Question of the day.

How can I expect to “live like Jesus”?

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As Brother Copeland has studied the words and life of Jesus, he has seen again and again that when Jesus was on earth, hearing and obeying the Father was essential to His success.

It's essential to ours, too. If we want to live the kind of supernatural life that Jesus lived, we must slow down enough to listen for and to our Father's voice.

As Jesus’ disciples, we CAN do it!

According to Jesus we really can. He said, "I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father" (John 14:12). He also said, "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:31-32).

The word disciple means, "to follow a teacher in order to become like him." As you begin to learn any significant new skill, just like Brother Copeland did when he began learning to fly airplanes, you become a "disciple" of the instructor. Brother Copeland didn't say, "I could never fly like he does." On the contrary, he fully expected to learn how to duplicate his instructor's expertise in the cockpit.

That is the whole idea! If we don’t duplicate the actions of the instructor, we will end up “flying the plane into the ground.” Nobody wants to fail, so we make up our mind right away to follow our instructor's example.

We can apply the same principle to following Jesus. If we'll say what He said and do what He did, we'll get the same results He got.

That idea may upset religious folks. They may think it's blasphemous. "How dare you try to act like Jesus!" they say. "He's God!"

Certainly He is. But He didn't operate as God when He was on earth. As Philippians 2:7 says, He laid aside all the divine power that belonged to Him as a member of the Trinity and operated as a man. In other words, Jesus was as dependent on the power of His heavenly Father for His success in life and ministry as you and I are today. He said, "I do nothing on my own but say only what the Father taught me. And the one who sent me is with me—he has not deserted me. For I always do what pleases him.... The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me" (John 8:28-29, 14:10).

This is how Jesus lived: He said only what He heard His Father say. He did what His Father taught Him to do. Then, His Father supplied the power and did the miraculous works everyone marveled over.

That process brought Jesus 100 percent success all the time in every area of His life. If you'll duplicate it, it will do the same for you

Time to get serious.. (Kenneth Copeland)

O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee.... I [will] remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.

Psalm 63:1,6

If you’re going to live in divine health, there are going to be times when you’ll have to be downright extreme about the Word of God. Times when you may be facing a sickness so severe that you need more than just a few moments in the Word and a quick prayer to receive your healing.

I want to tell you, in very practical terms, what I would do in a situation like that.

The moment I woke up in the morning, before I did anything else, I’d take Communion. I’d say, “Lord, I dedicate my body all day today to the service of my Lord Jesus Christ. I take Jesus’ pure blood shed for me.”

Then I’d put the devil in his place. I’d say, “I rebuke you, Satan. You’re not going to put any sickness and disease on me today. Regardless of the symptoms, regardless of what my body thinks about it, by the power of Jesus through His Spirit, I have overcome this sickness because He who is within me is greater than he who is in the world.”

Then, all day long, I’d thank God for my healing. I’d choose some teaching tapes that would fill my mind and my spirit with the anointed Word of God, and I’d listen to them throughout the day. In the afternoon, I’d praise God and receive Communion again to remind myself that the blood of Jesus is in my veins, that I’m part of God’s family.

You don’t have to wait until the second Sunday of each month or whatever to receive Communion. Jesus just said, “This do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me” (1 Corinthians 11:25). And if you’re facing a serious attack of the devil, you need to remember Jesus all day and all night. You need to consider Jesus until thoughts of Him push the thoughts of that sickness right out of your mind.

That night before bed I’d receive Communion again, then I’d praise myself to sleep. If I woke up in the night, I’d reach over and get my Bible and read all the healing scriptures and make the devil sorry he woke me.

When the devil launches a serious attack against your body, don’t mess around. Get serious about the Word. Put yourself under its constant care and it will take good care of you.

Scripture Reading:

Hebrews 4:9-16

SOURCE

What are angels?

For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

Psalm 91:11

It’s time to set the record straight. Angels are not kid stuff. They’re not little fat babies with long blonde hair and bows and arrows in their hands. Angels are big, strong warriors. They are real. They are powerful. And if you are a believer, they are a vital part of your life.

We see examples of what angels can do all through the Bible. For instance, when the children of Israel were fleeing from Egypt with Pharaoh’s army hot on their heels, the Bible tells us that suddenly the wheels on the Egyptians’ chariots got fouled up. They just quit rolling!

Who do you think caused that? The angels, of course!

They haven’t retired since then either. Angels are at work today just as they’ve always been.

A few years ago in one of Israel’s major wars, the enemy had their guns trained on Israeli cities. Those guns were the finest military equipment money could buy. They had a range of at least 20 miles and were equipped with electronic gun sights for accuracy.

But something very odd happened. Every time they fired those guns at the Israelis, they either overshot or fell far short of their targets. We know there was nothing wrong with the guns because later the Israelis captured them and fired them back at the enemy with perfect success.

What happened? Angels, that’s what!

My friend, that isn’t just a fairy tale. That’s a real-life example of the involvement of angels in the lives of God’s people today. And, if you’re a child of God, you have a right to expect God’s angels to do the same kind of things for you.

