Watch what you say...

The word for today is watch what you say--The importance of saying the right things. The tongue can either build or destroy. Life and death is in the power of the tongue. You have a choice to make---Life or death and that power is in the tongue. Use it wisely. God bless...

Undo your future!

                                 

    

                                Above image courtesy of http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/

               

                 Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy                     mouth. (Proverbs 6:2)

                                                             

           Greetings. I want to call your attention to words. When it comes to words, people do not pay much attention to it. Some would joke around when they have a problem saying things like ---I feel a tumor growing or that tickles me to death. Friends, words have power and we need to take heed to how we talk.

          The famous Buddy Holly was joking around with a well-known country singer saying--"I hope your ol' bus freezes up." In response, the singer answered Holly--"Well, I hope your ol' plane crashes." We, all, know what happened---Buddy Holly's plane crashed and those words would torment that singer for years to come. 

         Why are words so important. Jesus said it in a nutshell---My words are spirit and they are life.(John 6:63) When you release words, good or bad, you are releasing spirits that will influence your course of life and even alter history. One case in point was the Jews. They had seen the miracles of Jesus. 

       Some may have even, felt, the presence of the Holy Spirit,yet their hearts were hardened. They were filled with hate and envy because of Jesus. When Pilate disputed about them concerning innocent blood, they said a statement that would impact their lives and change the course of history. Let's look at the verse below---- 

     

 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. (Matt 27:25)

          Those words opened the door to a curse. Not only were those people affected, but it paved the way for a curse upon them. All through the centuries, the Jews have been persecuted and killed by the multitudes. The blood that was meant to save them became a curse for them. 

          But not all is lost, the Jews as well as the Gentiles can come to Christ. They can have their future, as well as their destiny changed. Thank God, that he gives us a second chance. So, friend, stop foolish jesting. Start saying what God's word says about you.

              When you do this, you will be better off in the long run. Your words can affect your family and even change the course of history. Let us keep a watch over what we say. Tomorrow, I will continue this study in more detail. Be blessed and thank you for reading this devotional.  

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Is God in control?

                                               Image courtesy of [image creator name] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

                        "  I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live"  (Deut 30:19)  
              
                              Have you ever heard the saying---"God's in control?" People will use that saying in the midst of trials and testing, but is that really true? Many times, we hear people say----"I cannot believe in a God who allows bad things to happen to innocent people. Where was God in the Sandy Hook killings? Why did those children have to die?" Then, we would have answers like----"God's ways are mysterious and we cannot figure them out." While tragedies like this happens and people have a hard time coping, we need to, nevertheless, find answers to why bad things happens to innocent people.
            First, we live in a fallen world. Since Adam sinned and bowed his knees to Satan, it opened the door for tragedies that has affected innocent lives through the centuries. The good news is this---There is an answer and its Jesus! He died for our sins and has provided a way to answer life's toughest questions. Let's start with analyzing Deut 30:19. As we study this verse, we find that there are two witnesses---Heaven and Earth. Some important words are spoken here and it is to our advantage that we pay attention to this.
             This verse speaks of choices---Life and death. Blessing and cursing. Everyday we are faced with choices. What to eat for breakfast. What to wear to go to work, but friend, we have the choice to choose life or death. You may say--That's easy. Serve the Lord and live right for the day. That, in itself is true, but it goes deeper than that. 

                 " Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof." (Prov 18:21)

                    Did you know that you can be blessed by your words? This is not some new age teaching as some claim, but it is God's word! Many times, we listen to the news and hear of the high crime statistics. We, also, allow fear to dictate to us what to do. For example, many in America do not go to night services on Sunday because of the fear of becoming a crime victim. Brethren, thoughts are going to come to us. Everyday, whether you believe it or not, we will have bad or even crazy thoughts come to us. We need to take control of those thoughts and allow the mind of Christ to flow through us.
                When we allow the thought of fear to come to our minds, we need to grab a hold of our mouth. Why? Because if you speak your thoughts, you shall have what you say. Jesus said in Matt 6:31 to take no thought saying...
In other words, don't speak those thoughts. Don't say for example---"I don't go to church for fear of becoming a crime victim." Instead, say to yourself---I have the angels of God surrounding me because I am an heir of Salvation. In Jesus name--Amen! 
                 If we want God to be in control, we must do our part. He did his part by sending his son to the cross. He did his part when he gave his back to his tormentors and purchased healing for us. He did his part when he gave us all things pertaining to life and godliness. (II Peter 1:3). Now, we have to do our part and that is to use our tongue to speak life or death!
                     In fact, we as a body need to take out time to pray in the spirit. I know that we cannot avoid tragedies world wide, but we can make a difference in our circle of family, friends, community and even our nation. I am convinced that due to the prayers in the body is the reason that we have not had an attack of the magnitude of 9-11. In fact, many terrorist plots have been averted due to the power of prayer. 
                     Prayer is so important that it can change the course of history. In World War II, America was losing important battles against the powerful Nazi machines. Hitler had the best minds and technology. America was on its way to defeat, but it wasn't until the wives and mothers got on their knees. When that happened, America and its allies rose up to victory. 
                      That is why the Bible says to pray without ceasing. When you pray God's word in your prayers, something happens. Faith starts to rise up and before you know it, you are on your way to victory. So use your tongue and let God be in control! Start speaking life and blessing today! 

