Search me, Oh God!

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 139:23-24 New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
Search me, O God, lead me in the way everlasting!
God is omnipotent, omnipresent, and He is all knowing. He knows the condition of our hearts even better than we do. God knows us inside and out. We can’t pretend we are something we are not with Him. We can’t hide behind a facade and pretend to be something else, He knows us! He sees all we do and hears all we say. He even knows our thoughts before we speak them. This should liberate us to be able to have real intimacy with Him, but instead most of us run from such a close relationship with God. If our desire, however, is to become more like Him, the only way to be transformed into His likeness is by inviting Him in and allowing “Him to look at our heart, our motivations, and our desires, all of it, not just some. He desires our close , intimate, fellowship most of all. He wants to renew your heart, mind and soul to a point where you think, feel, and desire the things He does.

MY PRAYER…
Father, I know You are the one who “searches hearts and minds” yet because of the grace You demonstrated in Jesus, I am confident that You love me. My heart is sorry for the sin I have committed, and I truly am ready to change. But I need Your help and Your power working in me to affect that change. I of myself can do nothing. I am really trying to serve You in honor and purity. Please fill me afresh today with Your Holy Spirit to enable me to become more like Christ. Father, search my heart and purge that which is not of You. In the name of Your Holy Son, Jesus I pray.
Amen

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The tares in the world?

He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Matthew 13:37-43 King James Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
Do you know what happens to the tares of the world – Those who are un-Godly? Do you have ears (spiritual ears) to hear? Are you good seed or bad tares? Are you children of the wicked one, do you offend God and are you iniquity (sin) in the World or are you the righteous children of God – those who have made Jesus the Lord of their lives AND live according to His Word. Will you pass the test of fire? Will you be gathered for the fire or for heaven? Do you know ABOUT Jesus or do you really KNOW Him intimately? There is a difference you know. Is He really the Lord of your life? It takes more than just reading about Him, to know Him. It takes more that just showing up at church every Sunday, it takes more than your catechism classes to know Jesus personally. It takes making Him the Lord of your life and fellowshipping intimately with Him daily.

MY PRAYER…
Father, I thank You for Your Holy Word and Your covenant of promises. Father I ask that You help us to understand the difference between being good seed and being tares. Reveal unto us, to our hearts, with revelation knowledge about how to keep Your Word planted within our hearts. Help us to know how to keep the enemy from planting tares in us. Lord help us to keep our hearts pure and clean with Your Word. Father I pray in the name of Jesus that the eyes of our understanding be opened and that we be filled with the knowledge of Your will and with all understanding of what Your Word means to us.
In Jesus name I pray .
Amen

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Four types of people

Now the parable is this: The seed is the Word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
Luke 8:11-15 King James Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
According to the Bible verse we just read there are 4 kinds of people in the world. You ARE ONE of these types whether you believe/like it or not:

1. Those that hear the Word of God, but through unbelief (or deception by the devil) allow the devil to immediately steal the Word from them. All have been given God’s gift of Grace for Salvation. But, they refuse to believe in God.

2. Those who hear the Word and receive it, but fail to build a foundation on the Word and fall away. They would rather spend their time on other things – things of lust and fleshy pleasures, instead of building that foundation in the Word of God by spending time with the Word and with Jesus. They like what they hear, sounds good, but I’ve got my own life.

3. Those who hear the Word and receive it, but are so caught up in the cares and things of this temporal earthly realm that they become choked out…don’t have time for God and His Word because of all their things that have have them and the lusts they have for those things, and consequently they eventually fall away and become once again just like the rest of the world. They like what they hear, sounds good, try to do it, but their love for un-Godly things is more powerful in their lives – not willing to change yet.

4. Then there are those who hear the Word and receive it, and are totally sold out to God. They will give up everything this earthly realm has to offer them for the things God gives. Nothing can sway them, nothing can shake them. I Like how Paul said it like this:
“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
These are those who KNOW THEIR GOD and know how to enter the “Secret Place” with Him. These are those who remain steadfast in their faith. These are those who will win in the end!

Like it or not YOU ARE one of these four types of people, Which one are you?

I myself am striving to be a number 4. Not quite there yet, but working on it!
It takes much perseverance and reliance on Him, but I am sure I can make it because: “With God all things are possible!”

Which one are you?
Your fruit will tell others which one you are.

