Permission has been granted by www.hopeoftheworld.org to publish their devotionals. These devotionals are called “Sapphiries Devotionals”. They are very up lifting and educational. I pray you will enjoy them. They are put out daily and we will try to post them as often as we can.

You have found a short, thoughtful book with eye-opening insights from a trustworthy source. These devotions will lead you through forty days of Hebrew words and concepts that will enrich your faith and enhance your worship. Together with scholars from the Israel Bible Center, you will embark on an unforgettable 40-day journey of discovery

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The Worship Healing

Thursday, February 17, 2022

In the Greek New Testament, the word “therapeuo” means “to heal”. But it also means “to adore” or “to worship”. This is amazing because two very important things are connected: worship and healing. All the people who were healed by Messiah worshipped Him. But the key here is not that those who are healed worship the Lord, but that those who worship the Lord are healed. There is healing in worshiping the Lord. People go through life carrying wounds in their hearts and scars in their spirits: rejection, anxieties, fears, and other infirmities of the heart. And people spend years in therapy trying to get healed. Now the word “therapy” comes from the same Greek word “therapeuo,” which doesn’t just mean therapy or healing, but worship. Do you want healing? Get into His therapy. Spend time every day truly worshiping God. When you are tempted to feel sorry for yourself, or to focus on your problems and fears, worship the Lord instead! Thank God and praise Him! Then you will be applying God’s therapy because God’s healing comes in worship.

From Message #672 – The Cosmic Centurion
Scripture: Psalm 42:11

Today’s Mission – Let your worship of the Lamb flow like a river. Open the flood gates of your heart and pour out His praises. Lay any and all troubles at His feet, our God reigns.

Commemoration and Life

Wednesday, February 16, 2022

In religion, people end up commemorating things. They commemorate the miracles of God like Passover, Chanukah, Purim and The Resurrection. So in a synagogue in Nazareth, they commemorated the power and works of God in prayers, hymns, rituals and services. But they were so busy commemorating God that, when He came into their presence, they failed to recognize Him, even when He said, “Today in your hearing, this scripture is fulfilled.” They weren’t able to see God because they had become comfortable just commemorating Him and His power. And so it is with us. When we allow joy and life to go out of our walk with God, we end up commemorating God and the new life we once lived. And we go through the motions – of serving, of worshipping, of praising. Our lives become lifeless rituals, even ruts. Is this you? Are you in a rut? Then invite the living God into your rut. Ask Him to clear away lifeless rituals so that you may commune with Him and hear Him just like in the beginning. For God wants you to live, new life in Him – today!

From Message #671 – Messiah in the Synagogue
Scripture: John 10:10

Today’s Mission – Never allow our worship and praise to commemorate the past and become a stagnant set of rituals. We serve a loving, living God. Give Him praise and worship from our hearts with joy.

The Arch and The Graffiti

Tuesday, February 15, 2022

After the Roman Empire destroyed Israel, the Romans built an arch called the Arch of Titus to celebrate the victory. Today the Roman Empire is gone. Yet the Arch of Titus still stands. Somebody wrote on that arch in graffiti, “Am Yisrael Hi”, which means “the nation of Israel lives”. Why is it that the most powerful empire of its day is no more, yet the tiny nation of Israel that was scattered for 2,000 years, without an army, without a king, without defense, persecuted and continuously oppressed, still exists? And why has no force or nation been able to permanently destroy Israel? It’s because of the God of Israel. In God, the weak are strong, and the vulnerable become invulnerable. Are there circumstances in your life that appear overwhelming, causing you to feel vulnerable and weak? The solution is to stop focusing on your problems, and focus on your God. Your problem may be big, but God is greater. You may be weak, but God is strong. In God, you overcome. In God, you win. For only in God can the weak overcome the strong, and the vulnerable become invulnerable.

From Message #668 – The Tents of Abraham
Scripture: 1 John 4:4

Today’s Mission – On our knees, victories are won. Pray through any circumstance in your life and bring all your needs before the throne. Declare your freedom in Yeshua.

Joy as it is in Heaven

Monday, February 14, 2022

The words “heaven” or “heavenly” are often associated with feelings of pleasure. Sayings like “I’m in seventh heaven” and “It’s so heavenly” describe experiences that bring joy. For many believers though, heavenly things seem rare. So they spend their lives looking forward to heaven, when this earthly life is over. But the joy of heaven is supposed to be on earth. We are to live a heavenly life now. How can we know heaven here in this life? The secret, the key is this: Messiah says “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” How does heaven come on earth? The answer is in His will. It becomes on earth as it is in heaven in His will. The joy of heaven comes to earth in His will. If you want His joy, and the heavenly life, then follow His will. Get your life inside of His will. Get your heart inside of His will. Delight yourself in the will of God. Then the life you live will be heavenly, because His will shall be done in your life on earth as it is in heaven.

From Message #666 – The Joy of The Shamash
Scripture: Matthew 6:10Today’s Mission – The joy of our Lord is our strength. Dwell in His holy presence, center yourself in His will. His blessings will flow. Serve Him with a joyful heart and again; rejoice

The Praise of The Kohanim

Friday, February 11, 2022

In the Hebrew temple were the Kohaneem, the priests. There were many facets to their ministry. They offered sacrifices, kept the temple and cleaned it. The Kohaneem were entrusted to praise and worship, even over the Levites. The Kohanim were in charge of the praise of God with words, music, psalms, harps, flutes, trumpets and timbrels. In the book of Peter it says, “You now are a royal kohaneem.” You are a royal priesthood. That means you are called to many things, but chief among them is that you are called to be a keeper of praise. God appointed you to be a keeper of praise. That means you have to keep praise in your heart, on your lips, and in your mind. If you are a priest to God, then you are a keeper of praise. You were born again to worship Him. So to do that, develop a tongue of praise, a mind of praise, a heart of praise and thanksgiving, a life of worship. The kohaneem are the keepers of the praise, and you are one of the kohaneem, the royal priesthood.

From Message #658 – The Call of The Kohanim
Scripture: 1 Peter 2:9-10

Today’s Mission – Keep in your heart and mind, that we are all called to be priests of the Most High. There is no place on the sidelines, you have a charge to keep, to worship.

The Rabbi who Leads The Church

Thursday, February 10, 2022

The head of the church isn’t a pope, isn’t a minister, it’s a Rabbi. Yeshua, Jesus is a Rabbi. He’s called Rabbi, and He’s the grand Rabbi. The Rabbi in Jewish culture was the one who taught you. He expounds on God’s word. In fact, there was a word that went along with rabbi, it was always rabbi and talmeedeem. The talmeedeem were the learners. One of the main ministries of Messiah to us, is to teach us, because He is the Rabbi. That means that if we are His, we are talmeedeem. You are a disciple, you are a talmeedeem. As a student, we are to learn more about the Lord, about His ways, His word, His love, to become like Him, your Rabbi. The wonderful thing is that you have a great Rabbi. He will lead you if you follow Him. That means your life is a course, and the greatest course ever given. Set your heart to know God and to learn from Him. He will teach you now, every moment, every day of your life a new lesson, because the head of the church and of you is a Rabbi.

From Message #657 – The Grand Rabbi
Scripture: Joel 2:21-24

Today’s Mission – Sit at the feet of the Teacher, learn the ways of the Master, we are all called to be of the holy priesthood to be like Him, we never stop learning the truth.

The Door and The Window

Wednesday, February 9, 2022

In Acts 9, Paul is in danger and there are people out for his life. He is being guarded and can’t go out the regular gate of the city. So what does he do? He goes out the window modeling the out-the-window principle. The door is the place you think of going out. If the door is closed, we think there is no way to get out. In life, we can get our mind or heart so set on something, that if one thing closes, we lose hope. If a door closes in ministry or a relationship, we lose hope. Maybe the door wasn’t God’s will. Maybe it wasn’t God’s will to serve Him that way, but it is God’s will to serve Him. So, the door closed, but a window of ministry is going to be open. Maybe it wasn’t God’s will in that relationship, but it is His will for you to have joy. So, that door of joy may be closed, but the window of joy is going to be open. Don’t give up when it comes to God’s will and His promises. Chances are there is already a window open.

From Message #656 – The “Out The Window” Principle
Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6

Today’s Mission – Seek God’s will in all things. Be assured when He speaks His will. It might not be what we see as the obvious answer, but He is calling us to follow Him through the window.

The Word for you Today

Tuesday, February 8, 2022

In synagogues during ancient times, the rabbis would minister using Biblical accounts: the past works of God, what God would one day do in His kingdom, when the time of the kingdom would come and what would come on the earth. One Rabbi did something different. In Luke 4, after one Rabbi read the prophecy of Isaiah He threw in a bombshell. He said, “Today in your hearing, this has been fulfilled.” Messiah’s redemption is now–forever–but now. Many of His people live as if the power of Messiah has past or is coming. We say, “I’ll be free tomorrow, I’ll overcome tomorrow, I’ll fulfill the calling tomorrow,” but tomorrow never comes. Messiah’s power is now. Today is the day of salvation. Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your heart. Your repentance, your breakthrough, your victory, your blessing, and your ministry won’t come tomorrow. Messiah ministers today. He calls you, He speaks to you, and He opens His hands now. If you respond, if you come, if you receive, you will be blessed, and this scripture, will be fulfilled in your hearing today.

From Message #654 – Messiah at The Pulpit
Scripture: Isaiah 49:8

Today’s Mission – Live today as Holy unto the Lord, He is victorious today as He is all of our tomorrows. Draw near to Him, as you minister. Our Messiah ministers and comes in power today.

The Disappearing Dictators

Monday, February 7, 2022

A believer suffered under Stalin and other dictators for his Christian faith. He had a dream one night that all these dictators were at a table. Instead of condemning them, hating them and blaming them for all the suffering they caused him, he asked them for forgiveness for not being able to thank them for the blessings they gave him. Through the persecution came God’s great blessings, purification, holiness, humility and unconditional joy. He forgave them, asked for their forgiveness, thanked them, and one by one they disappeared. The man had no more enemies. When you fight your enemies in the flesh, you have a greater enemy. Forgive them, love them and they disappear. You will no longer see them as an enemy. When you love your enemies, they aren’t enemies anymore. Holding on to wrongs, injustices and sins against you will be a burden. Thank God for them, for the purification, holiness, long-suffering, endurance, unconditional love and joy that came as a result. One by one, these problems will disappear, replaced by blessings. Try today and see what happens, because in God’s grace, you have the power to turn curses into blessings.

From Message #653 – A Guide to The Barachas
Scripture: Romans 12:14

Today’s Mission – Do not hold on to hate, wrongs and problems. Release them to our God. Our enemies and those who hate us are only temporary. But our blessings, holiness and love last forever.

Getting Over Yourself

Friday, February 4, 2022

It says in Colossians to set our mind on that which is above, where our life is hidden. We are called to live a heavenly life, in the heavenlies. Heaven is not just up, it’s above. Up is a direction, above means it’s over something else. Set your mind and heart on what is above, where heaven is. Living a heavenly life is to live not just up, but to live an above-this-life, life; to live above yourself. It’s amazing. It says to set your mind on things above, that’s where your life is. Well, how can it be where you are if you are here, and yet it is above you. That’s the secret. Learn to live above yourself: above your ego, fears, your interests, rights, the confines of yourself and ego, above the flesh, to be free in heaven and to let go. When you are in an argument, live above it, step out of your grievance, out of your problem. It won’t be your problem anymore. Heaven is a place of joy and it’s above you. You’ll have freedom, joy and release when you start to dwell above yourself.

From Message #650 – Above
Scripture: Colossians 3:2-3

Today’s Mission – Set your heart and mind on Him, so that you are Kingdom Come focused. Earthly troubles no longer trouble you or slow you down. Let your walk show Messiah reigns forever more.

Messiah and Crushed Flowers

Thursday, February 3, 2022

Naturally made perfumes are from crushing flowers. A definition of forgiveness is the smell of a flower when it is stepped upon; crushed. We are to manifest the fragrance of Messiah, the fragrance of grace, mercy, and forgiveness, sweet righteousness, and love. It’s the smell of a flower when it’s stepped on. When you prepare a banquet for those who hurt you, when you bless them, that’s the fragrance of Messiah. When you are sinned against, instead of cursing them, bless them. When your pride is stepped upon, and your reputation and feelings are stepped upon, instead of anger, hurt, or paying back, of being depressed, you die to self and give them the love of God in return. That’s the fragrance of Messiah. Messiah was crushed, but in that crushing, He forgave them. From that crushing comes our redemption, the sweet fragrance of Messiah. You do the same. What comes out of your life when you are pressed, stepped on, or crushed, that’s what you are. So be beautiful as He is beautiful and manifest the sweet fragrance of Messiah. Forgiveness is the smell a flower makes when it’s stepped on.

From Message #648 – A Banquet For Savages
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 2:15

Today’s Mission – Surprise those who hurt you or wronged you by doing the opposite of what they expect, bless them and forgive them. Show God’s love is greater and stronger.

What You’re Born for

Wednesday, February 2, 2022

You say, it’s hard to worship and pray; it’s not for you. You spend hours watching TV or on the internet, but can’t spend time worshiping? Not cut out for it. If you’re born again, you are born to worship. According to I Peter, you are kohaneem, a priest. As in the Old Covenant, you are kohaneem in the New, born to worship and praise God. Not cut out for it? No, no, you were born for it in the new birth; it’s in your new nature, and your new heart. It’s more natural for you to be in His presence than watching TV; to listen to His voice than the radio; to read His word rather than that magazine, to look at Him rather than that object of lust. You were born a royal priest to worship Him, to dwell in His glory. It’s your new nature. Believe it; exercise it. Do as every priest–enter His presence, dwell in His courts, minister to your God, and you will find the joy and desire of your heart because the priests, the kohaneem, are called to worship. It’s the very thing they were born to fulfill.

From Message #647 – The Genesi of The Kohanim
Scripture: 1 Peter 2:9

Today’s Mission – Remove obstacles stopping you from learning what it feels like to be in His presence the whole day – sing His praises, talk to Him, find your joy there. You will find the secret of His blessings.

ATOMIC BLASTS ON SODOM

Tuesday, February 1, 2022

Shalom, to you my Friend and Co-Minister in the Great Commission…

Then the LORD rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah-from the LORD out of the heavens. Gen.19:24

Genesis 18 and 19 record the judgment and destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah – cities so evil that their inhabitants attempted to rape the angels sent to them. The Bible records the judgment – fire rains down from the sky and the cities are destroyed.

Of course, modern scholars and critics of the Bible believe the account to be a myth and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah an event that never took place. And there has never been any remnant of any city that would fit the description of the account… until now.

The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah would have been located in the region of the Dead Sea. Seven miles northeast of the Dead Sea is a city called Tall el-Hamman. It has in recent times been the focus of an extensive multi-national archaeological excavation. Those involved in the excavation included archaeologists, geologists, geochemists, geomorphologists, mineralogists, paleobotanists, sedimentologists, medical doctors, and cosmic-impact experts.

After fifteen excavations, the team published its conclusions. The conclusions were stunning. They placed the city about 3,600 years ago, which is within the generally accepted time period of Sodom and Gomorrah. What they found, set apart the ruins from virtually any other city ever excavated. They came to the conclusion that the city was destroyed – suddenly, violently, cataclysmically.

How was it destroyed? Fire from the sky. The blast was so great that the scientists likened it to that of an atomic bomb. In fact they believe that the force of the blast was greater than the atomic bomb of Hiroshima… a thousand times greater – or the equivalent of a thousand atomic bombs!

The force that destroyed the city was so powerful that the temperature of the air rose above 3,600 Fahrenheit. Mudbrick houses, clay vessels, swords, shields, and spears began to melt.

According to the scientists, none of the estimated 8,000 people or animals within the city survived, just as in the account of Genesis. In fact, it appears that wood and small plants were blasted into tiny diamond-like structures. Other finds indicated the melting of elements that require temperatures of 4,435% Fahrenheit! As for the vegetation, it appears to have been wiped out as it was written “and also the vegetation of the land.” Further, it appears that the destruction caused the land to be covered with salt – also echoing the account in Genesis.

It is yet another example of science catching up with the Bible. And it’s striking for this to be revealed in our generation. For our culture once identified with the morality of Abraham – now it identifies more with that of Sodom – and now the stones cry out, warning of judgment.

Be confident in the Word of God. In the end it will be proven true. In the meantime, live by it, stand by it, and overcome by it. And May God greatly bless you this month as you do!

Your brother and co-laborer in His love and service,

JonathanSee Message: Miracles in Sodom
Scripture: Isaiah 42:5

Signs You’re in the Wrong Lane

Monday, January 31, 2022

When I was 17, I was driving with my friend at 50 miles per hour on a two-lane road, and we see a guy driving his car the wrong way. We are head-on, honking the horn, as he swerves to the other lane. We were laughing. Then another guy on the wrong side of the road was heading toward us and he swerved to the other lane. We began to think that everybody’s going crazy until we suddenly realized we were on the passing lane of the opposite traffic. Afterward it dawned on us that there might be another explanation. Maybe it wasn’t them, but us. We admitted we were wrong which saved our lives. So in life you might be confronting the same problems repeatedly; where you think everybody else is wrong. Maybe you’re in the wrong lane, or it’s not the situation, or perhaps it’s the direction of your heart, your attitude. The problems will only stop when you get in the right lane. It’s the power of knowing that you are wrong. Ask yourself the question, maybe I’m wrong? If you can ask that question, in God, you can turn everything around.

From Message #646 – The Power of Being Wrong
Scripture: Proverbs 11:2

Today’s Mission – Learn to observe your perspective on things in order to see ideas from a different point of view, you might come away with a completely different solution to a nagging problem.

The City on a Hill Civilization

Friday, January 28, 2022

The image that would become the foundational vision and symbol of American civilization came from the nation of Israel and from a Jewish Rabbi, Yeshua – Jesus. Messiah said: “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” These words were directed to his disciples, yet became identified with an entire civilization and revealed the unique greatness of America. The foundation of American civilization must ultimately be traced back to the Rabbi from Nazareth. The vision of America originates with the Great Commission, the charge He entrusted to His disciples. It means America is to be a nation of disciples, conceived for the purpose of the bearing the light of God and spreading to the ends of the earth. Even if mainstream American society has forgotten the reason for America’s existence, you don’t forget. Live as an all out disciple of Messiah. America needs that more than ever. In an age of darkness, lights must shine all the more. In an age of compromise and moral sliding, you must all the more, live your life above reproach, as a light, a witness, as a city on a hill.

From Message #981 – The City on the Hill
Scripture: Matthew 5:14

Today’s Mission – As the darkness becomes darker, we must become brighter. Strive to be the Called, the sons and daughters of salt and light, keep praying, keep shining.

God Bless America: Meaning What?

Thursday, January 27, 2022

After 9-11, everyone was saying God bless America, but which God? Which America? What blessing? Is it the God of the Bible or the God of political correctness? Is America founded to be a light to the nations, a new Jerusalem, source of Gospel missions, refuge of the Jewish people, friend of Israel? Or the America that’s the chief exporter of pornography, immorality and the god Mammon, which has daily blasphemed God on its media airwaves, and advocated the killing of tens of millions of unborn children – an entire generation? The blessing of safety and prosperity – so we can continue in sin? No, the point isn’t “God bless America”, the point is “America, bless God!” The focus of our prayers isn’t to be our nation’s prosperity, but our nation’s repentance. In our own lives, our prayers tend to focus on God blessing us – but more important is that we repent and live in God’s will. You can’t expect His blessings if you don’t submit to His will. Pray and seek that your life be truly in His will. Bless God with your obedience and God will bless you with His best.

