“And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

Deuteronomy 8:18 NKJV

This may be a startling revelation to some Christians, but God has actually given us the power to get wealth. This is the first step. Before you can learn the steps to attaining wealth, you have to first acknowledge that wealth is God’s plan for you. I pray by the end of this article the Holy Spirit will quicken this truth to your heart.

And you shall remember the Lord your God…

We as Westerners are at a disadvantage sometimes because we are reading an Eastern book. Do not get me wrong, it applies to Westerners but we must interpret the Bible in the light of the understanding of the people who initially received it. The Bible is a covenant book filled with covenant terminology. “Remember” is a covenant word. When we as Westerners read the word “remember” we think of it as having something stored somewhere back in our mental “hard drive”.  Actually, to “remember” means to have ever before our thinking. So remember (to use a contemporary example) means not to have the Word stored in you mental “hard drive” but rather have it constantly pulled up on the “computer screen” of your consciousness. We have to analyze everything we encounter in the light of the Bible. The main way we practice covenant remembrance is through meditation.

I remember the days of old;
I meditate on all Your works;
I muse on the work of Your hands.

Psalm 143:5 NKJV

1 Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.

3 He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.

Psalm 1:1-3 NKJV

 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Joshua 1:8 NKJV

Biblical meditation means to speak, mutter, ponder to one’s self, and imagine. Meditation is the process that gets the scripture from our heads to our hearts. When we study and read the Bible it is like preparing a meal. When we meditate the Word it is like feeding on that meal. To study and not meditate the Word is like preparing an elaborate meal and not feeding upon it.  We meditate by taking a scripture apart in bite sized portions and “chewing on” it over and over. Here is quick non- exhaustive example of meditation taken from Acts 10:38.

how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

Acts 10:38 NKJV

..how God anointed Jesus of Nazereth…..Christ means the anointed one and His anointing…Here is a glimpse into what Christ means to us…

with the Holy Spirit and with power….Jesus said that we would receive the same power (Gr-dunamis) after that the Holy Spirit has come upon us.

.. who went about doing good… God anointed Jesus to do something….. If we want more anointing we must do something… Jesus did good things… Anything that is not good does not come from the Father or Jesus….  Jesus came to give us life more abundantly….. It is the thief (satan) who steals kills and destroys (John 10:10).

…healing all who were oppressed by the devil… the Bible calls sickness oppression of the devil, not God’s little blessing in disguise…. Jesus healed all.. it is God’s will that everyone be healed…

… for God was with Him. Jesus in the incarnation emptied himself and accepted the limitations of man (Philippians 2:7 Gr)….. So everything Jesus did, He did as a man anointed with the Holy Spirit….. He said the works He does we can do also because He went to the Father….

Another definition of meditation is to imagine. We have to imagine ourselves walking out the provision God has promised us.  It is not enough to imagine God giving someone wealth. We have to see ourselves walking in the provision. We have to see God’s Word speaking to us personally. So when you meditate the scripture  put it in the first person.

When You said, “Seek My face,”
My heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.”

Psalm 27:8 NKJV

God says “I will supply all your needs” (Philippians 4:19). I say “You, God, supply all of my needs”.

God says “I give you power to get wealth” (Deuteronomy 8:18). I say “I receive Your power that gives me wealth!”`

For it is He (God) who gives you power to get wealth…

We have to let the Word of God define wealth for us. Some say, “Well brother God just makes us spiritually wealthy”. Really? Let us look at how the Bible defines wealth.

1. An abundance of natural resources.

7 For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, that flow out of valleys and hills;

9 a land whose stones are iron and out of whose hills you can dig copper.

Deuteronomy 8:7,9 NKJV

1. An abundant supply of food.

8 a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey;

 9 a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity…

10 When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you.

Deuteronomy 8:8,9-10 NKJV

3. An abundance in livestock.

when your herds and your flocks multiply…

Deuteronomy 8:13 NKJV

And Abram was very rich in cattle…

Genesis 13:2 NKJV

…..for he (Isaac) had possessions of flocks and herds.

Genesis 26:14 NKJV

Blessed shall be….the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks.

Deuteronomy 28:4 NKJV

4. Beautiful homes.

…when you… have built beautiful houses to dwell in them.

Deuteronomy 8:12 NKJV

5. Fine Clothing.

28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin;

 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Matthew 6:28-30 NKJV

How do you suppose  Solomon, who threw away silver because he had so much gold, would be clothed?

…I will clothe you with rich apparel.

Zechariah 3:4 Amp

…for her (Tyre or the wicked’s) gain will be for those who dwell before the Lord, to eat sufficiently, and for fine clothing.

Isaiah 23:18 NKJV

Even Jesus’s garment was so expensive that the Roman soldiers gambled for it rather than dividing it (John 19:23-24).

6. Multiplication financially.

And Abram was very rich cattle, in silver and in gold.

Genesis 13:1 NKJV

Now I ask you, was this a spiritual cow? Was this spiritual silver and gold?

And when …your silver and gold are multiplied…

Deuteronomy 8:13 NKJV

He (God) also brought them (His people) out with silver and gold….

Psalm 105:37 NKJV

I the Lord…multiplied her silver and gold…

Hosea 2:8 NKJV

…Who lavished on her silve and gold….

Hosea 2:8 Amplified

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

2 Corinthians 8:9 NKJV

in order that by His poverty you might become enriched (abundantly supplied).

2 Corinthians 8:9 Amplified

7. Freedom from debt.

 For the Lord your God will bless you just as He promised you; you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow; you shall reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over you.

Deuteronomy 15:6 NKJV

The wicked borrow and pay not again [for they may be unable], but the [uncompromisingly] righteous deal kindly and give [for they are able].

Psalm 37:21 NKJV

God does not want us to be a servant to this world system.

The rich rules over the poor,
And the borrower is servant to the lender.

Proverbs 22:7 NKJV

And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them.

Deuteronomy 28:13 NKJV

8. Multiplication of all things.

 Now the land was not able to support them (Abram and Lot), that they might dwell together, for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together.

