[ecko_quote source="2 Corinthians 2:14"]Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place[/ecko_quote]
As you fight the good fight of faith today, remember this: Your mind is where the battle will take place. Whatever you allow to captivate your mind will rule your life. Will it be the Word of God or the lies of Satan?
The decision is yours.
If you want the Word to reign, make up your mind now to resist the devil when he comes to plant doubts within you. Refuse to surrender to the circumstantial pressure he brings your way. Decide at the outset that you will not succumb to this trial. Dig your heels in and stand immovable upon the promises of God.
When thoughts come that are contrary to God's will, cast them down. And above all, don't worry. Worrying is meditating the thoughts of Satan.
When you recognize you are worrying, stop it immediately. Replace worried, fearful and doubtful thoughts with the Word.
Be assured, Satan will continually try to tell you that your situation is hopeless. He will persistently peddle doubt, defeat, and discouragement. But if you won't allow him to sell you his goods, his commission will be zero. If you don't buy his lies, he can't cause them to come to pass in your life.
God has promised that He will always cause you to triumph in Christ. You are guaranteed victory over any adversity you face today. Make up your mind right now to be a winner and you'll spread the knowledge of victory in Christ everywhere you go.
[http://jonah.uec.nz/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/stock-vector-man-carrying-a-heavy-burden-a-huge-rock-vector-clip-art-illustration-with-simple-gradients-man-228367237.jpgKenneth Copeland
[ecko_quote source=" Matthew 6:31"]Therefore, do not worry and be anxious[/ecko_quote]
God is vehemently against worry. Jesus preached against it. Paul preached against it. The whole Bible preaches against worry because it was designed by Satan to produce stress, strain, and death.
Yet many of us still act as if it's an option as if we're free to worry if we want to. But we're not! Worrying is a sin. It's one of those things the Word of God directly commands us not to do.
What are you supposed to do then with all the concerns you have about your problems? In 1 Peter 5:7, God says you should "cast them all upon Him." All. Not 75 percent of them. Not all of them but the ones about your kids. All of them!
Your confession every morning should be, "I do not have a care in this world because I've cast every one of them onto my Lord."
Let me illustrate how that works. Let's say you were standing about 20 feet away from me and I tossed my car keys to you. If someone else were to come to me and say, "Pastor Jonah, I need the keys to your car. I need to use it," I would say, "I can't help you. I cast my keys over on him. I don't have them anymore."
That's what you need to do with your worries. You need to cast them over on the Lord and not take them back. If Satan brings a worried thought to your mind, saying, "What if this terrible thing happens?" then you can tell him to talk to God about it. It's in His hands, not yours!
Once you do that, changes will start to take place in your life. Problems you've been fretting about for years will start being solved. You'll no longer be tying God's hands with your worrying. His power can begin to operate because you've acted in faith and cast your cares on Him!
Remember, though, God will not take your cares away from you. You have to give them to Him. Then you have to replace those worries with the Word. You are the one who has to keep your thoughts under control. But you can do it. The Greater One dwells within you. He is able to put you over. Commit to it. You'll never have to worry again.
[http://jonah.uec.nz/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/happy.jpg]Kenneth Copeland
[ecko_quote source=" Matthew 14:28-29"]And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water....[/ecko_quote]
It’s easy to be so afraid of making a mistake that you never get around to stepping out on faith. You can spend all your time wondering, Is this faith? Or is it a presumption? What if I exercise my faith for something and find out later I’ve missed God’s will?
Don’t worry. God can handle any mistake you can make. I know because I’ve made plenty of them. When I did, I’d just go to the Lord and He’d tell me, Stay on the Word, son. Together we’ll overcome this thing. And we always did.
If you act on the Word out of the sincerity of your heart and you steadfastly stay with the Word, Jesus will never let you down...no matter how many dumb mistakes you make. He proved that the night Peter jumped out of the boat in the middle of the lake.
Have you ever stopped to think about that incident? Peter hadn’t been praying or seeking God’s will before he did that. On impulse, he just blurted out, “Lord, if it’s You, bid me come.”
