Words of Light

“For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the laborers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the laborers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.” -Matthew 20:1-8

If you had any idea about what was ahead for the Body of Christ, you would be immediately moved to prepare your heart. The authors of the New Testament, by way of the Holy Ghost, made it very clear that God deeply cares for the victory and triumph of His Church (Mt. 16:17-19; Eph. 4:11-16; 5:25-28). There is a destiny that has been programmed into the Church that nothing can malfunction, no, not even the dark world that we are called out from. There is too much glory that has been revealed from generation to generation for anything to slow down this momentum that the Church has gained since it’s formation (Jn. 14:12). Hidden within the above parable of Christ is the spoken outcome for the household of faith. And you can guarantee one thing; Just as the mysterious Christ appeared victorious, despite all the opposition of Satanic forces throughout the ages, so too will the mysterious Church emerge victorious, crushing the serpents and scorpions that would seek to retard its destiny.

For reference, expositors are certain of the following facts in this parable:
God the Father is the householder
The laborers are the servants of God
The vineyard is the world

With that said, let us look at the truth that holds within it the glory of the marvelous Church.

The householder goes out early into the morning to hire laborers. The reason he even has a need to hire laborers is because he is the owner of a certain field that he considers to be his prize and joy (Ps. 24:1-2). His interest is in the development and perfection of that which he owns. Early in the morning he sets out to find laborers willing to help him. In the wee hours of the morning he finds those eager to help him start this work. As the laborers worked, the householder soon realized that in order for the work to be finished by nightfall he must hire other workers to come alongside those who first began. He goes into the marketplace around the third hour (9:00a) hires them, and sends them into the vineyard speedily. The scripture says that he did this same thing at the sixth hour (noon) and the ninth hour (3:00p). The wise householder must have known that as the day progressed, the amount of manpower needed to get the job done before the end of the workday would have to increase, due to the size of the vineyard. It can also be implied, just like any good boss would, that he listened to those who worked for him. No doubt the workers made plea with the householder to hire others to help with the work.

The eleventh hour soon arrived (5p) and the householder noted that in order to wrap the job up and bring it to completion on time, he would have to make one final call for laborers. He rushed back into the marketplace and found a group of individuals who were idle. These were not lawyers, doctors, or religious leaders of the time (all of which would be too busy to stand idle). Rather they were those in need of purpose and equipping. The wise householder gave them the endowment and authority necessary to come alongside the other laborers and finish the job. Finally, one hour after the final laborers were hired, the sun set and the night came upon them. No one could work any longer. But that was ok. The work had been completed.

God the Father is a wise householder who owns the whole earth and the fullness thereof (Ps. 24:1-2). Jesus makes it clear that the earth is a vineyard that is ready for harvest because the gospel came through him. The most significant aspect of this parable that we should give attention to is the hours. At different periods of time, a call would be made, laborers would be added, and the pace would strengthen.

The early morning hours (6a, the start of the workday) represent the early Church and its formation. They were the first group of people to see a mighty move of God, all beginning in the upper room at Pentecost. The burden of the workload, due to limited laborers, was no doubt a price they had to pay. Jesus spoke to them, however, and said “the harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest” (Mt. 9:35-37). When the Church would call upon the name of the Lord, the Lord would rush into the marketplace and find those who were available to become part of His harvesting. We can see this all over the pages of Church history. Moves of the mighty Spirit of God to refresh, strengthen, uplift, and solidify the Body of Christ. From Tertullion, Clement of Alexandria, and Polycarp to St. Anslem of Canterbury, St. Augustine of Hippo, and St. Patrick to the Cevennes Prophets, St. Teresa of Avila, and Martin Luter to George Whitfield, Jonathan Edwards, and Chuck Finney to Evan Roberts, William Seymour, and Smith Wigglesworth to Oral Roberts, Lester Sumrall, and Kenneth Hagin (as well as all the other nameless laborers who faithfully worked under the heat of the sun); God has sent armies of laborers at crucial hours to advance the work of the vineyard.