Genesis 13:6 NKJV

…and when…all that you have is multiplied…

Deuteronomy 8:13 NKJV

“The Lord will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand, and He will bless you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you.

And the Lord will grant you plenty of goods….

The Lord will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand.

Deuteronomy 28:8,11, 12 NKJV

8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

11 while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.

2 Corinthians 9:8,11 NKJV

You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous in every way.

2 Corinthians 9:11 Common English Bible

32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Matthew 6:32-33 NKJV

Set your heart on the kingdom and his goodness, and all these things will come to you as a matter of course.

Matthew 6:33 J.B. Phillips

Now that we have let the Bible define wealth we have to renew our minds to the fact that God wants us to have wealth.  If poverty would have been the will of God, Adam would not have been put in such a prosperous place. God would have dropped him off in a desert rather than the garden of Eden. And he certainly would not have told him that the gold is good.

And the gold of that land is good. Bdellium and the onyx stone are there.

Genesis 2:12 NKJV

I can hear God telling Adam, “I know some religious joker will try to tell you differently later, but the gold is good.” It is interesting in history every civilization that has quit having gold backing their currency has fallen into financial ruin. God set a law in motion that gold is good. Not only is prosperity God’s will He initiated it. This fact is mirrored in the life of Abraham.

1Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father’s house,
To a land that I will show you.

2 I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.

Genesis 12:1-2 NKJV

Notice that God did not call out Abram (who would become Abraham) and Abram say, “I will if you bless me financially”. God initiated prosperity. We read earlier one way that prosperity manifested in Abram’s life just one chapter later.

Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold.

Genesis 13:2 NKJV

God’s purpose in blessing Abram and us is also illustrated in the fact that cattle, silver and gold are God’s signature blessings.

For every beast of the forest is Mine,
And the cattle on a thousand hills.

Psalm 50:10 NKJV

You have also taken your beautiful jewelry from My gold and My silver, which I had given you..

Ezekiel 16:17 NKJV

‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says the Lord of hosts.

Haggai 2:8 NKJV

Do not get me wrong, cattle, silver and gold are not the only way God blesses as we pointed out earlier. I would not know what to do with a cow if I had one. God will bring prosperity to us relative to how our culture defines it. I simply am pointing out the fact that the Holy Spirit orchestrated the events in such a way to illustrate that He was the source of Abram’s blessings.

13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”,

14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Galatians 3:13-14 NKJV

 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Galatians 3:29 NKJV

We as New Testament believers have a right to claim the same blessings Abraham walked in. We cannot define what Abraham’s (Abram’s) blessings were. We have to allow the Bible to do that. Abram was blessed the equivalent of material prosperity of his day.

David, who God Himself referred to as a man after His own heart (1 Samuel 13:14), knew the source of wealth.

Both riches and honor come from You,
And You reign over all.
In Your hand is power and might;
In Your hand it is to make great
And to give strength to all.

1 Chronicles 29:12 NKJV

David’s life demonstrated just that. A man who started off as a humble shepherd who was not even invited in when Samuel came to anoint a king in his household, gave a multi billion dollar offering to build the temple.

So he (David) died in a good old age, full of days and riches and honor; and Solomon his son reigned in his place.

1 Chronicles 29:28 NKJV

These are just a few examples of people who walked with God and prospered .The Bible is full of examples of people who, when they were in right relationship to God, increased financially. Isaac, Jacob, Solomon, and Jehoshaphat just to name a few.  I encourage you, do not take my word for it. Study the Word for yourself and you will see it is true.

In this message taken from accounts of physically barren women in the Bible I draw parallels on how we can be delivered from spiritual barrenness.

Definition of Faith.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1 NKJV

“The beginning of wisdom is the definition of terms” ~Socrates

One of the most common errors in Christianity is not allowing the Bible to define itself.  Although I am grateful to live in a predominately Christian nation, one of its unfortunate side affect is that everyone has an opinion about what the Bible says. We have to examine, however, where we got our ideas about the Bible.

We should view Bible study as divine communication. When we study our Bible see it as God speaking to us personally. Ed Cole said that, “Communication is the Basis (fundamental ingredient) of life”.  In any communication, however, there is always an understanding gap between the speaker and the hearer. The more you get to know the speaker the narrower the gap gets. When we hear things they go through our filters of experience, religious teaching, and other contexts so that many times the intent of the speaker is skewed. This fact is illustrated in the word “Logos” which is translated “Word” in many of our English Bible translations. According to W.E. Vine “Logos” is “a word, account, etc.,” sometimes denotes “a reason, cause, intent,”. Another words, it goes beyond merely the words spoken, to the words with the thought and intent behind it. We have to be sure God’s Word spoken to us resonates in us the way He intended it. For illustration purposes, consider Genesis 24:64.

And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel.

Genesis 24:64 KJV

The uninformed American reader could easily mistake this passage for smoking a cigarette. In an attempt to look seductive to her suitor, Rebekah fired up a stogie. Conjuring up images of old black and white 40’s bombshell flicks.  Actually (as I am sure you probably know), “lighted off” is just a real Elizabethan way of saying “She got off of her camel, man.” I know this is a silly illustration, but not as strange as some I have actually heard from people!

The New Testament teaches that the whole world system is flowing with the Satanic influence (Ephesians 2:2, 1 John 5:19). One of the attempts of Satan is to replace biblical words with counterfeits. He does not take them out of our conversation but replaces them with watered down versions. For example, consider the word “believe”. In the Bible it is the verb form of pistis (faith), pisteou. Americans, however, use the word “believe” as “I think so” or “maybe so”. Someone asks, “Are you going to town tomorrow?” To which you answer, “I believe so.” By believe you mean “I think so” or “maybe so”. This is not how the Bible uses that word.

It is much like carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide kills an average of 1500 people a year. The reason carbon monoxide is so lethal is because it so closely resembles a oxygen molecule that the red blood cells readily take it in. Yet being more dense than an oxygen molecule it gets lodged in the red blood cell thus suffocating it. This is the way it is with misunderstood biblical terminology. Because it is a biblical word or phrase we innately are drawn to it and take it in. Yet, their religious tradition distorts the original meaning and it is destructive to the hearer not allowing the truth to come into their heart thus suffocating their faith.

making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.”

