The Law Of Sowing And Reaping Is Working Every Day

Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you  (Luke 6:37-38).

The law of sowing and reaping is working constantly in our lives. The attitudes I sow in others I reap back from them. The kindness I sow comes back to me. If I condemn others in my heart, then I will find that judgment coming back to me. If I want mercy from God, I must sow mercy to others. If I want the benefits of forgiveness then I must forgive those who offend me.  It’s just like a boomerang.

See every act today as a seed that you’re sowing. See every thought you think as a mirror of what you will have in your future. This reciprocal effect works 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. Remember that seeds you plant take time to grow. And once they grow, the harvest is assured. Make sure that the seeds you sow are the ones you don’t mind living with in the future!

Do not be deceived and deluded and misled; God will not allow Himself to be sneered at (scorned, disdained, or mocked by mere pretensions or professions, or by His precepts being set aside.) [He inevitably deludes himself who attempts to delude God.] For whatever a man sows, that and  that only is what he will reap. For he who sows to his own flesh (lower nature, sensuality) will from the flesh reap decay and ruin and destruction, but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint. (Galatians 6:7-9).

Faith Is Always Present Tense

Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them (Mark 11:24).

The tenses must be right to receive from God. Faith believes that God has or God is presently working on your behalf. Faith never looks to the future! If you’re waiting on some point in the future for God to do something for you, then you’re hoping and not believing. You’re in the future where hope is, and you’re not in the past and present where faith is. Don’t just hope and pray! Pray and believe that God has answered your prayer!

 

Jesus is the lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Rev. 13:8). God told Joshua that he had already given Jericho into his hands while the walls still stood high. Before raising Lazarus from the dead Jesus looked to heaven and prayed, Lord, I thank you that you have heard me. He put his prayer in the past tense. God changed Abram’s name to Abraham while he was yet childless. Jesus told the ten lepers to go offer the sacrifice that Moses said for lepers to offer after they were healed. The ten were healed as they went.

Make sure today that you believe that you receive what you need from the Lord. Ask Him, then believe that He has answered the moment you pray. Lift your hands and voice and thanks to Him just like you would if the answer was already there. Faith acts like God has already performed the answer. Faith talks like God has already performed the answer. Faith expects! God’s grace and mercy are available to help you as you reach out in present or past tense faith!

Be Careful About What You Hear Today

And He said to them, Be careful what you are hearing. The measure[of thought and study] you give [to the truth you hear] will be the measure[of virtue and knowledge] that comes back to you — and more [besides] will be given to you who hear (Mark 4:24 – Amplified).

Faith comes by hearing! Faith in God comes by hearing the Word. So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). Faith in recession, inflation, high prices, the latest health challenge, etc.,also come by hearing words. What are you hearing more of, man’s opinions, the news, the latest catastrophe, or the Word of God?

Whatever you hear the most of is what you’ll have the most faith for! We’re overrun with too much information bombarding all of us at all times! Make a choice to be selective in what you hear. If not, mediocrity and negativity will rule your life. Listen to the Word in your car instead of news. Take “Word” breaks throughout the date to keep yourself filled with faith to meet the challenges ahead.

Spiritual catch-up is a hard game to play. That’s what you play when crisis time comes and you’ve not been spending regular time in the Word. And in some situations you may not be able to catch up if you’ve not been feeding your faith! As Smith Wigglesworth said, If you wait until you need to get faith, you’ll be at a disadvantage.

 

Don’t forget that the Word of God is alive and is full of power! The Word will energize you inside. The Word will keep you from sin. The Word will build you up and keep you strong. The Word will bring the presence of the Holy Spirit into the daily grind of life. 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). It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life (John 6:63).

Keep the spiritual fire ablaze in your heart  today by spending some  time feeding on the Word. Remember, what you give the most of your time hearing is where your faith level will be. Keep it strong!

The Word Of God Can Transform Your Life!