So, start expecting! Say, “Thank You, heavenly Father, for giving Your angels charge over me to keep me in all my ways.” Once you’ve spoken that word of faith, stand fast. Don’t fear. Don’t waver. Just be patient and keep believing, and you will surely see the salvation of the Lord.

Scripture Reading:

Acts 12:1-17

SOURCE

Question of the Day

What does it mean to lay down my life for others?

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ANSWER
The Bible says in John 15:13, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

Jesus was telling His disciples to give up the things they wanted to do and to give of themselves to others. He said that there is no greater love than this. We can give of ourselves with prayer. We can give of ourselves with time. We can give of ourselves with love and understanding.

We are working together with Him, ambassadors of Christ sent to represent Him. It is not necessary to be an evangelist, pastor or teacher to be able to speak the Word of God. You can speak God’s Word to the person riding next to you on the bus. You can pray for those from whom Satan has hidden the light of God’s Word. You can give time to those who seem to have run out of time. There are people who need to hear the same message that God used to set you free. What an honor to be a mouthpiece for the kingdom of God! We are channels of the love of God!

Romans 15:1 says, “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.” We live to please God. Jesus did not live to please Himself. He lived to please the Father. We are to be followers of the example that Jesus set for us. We are to follow after love (1 Corinthians 14:1).

If love leads us to the person next door, then we should follow. When love calls us to intercede for someone in need, then we should yield. We lay down our plans for Love’s plan. Praise God!

The following is a confession of faith for giving of yourself for others.

“Father, in Jesus’ Name, I see from Your Word that You were willing to give of Yourself, in the person of Your Son, for all men.

“I understand that because Jesus is Lord of my life, I too can give of myself to share the good news of the gospel with others.

“It was that same gospel that set me free and I believe that as I share it with those around me, they too will come to know You in a personal way.

“I’ll give of my time, Father. I’ll give of Your love in me. I’ll be strong and lift up those who are weak. I’m willing to be available to be used of You so that others might experience the abundant life You have provided.

“In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”

SOURCE

Question of the Day

What does it mean to lay down my life for others?

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ANSWER
The Bible says in John 15:13, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

Jesus was telling His disciples to give up the things they wanted to do and to give of themselves to others. He said that there is no greater love than this. We can give of ourselves with prayer. We can give of ourselves with time. We can give of ourselves with love and understanding.

We are working together with Him, ambassadors of Christ sent to represent Him. It is not necessary to be an evangelist, pastor or teacher to be able to speak the Word of God. You can speak God’s Word to the person riding next to you on the bus. You can pray for those from whom Satan has hidden the light of God’s Word. You can give time to those who seem to have run out of time. There are people who need to hear the same message that God used to set you free. What an honor to be a mouthpiece for the kingdom of God! We are channels of the love of God!

Romans 15:1 says, “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.” We live to please God. Jesus did not live to please Himself. He lived to please the Father. We are to be followers of the example that Jesus set for us. We are to follow after love (1 Corinthians 14:1).

If love leads us to the person next door, then we should follow. When love calls us to intercede for someone in need, then we should yield. We lay down our plans for Love’s plan. Praise God!

The following is a confession of faith for giving of yourself for others.

“Father, in Jesus’ Name, I see from Your Word that You were willing to give of Yourself, in the person of Your Son, for all men.

“I understand that because Jesus is Lord of my life, I too can give of myself to share the good news of the gospel with others.

“It was that same gospel that set me free and I believe that as I share it with those around me, they too will come to know You in a personal way.

“I’ll give of my time, Father. I’ll give of Your love in me. I’ll be strong and lift up those who are weak. I’m willing to be available to be used of You so that others might experience the abundant life You have provided.

“In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”

SOURCE

Question of the Day

What does it mean to lay down my life for others?

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ANSWER
The Bible says in John 15:13, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

Jesus was telling His disciples to give up the things they wanted to do and to give of themselves to others. He said that there is no greater love than this. We can give of ourselves with prayer. We can give of ourselves with time. We can give of ourselves with love and understanding.

We are working together with Him, ambassadors of Christ sent to represent Him. It is not necessary to be an evangelist, pastor or teacher to be able to speak the Word of God. You can speak God’s Word to the person riding next to you on the bus. You can pray for those from whom Satan has hidden the light of God’s Word. You can give time to those who seem to have run out of time. There are people who need to hear the same message that God used to set you free. What an honor to be a mouthpiece for the kingdom of God! We are channels of the love of God!

Romans 15:1 says, “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.” We live to please God. Jesus did not live to please Himself. He lived to please the Father. We are to be followers of the example that Jesus set for us. We are to follow after love (1 Corinthians 14:1).

If love leads us to the person next door, then we should follow. When love calls us to intercede for someone in need, then we should yield. We lay down our plans for Love’s plan. Praise God!

The following is a confession of faith for giving of yourself for others.

“Father, in Jesus’ Name, I see from Your Word that You were willing to give of Yourself, in the person of Your Son, for all men.

“I understand that because Jesus is Lord of my life, I too can give of myself to share the good news of the gospel with others.

