Are you an able, competent minister of the new covenant?

He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant – not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
2 Corinthians 3:6 New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE(s)…
A new covenant — God willingly entered into a new agreement with us, His creation, then sealed it with the blood of His “First Born” Son Jesus, and sent the Holy Spirit to give us the power to live the life required by this new covenant. In this new covenant we (EVERY Christian!) are to be competent (able and willing) ministers of this “New Covenant”, (The Gospel of Christ) not the letter (“the LAW” , i.e. the Ten Commandments & the rest of the 613 Mosaic Laws). God has made a covenant of love and grace and mercy with us. The Almighty Father has then turned around and made us worthy and competent to share that covenant with others. Not to preach the law or the ten commandments, nor to mix them with the “New Covenant.” No, we are to be able ministers of the “Good News”, we are saved by grace through faith – not by keeping the law, not by our works, not by our holiness or attendance in church! No wonder it is life-giving: it brings life to us and through us by the power of His Holy Spirit! If you are standing on a street corner preaching Hell and damnation, calling people sinners – then you are NOT God’s competent minister. You are an imposter.

MY PRAYER…
Father, I thank You for Your Word. Thank You for Your grace that has saved me from sin and has redeemed me from the law of sin and death. Thank You for sending the gift of Your Son and the gift of Your Holy Spirit so that I can live with You in a covenant of life, grace, mercy, and love. While I confess my weaknesses, I also promise You that I will live to honor Your sacrifice, love and covenant; trusting that You will empower me, by Your Holy Spirit, to be what You are calling me to be.
In Jesus name I pray.
Amen

Do you have what Peter had in the book of Acts?

Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk…. And His name through faith in His name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by Him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
Acts 3:6, & 16 King James Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
What did Peter have to give that lame man that day? Nothing from himself, nothing from the world, not even silver or gold, but he passed along the ‘Power’ from on high! The resurrection power of the Holy Spirit of God residing within him by God’s Holy Spirit. That same power that raised Jesus from the dead. That power, that by the name of Jesus Christ and faith in His name made the lame man whole! Faith is that seed, that vision of what you desire that causes you to call those things that be not as though they were. To speak into existence that which God has already said was yours. Peter and John looked upon a man that was lame from birth and saw not his affliction but the resurrection power in the name of Jesus and called into being that which was not as though it was. Faith in the name of Jesus caused that which was not to become a reality. The man felt the power of God surge through him and he leaped to his feet and walked!

MY PRAYER…
Precious Father, thank You for Your Word, Your Son and Your loving mercy and grace upon us. Thank You for sending us Your Holy Spirit to live and dwell within us, just as He did in Jesus when He walked the earth. Thank You for giving us the example of Jesus, that we might learn how to walk and live the way You want us to. Thank You Father, that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. What He did then He’ll do today, and also forever, if we will only believe and have faith in Him. In Jesus’ name, Father, I pray and glorify You.
Amen

To Tithe or not To Tithe, that is NOT a question!

Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,
That there may be food in My house,
And try Me now in this,”
Says the LORD of hosts,
“If I will not open for you the windows of heaven
And pour out for you such blessing
That there will not be room enough to receive it.
“And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes,
So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground,
Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,”
Says the LORD of hosts;
Malachi 3:10-11 New King James Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
To Tithe or not To Tithe, that is NOT a question!! The scripture quoted above is very clear about what we are to do.
Tithing, you mean we’re really supposed to do that? No, We GET to do that, we have a choice. But God tells us what the right choice is and what will happen if we make the wrong choice (the curse comes). It should be a done with a willing heart and cheerful heart, not because you have to. Remember a n offering is NOT a tithe. You tithe first and offerings are above and beyond your tithe. But, God says to test or prove Him by bringing your tithes into His storehouse (your local church where you are a member and are pastored, you are a member of a local church somewhere aren’t you? That’s in His word also!) and see if He won’t open the windows of heaven and pour out more blessings than you can contain. The Hebrew word translated here as windows (‘arubbah) could also have been translated as a sluice (an opening for water or better yet a dam or flood gate). He wants to flood you with blessings…will you let Him? And that’s not all, He says He’ll rebuke the devourer for our sakes and all we do will prosper. Is the devourer eating up your income? You have a choice, Blessings or curse…Tithe or not tithe. God even helps with the choice, in Deuteronomy 30 verse 19, He tells us to choose life!
I chose the Blessings! Some of you are choosing disobedience to God instead, that is sin!

MY PRAYER…
Father, help us to understand your plan. Help us to see how the Kingdom of God works. Open our spiritual eyes and show us Your ways. Lord help us to obey Your Word, help us to reap the blessings You have promised for obedience. Help us to reap the blessings and prosperity You have commanded us to have.
In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen

Are you robbing God?

Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed me! But you say, In What way have we robbed You? In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation.
Malachi 3:8-9 New King James Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
Are you robbing God? Are you giving tithes to the church you attend or have you stopped giving tithes because you were offended, or because you don’t think you can afford to give with all the price increases lately and the recession and all? Have you stopped giving because you don’t like what the church is doing with your money? Tithes is NOT your money, it’s God’s money, let Him worry about how it’s used. Oh, and an offering now and then is NOT tithing. Those of you who are being disobedient in tithing know this – God will NOT be mocked and He knows who you are. As long as you are disobedient He can not help or Bless you like He wants to. In fact He can NOT even restrain the curse from overtaking you! Get it together and do His Word. If you are NOT tithing, you are disobedient. And if you are disobedient, then you are in sin and in danger of having what happened to Lucifer happen to you!
Let me tell you something you may not know. God is not asking for something that is not His already. The tithe, a tenth of your first fruits, is His period! That’s a tenth of what you earn every time you get paid! Everything we are and everything we have belongs to God. If it were not for Him we would not/could not even take our next breath! God even gives us our ability to get wealth. All He asks is that we give 1/10th of our first fruit (what is rightfully His anyway) and an additional offering on occasion. Some of you don’t tithe, and some of you think that giving an offering whenever you happen to be at church and have a little extra money is giving your tithes. I have news for you, it’s not. A tithe is 10 percent of your first fruits (income) every time you get paid, whether you are at church that week or not! Even if you are on vacation your tithe still should be given! We give this tithe to God, through His commandment, through our local church (the church where you are pastored and cared for) for use in the Kingdom ministry. It doesn’t matter what that church or minister then does with the money, that’s between him and God. The IRS takes up to 38% or more from us, and we would dare deny God His 10%? Notice what God says will happen to you if you rob Him (if you do not tithe and give extra offerings). You are cursed with a curse. Need a description of those curses…try Deuteronomy 28:15-68 (Old Testament) for a rather thorough listing. Should I print names? God already knows who you are.

MY PRAYER…
Father, help us to see the revelation of Your Word. Open our spiritual eyes and show us the wisdom and knowledge You have hidden in Your Word. Lord help us to obey Your Word that we will not have to suffer the curses of disobedience, but will be blessed with more than we can contain. That we may be a blessing to others.
In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen

Did you know that God said everyone was to be subject to the governmental authorities?

Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister(servant) to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister(servant), an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake.
Romans 13:1-5 New King James Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
Do you struggle with what your government or what your president is doing? Do you find it hard to follow all of the rules and laws of society today? Just remember what is says in Romans 13:1 above, “For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.” The authority is appointed by God not the man or woman in the office, they are there usually through your votes. But, once they are in office the authority they wield comes from God. If you don’t like what they are doing vote them out next election, don’t keep voting them in for longer terms! Remember, God’s Word says we are to pray for them who are in authority. And it didn’t say only if you want to! Be careful though, that how and what you pray is in line with God’s Word also, anything else is witchcraft or sorcery praying. God didn’t say you had to like them, He just said pray for them. We need order and structure in our society, where would we be without it? But, more importantly we need what God has set forth for us, and we need to be obedient to His Word. If those in office are not doing God’s will -VOTE them OUT! If you resist authority of any kind, then you are resisting God. If you are resisting God then you are in rebellion and are subject to the governing authority’s sword of justice. You are also subject to the same punishment given to Lucifer for his rebellion unless you change your ways. He fell (was thrown out of) from heaven like lightning and became Satan for his rebellion against God.

MY PRAYER…
Holy Father God, please help us to understand the true origin of authority, even natural authority. Help us Lord, to walk within the bounds of that authority just as if it were You yourself laying it down before us. Because in effect you are. Help us Lord, to not resist the authorities You have placed over us, but to learn to flow with them. In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen

What if we didn’t have to have laws?

The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Romans 13:9-10 New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
Wouldn’t it be great if we didn’t have to have laws to keep people in line! That’s the point behind Paul’s message here from God. Treat our neighbors as we would like to be treated ourselves. Love them as we like to be loved. If we do that, then we’re not going to do anything that would hurt them, much less violate a commandment of the law, God’s or man’s. Therefore there would be no need for any other laws. But man has a sin nature and cannot do this without God (Jesus) in his life.

MY PRAYER…
Father God, He who gave Moses the Law on tablets of stone, please write Your character and will on my heart so I might be a living stone, testifying to Your righteousness and grace. Help me to think more carefully about how my neighbors feel before I act or react to them from this day forward. Help me Lord to exhibit Your love in all I do and say, to walk so that the love light of Jesus shines forth from within me. Help me Lord to have integrity before both You and my neighbors. Through your Holy Son, Jesus, I pray.
Amen

Can you come boldly into the Throne Room of God?

Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
Hebrews 10:19 King James Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE(s)…
God says here in His Word that we are to have boldness to be able to enter into the Holiest of Holies. In the Old Testament only the Head Priest, and then only after much sacrificing could he even dare to enter the Holy of Holies. And he always had a rope tied around his ankle so they could pull his body out if he was struck dead because he was not properly cleansed and sanctified. But the reason for our boldness is not our works or our holiness, instead we are to come boldly based on what the Blood of Jesus has done for us. Jesus was our sacrifice to God and He was the perfect complete sacrifice! It’s the power of His Blood having cleansed us of all unrighteousness that allows us to come boldly before God’s throne of grace and mercy, not any works that we could ever do. The Blood that was shed ONCE for ALL sin and placed upon the heavenly altar of God a sacrifice for us. And now we can come boldly before the throne of God whenever we wish.