From Message #923 – Sound of The Watchmen
Scripture: Acts 17:30

Today’s Mission – Pray for our country, its people, its government, that we, as a nation will turn from our sin and seek God’s face. Repent and turn away from the spiritual darkness.

The Beggar and The King

Wednesday, January 26, 2022

A king adopts a beggar child, takes him into his mansion and says all this is yours. The child takes the candlesticks and jewels and puts them in his pocket. He takes the paintings down, puts them in a bag. The child still has the mind and heart of a beggar. He doesn’t really believe he’s rich, adopted or loved. As long as he clings to it, he’s not. If we’re clinging to money, that means we’re really not rich. If we’re clinging to possessions, that means we really don’t have much. If we’re clinging to the love of people, then it means we really don’t have love. If we’re clinging to anything in the world, it means we really don’t have much in heaven. You’re a child of God if you’re born again. You’re a child of the king. Whatever He has is yours. He has gladly, freely, given you the kingdom and all His blessings. You don’t have to cling to things anymore. If you’re His child, you’re rich. Receive it, and stop clinging. Let go and be blessed. In God, you’re no longer a beggar. You’re a child of the King.

From Message #638 – Beggars, Princes, & Fairy Tales
Scripture: Luke 12:32

Today’s Mission – Give to those in need and help the ones who have lost hope; love those who need to see, and feel God’s love. Doing these things, we store up heavenly treasures and His blessings.

Hitler & Niemoller

Tuesday, January 25, 2022

Hitler tried to neutralize the church. He said to pastors: “you confine yourself to the church, I’ll take care of the German people.” Hitler’s deal was the devil’s deal. He can’t take away your faith; so he says, keep your faith away from the people. If he can’t destroy your faith, he’ll neutralize it. Too many believers have accepted the deal. They hear the Word of God, worship, talk to the Lord in church, but the rest of their lives aren’t touched. That’s exactly what the enemy wants. He wants it all to stay in the sanctuary and that way there’s no miracle or victory. Tell the devil, no deal! If you made a deal, tear it up! Take the gospel and spread it. Take the love of Messiah and let it change your life. Take the power of the Spirit and go out on the highways. Take down that wall between Sunday morning and the rest of your week. The Lord came down to this life that this life would change; all of it because there are no deals with the devil. He is only Lord at all if He is Lord of all!

From Message #636 – The Reich And The Kingdom
Scripture: Mark 1:19

Today’s Mission – Take the Word on the road with you today, take it outside and let His light shine, share your blessings with others that they may see your faith in the Lord of all.

The Encounter & The Straight Street

Monday, January 24, 2022

Shaul or Paul was on Damascus Road when he had the vision from God; a very dramatic way that salvation came for Paul. But it didn’t end on Damascus Road. It led Paul to Straight Street. In other words, salvation must lead to a straight walk. Every encounter, every experience with God has to lead to Straight Street, a daily straight path. True change isn’t a high or an experience, but a changed life. The very experience of God leads to righteousness because experience isn’t good in itself if God isn’t in it. God’s presence is for nothing if it doesn’t change your life. Take the blessings of God in your life and turn them into a new way of life. Take the experience and feeling of love and turn it into a straight path of love. Take that experience of victory and turn it into a straight path of victory. Take that experience of the Holy Presence of God and turn it into a straight street of holiness, because the experience is only the beginning. The victory is the changed life. Damascus Road always leads to Straight Street.

From Message #635 – A Street Called Straight
Scripture: Acts 9:1-20

Today’s Mission – Today, claim the victory that you have through Yeshua. Live a transformed life of holiness; for you have been forever changed by His glory.

In Autumn it will Come

Friday, January 21, 2022

Teshuvah, it’s Hebrew for return, repentance – Teshuvah. For two thousand years, the Jewish people have rejected the Gospel and wandered the earth away from Messiah. There is a great mystery in that God has set up the Age as a sacred Hebrew year. The autumn represents the season of repentance. And the fact that the season of repentance comes at the end, signifies that the time of Jewish repentance, their return to God and Messiah, will only happen at the end of the age. Just as the Hebrew year waits for the Jewish people to repent, in order to conclude, so the entire age and creation is waiting for the return of the Jewish people to their Messiah. It will surely come in God’s appointed time, and when it does, so too will come Messiah and redemption to the world. So never stop praying for the Jewish people, or their redemption. The same for your life, never stop seeking God or the blessing He has for you. God’s promises are good, and they will come in their appointed time. And when they do, you will know they were more than worth the wait.

From Message #1204 – The Three End-Time Teshuvas
Scripture: Psalm 122:6

Today’s Mission – Pray for the peace of Jerusalem and for the day that God’s ancient people will say “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”

Paying The Price of God

Thursday, January 20, 2022

When you buy something you pay at least what you think that thing is worth or you wouldn’t buy it. You might pay less for it if you’re getting a bargain, but nobody pays more than what they think it’s worth. When looking at Calvary, you see nail pierced hands. The King of Kings left His throne to dwell with us and be the ultimate price for sin, past, present and future. Yeshua paid for you with His own life. He came down to rescue us as we could not save ourselves of our own sinful nature. Thus He loves you more than He loves His own life!! Love Him more than your own life – even more, love others more than your own life. For God so loved YOU that the price was Himself so that you would live your life in a way that was worthy of the price He paid. A life worthy… of the life of God.

From Message #527 – Price
Scripture: Isaiah 56:1

Today’s Mission – You have been bought with the price of God’s own life. Now live today a day and a life worthy of that purchase.

One Hundred Forty Thousand Miles Per Second

Wednesday, January 19, 2022

Count out one second. You can do it by saying, “One-one thousand.” As soon as you said that, you travelled 140 miles. That’s because the planet you’re on is connected to the sun, and the sun and the planets are travelling 140 miles around the center of the Milky Way every second. Try it again. One-one thousand. By the time you said that and by the time you get to the end of this sentence, you will have travelled about half a thousand miles from where you were when you started to say one-one thousand! And you’ll never go back there. You only travel in one direction. And every second you are 140 miles farther away from ever being where you were before. So it is in your life and your walk. You may be able to visit an old school or home from your past. But the truth is you can never go back. You see, we are journeying not only through the galaxy, but through time and existence. Therefore, whatever life you would live for the Lord, do it now. For you are on a journey. And you will never pass this way again.

From Message #508 – The Dance Of The Heavenly Circles
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17

Today’s Mission – Envision that perfected life for the Lord and do it today. Love more, be compassionate, help more, give more, be bold more for Him.

Remember no More

Tuesday, January 18, 2022

God told His people to always remember the Exodus, how He saved them out of Egypt, how He split the sea in two, how He brought them to Sinai, and to the Promised Land. God told Israel to remember the Law He gave them. It is holy to remember what God has done in our lives. But it is holy also to not remember when it comes to what man has done or not done in our lives. We are saved in the first place because God chooses not to remember. It is written in Isaiah 43, “I will remember your sin no more.” We need to practice the holy act of not remembering. It’s not just that we forget. It is rather we choose to “remember no more.” It is not passive. It is an act of the will in God’s grace. To remember no more means there is something there that can be remembered, but God chooses to specifically remember it not. So what that person did to you, it’s hard to forget. But you need to do what God did. You need to choose to remember it no more.

From Message #461 – Be ye Imperfect I
Scripture: Hebrews 8:12

Today’s Mission – Today, forgive and forget all the wrongful things done to you. Choose to remember them no more but instead dwell on all the good God has done for you.

The Bread of Extra

Monday, January 17, 2022

You might be saying you don’t have enough. I don’t have enough in my life: I don’t have enough money, time, and affection and never have enough anything. You have a lot of lack and you sometimes complain; you’re not satisfied. What does the Bible say? The Lord’s Prayer says, “Give us this day our daily bread”. Do you have daily bread? Go to your kitchen; do you have bread for the day? Chances are you do; and not only that you’ve got more than that because you have weekly bread. You have enough for the week or even longer. And yet the Bible says to pray just for daily bread. So if daily bread is sufficient in your life, then weekly bread is extra. Consider yourself blessed! If you’ve got daily bread, that’s blessing itself. Many people don’t have that, but you’ve got bread beyond the day. Do you want to be blessed? Start giving thanks for what you have. You got saved, you’re blessed; you got daily bread, and you’re blessed! You’re saved from hell, you’re blessed. Give thanks for all the blessings and you’ll have more than enough.

From Message #495 – Our Daily Bread
Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Today’s Mission – Live today in the realm of extra – take no blessing for granted but as a new and extra gift of God’s love.

The Voice of The Nahash

Friday, January 14, 2022

The Hebrew word for serpent or snake is nahash. It sounds like someone is whispering, nahash, nahash. The word for snake also means the whisperer, nahash. In the Bible, the serpent is the symbol of the enemy. The enemy is a whisperer; he works in a subtle crafty way, in secret, in the darkness. The work of the enemy begins with a whisper. A thought comes into your mind and you’re wondering, “How did that happen?” He doesn’t say it out loud. He whispers a little thing, a little idea. If you go with that, the whisper becomes a sin. The whisper becomes an action; the action becomes a habit, the habit a lifestyle and the lifestyle a destiny. How do you fight the enemy? You fight him when that thing is just a notion, a whisper or a temptation. That thing comes in, that whisper of anger, that whisper of lust, that whisper of doing what you know is wrong, you fight it. Drown it out when you hear that little word of temptation. Speak the Word of God and you will drown out the whisperer.

From Message #914 – The Forked Tongue
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 10:5

Today’s Mission – Today fight sin when it’s just a whisper, a thought, a notion. Drown it out at the beginning.

Gravity-Free Living

Thursday, January 13, 2022

Are you burdened down with problems, worries, fears, a million issues? You think, if I get rid of the problems I’ll get rid of the burdens. No. This world has problems, but there’s a secret of how to live a burden-free life. The problem isn’t the problem; it’s the weight, the gravity, that’s the problem. We’re to be living in the heavenlies. We’re not of this world. If you go into the heavenlies, that thing won’t weigh anything anymore. There’s no more gravity. Get your life away from the earthly. Don’t be bound by the gravity of this world. Live in the spirit. Dwell in the heavenlies. Get your eyes and mind off the problem. Get your eyes on God and refresh yourself in the heavenly places. Rejoice in heavenly treasures and you’ll find yourself free from the gravity of the world. You might have the problem but it won’t weigh anything anymore. He said, “My yoke is easy, my burden is light.” Dwell with the Lord in the heavenlies and your burdens will become light. It all begins when you begin to dwell in the heavenly places and away from gravity.

From Message #911 – Leaving Gravity
Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30

Today’s Mission – Stay continually today in the Lord’s presence. Dwell with your Saviour and rejoice you are no longer weighed down.

The Rejected Missionary

Wednesday, January 12, 2022

Letter from missions board to an applicant: “We received your application and we’re surprised. You’re afflicted with severe eye trouble. This is a handicap to effective ministry. Is it appropriate for a missionary to do part-time secular work? You’re making tents on the side. The church in Philippi was the only church that supported you. We wonder why. Is it true that you have a jail record? Certain brethren report that you did time at Caesarea and were imprisoned at Rome. You refer to yourself as aged. Our missions policy is to only accept young applicants. We advise you to stick with tent making.” Signed, The Foreign Missions Board. This was to Apostle Paul. When you think about it, he was unlikely yet the greatest apostle. You might not be a likely missionary or minister. God chooses and delights in those who aren’t likely. Have you been discouraged from doing God’s will? God only chooses those who are not qualified. He doesn’t call the qualified; he qualifies the called. Just answer and go. God will take care of the rest. Be willing and God will take care of making you able.

From Message #909 – The Mission People
Scripture: Philippians 4:13

Today’s Mission – Go boldly into the world. Answer God’s calling for you, today. You are qualified to serve Him. Be willing; you have been enabled.

Sgt. Pepper, Summer of Love, & The Ancient Prophecy

Monday, January 10, 2022

June 7, 1967, a date in which ancient prophecy was fulfilled. It was the year when the Beatles came out with the album “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” The Vietnam War was in full swing and public opinion turning increasingly against it. It was into that world of flower power and anti-war protests that a prophecy spoken thousands of years before it was fulfilled. The Jewish people, in the Six Day War, returned to the city of Jerusalem. It was the missing puzzle piece of every latter day prophecy which required the Jewish people to be in that city. While the world was going along its course with all its distractions, God fulfilled His ancient prophecy. What does it show you? God is real and His word is good, and if God could work through every event of 1967 to fulfill His ancient word, how much more is He working all things in your life together for good and for His good purpose. Rejoice! For the Lord says, “I know the plans I have for you. Plans for shalom and not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope.”

From Message #701 – Yerushalyim: The Mystery
Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11-13

Today’s Mission – Watch what God is doing today in your life. Your Savior has appointed your steps ahead of you. Fulfill His will and step into His plans.

The Evidence of The True Pentecostals

Friday, January 7, 2022

Many believers speak about Pentecost and what it is to be Pentecostal, or what it is to be spirit-filled; gifts of tongues, prophesies and miracles. All these things are in the Bible, but it’s missing the point. Pentecost or Shavuot in Hebrew produced this result 2,000 years ago, “And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostle’s teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Shavuot or Pentecost was not just a day or an event or even an experience; it was reality. The long-lasting Pentecostal result was the change of daily life, of daily routine. A true Spirit-filled life is one that affects your daily routine. The occasional highs don’t do it – it’s godliness in your daily routine that will move the greatest mountains. If you want to really flow in the Spirit – start letting the Spirit change your real life, your real everyday routine, from your waking up to your going to bed. Get into godly habits of real prayer, real communion, real learning of the Word, real love and that’s the real Pentecostal result.

From Message #1129 – A Guide For The Spirit Filled
Scripture: Acts 2:17-18

Today’s Mission – Start letting the Holy Spirit change your daily routine. Seek His will. Make it a habit for real prayer time and reading His word. Praise Him all through your day.

The Shell of You

Thursday, January 6, 2022

Messiah said you must be born again. One of the symbols of being born again is the butterfly because in nature, it goes through the first part of its life crawling – as a caterpillar. And then it becomes a heavenly creature – a beautiful symbol – the butterfly. But in between the worm stage and the butterfly stage is the stage called the chrysalis. The caterpillar wraps itself around; it becomes entombed in this shell that has the shape of the caterpillar. But inside that shape of the caterpillar something’s happening; it’s metamorphosis. It’s a heavenly creature being born. It’s the same with you. You’re born again. But you find yourself with the old ways; the old lusts sometimes come up. That’s the chrysalis; that’s the shell. It’s not you anymore. It’s the outer man. The outer wasn’t born again. The new you is the inner man. It says, “live in the inner man.” And what does the butterfly do to become a butterfly? It breaks open the old shell. So break open the old habits, the old thoughts, with the power of God, with the spirit of God which is new in the inner man. Break the shell.

From Message #903 – The Chrysalis
Scripture: Ephesians 3:16

Today’s Mission – Pray and ask God for strength, for help to break out of the old you, and live in the new by His spirit in the inner man, and start breaking out of the shell.

The Sabbath Must Be Entered

Wednesday, January 5, 2022

Those of you who live near or work with Orthodox Jews are aware of something that happens every week. Every week on Friday, a few hours before sunset, Orthodox Jews begin rushing around, going home early, preparing, doing last minute shopping, doing all their last preparations, then rushing to their homes before sundown. The Sabbath doesn’t just come as do other days of the week. It is written in the fourth chapter of Hebrews that God’s people must also enter the Shabbat and we must labor to enter it. For us in Messiah, the peace of the Shabbat is every day. But it doesn’t just come to us. We must enter it. You can have peace and joy and blessings every day of your week. But don’t expect it to just show up one day at your door. Choose to enter into the presence of God every day of your life. Spend time entering. Practice entering. Get good at entering. And you can dwell in the Shabbat every day of your life. In other words, every day of your life can be like a weekend. Let it start today. Shabbat Shalom.

From Message #872 – The Shabbat Secrets
Scripture: Isaiah 56:6-8

Today’s Mission – Learn the secret of entering into Messiah’s Sabbath, the Lord’s deep peace and shalom – set time aside for Him and seek His peace and joy.

The Return of The Falashas

Tuesday, January 4, 2022

There has long lived in Africa a people known as the Falashas who keep the Biblical traditions and call themselves Beta Yisrael, the House of Israel. It appears that the Falashas are descendants of Jewish people who came to Africa from ancient times. In the 1970s and 80s they were in danger of extinction. In an amazing feat, Israel sent airplanes in with lightning speed, told the Falashas to get ready and airlifted thousands and thousands of them in Operation Moses and Operation Solomon. After 2000 years, they were back. So, too, in the Kingdom of God, it doesn’t matter how far off, cut off, or removed you’ve been from the Lord or His people. And it doesn’t matter what situation you’re in right now, how far you’ve strayed or how deep the pit you’ve gotten into. All you need to do is call upon the Lord and you’ll be saved. The Falashas were cut off for at least two thousand years. But now they are back in the Promised Land. So you too, need never be far away from God. For the distance between you and Him is only one call away.

From Message #866 – The Mystery of The Lost Tribes
Scripture: Deuteronomy 30:1-5Today’s Mission – Whatever you have done, no matter how far you feel from God, no matter how down or deep you are, or how hopeless your situation…. call upon the Lord, and He will answer

The Paradises of Hell

Monday, January 3, 2022

Hitler promised to usher in a thousand year kingdom of glory for the Aryan people and 6 million Jews died. Stalin promised a worker’s paradise on earth and took the lives of 40 million. Mao, likewise, promised China a people’s paradise taking 50 million lives. Why is it that instead of producing paradise, they produced hell? They each made the leader and the state their god, denying and opposing the living God. When you glorify yourself and when you deny God… the end is death. The end of pride is a fall. And the end of godlessness is death. If God is not the center of what you’re doing, then what you’re doing is empty and has no good end. Messiah, on the other hand, never promises His people a paradise without a cross. Messiah said, “If anyone would follow Me, let him deny himself, pick up his cross, and follow Me.” It doesn’t appear glorious, but do it His way and you end up with joy, fullness, and life. So turn down the way of the world. Embrace the way of the cross – and you’ll end up with life and joy!

From Message #1478 – Secret of The Arch-Enemies
Scripture: 1 Kings 8:56-58

Today’s Mission – Seek God’s will today, find out His plans for you this day. Align your life, your heart, and your will with His will and He will bless your plans.

The Four Unendings

Friday, December 31, 2021

Take a look at the end of the four gospels and how they end. Matthew 28, Messiah commissions them to go into all the earth making disciples of all nations. Mark 16, “Go into all the world and preach the good news, then Messiah was taken up to heaven. And the disciples went out preaching everywhere with miracles confirming the word of God.” Luke 24, “Messiah ascended blessing them, and the disciples returned to Jerusalem with great joy, staying continually in the temple praising God.” John 21, “Messiah did many other things, which if they were written down, the whole world wouldn’t have room enough to contain them.” Why do the gospels have no real endings? In Messiah, the good news never ends. So forget your troubles, they are nothing in Messiah. There is nothing compared to the good news, so start rejoicing again and don’t stop, because the joy of the Lord, like the good news of the Lord has no ending.

From Message #634 – The Unended
Scripture: Ephesians 6:19-20

Today’s Mission – The good never ends. So today, don’t let anything stop you in the purposes of God – press on, persevere, and keep going in the good.