Mark 7:13 NKJV

“Faith” is one of the most understood of biblical words. The following are some misconceptions of faith.

1. Faith is not merely the belief that there is a God.

We have all experienced it. We share the love of Jesus with someone and encourage them to have faith. To which, they respond, “But I believe in God”. To which I usually respond, “Congratulations, you have attained to devil level faith”.

You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!

James 2:19 NKJV

Do not get me wrong. Believing there is a God out there beyond Pluto somewhere is a form of faith. It is just not Bible level faith. The implication in the previous passage is believing in God is not enough.

2. The Cessationist misconception of Faith.

Cessationism is the belief that the supernatural gifts such as divine healing, prophecy, and tongues have passed away. There are many strands of this line of thinking of which an exhaustive study is not the purpose of this article. Some teach that God withdrew the supernatural gifts when the last apostle John died .  Others teach that they passed away when the canon of scripture was complete. Regardless of when, they believe it has passed away. Bottom line, according to them, the supernatural is not happening now.  Maybe at some future point I will demonstrate how both scripture and history easily disprove this line of thinking.  The following is an exerpt from the writings of Augustine.

“We still do what the apostles did when they laid hands on the Samaritans and called down the Spirit on them…It is expected that the converts should speak with tongues.”

Augustine (4th Century)

Keep in mind this is fourth century. Long after the gifts had supposedly passed away. The Bible does not speak of a day of miracles but a God of miracles who never changes.

“ For I am the LORD, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob…”

Malachi 3:6 NKJV

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Hebrews 13:8 NKJV

Although most followers of the cessationist doctrine trace their origin to John Darby and C.I. Scofield the fingerprints of this deception trace back to even Jesus’s day.

We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from.”

John 9:29 NKJV

Notice the mentality. We know God spoke back then but not now. This way of thinking has tainted many people’s concept of faith. They are convinced that the fact that they believe that Jesus healed the sick two thousand years ago is the same as biblical faith.  They say, “I believe Jesus healed the sick, Amen”. “I believe Jesus walked on the water, Hallelujah”.  They are convinced that makes them a faith giant. The entire thrust of their faith is rooted in the past. Another symptom of cessationist thinking is future based.

Jesus said to her, “Your brother (Lazarus) will rise again.”

Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

John 11:23-24 NKJV

Martha would fit in well in many modern churches today. Jesus is talking to her about raising Lazarus from the dead right now. Yet, she gets religious and says, “I know he will be raised  up in the last day. In the sweet by and by, when we all die or fly, but ‘til then we are going to cry because all we can do is try.” Jesus had to refocus her faith from being future oriented to present tense oriented.

Those are the two ditches that cessationist find themselves in. I know God did something back then and I know He will do something again when I get to heaven. But, according to them, if you need something now you are sunk because that all passed away. According to the Bible that is not faith. Bible faith is always in the now.

Now faith is (present tense) the substance of things hoped for…

Hebrews 11:1 NKJV

But without faith it is (present tense) impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is (present tense), and that He is (present tense) a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Hebrews 11:6 NKJV

Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray (present tense), believe that you receive them , and you will have them.

Mark 11:24 NKJV

(Parenthesis mine)

When we put everything we receive from God off into the sweet by and by , we will faint and lose heart.

I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

Psalm 27:13 KJV

I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living.

Psalm 27:13 NKJV

Can you see how the cessationist mentality has created weak and discouraged Christians. They have no faith nor hope of anything that pertains to this life. If we want to be victorious and pleasing to God (see Hebrews 11:6), we must appropriate the faith of God in all of our present circumstances.

3. Faith verses Fate/Fatalism.

Fate- 1.something that unavoidably befalls a person; fortune; lot: It is always his fate to be left behind.

2.the universal principle or ultimate agency by which the order of things is presumably prescribed; the decreed cause of events; time: Fate decreed that they would never meet again.

3.that which is inevitably predetermined; destiny: Death is our ineluctable fate.

Fatalism–noun 1. the acceptance of all things and events as inevitable; submission to fate: Her fatalism helped her to face death with stoic calm.

2.Philosophy . the doctrine that all events are subject to fate or inevitable predetermination.

(Dictionary.com)

The belief that all events are decided in advance by God or Fate so that human beings are powerless to alter their destiny.

The Definition of Faith is Not Fate or Fatalism

What many people, even Christian, call faith is actually fate or fatalism. We can easily see how the two could be confused by the fact that they even sound the same. Fatalism says, “Ca sara, sara, what ever will be will be.” Many call this a Christian doctrine but it traces to Greek and Roman mythology. According to Greek and Roman mythology, Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos control human destiny and are referred to as “the Fates”. I am embarrassed as a Christian that much of the professing Christianity could be hoodwinked by mythology. Let us look at some fatalistic phrases.

a. “God is in Control”

We see this phrase everywhere from songs to bumper stickers yet it is an unscriptural concept. I know this flies in the face of everything  you have ever heard from religion. But we have to see what the Bible says. Dominion over this earth was originally given to man.

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” Genesis 1:26 NKJV

The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’s; But the earth He has given to the children of men.

Psalm 115:16 NKJV

What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?

For You have made him a little lower than the angels (literally-Elohim-God), And You have crowned him with glory and honor.

You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet,

Psalm 8:4-6 NKJV

All dominion over the earth was given to Adam and he bowed his knee to satan and forfeited his dominion to him.

Then the devil, taking Him (Jesus)up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.  And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.

Luke 4:5-6 NKJV

Had this statement not been partialy true, it would not have been a valid temptation. This authority was delivered when Adam bowed his knee reliquishing his authority . This is how satan became the “god of this world”.

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

2 Corinthians 4:4 KJV

in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air (satan), the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,

Ephesians 2:2 NKJV

We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.

1 John 5:19 NKJV

When Jesus raised from the dead he stripped satan of all authority and regained the authority Adam had lost.