“It was that same gospel that set me free and I believe that as I share it with those around me, they too will come to know You in a personal way.

“I’ll give of my time, Father. I’ll give of Your love in me. I’ll be strong and lift up those who are weak. I’m willing to be available to be used of You so that others might experience the abundant life You have provided.

“In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”

SOURCE

Why did God create you?

Man is something really special. He is made in the image of God. He is made to have fellowship with God.

Some people get the idea that God made man so He’d have someone to dominate. But God is not a dominator. God is love and love needs to have someone to give to. Neither did God made man to be dominated by something else. Rather, God made man to dominate the earth and his circumstances. That’s why God made man. He made him, so He could give him His love.

God could have given His love to the angels, and He did that. But giving to angels didn’t provide total fulfillment. Why? Because angels aren’t made in His image.

You’re the same way. Let’s say, for example, you have a puppy as a pet. You can fellowship with that little pet just so much, but then there comes a time when you need someone to talk to. There comes a time when you need to have communication on your own level.

The reason you’re like that is because you’re created in the image of God. That’s how He is. He has a desire to fellowship with someone like Himself.

Dare to believe you’re something really special today—a one-of-a-kind creation made by God in His very own image. Dare to receive His love and dare to love Him back!

Scripture Reading:

Genesis 1:26-31

SOURCE

Question of the Day

Question: Can I live in consistent victory?

Answer:

Wouldn’t it be great if we could spend all our time in wonderful, spiritual meetings where the power of God shows up and we never have to think about anything else?

Yes, it would be great. But it is not reality. The Word of God tells us that although we are not of the world, we are in the world (see John 17:11-20). Each of us has our everyday life to live and must continually deal with “everyday” things. But though we are in the world, we’re not like those who are without Christ—“strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:12). We are “in Christ” in the world, and that makes all the difference in the world!

The devil is roaming around this earth seeking to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10), and you will have to deal with him. Don’t fret over it. Just be ready. The good news is, Jesus, our Champion and Savior, said, “I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Learn where the point of attack is. Jesus said in Mark 4:19 that “all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced.” If we want our lives to bear good fruit, it’s clear that we have to learn how to overcome the things that try to get us off the Word. Satan’s main strategy is to get the Word out of your heart. He puts pressure on you to quit believing and acting on the promises of God. That is his only chance for success in your life. He wants you to give up so he can take over. Don’t do it!

Instead of giving up—double up. Spend more time with God in His Word. With the wisdom (answers) you receive from Him and His Word, you’ll be able to “run with patience the race that is set before [you]” (Hebrews 12:1). By letting God be God in your life, by making Him No. 1, and by spending time with Him and His Word first, you will be able to walk in victory!



Source:kcm.or

Get one Over Trouble Thoughts ( Ramson Mumba)

 John 14:1

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.”

I don’t know about you, but the last time I caught myself feeling troubled, I don’t recall giving myself permission! I just found myself feeling that way. I certainly didn’t wake up in the morning saying, “Watch out everyone, today I am about to be troubled.”

Jesus’ command in this verse gives us a problem because the functionality of our brain means that we worry without meaning to. We sink into anxiety without even realizing that we are doing it! Yet Jesus clearly said, “LET NOT”, meaning that, even though we really don’t feel like it, we are still in control.

Sometimes it is as simple as knowing what gets your mind upset. If you can’t tolerate that type of movie, don’t watch it, because if you do, later on you won’t be able to sleep. If you can’t handle the roller coaster, don’t ride it, or you will spoil your whole day out. Knowing yourself and managing your soul is wisdom.

But more than that, there is a shield that we can employ which keeps troubled thoughts at bay, and it is this, BELIEVE GOD. Before those thoughts invade our mind and heart, the Word that we have believed repels them.

If you have no Word you have no shield of faith. Discouraging and threatening circumstances barge right on in and trouble you. But if you have a Word before you hit trouble, that sense of fear and intimidation can’t touch you. It can’t get past your Word shield.

Make a decision to believe God again today. According to Romans 10: 14-17, fresh faith comes as we hear the preached Word. Take a moment to look it up and remind yourself of the necessity of hearing the Word preached to us. It’s not just about reading the Word in our personal time with God. Those times are vital to connect with God and to fill us up with the “logos” Word, but it is the “rhema” Word, or the Word that is quickened as it preached under the anointing, that gets the job done in our lives.

Don’t let your heart be empty of Word today. You are in control, so take charge, get your shield in place and kick troubled thoughts out of your soul.

Pray

Heavenly Father, thank you that I am empowered to take control over troubled thoughts. I am so glad that I am not at the mercy of anxieties and fears, but I can put up a shield of faith and repel those things.

Today I make a decision to listen to the Word of God being preached under the anointing, so that faith can come into my heart afresh. As I listen, I trust you to speak to me, and I am excited to gain the upper hand over troubled thoughts. I bind every tormenting thought right now and I pick up my shield of faith again, and I declare, “I believe God!”



Source: ramsonmumbaministries

Four Decisions that Determine Your Destiny (Rick Warren)

"If you are . . . unable to make up your mind and undecided in all you do, you must not think that you will receive anything from the Lord” (James 1:7-8 GNT).