I delight to do Your will, O my God, And Your law is within my heart (Psalm 40:8)

    

The Word is filled with creative power. It has the power to change your desires, to move you to change your behavior and life focus. David went from being an adulterous murderer to a person who delighted in God and in doing His will. What made the drastic change? The Word!

   

The word contains in it the very power of God! Jesus said the words that I speak are spirit and life. Paul was preaching in Ephesus and a revival broke out. People were saved and Spirit-Filled. Many were set free from occult practices, burning their witchcraft wares. Paul remained there in Ephesus a good while and notice what caused the great change in the city: So mightily grew the Word of God and prevailed (Acts 19:20). The Word affected change a whole city!

    

The Word dwelling in you can change any area of your life from being flesh dominated to being spirit dominated! The catalyst is you and your will. Time spent ingesting the word will produce dividends of great change in your life and lifestyle. You could begin your own personal revival just by becoming involved with the Word! Draw near to God and He will draw near to you!

    

Notice the change the Word will bring as noted by these verses: How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word (Psalm 119:9).Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You (Psalm 119:11).The law of his God is in his heart; None of his steps shall slide (Psalm 37:31). Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth (John 17:17). That He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word (Ephesians 5:26). And we also especially thank God continually for this, that when you received the message of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of mere men, but as it truly is, the Word of God, which is effectually at work in you who believe, exercising its superhuman power in those who adhere to and trust in and rely on it (1 Thessalonians 2:13-Amplified).

Nothing has the power to change you like the Word. The enemy knows this and seeks to keep you occupied with other things so the Word is choked and doesn’t bear fruit. Outsmart him today! Get in the Word when you first awaken, then meditate on it throughout the day. You’ll find its superhuman power creating in you strength, ability, wisdom, love, and godliness. Loose the power of God in your life today by being a person of the Word!

How Are You Going To Treat Jesus Today?

As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" Then the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting (Acts 9:3-5).

 

The way we treat other members of the body of Christ is the way we treat Jesus Himself. This is quite a statement. If I’m angry and resentful towards a fellow believer, then I’m angry and resentful towards Jesus! The way I treat my wife Susan is the way I’m treating Jesus!

If we want the Holy Spirit to work in our lives, we must treat other members of the body of Christ with the same respect we would give to Jesus Himself. It’s a tall order, but it’s a great benchmark to work towards.

In the book of Acts it seems that the Holy Spirit manifested freely as the believers worked together in unity (Acts 1:14; 2:1; 2:46; 4:32; 5:12). Over and over the words with one accord were used. With one accord gives you the idea that each person treats the other respectfully and graciously. I think you could think of that as treating each other as though Jesus Himself were with you when you’re together with others.

According to Jesus, when we see the stranger and give him shelter, when we go minister to the sick person, or the person in prison, we are ministering to Jesus Himself.

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink?  Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’  “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me! (Matthew 25: 34-40).

We create an environment that either attracts or detracts from the presence of God by what we do with our attitudes, words, and actions towards fellow believers.

 

Be careful today with how you treat others. It will directly affect your relationship with the Lord! If we say we love Jesus, and pay no attention to others needs, how can we really say we love Him?

Our age is quickly becoming numb and loveless. This is our time to shine! Treat others the way you want to be treated. Pray for those you come in contact with daily. Ask the Lord to make you a blessing to them. Ask Him what you can do to show care and compassion to them.

 

If I don’t care for the person I can see, there’s no way I can really love the God I can’t see (1 John 4:20).

Let’s be sensitive to others today.  What we do to them, the attitudes we portray, and what we say to them or about them to others is how we’re treating the Lord Jesus!

Pray About Secret Truths And Hidden Things

A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:10-12 - NLT).

For one who speaks in an [unknown] tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the [Holy] Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things not obvious to the understanding (1 Corinthians 14:2 - Amplified).

We are in the middle of a clash of kingdoms. The kingdom of God verses the kingdom of darkness. Satan has a desire to curtail any influence that Jesus Christ and the Word of God has on human life. He seeks to make black look white and white look black; he seeks to make bad look good, and good look bad. He makes sin seem innocuous.