MY PRAYER…
Father God, thank You for giving me revelation knowledge of Your Word and of Your covenant with Your people. Thank You Lord for opening the eyes of my understanding that I may see and understand the promises that You made with our fathers and that you still honor in us today. Lord help me to renew my mind and to fill my heart with Your Words of Your covenant to me. Help me to understand the true meaning of Your Word, Your covenant, and Your promises. Help me Lord to know how to not allow anything to separate me from Your Love, Your grace, and Your mercy unto Your children. In Jesus mighty name, I pray.
Amen

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Knowing God’s will for your life!

Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
Ephesians 1:8-10 King James Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE(s)
Jesus is Lord! God’s plan was purposed in Christ from the very beginning. It centered on Christ coming at the right time (God’s perfect timing). God’s plan was to bring unity to His people in and through Christ by making Him Lord of all! What’s more, this plan that brings our salvation brings God great pleasure. God is the only loving, saving God and Jesus, who is God the Son, is both our Lord first, and then our Savior. Knowing God’s will is probably the most important thing you need to know. It really irks me when I hear people say/pray: “God, if it be Your will.” FIND OUT HIS WILL!! Read and study His Word until you know His will!! If you know God’s will then you will know how to pray properly. If you pray properly then your prayers are always answered!
So the real issue we face today is this: What area of our lives, our hearts, our secrets, our sin, our rebellion, have we not submitted to His Lordship? For when we have fully submitted ourselves unto His Lordship then and only then will we see the manifestations of all His promises begin to take shape in our lives. “On Earth just as it is in Heaven!”.

MY PRAYER…
O Precious Father, I know my heart can be deceitful. At times I even fool myself. But when I kneel in Your presence and I am convicted by Your Word, I find myself reminded of the areas I have not yet fully submitted to Your control and to Jesus’ lordship. Please, dear Father, use Your Holy Spirit to gently show and convict me of my self-deception so that I may be wholly lost in Your will. Help me Father by giving me the want to to submit all to you and then the power to do so. Through Jesus, Lord of lords, and King of Kings, I pray.
Amen

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Seedtime and harvest!
Then He said, “To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it? “It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth; “but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade.”
Mark 4:30-32

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE(s)
Jesus compares how the Kingdom of God works to that of planting seeds in the earth.
“Seedtime and harvest…, everything produces after it’s own kind….”
Genesis 8: 22 “While the earth remains,
Seedtime and harvest,
Cold and heat,
Winter and summer,
And day and night
Shall not cease.”

Take Note here Jesus didn’t say that the seed might grow or that it would only grow if it was God’s will! It really irks me when I hear people pray: “God, if it be Your will.” FIND OUT HIS WILL!! Read and study His Word until you know His will!!
No, He said, “It grows up and becomes greater.” Period.

God’s economy isn’t like the world’s. It isn’t on the rise one day and in a slump the next.
God’s economy is always the same and it always works perfectly.
God’s Word says if you plant a good (God kind of) seed in good soil, and water it properly, you’re going to have growth. Period!

So, if you find yourself in need, don’t get frustrated, don’t fret, and don’t get in a panic. Turn to God’s way of doing things and plant a Godly seed!

That seed may take the form of money, talents, time or some other resource you have to give. But no matter what form it takes, make sure you plant it in faith and give life to it by speaking God’s Word over it and surrounding it with praise and worship.

Pray over that seed. Fill it with faith, worship and the Word. Then plant it. You can rest assured—it will grow up and become greater!

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 55:10-11
“For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven,
And do not return there,
But water the earth,
And make it bring forth and bud,
That it may give seed to the sower
And bread to the eater,

So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me void,
But it shall accomplish what I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

MY PRAYER…
O Precious Father, I know my heart can be deceitful. At times I even fool myself. “Lord, as I bring You my worldly things, I bring myself. I give myself to You—spirit, soul and body.” Lord take these seeds that I have sown and apply your Kingdom rules to them. Cause them to sprout and grow and produce fruit, some 30, some 60, and some 100 percent that I may have seed for sowing and food to eat.
Amen

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To Tithe is NOT a question!

Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, (Your Local Church where you are pastored and cared for.)
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 (one translation says floodgates 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, is NOT a question! The scripture is very clear about what we are to do. And don’t use the excuse “That’s Old Testament, it doesn’t apply today.” Wrong answer – God never changes! And there are plenty enough verses in the “New Testament” to verify tithing is still for today!
Tithing, you mean we’re really supposed to do that? No, We GET to do that, we have a choice. God won’t make you do anything you don’t want to do. But, if you’re not tithing you are NOT doing God’s Word, if you are not doing God’s Word you can NOT expect to get anything from Him. And in fact, God said “You are cursed with a curse!” Tithing should always be done with a willing heart and cheerful heart, not because you have to. What is a tithe you ask? It is a tenth or 10% of your first fruits. In other words to make it easy for, when you get your check the first thing you should do is put aside your tithe. It’s easy, take the check amount, let’s say it is $1,534.20 your tithe is 10% of that. Just pick up the decimal point and move it one place to the left, $153.42 that’s your tithe and that is supposed to come out first for God before you do anything else with the money, it is His. See “God’s Financial Plan For Mankind” By Pastor Donald L. Kielley Jr. God even 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 right? 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 gate (an opening for water or better yet a dam). 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, Life or death, Blessings or curse…Tithe or not to tithe. God even helps with the choice, in Deuteronomy 30 verse 19, He tells us to choose life!
I chose the Blessings!

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

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Are you robbing from 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 from God? What happened to your tithing, why did it stop? Are you giving tithes (plus additional offerings) through the church you attend? Or do you even believe in tithing, 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? Let me tell you something you may not know. God is not asking you for something that is not His already. The tithe, a tenth of your first fruits, is His period! Everything we are and everything we have belongs to God, He gave us the ability to gain wealth. If it were not for Him we would not/could not take our next breath! But, all He asks in return is that we give 1/10th of our first fruit (what is rightfully His anyway) and an additional offering occasionally. 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 28% or more, and we would dare deny God His 10%? Restaurants are expecting at least 15% tips to your server nowadays and yet God only wants the 10% that is already His! 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. Some of you are testing God – you have stopped tithing (God knows who you are!). Be careful, God will not be tested or mocked! If you are not tithing you are cursed with a curse!. I didn’t say that, God did in His Word!

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 work within our hearts Your Word so that we have the ability to do 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

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Covenant

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…
Do you have a Covenant with God?
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

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Christian

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23 New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
Are you really a Christian? Christianity is not a religion when practiced correctly – religion is being like the Pharisees and Sadducees of old, or Roman Catholics today. No, that’s not true Christianity. Christianity is being Christ-Like and Christ-centered in everything you do. A lot of different religious groups will give you all sorts of ways to know whether or not you are filled with the Holy Spirit. Jesus has one simple answer: “by their fruit you will know them.” Paul gives us the definition of Holy fruit, of being filled with and letting the Holy Spirit live in and guide your life. Say them out loud and ask the Lord to make it true in you: LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS, SELF-CONTROL. Notice which one is first! Do you walk in them daily? All of them? Let the Holy Spirit come and live in you and guide you daily. He will bring them to pass in your life. You can say you are Christian because you go to church every Sunday, but just like standing in a McDonalds won’t make you a hamburger neither will just going to church. You MUST have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ! He must be your Lord and you must walk the talk also. Are you really a Christian or are you just religious?

MY PRAYER…
Abba Father, in the name of Jesus I call upon You. Please help me to fulfill in myself the character You possess and desire for me to possess. I want to exhibit the qualities of Your Son, Jesus in my daily life. I want Your Holy Spirit to fill me and dwell, abide, make His permanent home in me, that I might allow Him to lead, guide, and teach me all the days of my life. That my fruit would bear forth and be a witness of Your indwelling presence in my life. Most of all, Lord that I be filled with and walk in the same love for people that You do.
Through Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen

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Fulfilling Your Call

Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;
Romans 1:5-6 New King James Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
For our obedience to faith in Jesus we have been given grace and apostleship among the nations in His name. Jesus commanded us to go into all the world and preach the Gospel (The Good News), making disciples of all men. We are not to be preaching doctrines of men or church doctrine/history, or really even something they taught at seminary! Unless it is the Word of God unchanged! We are to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified for us. Sounds like apostleship to me. And because of our faith in Him, He, Jesus, has called us to do this. Not just certain people, like those that are pastors or missionaries, but ALL BELIEVERS are called to do this. Are you fulfilling your call? Have you answered the call? Jesus says in His Word, (Matt. 20:16 KJV) “So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.” The chosen ones are those who answer the call and do what Jesus says to do! Are you fulfilling your call?

MY PRAYER…
Father, I thank You for Your grace. I thank You Father, that You have called us who believe to be apostles unto the nations. That You have placed Your grace and Your seal on that calling. Father, I ask You to help me to increase in faith, to increase in the things of You and most of all Father, I ask You to help me to decrease. To remove from me those things that are not of You, to make room for more of You and Your love and compassion for your people. Father, I pray that everyone who is reading this will fall on their face before You and call out to You and re-dedicate themselves to You. That they will accept Your call and become part of the “Chosen” ones. In Jesus’ name, I pray and ask this.
Amen

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