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

Matthew 28:18 NKJV

Because of what Jesus did we as individual believers have our authority restored. We can take dominion over the elements of the curse operating in our lives. However, the earth will not be back under God’s dominion until Jesus sets up His earthly kingdom during the millinial reign. So all of the disaster happening on the earth is not the will of God. It is, rather, the work of satan who is the “god of this world”.

Some say, “Then why don’t God just hurry up and kick the devil out”? The answer is that when God finally judges satan and removes him from the earth all those who  have not accepted Jesus as their personal saviour will be judged as well. It is spiritual law that people receive the same judgement as their lord (which if you have not received Jesus as Lord, satan is your lord by default). God is holding back in His mercy to give everyone ample opportunity to avoid judgement.

If everything that happened was the will of God we would not be commanded to submit to God and resist the devil.

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you

James 4:7 NKJV

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.  Resist him, steadfast in the faith, …

1 Peter 5:8-9 NKJV

Jesus says that everything that steals, kills, and destroys if from the devil (John 10:10). There fore we must resist anything that steals, kills, and destroys.

how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

Acts 10:38 NKJV

And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up.  But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.” And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?”

Luke 13:11-13,16 NKJV

The rich man’s wealth is his strong city; The destruction of the poor is their poverty.

Proverbs 10:15 NKJV

Since poverty destroys then we know it is from the devil and must be resisted.

b. “It must not be God’s time.”

As innocent as it may sound, this second phrase (or any dirivative of it) is another form of fatalistic thinking. In the general will of God, covered in the Bible, God’s time is always now.

Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

2 Corinthians 6:2b  NKJV

Save now, I pray, O LORD; O LORD, I pray, send now prosperity.

Psalm 118:25 NKJV

c. “God works in mysterious ways”/ “You never know what God is going to do.”

Once again, very religious sounding but not biblical.

But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

1 Corinthians 2:10-12 NKJV

that we might realize and comprehend and appreciate the gifts [of divine favor and blessing so freely and lavishly] bestowed on us by God.

1 Corinthians 2:12 Amplified

Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Ephesians 5:17 NKJV

God would be unjust to command us to know His will if it were not possible to do so.

d. “…if it be thy will.”

Many sincere believers tack this faith destroying phrase at the end of their prayers. The implication being, if they receive what they pray for it was the will of God. If they do not receive, it was not the will of God. I have heard many Christians say, “God answers three ways. Yes, No, and wait a while.” But this violates the clear teachings of scripture.

For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.

2 Corinthians 1:20 NKJV

For as many as are the promises of God, they all find their Yes [answer] in Him [Christ]. For this reason we also utter the Amen (so be it) to God through Him [in His Person and by His agency] to the glory of God.

2 Corinthians 1:20 Amplified

All of God’s promises have their yes in him. That is why we say amen through him to the glory of God.

2 Corinthians 1:20 Common English Bible

Christ says “Yes” to all of God’s promises.

2 Corinthians 1:20 CEV

We have to know the will of God before we pray or we will not have confidence.

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

1 John 5:14-15 NKJV

If we put an “if”in our prayer, we are not in faith.

Jesus said, “If? There are no ‘ifs’ among believers. Anything can happen.”

Mark 9:23 The Message

e. “This must be happening for a reason”/ “I must be suffering for God’s glory”.

It is human nature to try to find some high spooky spiritual reason for their suffering. The reason they are suffering is that satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). Others are even as arrogant to say that their suffering is somehow redemptive. This implies that, first, you are qualified to redeem mankind with your suffering. This is the height of spiritual pride. Secondly, it implies that Jesus’s sacrificial work was not enough without you adding to it. The New Testament teaches that we will suffer persecution. But anything Jesus suffered for us we need not suffer. Jesus was made poor with our poverty (2 Corinthians 8:9) so we need not bear it. Jesus was made sick with our sickness.

He is despised, and left of men, A man of pains, and acquainted with sickness, And as one hiding the face from us, He is despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely our sicknesses he hath borne, And our pains — he hath carried them…

Isaiah 53:3-4a YLT

Jesus bore our sickness so need not carry them and to do so would be to belittle Jesus’s sacraficial work. Jesus was made sin with our sin (2 Corinthians 5:21) so we need not carry the penalty of them.

These are just a few examples of fatalistic phrases that even Christians use. I will leave you with one final thought.

For we walk by faith, not by sight.

2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV

If you try to discern the will of God by what is manifest in the seen realm you are walking by sight and not by faith. The only trustworthy guide to finding the will of God is His written word.  Learn how the accurate Definition of Faith will work for you.

Every committed parent wants their children to be happy, strong and successful. And, we who are in covenant with God expect more—we expect our seed to walk in The Blessing. However, this does not happen automatically.

The promises of the Lord, including those in the Deuteronomy 28:1-14, are based on the If/Then Principle. If you adhere to the command or take the action on it, then you will receive the accompanying promise. In the opening passage Jesus said, “If you abide (or remain) in me.” The same verbiage is used in Deuteronomy, “If you fully obey these commands,” and “If you refuse to obey these commands.” So if you want your children to live in The Blessing, then, you must sow the Word; and, at the proper time, it will activate The Blessing.

Jacob’s children are a good example to look to for insight on this truth. Genesis 37 begins the story of Jacob and his sons. The Bible does not record what type of father Jacob had been to his older sons, but it is clear in the text that he took more time sowing into his then youngest son, Joseph. As a result, God began using Joseph at a young age through prophetic dreams.

It is also apparent in this chapter that the older sons were in fact living off the benefits of The Blessing in their father’s life. This is what many young people who were brought up in Christian homes are doing today. They have no regard for the source of their blessed lifestyle nor do they recognize the dedication it took by their parents to get there. So going to church once or twice a week and taking a trip with the youth group is just something they do to keep the nagging down and their allowances up. Joseph’s brothers prove this when they immediately blame him for the troubles they had with their father. They concluded that by getting rid of him, they could return to life as usual—that is, they could continue to pull the wool over their elderly father’s eyes. But ultimately, who was to blame for this bitter sibling rivalry?