At the same time God is pushing His agenda to bring Jesus Christ back to earth. The Words spoken by the prophets will come to pass! God speaks – and then allows His Word to fulfill itself while He watches over it (Isaiah 55:11; Jeremiah 1:12).

We live on earth while at the same time owning allegiance to the kingdom of heaven. The Father wants to use each one of us in carrying out His kingdom purposes on earth before the rapture of the church.

The most effective thing we can do is PRAY! Notice Ephesians 6:18: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.

Praying in the spirit or in other tongues is the most effective way to pray. When we pray in tongues we are uttering secret truths and hidden things not obvious to the understanding. When we pray in tongues or with groaning which cannot be uttered (Romans 8:26), we are praying the perfect will of God (Romans 8:27).

This kind of praying is vehemently resisted by Satan and his forces because it is so effective. So he stirs up controversy about praying in tongues; decries it in every way possible so that believers generally ignore its value. Then for those who do believe in the effectiveness of praying in the spirit, Satan seeks to keep them so busy and preoccupied with other things that they just don’t give time to it. All the while he pushed his dark agenda.

Let’s begin now to press into God and to take time every day to pray in the spirit. Don’t be moved by thoughts and feelings that seem to push you away. When fighting a spiritual battle, at times you sense great resistance; it seems like you’re doing nothing and getting nowhere when praying in the spirit. Don’t yield to this! Pray all the more! If you’ll persevere, the Spirit of God will anoint you to intercede and at times groan and travail in prayer (Isaiah 66:8).

Times are serious; more serious than ever in our lifetime. Set time aside today and everyday to be used by the Father to pray in the spirit. It’s time to give our Father the opportunity to show Himself strong!

It Seems That God Is Limited By Our Prayer Life - John Wesley

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere (Ephesians 6:18 - NLT).

This is a day when we must give ourselves more fully to prayer. John Wesley said, It seems that God is limited by our prayer life – that He can do nothing for humanity unless someone asks Him. The reason for this becomes clear from scripture. God must work through the human today because He originally gave a human temporary custody of this planet.

God gave Adam dominion over the earth as His under-ruler. Satan obtained this dominion from Adam when Adam sinned. Then the devil, taking Him 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).

Satan obtained a legal right to rule on earth when Adam sinned. Jesus, as the representative New Creation man, gave the church back the original dominion that God gave Adam. And Jesus came and spoke to them saying, all Authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…(Matthew 28:18-19).

We exercise our God given authority over Satan and his forces through believing prayer. Here’s a quote from a book that I’ve had in my library for over 30 years entitled In His Presence by E.W. Kenyon:

Jesus did not exercise any authority or ability that is not latent in His Name today. Some day there is going to rise a people who will take Jesus’ place and bless humanity as Jesus blessed them in dear old Galilee. Did not Jesus say in Matthew 28:18-20: All authority has been given unto Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples, (not converts, but students of the Word) of all nations …and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of this age. He is with us in the Word, that living Word. He is with us in His Name. He is with us in the presence of the Holy Spirit. We join forces with Him in this prayer life. That “all authority” was given to Him as the head of the church, and it is for the church to use. The authority that is in His Name is in your lips. You let that authority loose. You give it liberty and it blesses men. He has made us sons. He has given us the Name. He has given us the Holy Spirit. He has restored all that Adam lost and more. We are Satan’s rulers. We are masters of demons and the laws that sin brought into being. Why did He redeem us? Why make us new creations? Why make us righteous? Why dwell in us? Why give us the Name? Why say that in Jesus’ Name we could cast out demons? What did He expect us to do after making us all this? Just to be good, neutral sons who never face the enemy; who simply read the Word but never act on it; who do not take our Redemption and New Creation seriously? Is He mocking us? Is His Word like dry clouds in a drought? Is Satan invincible? Must we yield to Satan’s dominion and Satan-ruled circumstances? Must we say that tanks, planes, and bombs are to rule the world? Or is God still living, and are we tied up with Him? I can feel God’s question there. He is saying to me, Have you taken these facts as seriously as your nations has taken the draft laws? Is my Redemption and New Creation as real as the taxes? Does it mean anything? We must face the issue. We are surrounded by demoniacal forces that are dominating the human on earth, and if the church hasn’t authority over these, then no one has. But the church has! And prayer is our method and mode of dominating these diabolical forces that are wrecking civilization.