What was Jesus supposed to say? He couldn’t very well say, “It’s not Me.” I suppose He could have said, “Wait a minute now. You don’t have the faith to get out here. You’d better stay in that boat or you’re going to drown for sure.”
But He didn’t say that to Peter—and He won’t say it to you. If you want to get out and walk by faith, He’ll get out there with you and pick you up when you start sinking. He’ll walk you back to the boat if He has to.
It’s better to risk being presumptuous than to waste your life in the boat of unbelief! If you have to, just dive into the water and say, “God, help me!”
Don’t let fear keep you from taking that step of faith. Come on, get out of the boat today!
[http://jonah.uec.nz/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/step-out-of-your-boat.jpg]Kenneth Copeland
[ecko_quote source="2 Peter 1:19"]We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts[/ecko_quote]
So many times when we need insight into a problem, we try to get it by focusing our attention on that problem. We study it. We ponder it. We examine it from every angle. But the Apostle Peter gives us a different approach. He says we should take heed (or focus our attention) to the written Word of God until the answer to that problem dawns on us through the light of revelation.
We use the term seeing the light in the natural all the time. We say, “Have you seen the light on that yet?” meaning, “Do you have insight into that situation?” Well, the entrance of God’s Word into our hearts brings light (Psalm 119:130). It brings the insight we need.
Have you ever been in a dark room and tried to find your way out? Or been lost outside in the night? What is the first thing you look for in these situations? Light!
It could be coming from under the door or shimmering from a lamp in a house far off. But either way, you head straight for it. You don’t waste your time studying the darkness. You don’t focus your attention on that. You fix your eyes on the light because you know its brightness will drive out the confusion of the darkness and orient you to your surroundings.
If you need insight on some problem or situation you’re facing, pay attention to the Word. Head for the Light and the answer you need will dawn on you.
[http://jonah.uec.nz/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/bible.jpg] Kenneth Copeland
[ecko_quote source="1 Peter 2:2"]Like newborn babies, you should crave (thirst for, earnestly desire) the pure (unadulterated) spiritual milk, that by it you may be nurtured and grow unto [completed] salvation[/ecko_quote]
Have you ever been in a room full of babies? Infants crying. Crawlers hollering for certain toys. Toddlers pushing and whining to get their way. It can be quite a handful, can't it?
When a bunch of spiritual babies get together, it's just about the same way! Of course, there's nothing wrong with being a spiritual baby. All of us start out that way. When we're first born into the kingdom of God, we're much like physical new-borns. We're not very strong or well-developed. We blunder around trying to learn how to operate in our new environment. That's how we all have to begin. But God never meant for us to stay that way.
That's why in 1 Peter 2:2 He says we should "desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow...." He intends for us to grow up! He intends for us to feed on His Word, moving from the milk of the Word to the meat of the Word until we grow up into mature sons and daughters.
Begin now finding your nourishment in His Word and enjoy the reward of growing up in Him!
[http://jonah.uec.nz/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/grow-up.jpg] Kenneth Copeland
[ecko_quote source=" Isaiah 43:19"]God says "Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; do you not perceive it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert[/ecko_quote]
There are messy moments on the road to Destiny, you cannot have progress without a mess. When you are in the process to progress, things get a little messy on the way to getting there. But when you get thru this mess, progress is waiting on you.
Don't let the mess fool you, don't let the enemy distract you into thinking that the mess is all there is. Real ministry comes out of mishaps, messes, mayhem, sorrow and tragedy.
God uses people who were broken, battered, tattered and torn to heal other people. So don't give up, don't be discouraged, God is making a message out of your mess!
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[ecko_quote source=" Romans 6:4"]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[/ecko_quote]
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 on the inside of 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 sin. 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!”
[http://jonah.uec.nz/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Doves-doves-38537875-1024-768.jpg]
[ecko_quote source=" 1 John 3:21-22"]Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.[/ecko_quote]
You can never get away with disobeying God.
Some people think they can. They think that if no one finds out about it, it won't hurt anything. After all, God is merciful. He's not going to hold it against them, right? And if no one else knows...what's the difference?