In the marvelous parable of Christ he mentions that just before the midnight hour, when no man can any longer work (Jn. 9:4-5), he would make one final call. As the sun began to hang low on the horizon (when apparent darkness would become everyone’s concern), Jesus promised that the Father would hear the cries of those who had already labored. And as he was faithful to do before, he would rush again into the marketplace. He would look for those wanting to find destiny, purpose, and the reason they exist. He would equip them with tools and abilities they once never had and give them delegated authority to join the ranks of those who had worked before them, considering them just as great and capable. This is the call of the eleventh hour. The final call. The unusual, unexpected, surprising call to hire a host of workers at the final part of the harvest period.

There is no question that a mighty move, powerful revival, and great awakening is on the horizon. God the Father has heard the cry of his laborers. He has sent the Holy Ghost into the marketplace to find the last and final workers to intensify the harvesting and bring this work to a close. So don’t fear what seems to be darkness. No, no, don’t fear what seems to make you afraid. For their is a cry that went up and that has made provision for the supernatural, unusual, unprecedented calling and equipping of end-time workers. And they shall succeed. And when the even comes, they shall be rewarded for responding to the urgent cry of the eleventh hour call.

Prayer:
“Father, I thank you that you have heard every cry. You have heard every prayer and all the intercession that every one of your workers have made. I declare that I am part of this eleventh hour call. I am willing, available, and eager to be one of those to join the ranks of those who started, carried, and maintained the great work of the harvesting. Now use me to bring this thing to a close; to help usher in the glorious coming of your son, Jesus Christ, demonstrating the power of the gospel and the might of the Holy Ghost. I surrender to you precious Lord. Here I am. IN JESUS NAME. Amen.”

“Then came Jeremiah from Tophet, whiter the Lord had sent him to prophesy…” -Jer. 19:14

“Tophet.” When Jeremiah heard the Lord speak to him regarding his next assignment, I think it would be safe to assume that he was anything but thrilled. Jeremiah was one of God’s mightiest prophets. Part of what made Jeremiah mighty was his determination. And this is why God chose him for the task.

In 2 Kings 23:10 we read that Tophet was a place where parents made their sons and daughters “to pass through the fire of Molech.” Molech was a Middle-Eastern god affiliated with the Egyptians, Phoenicians, Canaanites, and was the national god of the Ammonites. The idol was hallow and brazen, having the head of an ox and outstretched human-like arms. Within the base of the idol fire was kindled so that sacrifices could be made to this pagan deity. When the arms of the statue would get hot, little children would be placed within them to be slowly burned. So that the father and mothers of these children would not have to hear the cries of their little ones, the priests would beat drums to drown their screams out and to soothe the souls of the sacrifices.

After this practice was outlawed by King Josiah, Tophet became a place of refuse. In today’s vernacular we would say a trash pit, a garbage heap, and a dump. Here animal carcasses, human waste, the dead bodies of criminals, and trash were piled up. Needless to say, disease found its home here in Tophet. To keep disease and sickness from spreading and to keep the air purified as best as possible, hot fires were burned almost all the time.

When speaking of the lake of fire where the wicked dead would go after their resurrection and judgment at the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev. 20:11-15), Jesus carefully chooses this place as his illustration. Tophet was the best example of eternal hell that existed during the life and times of Jesus. And he warned his hearers that such a punishment existed in the afterlife for those who would not follow him into everlasting life (Mt. 10:28-33; Jn. 14:6).

What do you think Tophet smelled like? What do you think it looked like? What was the condition of the people who made their dwelling there? I would say that crazy, appalling, and inhumane would be deep understatements. And yet, Tophet was Jeremiah’s assignment from God. And notice what the verse said, “Then CAME Jeremiah FROM Tophet…” Jeremiah did what God asked him to do. He had taken the elders and priests into this place and preached God’s Word of righteousness to them. If Jeremiah had it difficult, think of Christ. He was called to go into the underworld of wicked spirits and preach the word of righteousness to demonic spirits (1 Pet. 3:19).

As preachers of Jesus Christ, some of the places God calls us to preach will look like, smell like, and have the very appearance of hell. But this is where the captives are held (Lk. 19:10). When we make the decision firmly in our hearts and cry, “Lord where you go….I go,” then we will be able identify will the great apostle when he said, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Cor. 12:9). Tophet or no Tophet, let’s follow.