When Joseph, who had been trained in righteousness, brought back an evil report (v.2), his brother’s turned on him. In the years and trials that followed, The Blessing was activated in Joseph’s life. He had not been spoiled and he was not ungrateful. Joseph was aware of Who had blessed his father Jacob and why. I imagine that since Jacob was older when he had Joseph, he was more reflective and probably spent a great deal of time telling Joseph about his own trials. Surely Jacob shared with Joseph about how he fled from home as a youngster, made a covenant with God, and became more blessed than he could’ve imagined—and Joseph took it all in.

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6)

Joseph had been properly trained in the way of the Lord. Consequently, he was able to stand through humiliating adversity and save his entire family.

What good is it to live in covenant with God and have The Blessing on your life only to have it trampled on and squandered by your own children? Moses commanded in Deuteronomy 6:7, “Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” The word impress really stands out to me in this passage. Your life lived in The Blessing should have an impression on your seed—a life changing one.

It is your responsibility to sow the Word into their hearts and teach them to seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness above all else. They learn from you how to be Christians, husbands, wives, moms and dads. Your children should know that you tithe and why you do so. The Word must be sown into them in order for them to truly inherit The Blessing. I often say, “I must be what I want my children to be.” This is a tall order and definitely holds my feet to the fire where my children are concerned.

Whenever I see some unpleasant trait or behavior in my son or daughter, I immediately conduct a self analysis. God blessed me with the responsibility of preparing His children for their destiny. They must know His Word and recognize Him as the source of all Blessing. If you succeed in doing this, then you will see The Blessing in the lives of your children just as Jacob saw it in Joseph’s.

They only get to be children once, but that time will affect their entire lives. For some, this is confirmation. For others, it’s a wake up call. Yes, I know it’s work. But the rewards are multigenerational and literally priceless. This was also a command of Moses in Deuteronomy (Chapter 4:9). God wanted to ensure that The Blessing endured.

Continuously remind your children of how and why they enjoy the things they enjoy. Impress upon them that without a real relationship with the Source, they’ll never be truly happy, successful or strong. You sow the Word and, at the proper time, The Blessing will carry your children to their destiny in Him.

(Please understand I am not being critical of precious people who have thought this way, we have all missed it in some area or the other.)  The Bible teaches however that Jesus our High Priest is easily touched with our infirmities.

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15 KJV)

How we pray determines our effectiveness in receiving from the Lord.

You ask, and do not receive, because you ask wrongly…. (James 4:3a Greens Literal Translation)

We have to pray according to God’s prescribed methods, found in His Word, if we want to be in position to receive from God. Cain approached God his own way and his offering was rejected (Genesis 4:4-5, Hebrews 11:4).

1. When you pray you must believe you have right standing with God.

II Corinthians 5:21 says that if you are in Christ you are the righteousness of God in Christ. I you are not in Christ, receiving the New Birth is not hard. Although human religions make it difficult, God made it easy. Simply pray:

“Lord Jesus, I believe you died for me, I believe you rose from the dead. I receive you as Lord. Lord, You said, whosoever would come to you; you would no wise cast out. So I receive your forgiveness now in Jesus Name. AMEN”

You may say, “but you don’t know what I have done”. II Corinthians 5:20 says that God is not keeping score and keeping a record of our sins. The only sin that can separate us from God and send us to hell is rejecting the Lordship of Jesus.

Now that we have accepted Jesus as our Lord we have right standing with God. If you have right standing with God and been made righteous you can expect your praying to produce results.

The earnest prayer of a righteous man has great power and wonderful results. (James 5:16b New Living Translation)

2. You must know what God’s Word says about healing and health.

… “If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you.” (Exodus 15:26 New King James Version)

“I will put” is an unfortunate translation of this passage. God never has and never will put sickness on anyone. Jesus said that anything that kills, steals and destroys comes from the devil and that He only brings things that bring life more abundantly (John 10:10). According to Robert Young, a noted Hebrew scholar, many passages in the Old Testament in our English translations that say that God did certain things should have been translated “allowed”. In the Hebrew language (from which the Old Testament is translated) has no verbs for “allow”. That verse should be translated , ..I will allow none of these diseases to be put on you…”.

Notice, also, that God identifies Himself as “healer”. This is one of what has come to be known as the Covenant Names of God. In Biblical culture when two families made a covenant they would state the terms of their covenant agreement. If either family failed to uphold their end of the covenant agreement it would result in a death sentence because you violated this sacred oath. Hebrews 5:13 says that God swore by Himself because there was no greater to swear by. What does this mean? God was saying if He failed to uphold His agreement with Abraham and his descendants (which includes you and me, see Galatians 3:29), that He would self destruct! So when God identified Himself as healer He could no longer withhold healing from anyone without self destruction. Don’t worry that will never happen for it is impossible for God to lie (Hebrews 6:18).

Surely He (Jesus) has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows…And by His stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:4a-5 NKJV)

Although there are many debates in Christian circles about this passage, there is no debate that this passage speaks of Jesus’ redemptive work. In other words, this passage foretells part of what Jesus would accomplish through His death, burial , and resurrection. Both “griefs” and “sorrows” is a little blind to us. According to Strong’s Concordance the word translated “griefs” should be translated sickness. And “sorrows” should be translated pain or mental anguish.

Surely He has borne our griefs (sicknesses, weaknesses, and distresses) and carried our sorrows and pains [of punishment],… (Isaiah 53:4a Amplified Bible)

Surely our sicknesses he hath borne, And our pains — he hath carried them,… (Isaiah 53:4a Young’s Literal Translation)

Notice also how Matthew quotes Isaiah 53:4.

When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:  “ He Himself took our infirmities  And bore our sicknesses.” (Matthew 8:16-17 NKJV)

Not only does Matthew, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, use the words “sickness” and “infirmity”, he also uses it in the context of physical healing. Jesus ultimately took our sicknesses and diseases at the same time as He took our sins upon Himself in redemption. This principle is mirrored by the apostle Peter when he quotes Isaiah 53:5 in his letter.

who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. (I Peter 2:24 NKJV)

The stripes refer to the beating Jesus received at the hands of the Roman soldiers with a whip. The Roman whip was braided with stone, bones, and hooks that literally tore the flesh from Jesus body.  It is interesting to note that Isaiah looking foreward to redemption said “are healed” and Peter looking back said “were healed”. The Old Testament believers were walking in the benefit of what Jesus did although it had not played out on the canvas of time. How much more should we walk in the benefit of it now that it is a done deal in Christ!

