Keep the Word of God in Your Heart, and Bear Fruit with Patience (Part 1)

“But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard THE WORD with a noble and good heart, KEEP IT AND BEAR FRUIT WITH PATIENCE.” (Luke 8:15 NKJV).

Beloved, many of us are familiar with the Parable of the Sower, which was told by our Lord Jesus Christ. (see Matthew 13:1-23; Mark 4:1-20; Luke 8:4-15). There is a very important lesson in this parable that I want us to reflect on, and the lesson is: KEEPING THE WORD OF GOD IN YOUR HEART, AND BEARING FRUIT WITH PATIENCE. There is so much to say about this, so we will divide this teaching into a four-part series. The Parable of the Sower basically reveals the different ways in which people receive the Word of God or the Word of the Kingdom into their heart when they hear it. In this parable Jesus likens the Word of God to a SEED (see Mark 4:14, with Luke 8:5, 11) that is being sown by a sower into the ground (the ground in this context being the hearts of men/humans). Jesus identifies four (4) different ways in which people respond to the seed or the Word of God as it is sown into their hearts (that is, preached, taught, or read). Jesus says that for some people, the Word does not even get the chance to take root in their heart, let alone bear fruit, because they hear it without UNDERSTANDING it, thereby allowing the devil to immediately come and take away the Word out of their heart, LEST THEY SHOULD BELIEVE IT AND BE SAVED. (see Matthew 13:19, with Luke 8:12). In this First Part of our series we will focus on this category of hearers of the Word of God.

Jesus said, “When anyone HEARS THE WORD OF THE KINGDOM, and DOES NOT UNDERSTAND IT, then THE WICKED ONE comes and SNATCHES AWAY WHAT WAS SOWN IN HIS HEART. This is he who received seed by the wayside.” (Matthew 13:19 NKJV). So the emphasis here is on hearing the Word of God WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING IT. The Word of God will not profit you (or save you) until you UNDERSTAND it, and then BELIEVE it. And the Bible says that it is with the HEART that man UNDERSTANDS and also with the HEART that man BELIEVES (see Job 38:36; Isaiah 6:10, with Romans 10:10). In fact, it is impossible to believe a word that you don't understand. For instance, if you didn't understand English, and I read the message in this piece to you and asked you if you believed it, you would be lying if you said that you believed it, because you didn't even understand what I read to you. This is exactly what happens to those who hear the Word of God but do not understand it; they cannot mix the Word with faith, and so the Word will not save them or heal them; rather, the Word will be snatched away from their heart by the wicked one. This was what happened to the twelve apostles of Jesus when Jesus told them, on their way to Jerusalem, that He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spat upon; that they will scourge Him and kill Him, and THE THIRD DAY HE WILL RISE AGAIN (see Luke 18:32‭-‬33). The Bible says that the apostles “UNDERSTOOD NONE OF THESE THINGS; this saying was hidden from them, AND THEY DID NOT KNOW THE THINGS WHICH WERE SPOKEN.” (Luke 18:34 NKJV). Therefore, because they didn't understand the Word they heard, the devil came immediately and took away the Word out of their heart, LEST THEY SHOULD BELIEVE IT. Thus when Jesus was RAISED FROM THE DEAD ON THE THIRD DAY after His crucifixion and Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the  mother of James, and the other women with them reported to the apostles that Jesus was risen from the dead, the Bible says that “their words seemed to them like idle tales, and THEY DID NOT BELIEVE THEM.” (Luke 24:10‭-‬11 NKJV; see also Mark 16:11, 13). The apostles only believed it after Jesus presented Himself alive to them and opened their understanding to comprehend the Scriptures. (see Luke 24:36-53, with Mark 16:14-20; John 20:26-29).

Thus, the point we are making here is that you have to UNDERSTAND the Word of God when you hear it, before you can BELIEVE it and be saved. This is also the reason why the Holy Spirit had to send Philip to explain the Scriptures to the Ethiopian Eunuch. (see Acts 8:29-38). The Ethiopian Eunuch was reading the Scriptures alright, yet HE DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT HE WAS READING (see Acts 8:30-31). So Philip had to go and help him understand it, so that he could believe it and be saved. Indeed, it is not just hearing the Word, but also understanding the Word that brings faith for salvation. Hence the Book of Proverbs says, “Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And IN ALL YOUR GETTING, GET UNDERSTANDING.” (Proverbs 4:7 NKJV).