Prayer:
“Lord I have made the decision to follow you. I will boldly go where you call me today. If that means that I have to go to Tophet, I will go. And I am convinced and I fully can expect that while I am there, the power of Christ will dwell in me and upon me to release those held captive by the power of darkness. I am your hands, feet, and mouthpiece. Today I will release the bound, tormented, and afflicted. I am not concerned about my comfort, but am concerned about your Kingdom. Thank you Holy Ghost for your power. I have it and it will shine through everywhere I go. IN JESUS NAME, AMEN!”

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God;” -Eph. 2:8

The Bible tells us that when we are saved we become sons of God (Rom. 8:16). We are adopted into the family of heaven and we take on the nature of our heavenly Father (Eph. 4:24). As children who are highly prized in the eyes of our loving creator, we are recipients of the different graces that God bestows upon us. In Ephesians 2:8 we are told that the faith that brings salvation is a gift of God. Anything that is given to us as a gift by God can be utilized to fulfill our intended purpose: “…let them HAVE DOMINION…” (Gen. 1:26).

We are told in Romans 12:3 that EVERY MAN has been dealt the measure of faith. Paul is not speaking of every man in the world, but rather, every man who has come under the household of faith (Gal. 6:10). Every born-again person walking this earth has faith in the inner man, whether they are conscious of it or not. There is such a man walking this earth without faith, however, the Bible calls him “unreasonable and wicked” (2 Thess. 3:2).

It wasn’t enough for salvation to just cover our access into heaven. Unfortunately, religion has painted a sloppy picture in our minds of the saving power of God. Salvation is the all-inclusive word of the gospel and incorporates every aspect of our natural human existence (Mk. 10:30).

Faith was given to us by God as a channel of connecting heaven and earth. James tells us that “every good and perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights…” (James 1:17). Stop and think about this for just a moment. Look what this verse just told us. The good and perfect things of God must COME DOWN. Until they come down, they remain spiritual blessings (Eph. 1:3). Thank God for spiritual blessings, however, they were never intended to just stay within that realm; they were meant to be sent into this human, earthly realm. As soon spiritual blessings cross over into this realm of touching, seeing, hearing, tasting, and feeling they become natural blessings or physical blessings.

Not to step on any religious toes or kick over sacred cow, but what good would it have done us if Jesus stayed in heaven? The prophets would have continued to speak of him coming and it would have brought refreshing to the hearts of the people. But that is not enough to satisfy the demands of sin. Despite all the comforting words of prophetic heralding, the human race would have still been stuck under the slave master of sin and death. The Father knew that the son had to LEAVE HEAVEN, where man cannot touch, taste, see, hear, or feel, and come into the realm where man CAN touch, taste, see, hear, and feel (Phil. 6:6-8). This was the first and greatest example of a spiritual blessing being made a physical reality.

The procedure of things coming down from heaven has not changed. It is through earnest expectation and FAITH (Phil 1:20). Why did Jesus come? He was expected! Every time an Old Testament Saint made a blood sacrifice that was faith offered up to God expressing earnest belief that the Messiah was coming.

Putting a demand on heaven with the faith that has been given to us is pleasing to God. When we use our faith to touch heaven, the blessings of God flow. Faith is the highway that spiritual blessings use to cross over into earthly blessings. And it is just the opposite. “By faith Enoch was translated…”(Heb. 11:5). Faith was the highway that Enoch used to cross from the physical to the spiritual.

Friends, we have FAITH! It is so pleasing to God when we use it because we stop working under the weak and beggarly elements of this world and start operating as HE does! When a Father sees his son on the basketball court scoring all the points, while the other team struggles to defend him, the father says, “That’ my boy!” Well when we use our faith, God says, “That’s my child!!”

Use YOUR FAITH today. It is your greatest tool!

Prayer:
“Father, thank you for giving me faith! I have it. It was given to me. And it is a mighty tool to put me over in this life. My faith in Christ brings HEALING! My faith in Christ brings PROVISION! My faith in the blood of Jesus turns spiritual blessings into material, tangible blessings! I will not be defeated today Lord! I have to access all the good and perfect things of heaven! They are my inheritance, as I am your adopted child! Thanks be to YOU, OH LORD, which ALWAYS causes me to triumph! IN JESUS NAME!”

“Now therefore beware I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing…and behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcass of the lion. And he took thereof in his hands, and went on eating…” -Judges 13:3; 14:8-9.