In Dr. Seuss’ poem “The Zode in the Road,” a young Zode comes to a fork in the road and spends quite some time trying to decide which direction to go. He thinks about the possibility that one place may be too hot and the other too cool or one too high and the other too low. After scratching his head in indecision, the Zode finally decides to play it safe and “start out for both places at once!”

And that meant the Zode got nowhere.

What decision do you need to make? I urge you to do something great with your life for Jesus’ sake. Don’t be a Zode. Don’t waste your life. Don’t live in mediocrity. Don’t just exist! Make the decisions that will determine your destiny.

There are four life-changing decisions that every person has to make:

1. To commit your life to Christ and become a part of his family. If you haven’t done that, what are you waiting on? Not to decide is to decide.

2. To commit to the habits that will help you grow spiritually. Don’t be a wishy-washy, lukewarm, shallow Christian. Go head-on. Be all that God wants you to be.

3. To use your talents, gifts, abilities, and experiences to serve God and others. If you’ve been sitting on the bench, it’s time to get in the game.

4. To share Jesus Christ with others. Once you know the Good News, you’re to become a messenger so that others may hear it, too.

“If you are . . . unable to make up your mind and undecided in all you do, you must not think that you will receive anything from the Lord” (James 1:7-8 GNT).

The decision is yours!



Source: pastortick.com

Question of the Day

Question: What is the importance of ministering to the poor?

Answer:

When Jesus quoted from Isaiah 61 concerning the anointing that was on His ministry, He read, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised” (Luke 4:16-18).

Jesus was declaring His Anointing to meet specific needs for specific groups of people. If He preached to the blind, they didn’t have to be blind anymore; to the brokenhearted, they didn’t have to have broken hearts anymore; and to the captives, they didn’t have to be bound anymore, what did He preach to the poor? Not just the new birth. It seems obvious that He preached they didn’t have to be poor anymore.

When we give to the poor, we enter into the anointing that was on Jesus to fulfill the covenant promises of prosperity that God gave to Abraham and expanded on in His promises through Moses in Deuteronomy 8:6-18 and 28:1-13.

When you give directly to the poor, or to those who minister to their needs and get the gospel to them, you are sowing into good soil. Psalm 41:1-2 says, “Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor! The Lord rescues them when they are in trouble. The Lord protects them and keeps them alive. He gives them prosperity in the land and rescues them from their enemies.”

Don't Fear in God's Delays (Pastor Rick Warren)

“Do you remember how the Lord led you through the wilderness for all those forty years, humbling you and testing you to find out how you would respond, and whether or not you would really obey him?” (Deuteronomy 8:2 TLB).

Dreams are never fulfilled immediately. There’s always a waiting period. The Israelites were brought out of Egypt and then wandered around for 40 years before they went into the Promised Land, even though the trip shouldn’t have taken more than a few weeks.

Just like the Israelites, sometimes we are delayed by design. Every dream has difficulties. God uses delays to get us ready for those difficulties.

God also uses delays to test us. The Bible says in Deuteronomy 8:2, “Do you remember how the Lord led you through the wilderness for all those forty years, humbling you and testing you to find out how you would respond, and whether or not you would really obey him?” (TLB).

So when your dream is delayed, how should you respond?

Don’t fear!

Embracing fear is the first mistake the Israelites made. Deuteronomy 1:28a says, “Why should we go there? We are afraid. The men we sent tell us that the people there are stronger and taller than we are” (GNT). The Israelites had enough faith to move out of Egypt, but they didn’t have enough faith to move into the Promised Land. They were afraid.

The problem with fear is that it keeps you in the wilderness. It prolongs the delay. Many of your dreams have never been fulfilled, not because of God but because of you, because you wouldn’t step out in faith.

The antidote to fear is faith, focusing on God’s presence. Realize that God is with you. He says, “Fear not, for I am with you” (Isaiah 41:10a TLB). He’s with you now, he always has been, and he always will be.

Maybe you’re in the delay phase right now. You’ve been praying about something, and it hasn’t happened yet. You may start to think that God has forgotten you.

God has not forgotten you! It is a delay by design. God knows what you’re going through. He wants to build your character, and he wants you to learn to trust in him. You can count on him for his help. Don’t fear.



Source: pastorrick.com

Stand Up and Be Counted (Kenneth Copeland)

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

1 Timothy 2:1-2

We are commanded to pray for our country and our leaders. But having prayed, God expects us to act. The elections in the United States are vital to the future of this nation. Our country is in the midst of a spiritual outpouring, and it’s vitally important that the right people be elected. We must see to it.

Don’t wait until election time is upon us before you start seeking God for whom to vote. Begin to pray now so that the news media and other voices from every corner cannot influence you and cannot draw you in a direction away from the Spirit of God. Pray so that you won’t be influenced by natural reactions and natural responses to cleverly designed commercials and ideas.