Prayer--Dear Lord, Forgive me if I have talked foolishly. Help me to control my tongue. Help me to speak life and blessing over my circumstances. I bind every word of unbelief and fear. I put it under my feet. I declare that this day, I am more than a conqueror. This day, I confess that I delight to do your will. This day, I confess that I love righteousness and hate iniquity. This day, I have more than enough to pay my bills. This day, I walk in divine healing and sickness and disease have no place in me. I have the mind of Christ and I make the right decisions each and every day. Thank you,Lord, for giving me the victory in this day. In Jesus name--Amen! 

Scripture reading---Deut 30
                                         

Making a demand from God's power!

"  And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?" ( Mark 5:29-30)

                     I know that title sounds strange, perhaps some may find it disrespectful. The faith message has suffered from grave misunderstandings because people get the wrong message. When we talk about confessing the word, they, immediately, say you are ordering God around. That, my friends, is not true. We are not ordering God around, but we are making a demand on his power. Mark 5:28 indicated that the woman said something. She said that if I can touch his clothes, I shall be whole. The Greek says that she kept saying. 
                     You see, my friends, when you have faith, you say something.That woman was releasing her faith and made a demand on God's power. Remember, in Mark 5:30, it says that virtue had gone out of him. That virtue is translated as God's power. That woman's faith was making a demand on the power of God. In Mark 5:34 as well as other scriptures says..."Thy faith hath made thee whole!" He gave credit to her faith.
                     Throughout my life, I have heard Christians saying---I am waiting on God!" Yes, my friends, there is a time to wait, but what are you doing in the meantime? If you are not confessing God's promises, you may be waiting forever. Now, concerning demand, let's look at it from a different angle. We, all, know that God's promises are Yea and Amen, but did you know that they are stored in the bank of Heaven?  The word is compared as hidden treasures!
          Me and my wife have a joint checking and savings account. She can make any withdrawal to our account at any time because her name is in that account. A withdrawal is a demand on our money. She does the proper paperwork and Voila---The money is there! I don't take offense at that, because what's mine is hers. We are joint heirs with Christ, so if healing and prosperity belongs to us, we can make a demand through faith. We can say in the name of Jesus and withdraw from our faith account.
             That is why it is so important to meditate and confess God's word on a daily basis. We need to build up a faith bank deposit for the evil day. Faith is the currency in heaven that helps us to meet life's toughest challenges. You and I have a miracle in our mouth. Let's start using it and build up our faith account. I like the Greek translation of saith in Mark 11:23. It means Legos in the Greek. We, all, know what Legos is. It is some building blocks that kids play with. As we confess the word, we are building an image of Identification with Christ, healing, prosperity, etc. So, today as well as everyday---Make it a priority to confess God's promises over your life! God bless. 

Scriptures---II Cor 4:13
                 Mark 10:52
                 Luke 17:19
                 

Words have power!

      " My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. (Prov 4:20-22)

                    In this morning, I want to share some thoughts with you. Who has ever heard the following---"Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never harm me?" That is a statement that has been popular throughout the years but is not true. WORDS CAN HARM YOU IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE! Who many children, especially "Preacher's kids" have winded up in jail because of words? Words can build or destroy. It is a medical fact that words can improve or destroy your health based on how you talk. Scientists have found that life and its forms were created by sound. Where did the sound come from? Words? Who spoke these words? God! (Gen 1) 
               God's word is powerful. Notice what he says---ATTEND TO MY WORDS! When you read God's word, do not read it like you're reading a newspaper. Attend to it. Give it your foremost attention. 
                 The next step is to incline thine ear. In other words, to hear it. It does good to read the word to where you can hear it because faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.Our society does not like repetition, but God's word is repetitious. Why? God wants it to sink in. The word can change our mind, flesh and even circumstances. The word is powerful!
                               When it goes to your heart, it will have a life of its own. Life in your flesh to heal you and to change your circumstances, so decide in this day, that the word will have 1st place in your life. Spend some time in the word. It may just save your life. 

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What are you speaking today?

         

   " Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof." (Prov 18:21)


               Greetings. In this day, we all have to make decisions in life. There are some decisions in which we need God's help. Sometimes, our emotions and bias could cause us to make wrong choices. Case in point were the Religious leaders who crucified Jesus. They had a bone to pick. 
               Sure, they knew all about prophecy and about the Lord, but, they had allow mixture to creep in. Plus, they enjoyed the power with the Roman government and with the people. They had it made until Jesus came on the scene and rocked the boat. Outsmarting them at every turn, Jesus relied on the wisdom from above.
                 He, even, called them to the carpet. Calling them hypocrites and generations of vipers. Contrary to popular belief, Jesus used to gather a multitude of people when he talked. He operated in signs and wonders, while the religious leaders preached a gospel with no substance. Instead of humbling themselves, repenting and agreeing with Jesus, they chose to harden their hearts. 
                They focused on their hurts and anger. Their emotions caused them to lose all reason and say something that would hurt them and their descendants. Let's look at the following verse----
               " Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children." (Matt 27:25)
                 What a tragedy. A tragedy because these words would bring about a curse. In about 76 AD, Jerusalem got destroyed! The Romans killed many Jews, including the religious leaders. Time has shown that after many years, the Jews have been persecuted and killed. Why? Because of words spoken years ago. A precious thing like the blood became a curse to them.
                  So, brethren, let's think before we speak. We need to ask ourselves--ARE WE SPEAKING LIFE OR DEATH! Remember that God's word says that the wholesome tongue is a tree of life. In future studies, we will study on how to use the tongue to speak blessings to our lives. God bless!