The Anti-Semite who Came up With a Hebrew Holiday

Wednesday, December 29, 2021

Purim is the Jewish holiday; the festival of lots, the casting of lots. Do you know that holiday is named after the enemy of the Jewish people? It was Haman who came up with it. He decided that lots should be cast for the destruction of the Jewish people. They made a holiday out of it because God redeemed them. Well, it teaches us something amazing. Don’t be afraid of evil; don’t be afraid of problems; there’s no skirting of the issue with Purim. Don’t be afraid of the plans of the enemy, deal with it. We have a faith that can deal with problems and overcome them. It reminds us that whatever evil attempts to do, we have something greater than evil. When we say Purim, we are bearing witness that God is greater than the problem. So know this, no matter what trouble comes against you, God will turn it upside down if you follow Him. You can smile about the days to come, for every trial, every sorrow, every tribulation, will end up as Haman’s holiday, a triumph of the good and the victory that God brought you.

From Message #602 – The Purim
Scripture: Psalm 91:3-6Today’s Mission – Don’t fear troubles, problems, or evil today – but take trouble head on – and use it for God’s purposes and glory

The Gap & The Glory

Thursday, December 30, 2021

Now when you were a child, your parents bought you clothes. Most of the time they bought you clothes that were a few sizes too large because they knew you were growing and you would fit into them eventually. Believers do that too! They start out their walk going for the heights, searching for their calling and aspiring to fulfill the Great Commission. But many believers after they mess up, or don’t see all they hope to see, they start lowering their expectations. But your calling does not shrink, never. He is waiting for you to rise to it. Rise to your calling. Don’t give up the calling, give up the doubt. Believe what God’s plans are for your future. Believe a few sizes bigger than you are. Believe you will become a person of victory, of righteousness, a person of the Spirit, of joy, of purity, of unstoppable love, walking in the power of the resurrection, because God will only give you a calling that is perfectly tailored a few sizes too big.

From Message #621 – The Mantle
Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-4

Today’s Mission – Envision who you want to be in Messiah, put on the calling that the Lord has given you, and rise to it.

The Exile or The Sowing

Tuesday, December 28, 2021

In the Book of Acts, chapter 8 describes how the believers were scattered. They were persecuted so they were scattered. The word in Greek is “Diaspora.” We get the word dispersed or dispersion from that. It’s the same word used for the worldwide scattering and persecution of the Jewish people, which is the “diaspora” the dispersion of the Jewish people. The disciples were dispersed so they would go forth. What did they do? As they go, they would spread the gospel and people got saved. It’s interesting that the word “Diaspora” actually means to sow seeds. As persecution disperses them, they use it to “diaspora,” to sow seeds of the gospel. Something really profound: you see when things seem bad, persecution, “diaspora,” it ends up being the sowing of life which tells us something. For a child of God, hidden in every problem is redemption. Whatever problem you are going through, there’s something good about it. God is waiting to bring it forth. Start looking for the life that has come forth from the seed of God which is to be sown, there is waiting a Diaspora.

From Message #592 – The Lemonade Principle
Scripture: Hebrews 1:14Today’s Mission – What problems are there in your life – take them and use them for God’s glory and to spread His salvation.

The Gift of Timay

Monday, December 27, 2021

In 1 Peter it says, “Husbands, give your wife honor”. What does that mean? The word in Greek is timay which also means preciousness. Husbands, give your wife preciousness. See her as precious and you will never take her for granted again. Continually minister that to her. Give her timay, give her preciousness. It’s not about whether she is worthy of it or not. It’s not about you seeing the things she does, or doesn’t do, and saying, well, that’s worthy of preciousness. Preciousness is what you are supposed to give her. Do you want a precious marriage? Love her with a precious love and treat her as a precious vessel. Forgive her with a precious mercy. This is true not only for husbands and wives, but for everybody. Don’t treat people as they deserve to be treated. Treat them as God treats you, with a gift of timay. God didn’t give His life for you because you are precious and worthy of it. He gave His life to you so you would become precious and worthy of Him. His gift, His life, is the timay which makes you precious.

From Message #590 – Gentle Men
Scripture: 1 Peter 3:7

Today’s Mission – Look at the people in your life – at home, at work, etc. – with new eyes. See them as being precious – as precious as you are in the sight of God.

The Most Fought Over Land on Earth

Friday, December 24, 2021

On May 14, 1948, Israel was born from the dead as a nation. Israel as many of you know, is the size of New Jersey. And yet, did you know that Israel is the most fought over land in history? Now you would think, with all this fighting, Israel must be filled with natural resources. It’s not. It has almost nothing – but one thing – it belongs to God. And so, if you’re saved, you’re of Israel and it’s the same for you. You might often feel like you’re in a fight, and every day’s a battle. There’s a reason for it. You’re God’s Israel. You belong to God. So your life is precious. There’s a calling on it, a high calling, and a good promise of great things to come. So it’s worth the fight. The enemy knows it. And his job is to discourage you from persevering and inheriting the blessing waiting for you. Be encouraged. Fight the good fight. Press on and keep going until you inherit the blessing. You knew you had a fight. But now you know you’ve got something worth fighting for.

From Message #451 – The Waters of Zion
Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:12

Today’s Mission – Think of all the conflicts, problems, attacks, obstacles, resistance and warfare in your life… but don’t complain about it, but thank God that the enemy is against you – stand even stronger.

A Comparison: Israel & New Jersey

Thursday, December 23, 2021

In 1948, at this time of year, ancient prophecy was fulfilled as Israel was raised from the dead. I’m writing these words in New Jersey. New Jersey is a tiny state with only 8,000 square miles. But did you know that New Jersey is almost the identical size as the nation of Israel? But that’s where the comparison ends. God is the God of Israel. Now He also loves New Jersey, but in the Bible, He doesn’t say, “I am the God of… New Jersey.” If He did, then New Jersey would become the center of world attention and Israel would become… like New Jersey. What does it tell you? Stop looking at size, how much or little you have in life. If you commit your life and what you do have to God, no matter how small, then you become richer than the wealthiest and greater than the great. Then your life will become like Israel, the Promised Land… instead of New Jersey.

From Message #1858 – Journey to The Promised Land III
Scripture: Psalm 37:4-6

Today’s Mission – Think about all that you have – or don’t have in life – give thanks for it all, commit it all to the Lord’s purposes and glory.

Messiah – The Sunset

Wednesday, December 22, 2021

In Scripture, Messiah is called the Light of the World. If Messiah is the Light of the World, what happens when Messiah dies and goes into the earth? When Messiah died, the Light of the World went down into the earth, and because the Light of the World goes down there is a sunset. When the sun goes down the day is over. Because Messiah went down, the old life, the old creation and the old past are over. If He died, we died and the old life is gone. The good news are if you live in Messiah, the day of the old life is over. The sun has set on the old bondage, the old sin, your failures, your guilt and your sorrows. It is all over. The sun has even set on your mistakes and your gloom. The sun has set on it all. The light of the World has gone down, the sun has set, and the day is over. Now, put the old life to bed and you will rise in the dawn of a new day, a new life, in the light of His sunrise.

From Message #605 – The Divine Good Night
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17

Today’s Mission – The sun has set – take everything of your old life, your old self, and your old nature that’s still up and around and put it to bed – say “good night.”

Prayer Without Limits

Tuesday, December 21, 2021

Don’t start praying. That’s right, don’t start praying. You’re thinking, what kind of advice is that? That’s not spiritual or godly; that’s not the Bible. Well, that is the Bible–the Bible says the same thing. It says in Ephesians 6:18 “pray without ceasing.” It’s not saying to start praying, but to pray always, without ceasing, at all times. If you are praying always, then it’s not a matter of starting. If you are starting, it means that you weren’t praying before that. Of course, if you’re not praying, start praying. The point is that you should always be praying. Your life should be one big prayer where you are always in contact with God, where your heart is always speaking to God, hearing from God, worshiping God, being touched by God’s Spirit. The channel is always open, never closed. Learn how not to start praying, but how not to stop praying, to always pray, to always be open, to have your life an unending prayer to God. It all starts when you stop starting and stop stopping, and you just pray, you just be with God at all times in every place, always.

From Message #586 – Always
Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Today’s Mission – Seek today, as much as possible, to learn the secret of praying without ceasing – to pray without starting and pray without stopping.

The Faith Factor

Monday, December 20, 2021

A ministry successful at finding jobs for the unemployed was offered state funding, but they had to eliminate Bible study and prayer. It didn’t seem like too much, so they took out faith. The result was disastrous. The program finally closed down. They took out faith and kept the practical things. That says something. Even as believers, we often think of faith as if it’s, a nice thing, but not exactly the bread and butter of practical living. But it’s the opposite. It’s faith, God’s power through faith–that’s the most important factor. Without it, everything falls apart. It’s the things of God which we often ignore or let it get crowded out because it’s not the most practical or crucial thing. Well, that IS the most important and practical thing. Don’t let your prayer life or your time in the Word get pushed aside. Don’t let your time in God’s presence, in worship, in service and in ministry get pushed away, because the things of God ARE the most important things in your life. You take them out and everything else falls apart. Faith is first. God truly makes all the difference.

From Message #578 – The X Factor
Scripture: Hebrews 10:38, 39

Today’s Mission – Today, take a moment to examine your heart to see if it has taken any detours away from your God and your faith. If so, get back to faith and your first love.

The Fastest way to Live a Life of Blessing

Friday, December 17, 2021

Most believers want a blessed life and they’re waiting for blessings to come. We think it’s going to come any day or any year. I know God promised the blessing. You’re waiting for God to give you the blessing and you’re wondering why it isn’t coming. The problem is the grammar. We’re thinking blessing is only a noun. Blessing is a noun, but the key is, it’s also a verb. Blessing isn’t just something you wait for; blessing is something you do. If you want a life of blessing, then bless. Don’t spend your life waiting for the blessing. Spend your life blessing. Messiah said it’s more blessed to give or to bless than to receive. Start blessing and your life will be blessed – more blessed. You can fill your life with blessings by blessing your loved ones, co-workers, the cashier, stranger, blessing everyone you can. Bless and you shall have a blessed life. Don’t wait any more for a blessing to come because you’ve already been blessed by God. It’ll all start a blessed life when we learn to bless and keep blessing. Then your life will be filled up with blessing.

From Message #560 – The Royal Law
Scripture: Acts 20:35

Today’s Mission – Instead of focusing on your needs today, go out and be a blessing to someone else in need – and don’t forget to praise and thank God as you do.

The Gold Ring in The Mud

Thursday, December 16, 2021

Proverbs 11:22 says, “As a ring of gold in a pig’s nose, so is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.” Picture it, a pig with earrings and a nose ring, lipstick, rouge, eyeliner, false eyelashes, powdered nose, necklace. The truth is deeper than anything that only applies to women. The point is, your life is as a gold ring. In salvation, it’s priceless because you’re made in the image of God. It’s meant to be something beautiful, but if you give yourself to sinfulness, greed, lust, anger or selfish ambition, whatever you’re degrading something meant to be beautiful. You’re degrading yourself. You become what you give yourself to. A ring given to a pig will end up in the mud. A life given to sin will end up in the mud. If you give yourself to something low, you’ll be lowered. Yet if you give yourself to something higher, then your life will be lifted up. Give yourself to what’s pure, true, holy. Give yourself to Yeshua, Jesus, the Messiah and your life will be lifted up. It’ll become the treasure it was meant to be and not a ring in a pig’s nose.

From Message #556 – The Pig’s Jewelry
Scripture: Philippians 4:8

Today’s Mission – Treat your life, your being, as a precious vessel – don’t give it to any sin or anything that is not precious and of God.

Don’t Just Talk About Heaven

Wednesday, December 15, 2021

We are commanded by Messiah to preach the gospel and to preach the kingdom of heaven. But we are not only to speak about heaven, we must also show heaven. Heaven is to be in you, God is in you, that’s the difference. If heaven wasn’t in us, then we could just talk about heaven and be fine. The point is, heaven is in us, God is in us, so it’s not enough to just talk about Him, we have to show Him. Paul was taken up to heaven. He said it wasn’t permitted to say the things he saw; it was too much. But he could show it, and he did show it. He kept rejoicing; he kept persevering because of heaven. He showed them the reality of it. Well, if you’re born again, you’re born from heaven and you need to do the same thing Paul did. You need to show heaven. Don’t just talk about life in heaven, you show them the reality of a heavenly life now. You see, heaven is too good to only be spoken about. So don’t just talk about it, put your life where your mouth is. Show them.

From Message #555 – Show-Em
Scripture: Psalm. 105:1-3

Today’s Mission – Today, share heaven with those who need to find it – but don’t just talk about it – show them heaven!

Leah’s Womb

Tuesday, December 14, 2021

Leah the unloved wife of Jacob, always tried to earn his love. She bore him children to gain his love. Leah’s children are children of rejection. They learn to work for love and believe they are unlovable. They can never accept love, so they spend their whole life trying to prove themselves. If I do enough, people will appreciate me and love me. As a believer in God, we can do the same thing. Like Leah, we think we can be good enough or bear God enough fruit and He will love us. That was Leah’s mistake. You never bear a child so your husband will love you. You bear a child because your husband loves you. The child is the fruit of love. With God, we do not bear Him enough fruit or good works for His love; you bear God’s fruit because He loves you. The good works, love, joy, holiness and self-control in your life are the fruit of God loving you. Stop trying to earn the love of God. You are loved. In that love go forth, bear Him the fruit, the fruit of His love is in you.

From Message #541 – The Children of Leah
Scripture: Eph. 2:8-9

Today’s Mission – Stop trying to prove yourself, impress, or earn anyone’s approval. Receive the great, overwhelming, complete, and sufficient love of God and what He has for you.

The ANI-LO Response

Friday, December 10, 2021

How do you live holy, victorious, committed and righteous? The answer is in the Song of Solomon. In Hebrew, the bride says: Dodi Li V’ani Lo my beloved is mine and I am his. The bride is totally committed to the beloved; totally his. Why? Because she first can say, my beloved is mine and I am his. She knows he’s committed to her. Her commitment to him is based on his commitment to her. Her love is based on his love for her. That’s the secret of a victorious life in Messiah. We struggle to commit our lives and to live 100% righteous. But it doesn’t have to be. When the bride says, Ani Lo, I am his, it’s not a struggle. It’s a response. The bride isn’t centered on what she has to do or on herself, she is centered on Dodi Li, my beloved is mine and I am his. You too can’t have that commitment, that Ani Lo, without that Dodi Li. Realize His commitment to you, His holy love for you. Focus on Dodi Li, my beloved is mine, and your life will become Ani Lo and I am His.

From Message #674 – Dodi-Li
Scripture: Song of Solomon 2:16

Today’s Mission – Learn, ponder, receive the mystery of Dodi Li – and then commit yourself all the more to Ani Lo!

Outside The Synagogue

Thursday, December 9, 2021

The gospel of Luke tells of Messiah being kicked out of His own synagogue. He went outside; He left. They went on with their services, rituals, routines, and their social lives, but everything was dead, empty and lost. God’s presence moved on. His miracles went on, outside the synagogue, rituals and routines. The healing and the good news went on outside. The release of the captives went on, freedom to the prisoners, sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, all the miracles that His own synagogue couldn’t contain. His own religion could not contain Him, and neither can ours. You want miracles, blessings, the presence of God? Then you have to step outside of your routine, your rut, even the rituals in your life. You have to break out beyond the walls that contain your faith. The walls of Messiah’s religion couldn’t contain Him. He had to go outside for the miracles to keep going. We too need to step outside our narrow walls and walk with the King in the excitement of the newness and adventure of Him. The blessings He has for you are so big, they cannot be contained indoors.

From Message #671 – Messiah In The Synagogue
Scripture: Luke 4.18Today’s Mission – Today, step outside the walls of your routine. Step out in the adventure of faith that God has for your life.

The Garden of Myrrh and Aloe

Wednesday, December 8, 2021

Song of Solomon is a love song between a man and woman, an allegory of God, the Bridegroom, and us, the bride. It speaks of His death and resurrection, of the Bridegroom coming into a garden of spices and a bed of spices. God, your Bridegroom, in His love for you, came into a garden, a garden tomb, and on a bed of spices, burial spices. In the Song of Songs, two of the spices are myrrh and aloe. These are the same spices that were brought to the Lord as He lay in the tomb. In Song of Songs, spices are given as gifts of love. Myrrh represents sorrow, and death. Give your Beloved your sorrows. Aloe was linked to healing. Take all your wounds and place them upon Him. He comes into your tomb because your tomb needs Him to bring light to your darkness. Let your Beloved come in to your darkness so He can touch it. Lift your myrrh and aloe, your sorrows and wounds, and bring them to Him. Let Him come in, and the tomb will become a garden of spices. As it is written, “May my Beloved come into His garden.”

From Message #457 – Song of The Resurrection
Scripture: Song of Solomon 6:2

Today’s Mission – Take time today to let God touch the dark places, the wounded places, the secret, or shameful places, or the hardened places of your heart and life.

The Dawn of The Bridegroom & Bride

Tuesday, December 7, 2021

SHAKHAR is Hebrew for dawn. Song of Solomon reads, “Who is this who grows like the dawn?” Hebrew reads more literally, “Who is this who looks out the window at the dawn?” It’s talking about the Bride… us. It means we’re to be as the dawn. The dawn is light that increases. It’s not enough to be a light, you need to be a light that increases and gets brighter. What about the “looking out the window” part? It could be translated as “Who is this who peeks through like the dawn?” The dawn peaks through as the rays of sun break through the horizon. Dawn is a break through. Become a person of breakthrough… to learn how, in all situations, especially the dark ones, to break through in hope and victory, and turn any night into morning. For every darkness breaks through like the dawn. For every gloom, break through with hope, in every bitterness, break through with forgiveness, in every guilt, break through with grace, in every fear, break through with courage, and in every end, break forth with a new beginning. You too will be one who grows like the dawn.

From Message #821- The Dawn, The Moon, & The Sun
Scripture: Song of Solomon 6:10

Today’s Mission – Make a commitment today to grow, to increase in God, to grow like the dawn. Start by taking steps today to the next level.

The Goodness of Your Good Fridays

Monday, December 6, 2021

Growing up Jewish, before I accepted Yeshua, Jesus, as Messiah, I could never understand how Good Friday could be called “Good Friday.” It made no sense. It was the day that Jesus died. Why would His people call the day their Lord died – “Good?” It certainly didn’t resemble anything good by a long shot. Yet it was good. This fact shows us how radical our faith is. We don’t have a faith that denies trouble or one which cannot deal with sorrow. Our faith is a Good Friday faith. A Good Friday faith teaches us that goodness is not dependent on circumstance. No circumstance can make you good, no circumstance can keep you from being good. Nothing can stop you from the good life, but you. The “good life” isn’t a life of riches, comfort or success. Nor is it a life free from hurt or sorrow. Stop being oppressed, suppressed, repressed and depressed over your circumstance. Your circumstances are irrelevant. They cannot stop you from living the good life if you will not let them. Start living the good life today my friend – for Messiah died on Good Friday. And we… have a Good Friday faith.

From Message #456 – The Messiah’s Sabbath
Scripture: Phil. 4:11-13Today’s Mission – Make it your aim today to live unconditionally, uncircumstantially – Determine that no matter what, come hell or high water, you will live a blessed day in God

The Egyptian Doorways to The Promised Land

Friday, December 3, 2021

On the eve of Passover, 3,000 years ago, God told the Israelites to put the blood of the Passover Lamb on the wooden beams of their doorpost. When they did this they were to enter the doorway and stay inside. When the angel of death passed over the land, that doorway became the doorway of salvation, the doorway to the Promised Land. A thousand years later, on the same day, Passover, God put the blood of the final Passover Lamb, Messiah, on another set of beams of wood, the cross. That means that the cross must also be a doorway. A doorway to the Promised Land! What does it mean to you? No matter how far you think you are from God or what you’re going through there is a doorway, only one step away. There is a doorway to lead you out of bondage and to the Promised Land, in which you will find freedom, grace, and the light of heaven to shine on your heart. It’s the cross, it’s Calvary, it’s the love of God. And in your hardest, darkest and loneliest times, it will be there, just one step away, the Doorway to Heaven.