Again, Jesus says that when you hear the Word of God and do not understand it, Satan comes and immediately snatches the Word away from your heart, so that YOU CANNOT BELIEVE IT and be saved. It is almost as if you had never heard the Word. No wonder the Lord Jesus Christ, following His resurrection, opened the understanding of His disciples, that they might comprehend or understand the Scriptures. (see Luke 24:45). Jesus said that it has been given to us (His disciples) to KNOW THE MYSTERIES OF THE KINGDOM of heaven, but to those who are not saved or who are perishing, it has not been given. (see Matthew 13:11; Luke 8:10). To those who are outside, all things come in parables “so that ‘Seeing they may see and not perceive, And hearing THEY MAY HEAR AND NOT UNDERSTAND; Lest THEY SHOULD TURN, AND  THEIR  SINS BE FORGIVEN THEM.’” (Mark 4:12 NKJV).

Thus the apostle Paul says, “the message of the cross IS FOOLISHNESS TO THOSE WHO ARE PERISHING, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (I Corinthians 1:18 NKJV). Again, Paul says that “THE NATURAL MAN (or the man who is not born again) DOES NOT RECEIVE the things of the Spirit of God, for THEY ARE FOOLISHNESS TO HIM; NOR CAN HE KNOW THEM, because they are spiritually discerned.” (I Corinthians 2:14 NKJV,  brackets and emphasis mine). Yet again Paul says, “But even if our gospel is veiled, IT IS VEILED TO THOSE WHO ARE PERISHING, whose MINDS the god of this age HAS BLINDED, who DO NOT BELIEVE, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” (II Corinthians 4:3‭-‬4 NKJV). And so, for the natural man to hear and understand the Word of God, he needs guidance and explanation from a preacher (someone who is born again, and is mature or spiritual), which is what Philip was to the Ethiopian Eunuch, and Peter was to Cornelius’ household (see Acts 10). Paul said, “For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:13‭-‬17 NKJV).

Indeed, faith comes by hearing the Word of God, but there are many who hear the Word of God and still do not believe it. So, for the natural man to truly understand and believe the Word that is preached, God has to open his heart (see Acts 16:14), and God, who searches the heart, knows those who are His (see 2 Timothy 2:19), He knows those who are searching for Him with all their heart (see Jeremiah 29:13), He knows those who have a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart, He knows those who are appointed to eternal life. Hence, Jesus said, “All those the Father gives Me WILL COME TO Me, and whoever comes to Me I will never drive away.” (John 6:37 NIV). Then He added, “NO ONE can come to Me UNLESS the Father who sent me DRAWS THEM, and I will raise them up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ EVERYONE who has heard the Father and learned from Him COMES TO ME.” (John 6:44‭-‬45 NIV).

Again, you have to be truly born again to be able to understand the mysteries of the Kingdom of heaven. You have to have the Spirit of God in your heart (which every born-again person has -- see 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:13; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22) before you can receive the things of the Spirit of God, before you can know the things which have been freely given to us by God (see 1 Corinthians 2:12). But even for the born-again person, when you are still a babe, or when you have not yet matured in the things of God, it can be challenging for you to know or understand the deep mysteries of the Kingdom of heaven (see Hebrews 5:11-14; 1 Corinthians 3:1-3), which is why God promised and said, “And I will give you SHEPHERDS according to My heart, WHO WILL FEED YOU WITH KNOWLEDGE and UNDERSTANDING. (Jeremiah 3:15 NKJV). Indeed, God has fulfilled His promise and given some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers in the Church to facilitate our understanding and our growth in the knowledge of God (see Ephesians 4:11-16). The apostle Paul also prayed “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, THE EYES OF YOUR UNDERSTANDING BEING ENLIGHTENED; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints” (Ephesians 1:17‭-‬18 NKJV). Thus as a born-again person, to know and understand all the deep mysteries of the Kingdom, you have to grow in your fellowship with the Holy Spirit (whom you have received into your heart), and grow also in your receptiveness to His teachings, you have to consistently yield to the leading and teachings of the Holy Spirit (the Spirit of truth) who is in you. (see 1 John 2:20,  27). You have to yield to the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of God.