Beloved I wish above all things that you may prosper in all things and be in health, even as your soul prospers. (III John 2 NKJV)

If you believe that this is truly the Word of God then you must acknowledge that this is an expression of the will of God. AS I mentioned earlier, many precious people pray, “Lord, heal me if it be our will.” Not realizing that they are calling God a liar and they are praying in unbelief. God cannot respond to a prayer such as that. God’s Word and His will are synonymous. According to Hebrews 1:3 in the New Living Translation, everything about Jesus “represents God exactly”. The New King James Version of the same passage calls Jesus the express image of  God the Father’s person. I challenge you to find one incident in the gospel accounts where Jesus refused healing to anyone who came to Him in faith. Simply put if Jesus is the will of God in action, then the Father will not refuse healing to anyone who comes to Him in faith.

And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. (James 5:15 NKJV)

Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, (Psalm 103:2-3 NKJV)

According to the previous passage if you deny that God heals all our diseases (not just some) then you have no basis to believe He forgives your iniquities or sins. You cannot pick and choose. You have to believe all of it or none. Thank God we do have forgiveness of sins but also the provision of health for our physical bodies.

We also have to know from the Word of God that what God does for one He wills to do for everyone.

“Now I really see that God shows no partiality…” (Acts 10:34 C. B. Williams)

If God chose to heal some while leaving others sick, He would be showing partiality.  I will refer you again to Jesus, the will of God in action, we do not have one account of Him saying, “I know I healed others but it is not the Father’s will to heal you. Go and suffer more you nasty thing.” No! Everyone who came to Jesus in faith was healed.

Jesus Christ the same, Yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8 New King James Version)

3.     We must ask in faith in accordance with the Word of God.

And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. (James 5:15 NKJV)

Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour. (Matthew 8:13 NKJV)

And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.”   And their eyes were opened. (Matthew 9:28-29 NKJV)

But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us. Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” (Mark 9:24b-23 NKJV)

Jesus said, “If? There are no ‘ifs’ among believers. Anything can happen.” (Mark 9:23 The Message)

“Did I not tell you”, replied Jesus, “that if you believed, you would see the wonder of what God can do?” (John 11:40 J.B. Phillips)

Therefore, [inheriting] the promise is the outcome of faith and depends [entirely] on faith, in order that it might be given as an act of grace (unmerited favor), to make it stable and valid and guaranteed to all his descendants–not only to the devotees and adherents of the Law, but also to those who share the faith of Abraham, who is [thus] the father of us all. (Romans 4:16 NKJV)

How do we get faith?

So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. (Romans 10:17 NKJV)

When you read scriptures pertaining to healing (or whatever you need) faith comes.  I recommend you read them aloud sometimes. Even as you are reading these words with ears to hear and an open heart, notice that many of you have a note of joy and peace that arises in your spirit. That note of joy and peace is faith arising in your heart.

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13 NKJV)

Thank God that He made faith easy. Say healing scriptures over and over to yourself and faith will come. And your faith will make a demand on the power and provision of God and bring into manifestation your healing!

4. We must understand that healing is a done deal in Christ.

We touched on this earlier but we have to get it in our hearts about the past tense of redemption and healing. Have you ever seen the cartoon with a donkey chasing a carrot tied to a stick tied to him. Now matter how fast he runs he can never catch the carrot out in front of him. This illustrates many believer’s approach to divine healing. They put healing as something God is going to do out in the future. Sadly, many never get their healing apart from the operation of the gifts of the spirit (which operate as God wills). The fact is that God did something about our healing 2000 years ago. Although Jesus purchased our redemption from sin 2000 years ago we did not reap the benefits until we laid hold onto it by faith. The same is true with our healing. Jesus already carried away our sicknesses and purchased our healing. Sickness has no legal right to exist in our body. But we must exercise our God given dominion over that sickness and disease.

For all the promises of God in Him are yes and in Him amen (so be it), to the glory of God through us. (II Corinthians 1:20 NKJV)

Some religious folks say, “Sometimes God answers, ‘yes’, and sometimes God answers, ‘no’ and sometimes He answers, ‘maybe’.  But the Bible (you know, the book you wag to church every Sunday) says that God always answers “yes” to His promises and never says “no”. Healing is more than a promise, it is an accomplished fact.  When we speak the Word of God over our situation we are activating spiritual law. And the same power that created the universe  is at your disposal to bring healing and health.

This is the whole duty of man. Fear God and keep His commandments. Is that a great verse or what?! After all his exasperated venting in Ecclesiastes, Solomon summed it up with the sane unbiased truth. Our duty as human beings is simply to fear the Lord. If we do this, we will experience God’s best all the days of our lives. We’ll have heaven on earth (Deuteronomy 11:21). This fear fuels our faith. I want to take you on a journey through the Word and show you some of the benefits offered to Christians for doing their duty of fearing the Lord. Some you will be familiar with, and some you may learn for the first time. Take hold of them all and renew your mind; reject the fear that attempts to hold you captive and cling to the fear that makes you free!

The fear of the Lord gives men wisdom and causes them to prosper. No lack is a result of possessing it. Godly fear provides protection for your children and lengthens your days. So why are so many people, Christians in particular, living with the debilitating tormenting fear caused by the evil one? I answered that question in part one of this series, Fear’s Worst Enemy,—they do not trust God. Furthermore, Christians lack the proper form of Godly reverence and awe (fear) required to successfully live the Christian life. Coupled with complete trust in God, the fear of the Lord will bring you to a perfect place.