From Message #171 – The Lamb & The Doorway
Scripture: John 10:9

Today’s Mission – In whatever situation you’re in today – Look for His doorway, the doorway that will allow you to walk in a way you’ve never walked before.

Heaven Entering Your Gates

Thursday, December 2, 2021

The idea that most people have about heaven is that heaven is a place you enter or the place you hope to enter. Even as believers we tend to think of Heaven primarily as the same thing. It’s the place we will enter or we hope to enter, but Palm Sunday is the answer to that. Palm Sunday is about the Lord entering Jerusalem. The Lord, Yeshua, is the Lord of Heaven, the epitome of all that is Heaven – the Heavenly. And notice what’s happening, it’s not that we are trying to get into Heaven’s Gate, rather it is HEAVEN entering into earth’s gate. Salvation is not primarily about getting into heaven. It’s about heaven getting into you. Stop trying to reach heaven and let Heaven reach you. You didn’t first come to Him – He came to you. Stop trying to attain His love – let His love enter in. Stop trying to attain His holiness – let His righteousness enter in. Stop trying to attain His joy; but let His joy come into you, for He came into the gates of Jerusalem that Heaven would come through the gates for you.

From Message #482 – As It Is In Heaven
Scripture: Scripture: Rev. 22:14

Today’s Mission – Stop trying to reach Heaven today and let Heaven reach you. Let the light and glory of Heaven enter the gates of your heart.

2022 AND YOUR CALLING

Wednesday, December 1, 2021 Shalom, to you my Friend and Co-Minister in the Great Commission…

As we come to the end of 2021, I am led not to speak of prophetic developments, news, stories, and analysis of something more personal. These past two years have been among the most dramatic, chaotic, world-changing, and life-changing we have ever known.

In the months before it began, in the autumn of 2019, I had a strong sense that the coming year would be one of great shakings and dark events. That was part of the leading I received to begin writing The Harbinger II to show what was happening, to give warning, and to give hope and the way to prevail in the days to come. Two months after I began writing it, the shakings began.

Most prominent of shakings was the plague that came on the world and America. Then came unrest, civil disorder, cities on fire, the dividing of the nation, and then the coming to power of a new government, the rising of an agenda that threatened religious freedom, biblical values, life itself, and the continued and now accelerated moral and spiritual fall of America.

During this time, almost everyone saw their lives disrupted and dramatically altered. Businesses were shut down, lives were shut down, churches were shut down. Some never reopened. Many believers fell out of fellowship. In general, the body of Messiah was weakened – and at a time when political and cultural forces were warring against them with an unprecedented onslaught.

And now we come to the end of 2021 – and to the beginning of a new year. What will it bring?

In the Judeo-Christian world, the end of the year is marked by two celebrations – Christmas and Hanukkah. Even though I don’t believe Messiah was born at this time of year, the fact that His birth is commemorated at this time is significant. December and January constitute the darkest time of the year. And yet, we celebrate the light coming into the darkness. As for Hanukkah, known as the ‘Festival of Lights’ it also commemorates the light shining in the darkness. Its context is that of a nation that had once known God but had fallen away, and to such a degree, that it now began persecuting the faithful – very much like that of modern America. And yet the persecuted of that generation decided to stand for the Lord, no matter what the consequence or price. They did. And miraculously they won – against all odds. And so the light shone in the darkness.

What will the new year bring? Will it be a year of darkness? If so, we have something greater. We have the Light of the world. And He called us each to be lights in the world. Light doesn’t fear the darkness or the darkness of future days – the darkness only allows the light to shine brighter. Enter this year with confidence. Don’t focus on what the year will bring – but on what you will bring into it. For you are the light of God. Shine your light into darkness. Light up the year. Light up the world! And May God greatly bless you this month as you do!

The Second Blessing

Tuesday, November 30, 2021

When Messiah came to Jerusalem, many of the people shouted the words which greeted pilgrims to Jerusalem. From Psalm 118 “… Baruch Ha Ba, Ba Shem Adonai – Blessed Is He Who Comes In the Name of the Lord.” Many of them said that, but many did not and in the end, He would not be welcomed but rejected. And so what He said is interesting. He said – You will not see me again until you say, “Baruch Ha Ba, Ba Shem Adonai.” The Lord will not come again until the Jewish people say those words. It might sound hard but it’s actually the mercy of God. The Lord is giving a second chance for His people to do what they did not do when He first came: to receive Him, to welcome Him in and to bless Him. So be encouraged and rise to your calling, for God is not finished with you. He’s not finished with you until you, like Israel, fulfill all that He gave you to fulfill and for which He placed you on this earth: to bless Him, to welcome Him and to usher in His glory.

From Message #759 – Baruch Ha Ba
Scripture: Scripture: 1 Thess. 5:24

Today’s Mission – Is there an area where you’ve messed up and haven’t done what God is calling you to do, or stop doing? Today is your second chance – do it!

He Doesn’t Love You

Monday, November 29, 2021

God loves you and me – great heresies believers believe, but not true. God doesn’t just love you. He LOVES you!!! He didn’t just give His Son for you, he gave His son for you!!! He’s not just good, He’s great; awesome!!! God is passionate. He doesn’t just love you, He passionately LOVES you. He gave His life because He loved you–that’s passionate. He went through the passion because He passionately loves you. When He asks you to love Him, He doesn’t ask you to love Him, but love Him!!! We need to learn the passionate love of God so that we can live a passionate life for God, a passionate joy for God. Be passionate about God; He is passionate about you. You think, well He loves you; maybe you’ll praise Him, maybe you’ll serve Him, maybe you’ll live a little bit for Him. If you realize He loves you then you’ll praise Him, serve Him and live for Him with all your heart!!! You won’t be able to do anything less when you get it into your head and heart that He doesn’t just love you. Remember my friend, He LOVES you!!! Be blessed.

From Message #670 – The Passion
Scripture: Scripture: Jer. 31:3

Today’s Mission – Today, meditate on and cherish His incomprehensible, extravagant love. Let it fill you to overflowing because there’s more than enough to give away.

The Valley and The Door

Friday, November 26, 2021

Hosea 2:15 says, I will transform Israel’s Valley of Trouble into a gateway or Door of Hope for her. In Hebrew, the word ‘Achor’ means trouble and Heta Petah Tikvah means “Door of Hope.” You might be in the valley right now, in trouble, and you are getting down and getting discouraged, but God’s will and power is to turn your Valley of Trouble into a Door of Hope. Now Messiah said, knock and the door shall be opened. A door can be opened or closed, and that’s where you have to follow Messiah’s command. You might be standing right next to the Door of Hope, but you haven’t knocked yet. A closed door looks like a wall, unless you knock and you have to open it. So listen, you want to get out of that Valley of Trouble, look for the Door of Hope. Knock and the Heta Petah Tikvah, the Door of Hope shall be opened to you. Because in God, every Valley of Trouble will turn into a Door of Hope for you and your part is to knock and go through it.

From Message #554 – Ask, Seek, & Knock
Scripture: Scripture: Jer. 14:8

Today’s Mission – What troubles do you have in your life? Instead of being upset or down over it, look to find the Door of Hope, the good thing God is planning to do.

Take Care of Your own Garden

Thursday, November 25, 2021

In the beginning of the Bible, there is a man, a woman, and a garden. It was to be their garden. It wasn’t their neighbor’s garden. There were no neighbors. They were to bear fruit to God. God also calls you to bear fruit. In Galatians 5 it speaks about the fruit of the Spirit–love, joy, peace, patience, faithfulness, goodness, gentleness and self-control. Keep your life and your walk with God very simple. You can help your neighbor when they ask and bless them, but your business is your garden. You can’t make your neighbor bear fruit. But you can go over to your neighbor’s house and bless them. You can bring tomatoes, cucumbers and squash, all the blessings of your garden and give it to them. You are not responsible for their fruit. You are responsible for yours with which you can bless them. So just make sure your garden is fruitful, full of the fruit of the Spirit. The fruit God called you to bear, that’s your business. The rest is His business.

From Message #549 – None of Your Business
Scripture: Col. 1:9-10

Today’s Mission – Don’t focus on the faults of others – focus on your own garden, what you need to do, what is God calling you to bear? Do what you need to do.

The Master and The Duplicates

Wednesday, November 24, 2021

When I do a message or teaching, I record it. It’s called the master. Then the master is put into a duplicating machine to go on DVD’s or CD’s. The DVD’s or CD’s are blank. They are lined up, ready to go and at this point they are called slaves because all they do is follow the master. The master just plays out and the impulses are received onto the blanks, and at the end the blanks are copies of the master. Same message, same ministry; thus the same message is spread. Well, Messiah is called the Master, and if you call the Master, it means you have to become His duplicate. Get plugged into Him, receive His impulses of His love, of His Spirit, of His wisdom, of His righteousness, of His purity, of His heart, of His power. Follow His example by walking in His spirit. Let Him live His life through you, and you will become like Him, an accurate duplicate. Your life will be His life and His life, your life. Because if you call Him Master, you must become His duplicate.

From Message #548 – The Huppogrammus
Scripture: 2 Tim. 2:21

Today’s Mission – Today don’t seek to be the master of your life and situation, but seek to be His Duplicate. In every situation, look to Him and receive from Him, and go and do likewise.

Casting out

Tuesday, November 23, 2021

In Matthew 4, the Lord calls “His” fishermen. They are called to be fishers of men. Well, fishers always cast out, whether it is a line or a net. Thus we must always first act in faith, to first engage people. Even when the Lord was giving them the miracle of the fish, they had to first cast out. You cast out, you cast your bread on the waters, you cast out your net. You won’t see the blessing if you don’t cast out. You spread the word, you cast out the word, you cast out your comments, you cast out that tract, you cast out that visit, you cast out that book, you cast out that ministry, you cast out that question. It doesn’t matter where you are. You might be in a family gathering when the time is right, you talk to that person in a store, you make your cast. God has miracles waiting for you in the deep waters, but His fishers can’t be timid. Be gentle, but bold. Salvation and miracles are waiting to fill your net, but you are only going to see it when you cast out.

From Message # 546 – As You Go
Scripture: Josh 22:5

Today’s Mission – Today, seek to be a true fisher of men – cast out your net, cast out a word, cast out a seed, cast out a comment, cast out something that will draw them in to the Lord.

But not my Family

Monday, November 22, 2021

Christians say I’ll share the gospel with anybody: cannibals, mass murderers, serial killers and Nazis. I’ll even go to head-hunting, Neo-Nazi Ku Klux Klan cannibals in New Guinea. You’ll share with anybody? Well anyone but one group. Don’t ask me to share with my family. I’ll share with any other but not my family. Imagine you’re drowning and you’re yelling “Help” and the lifeguard says, “Sorry, I can’t save you.” You’re a relative. I make it a policy not to save family members. It’s too awkward, causes too much problems, sorry, goodbye. Could that be you? Could you be expressing your faith all over the place but not with your own family? You’re showing love, forgiveness, patience, peace, radical mercy, unconditional agape; you’re loving your enemies – all outside of your home. Remember the Great Commission. It started in Jerusalem and then to the world. How about taking all that love and that patience and that radical forgiveness, radical warmth, boldness, and zeal and bring it to the most radical place – your home. You’ll get to the head-hunting Neo-Nazi, New Guinea Cannibal and Ku Klux Klan members, but first bless your family.

From Message #538 – Therefore Go
Scripture: Rom. 1:16

Today’s Mission – Take a bold step, and with a heart of love, bring God’s love to a family member and let this be the beginning of a new adventure of life’s mission.

The Life on the Other Side of the Door

Friday, November 19, 2021

A young man enters a room. An old man is standing by a door, he’s miserable. The old man says, “Don’t open that door.” He opens the door and he’s on this beautiful island, with everything he needed and a mansion. He goes in the mansion. There’s a door and a man says, “Don’t go in that door.” He opens the door and it’s a beautiful land. He’s welcomed as king, marries a beautiful queen and has servants. He’s in the palace, sees a door and a guy says, “Don’t go in that door.” He opens that door and he’s back in the original place. He’s miserable like the old man sitting there. Proverbs 5:15 says, “Drink waters from your own cistern.” The secret of a joyous life is to stop dwelling on the woman you don’t have, rejoice in the wife you do. Stop dwelling on the home you don’t have, rejoice in the home you do. Stop dwelling on the blessing you don’t have, start thanking God for the blessings you do have. If God is in your life, there’s heaven in your life. Don’t miss it longing for what you don’t have and miss what you do.

From Message #531 – Water From Your own Cistern
Scripture: Psalm 34:1

Today’s Mission – Waters From Your Own Cistern Drink waters from your own cistern today – Rejoice and give thanks for all the blessings God has blessed you with in your life.

Tammuz VS The Messiah

Thursday, November 18, 2021

In the ancient world there were strange foreshadows and substitutes of the resurrection in the myths of the dying and rising gods; Osiris, Tammuz, Adonis and Dionysius. All throughout the ancient world there were these yearly rights and rituals commemorating the death and resurrection of these mythological gods. It was all a myth. There was nothing historic about it. They didn’t really believe that anything happened once and for all and it would change their lives. As believers, we have a real resurrection, but so many of us live as if it was a myth. It doesn’t really affect our lives. We hear that He rose but we go back to our life and there’s very little evidence that anything is changed. We have a real God, a real resurrection. Messiah rose for real in history so we have to live it for real and stop living as though it was a nice myth. Live the power of the resurrection every day. You really have to overcome. Every other good news is a myth but Messiah and his resurrection. You’ve got the real thing. He rose; you can do the same.

From Message #528 – The Rising God
Scripture: Heb. 12:1

Today’s Mission – Make it your aim today to live and walk and act in the power of the resurrection of Yeshua, the Messiah and you will overcome.

The God Price

Wednesday, November 17, 2021

When you buy something in a store you pay at least what you think it’s worth or you wouldn’t buy it. Nobody pays more than they think something’s worth or they wouldn’t buy it. Whatever you pay, you’re valuing the object you’re paying for at least as much as what you’re giving for it. It’s profound. Look at Calvary. When you see those pierced hands, it means He paid for you with the life of his only begotten son. That means He loves you as much as He loves His only begotten son. He gave His own life. He loves you as much as He loves His own life! Not because we were worth it but because He loved us with the love that makes us worth it. In view of that price, we must love Him as much or even more than your own life. How could you do any less? Love others as much or more than your own life. Because God so loved you that the price for you was Himself. Live your life in a way that was worthy of the price that He paid – a life worthy of the life of God.

From Message #527 – The Price
Scripture: John 3:16

Today’s Mission – Today, love those unlovely, unloveable, and unloving people in your life – not because they’re worth it, but because He loved you first.

Commotion Free Cemeteries

Tuesday, November 16, 2021

One of the biggest problems we have in the Lord is we want commotion-free walks. We want a place where there’s no commotion. If you want a place where there’s no commotion, go to a cemetery. If you find commotion in a cemetery, you’re in trouble. In a dead place there’s no commotion, but light in darkness causes commotion. The life of God in a dead world will cause commotion. When Messiah came into the world he caused a stir in Bethlehem. In Nazareth and Galilee, there was commotion. Palm Sunday, there was commotion. They said, “Who is this who stirs up the whole city?” God’s presence causes commotion in daily life. If He’s come into your life, it will cause commotion in your routine. Don’t go for a commotion-free walk; it’ll be dead. Maybe what you need is something to get stirred up a bit. Let God interrupt your routine. Let Him shake us out of it. Forget the rut, forget the routine; let the presence of God come fresh in your life. Let it cause a commotion because God wants to bring that cemetery in your life into Palm Sunday.

From Message #526 – A Holy Commotion
Scripture: Romans 5:1-5

Today’s Mission – Step out of your routine today – let God interrupt your day, speak to you, and cause some Holy Spirit commotion and change.

With all Your Lev

Monday, November 15, 2021

The Bible says in Proverbs 3:5, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart,” but in Hebrew it says this, “Trust in the Lord with all your lev.” Now Lev in Hebrew is a real important word. It means heart, but it doesn’t just mean heart; it means your mind, your emotions, your will. It means the real core of you. Most of us trust in one way or another. In our head we might be trusting, but it’s not penetrating your emotions or your feelings, so you’re angry, you’re afraid. You know what? If you really trust God with your heart then your emotions are going to get touched too. It means let this sink to the deepest part of your life. You want a blessed life? Don’t just trust Him with your head or even your emotions, but trust Him with your decisions, your will, your wants, your desires. Choose; commit yourself by faith. Let this faith get “deep” into the core of your being. Let your faith not be shallow but let it be a Lev faith. And if you do, your life will be blessed to the core, to the very Lev.

From Message #524 – Trust in The Lord
Scripture: Ps. 115:11

Today’s Mission – Seek to let the good news of God’s love penetrate your heart, your mind, your emotions, and step out in faith.

The Joy Refiller

Thursday, November 11, 2021

During the wedding celebration at Cana in John 2, they ran out of wine. When all the celebrations of this world run out; the party ends. They start out full of life and dwindle. Even the waiter at the Cana wedding said the best was served at the beginning. The wine is the symbol of joy. The real joy of the Lord never ends. The world seems exciting and new at first, but then it gets old. The Lord comes to the party and He turns the water into wine. The joy of the Lord is different. The best comes at the end. You might let your walk get old or let things take a natural course and lose the joy of it. But the joy of the Lord never gets old. Like the celebration that ran out of wine, He brings new joy. Stop seeking the joy of the world. Get some new wine, some real joy, His joy. Give your heart to His joy. He will renew your joy; give you new wine, the abundance of which will never run dry. Come back to Him and He will fill you up.

From Message #565 – The Last Joy
Scripture: Neh. 8:10

Today’s Mission – Focus today on really getting into the joy of the Lord – Rejoice in the Lord always!

Bakar & Find

Wednesday, November 10, 2021

In Matthew 7:7 Messiah says, “Seek and you shall find.” There is a real key here, a secret. In Hebrew/Aramaic, which He spoke, the word for seek is Bachar. This is not just a nice gentle word. Bachar is a heavy word, a violent word. Bachar means to plow, to turn over and to break forth. God did not call us to seek the Lord, but to plow forward, overcome, turn over and do whatever you have to do to seek the Lord. True seeking is linked to plowing, you have to persevere. Sometimes it takes work, sometimes you feel like giving up, but you keep going. The Lord causes our hearts to be plowed. He says, “Break up your fallow ground”. Get your life turning, seeking God and tuned to receive His blessings. Plow with breakthrough actions. You want to seek the Lord, you want the blessing, then seek him with all your heart and press. When it seems hard, you will break through. So if you want a breakthrough, break up your fallow ground and His blessings will reign upon you. Seek, plow and you shall find.

From Message #554 – Ask, Seek, & Knock
Scripture: Hosea 10:12

Today’s Mission – Seek to plow today, let God’s Word and Spirit have their way, and plow over the dormant, fallow ground in your life and walk.

Servantman! (& Servantwoman!)

