Freedom is a wonderful gift when it is handled with responsibility!

You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.
Galatians 5:13 New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S MANNA:
Freedom is a wonderful gift when it is handled with responsibility, morality, and God’s wisdom. Freedom from the Law, not being under law (the Old Covenant, the Ten Commandments, the Mosaic Law) is such a sweet grace, but we must pass that sweetness, that grace on to each other through service, kindness, care, and love. We must remember the commandments given us by the Lord Jesus. “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Notice that Jesus said fulfilling these 2 new commandments (that really aren’t new) would fulfill the Law (Ten Commandments) and the prophets. He made it so simple for us! But freedom is not to be free to indulge in sin and feed the sinful fleshy nature of man. Freedom is not to be able to sin and then run to confession on Sunday, especially to some man hiding behind a curtain in a booth. Freedom is freedom through grace to serve God and one another in love. Freedom is knowing that if you do mess up, you can come to God (Not some man) and confess and He will forgive you and cleanse you of ALL unrighteousness.

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Holy Father, thank You for rescuing Israel from Pharaoh’s grasp, David from the sword of Goliath, and Daniel from the lion’s den. But Holy Father, thank You most of all for the triumph of Jesus over sin, sickness, disease, poverty, depression, and all the other curses of the law at Calvary and His victory over death, hell, and the grave being raised from tomb. Thank You, Holy Father that I am no longer under the “law”, but that I have a new and better covenant, bought with the Precious Blood of Jesus that day 2000 plus years ago on a hill so far away from me. Thank You that the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death! Hallelujah!
In Jesus name I praise You.
Amen

Do you have a covenant with God?

And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.
Genesis 17:6-7 King James Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
A covenant from God made with Abram (Abraham) and handed down to us through Jesus, 430 years before Moses was told to write down the Ten Commandments. A covenant so powerful that God said it would still prevail over the covenant made with Moses and it still exists today! In the Hebrew language the word translated here as covenant has the meaning that there is to be a cut or incision made implying “Blood Covenant”. H1285. beriyth, ber-eeth’; from H1262in the sense of cutting [like H1254]); a compact (made by passing between pieces of flesh). God made this “everlasting” covenant with Abram (Abraham) and with his seed after him for generations. Abram “cut” the covenant with God for us and then it was ratified through Jesus, and God changed Abram’s name to Abraham – meaning “the father of many nations.” If you are a “born-again” believer, if you have asked Jesus to be the Lord of your life, then you are Abraham’s seed. You have a part of this covenant with God Almighty! You have a right to expect and claim the things promised by God to Abraham and his seed as long as you keep your part. As this New Year comes to a close and we prepare for the beginning of a new year take a stand and stand on God’s Word to you and believe for an exceedingly abundant and fruitful year! And then go out and do your part, what you were called to do.

MY PRAYER…
Father, I thank You for Your Holy Word, thank You for every promise You made in Your Word to Your people. Thank You Father for making a covenant with Abraham and his seed and making it an everlasting covenant through the generations. Thank You Lord that I am a part of that covenant with You, that what You promised Abraham and his seed, You also promised me, because I have believed in Your Son Jesus. Because I am washed in His Blood, I have a part in that covenant. In Jesus mighty name, I Thank You Father.
Amen

Do you know ALL the promises of God to you?

But now hath He obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also He is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
Heb. 8:6 King James Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
Thank God we have a better covenant than they had in the Old Testament. Thank God we have better promises than they had coming out of Egypt. Thank God we have a living, loving Mediator, an Advocate, a Lawyer who stands before Father God on our behalf. When you mess up don’t run and try and hide from God…instead run to Jesus and ask Him to forgive you, to fix it up with the Father for you. He is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us of all unrighteousness (1 Jn. 1:9), if only we will come to Him and ask. In Fact this is what God says in Isaiah 43:25-26: “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins. Put Me in remembrance; Let us contend together; State your case, that you may be acquitted. OF course that is NOT a license to sin and then run and ask for forgiveness!
But, God says nothing about being found guilty if you come to Him and ask forgiveness!

MY PRAYER…
Most Holy God, I give You praise and glory forever. Father I thank You for Your promises. I know that You are not a man that you should lie and that what You have promised You will fulfill. I thank You Lord that You have given us not only a better covenant with better promises, but You have made a way into Your Throne Room for us through Your most Holy Son. I thank You Father that I can come boldly to your Throne through the Blood of Jesus. Thank you Lord for giving me a Mediator to settle my case with You, that I may be acquitted. In Jesus mighty name, I pray.
Amen

Has God’s Word Sanctified you?