• In His Presence by E.W.Kenyon, (Kenyon’s Gospel Publishing Society, Inc: 1969) pages 10-11.

Take your prayer place today! Join with me, and let’s believe God for many people to come to know  Him personally!

Use The Authority That Jesus Has Given You Today!

A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm (Ephesians 6:10-13).

Satan’s goal is to eventually control all of mankind on the earth. The culmination of his diabolical schemes will be the revealing of the the person the Bible calls the man of sin, or the antiChrist. His goal will be to annihilate from the earth all things Christian and biblical. He is working behind the scenes right now to bring this to pass. So, you and I who believe in Jesus feel the pressure every day!

This is not a day to compromise your walk with God. This is a day to exercise your authority in Christ and keep Satan and his minions in their place – under your feet!

The only group of people on earth that have the authority to put Satan in his place are informed Christians! Jesus gave us authority to tread on “serpents and scorpions” and over all the power of the enemy (Luke 10:19).  When Jesus was raised from the dead, and just before He ascended to heaven, He told His disciples, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…”

Jesus already had authority over Satan before He died and rose from the dead. The authority that He proclaimed there was the authority that He legally obtained over Satan as the representative man! As a man Jesus humbled Himself and lived as we do, facing our every challenge and temptation without sin. Then He submitted to becoming our spiritual death and becoming a sacrifice for our sin. He then submitted to death. In His resurrection, Jesus defeated Satan and took from him the keys of hell and of death. Keys represent authority. Jesus took from Satan His authority over the human race and gave that authority to the church.

Satan is called the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that works in the sons of disobedience (Ephesians 2:2). John declares that the rest of the world around us is under Satan’s power and control (1 John 5:19 – Living). Satan still rules over the masses of the unsaved, and seeks to dominate world thought.

We are called to exercise authority over Satan. We are raised up together with Jesus, and are seated with Him in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6). Jesus is seated far above all principality, power, might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. God has put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all (Ephesians 1:21-23).

We must not sit back in a lukewarm position, holding authority yet refusing to exercise it. We must become and remain vigilant in faith, prayer, and action!

Let me encourage us all in a practical way to command Satan to take His hands off of our nation, our community, our families, our children, our bodies, our finances, and all that belongs to us. Let us cry out to the Father for a great moving of the Holy Spirit in convicting power over the unsaved in our communities. And let us stand for an increase in the proclamation of the word of God, that the Word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified (2 Thessalonians 3:2).

The Father is waiting today for you to exercise your Jesus given authority of Satan in your life and in your family. Let Him wait no longer!

Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:9-11).

Love Shines The Brightest When Challenged!

The love of God is our spiritual barometer, the gauge of progress as we move away from being dominated by the flesh. As we become spiritually attuned to God, we exude His love.

Please be aware that often the Father will place you with people who just don’t do life the way you do it. They don’t think or respond the way you do. Sometimes the “round peg, square hole” times, when you just don’t seem to fit into an environment, are just the recipe the Father is looking for to move you into walking in love. Love is easy when you like the people you’re involved with. But, our true colors, who we really are, show brightly when we are challenged. This will probably happen in life today!

 

Use love as the benchmark of your spiritual progress. Ask the Father to help you develop this precious gift that He’s placed in your spirit. The following is a compilation of several translations of 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. This will help you plot your progress. Use it daily as a guide:

Let me describe love. It is slow to lose patience; love stays in difficult relationships with kindness, and it always looks for ways to be constructive. There is no envy in love. It is not possessive and never boils over with jealousy. Love makes no parade of itself; it never boasts, nor does it puff up with pride. Love is never arrogant and never puts itself on display, because it is neither anxious to impress, nor does it cherish inflated ideas of its own importance. Love never gets irritated and is never resentful.