In Part 2 of this series, we will continue our discussion by unveiling the revelation in the seed that “fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth.” (Matthew 13:5). Please return to this Page in two days to read Part 2, for I am confident that by the end of this series you will understand how having heard the Word with a noble and good heart, you can keep it and BEAR FRUIT WITH PATIENCE. Remain blessed.

I share this message, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16 KJV).

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What Has God Said?

“God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. HAS He SAID, AND WILL He NOT DO? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” (Numbers 23:19 NKJV).

Beloved, what would you do with God's Word if you truly believed that God meant every word that He ever spoke? Now, think about this question for a moment; ponder over it, because it's a very important question. Then, ask yourself if God is a liar. Has God ever lied to anyone? No, He hasn't! The Bible says that God cannot lie (see Titus 1:2). “God is not a man, that He should lie” (see Numbers 23:19). “It is impossible for God to lie” (see Hebrews 6:18). And so God's Word is trustworthy. Everything God has said is true. Therefore, you can trust God to do what He has said He will do. Open your Bible today and find out what God has said. What has God said? What has He said about you? Believe every Word God has spoken; believe every promise God has made. Paul says, “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.” (2 Corinthians 1:20 NIV).

God says, "My covenant I will not break, Nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips." (Psalms 89:34 NKJV). He says, “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.” (Isaiah 55:10‭-‬11 NKJV).

Look in the Bible, God says that whosoever believes in His only begotten Son Jesus Christ will not perish but have everlasting life (see John 3:16); that as many as receive Jesus are given the right or the power to become children of God (see John 1:12). And so if you believe in Jesus, you have received power and authority to become a child of God, you are born of God, you are a child of God, you have everlasting life, and you will never perish (see John 3:16), you're imperishable, you have passed from death to life. Do you believe this? It is in God's Word; God has said it, for “all Scripture is God-breathed” (see 2 Timothy 3:16 NIV). And God cannot lie. So what would be your reaction to these words if you truly believed what God has said? Would you ever see yourself as ordinary? Would you ever be depressed? Would you ever think that you lack anything? Would you ever be afraid of the devil? Never!

God has also said that, as a child of God, all things are yours, the whole world is yours (see 1 Corinthians 3:21-23); you're an heir of all things, for you're an heir of God and joint-heirs with Christ  (see Romans 8:17, with Hebrews 1:2), you're a victor,  you're more than a conqueror through Christ who loved you (see Romans 8:37), and you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you (see Philippians 4:13). In fact, space will not permit me to tell you everything God has said about you, so open the Bible yourself and discover what God has said. Then lay hold on God's Word, believe it, claim it, confess it, do it. Peter says that it is through laying hold on the exceedingly great and precious promises of God that we become partakers of the divine  (or God) nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (See 2 Peter 1:4). May you know what God has said, and lay hold on it. Remain blessed. #shareTheWord

Always Walk in the Counsel of God, Ask for God's Advice in All You Do

“Woe to the rebellious children,” says the Lord, “WHO TAKE COUNSEL, BUT NOT OF Me, And who DEVISE PLANS, BUT NOT OF My Spirit, That they may add sin to sin; Who WALK TO GO DOWN TO EGYPT, And HAVE NOT ASKED My ADVICE, To strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, And to trust in the shadow of Egypt! Therefore the strength of Pharaoh Shall be your shame, And trust in the shadow of Egypt Shall be your humiliation.” (Isaiah 30:1‭-‬3 NKJV).

