practice. Get back on your feet and go at it again!

Become a spiritual athlete. Put yourself in training by practicing the things of God. Build your spirit muscles through fellowship with Him. You will be surprised to find just how much of a winner you can be.


Scripture Study: 2 Peter 1:2-11

DAILY BREAD FROM KEN AND GLORIA

May 1 - Break Through the Wall

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
(Philippians 4:13)

Dear Christian,

You're running the race set before you, moving full speed ahead with God's blessing overtaking you at every step. Then suddenly, wham! You hit the wall. It may be a wall of sickness or financial trouble, of spiritual failure or family problems. But, regardless of the form it takes, the effect of "the wall" is always the same. It stops you cold.

The question is, once you hit a wall like that, what will you do? You'll be tempted to quit, to turn back in defeat. But don't do it. Because God will enable you to break through that wall and keep right on going.

I'm not going to tell you it's easy. The truth is, it's tough. But you have to push on through the tough times if you're ever going to have a breakthrough.

Ask any athlete. He'll tell you that! Because if he's a winner, he's been there. He's pushed his body to what seems to be the maximum. His side has hurt. His lungs have ached. He's had cramps in his legs and thighs. And just when he felt like he couldn't go on, he's heard some coach yell, "Come on! Move it!"

Athletes call that "hitting the wall." It's a time when the body says, "That's it. That's all I can do. I can't go any further. I can't go any faster. I quit."

But the seasoned athlete knows that "the wall" isn't the end. It's a signal that he's on the verge of a breakthrough. If he'll toughen up and push himself a little more, he'll get a second wind. Suddenly, he'll go faster than before. He'll reach a level of excellence he couldn't have reached any other way.

When you feel the worst, when failure is breathing down your neck, press into the Word as never before. You may meditate on a particular scripture for days and even weeks sometimes, trying to get a revelation of it, seemingly without success. Then suddenly, like the dawn of the morning, light will come pouring in. You'll see the way to break through. All you have to do is punch one little hole in that wall of problems, dig one tiny hole in it with your faith and with the Word of God.

Then keep tearing away at that hole. Don't quit! And, before long, the forces of God will come bursting through, demolishing every obstacle in their path!

Once that happens you'll never be the same again. You'll be hooked. It will only take one breakthrough like that to make a never-dying, never-quitting champion out of you.


Scripture Study: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27