Start praying now about the coming elections. Whether they are small local elections or major national elections, make them a part of every prayer you pray. Then thank the Spirit of God for His wisdom concerning for whom to vote. Thank Him for giving you His wisdom about what to say and when to say it to others. Thank Him for giving you wisdom to declare the Name of Jesus and declare that this shall be a God-indwelt, God-ordained, God-overseen administration.

So register. Pray. Vote. Then stand up and be counted by the power of the living God.
Scripture Reading:

1 Timothy 2:1-8




Source:kcm.org

Question of the Day

Question of the Day

Question: How do I best communicate with my stepchildren and define my role as a stepparent?



Answer:

Blended families have now become the norm. Along with that come lifestyle changes and often challenges with those changes. It is a good idea to discuss parenting and discipline methods before you get married.

It’s very important to build a relationship with the children involved. They will need time to learn to trust and accept you. Also, the age of your spouse’s children and developmental level will play a role in how you communicate with them. And remember, you are not a replacement of the birth parent.

Consistency is key. Have consistent rules so everyone is on the same page regarding expectations for the household. It is probably best to leave primary discipline to the biological parent, but remember to present a united front. Children can sense when parents aren’t on the same page and will do what they can to take advantage of the situation. Be a supportive stepparent, and don’t undermine one another’s parenting skills in front of children. If you are not in agreement about an issue, discuss it privately.

Blending families is never easy, but God will be with you every step of the way when you put Him first. “The Lord will give [unyielding and impenetrable] strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace” (Psalm 29:11).


Source:kcm.org

From faith to faith

When someone hurts us, our natural human reaction is to strike back...to ask God to clobber them. But that’s not God’s way.

I realized that one time when some relatives of mine got robbed. I was praying about the situation and puzzling over it. “Lord,” I began to ask, “why did You let that happen? Why didn’t You just knock that thief over the head when he tried to do that?”

Suddenly, God enabled me to back up from that situation and look at it with spiritual, instead of just purely natural, eyes.

When I did that, I knew the answer to my question almost as quickly as I had asked it. It was because of His mercy. God has great, great mercy. Not just for me and my family but for others too.

Think about that next time someone does you wrong. Instead of asking God to knock that person in the head, like I did, consider the fact that—as ornery as he may be—he may well have a grandmother somewhere who’s praying for him to be saved. Stop and remember that God loved him enough to die for him, that He’s longing to pardon—not punish him.

Then you can begin to pray for him instead of against him, uniting yourself with his grandmother (or anyone else who happens to be praying for him). You can go to the Lord for mercy for him and you can go up against the devil on his behalf. That’s real intercession and it throws the forces of darkness into total confusion. They have absolutely no defense against it.

The Lord is looking for people who are bold enough, committed enough to do that. Dare to be one of them. When you’re tempted to clobber someone, dare to change his life instead.

SOURCE

The Three ‘Cs’ of Fatherhood

By Kenneth W. Hagin

In First Chronicles chapter 28, David gave some final words of advice to his son, Solomon, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished” (v. 20).

These were some of the last words David spoke to his son Solomon before David passed from the earth to receive his heavenly reward. In this one verse, we can see David’s heart—his heart for God and his heart for his son. As David spoke, he demonstrated the three “Cs” of fatherhood: conviction, courage, and compassion. Today, centuries of time separate us from King David, but we can still learn much about fatherhood by looking at this godly father.

We know that David was a man of deep spiritual conviction. Sadly, it seems that today, we are a society with little godly conviction. Men who are without conviction in spiritual matters are praised and emulated because of their celebrity status. They are upheld as role models, even though they lack godly character. Today, more than ever, we need a generation of fathers like David who possess the courage to speak boldly about their spiritual convictions, in spite of the corrupt moral current of society.

“But didn’t David fall morally?” you might ask. Yes, he made some serious mistakes. But he was godly in that he was quick to repent before God, correct his mistakes, and then head in the right direction. That’s why God called him a man after His own heart (Acts 13:22).

I’m sure that David’s children and other family members knew about his sins and failures. But David never turned away from God. He continued to serve God in spite of his shortcomings, showing his children that God’s love and forgiveness will take you through anything. His lifestyle demonstrated a great deal of conviction and courage.

David was also a man of great compassion. His words were filled with kindness when he spoke to Solomon in 1 Chronicles 28. It was as though he was saying, “You can do it, son. I believe in you. 

Let’s look further at the life of David. He was a shepherd boy who became a successful soldier and later, a proficient administrator and an admired king. David was immensely successful in everything he did. Yet, he was still an extremely devoted father. He fasted and prayed fervently for the deliverance of the first son born to him and Bathsheba. Then he fought fiercely to save the life of another son, Absalom, even though Absalom sought to kill his father and take over the kingdom. To David, his family outweighed all of his past achievements and present status, because he was such a man of compassion. 

Sadly, many men today give up their success as a father for success in their job or profession. Though they are willing to work long hours to meet the physical needs of their children, many fathers today are unwilling to make the sacrifices necessary for their children’s emotional well-being.