In Judges 14 Samson is on his way to Timnath, enjoying a lovely day in the vineyards, when a lion sneaks up behind him and decides to let him know that there isn’t room for the both of them there. Without any delay, the Spirit of the living God comes upon Samson and he literally tears the lion apart like it is a baby goat. The anointing of God fell strong on Samson and enabled him to shred his enemy without any competition because Samson was a covenant child. From the moment of his birth, he had entered into a sacred agreement with God (Jud. 13) that destined him to lead his people from the hand of the Philistines. His only requirement was to take the Nazarite vow and refrain from strong drink, unclean (dead) things, and cutting his hair. This was a contractual agreement between him and God that would last his lifetime.

In like manner, we as believers have entered into a much better contract (Heb. 8:6). As new creatures that have put off the former ways of living (Eph. 4:22), and we are now mightily equipped with the ability to overcome the enemy, whom we used to belong to. Just like Samson, we can expect a lion to roar in our face from time to time (1 Pet. 5:8-9) yet, our contract and new covenant with God GUARANTEES us that we will always triumph over him because the triumphant one is in us (1 Jn. 4:4; 5:4; 2 Cor. 2:14). And just like Samson, we will tear the enemy limb from limb. WITH THAT SAID….

How is it possible for such a mighty man of God, like Samson, to end up with his eyes poked out, his strength completely zapped, and instead of setting Israel free from the oppression of the Philistines, he becomes a slave to the them? Have you ever noticed concerning one of your Christian brothers or sisters? They once were a powerful man or woman of God. They were destined to loose people from the bonds and ties of satanic oppression, but now; they aren’t even interested in the things of God anymore. They have lost their vision, they have lost their productivity, and you can only help but pray they aren’t working as a slave of the enemy.

When the devil notices a mighty man of God he plots to trap them in a gradual way. Though we always say that the great downfall of Samson was Delilah, it would probably be more accurate saying that Delilah was the climatic and final downfall of Samson. The repeated incidents with Delilah were a reflection of Samson’s position in compromise. It was a reflection that he no longer took his Nazarite covenant, his prophesied destiny, and his mighty anointing seriously. The anointing is a fragile thing and must be guarded by the one carrying it. Before Samson got into the sack with his two-faced “lover” he was fooling around with dead things.

The first great mistake Samson made in Scripture occured right after he killed his enemy, the lion. In Judges 14 Samson comes back to where the lion’s carcass lay and noticed that there was a swarm of bees and a honeycomb inside. Without hesitation, Samson put his hand in and began to eat. So what’s the big deal? Samson was forbidden from touching dead things. And there is no doubt that he knew that what he was doing was detrimental to his destiny and the destiny of nation Israel.

Sweet things in dead things; what a device of the enemy. We have all killed lion’s once in our journey but the master plan of the enemy you killed is to take you back to the thing you killed, tell you that it is forever dead, and show you that you can still get the sweet thing out of the dead thing without it ever killing you because it is lifeless. And just like Samson, the lion will not come back to life to kill you. BUT, just like all sweet things, it will begin to rot your covenant. And when your covenant gets weak like Samson’s did, the great schemer of mankind will bring something larger than a young lion to take your vision, steal your productivity, and hold you in bondage under his control.

Today think of all the victories that you have won with God on your side (Rom. 8:31). It may do you good to list those victories. Afterward, make a decision that you will never re-visit the thing that you once killed, even if you think that there may be some excitement in doing so. The wages of compromise is not sin. The wages of compromise is DEATH (Rom. 3:23). Your anointing is too important and is meant to help the lives of everyone around you. Don’t compromise it!

Prayer:
“Father your Word says that we are not to be ignorant of Satan’s devices (2 Cor. 2:11). You have told is to “be sober and to be vigilant” (1 Pet. 5:8,9), to “stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free” (Gal. 5:1), and to “resist the devil” (Eph. 4:27). IN THE NAME OF JESUS, I will not go back to dead, inactive things that together we have put down through the power of the blood of Jesus Christ. I boldly defend my deliverance, healing, salvation, anointing, covenant, righteousness, and all the other benefits of being a child of God by saying NO to sin and temptation. I recognize that the enemy has no power to come between you and I, and that the only way something like that could happen is if I allow it. Well, I serve the enemy notice today that it will not happen! I maintain my freedom today because I have your Word close to my heart. Thank you that where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom and because he is in my life, there is true liberty in every area of my existence! IN JESUS NAME, AMEN!”

“Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths. For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.” -Proverbs 7:25-26

A good summarization for the seventh chapter of Proverbs is “Don’t get into bed with sin!” Now that may seem humorous to some, however, it is a grave warning from an individual who knew from experience.

Often times it can be easy for one to overlook this crucial chapter of Scripture with the thought “you know, I really don’t struggle with sexual sin.” Or perhaps, “I have never been tempted to go to bed with a harlot”, “I am not enticed by this kind of sin”, and even, “I have never considered adultery.” If those are your thoughts on this text, let me first congratulate you. It is wonderful that you have walked in your authority over this kind of sin. Yet in this brief devotional, I want to show you that Solomon wasn’t so much as concerned about the kind of sin as he was the mind of sin. In other words, the basic intent of this text is to show how sin operates and plots in order to get you where it wants you so that it can eventually destroy you.

Hebrews 3:13 says, “lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” Here the writer is quick to point out that sin is smart. In fact, it is so smart that it can actually deceive a Christian into falling into the trap that it has set. Notice what it says in Romans 12:21, “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” Here the idea is a solider of Christ getting entangled into one of the enemy’s elaborate schemes (2 Cor. 2:11) designed by hellish forces to steal his freedom as a citizen of the Kingdom of God and retard his growth as a child of Christ.

Proverbs chapter seven comes from the mind of God to shed light on some of the enemy’s tactics that he uses in his scheming so that we might recognize the ambush when it is set against us. Notice the tactics of sin (portrayed as a woman):
1. Flattereth with her words (v.5)- these flattering words are often presented to us a justifying of something that we know with definitiveness is wrong.
2. The attire of a harlot (v.10)- here is an original concept. Sin is ugly and will never come without a disguise.
3. Subtle of heart (v.10)- the original Hebrew says, “hidden of heart.” Sin blinds us with outward beauty so that it can hide its inward intention: our complete destruction.
4. She caught him (v.13)- the trap was a success. Using subtleness and beauty she was able to lure a mighty man into her lap. And when he was in her lap she kissed him and pampered him so that he would begin to like the feeling of sin (v.13-21). When we become comfortable and unarmed around sin, it will rip off its attire and show us its true nature.
5. A dart strike through his liver…and knoweth not that it is for his life (v.23)- sin the seductress waits for us to fall asleep, at ease in her presence before she carries out her actual intent. With a swift blow the once mighty man is struck down. Armies of thousands could not defeat him. The greatest of all weapons weren’t enough to overcome his strength. Yet the harlot of sin knew that the only way to overcome a man of war was to approach him softly and gently. Instead of using war (as all the other foes) she used the opposite: intimacy. And when he let his guard down and grew vulnerable in her lap, he never woke up so that Paul could be proven correct when he said, “the reward of sin is death.”

The problem all began in v.7. It says that this man was “void of understanding.” He may have been mighty (v.26) but he wasn’t able to recognize an undercover attack from the enemy. In Ephesians 1:17-23 Paul prays for all the soldiers of the army of God, that they may operate under the “spirit of wisdom and revelation.” The Holy Spirit is not given for just the purpose of unlocking the Scriptures to us. He is also given to expose the traps of Satan. Jesus says, “he will guide you into all truth…and he will show you things to come” (Jn. 16:13). Had the man in Proverbs seven invited the Spirit of God to lead and direct his path he would have heard the witness of the Spirit saying, FLEE! BAD NEWS! DEATH AHEAD! DONT GO HOME WITH HER! DONT GET INTO THE BED OF SIN!

Today, I invite you to welcome the gentle Holy Spirit to guide and steer you in all of your doings. When he gives you a witness in your heart, know that he is doing it because the thing in front of you will eventually lead to your demise. God wants you to win. He loves you and causes you to triumph (2 Cor. 2:14). When you hear him guiding you today, be sure to follow. It will only lead to an abundant life (Jn. 10:10)!