Beloved, have you ever wondered what God really wants from His children? Well, He wants our trust and fellowship; He wants our wholehearted devotion. God wants us to fellowship with Him wholeheartedly -- listen to Him and follow His ways, and talk to Him always regarding all things; He wants us to communicate with Him always, to take counsel of Him and devise our plans of His Spirit; He wants us to take advice from Him regarding every plan we make. God desires us to study His Word to know His perfect will and to stand perfect and complete in all His will. Indeed, God desires our fellowship. This is why the apostle John, in inviting others to fellowship with us, says that, “truly our fellowship is WITH THE FATHER, and WITH HIS SON JESUS CHRIST.”  (1 John 1:3 KJV). The apostle Paul also says that, “God is faithful, by whom ye were CALLED UNTO THE FELLOWSHIP OF HIS SON JESUS CHRIST our Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:9 KJV). We have been called to fellowship with God, with His Son Jesus Christ, and also with the Holy Spirit (see 2 Corinthians 13:14). But there cannot be true fellowship where there is no trust or mutual agreement. The Bible says that two cannot walk together except they are agreed (see Amos 3:3). Therefore, to walk together with God or have true fellowship with God, you have to agree with Him wholeheartedly, you have to agree with His Word (the Holy Scriptures) and be devoted to His Word; give yourself entirely to the Word of God, trust Him and cooperate with Him. God says, “My son, GIVE ME YOUR HEART, And LET YOUR EYES OBSERVE MY WAYS.” (Proverbs 23:26 NKJV). God’s ways are revealed in His Word, and so He also says, “My son, GIVE ATTENTION TO MY WORDS; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; KEEP THEM IN THE MIDST OF YOUR HEART; For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh.” (Proverbs 4:20‭-‬22 NKJV).

To those Jews which believed on Him, Jesus said, “IF YE CONTINUE IN MY WORD, then are ye My disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31‭-‬32 KJV). Again, He said, “IF YE ABIDE IN ME, and MY WORDS ABIDE IN YOU, ye shall ASK what ye will, and IT SHALL BE DONE unto you.” (John 15:7 KJV). Here, Jesus makes abiding in Him and continuing in His Word or allowing His Word to abide in you the only mark of true discipleship, and the only condition for answered prayers. This is right in line with the Psalmist’s exhortation that you “DELIGHT YOURSELF ALSO IN THE LORD, And He SHALL GIVE YOU THE DESIRES OF YOUR HEART. Commit YOUR WAY to the Lord, TRUST ALSO IN HIM, And He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday.” (Psalms 37:4‭-‬6 NKJV). To delight yourself in the Lord is to delight yourself also in His Word, because God and His Word are one (see John 1:1). Similarly, to trust in the Lord is to trust also in His Word. The apostle Paul says, “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and TO THE WORD OF His GRACE, which is ABLE TO BUILD YOU UP and GIVE YOU AN INHERITANCE among all those who are sanctified.” (Acts 20:32 NKJV). Then He adds, “Let THE WORD OF CHRIST dwell in you richly in all wisdom…” (Colossians 3:16 NKJV). God's will for us is that we walk in the light (or understanding of, belief in, and compliance with the truth) of His Word. Thus the apostle John, speaking by the Spirit, says, “It has given me great joy to find some of your children WALKING IN THE TRUTH, JUST AS THE FATHER COMMANDED US.” (2 John 1:4 NIV). You ought to always walk in the truth of God’s Word, even if you have to walk alone; and God will definitely be with you as you do so. Let your heart be loyal to the Word of God, and not to the wisdom, tradition, and opinions of men. “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong ON BEHALF OF THOSE WHOSE HEART IS LOYAL TO HIM...” (II Chronicles 16:9 NKJV). Indeed, God delights in those whose heart is loyal to Him, who love Him and trust in His Word.

Beloved, only the Word of God has the power to build you up (into an unshakable spiritual edifice) and to deliver into your hands the inheritance that is already yours in Christ Jesus. You will make your way prosperous, and you will have good success as you study the Word of God diligently, and continually meditate on it, confess it and observe to do according to all that it says. (see Joshua 1:8). Therefore, give yourself entirely to the Word of God.

Now, it is equally important to understand that there can be no true fellowship with God without a two-way communication. God desires to communicate with His children always, and He desires a two-way communication. He says, “CALL TO Me, and I WILL ANSWER YOU, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” (Jeremiah 33:3 NKJV). Truly, God desires to HEAR and to ANSWER our prayers. He wants us to “come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (see Hebrews 4:16 NKJV). Peter writes, “For the eyes of the Lord  are on the righteous, And His ears are  open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord  is against those who do evil.” (I Peter 3:12 NKJV). And Paul adds that God's will in Christ Jesus for us is that we rejoice always, PRAY WITHOUT CEASING, and in everything give thanks. (I Thessalonians 5:16‭-18). Therefore, dearly beloved, let us not be like the rebellious children of Israel; let us always seek counsel of God through prayer, and meditation on God's Word. David said,  “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.” (Psalms 119:105 NKJV). Then He added, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.” (Psalms 119:11 NKJV). Each of us also ought to hide God's Word in our heart, that we might not sin against Him; we ought to seek God’s advice in all we do, and devise all our plans of the Spirit of God. The Bible says, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” (Romans 8:14 NKJV). The prophet Isaiah, speaking of  the leading of the Holy Spirit in our day, said, “Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left.” (Isaiah 30:21 NKJV). The Lord Jesus also promised that the Holy Spirit will, among other things, guide us into all truth, and tell us things to come. (see John 16:13). May you always seek and heed the voice of the Holy Spirit. Remain blessed.