I observed in my father a tremendous willingness to sacrifice himself for the welfare of our family. When I was about 11 years old, Dad was holding a meeting in California. I hadn’t seen him for six weeks, and I missed him immensely. After he closed that meeting, he had to drive to a meeting in Pennsylvania. But instead of driving straight to Pennsylvania, he drove 22 hours and 15 minutes from California to our house just to eat breakfast with my sister and me. He visited with us until we left for school, and he spent a couple of hours with Mom before heading to Pennsylvania to start the next meeting. 

Dad did things like that time and time again for his family. He knew that when all was said and done, his achievements in ministry wouldn’t amount to much if he lost his own family through neglect. Today, my father is recognized as a modern-day father of faith. But those who knew him well, including me, knew he was a man of love and compassion. None of his successes as a minister surpassed Kenneth E. Hagin’s success as a father. He left me an example and a legacy that I have passed on to my children and grandchildren.

David’s godly legacy has continued to this day and so has the legacy of my father. What about you? Will you, as a father, demonstrate conviction, courage, and compassion to your children so they can pass on and ensure godly character for future generations? The spiritual well-being of our children today, and of our nation tomorrow, depends on you. The godly example that you display will point your children—and their children after them—in the right direction in life and guide them on paths of happiness and success.

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Question of the Day

Question: How can I be a witness where I work?

Answer:

The world today often looks at the Body of Christ with a raised brow—especially in the workplace. They’ve not seen honorable Christians. In fact, they’ve seen too much dishonor, but you can help change that. You can guard the way you live your life and your conversation. You can be a strong witness for Jesus in the workplace. Honor may be hard to find, but it is easily recognized.



    Be a Strong Witness by Honoring God     

To be honorable requires a choice between God’s ways and the subtleties and deceptions of the world. It requires a choice between the Spirit and the flesh. It boils down to a choice between standing and falling. If you are honorable, you will stand. If you are dishonorable, you are guaranteed to fall.

          

    Be a Strong Witness by Meditating on God’s Word

As you get into His Word, and allow it to get on the inside of you, honor will well up in you so full you’ll have no desire to walk in anything else. Your spirit will experience conviction about the smallest of commitments. You’ll become so tuned to God’s Word and His Spirit that you will become a living witness in everything.

          

    Be a Strong Witness by Watching Your Words

As you meditate on God’s Word, you will watch your words. You will speak the truth and take your words seriously. You will never distort the truth or speak idle words. You will make commitments and keep them. You will be faithful and act with the utmost of integrity.



    Be a Strong Witness by Focusing on God

Seek God’s approval, not man’s. Jesus said in John 5:41-44, “Your approval means nothing to me,… For I have come to you in my Father’s name, and you have rejected me….  No wonder you can’t believe! For you gladly honor each other, but you don’t care about the honor that comes from the one who alone is God.” Understand that being a good witness for Jesus doesn’t mean that everyone will like you. You are representing Jesus to the lost. It’s quite possible that you will ruffle feathers along the way, but remember that you are ultimately seeking to honor God with your life, not get a pat on the back. So stand strong.



Make the choice today to stand strong for Jesus in the workplace and be a witness for Him in the midst of a lost world. Look for opportunities to share His goodness and stand honorably as one of His children. You may never know just how impactful your witness is.

Walking in Love

By Rev. Lynette Hagin

Many people refer to First Corinthians chapter 13 as “the love chapter.” Too often, we want to skip over reading that part of the Bible. I will readily admit that there have been times in my life when I wanted to ignore that chapter.

But during those times, the Lord continued to lead me to read it. First Corinthians 13:4–7 in the Amplified says, “Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].”

When my husband and I perform a marriage ceremony, I always read this portion of Scripture to the bride and groom. If we would all practice this passage on a daily basis, we would live peaceful and productive lives. However, our flesh often gets in the way. Instead of ignoring injustices that are done to us, we want to get even. Instead of walking in love, we want to repay evil for evil.

One of the things I witnessed in my father-in-law’s life was that he truly lived the love walk. He never considered getting even. At times, my husband and I got exasperated when we heard others criticize and say hurtful things about our family. Sometimes we expressed our feelings to my father-in-law. He would say to us, “Don’t ever stoop to their level; always walk the high road.” I still hear those words ringing in my ears when I’m tempted to walk the low road and return evil for evil.

The test of walking in love is not something you pass one time and never have to experience again. No, your love walk will be tested continually. I’ve often said to the Lord, “I must really need a lesson on love, because I seem to be tested on a daily basis!”

I’m reminded of the story about a woman who was complaining to her husband that he never told her he loved her. The husband replied, “I told you I loved you when I asked you to marry me, and if I ever change my mind, I’ll let you know.” We should not be like that husband. Instead, we should say the words “I love you” freely.

My husband and I tell each other that we love one another many times a day. And I often tell my children and grandchildren that I love them. I believe those are important words to say. We all need to be reassured of the love others have for us, and we need to reassure others of our love for them.

Some of you may not have heard those words very often in your childhood, and some of you may find it awkward to say, “I love you.”  But I encourage you that if you’ll start saying, “I love you,” those words will become easier to say and more natural to you each time you repeat them.