Prayer:
“Father, IN THE NAME OF JESUS, I thank you that sin shall not have dominion over me (Rom. 6:14). I declare that all the weak elements of this world are under my feet, and that includes sin. I am a watchful and ready soldier of the Lord Jesus Christ and surrendered to the leadership of the Holy Spirit. I shall not give place to the devil in an area, including my flesh, which now belongs to you. I live to serve and please you, my Father, and will deny every enticement of the wicked one that will eventually lead to death. I thank you for a great day of victory that awaits me today, full of the liberty and freedom of being a redeemed child of the Living God. IN JESUS NAME, AMEN!”

“For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.” -Proverbs 3:2

One thing the Word of God makes clear; God wants to see you victorious and at peace. In Proverbs 3:2, Solomon tells us that if we commit out lives to the Word of God we will find “length of days and long life.” You mean there is a difference? You better believe it!

Long life is exactly that, a life that is full of days. It says in Psalms 91:16, “With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation.” Nowhere in the Bible does it say that God has determined a day for each human being to die. Out of ignorance people have said, “well, once my day comes then I will go.” That is quite absurd. Rather, God has given us conditions from His Word and promises us that if we will follow them we will see not only a long life but also a life that is full of peace and good days (1 Pet. 3:9,10).

To add to this, God promises to give us “length of days.” How does length of days differ from long life? The best example of this is found in Joshua 10. God had given Joshua and the children of Israel peace with the inhabitants of Gibeon (v.4). As is typical of the enemy, he will always attempt to take the peace that is rightfully ours (Pr. 3:2). The kings of the Amorites gathered together against the children of Israel and were intent on destroying them (v.6; Jn.10:10). Joshua knew that the key to winning any battle was cooperating with the God of heaven, so He followed the instructions of the Lord (v.9). The Lord began to fight for Israel sending great hailstones, which devastated the army of the Amorites. However night was approaching and the battle was not yet complete. By using his covenant authority, Joshua commanded the sun and moon to stand still “until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies” (v.13). The hand of God held the sun and moon in place a whole day until the people of God had completely won the battle.

The wonderful thing about God is that He does not want the sun to go down on your wrath (defeat) (Eph. 4:26). Joshua’s battle is just as important to God as the battles that we face everyday. Just like Joshua, you are a covenant person (Heb. 8:6). By being in Christ Jesus, your covenant far exceeds the one Joshua had (Heb. 9:13-14; 12:24) and guarantees you that “whatsoever yes shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive” (Mt. 21:22). God has promised to keep the sun up until you have the victory over the enemy established in your heart. Length of days means that God will lengthen your day until you see your enemies flee. Every single night you should be able to lay your head down in peace and know that the battle has been won (Ps. 127:2). Joshua was not going to lay his head down until he had complete victory and God honored this kind of faith. Today be like Joshua and receive God’s promise to lengthen your day until you have the assurance in your heart that the battle is won.

Prayer:
“Father I thank you for your promise to lengthen my day until I can be assured that the battle is won. Because of the work of Christ on the cross I have victory over anything that the enemy would attempt to do in my life today. I declare that any sickness in my body is defeated. I declare that any entangling addiction loses its power over my life today. I declare that I am a child of the new covenant and, as a result, a partaker of its promises. Therefore I will see long life and have your peace in my heart until I am satisfied. I know that when I lay my head down tonight, the battle will be over. Today is a day of great victory, IN JESUS NAME, AMEN!“

…Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” -Mark 8:34

In order to fully capture the meaning of what Jesus was saying to His disciples here and to be able to relate it to our lives today, we need to understand what the cross means and represents.

After Jesus was crucified, I am sure this statement became crystal clear in the minds of the disciples. As eyewitnesses, they understood that taking their cross meant several things:

1. The individual that was carrying a cross was going to the place of death. When we read this statement of Jesus, it means that we too, when accepting Christ, go to the place of death. Following Jesus means the end of self rule, the end of our own old desires and dreams, and the end of our old way of living. We die to SELF and SELFISH ambitions for the cause of the Kingdom.
2. The individual being crucified as a sinner was done with sin. In taking up our cross, it is imperative to realize this. The crucified murder can no longer kill. The crucified thief can no longer steal. The crucified adulterer can no longer commit adultery. These sinful desires can no longer be fulfilled because the individual is dead. “…our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.” (Rom. 6:6-7) As those carrying our cross, we are no longer able to sin for we have died to sin.
3. The individual being crucified is demonstrating the ultimate form of self-denial. Think about it: when you are crucified your arms are stretched out, nailed to a beam, and you are hanging from the air. There is nothing you can do! Your life is no longer your own!