Love holds no grudges, and it keeps no record of evil done to it. Love refuses to be provoked and never harbors evil thoughts.

Love is not rude or grasping or overly sensitive, nor does love search for imperfections and faults in others. Love does not compile statistics of evil or gloat over the wickedness of other people. On the contrary, it is glad with all good men when truth prevails. Love celebrates what is real and not what is perverse or incomplete.

Love never does the graceless thing. Love has good manners and does not pursue selfish advantage. Love never insists on its own rights, never irritably loses its temper, and never nurses its wrath to keep it warm. Love is not touchy.

Love can stand any kind of treatment because there are no limits to its endurance, no end to its trust. Love bears up under anything; it perseveres in all circumstances. Love’s first instinct is to believe in people. If you love someone, you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost. You will always believe in him, always expect the best in him, and always stand your ground in defending him. Love never regards anyone or anything as hopeless. Love keeps up hope in everything. Love’s hope never fades.

Love keeps on keeping on! It trusts in God in every situation and expects God to act in all circumstances. Love goes on forever. Nothing can destroy love. Nothing can happen that can break love’s spirit. In fact, it is the one thing that still stands when all else has fallen.

Love Is The Solution To Every Relationship Problem

Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us (Romans 5:5).

 

Love is the solution to every relationship problem known to man. We’re to love God with our entire being. We’re to love others the way we love ourselves. Then Jesus added that we are to love others the way He loves us!

 

Romans 13:10 reads Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. So for every relational challenge I encounter I must see love as the cure.

  

Here’s the best part. The Father has already placed inside of us as believers the answers to our issues with others. This love that He has placed in our hearts must be nurtured until it is absorbed into all of our mental processes. The Father’s plan is that this love worm its way into every nook and cranny of our thought life; into our every response in each relationship. He wants it to totally replace our ingrained selfish patterns of thinking and response.

 

Our mind fights love’s control. The mind of the flesh is the enemy of God (Romans 8:7). Our natural mind automatically repels thoughts that come from our spirit to act and react in love. That’s the reason we must take much time to meditate in love until it is absorbed into our mental processes. Without this meditation, our minds will pull us away from love and force us to live a self-centered life.

 

We must see that this love is so powerful, so potentially life altering, that we give it room to change us. Every thought and action within us that has become an ingrained habit can be changed by yielding to love’s sway. There are no exceptions. Love is the most powerful force known to man.

 

Our goal must be to yield ourselves to this love moment by moment. Compare every thought, every word, and every action to this love. Change anything in you that disagrees with the love of God. This is our high calling, to be love men and love women. To be so totally absorbed in this love that it’s the first thing people notice about us!

 

John was known as the apostle of love. I’ll leave you with his words on the subject from the Message Paraphrase:

My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God. The person who refuses to love doesn't know the first thing about God, because God is love — so you can't know him if you don't love. This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him. This is the kind of love we are talking about — not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they've done to our relationship with God. My dear, dear friends, if God loved us like this, we certainly ought to love each other. No one has seen God, ever. But if we love one another, God dwells deeply within us, and his love becomes complete in us — perfect love! This is how we know we're living steadily and deeply in him, and he in us: He's given us life from his life, from his very own Spirit. Also, we've seen for ourselves and continue to state openly that the Father sent his Son as Savior of the world. Everyone who confesses that Jesus is God's Son participates continuously in an intimate relationship with God. We know it so well, we've embraced it heart and soul, this love that comes from God. God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we're free of worry on Judgment Day — our standing in the world is identical with Christ's. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life — fear of death, fear of judgment — is one not yet fully formed in love. We, though, are going to love — love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first. If anyone boasts, "I love God," and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won't love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can't see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You've got to love both.

(I John 4: 7-21 - from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)