What can wash away my sins?
Nothing but the Blood of Jesus!
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the Blood of Jesus!

MY PRAYER…
Precious and Mighty Father, thank You for access into Your Holiest of Holies. Thank You Father that by Your mercy and grace, through the Blood of Your son Jesus, I can come boldly before Your Throne of Grace. Thank You Lord that though I was once unworthy and unrighteous, You have cleansed me and made me the righteousness of God through the precious Blood of my Lord Jesus. I thank You Father that Jesus has paid the full price for me and that I have been bought by His precious Blood. I thank You Father that You only look at me through the Blood of Jesus. In Jesus’ Holy name and by the power of His Blood I pray.
Amen

Is your salvation growing?

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
1 Peter 2:2-3 New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
Salvation is a most precious thing! But like a newborn baby needs it’s mother’s milk, we need pure and wholesome Spiritual teaching (food for our spirit man) from our Father through the Word of God, so that we can grow and mature in the spirit. We need Godly teachers, Pastors, that teach the ‘pure’ Word of God, not some seminary garbage. Without this Godly teaching we will stay in the same place we are and not grow. But if we stay in the same place spiritually and do the same things we did when we were newly saved we are not growing and maturing. We have to grow spiritually! Read and meditate Hebrews chapters 5 & 6 and see what God has to say about remaining immature! We must really want to grow. We must crave what is good and what builds us up from God’s Word. Now go and read and meditate Galatians chapters 3 & 4 also. We must get a hold of all that is included in the salvation package. Salvation is not just going to heaven when you die. Salvation is a total package deal! Get out your concordance and look up salvation in both the Hebrew and the Greek. It includes health, prosperity, well being, peace of mind, deliverance, as well as eternal life and it’s for now, not for when when we get to heaven. “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” We are to have Heaven on earth. What are you going to do about it today to satisfy your spiritual appetite? The choice is yours!

MY PRAYER…
Mighty God, thank You for loving me, saving me, and making me a son and an heir. I really want to mature in Your Love and Grace. Bless me today as I seek to pattern myself after Your Holy example, Jesus. Father, increase my territory and my influence, that I may share Your Gospel with all I come to know. Help me Father to fill myself spiritually with the things that will help me grow. But Holy God, I know that true growth comes only from and through You, for You give the increase. So I ask You to strengthen me by Your Holy Spirit as I pursue Your character. Through Jesus’ mighty name
I pray.
Amen

Are you willing and obedient?

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
Isaiah 1:18-20 King James Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
When things have gone wrong and you are walking in sin the Lord says: “Come now, and let us reason together…”, in other words let’s talk about this. Talk to me says the Lord our God, ask me and I will not only forgive your sins, but I the Lord your God will cleanse you white as snow, I will remove your sins. This includes the sin of not tithing also. Now comes the conditions though; you must be willing and obedient. Willing and obedient to what? First and foremost to change and then to do what God tells you (in His Word) and to do it His way not yours.

MY PRAYER…
Precious Father, every good thing I have in my life has come from or because of You. I can never thank You or praise You enough for rearranging my life so that it will begin and end in You. You have truly washed away my sin and made me whole again through Jesus. I give my life to You now and I will strive to do Your will from this day forward. By the power of Your Holy Spirit I ask you to strengthen me and help me to do your will. In Jesus mighty name I pray.
Amen

Do you have access to the Father by the Blood of Jesus?

That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, 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. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
Ephesians 2:12-14 King James Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE(s)…
God’s Word says that though we were once far off we can now draw near through the Blood of Jesus. And only through the Blood of Jesus. Though we were once strangers to God, Jesus, by the shedding of His Blood on the Holy altar of God, has made a way for us. He has broken down the wall (the sin barrier passed to mankind by the first Adam’s sin) that once separated us from a sinless God, just as the veil of the temple was torn apart when He was crucified. We now have access through the Blood of Jesus to the ‘Most High God’ (El Elyown). No matter what you have done or how bad or evil you think you are, you have access to God through Jesus. You do NOT have to clean yourself up first, that is the Holy Spirit’s job after you come to God through Jesus. Notice however, that the only access to God is through Jesus. There is NO other way.
Not works, not doing good, not being good, not through religion, not through some church program or some other so called god. There is no other way to gain access to God The Father, than through Jesus Christ, No Other way! Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no one comes to the Father, except through me.”

MY PRAYER…
Most High God, thank You for access to You through Your son Jesus and the shedding of His Blood for me. Thank You Lord that though I was once separated from You and was far away You are drawing me nearer and nearer each day through the precious Blood of Jesus. I thank You Lord that Jesus has removed that veil , that wall of sin, that was once separating me from You and that I can now come near by my faith in Jesus. I thank You Father for the privilege to come boldly before Your Throne of Grace in the name of Jesus. In Jesus’ Holy name and by the power of His Blood I give praise and glory forever.
Amen