Monday, November 8, 2021

When I was growing up, I used to read comic books about superheroes. What made them superheroes were the super powers given them. Superheroes are myths. But there does exist one superhero for real, and with true super powers, unlimited powers. Who? Messiah. It is He who said “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.” In Hebrew prophecy, Messiah is called, ‘the Servant of the Lord.’ There’s a connection. The one who most serves the Lord and does His will, is the one who will most walk in the power and the Authority of God. That One is Messiah. And on top of that, it is His will that you walk in the same power. The key is, serve the Lord. Do His will. Stop doing what is not His will. The more you walk in the will of God, the more power you will have – so that you can say “I can do all things through Messiah who strengthens me.” Get super into His will and you will have super power to become a little super hero!

From Message #666 – The Joy of The Shammash
Scripture: 1 Sam. 26:25

Today’s Mission – Today, dare to live as a superhero – walking in the will and mission of God and do all things by the power of Messiah in the Spirit of the Almighty!

The Baby Prophet

Tuesday, November 9, 2021

Zechariah says an amazing thing in Luke 1:76, “You, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High.” The amazing thing is that he is talking to a baby, but this is not baby talk. He is saying you are going to be a prophet, a Navi in Hebrew, of El Elyon, the Most High. These are awesome, beautiful words to a baby. The baby cannot fathom what he is saying; yet he is going to grow into it. So it is with your calling. You cannot fathom the calling, the hope that God gives us. Yochanan was a little baby version of what he would be, John the Baptist. We are little baby versions of what we will become if we obey and grow. The baby cannot understand the calling, but you keep going, just obey. Yochanan, John the Baptist, obeyed God and as he obeyed, he fulfilled his calling. Those words came true. You have an awesome high holy calling on your life. You do not have to understand it or God’s way. Just obey and you will become the fulfillment of the call on your life.

From Message #553 – The Song of Zechariah
Scripture: 1 Peter 2:2Today’s Mission – Don’t hinder the growing-up process, get rid of all malice, pretense, envy and hurtful talk from your life.

Tracing Messiah

Thursday, November 4, 2021

Did you ever have to draw something in school and you tried and got a mess? But then you see the masterpiece. You trace a picture and put the masterpiece behind your paper; follow the lines and soon you have a pretty good image. In 1 Peter 2:21, it says that the Lord is, in the original language, the word is huppogrammos, which means the underwriting. It means the writing that’s placed underneath that scribes use to copy. So Messiah’s life is the huppogrammos, the underwriting. Let me tell you how to apply this to your life. When you follow your own will, you’ll end up with a mess. But your life can become a masterpiece. How? Realize Messiah is not just the teacher or the hope in your life; he’s the huppogrammos. It means He’s the one you trace. How do you put Him up to your life? You line up your life, your heart His way, and see if it lines up. The minute you start tracing it you guide everything by that. Follow your course as Messiah because He is the underwriting, the huppogrammos, and your life will become a masterpiece.

From Message #548 – The Huppogrammus
Scripture: Eph. 2:10

Today’s Mission – Seek today to follow the footsteps of Messiah in every situation – what would Messiah do? Go and do likewise.

The Lily Command

Wednesday, November 3, 2021

Messiah said, “Consider the lilies.” Now that’s a command. Have you obeyed it? Messiah is teaching us a lesson. Lilies don’t have to worry about clothes, or money, or working; lilies don’t spend their days worrying, toiling or struggling. So learn to be more like them and you’ll be blessed. But there’s more. Messiah could have used more examples of things that don’t work for a living. He could have considered the chair, or the log. But he said, “Consider the lilies.” In order to learn the lesson, you have to consider the lilies. It’s really hard to worry or have anxiety when you’re thinking about lilies. It’s written in Philippians 4:8, “Dwell on whatever is good and pure and excellent. Let your mind dwell on that.” Try to not think about things you need to dwell on, but what is good and pleasant and of God, as the lilies of the field. It’s Messiah’s anti-anxiety command. Consider the lilies. Have you obeyed that command lately? If not, you’re probably bent out of shape. Set up time today, stop everything and stop disobeying God with anxiety. Fulfill the command and consider those lilies.

From Message #1263 – Secrets of The Lilies
Scripture: Luke 12:27-28

Today’s Mission – Deeply meditate on Luke 12:27-28 today, take it personally, what is God saying to you, and apply it.

Echad & Ashray

Tuesday, November 2, 2021

The Lord said, “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.” Purity is linked to oneness – being one hundred percent pure. The word in Hebrew for oneness, singleness of mind and heart, is Echad. It says, the Lord our God is Echad, one. “Blessed are” in Greek is makarios, in Hebrew it’s ashray. Jesus is quoting a Psalm. Ashray means happy or joyful. Let’s put it together. Happy or joyful are those who are pure in heart, who are single minded. In Hebrew, also means to be clean, clear and bright. Being single of heart is having one motive. A pure heart will be blessed, happy, and joyous. If you want joy, live a life of oneness, singleness of motive and action in your heart, mind, and in all things and you’ll be blessed. Your heart will have joy. If your heart is single to God, your heart will be blessed with ashray. Blessed are the pure in heart, the single-minded, the single-hearted for God for they shall have joy because that’s what blessed means. Be blessed. Be one. The power of being one.

From Message #539 – The Power of Being one
Scripture: Col. 3:22

Today’s Mission – Today, make it your aim to live single-minded in everything you do – no ulterior motives – just pure and undivided motives for God.

THE MONKEY MAN

Monday, November 1, 2021

Shalom, to you my Friend and Co-Minister in the Great Commission…

This year an event took place in the halls of science that should have become headline news and was the stuff of science fiction. It happened in America. In a study conducted by the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in California, biotechnologists created the first confirmed case of a human-monkey hybrid embryo. Yes, you read that right – a human-monkey hybrid embryo.

Here’s the story behind what took place: It was a joint project. The American team collaborated with a team from China, since China doesn’t have the same ethical restrictions on biotechnology as does the west. The scientists kept the human-monkey hybrid alive for 20 days – much longer than in all earlier attempts. 20 days represents about 20 percent of a monkey’s development in the womb. The embryos contained what analysts described as a shockingly high amount of human cells – about one-third of all cells. The human and monkey cells began ‘communicating’ with each other. Each affected and changed the other. The human cells began acting more like monkey cells and the monkey cells began acting more like human cells. After the study was complete, the human-monkey embryos were destroyed.

The news provoked much controversy. Never had this been done before. One thing was clear – The line had been crossed. And once that happens, things rarely go back to the way they were before. And if it does go further, it means we will see the increased merging of man and animal – as well as the potential for the creation of new species.

The news of the ‘monkey man’ is indeed shocking to most sensitivities. And yet it converges with biblical prophecy on several key points. Biblical end-time prophecy speaks of an end-time civilization that is, in many ways, unnatural. in the Book of Daniel, the fourth beast, typically understood as the civilization or state of the last days, is presented in the most unnatural terms.

At the same time, one of the characteristics of the pagan world was the creation and worship of creatures which were part human and part animal. They were called ‘chimeras.’ We have witnessed a civilization that once knew God and that was once considered to be ‘Christian,’ now becoming increasingly post-Christian and anti-Christian. We would expect that culture to manifest aspects of pagan civilization. And so it has – only now it has the ability to fashion such images, not of clay and stone, but of DNA and life itself.

Lastly, one of the pictures presented in biblical prophecy concerning the end times is that of a civilization that elevates itself to the status of god – man as God – as in the Antichrist. When that happens, man plays God. Altering the chain of life, combining it with other chains, manipulating it, transforming it, and creating altered forms of life – is playing God. Pride goes before a fall – and playing God never ends well. Instead of producing life, man brings forth death. Our civilization even has a parable concerning this – it’s called ‘Frankenstein.’

We have something better – not man as God, but God as man, Jesus, Yeshua, Messiah. And instead of trying to be God, we worship Him and submit to His will. And by so doing we find life – true life and the purpose for which we were created. This month seek not your own way, but seek to find His will and follow it in everything you do. And may God greatly bless you as you do.

Your brother and co-laborer

in His love and service,


Jonathan

The Lender

Friday, October 29, 2021

A king sought to find out which of his two sons was worthy of wearing the crown. He gave them each the same amount of money to see which one would end up with more money at the end of five years. The older son bought expensive possessions and kept everything locked up in the mansion. But the younger son lent the money away. Then, when he received it back, it came back with interest. The older son who saw his treasure all the time added nothing and ultimately lost it. But the younger who let go of his treasure, and didn’t see it with his eyes, ended up with everything. So with you, when you give to the Lord and to his work, it may seem as if you’re giving something away, but you’re actually increasing what you have. The only way you can keep something forever, is to give it to the Lord. Lay up your treasures in heaven. For “he who gives to the poor, lends to the Lord.”

From Message #511- Treasures in Heaven
Scripture: 2 Cor. 7-9

Today’s Mission – There’s something you’re holding onto (a possession, a treasure, money, an idol, etc.) – let it go. Give it to the Lord. And rejoice.

The Priests of Kora

Wednesday, October 27, 2021

Among the Bantu languages in Africa, the creator is called Kora. One tribe speaks of Kora as having a son. When the missionaries first reached these people, the tribesman told them Kora sent word to our forefathers that he already sent his son into the world to accomplish something wonderful for all mankind. Later, our forefathers turned away from the truth about Kora’s son. Since that time, generations have longed to discover the truth. But all we would learn was that messengers would eventually come to restore the forgotten knowledge to us. So we resolved that whenever Kora’s messengers arrived, we welcomed them and believed their message. This amazing thing; the gospel came to the village of the priests of Kora in 1950. They all received the Lord. They were so far from God, yet God prepared them. Just like Paul spoke on Mars Hill of the unknown God. In Ecclesiastes it says, “He has placed eternity in their hearts.” So don’t ever give up on that person who seems so separated from God. There’s always a way, for his or her heart was created to know God. Just remember, “The priests of Kora.”

From Message #504 – Eternity in Their Hearts
Scripture: Phil. 1:6

Today’s Mission – Who seems hopelessly outside of God, or outside of His will today? Pray for them in faith, and, if you can, reach out.

When God Comes in

Thursday, October 28, 2021

In Galatians 4:4, it says that in the fullness of time, God sent His son. Some people argue about the right time, having the Roman peace, the law, the Greek language and culture uniting. You had the Jewish Diaspora so the gospel could spread. You had a great crisis in spirituality and the Roman Empire was just ripe for it. There’s truth to that. It says “in the fullness of time God sent his son” can be read in another way. When God sends His son and when the gift of God comes into your life, it’s the fullness of time. When you let God in, it becomes full not just once; but every day we ought to let God come in. We so often focus on the situation; we want it to be right so the blessing of God can come. But if you’re focusing on the situation, you’re never going to focus on the presence of God. The point is, let God come into the situation and it’ll become right and it will be perfect. And it will become the fullness of time for your life.

From Message #213 – The Fullness of Time
Scripture: Psa. 138:8

Today’s Mission – What situation in your life or around you is a problem? Pray and invite God into it to have His way.

Stepping Outside of you

Tuesday, October 26, 2021

Did you ever look at a photograph of yourself? There’s something about it; you can’t fool yourself. But when you see a photograph, and you don’t realize it’s you at first, and that person looks overweight – you may be seeing yourself objectively for the first time. The reason is you didn’t realize it was you first because you were beside yourself. Paul spoke of being beside himself. It can be good to be beside yourself. Put yourself beside yourself. Step out of your life and imagine if it wasn’t yours. See how it matches up to the way it should be. Put yourself in your wife’s place, and see how it is to have you as a husband. Put yourself in your parents’ place to see how it is to have you as a child, or your children’s place to see how it is to have you as a parent. Put yourself in the Lord’s place to see what kind of service you’re giving Him, and then do unto others as you would have to yourself. It all starts when you get beside yourself.

From Message #498 – The Angel in The Wilderness
Scripture: Matt. 22:39

Today’s Mission – Today seek to see yourself from outside yourself – take a good hard, objective look at your life, your attitude – and make whatever changes you need to make.

There it Goes Again!

Monday, October 25, 2021

You’ve had this happen to you. Something goes wrong and you say, there it goes again! Something happens and you say whatever can go wrong, will go wrong. But, when things go right, do you ever stop and say, hey, there it goes again! No, we tend to take for granted all the good things; we do not give thanks. We dwell on the things that go wrong. One thing goes wrong, and that is all we think about. The Bible says, you are a child of God; you are blessed. Your life is not characterized by the bad. The next time something good happens say, hey, there it goes again! How about the sun comes up; there it goes again! You have breath, there it goes again! Hey, you can walk, you are in good health there it is again! There is food on my table there it is again! “Thank you God!” I have clothing; there it is again! Stop and thank God for all those blessings and you will start seeing more and more blessings and reasons to thank God for. Everywhere you look, you will see a blessing.

From Message #496 – The Gift of Barnabas
Scripture: 1 Thes. 5:16-18

Today’s Mission – Today, make it your aim to take nothing for granted – but to thank God for every good thing.

The Holy man in the Center

Friday, October 22, 2021

There was a holy man who went to dinner. The host brought him to the most honored seat. In humility, the man refused, and instead sat by the door. Other honored guests came and were brought to the seats where the holy man was. “Why are we not sitting near the center of the table; the place of honor?” they complained. The host said, “You’re in the most honored seat. For wherever the holy man sits, that’s the center of the table.” The same with us. We focus on our situations, our circumstances, our seat, our status, how others treat us. We want better attention, a better place, better everything, but we’re missing the point. We should not live a life focused on our circumstances, but rather focused on being with Him. Wherever He is, that’s the center of everything, that’s the place to be. Wherever you are in your life doesn’t matter; aim to be near Him. That’s what matters. If you’re near Him, you’re in the place of honor. Your circumstances don’t matter. Stay close to Him because wherever you are, you will be sitting in the center of the table of life.

From Message #487 – Prepare ye the way
Scripture: Ps. 16:11

Today’s Mission – Seek the Lord…draw near to Him…rejoice in His presence…marvel at His goodness…bask in His holiness…in the center of the table.

Yayin & Dodecha: The Wine & The Loves

Thursday, October 21, 2021

In the Song of Solomon, it is written, “For your love is better than wine.” Only it doesn’t really say that. In the original language it reads, “Kee to veem do-dekha mee yayin.” Which is this: “For your LOVES ARE better than WINE.” The word for LOVE, the Bridegroom’s love, is plural. But the word for WINE, YAYIN, is singular. It means that whatever the world has to offer you, the things you can see with your eyes and touch with your hands – they’re only singular. They end. They run out. Maybe you’re being tempted by some thing, some pleasure that is not of God. God wants to keep you from misery and emptiness – because that’s what you’ll be left with when the YIN, the wine runs out. But the love of God is not like that. The love of God never ends, will never fail you. It’s always more – more than you think it is and more than you expect. Put away that wine, whatever your wine happens to be and find what is better and never ending. That you too might say, “Your love is better than wine.”

From Message #595 – The Mystery of The Divine Loves
Scripture: Rom. 8:38-39

Today’s Mission – Today, put away that distraction, that diversion, that sin, or that idol God wants you to let go of and replace it with the love, the presence, and the joy of God.

The Negev Secret

Friday, October 15, 2021

The promised land is the shadow of heaven. When we speak about going home, crossing the Jordan, coming to the promised land, we’re speaking about going to heaven. The wilderness is a symbol of the place that we go through to get there, which is this life right now. The Hebrews journeyed through the wilderness, crossed over and went into the promised land. That’s the way we picture it. But there was one wilderness, the Negev; which was part of and inside the Promised Land itself. So if the Promised Land is a shadow of heaven and the wilderness is a shadow of this life, and they’re together, it means that heaven and this life are much closer together than you might think. If you’re a believer, heaven begins now. Even in the wilderness, the dry times, in the hard times, and in sorrows you can find heaven. Whatever you’re going through in this journey, God is going through it with you. If you’re born again, God is with you and that makes it heaven. Learn to see the good in all things. Live in the heavenlies now because the promised land is also in the wilderness, and heaven is also in your life right now.

From Message #474 – The Midbar
Scripture: Matt. 1:23

Today’s Mission – Seek to live today as if Heaven were already in your circumstances, and as if you were already in Heaven – And in the Spirit, you will be.

The Bridegroom’s Better House

Wednesday, October 20, 2021

In ancient Israel, a Jewish man had to prepare a house for his intended bride. When the house was ready, the groom would come to the bride’s home and take her away into the new house he had built for her. But there was a law in Israel, the law of the bridegrooms. According to that law, a bridegroom could never take his bride out of a house that was better than the house he was taking her to. Well, Messiah is a Hebrew Bridegroom, and we, the Church are a Hebrew bride. He’s come to take us out of our old house and to a new one that He’s prepared. God can only lead you to something better. God will only take you to a better joy, a better love, a better peace, a better life. Don’t be afraid to really follow the Lord and to go all out for Him. Don’t think it’s ever a step down. It’s only up. Everything He calls you to do will lead you to a better and higher place. Trust Him. Follow Him. That’s His job. And that’s the law.

From Message #373 – The Mohar
Scripture: John 14:2-3

Today’s Mission – Take a step out of your comfort zone and go higher in the Lord today.

Their Sister’s Keeper

Tuesday, October 19, 2021

Our culture is one of increasing depersonalization. When many of us were growing up, we knew our neighbors, and people in our community. Now, it’s a big thing if we know people on the next street; even sometimes the people next door. A few years ago, a woman was raped and killed as thirty-five people walked by and did nothing – a famous case of a culture becoming a culture of strangers. A Bible prophecy says in the end times the love of many shall grow cold. The gospel calls us to get involved. Even, as believers, we sometimes can be cold and uninvolved, and separate ourselves. But, we must be involved; God was involved in you. Would you let someone be killed right in front of your eyes? You’d say, “no, of course not!” But, when you let your neighbor pass into eternity and you don’t get involved and share the gospel of salvation you’re doing the same thing. How much more must we share the gospel? Yes, we are our neighbor’s keeper. Share the gospel; bless them with the Word. Don’t let them perish because we are our neighbor’s keeper.

From Message #486 – End Time Love I
Scripture: Lev: 19:18

Today’s Mission – In some way, share the Gospel, plant seeds of eternal life, for those who need salvation.

Starting From Heaven

Monday, October 18, 2021

How do you solve the problems you’re dealing with; the ones you’re dwelling on; the problems that are on your mind? The Lord’s prayer says, “on earth as it is in heaven.” The original language doesn’t say, “on earth as it is in heaven.” It says, “as it is in heaven so on earth.” It’s about letting heaven reach your life. First as it is in heaven then let that touch your life. Start by forgetting the problem that’s on earth. It doesn’t start with earth. You start with heaven. All good things come from heaven. Forget about the problem; start from heaven. Get your eyes on the Lord; on His love. Start with the answer which is from heaven, then let it also be on earth. Messiah is the answer. He didn’t start from earth, but from heaven and came down to earth. This problem of yours is going to be solved when you forget about it; get your eyes off it. Trust the Lord and get your eyes on the Lord and heaven. Let it be so as it is in heaven, so let it be in your life.

From Message #482 – As it is in Heaven
Scripture: Heb. 12:2

Today’s Mission – Seek to live your life not from earth to heaven, but from heaven to earth.