What they don't realize is that their own hearts will start giving them problems. Their own hearts will start to condemn them. Everyone else may think they're great. They may be spouting faith talk all over the place, but when they come before God in prayer, they'll be filled with doubts and fears that keep their prayers from being answered.
That's one of the reasons why it's so important to live in obedience to the Lord. A life of obedience will give you a spiritual boldness you've never had before. It will give you a boldness in prayer, a boldness in faith. It will give you a confidence toward God, as the Apostle John says, that those who are trying to get away with sin don't have.
I'm not saying that you have to be perfect—that you should never make a mistake. Just that you should walk in obedience to the light you have. Take the time to listen and be responsive to the Spirit of God. When He tells you to do something, do it.
As you do, that confidence will rise up within you. It won't be something you mentally drummed up or talked yourself into. It will just be there. Instead of being consumed with doubts and feelings that the Word of God isn't going to work for you, you'll find yourself filled with faith that it will. You'll begin to trust God and to flow with Him. You'll come to a place the Bible calls "rest in the Lord."
Remember this: Even though the eternal price for your sins has been paid, a life of disobedience will still cost you dearly. It will cost you the boldness that is rightfully yours in Jesus. It will rob you of faith and rock you with fear.
Don't let the condemnation of your heart cut your confidence short. Do the things that are pleasing in God's sight and walk tall in the kingdom of God.
[http://jonah.uec.nz/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/confidence-is-key-michelle-balaun-2000x500.jpg]
[ecko_quote source=" Mark 11:23"]For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith[/ecko_quote]
Notice that this scripture says, "shall not doubt in his heart." It never said a word about doubting in his head. You see, faith will work in your heart with doubt in your head. You can have doubt in your head, because the devil has access to our physical senses.
He is the god of this world, and he can bring doubt to you. If you see that things are not working out right - maybe your body doesn't feel well - your mind will begin to doubt that you're healed.
What must you do? Hold yourself in the arena of faith by casting down negative thoughts and by believing with the inward man.
Proverbs 3:5 says, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding." Don't lean on what your head tells you. Faith will work in your heart with doubt in your head.
I know from my own personal experience that my head fought me all the way concerning some of the greatest things that have ever happened to me in life. My head said, "It won't work. It's not so. You don't have it." But I refused to entertain those thoughts. I refused to listen to my head. On the inside of me, I held steady.
All kinds of thoughts were flying through my head - faster than machine gun bullets can fly! Thoughts went through my head, such as, "You've messed up this time. You've made a fool of yourself. That's not going to work."
Yes, I had doubt in my head, but I didn't lean to my own understanding. I trusted the Lord with all my heart, and He brought it to pass. Now if I had given in to those thoughts and listened to my head, I would have been defeated.
Confession:
I can have doubt in my head, but still, have faith in my heart. I follow my heart. I don't lean unto my own understanding. I trust the Lord with all my heart to bring His Word to pass in my life.
[http://jonah.uec.nz/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/WHATWEBELIEVE-11.jpg]
[ecko_quote source=" Matthew 6:25, 31–33"]But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well[/ecko_quote]
Some people have the idea that prosperity means all our needs should be provided for well ahead of time. Jesus addressed this misconception when He told His disciples, Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?...So do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:25, 31–33)
Do people worry about something they already have? No. Worry isn’t related to our present supply. It is related to a perceived or potential lack in the future. Jesus concluded His statements on the provision by saying, “Tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (v. 34). Prosperity doesn’t mean that tomorrow’s need is met today; it means that today’s need is met today.
We find the same concept in the Lord’s Prayer: “Give us today our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11). Jesus tells us not to worry about tomorrow because it has its own supply (see verse 34), and tomorrow we may need even more than we do today. When we get to tomorrow, the supply will be there. We must understand what prosperity really is in order to grasp the foundational principle of how God provides for our visions.
Prayer: Father, Jesus ‘words from the Sermon on the Mount bring me such freedom from worry. As I seek Your kingdom and Your vision for my life, may I trust You more each day for provision in every way. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Thought: Prosperity means that today’s need is met today
References: Myles Munroe
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