I encourage you to not take your friends and family for granted, but to express your love and appreciation for them on a continual basis. Don’t live with regret after the death of a loved one, wishing you had expressed words of love to them more often. Decide today that you will walk in love and that you will express words of love to your family and friends.

SOURCE

Question of the Day

Question: How do you handle a controlling person?

Answer:

First, ask God for wisdom on how to respond to the individual. Sometimes, control is based on insecurity and fear. Maybe this person had something happen to him or her in the past and believes the only way to have a successful relationship is to be controlling. Or, the person may not even realize he or she is coming across as controlling.

You may never know why this person acts the way he or she does, but you can control how you respond. The Lord was very specific about how you should love people.

John 13:34 says, “I give you a new commandment: that you should love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too should love one another.” And Ephesians 4:2 says, “[Living as becomes you] with complete lowliness of mind (humility) and meekness (unselfishness, gentleness, mildness), with patience, bearing with one another and making allowances because you love one another.” Now, this is not easy, and will probably require faith and patience in handling the relationship. Also remember to pray for the individual, because prayer changes things. “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16).



Source:kcm.org

Change the Image (Kenneth Copeland)

For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

Romans 8:24-25

According to Romans, hope is actually looking at something you can’t see. How do you do that? You do it by looking at the promises of God in the Word until with your inner eyes—the eyes of your spirit—a picture is formed.

For example, one of the hardest things I ever had to do was face the fact that the inner image I had of myself physically was fat. It didn’t matter how hard I tried to change, it wouldn’t go away. I was always on a diet. I must have lost (and regained) hundreds of pounds over the years.

I finally had to admit that as long as my inner image of myself was fat, my outer self was going to match it. Remember, it’s faith that changes things, and without the inner image of hope, faith cannot work.

So I decided to fast for seven days. I searched my Bible for every scripture I could find on food and eating and I found many.

I meditated on every one of those scriptures and prayed in the spirit for seven full days. What was I doing? I was laying hold on a different inner image.

This is not something you can do overnight. It takes time. Especially if the inner image you’re changing has been there for years.

But you can do it. Go to the Word of God today and begin to change the images inside you. Change them from images of despair to images of hope. Get a blueprint in your heart and your faith will build on it!
Scripture Reading:

Romans 4:16-21



Source: kcm.org

Question of the Day

Question: How do you handle a controlling person?

Answer:

First, ask God for wisdom on how to respond to the individual. Sometimes, control is based on insecurity and fear. Maybe this person had something happen to him or her in the past and believes the only way to have a successful relationship is to be controlling. Or, the person may not even realize he or she is coming across as controlling.

You may never know why this person acts the way he or she does, but you can control how you respond. The Lord was very specific about how you should love people.

John 13:34 says, “I give you a new commandment: that you should love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too should love one another.” And Ephesians 4:2 says, “[Living as becomes you] with complete lowliness of mind (humility) and meekness (unselfishness, gentleness, mildness), with patience, bearing with one another and making allowances because you love one another.” Now, this is not easy, and will probably require faith and patience in handling the relationship. Also remember to pray for the individual, because prayer changes things. “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16).



Source:kcm.org

The Challenge of Loving and Losing (Ramson Mumba)

Joshua 1:1-2

After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying: “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them”

The challenge of being human is that people will get under your skin. When you let someone into your heart, there is no way, when that person dies or leaves, that you can carry on as if nothing happened. If you loved them you will miss them. You will feel like a part of you has gone, and if that person was very precious to you, the feeling of loss will never entirely disappear.

When Moses died, it wasn’t just a beloved person that Joshua lost – someone who had believed in him, mentored him and poured himself into him – but Moses represented deliverance, direction, security and the voice of God, both to Joshua and to the entire nation.

What do you do when the thing you are trusting to lead you dies? It may not be a person, it may be your dream, which you have laid to rest because the thing that you believed would be your best life hasn’t come to pass. It is impossible to go through life without experiencing loss at some point.

But look what the Lord said to Joshua, “Get up because there is a Jordan to cross and a land to be inhabited flowing with milk and honey. I am giving it to you.”

The enemy’s trick is to try and keep you close to the place of the death of the person or thing that you loved. If you stay camped there when the season is over, the pain of loss will stop you from walking forward. The fact is that Moses may have died, BUT THE LORD IS STILL VERY MUCH ALIVE IN YOUR LIFE!

If you die with your challenge there is no future for you, so get up, pick up your stuff and get ready to move. Your marriage may have broken, but there is still someone in your future who will treat you like a king, or like a queen. You may have got fired, but there are better jobs out there waiting for you. Moses died and we don’t deny it, but we must get up and live some more.

Pray

Heavenly Father, thank you that you are alive and active in my life today. Thank you for being enough for me, especially in times of loss. Thank you that I am secure in You now and forever.

I make a decision not to camp in the place of loss and pain. Today I move forward. Today I believe again for good things in my future. Thank you, Lord!



Source: ramsonmumbaministries

Change the Image (Kenneth Copeland)

For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

Romans 8:24-25

According to Romans, hope is actually looking at something you can’t see. How do you do that? You do it by looking at the promises of God in the Word until with your inner eyes—the eyes of your spirit—a picture is formed.