His Mercy: The Womb

Monday, October 4, 2021

In John 3, Messiah says to Nicodemus, “You must be born again.” Nicodemus says, “But how can I? Can a man go back into his mother’s womb and be born?” The word for womb is rechem. That’s also the word from which we get the word mercy, racham or rachamim. Rechem is linked to the womb and the womb is linked to mercy. Nicodemus is saying how can a man go back to his mother’s womb. You can’t do that; the womb is the beginning place. There is nothing before the womb. But it’s such a beautiful picture of God’s mercy, a rechem. You can’t enter a womb, but you can enter God’s mercy, His rechem, His rachamim. God’s mercy is like a womb that brings forth a new birth. Everything becomes new in God’s mercy. You become born again, and sins are washed away. There is no past. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done; God’s mercy is the rechem that makes all things completely new. And you can’t go back into the past, because you can enter the rechem, the womb of God’s mercy, and which all things are new like a newborn baby.

From Message #408 – Rachamim
Scripture: 2 Cor. 5:17Today’s Mission – Enter into the racham of God, as if entering a womb, let everything become new in His mercy

The Redemption of Vasilescu

Tuesday, October 5, 2021

This is a true story of Richard Wurmbrand, a Jewish believer who was imprisoned for his faith in communist prisons in Romania. There was a young man named Vasilescu, a criminal in Romania, who was put in charge by the communists to torture the ministers whom they had imprisoned for their faith. Then the communists turned against Vasilescu. They put him in prison and tormented him until he was dying. As he was dying, at the same time, the one who he had tortured the most, a minister named Iscu was also dying. But now Vasilescu was filled with remorse. He asks Isku to pray for him and wanted God’s forgiveness. The minister called two prisoners to bring him to Vasilescu’s bed. There, the one who was tortured ministered to the one who had tortured him. He said, “If Messiah could forgive me, then I must forgive you. If I can forgive you, then Messiah who is greater than me also forgives you.” If this one who was tortured could forgive his torturer, so can you forgive that one who has sinned against you. That’s the love of God.

From Message #887 – Prisoner Number one & The Mystery of Love
Scripture: Col. 1:13-14

Today’s Mission – Do something for yourself today, for your health, for your peace of mind – forgive.

The Angelic day

Wednesday, October 6, 2021

You have heard of the angels Gabriel and Michael, but have you heard of the other angels? Do you know that you are supposed to be an angel? The Hebrew word in the Bible for angel is Malachi and the Greek word is Angelos. John the Baptist is called an angelos and Haggis is called a Malachi or angel. Why? Because an angel simply defined is a messenger of God. In fact, the word evangelist has the word angel in the middle. Someone who carries the gospel or message of God is like an angel. Living an angelic life or like an angel conjures up an image of one working for heaven, not earth. Angels do not seek to be paid on earth. That would make them from earth then. You are not on an assignment for God when you seek the pay, praise, and appreciation from others. To live an angelic life, seek your praise from God; you are working for heaven. Your paycheck is angelic so seek your reward with Him. You are on an assignment for Him, an angel in disguise.

From Message #545 – The Mystery of The Secret Angels
Scripture: Matt. 6:33

Today’s Mission – Help someone today without desiring any praise or recognition.

The Angelic day

Wednesday, October 6, 2021

You have heard of the angels Gabriel and Michael, but have you heard of the other angels? Do you know that you are supposed to be an angel? The Hebrew word in the Bible for angel is Malachi and the Greek word is Angelos. John the Baptist is called an angelos and Haggis is called a Malachi or angel. Why? Because an angel simply defined is a messenger of God. In fact, the word evangelist has the word angel in the middle. Someone who carries the gospel or message of God is like an angel. Living an angelic life or like an angel conjures up an image of one working for heaven, not earth. Angels do not seek to be paid on earth. That would make them from earth then. You are not on an assignment for God when you seek the pay, praise, and appreciation from others. To live an angelic life, seek your praise from God; you are working for heaven. Your paycheck is angelic so seek your reward with Him. You are on an assignment for Him, an angel in disguise.

From Message #545 – The Mystery of The Secret Angels
Scripture: Matt. 6:33

Today’s Mission – Help someone today without desiring any praise or recognition.

Moonlight on Golgotha

Thursday, October 7, 2021

In the Bible, the full moon marks key dates on the ancient calendar. The full moon fell in the middle of the month so it was the fullness of the moon in the fullness of the month. In the Hebrew marriage, the groom visits the house of the bride, gives her a gift, pledges his love for her and her to him. They share a cup of the covenant together under the full moon. It is called the kiddushin, the betrothal. The groom pledged his life to the bride, she received the pledge, and gave her pledge to him, under the full moon shared in the cup of the covenant. Messiah gave us a cup of the covenant at the last supper. He died, gave His life on the cross on Passover, the 14th and 15th of Nissan, which was the night of the full moon. He died and was buried under a full moon. He is the bridegroom. The Bridegroom, Yeshua, pledges His life. He has given His pledge to you. How do you respond? You pledge yourself, your love and your all.

From Message #445 – The Gospel of The Moons
Scripture: Rom. 12:1-2

Today’s Mission – What would the Lord have you pledge to Him today? Make your pledge.

The Land Outside Yad Vashem

Friday, October 8, 2021

Yad Vashem is the memorial to the Holocaust. Inside it is very moving, sorrowful and a dark place never to forget. When you leave, you walk outside and the sun is shining, there are birds and grass, towns and villages, mountains and little children, laughter and life. Inside Israel, there is Yad Vashem, but outside Yad Vashem there is an Israel. The amazing thing about Jewish history is not the Holocaust, but that for 4,000 years God has preserved them. It is alive and filled with children in the streets, like the prophet said. God never denies the existence of evil, but He overcomes it. You might have a big problem in your life. Maybe a sorrow, darkness or tragedy and you are spending your time dwelling inside that problem. The thing is that outside of your problem is your life and walk with God that surrounds your problem. Step outside and dwell in the mercy and love of God. The bigger picture is that His kindness, love and His goodness are far bigger than that problem. Outside of your problem, there is the love of God.

From Message #454 – A Tour of The Promised Land
Scripture: Eph. 3:14-19

Today’s Mission – Come before God today, relinquish your problems and allow yourself to bask in His love.

The No-Answer Answer

Monday, September 27, 2021

In John 18:38, Pilate asked, “What is truth?” I remember in philosophy class my teacher said Jesus didn’t answer, he walked away. He didn’t walk away, He was a prisoner. Yet it’s such a good question, why didn’t the Lord answer it? The fact is He did answer the question. He just stood there. He did answer by just standing there. The truth isn’t an explanation, it’s reality. Truth isn’t summed up in something He said, truth is Him. Even as believers we often miss the whole thing because truth becomes for us words “about” the truth. These things can be good, but these things are not Him. They are about Him. We as believers, as Pilate, miss the truth standing there. We want the things about Him and want to do all these things around Him, but He’s there. Be still as He was and come back to the raw truth, because truth is not about Him, truth is Him. You will find He’s standing right there next to you in the quiet. That’s more than enough. That’s the Truth.

From Message #378 – God on The Blue Planet
Scripture: Psalm 46:10-11

Today’s Mission – Be still and know that He is God – Discover the reality of God in the quiet.

Ordaining Your Shark

Tuesday, September 28, 2021

Jonah was the prophet who went against God’s will. He ran away, went on a ship, and was thrown overboard. In the original Hebrew, it says, “The Lord ordained a great fish.” This wasn’t just your average fish. This was seminary material. The fish had never been to Bible college. Nevertheless, it was ordained. Having an ordained shark is a good thing – when a shark ministers, you listen! God has ordained sharks, not just in Jonah’s life, but in yours, too. There are many sharks in your life-problems that look like they’re going to swallow you up. Yet the shark was ordained. It swallowed Jonah, but it was used to bring him back to God’s will. The shark was ordained to minister to Jonah. So in your life problems are really ordained fish. God promises that He will work all things for good, so what looks like a problem is ordained to minister to you and bring strength, faith, patience, growth and new beginnings. Don’t fear the problem. It’s an ordained shark fresh from seminary sent with a mission to be your minister.

From Message #380 – Lessons From The Fish
Scripture: Romans 5:3-5Today’s Mission – Face up to that problem or that fear you’ve been running from. Look at it in a new way – it’s not against you – but in God, it’s an ordained fish – to be used for your blessing

Islamic Angels and Muslim Devils

Wednesday, September 29, 2021

Islamists maintain that the Quran, their holy book, is pure Arabic given right from heaven by the divine. The Quran is Arabic, but not quite pure. The language reveals borrowings. Example: the word in the Quran for the Law of Moses is the Torah, obviously from the Bible in Judaism. Iblis is the word used for Satan, a distortion of the word in the Greek New Testament, diabolos; not Arabic. The word for “good news” is the word “injil” in the Quran. “Injil” clearly comes from the word “euangel” from the word evangelism, the Greek New Testament word for the gospel. What does it tell us? Clearly, the Quran borrowed what they got, and got things wrong; an imitation. But you have the original. That the Quran’s “injil” comes from “euangel,” means it’s from the original gospel of God that you have. Many religions try to claim Jesus Messiah as the prophet, as the New Age, as Christ conscientiousness. Don’t settle for a substitute; you have the real thing. Get back to the real Messiah. Stick to Him… close… and accept no substitutes.

From Message #402 – Islam and The Messiah
Scripture: Galatians 1:8

Today’s Mission – Go about your day today treasuring the Word of God. Hide it in your mind and in your heart, and use every opportunity to proclaim it out of your mouth…to a world that’s waiting and longing to hear.

Gates of Praise

Thursday, September 30, 2021

Jerusalem, the city of peace or shalom; it had walls and gates. Isaiah said that in the day when Jerusalem will be redeemed, your walls will be called salvation and your gates praise. Gates open so things can go in and out: riches and blessings. If you are born again, you are a child of Jerusalem; it’s your city. How do you receive the blessings of that place? Through the gates. It says you shall call your gates praise. When you praise God, your life opens like a gate and you enter in and receive the blessings of God. Become a person of praise. If you don’t praise Him, your gates are just gates. When you praise Him, the gates open, the blessings come and you enter in. Praise Him… at home when you rise, when you work, praise Him when you drive, praise Him when you talk, praise Him when you think, praise Him when you are alone. Praise Him and the gates shall open up. The blessings of God shall come pouring in because you are a child of Jerusalem and you shall call your walls salvation and your gates praise.

From Message #397- Hedges
Scripture: Psalm 150Today’s Mission – Praise Him throughout this day and enter the blessings waiting for you just inside the gate.

THE DECLINE OF THE CHURCH

Friday, October 1, 2021

Shalom, to you my Friend and Co-Minister in the Great Commission…

Last month I shared a recent poll that revealed a stunning explosion in the numbers of Generation Z declaring themselves to be not heterosexual, but LGBT. A recent Gallup poll found that the numbers of Americans who say they belong to a house of worship (overwhelmingly meaning a church) fell below the 50% mark – for the first time since the polling was taken. The number was 47%. Just two years earlier, the number was 50%. A 3% decline in two years’ time. In 1999, a little over 20 years earlier, the number was 70%. Further, in 1937, the percentage was 73%. Thus, it held steady around the 70% mark for over 60 years, from the days when America was coming out of the Great Depression, through the Second World War, the 1950s, the social upheavals of the 1960s, the Nixon years, the Reagan years, and the Clinton years. And then came an unprecedented and precipitous plunge.

When one looks at the same phenomenon as it relates to age, the numbers are even more revealing. Of the pre-baby boom generation, those born before 1946, 66% belong to a house of worship. Of the baby boomer generation (born 1946-1964), the number is 58%. Of those in Generation X, the number is 50%. As far as millennials, the number drops to 36% – around half the number of the pre-baby boom generation. Generation Z was not measured – but if so we can presume the numbers would be no better – if not worse.

The polls reveal two dynamics at work. The first is generational. That means that the process of one generation aging out and the other replacing it – will continue this decline. But it’s not only that. The numbers within each age group have also declined. In 1998 the oldest generation’s membership in houses of worship was not at 66% but 77%. For baby boomers, it wasn’t 58% but 67%. And for Generation X, it wasn’t 50% but 62%. Every age group suffered a double digit decline. Thus, without the hand of God and revival, we can expect the decline to increase and accelerate.

Added to the mix is that the most recent survey did not account for, the added precipitous drop in church attendance caused by Covid 19 and the massive lockdown of churches throughout the nation.

Notice also, that the greatest plunge came in the years after 9/11. The biblical template in The Harbinger speaks of an initial shaking of the nation I the form of an enemy attack followed by a brazen turning away from God. We are now there. At the same time, this is exactly what the Word of God said would be in the last days, a great falling away. All these things bear much import on the future – from religious freedom to persecution to end-time prophecy. And it serves to remind us where we are, and the call to go all out with God and stand all the more strongly in the power of His might – the most challenging of days and yet the days that produce greatness. Let us commit, this month, to that greatness – by the power of His might. And may God greatly bless you as you do!

Your brother and co-laborer

in His love and service,


Jonathan

The Passover Lamb New Year’s Connection

Monday, September 20, 2021

Here in the West, we begin the New Year in January. But in the Bible it wasn’t that way. The biblical New Year wasn’t January nor was it September as many think. It was in the Spring. It came with the month in Hebrew called – NISAN. NISAN means the BEGINNING. Nisan was the month of Passover, of redemption from Egypt, from slavery and bondage. And the rebirth of the nation to God. And all by the blood of the Lamb when the Lamb of God died to make all things new that is the New Year – the Nisan – the Beginning. So the power of new years and new beginnings does not come from a calendar. It comes from the Lamb. YOU want a new beginning? Then you’ll find it only in the Nisan, the Beginning, in Messiah. Be renewed in the true renewal of God. For renewal comes in Nisan with the new beginning of God. And new days, new walks, new lives, new hearts, and even new years only come by the power of the LAMB.

From Message #1098 – The Lamb of New Beginnings
Scripture: Ephesians 4:22-24

Today’s Mission – Today bring any bondage and anything old into the Lamb and by His power, step out into new things.

The First of Loves

Tuesday, September 21, 2021

The very first mention of love in the Bible – where is it? The Hebrew word for love is Ahava. It’s found in Genesis 22. Ahava is first mentioned when God said to Abraham, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love (Ahava) and offer him up.” The very first love was clearly a shadow of the Father offering up the Son; ultimately Messiah being offered up by God – the Son of God. This is the first love in the universe. All love comes from the Father and the Son. In Messiah we are joined in that love. God’s love is the involving of sacrifice. Are you going to love? Do you love when you feel like it and love when you don’t? In marriage, you love no matter what – sacrifice to love. Choose to love when it hurts, that’s love. The highest, truest love of God is the sacrifice. The love He gives you and gave you, God sacrificed for you; so this love and the power of it is that of the sacrifice. For the first love is the sacrifice.

From Message #307 – The Wounded Prophet
Scripture: 1 John 4:19

Today’s Mission – Make a choice today to love that unlovely person – no matter what.

Your Divine Fiance

Wednesday, September 22, 2021

When you deal with couples who are getting married, as a pastor, you need to encourage them to prepare. They end up preparing for the wedding but not for the marriage. That’s what it’s all about. The wedding is just one day, but the marriage is everyday of your life. So with believers in the Lord. Many believers get excited about the second coming, which is good, me too. That’s the wedding, but you are not just supposed to prepare for the wedding; you are supposed to be preparing for the marriage. How do you prepare for marriage? Well, how do two people prepare for marriage? They learn how to dwell together, how to abide with each other, spend time with each other, and work out things that would separate them. Well, how do you prepare for marriage to God forever? Learn how to dwell with Him, spend time with Him, work out things, and make Him your chief joy now. Start practicing a heavenly life, a heavenly joy, heavenly love and a heavenly worship now, praising and loving. Because the wedding will come and go, but your marriage to God is forever.

From Message #773 – The Mystery of The Khatan
Scripture: Revelation 19:7

Today’s Mission – Today, take a step in preparing for your marriage to God – spend some great time today in the presence of the one you’re betrothed to.

The Transparent in Heart

Thursday, September 23, 2021

Messiah said, “blessed are the pure in heart.” The word used in Greek not only means pure, but it means clear. In fact, it’s used to mean heaven, the glass-like appearance of heaven. Blessed are the clear in heart, blessed are the clear-as-glass in heart. Notice the link. You can see through glass, it doesn’t block out the light, it’s clear. What kind of heart do you need to have to see God? A heart that is clear like glass. What does it mean? It’s not complicated, no ulterior motives, no scheming. Your worship is a clear worship. Your words are clear words coming from a clear heart, nothing hidden, like glass. Sometimes glass gets muddied up and you have to take out some glass cleaner. So today apply this spirit to your heart. Clear up those hidden things, those dark complicated things. Be clear with God and be clear with man, be transparent in heart. To love with a clear heart, praise with a clear praise, rejoice with a clear joy, live a clear life from a heart that is as clear as glass. For blessed are the clear of heart, for they shall see God.

From Message #337 – The Blessings of The Pure
Scripture: Psalm 51:10

Today’s Mission – Seek to do all things today out of a clear heart, no ulterior motives, transparent, like glass.

The Salt & The Rotten

Friday, September 24, 2021

Now sometimes at home I smell something not quite right. I’ll go to the refrigerator and hunt through it until I find something. It might be a Tupperware dish to open up. It was something else in another life; but it died. This food is now transformed. So, I throw it away. Well, what happened has much to do with you. You see, salt doesn’t go bad, and for the same reason it keeps other things from going bad or rotten. Now, you look at the world and what’s going on in the nation, the media, the television–it doesn’t smell right, so you shut it up out of your house, out of your family. Good, but not good enough! Food goes rotten because it is untouched by any preservative and that’s what the preservative of the world is–You! You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt loses its saltiness, what good is it? Stop complaining about how rotten the world is. Start praying, fasting, share the Word, be part of the answer because it is your business. You are the salt and if you don’t do your job, then it’s a rotten thing.

From Message #369 – Salt of The Earth
Scripture: Matthew 5:13

Today’s Mission – Think of one way that you can be part of the solution today, to stop evil, to be the salt of the earth

The Return of The Falashas

Friday, September 17, 2021

In Africa, there lived a people known as the Falashas who call themselves Beta Yisrael, the House of Israel. They are descendants of Jewish people who ultimately intermarried. But they were removed from the rest of the Jewish people for two thousand years. In the 1970s and 80s, they were in danger of extinction. In an amazing feat, Israel sent airplanes in, and airlifted thousands of them in Operation Moses and Solomon. Today, many Falashas are part of the nation of Israel, serving in its army, praying at its wall, and raising their children to speak Hebrew from birth. It’s a sign for all of God’s children. You see, in the Kingdom of God, in the Commonwealth of Israel, it doesn’t matter how far or cut off you’ve been from the Lord or His people. It is written that all you need to do is call upon the Lord and you’ll be saved. The Falashas were cut off for two thousand years, but now they’re back in the Promised Land. You too need never be far away from God. For the distance between you and Him is only one call away.

From Message #866 – The Mystery of The Lost Tribes
Scripture: Jeremiah 24:7

Today’s Mission – Don’t let anything separate you from God today – or keep you distant – call to Him – come into His presence.

The Return of The Falashas

Friday, September 17, 2021

In Africa, there lived a people known as the Falashas who call themselves Beta Yisrael, the House of Israel. They are descendants of Jewish people who ultimately intermarried. But they were removed from the rest of the Jewish people for two thousand years. In the 1970s and 80s, they were in danger of extinction. In an amazing feat, Israel sent airplanes in, and airlifted thousands of them in Operation Moses and Solomon. Today, many Falashas are part of the nation of Israel, serving in its army, praying at its wall, and raising their children to speak Hebrew from birth. It’s a sign for all of God’s children. You see, in the Kingdom of God, in the Commonwealth of Israel, it doesn’t matter how far or cut off you’ve been from the Lord or His people. It is written that all you need to do is call upon the Lord and you’ll be saved. The Falashas were cut off for two thousand years, but now they’re back in the Promised Land. You too need never be far away from God. For the distance between you and Him is only one call away.