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
John 17:17 King James Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
God’s Word will sanctify us. Only God’s Word can sanctify us, nothing else. That word sanctify means to be set apart from the world, but also to be set apart unto God for His use and purposes.
God’s promises, God’s Scripture, and God’s clearest message of all, His Son; are all truth. But only the last of these, Jesus, is The Truth, Grace, Mercy, Deliverer, Friend, Lover, Lord, Savior, Brother, Redeemer, Healer, Prosperer … or what ever it is that you need. He is whatever it is that you need when you call on Him. When you call on Him in Faith believing that you have received when you pray, then you will have what you asked. It may not immediately materialize, but if you believe then it is yours. It was finished for us that day a long time ago on the cross, we just have to receive it, it is not something that we need to wait for.

MY PRAYER…
Father God, give me a holy passion to know Your Truth and live it in both word and deed. Help me Lord, to make my life a reflection of Your Word. To be like Him, who both proclaimed and lived Your truth. For Your Word became flesh and dwelt among us and many knew Him not. Lord help me to proclaim Your Word and Truth so that many may come know Him. In Jesus mighty name, I pray.
Amen

Are you risen on High with Christ Jesus?

Christ has indeed been raised, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.
1 Corinthians 15:20-22 New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE(s)…
Being eternal is nothing new, we’ve always been an eternal spirit, created by God in His likeness and image, God is Spirit. Being like Jesus, having our glorified bodies will be new. But when the moment of glory hung in the balance as Jesus was revived from his sleep of death by the power of the Holy Spirit of God, we too were given the assurance that death no longer claims us. The only death that really matters is our death to sin with Jesus on the Cross and in His baptism. If we have shared in the death of the cross and have been baptized in death with Him, we will most certainly share in His resurrection (Romans 6:1-14). For if the same Spirit that raised Jesus from death dwells in us then we too shall be raised from death unto life everlasting. If Jesus was first fruits, then there are many more fruits and I for one am one of them. Are you in there somewhere also?

MY PRAYER…
Almighty, Most Powerful Father God. Because of Your grace and Your Mercy and the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, I know I will see You face to face. Help me now, however, to live that resurrected life, being more like Jesus today than any day ever before and even more so tomorrow. Father, let the power of Your Holy Spirit fill me afresh each day of my life, that through Your power that dwells in me by the Holy Spirit I may live the life that pleases You. Through my Risen Lord, Jesus, I pray.
Amen

Is Jesus your mediator Before the Father?

There is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men.
1 Timothy 2:5-6 New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE(s)
We do not need another person, no matter how mighty, how pious, how religious, how saintly, or how special; to intercede for us before God. We do not need a priest and a confessional box, that is NOT scriptural according to the Bible. We do not need Mary or some other saint, that is NOT scriptural according to the Bible. After all every Christian is a ‘saint’ according to God’s Word! All we need is Jesus as our Lord and our savior. I didn’t say that, God did in His Word (see scripture above.) As His children, bought by the precious blood of the Lamb, Jesus, we can go freely before our Father God, knowing that God Himself has provided the perfect mediator between us and Himself. That mediator alone is Head of THE Church and Chief Priest before God for us. His name is Christ Jesus, our Lord. NO other person is worthy enough to stand before God Almighty on our behalf except Him. No One period! I didn’t say that, God did in His Word. You need not direct your prayers to anyone except Father God, but always through the name of Jesus. He is our only link to God the Father! There is NO OTHER WAY, NONE! To understand this you must understand God’s Word and not some doctrine of man given as church history. WE are warned in God’s Word about men deceiving the saints through doctrines of demons.

MY PRAYER…
Father God, You and You alone are my God, and I praise You for making Yourself so available. I know that in my own power and ability, I have no right to approach You. Yet in Your grace and by Your mercy You not only provided a ransom for my sin, sickness, disease, and poverty, but a mediator and an advocate to stand before You and make my approach to You possible. Jesus, I thank You as well, for paying the price and staying at the Father’s side to intercede and speak for me on my behalf! Thank You for representing me before the Father as one of Yours. Thank You for making this prayer known to the Father. For truly no man comes unto the Father, except through You, Jesus.
In Your name, Jesus, I pray.
Amen

Do you understand the Covenant Jesus Made for you?

Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though [it is] only a man’s covenant, yet [if it is] confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it. Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ. And this I say, [that] the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect.
Gal 3:15-17 New King James Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
We are partakers of a covenant that was confirmed in Christ Jesus, a covenant that cannot be annulled or made of no effect. Notice that I didn’t say that, God did in His own Word! Even the ‘Law’ (the commandments & laws given to Moses, all 613 of them) did not, will not, and can not change the terms of the covenant God made with Abraham 430 years before He gave Moses the Law & the Ten Commandments. I didn’t say that, the WORD of God did! Look it up for yourself, don’t believe it just because I reprinted it here. The ‘Old Covenant’ really is the second covenant God made with mankind, not the first.
The commandments & the rest of the Law (all 613 of them) were given to Moses because of a people who had turned from God. They were given to be as a teacher to them to point the way to Jesus. They were given to show mankind the sin they were in so that they might turn from sin to God.