Now Jesus wasn’t telling us in Mark 8 that he wanted us to torture ourselves or that we all would be crucified in a literal sense. However he was saying that we must say “NO!” to our own desires for our own lives, no matter the cost. Our desire has to be CHRIST and HIS will, purpose, and plan.

A.W. Tozer said, “It’s not that people don’t want God-it’s that people found something they wanted more than God!” How sad to think about that. When weighing their options on the scale of life, they found their own pursuits to be a better investment. As followers of Jesus, he may call us to give up a life of prestige and pomp to be missionaries in the third world. If the Lord said so, I would rather sleep on a dirty floor infested with white ants and cockroaches as a missionary of the gospel rather than to have a Hollywood life of luxury and ease. Remember our works will be tried one day. And if God didn’t tell us to do them, they will turn to ash (1 Cor. 3:11-15).

Today, surrender your hearts to the Lord. Come to him sincerely and ask him what it is He would have you to do. Although certain things may be years ahead, today commit to Him you will stop any carnal actions and follow his commands. You will find that once you sell out to Him, His “yoke is easy” and His “burden is light.” (Mt. 11:30).

Prayer:
“Father, in the name of Jesus, I am yours today. I come to you and completely surrender all that I am. I realize that I have pursued my own desires, ambitions, and will for my life at times. Yet today Lord, I lay them down and ask you to show me your will. No more of what I want for me. May my life be pleasing to you. Lead me, guide me, and direct me, Father. Here is my life. It is yours. I am yielding to your Spirit and walking in your Word. Thank you for your mercy. In Jesus name, AMEN!”

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the sons of God…The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” Romans 8:14-16

The earmark of a mature believer is their ability to be led of the Holy Ghost. Paul tells the church at Rome that our position as sons of God is directly tied to our ability to be led and directed by the voice of God. We are spirits, we possess a soul, and we live in a body (1 Thess. 5:23). The Holy Ghost doesn’t speak to our bodies; our bodies are the temples that house the reborn spirit. Neither does he speak to our minds. Our minds are the devices that house our senses so we can function in a material world. Above those two faculties, lies the real us, and that is the spirit man. This is the faculty that receives from God, and as Paul tells us, this is the faculty that the Holy Spirit bears witness to. This being the case, it is imperative to develop a sensitive spirit so it becomes easy to hear. If we don’t hear, we can easily become sincerely deceived.

Acts 13:1-2 says that before Paul embarked on his first missionary journey, certain prophets and teachers had given themselves to fasting and ministering unto the Lord. Notice Paul didn’t step out until he had sought God. Fasting is not something we do to petition God. It doesn’t move him one bit. He doesn’t see us go on a hunger strike and then pity us. “Oh looks like my child isn’t eating until I move on his behalf. Better act quick or he is going to die of starvation.” You can’t force God’s hand. The purpose of fasting is to tune the carnal desires of your body out so that your spirit can become more sensitive to the things of God. You become more aware of spiritual things because your body is not in the way to create distraction via the digestion process (which is a tremendous physical activity). On top of fasting the early church practiced ministering unto the Lord. Ministering unto the Lord is a type of contemplative mediation (Jos. 1:8) that fixes ones soul (desires, will, and emotions) on the Lord. It is worship. With all the static out of the way, the early believers were able to get onto the same wavelength as God.

We are too busy, a lot of times, to get into rhythm with the Spirit so that we can flow. God wants to participate with his people the way a conductor participates as the leader of an orchestra. Following him and not doing our own things will create a beautiful, harmonious sound and bring each person to their fullest potential.

Today let’s make a decision to develop our maturity by allowing the Holy Ghost to lead us. By prayer, fasting, and spending time ministering unto the Lord we will begin to pick up on the rhythm that is in the Spirit and we won’t miss what God is trying to say in do. It is an exciting think to be in perfect sync with the Holy Ghost. Let’s go after it today!