This is what God has always wanted for His people. Study the Old Testament and note the instances where people actually confessed they were afraid of men because God was with them. The following chapters are references of individuals and/or nations fearing God’s people: Genesis 20, 26 and 50; Exodus 1; Joshua 2; 2 Chronicles 17. Micah wrote, “they shall be afraid of the Lord our God, and shall fear because of thee (v. 17:7).”

It is our duty to fear the Lord. If I fear the Lord I automatically follow His commands. In my mind, the two can’t be separated. Disobedience is an indication that I do not fear God. Dread and anxiety in my life imply that I doubt the truth of God’s Word—I don’t trust Him or fear (stand in awe and revere) Him. It’s a tough pill to swallow. Fearing God means that I obey Him. When I obey Him, He is OBLIGATED (yes, you can obligate God) to perform all the good things He promised (Deuteronomy 28). It’s a chain reaction. Fear God. Obey His commands. Live in the Blessing. Fuel my faith.

Below I’ve listed 21 benefits of fearing the Lord. Each promise is accompanied by its verse. Meditate on these and confess them over your life. This fear will not only fuel your faith, but it will eradicate anxiety and dread from your life.

1. Length of Days (Deuteronomy 6:2)
2. Helps you lead and make godly decisions (2 Chronicles 19:7)
3. Brings honor from the Lord (Psalm 15:4)
4. Causes you to worship (Psalm 33:8)
5. You will lack nothing (Psalm 34:9)
6. Releases you from the fear of man (Psalm 56:4)
7. You will be Blessed by God (Psalm 115:13)
8. Is Clean (Psalm 19:9)
9. You will be blessed in your labor (Psalm 128:2)
10. Your spouse and children will be blessed (Psalm 128:3)
11. Is the Beginning of Wisdom (Psalm 111:10) *wisdom is the proper application of knowledge
12. Is the Beginning of Knowledge (Proverbs 1:7) *knowledge is the information you know
13. Causes hate for evil (Proverbs 8:13)
14. Brings confidence (Proverbs 14:26)
15. Is a fountain of life (Proverbs 14:27)
16. Delivers from evil (Proverbs 16:6)
17. Brings riches, honor and life (Proverbs 22:4)
18. It will be well with you (Ecc 8:12)
19. Is the key to your treasure (Isaiah 33:6)
20. The Lord hears and remembers you (Malachi 3:16)
21. Causes you to witness (2 Corinthians 5:11)

Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.—Psalm 33:8

What a list! Now go on in faith and do your duty! Fear God. Obey His commands. Live in the Blessing. Fuel your faith.

Be blessed friends, and have the perfect day everyday!

Shontta

Abraham Commanded to Leave Relatives

Abraham is called the father of our faith. And what was the first decision he had to make? What was the initial test of his faith or belief in God as the true and living God? Read it for yourself.

“Now [in Haran] the Lord said to Abram, Go for yourself [for your own advantage] away from your country, from your relatives and your father’s house, to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you [with abundant increase of favors] and make your name famous and distinguished, and you will be a blessing [dispensing good to others].

—Genesis 12:1-2 AMP

It says for your own advantage. What I am trying to get you to do here is to think. Think about God who is intentional about everything He does. If Abram had been hung up on the whole blood is thicker than water philosophy, he would not be the father of our faith. Abram’s relatives were pagan polytheistic people. They believed in multiple gods—that was the life he was accustomed to. Would you do what he did? Leave your family and everything you’ve ever known to follow a God you’ve never known? Let’s fast forward and see what Jesus said about such a situation.

Peter said to him, “We have left everything to follow you!” “I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “No one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

—John 10:28-31NIV

So we see here that it is neither unbiblical nor uncommon for those of us who choose to walk with Christ to literally be forced to choose between our relatives and God. But, God is so wonderful. He’s never trying to take something from us; He’s always trying to get The Blessing to us! If you focus on the latter half of both passages, you find the promise attached to the act of obedience—Blessing. Please don’t misunderstand me. I’m not saying all family relationships are toxic or ones we need to limit our exposure to. It’s the ones that pose a threat to our full participation in our walk with Christ. God is a jealous God—He wants all of you. Then He blesses you and gives you all of Himself (see Luke 12:32).

You see God chose Abram because He knew him. God knew that Abram would command his children after him and teach them to serve the Lord (Genesis 18:19). This is ultimately what the Lord wants. He is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He wants the generations. And most of us know from experience that in most cases, we have to start where Abraham started—it’s not easy! Especially when you come from one of two extremes—either no church at all or you grew up in church.

On the one hand, turning from a pagan or heathen background to Christ brings instant ridicule and, in some cases, the person is ostracized. Or, a case such as mine own. I grew up around the things of God, but there wasn’t a true example of Deuteronomy 28:1-14 set before me. No one was fully obeying, so the results were tainted. As I came into more knowledge and choose to walk in it, however, the negative treatment by unenlightened relatives was similar to a person who’d come from a non-Christian background. It’s quite painful. It is a blessing blocker.

Have you been struggling with some decisions concerning this issue? If not, perhaps you know someone who is. I want to conclude with some references to assure you that you that you are in good company. If you make the right decisions, you will walk straight into The Blessing of the Lord. And the wonderful part about it is that your relatives can make the same choice you did! You want them to. Just don’t let their hesitation stifle you. I don’t have space to expand on every reference, but as I stated at the start of this series, I want you to dig into the Word for yourself. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you about your individual situation and stop these blessing blockers in their tracks!

Biblical Relative Examples

Abraham chose to take Lot with him and this caused him grief on more than one occasion (Genesis 13, 14). I know Jacob sowed some bad seed, but his own uncle attempted to stamp out God’s blessing that was obviously on him (Genesis 29-31). Ruth ended up in the bloodline of Christ because she left her family (Ruth). Eli failed to properly handle his two sons who were abusing the priesthood and died in sorrow (1 Samuel 2, 4). Jonathan chose to side with his father, whom the spirit of God had departed from, instead of his spiritual brother David—he paid with his life (1 Samuel 18-23; 2 Samuel 1). Esther obeyed her uncle and not only became a queen, but saved her people (Esther). Also the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and so on were all considered brothers of Israel, yet they were chosen by God to prophesy the truth even though most of it was against their own brothers. These are all Old Testament examples, but Paul taught a great deal on handling these types of relationships as well.