For example, one of the hardest things I ever had to do was face the fact that the inner image I had of myself physically was fat. It didn’t matter how hard I tried to change, it wouldn’t go away. I was always on a diet. I must have lost (and regained) hundreds of pounds over the years.

I finally had to admit that as long as my inner image of myself was fat, my outer self was going to match it. Remember, it’s faith that changes things, and without the inner image of hope, faith cannot work.

So I decided to fast for seven days. I searched my Bible for every scripture I could find on food and eating and I found many.

I meditated on every one of those scriptures and prayed in the spirit for seven full days. What was I doing? I was laying hold on a different inner image.

This is not something you can do overnight. It takes time. Especially if the inner image you’re changing has been there for years.

But you can do it. Go to the Word of God today and begin to change the images inside you. Change them from images of despair to images of hope. Get a blueprint in your heart and your faith will build on it!
Scripture Reading:

Romans 4:16-21


Source: kcm.org

How to handle pressure (Kenneth W. Hagin)

I've noticed that some Christians can't handle pressure or adversity in their walk with the Lord. As long as everything is going fine and the devil isn't exerting too much pressure on them, they're okay. But the minute they encounter problems or things don't fall into place, they go to pieces.

First Peter 5:7 instructs Christians to cast all of their cares on the Lord. I know this is not always easy to do. But when the pressure is on, it's the only way to walk above the circumstances and not be buried by them.

The next time you are under pressure and you are tempted to cave in, here are some things you can do. If you follow these four simple steps, you will be able to overcome pressure instead of pressure overcoming you.

1: Keep Your Focus on God

Isaiah 26:3 says, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." Many people who encounter a crisis fail to keep their minds stayed on the Lord. They focus on the negative and only see what is going wrong. Instead of believing their situation can have a positive outcome, they begin to doubt that they will ever recover.

Focusing on the problem won't do you any good. In fact, the more you think about the problem instead of the Problem Solver, the weaker your faith becomes.

To rise above pressure, you have to think on the right things. You must replace negative thoughts with good, positive thoughts. Doubt has to be replaced with faith.

The Apostle Paul told the Philippians to "let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 2:5). What was in the mind of Christ? All things are possible if you can believe (Mark 9:23). Whatever is impossible with man is possible with God (Luke 18:27).

Problems become small or great depending on the way you think about them. We see an example of this in the Book of Matthew when Peter walked on water.

On Jesus' one-word command, "Come," Peter jumped out of a boat in the face of a strong wind and walked on choppy waves. He continued walking on the water as long as he maintained an unwavering gaze on Christ. But when Peter took his eyes off of Jesus and looked at how strong the wind was, he began to sink. (See Matt. 14:25-32.)

Your success in the midst of the storms you encounter is determined by how well you control your thought life. And no one can control your thoughts but you. You determine what you think about and how you react to any given situation.

2: Focus on Your Potential in God

You probably don't realize the potential you have in God. Although you can't accomplish some things in your own strength, you can accomplish anything in God's strength. Instead of focusing on your weaknesses, focus on the strength potential you have in God. Joel 3:10 says, "Let the weak say, I am strong." No matter what is surrounding you, "I am strong" needs to be your daily confession.

You've got to believe in yourself "in God." The "in God" part is what is important. That's the part that will see you through any adversity.

People often ask, "How is God going to turn this situation around?" I don't know, but God does! Instead of focusing on "how," focus on the author and finisher of your faith (see Heb. 12:2). He is the One Who can give you the ability to triumph over your circumstances.

3: Focus on What God Is Saying

Have you ever been talking to someone and you realized he was not hearing a word you were saying? Although he was right in front of you, his mind was someplace else.

God is talking all the time. Are you listening when He is speaking? Isaiah 55:3 says, "Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live."

The main way God speaks to His children is through His Word. However, when you're under a great deal of pressure, do you run to the Word to find strength and peace? Or are you so focused on the problem that you neglect to pray and read your Bible? The Word of God contains the answers you desperately need. And it's through prayer and meditating on the Word that God will show you what steps to take to see you through adversity.

4: Talk About God

Up until this point in the process of overcoming the pressures of life, you have kept your mouth shut. Now it's time to speak. Psalm 105:2 says, "Talk ye of all his wondrous works."

Throughout the Book of Psalms, you will see that the various writers talked about the bigness of God. They extolled His greatness. They praised His goodness. They set an example for you and me.

Anytime you are under pressure, begin to talk about Who God is and how big He is. Then put the devil in his place and remind him that God is bigger than anything he tries to bring about.

You may not "feel" like talking about God when you're under a lot of pressure. But especially in times of adversity, you need to talk about the goodness and bigness of God. As you do, you will be revived and released from the pressure that is on you.

It doesn't matter how bleak your future looks; God is bigger. It doesn't matter what anybody says; God is able to bring you through. As you follow these steps, you will feel the pressure lift off of you. You'll be able to look at your circumstances with an assurance that God will see you through.

SOURCE