I share this message, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16 KJV).

Don't Hesitate to Confess Jesus Publicly

Jesus Christ was not crucified secretly; He was crucified publicly. So we do not preach Him secretly either; we preach Him publicly; and those who will receive the gospel will also have to confess Jesus publicly as their Lord and Savior. Jesus said, “Therefore whoever confesses Me BEFORE MEN, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.  But whoever denies Me BEFORE MEN, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 10:33 NKJV). You cannot be a quiet or secret Christian. Let us hold fast our confession. Let us follow the example of the early disciples. When Jesus sent them out, He said, “Whatever I tell you in the dark, SPEAK IN THE LIGHT; and what you hear in the ear, PREACH ON THE HOUSETOPS." (Matthew 10:27 NKJV). And thus in this manner, all the disciples conducted their ministry.

Also, in the Acts of the Apostles we read that Philip, passing through Azotus, PREACHED IN ALL THE CITIES till he came to Caesarea" (Acts 8:40 NKJV). The apostle Paul likewise preached the gospel publicly to the people of Ephesus, and to those who believed, he said, "I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you PUBLICLY and FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE" (see Acts 20:20 NKJV). Today I also preach the gospel publicly, for I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. The Bible says, "that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9). Glory to God! #PreachTheGospel #shareTheWord

Have a Victory Mindset

“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in TRIUMPH in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” (II Corinthians 2:14 NKJV).

For every battle of life, the victory or the triumph came long ago through the redemptive work of Christ. Hence, the Bible says, "And we know that ALL THINGS work together FOR GOOD TO THOSE WHO LOVE GOD, to THOSE WHO ARE THE CALLED according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28 NKJV). The reason many Christians (who are, in fact, THOSE WHO LOVE GOD, WHO ARE THE CALLED according to His purpose) are not content in every circumstance is that they haven't acknowledged nor embraced with conviction THE VICTORY that is in Christ, they don't believe that ALL THINGS work together for their good; they don't believe that God always leads us in TRIUMPH in Christ; at best, some have only mentally assented to the victory, but are not convinced or persuaded about it, and so they waver about God's assurance of victory in Christ, instead of receiving the victory by faith. Some even don't know about the victory at all.

Beloved, once you acknowledge the victory Christ has already won for you, once you accept it by faith, it becomes your meditation, it becomes your confession, it stays in your consciousness, and it becomes your reality. For example, forgiveness of sins is as much yours in those moments when you have done something wrong and are living in guilt, as it is yours in those moments when you are "feeling holy and righteous." Healing is as much yours when you're feeling pain or weakness in your body, as it is when you're feeling energetic and whole. Prosperity is as much yours when you are experiencing lack in any area of your life, as it is when you are feeling adequately supplied and content. You just have to lay claim to these blessings at all times, regardless of your feelings, regardless of your outward circumstances, and confess them, glorifying God in it, rather than complaining about your adverse circumstances and glorifying the enemy. Truly, the fluctuations in your outward circumstances cannot negate the truth that victory is perpetually yours. But, the question is: are you focused on the victory that is yours in Christ according to God's Word, or are you focused on the contradictory evidence your outward circumstances may be giving you? Your adversary (the devil) wants you to walk by sight or by focusing on your outward circumstances, instead of walking by faith or by focusing on what God has said (in His Word) about you. But Paul admonishes us to look not at what is seen (or at our outward circumstances), but at what is unseen (or what the Word of God says about us, which may not have manifested in our lives yet). He says, "while we DO NOT LOOK at THE THINGS WHICH ARE SEEN, but at the THINGS WHICH ARE NOT SEEN. For the things which are seen are TEMPORARY, but the things which are not seen are ETERNAL." (II Corinthians 4:18 NKJV).