As always Christ is our ultimate example. His relatives thought he had gone out of His mind and went to collect Him (Mark 3:21). I love how Jesus responded in Matthew 12:48-50. “But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? And who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.” He answered just like an insane person would. Who is my mother and bothers?! Then He came with absolute sane revelation! I’m His brother because I do the will of the Father even at the risk of looking like I’ve lost my mind and I’m being alienated by relatives.

So speak the truth in love and be respectful to your elders. But DO NOT allow relatives to block the Blessing of God in your life. The Holy Spirit will give you the answer to each situation. Study these examples and stand on the promises of God’s Word concerning salvation for the lost. He wants them to be saved, but they have to receive salvation—you can’t save them only God can. I can testify to the truth of Mark 10:29 in my own life. I have been blessed with everything I lacked in my natural family in the family of God. With His help I have been able to create a blessed home and family so that my seed can see accurate results of fully obeying the commands of God. When a relative comes to God we rejoice, but we’ve chosen not to allow the ones who operate in disobedience to block the Blessing in our lives.

Proverbs 10:22 says that the Blessing of the Lord makes us rich and adds no sorrow to it. When we allow God into our finances He will give us all things in due season. This is why we must obey His word on financial discipline. We must be flexible in order to become financially flexible. First and foremost if you don’t tithe, start today! That’s what the Covenant Blessing is all about.

If you’ve never saved in your life, you have to include savings in your budget. Proverbs 13:11 tells us that gathering money little by little makes it grow. You will grow and become financially flexible when you obey and apply God’s word to your assets. You must have something in the barn for Him to bless and you must put your hand to it (Deuteronomy 28:1-14). No matter what the economy is doing, you will be able to go on vacation, put your children in private school, go out to dinner and keep the lights on!

Remember, Isaac sowed in an year of famine and reaped one hundred fold (Genesis 26:12). And his grandson Joseph saved during the seven years of plenty in order to have grain in famine (Genesis 41:48-49). In fact, the savings grew so large that they stopped keeping record of it! Forgive me for the exclamations, but I get so excited recounting these blessings of obedience and provision. I encourage you to study the lives of these two patriarchs and emulate their actions. They both heard God and were flexible enough to fully obey His commands. In so doing, the Blessing was fully manifested in their lives.

Be blessed friends and have the perfect day everyday!
Psalm 138:8

— Shontta

And coupled with the Blessing of the Lord, flexibility can change your life. In Genesis 12:2-3 God not only told Abram that He would be blessed, but that he would be a blessing. And in Deuteronomy 28:1-14, God said that every thing they put their hands to would be blessed. What type of flexibility did this require? In both of these references God also commanded his followers to be flexible in their actions. The human being had to make changes. Abram had to leave his kinsmen. The children of Israel had to fully obey the commands He was giving them. Herein is where flexibility brings the Blessing. I’ve witnessed people hinder the Blessing in their lives because of a lack of flexibility in certain areas. I’d like to share some insight on these. Vocational, financial, mental, emotional and spiritual flexibility can enhance your daily life and perpetuate the Blessing no matter the environment.

Imagine a person full of life, movement and vitality who is suddenly stifled by arthritis or paralyzed in an accident. These circumstances would be quite dejecting to this individual who is now unable to move at will. The same concept is applicable to the aforementioned areas of flexibility. God said in Malachi 3:6, “I AM the Lord, I change not.” This verse identifies the fact that if we are going to walk with God we must be flexible — we must be willing to change. And God is so all-powerful that He causes us to become more flexible the more we conform to His will and ways. We become more like Him. This type of malleability cements us in the fact that acting on the unchanging Word of God brings us into unlimited ability and freedom.

Be blessed friends and have the perfect day everyday!
Psalm 138:8
— Shontta

“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”

—Mahatma Gandhi

We all love the words of Jesus in Mark 11:23-24. We can command mountains to move, believe in our hearts and speak our desires into existence (author’s paraphrase). But, check out verses 25-26. Jesus said, “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.” This is a classic example of how refusing to forgive can hinder us from walking in the Blessing. In essence, not forgiving nullifies the previous verses. How can we expect to receive anything from God knowing we are in direct violation of His command to forgive? Another classic verse is Luke 6:38—give and it shall be given …. Jesus qualifies that in verse 37 saying, “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.” These must be adhered to in order to get the pressed down-shaken-together-running over blessing. Think about this. How many true givers do you know who judge, condemn and hold grudges?

Carrying old hurts and offenses also gives the enemy an opportunity to rob us of the divine health promised in the Blessing. Many studies have linked forgiveness to better overall health. Two cases in point: a 2001 survey of 1,423 adults by the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research found that people who had forgiven someone in their past also reported being in better health than those who had not.* Additionally, the Duke University Medical Center reported in 2003 that among people who have chronic back pain, those who have forgiven others experience lower levels of pain and less associated psychological problems like anger and depression than those who have not forgiven. These findings were presented at the Conference on Forgiveness in Atlanta the same year.*

The Bible tells us that Jesus was tempted in all points as we are, but was without sin (Hebrews 4:15). I am positive that He had more chances to hold grudges than are recorded. He was maliciously railed upon, mentally and physically abused. He forgave them all—He even healed the soldier who came at Him with a sword and forgave the violence against Him as He suffered on the cross. In recounting my own unsavory life experiences, I find that as I verbalize them, I remain free from their attempts to bind me. I don’t share them in an attempt to gain sympathy or to get someone on my side. They are my testimonies of God’s healing power. He healed my mind and physical body as I chose to forgive. Dear friends, don’t waste another day in the past. Forgive and allow the Blessing of the Lord to flow freely in your life!

Be blessed friends, and have the perfect day everyday!

Psalm 138:8

—Shontta 
*http://www.umich.edu/~newsinfo/Releases/2001/Dec01/r121101a.html\l (link to the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research)*http://www.Forgiving.org (link to the source of the findings of the Duke University Medical Center study)