Prayer:
“Father, in the name of Jesus, I commit to spending time in your presence today. I do not want to miss what you are saying or doing, especially in the times that we are living in today. I will do what it takes to block my carnality out so that I may pick up on your wavelength and cooperate with you. Thank you that you do not hide things from me, but make all things available for me to receive. Holy Spirit may my heart be tender to your voice today. In Jesus name, AMEN!”

“Neither give place to the devil.” -Ephesians 4:27

Don’t be fooled by the simplicity of this passage of Scripture. Although brief, this statement packs quite a punch. Today we are living in a time where it is easy and convenient to compromise. Perhaps you have been around believers who think that it won’t hurt to sin because, after all, we have a promise in 1 John 1:9 that will restore our fellowship with the Father, should we miss it.

Thank God for 1 John 1:9, which says, “If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” In light of this, let us be quick to remember that there is also another law in Scripture, “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). In other words, when you are teeter tottering in your mind whether to sin or not, be conscious of the fact that sin will always harm you. We will find forgiveness when we repent, but sin has consequencea.

When we allow the devil to have place in our life, we will begin to find that our faith begins to lack. Sin keeps us from the Word. Sin affects our prayer life. Sin harms our bodies. Sin lowers our self-esteem. Sin will never benefit us in the long run. Immature believers are ones who are only concerned about their eternal security. As long as they can get that back, they feel they are in a good position. But that is living below our potential as Christians. We are divine people who should not be moved by the temptations of the enemy.

Today make a decision in your life that you will not allow the enemy to win when he tempts you. There is more at stake than your eternal security. Defend your peace. Defend your faith. Defend your prayer life. Do this by taking to sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, and casting down every method and device of the enemy. When you rise up with boldness, the Holy Spirit will cause you to walk over all the power of the enemy and you will grow to new heights! Thank God for every temptation because every temptation is an opportunity to bring glory and honor to God by demonstrating the power that is available to those who have the divine nature of God!

Prayer:
“Father, in the name of Jesus, I will give the devil no place today. I have the sword of the Spirit. I have the Holy Ghost fullness. I am a partaker of the divine nature and the enemy’s devices and methods are no match for what I have been authorized to walk in. I renounce every area of my life that I have allowed to enemy to have place in. I give you my heart, mind, soul, and strength and commit to using them to honor you. Fill me afresh with your Holy Spirit today, Lord. In Jesus name, AMEN!”

“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

The most important thing that we can learn as believers is how to contact our Father. We do this through prayer. Religions have tried to make prayer to be a difficult and, at times, seemingly impossible exercise. However our Father never intended for it to be difficult. Rather, he made it simple and easy so that we could have conversation with him 24/7, at anytime that we would desire (1 Thes. 5:17).

The Bible is full of ways to guarantee that every time we prayer, change occurs. When we prayer correctly, it is impossible for our hearts and situations to not be affected. In John 15:7, Jesus gives us one of the most important keys to praying. This, of course, is to use the Word of God.

The Word of God should always be the foundation, base, and center of all of our praying. Before we pray for a specific request, it is essential that we know what God’s Word says about that particular situation. If this is not the case and we come to God without a clear and precise knowledge and faith about what He has already said about our need, than our prayer will fall short of its potential.

Perhaps you may not know how to pray for a specific need today. There are two things that we can do. The first is to pray in our heavenly prayer language (1 Cor. 14:2) until we have a note of victory in our spirits regarding the matter. Secondly, we can get out the Word of God and pump it down into our Spirits. When we do so, we can approach our Father with faith and assurance. It is precious for God to see His children believe (2 Pet. 1:1) and, at such a sight, God cannot withhold His hand. He delights in meeting our requests.

Today, start off with the Word of God. If you haven’t already, make time (just as you would to eat, run errands, or attend a meeting) and drive the Word of God into your spirit by reading it or studying it. Afterward, turn yourself over to communion with your Father. When you do this, you will find yourself walking in the dimension of answered prayer.

Prayer:
“Father, thank you for the Word. It is my guarantee of victory. Because I have your Word on every known need and situation, I can be certain that I will be completely triumphant over anything and everything that tries to hinder or hold me. I yield to the Word. May it dwell richly in my spirit, turning over and over again. I thank you that your Word abides in me and I abide in You. Today, I cannot loose. I have Almighty God’s Word on it! IN JESUS NAME, AMEN!”