From Message #866 – The Mystery of The Lost Tribes
Scripture: Jeremiah 24:7

Today’s Mission – Don’t let anything separate you from God today – or keep you distant – call to Him – come into His presence.

The Mystery of Beit Lechem

Thursday, September 16, 2021

Bethlehem – in Hebrew is really two words: Bet and Lechem. Bet means house. Lechem means bread. Bethlehem means – THE HOUSE or PLACE – OF BREAD. What is the Bread of Life? It’s what we need more than anything else. If you needed money, marriage, pleasures, alcohol or drugs – then they would have them all in Bethlehem – for Bet Lechem is the House of Bread. But these they did not find. Instead, they found a baby, a person. They didn’t even find His teachings or miracles or words – they just found Him. For what do you need more than anything? You need Him, He who is LOVE. And if we needed more, He would have come with riches and accompaniments. You want your needs to be met? Then turn away from seeking all the other things and come to Bet Lechem – the House of Bread. There you will find the Bread of Life. It’s not a thing nor an idea – but HIM alone. For God would only give what you need most. And He gave you Jesus. He is all you need – and the only thing that fills.

From Message #430 – The House of Bread
Scripture: John 6:35

Today’s Mission – Put away something you may have sought fulfillment in (a habit, an indulgence, an entertainment) – and seek instead to be filled in His presence.

Messiah B.C.

Wednesday, September 15, 2021

Jesus was born before Christ! We know through the writings of Josephus that Herod the Great died in the year 4 B.C. Therefore Messiah had to be born B.C., before Christ, no later than the year 4 BC. How did that happen? A monk made a mistake. He missed the boat by at least four years. So whatever year you think it is – the real year is at least four years forward. Jesus was born, but we do not know when. That’s His birthday and birth year. But then there’s the other birthday – when you think He was born – or rather when He is born, for you. So He always has two birthdays. If you can only speak of His birth in Bethlehem and not His birth in your life, then for you it’s still BC, and He has not come at all. So celebrate not the birthday of the Lord, but celebrate the birthdays of the Lord and let your life change from BC to AD. Because all the children of heaven must learn that the Lord has two births.

From Message #1790 – BC/AD
Scripture: Matthew 2:1-2

Today’s Mission – As much of the world celebrates the birth of Messiah 2000 years ago, celebrate His birth in you, here and now.

The Barefoot Entrance

Monday, September 13, 2021

Every year, on Yom Kippur, the High Priest would begin his entrance into the Holy of Holies. But the first thing he had to do was strip himself. On the holiest day of the year, the high priest had to strip himself of his priestly garments and put on the simplest of white coverings. Only then and being barefoot, could he begin to approach God. So you too are called to be a priest and called to enter His presence. But in order to do that you need to do the same. You have to strip yourself of your pride, your busyness, and even your ministry and ministry concerns. So even if you are the head of a great ministry, you still have to approach God, stripped, as a little child. All pride, all busyness, all concerns, must be left behind. For all ministries begin in the Holy Place; with no ministries, just God and you, and the blood of the sacrifice. And from that presence will come that love, that joy of salvation, and everything else. So enter the Holy of Holies today, but leave your High priestly garments… in the changing room.

From Message #865 – The Jubilee Minister
Scripture: Psalm 24:3-6

Today’s Mission – Come into the presence of God today, bare, open, barefoot, with nothing to hide, let Him meet you and touch you, in your bareness – for real.

The Paradises of Hell

Tuesday, September 14, 2021

Hitler promised to usher in a thousand year kingdom of glory for the Aryan people. Stalin promised a worker’s paradise on earth. Mao, likewise, promised China a people’s paradise. Around 6 million Jews perished under Hitler; 9 million of other nationalities are similarly murdered by the Nazis. Soviet Communism has taken 35 to 45 million lives. And Chinese Communism is responsible for the death of 35 to 64 million people. Why is it that instead of producing paradise, they produced hell? The answer is simple. What links them all together is that they each made the leader, the party, and the state, their god. When you glorify yourself and deny God… the end of godlessness is death. If God is not the center of what you’re doing, then what you’re doing is empty. Messiah, on the other hand, never promises His people a paradise without a cross. Messiah said, “‘If anyone would follow me, let him deny himself, pick up his cross, and follow Me.'” It doesn’t appear glorious, but do it His way. Turn down the way of the world. We have Yeshua.

From Message #630 – The Kingdom of Broken Crosses
Scripture: Luke 9:23-24

Today’s Mission – All the more put God in the center of everything you do and ponder today.

Tiny Shalom Masters

Tuesday, September 7, 2021

A title given to Messiah: “Sar Shalom.” It means “Prince of Peace.” More than that, it means, “Prince of Shalom,” Prince of fullness, wholeness, completion, perfection, well-being, soundness, blessing, and prosperity. “Sar” means “master” or “ruler.” Messiah is the “Ruler of Shalom,” “Master of Shalom.” He rules and commands shalom. If you belong to Him, you are called by His name, so live as a little version of Him, a little ruler of peace, a master of shalom. Become an authority on shalom, one who dwells in it, understands it, uses it, applies it, an expert on shalom. You are empowered to become a ruler of shalom. Messiah ruled shalom; He commanded it. He said, “Shalom be to you.” In the same way, you are to command peace; rule shalom. No matter what the situation, you have the power to command the peace of Messiah into it. Whatever you are going through, you have the power to command the shalom of Messiah upon it. Take up your scepter, act with authority, His authority. You are called and empowered to be a ruler of peace; a master of shalom.

From Message #703 – The Quiet Heart
Scripture: Matthew 5:9

Today’s Mission – Today, live in imitation of Messiah, and take authority over the darkness, in the power of the Master of Shalom.

Shalev and The Quiet Secret of Success

Wednesday, September 8, 2021

Shalev, it’s Hebrew for quiet and tranquility. It also means success/successful. It’s different from our picture of success. Ours is filled with things, events, happenings, activity. But in Hebrew, success is linked to the quiet. The first success in creation, was the creation. When God created the world, He saw that it was good, and He rested. The first sign of success was rest, quiet, the Sabbath. So the sign of success in your life is rest. When you succeed, you can rest. When you are fulfilled and complete, you can cease striving. Where do you find success? You find success with God. You can strive the rest of your life to be complete. Or you can be complete now with the completion that comes with God in Messiah. Do you want success? Come to the quiet; the quiet with God, to His peace and His shalom. Those who can rest are complete. They have found success. ‘Shalev’ teaches us that the sign of success is not noise, but quiet. Make the quiet with God the central part of your life, and you will have success. Success is found in His quiet.

From Message #713 – Secrets of the Quiet
Scripture: Isaiah 32:17

Today’s Mission – Today, seek to enter the quiet and rest of Messiah, lay it all down and find the success of God.

The Crusaders who Destroyed Byzantium

Thursday, September 9, 2021

The Crusades began when the king of Byzantium appealed to the Pope for help after the Muslims took Jerusalem. As the Crusaders marched to Jerusalem, they destroyed villages and people; Muslim, Jewish, even Christian. During the last crusade, they pillaged Byzantium in an orgy of destruction leaving the city open to the Muslim Turk invaders who sealed its doom. The Crusades, which began to save Byzantium ended up destroying it. Therein is a crucial lesson. It’s easy to lose sight of our original purpose of serving the Lord and end up serving money or selfish ambition, forgetting the Lord of the House for the House of the Lord, forgetting your First Love, the joy of your salvation, or the love of your marriage. Have you forgotten your first love, or the reason you’re in the Lord, or the love you once felt for your beloved, or the fire to serve God? Have you lost your crusade? Come back to your First Love… today… Get alone with Messiah; let Him relight your fire and renew your love, your faith, your walk, and your mission. God has not revoked your calling. You just need to remember it.

From Message #717 – The Prime Directive
Scripture: Deuteronomy 30:2,11

Today’s Mission – Today, refocus on Him who is your Focus, re-aim on Him who is your Aim, re-purpose on Him who is your Purpose, and re-center on Him who is your Center.

Little Heaven

Friday, September 10, 2021

Immigrants to America often bring their country with them. Our cities are filled with enclaves of distant lands: “Little Italy,” “Chinatown,” “Little Havana.” Walking through these neighborhoods you hear the language, smell the aromas, see the clothing, and hear the music of foreign lands. In Philippians 3:20, 21 it is written “.. our citizenship is in Heaven…” Though we live in this world, we don’t belong to it. We are immigrants here, but our hearts are in our homeland… heaven. As the immigrants formed little enclaves, so we are to form little enclaves of Heaven here on earth… our homes… our marriages… our walks… our congregations… are all to be “Little Heavens.” People ought to hear us speak the language of Heaven, smell the fragrance of Heaven, see the ways of Heaven, and hear the worship of Heaven. You are of Heaven, and while you live on earth, you are called to manifest to this planet, the ways of Heaven. Make your life a “Heaven Town.” So much so, that all those who come near it will know there exists a better place, a heavenly place… your homeland.

From Message #724 – Heaven and Earth as one
Scripture: Philippians 3:20,21

Today’s Mission – Today, as you go through your day on earth, seek to live your life as a citizen of “little Heaven.”

Snakes Have no Ears

Friday, September 3, 2021

Most snakes have no real sense of hearing. They can sense vibrations, but they have no ears. In the natural realm, serpents are just another creature. Yet in the spiritual realm, they represent the powers of darkness. In the spiritual realm, faith is linked to hearing. Snakes have no ears to hear, so the enemy doesn’t live by faith. The powers of darkness cannot handle faith. The enemy attacks in the realm of no faith. He wants you to doubt – doubt God’s goodness, faithfulness, provision. When you give in to doubt, then discouragement, anger, anxiety, and the propensity to sin comes. This is seen clearly from the Garden of Eden to the temptation of Messiah. You defeat the enemy by faith. It is written that when the flaming arrows of the enemy come your way, you’ll extinguish them by the shield of faith. When that thought of discouragement, anxiety, doubt, bitterness, or temptation comes your way, lift up the shield of faith. Stand by the Word. Hold to His love. Declare His goodness. The serpent is deaf, but you are not. Use your advantage. Stand by faith and crush the serpent underfoot.

From Message #861 – Snake Busters I
Scripture: Romans 10:17

Today’s Mission – Stand strong and be ready to use the ‘shield of faith’ today when the enemy comes your way.

Approaching The Mountaintop

Thursday, September 2, 2021

The Bible says that your walk in the Lord is like going up a mountain. It’s an upward call, an ascent. Going up a mountain teaches you how to ascend in your calling in the Lord. The mountain narrows until you reach the pinnacle, the thinnest part of the mountain. The secret of success in your walk is the higher you go in the Lord, the more you have to stay close to the center, the less you can go off to the right or to the left. The higher you go in the Lord, the less you can fool around, the more focused you need to be, the less you can afford to be distracted from God’s calling or engaged in things which have no eternal value. Your time, energy, resources, finances, work, home, marriage, your all – focused to the glory of God. God is calling you to the heights. To reach the heights, you must learn to walk the straight and narrow. Stay closer to the center, focus all your life to His glory, and you’ll walk the heights and your feet shall stand on the pinnacle.

From Message #824 – Higher Ground
Scripture: Psalm 84:11

Today’s Mission – Go one step higher in the Lord today. Get rid of one more distraction, sin, or compromise, and zero in on God’s perfect will for your life.

It’s not The Olympics… so get up

Tuesday, August 31, 2021

Watching the Olympics gymnastics competition, you’ll see mistakes, slips, falls, and tears. The athletes train their whole lives. This is their one shot. One mistake and everything can go up in smoke. It happens also in the Lord. Believers make one mistake and they’re crushed as if God will never use them again and the prize has been lost. Maybe you’ve messed up. Maybe you felt that your call is over and you can never be that close to God again. I have good news. Your walk isn’t the Olympics. God isn’t an Olympic Judge. Our hope isn’t Mt. Olympus, but Mt. Zion. God’s mercies are new every morning. Many of God’s people have known what it is to mess up and fall, and yet have gone on to be champions. Abraham, Moses, David and Peter messed up. However, after they messed up, they got up, kept going and won the race. You do the same. The most important time of rising up, is when you feel least worthy of it. The walk isn’t the Olympics. It’s greater. So is God’s mercy – you were called to win the race.

From Message #858 – Rise Up
Scripture: Hebrews 2:17

Today’s Mission – Just as God has done, give yourself another chance today. Get up, get going and win that race.

A STRANGE THING HAPPENED TO GENERATION Z

Wednesday, September 1, 2021

Shalom, to you my Friend and Co-Minister in the Great Commission…

A recent poll conducted by the Gallup organization resulted in a shocking conclusion. The poll concerned sexual identity. The poll found that of those born before the baby boomers (before 1946) the percentage identifying as LGBT or non-heterosexual was 1.3% or just a little more than one in a hundred people. Among those born in the baby boomer generation (1946-1964), the number was 2%. Among those born of Generation X (1965-1980), the number went up to 3.8%. Among millennials (1981-1996), the number rose to 9.1%. And among the most recent generation, Generation Z, those born from 1997 to 2002, the number skyrocketed to 15.9%!

In other words, from the baby boom to now, the percentage of those identifying as LGBT skyrocketed 800%. From the generation before the baby boom, the percentage skyrocketed over 1,200%! Beyond the generational differences, the results manifested dramatically over political differences. Only 1.7% of those identifying as Republicans also identified as LGBT. While the percentage of those identifying as Democrats and also as LGBT was nearly eight times that number.

Another finding of the poll was that among those identifying as LGBT, an increasing percentage of them identified as bisexual. That percentage as well rose dramatically with each generation to the point where among the 15.9% of Generation Z identifying as LGBT, most of that number is made up of those identifying as bisexual.

What does this all mean? First, simply by the numbers, it means that if one went to an elementary school in the 1950s and early 1960s, with classes of 30 students each, one would have to go three or more classes to find even one student identifying as non-heterosexual. But if one returned to that school now, one would find this in every classroom. In fact 1 in every 6 students would be identifying this way.

And it reveals something else. Human nature, or human biology, doesn’t change in any such dramatic way by natural means. What it means is that the increasing onslaught of indoctrination that bombards each new generation is working. It’s affecting, changing, and transforming the beliefs, values, behavior, identities, and sexuality of our children and thus of each generation. It is no accident that the increase in LGBT identification parallels the increase in LGBT indoctrination. The fact that the generation most exposed to the indoctrination is the same that most identifies this way should actually come as no surprise. The fact that the greatest increase in this identification is that of bisexuality, which is linked to sexual fluidity rather than hardened identity also affirms this fact.

What will happen to a generation that increasingly identifies with a morality at war with God? It will be a generation that matches the generation described in Biblical prophecy concerning the end times – a generation that persecutes the people of God. We must stand all the more strongly, seek to become all the more pure, and pray all the more for the new generation. Only the power of God can save our nation and this generation, and that is through revival. Let us commit this month to intercede for that. And may God greatly bless you as you do!

Your brother and co-laborer
in His love and service,

Jonathan

See Message: Lights of the End Times
Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-5

Zeus: Father of The Day

Monday, August 30, 2021

The Greek Zeus comes from the Indian Sanskrit ‘Dyaus’ which means, “The Bright Sky,” or the “Brightness of the Day.” He is also called “Dyaus Pita”, or “Zeus Pater,” which means, “Father of the Day.” Zeus Pater passed into Latin and English as “Ju-Piter,” Jupiter. In the Germanic languages, Zeus became Ziu or Tiw, from which we get ‘Tiwsdaeg’ or “Tuesday.” In ancient times, a Greek general even set up a statue of Zeus in the Temple of Jerusalem, thus making the Temple desolate and defiled. The Feast of Chanukah is all about the cleansing of the Temple, and the smashing of Zeus. Zeus was an imitation of God. So Zeus teaches us something important: “Beware of imitations.” There’s only one Real One, but there are many imitations, and substitutes, and the enemy will gladly offer you a wide selection. You only have room for one God in your heart. Your life only has room to follow one course. Make sure it’s God’s best. There’s only one Light. Reject Zeus. Choose God. And your days will be filled with brightness.

From Message #739 – Zeus On Moriah
Scripture: Proverbs 4:23

Today’s Mission – Get rid of the false imitations of God in your life and make Him the center of your heart today.

The Serpent, The Egg, and Your Future Blessing

Tuesday, August 24, 2021

A snake slithers into a nest of eggs, contorts its mouth around the egg, then swallows it whole. Here’s a principle: the serpent represents a spiritual reality..the enemy. Its tactics are the tactics of the enemy. As the serpent swallows the egg, so the enemy seeks to destroy life before it emerges, crush God’s plans at the very beginning while still incubating. He seeks to destroy your life before you get saved, your calling before it’s fulfilled, and your ministry while still just a promise. Here’s the encouragement… if you find yourself being attacked by the enemy… it’s a good sign; something good is on the way. Persevere all the more because God has a plan for you, a blessing waiting to happen. When the enemy tries to discourage you, turn it upside down. Take it as encouragement. It’s revealing that God has something good if you just persevere. So press on my friend be encouraged. For the snake is an egg swallower trying to stop the blessing. If he’s giving you a hard time, press through all the more, for how big is the egg and how great the blessing that awaits you.

From Message #837 – The Pre-Emptor
Scripture: Philippians 3:14

Today’s Mission – If you’re living in God’s will, take any setback and attack as encouragement on the greatness of what God has ahead.

The Gospel by The Tomb

Monday, August 23, 2021

Yeshua, Jesus of Nazareth, was crucified around 30 A.D. Soon after the crucifixion, His disciples began proclaiming He had risen from death. This proclamation began in Jerusalem, “the city of the tomb.” If there were any questions, weaknesses or gaps in the resurrection account, Jerusalem would be the place it would be revealed and the Gospel proven a fabrication. Jerusalem was the last place on earth to preach the Gospel. The authorities had every interest in stopping the message of the resurrection. They had the tomb, and where it could be found. The disciples were preaching the empty tomb in the city of the tomb. The fact that they began preaching in Jerusalem, and could not be stopped, means only one thing… the tomb was empty! The disciples had full confidence in that fact, that they were willing to give up their lives in Jerusalem. What about you? Do you believe the power of the resurrection? If so, then go to your Jerusalem… the place of that tomb in your life… that problem, that hurt, that darkness… and proclaim the resurrection. You will be victorious there..for the tomb is empty.

From Message #834 – The Jerusalem Evidence
Scripture: Matthew 28:6Today’s Mission – From your heart, target that dark place in your life and proclaim to it the victory of light in the resurrection

Seeing Your Rabbi in the Mirror

Friday, August 20, 2021

A disciple staying with his rabbi gave the servant of the house instructions to wake him early. The next morning, the disciple accidentally put on the rabbi’s clothes instead of his own. In town, he passed a mirror. Seeing the man in the long rabbi’s gown, the disciple was shocked. “That dumb servant, he woke up the rabbi instead of me!” It’s an amusing story, but to see your Rabbi in the mirror is the mark of a wise disciple. Paul wrote, “It is not I who live, but Messiah…” Paul saw his Rabbi in the mirror. The same with you; the only way to be a true disciple of Jesus is to let Him live His life through yours, to move in your moving, to love in your loving, to minister in your ministering, to speak in your speaking, to touch in your touching, to rejoice in your rejoicing. If you belong to Messiah, it’s His life anyway. Live it for His glory so that you can’t tell where your life ends and His begins. When you look in the mirror, you don’t see your life; but only that of your Rabbi.