Beloved, whatever afflictions you are experiencing in your life  today are temporary, so don't focus on them. Focus on your victory in Christ, for it is an eternal victory. You can see the unseen through the lens of FAITH. Believe and confess your blessings at all times, regardless of your sensory perceptions. Don't walk by sight; walk by faith. Walk in agreement with what the Word of God says or promises, for He who has promised is faithful, who also will do it. “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.” (2 Corinthians 1:20 NIV). Believe every provision and promise of God, and confess it steadfastly, and you will see it manifested in your life. Believing is possessing. Stop complaining about your situation for the sake of seeking sympathy from men, and start believing and confessing the victory Christ has already won for you. Therein lies your deliverance from every affliction and every power of darkness. The Bible says, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And THIS IS THE VICTORY that has overcome the world—OUR FAITH.” (I John 5:4 NKJV). Truly, in all things we are more than conquerors through Christ who loved us. Glory to God! Remain blessed. #shareTheWord

Lay Hold on Your Victory in Christ

When you enter a store with your parents, they don't pay for something they don't want you to have. Likewise, Jesus wouldn't pay for something He doesn't want you to have. He paid for your healing because He wants you healed and in good health. By His stripes you were healed. Lay hold on your healing by believing in what Jesus has accomplished for you. Salvation is for those who truly believe in the redemptive work of Christ; healing is for those who truly believe in what Jesus has accomplished on the cross. When you believe, you receive. The devil has no right to make you bear the burden and the judgment which Jesus has already borne for you (including sin and diseases), unless you consent to it. So submit to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Lay hold on your inheritance in Christ. Lay hold on your freedom from sin and your dominion over sin. Lay hold on your healing and deliverance from every oppression of the devil. Lay hold on prosperity. Lay hold on your victory over Satan and all his angels. In Christ, you have victory; in Christ you're more than a conqueror; in Christ you're an overcomer; in Christ you have been called to a glorious life. Enjoy it! Remain blessed.

Don’t Be Ignorant of Satan’s Devices

Beloved, Satan is the invisible being behind every lie and falsehood in this world. He is the one who keeps people in darkness (or in ignorance of the truth). Jesus pointed out during His earth ministry that Satan is a liar and the father of it, and that Satan does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. (see John 8:44). Satan’s goal is and has always been to deceive mankind by opposing or disputing the truth of God’s Word. Moreover, because Satan is the god of this world (see 2 Corinthians 4:4) and the whole world is under his control (see 1 John 5:19), he propagates his lies everywhere through the world’s educational, political, religious, economic, cultural and social systems. In fact, Satan’s most potent weapon against man is and has always been his ability to deceive subtly. If Satan ever loses the power of deception, he will cease to be relevant. Thus Satan works very hard to stay relevant. And the Bible says that he deceives the whole world. (see Revelation 12:9). In the garden of Eden he deceived Eve by his craftiness. (see 2 Corinthians 11:3). He was able to trick Eve into believing his lies over the truth of God’s Word (see Genesis 3:1-6); and that is what he continues to do today, not only through secular literature, but also through the doctrine of false apostles who have infiltrated Christian churches. No wonder Jesus told us (His true disciples) to be on our guard against the yeast (or doctrine/teachings) of the Pharisees and Sadducees. (see Matthew 16:6, 11-12). No wonder Jesus said, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.” (Matthew 7:15). Beloved, don’t allow anyone to teach you doctrines that are not Scriptural, for Jesus said, “Scripture cannot be set aside.” (see John 10:35 NIV). All of man’s opinions and traditions will pass away, but the Word of God will never pass away. Therefore, stick with the Word, and never be ashamed of it. God said, “My covenant I will not break, nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips.” (Psalm 89:34).

Indeed God loves the world so much (see John 3:16), and yet Satan, through the power of deception has been able to turn the world against God, making many men rebellious against God and against the Word of God. How sad! Many men are rebelling against God and against Jesus today, just as Adam and Eve did, just as Judas Iscariot did, just as the chief priests and elders of the people of Israel did, together with Pilate and Herod.