MY PRAYER…
Father, my prayer is simple. Impart by revelation unto me and all your people the full meaning of Your new covenant to me and to them, a covenant made with Abraham and his seed before the ‘Law’ was. I know that we are partakers of that covenant also through the blood of Jesus, but instill in us the full meaning of this covenant. Show us Lord each and every benefit of this covenant. Show us Lord what we have, who we are, and What we can do being in Christ. Also Lord show us our part in keeping this covenant and what the penalties are for breaking it. In the Holy name of Jesus, Lord I ask this.
Amen

Which Covenant are you living under?

For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
Hebrews 8:7-8 King James Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE(s)…
The reference here to the first covenant is to the Old Testament or more specifically to the law of Moses (The Ten Commandments plus, for a total of 613 actual commandments or laws). When God, seeing that mankind would not and could not keep them ALL, He proceeded to make (to actually establish & ratify) a new covenant with the house of Israel (Note here the house of Israel does not mean just the country or people of Israel, but the entire church of God including ALL who are born again through faith in Jesus Christ, God’s Son.) A covenant that had actually begun 430 years before the law (including The Ten Commandments, plus) was given to Moses for the people of Israel. A covenant made with Jesus through Abram (Abraham). Through Abraham, God would finally be able to get His son into the earth to help mankind! Through Jesus, God’s Son, God was able to establish and ratify (put into effect) the “New Covenant” with mankind. A Covenant actually started before the Law! A Covenant of Mercy & Grace through faith in Jesus. A Covenant of forgiveness. The religious still live under the ‘Old Covenant’, but the Christian, those who are in Christ Jesus live under His ‘New Covenant’ of Grace and Mercy. Which covenant are you living under?

MY PRAYER…
Father God, thank You that You foresaw the future of mankind. Knowing full well our beginning and our end You prepared a way for the coming of Jesus long before the time would come for Him to be sent. Lord God, I thank You for Your Son and for Your promises made to Jesus through Abraham so many years ago. Promises that have been fulfilled at the cross. Father, in the name of Jesus I praise and thank You.
Amen

Can you praise God with the same zeal you use at sporting events or rock concerts?

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
Colossians 3:16 New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
We sing when we are happy. We sing when we are heartbroken. Today we should sing out of gratitude to our God. God is not only worthy of all of our praise, He is worthy of all of our thankfulness also. But the basis of all our songs should be Jesus and what He has already done for us through His death on the cross. His death, burial and His resurrection and ascension to the throne. We should be making a proclamation of the good news that brings life to us through Him. We should be preaching about that redemptive power. As that message, that Word of Christ fills our hearts, we are tuned to be thankful children of the Most High God. There is none higher or none more worthy of our praise than Him. It is Christ’s Spirit living in us that brings forth God’s Love through us. You don’t have any trouble being loud and boisterous at sporting events, why can’t you show the same enthusiasm when you praise God?

MY PRAYER…
I am so thankful, Lord, for all the many blessings You have poured into my life. Your love, Your grace, Your mercy, and Your forgiveness, all give me hope for the future. Your gift of Jesus gives me life today and promises life eternal with You. The incredible physical blessings, as well as the blessings of a new family and friends, are wonderful. But the greatest of all blessings is the assurance that I will one day see You face- to-face and share Your glorious presence forever.
In Jesus name I pray.
Amen

In the “Secret Place” of the Most High God no evil can befall us, no foe can touch us.

A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you.
Psalm 91-7 New King James Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
No matter how we are attacked or persecuted if we are in that “Secret Place” of the Most High God no evil can befall us, no foe can touch us, no plague can get anywhere near us. It doesn’t say they won’t try to. It, God’s Word, just says they can’t get to us! We must learn to dwell, abide, to constantly live in that “Secret Place.” We must abide there, for if we are abiding there He will cover us with His feathers and even if ten thousand fall at my right hand none of them shall come near me! For He is my God and my Fortress and His angels have been given charge over me to keep His word concerning me. These are all promises God has made to His people and God is not a man He should lie! Promises that we must learn how to receive into our lives. How do you receive a gift when it is given to you?

MY PRAYER…
Holy Father God, thank You for being my Fortress and my Refuge in life’s storms. Thank You Lord that You have covered me over and have delivered me from all evil. Lord, thank You that I can abide in that “Secret Place” with You at all times and that You are my comfort and my strength when I am weak. Thank You Lord for allowing me to be cleansed of all unrighteousness and sin so that I can fellowship with You. Thank You Lord for placing Your angels with charge over me to keep me in all my ways. Lord, thank You that when I set my love upon You, You deliver me from life’s trials and that You know my name! Through Jesus, my Lord and Saviour, I offer my thanks and praise.
Amen