The Bible says that, in the garden of Gethsemane, when Jesus had finished praying, “He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.” And while He was still speaking, behold, JUDAS, one of the twelve, WITH A GREAT MULTITUDE WITH SWORDS AND CLUBS, came FROM THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND ELDERS of the people. Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “WHOMEVER I KISS, He is the One; SEIZE Him.” Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and KISSED Him.” (Matthew 26:45-49). Here, you have just witnessed the greatest treason in human history next to Adam’s treason; and ironically, it was committed with A KISS. Judas Iscariot rebelled against God and betrayed Jesus with a kiss. As is always the case with Satan and his minions, Judas chose a symbol of love (i.e. the kiss), and corrupted it to glorify evil; Judas chose a symbol of love (the kiss) and turned it into a symbol of hate and betrayal. How evil, how dishonorable, how tragic! Satan (THE DECEIVER) always seeks to corrupt the good, to turn the good into evil. Indeed, we are not ignorant of his devices. (see 2 Corinthians 2:11). And unfortunately, Satan often succeeds (even if temporarily). He succeeded with Eve in the garden of Eden. (see Genesis 3:1-7; 2 Corinthians 11:3). And here in the garden of Gethsemane, he did it again through Judas Iscariot in betraying Jesus. In the early stages of the New Covenant Church, Satan also sought to corrupt the great love that the believers shared, by making Ananias and Sapphira lie and keep back part of the proceeds from their property which they had sold to share with the other believers in that communal living that the early believers practiced. Satan influenced Ananias and Sapphira to turn that symbol of love into an opportunity to defraud and cheat their fellow believers, thereby revealing their own hypocrisy and paying the penalty for it. (see Acts 5:1-11). Ananias and Sapphira died (physically) because they were living or walking according to the flesh and not according to the Spirit, just as Romans 8:13 warns will happen to those who live as such.

Again, in the Corinthian Church, Satan sought to corrupt the Lord's Supper by making some believers turn what was instituted as a memorial and symbol of love and a proclamation of the death of our Lord Jesus Christ, into an opportunity or an occasion for greed and selfishness. (see 1 Corinthians 11:17-34). Later, Satan also sought to corrupt the entire Church of God by working through the Roman Catholic Church to introduce idolatry and teachings that are blasphemous and contrary to the finished work of Christ — false practices and teachings that are still prevalent in the church today. Indeed, the Roman Catholic Church has rebelled against God and betrayed Jesus by corrupting and turning the innocent image of Mary the mother of Jesus into an idol or a goddess that the multitudes are being deceived to pray to and worship against the will of the one true God (see Deuteronomy 5:8; Isaiah 44:17; 1 John 5:21; Colossians 2:18, Revelation 9:20). They are like the rebellious Israelites who “secretly did things against the Lord their God that were not right. From watchtower to fortified city they built themselves HIGH PLACES in all their towns. They set up SACRED STONES and ASHERAH POLES on every high hill and under every spreading tree. At every high place they BURNED INCENSE, as the nations whom the Lord had driven out before them had done. They did wicked things that aroused the Lord’s anger. They WORSHIPED IDOLS, though the Lord had said, “You shall not do this.” (2 Kings 17:9-12 NIV). And the Lord said, “They set up their VILE IMAGES in the house that bears my Name and defiled it.” (Jeremiah 32:34 NIV). The Roman Catholic Church is doing all of this against Jesus’ insistence that we worship the Lord our God, and serve Him only (see Matthew 4:10; Luke 4:8), against Jesus’ command that we only pray to God the Father in the name of Jesus our Lord (see John 16:23), against Jesus’ command that we worship God in spirit and in truth (see John 4:24). “They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.” (Titus 1:16). What a betrayal of Jesus! And so God says, “And they will know that I am the Lord, when their people lie slain among their idols around their altars, on every high hill and on all the mountaintops, under every spreading tree and every leafy oak—places where they offered fragrant incense to all their idols.” (Ezekiel 6:13 NIV). Beloved, don’t participate in the blasphemies of the Roman Catholic Church. God says, “Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” (Revelation 18:4 KJV). “Come out of her, My people! Run for your lives! Run from the fierce anger of the Lord.” (Jeremiah 51:45 NIV). Here in Gethsemane, such betrayal of Jesus began, as Judas Iscariot, the son of perdition, betrayed Jesus with a kiss, giving Him up to the multitudes (the detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees — see John 18:3) who had come with lanterns, torches, swords, and clubs to arrest Jesus. May you not be ignorant of Satan’s devices. Remain blessed. #SpiritLife