From Message #828 – The Blind Rabbi
Scripture: Galatians 2:20Today’s Mission – Today, seek to live and move in His moving, love in His loving, minister in His ministering, speak in His speaking, touch in His touching, and rejoice in His rejoicing.

Not ‘Was New’ but ‘Is New’

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

It is written, “If anyone is in Messiah, he is a new creation…” When you come to Messiah, you become new. That’s part of the truth, but not all. It’s not what the Scripture says. The Scripture doesn’t say, “he becomes a new creation.” The Scripture says, “he is a new creation.” There’s a difference. If you only become new, at one point, as when you first come to the Lord, then you might stop being new after a while, and start getting old in Messiah, which is what most believers do. They lose that excitement, that…newness. Rather it says, “If anyone is in Messiah, he IS a new creation.” That means you ARE a new creation all the time. It’s the present tense. You read that Scripture right now. So right now…you ARE a new creation. The power of God never gets old. The New Covenant never stops being new. Live as if salvation were new to you. Live as if you just got filled with God. Live as if you just became new, and you will be. For if anyone be in Messiah, he IS a new creation, and that’s good news!

From Message #832 – Nisan
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17

Today’s Mission – Think about it – just as when you first got saved yesterday – today, you ARE just as much a new creation. Walk in the newness of life.

The Angel’s Inappropriate Greeting

Tuesday, August 17, 2021

Suddenly, a malakh, a messenger, an angel of the Lord appears to a young man named Gideon and says to him, “Gideon, you valiant one.” Now Gideon doesn’t feel very valiant. He’s living in fear and oppression, just like the rest of them. He hasn’t done anything worthy of being called valiant. Yet the story of Gideon, of victory and breakthrough, begins with the words, “Gideon, you valiant one…” You too may be living a life that isn’t one of victory. Victory begins with faith in God to make you victorious. Your victory begins when you believe God’s Word and God’s power concerning you and your life. The victory begins when you stop looking at your problem and you start looking at the power of God to change, transform, and empower you to overcome the problem. You may not be a Gideon, someone whose name means ‘warrior.’ You don’t have to be. The Word of God says that you are better than that. In fact, you are ‘more than a conqueror.’ Work on believing that, and you, by the power of God, will overcome. You… you valiant one!

From Message #829 – The Gideon Guide to Victory I
Scripture: Judges 6:11-12

Today’s Mission – Believe God for the victory that you will receive today as you look to Him in faith.

What Worshiping Does for Your Health

Thursday, August 19, 2021

Research from Purdue University revealed that the number of people who report excellent health is nearly 50% higher for those who attend church regularly over those who don’t. Research from John Hopkins revealed that regular attendance in worship services yielded benefits to the attenders in everything from heart disease, tuberculosis, cervical cancer, chronic bronchitis, cirrhosis of the liver, suicides, and fatal one-car automobile accidents. How much is that worth in medical bills, treatment, surgery? In the Bible, it is written, ‘Do not forsake the assembling of yourselves together…’ That was written 2,000 years ago. Only in the past few years has it been discovered that this is also good for your health. You don’t have to understand everything God says. You don’t even have to agree with it. Just do it and you’ll be blessed. If God said so, then it’s right and you’ll also end up being blessed in the end. Go worship, fellowship, and do those other things that the Word of God says and that you know you need to do because it’s true. God is good and all good is for you.

From Message # 626 – Good and Good for you
Scripture: Proverbs 4:20-22

Today’s Mission – Sign up today for the good health benefits that you’ll receive by not neglecting to worship and fellowship with others. Believe God and be blessed.

When is a River not a River?

Monday, August 16, 2021

A river isn’t a river when it stops flowing. If a river stops moving, whether by freezing or by becoming stagnant, it’s no longer a river. The life of God in us is compared to a river – rivers of living waters flowing out of our innermost being. If you stop flowing in God, your walk will become stagnant or frozen. Therefore, if you want to be really alive in God and be filled with the abundant life of God, you can’t stay the same or you’ll get stagnant. You have to get going and flowing. You’ve got to keep growing and changing into His image. You might be all frozen up right now. In the power of God, start breaking the ice of your spiritual rut. Break the ice of your worship. Ask God to lead you. Do what you know He’s leading you to do. Break the ice with that person you haven’t forgiven or that unsaved stranger and tell them about God’s love. Get moving, get flowing, break the ice, and the river will flow. Because the abundant life is a river, and a river must flow.

From Message #824 – Higher Ground
Scripture: John 7:38

Today’s Mission – Become an “ice breaker” today. Get it flowing and keep it moving in the power of God.

Love Like a Vow

Friday, August 13, 2021

People fall in love. And if they really love each other, they get married. They face each other in the presence of others and exchange vows. But why? If you’re in love why do you have to make a vow about it? Love is more than a feeling. True love must last a lifetime. And that’s why marriage is not based on the feeling of love, but on the vow of the love. That the one making it is choosing to love whether one feels it or not, in good times and bad. It means that when one doesn’t have love anymore… one will choose to love anyway. This is real love, sacrificial and Messiah-like. So you don’t feel much love for your spouse today? Love them anyway. It’s the same with you and God. Messiah didn’t feel like going to the cross. He chose to. And He made a covenant with you. His love is good in good times and bad times. So your love must be to Him this way. You don’t feel it? It’s Okay. Love Him anyway. Be faithful anyway. Follow Him anyway. For feelings come and go; but true love is forever.

From Message #819 – The Radical Love
Scripture: Psalm 103:17

Today’s Mission – Is there a vow or promise in your life you’ve broken or haven’t fulfilled? Is it of God? Then take a step today to fulfill it.

What Your Heartbeat Means

Thursday, August 12, 2021

Have you ever put a stethoscope to a rock? Probably not! But if you did, you would discover that a rock has no heartbeat. It doesn’t need one. But if you put a stethoscope to your chest, you’ll discover that you do indeed have a heartbeat because you’re not a rock. Your heartbeat tells you that your existence can never be taken for granted or wasted. Your life is a gift. There was a first heartbeat, and there will be a last. And if you put that stethoscope to your loved ones, your parents, your children, your co-workers, your co-ministers, you’ll find that they too have heartbeats. They will not always be there. They had a first heartbeat and they will have a last heartbeat, and only a limited number in between. Therefore, their existence also cannot be taken for granted. Your life and your new life in salvation is God’s gift to you. What you do with it, is your gift to God. Treasure those around you while you have them. Love them, forgive them, bless them and save them. For we are not rocks, and our greatest treasures in this world, all have heartbeats.

From Message #857 – Forty Million Heartbeats
Scripture: Romans 6:4

Today’s Mission – Take a moment to listen to your heartbeat. Thank God for every beat, every moment of your life.

The True Sign of Holiness

Wednesday, August 11, 2021

What do you think of when you hear the word “spirituality” or a “spiritual person,” a “holy man?” Most people picture someone who is somber, mystical, transcendent. But in Acts 13:52, it is written that the disciples were “filled with great joy and the Holy Spirit.” Joy and the Holy Spirit… go together. You see the Spirit gives joy and joy is spiritual. Joy is even listed as one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. So you see, the most spiritual people are also those who have joy and who are truly filled with the Spirit. They do not argue all day about the gifts of the Spirit, but have the joy of the Lord. Those believers rejoice in the love of God from morning to night. The good news is, since joy is of the Spirit, it is not dependent on the flesh or the world or your circumstances. There is never a situation in which you can’t have joy, for true joy is based on the Spirit, and the Spirit is not bound by circumstance. Rejoice in the Lord always. For it’s time to get spiritual, and the spiritual are those who rejoice.

From Message #854 – The New Covenant joy Secrets
Scripture: Philippians 4:4

Today’s Mission – Practice the practice of rejoicing always, rejoicing unconditionally, rejoicing no matter what – However far you get, you’ll be more blessed than you were.

The Secret of Moody’s Faith

Tuesday, August 10, 2021

The renowned evangelist Dwight L. Moody spent hours praying for faith. He once said, “If all the time I have spent praying for faith was put together it would be months. I thought that someday faith was going to come down and strike me like lightning. But faith did not come. Then one day I read in the tenth chapter of Romans, “So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God” (Rom. 10:17). I had closed my Bible, and prayed for faith. I now opened my Bible and began to read God’s Word, and faith has been growing ever since.” Much of what believers describe as “faith” has nothing to do with Biblical faith. There are many teachings, seminars, churches, and ministries which base everything on a faith which constitutes, in effect, believing that God will give you whatever you desire. Our faith must be based not on emotion and not on want, but on the Word of God, which is Messiah, His death and resurrection. If you want greater faith, open your Bible. Apply and live the Word today. And faith will come and grow, by the Word of God.

From Message #1059 – Growing Emunah
Scripture: Romans 10:17

Today’s Mission – Open up your Bible today and seek to receive everything it says – to your mind, your heart, your emotions, and your will.

Living With His Past

Monday, August 9, 2021

In Biblical times, people didn’t have any last names. They had to come up with ways of identifying them. One of the ways was by the place of their origin like Joseph of Arimathea, Simon the Cyrene, and Mary Magdalene, whose last name is the name of a town, Miryam of Magdala. There were many people who went through their lives identified, marked, and labeled by the place they resided and by their past. Likewise, we’re marked and defined by where we’ve originated from and by our past. But, in Messiah comes the power to break the past; break out of the old and into the new. Messiah was called “Yeshua min N’tzeret,” “Jesus of Nazareth.” His first followers were called “the Nazarenes.” They were “Sam the Nazarene,” “Rebekkah the Nazarene,” and “James the Nazarene.” In other words, they were no longer known by the place of their origin, but by the place Yeshua, where Jesus came from. When you live in Messiah, you are no longer marked or bound by your past or your circumstance. Your past belongs to Messiah. And His name belongs to you.

From Message #853 – Mr. & Mrs. Heaven
Scripture: Ephesians 4:22

Today’s Mission – Today, imagine if instead of having your past, you had the past of Messiah,full of God’s love – how would that change how you live and act? In the atonement, His perfect past is yours – live it.

The Messiah Party

Tuesday, August 3, 2021

“Christian,” is really not a very religious word when it was first used. “Christian” first appeared in Antioch, undoubtedly by people who were not Christian. Its original form, “Khristianoi,” was often used to denote a secular movement, a political party, or partisans of a certain person like Caesar. It would be like calling these people members of the “Messiah Party.” Such parties, whether good or bad, exist to make a difference. We are of the Messiah Party, an eternal party, yet to make a difference here and now. If you’re of Messiah’s Party, then you’re not on earth to warm a pew, or be comfortable, or be alone in your own little spiritual world. You’re here to make a difference, to be the salt of the earth, the light of the world. Are you making a difference, changing your world, your workplace, your family? Anything? You need to. You can’t make a difference if you aren’t different. Don’t conform… transform. Spread the Word, share His love, proclaim the Gospel, be strong. You are here to make a difference, the difference of the “Khristianoi,” card-carrying members of the Messiah Party.

From Message #797 – The Messiah Partisans
Scripture: Colossians 4:6

Today’s Mission – Today, let it be evident and unmistakable that you represent the “Messiah Party.”

The Messiah Party

Tuesday, August 3, 2021

“Christian,” is really not a very religious word when it was first used. “Christian” first appeared in Antioch, undoubtedly by people who were not Christian. Its original form, “Khristianoi,” was often used to denote a secular movement, a political party, or partisans of a certain person like Caesar. It would be like calling these people members of the “Messiah Party.” Such parties, whether good or bad, exist to make a difference. We are of the Messiah Party, an eternal party, yet to make a difference here and now. If you’re of Messiah’s Party, then you’re not on earth to warm a pew, or be comfortable, or be alone in your own little spiritual world. You’re here to make a difference, to be the salt of the earth, the light of the world. Are you making a difference, changing your world, your workplace, your family? Anything? You need to. You can’t make a difference if you aren’t different. Don’t conform… transform. Spread the Word, share His love, proclaim the Gospel, be strong. You are here to make a difference, the difference of the “Khristianoi,” card-carrying members of the Messiah Party.

From Message #797 – The Messiah Partisans
Scripture: Colossians 4:6Today’s Mission – Today, let it be evident and unmistakable that you represent the “Messiah Party.”

Don’t Give The Spirits

Wednesday, August 4, 2021

A MouthDid you know that evil spirits have no physical mouths to speak with? How do they speak? They need a mouth. Whose mouth? Yours. You might think, “That’s fine, but I’m not a demoniac.” Think again. If your mouth is used for slander and gossip, for words that are impure or negative and destructive, if you’re giving voice to things that hurt or tear down… then you’re giving voice to evil and to the spirits of evil. Evil needs a sound system to whisper temptations, thoughts of fear, envy, suspicion, greed and impurity. But it can’t go any further unless we give these things room by dwelling on them and giving them voice.. so they can spread to others. Have you allowed yourself to be a mouthpiece for darkness? Repent; resolve that you will never again allow your tongue to be used for evil. The good news is… the Holy Spirit has no mouth of flesh and blood either… except yours. Dedicate your mouth to be a vessel of the Holy Spirit, speaking only words that bring life. Let the Spirit of God speak through you and the spirits of evil be silent.

From Message #814 – The Dragon’s Mouth
Scripture: Ephesians 4:29

Today’s Mission – Make it your aim today to let no dark thing come out of your mouth but rather to be a mouthpiece of the Master and to silence the mouth of the enemy.

“We Expect God To Be There”

Friday, August 6, 2021

President Franklin Roosevelt used to attend a church in Washington. One day, somebody telephoned the church and asked anxiously, “Tell me, do you expect the President to be in church this Sunday?” The rector answered, “That, I cannot promise. But we expect God to be there. That will be incentive enough for a reasonably large attendance.” What if you heard that the President of the United States was coming to attend your worship service? You’d be very excited, you’d make sure to get there early and you’d be more eager to invite friends. You would not allow rain or other engagements to stop you. If that’s how you’d be if the President decided to attend your next worship service, how much more should you be all those things every week of the year? Because someone far greater than the President is definitely showing up… Yeshua, Jesus, the Messiah, the Light of the World, God, the King of the Universe! Be excited about the things of God…. Be excited about God. Be excited about going to worship service. For far more awesome and exciting than a meeting with a President… is a meeting with God.

From Message #885 – He and You
Scripture: Acts 2:28Today’s Mission – Get more excited about God. Mark your calendar for this week’s service that “Yeshua, the Messiah, King of the Universe”, will be the honored guest… and get there early

The Grain-Car full

Monday, August 2, 2021

When I was ministering in Cuba, we were taken to a church in the middle of nowhere. We drove miles on a dirt road. When we got there, there was nothing but a little church building in the middle of a farm. Then, we heard singing, and in the distance was a grain car filled with a congregation singing and clapping their hands to the Lord. Soon the church was overflowing with people. In America, believers will persevere through a movie, a show, a baseball, football game, or restaurant. But a few drops of rain and forget the worship service. Churches in Cuba are overflowing and filled with God’s joy and power. Why? Because they don’t spend hours in front of the television or in other pursuits. They make God their chief joy, and because they’ll pack into a grain car to worship. You want the joy and power of the Spirit in your life? Then put away the distractions that take your heart away from your first love. Make the Lord your chief joy, the things of God your priority, and if you can… get into a grain car.

From Message #779 – Ninety Miles Away
Scripture: John 4:23

Today’s Mission – Make God the true joy of this day. Get into the joy of His presence wherever you are.

Lighting up the Church

Friday, July 30, 2021

It was a familiar scene on Sunday evening in the village of Doubs, France, of people rushing through the streets to church, each carrying a bronze lantern. The church had no way of being lit up so its members would come not just to be enlightened, but to lighten. The more that gathered, the brighter the church; the end result… stunning. Many believers go from one church to the next seeking a blessing. They end up discouraged, bitter, or full of self-pity, complaining they weren’t loved or blessed enough. This is unbiblical. A true believer doesn’t just go to church. A believer is part of the church. A true believer doesn’t go anywhere to get blessed, but to be a blessing. They don’t have to get lit up by others. You are to be a light in this world, and certainly to your brothers and sisters. So the next time you go to service, bring your lantern.. the lantern of a shining heart, a heart that seeks not to take but to give, not to curse the darkness, but to light up the world… starting with the sanctuary.

From Message #384 – Lights of the World
Scripture: Matthew 5:14-16

Today’s Mission – Seek today not to be a mirror, simply reflecting your circumstances – but to be a light.

Spirit Champions

Wednesday, July 28, 2021

Ever ponder all the things that athletes go through to become physically fit? Athletes train for hours with weights, and watch every calorie they eat so they can be champions. Even for the few who win, the victory is short-lived, and then it fades. We have something so much greater than that. We have a prize that is everlasting, and are called to be more than conquerors. You’re called to be a true champion. How much discipline do you put into your championship? How many of you are just barely reading the Bible, applying the Word, or praying at all? You wonder why you’re not winning, living victoriously or not doing great and mighty things. Want to be a champion? Train daily in the Word, applying it, communing with God and living it. Don’t train just to stay in shape, train to be a champion. If these people, through regular training become strong in the flesh, how much more will you, by training regularly with God, become strong in the Spirit. Champions in the flesh are for but a moment – but Champions of the Spirit are forever.

From Message #772 – Pumping Spiritual Iron
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:24

Today’s Mission – Take a necessary step to start training like a champion today. Start with reading your Bible and truly applying it to your life – today!

Through the Roof

Thursday, July 29, 2021

They came with their paralyzed friend, carrying him in their arms. They heard that Yeshua of Nazareth had the power to heal the sick. The house was jammed with people. There was no way to get in. They got up on the roof, opened it up, and lowered their friend into the room. Imagine – you’re in the middle of a service, and some people start breaking into the roof and lowering some guy down into the middle of the sanctuary. The Lord honored it. He healed the man. If it’s God’s will, closed doors don’t matter. If God closes a door, He opens a window. If He doesn’t open the window, He wants you to go through the roof. Maybe God has been calling you to something and you’ve run into closed doors. The Lord doesn’t want you to give up. The closed door isn’t there to discourage you, but to make you stronger. It may not be what you first thought, but it’s better. If it’s God’s will, and the door is closed, look for the window. If the window’s closed, start climbing. You’re going through the roof!

From Message #775 – THE ROOF, THE COT, & THE MIRACLE
Scripture: Matthew 17:20

Today’s Mission – The Roof, The Cot, & The MiracleDealing with problems? Don’t dwell on the closed door or the obstacle of the wall – seek for God’s “out of the box” answer – find the open roof!

The Portable Mountaintop

Friday, July 23, 2021

God appeared to Moses on Mt. Sinai with a cloud and thunder and the sound of trumpets. The glory of God was there on that mountaintop. God told Moses to go down the mountain, to leave the mountaintop… but not to the leave the glory. But how? God told him to make a tent when he got down, to set it up in the valley. And there in the tent, God would come down to dwell with them in the valley, all the time. This is a profound secret. God wants you to learn the secret of having a glorious life at all times. And the way to do it is simple: build yourself a tent of meeting, a place in which you and God can meet every day. Enter into your tent of meeting and spend it in communion with the Lord. It doesn’t matter if you’re going through a good time or a bad time, you will bring the mountaintop with you every day, and the glory of God will dwell with you, and your life will be from glory to glory. So build your tent, for with God, all the mountaintops are portable.

From Message #737- The Mishkan Kit II
Scripture: Exodus 19:20

Today’s Mission – Starting today, find an unoccupied space and build your own personal “tent of meeting”. Look forward to the glorious time that you will spend with God there.

Enemy P.R.

Monday, July 26, 2021

In Ephesians it is written, “Don’t give the enemy any room.” You have to be careful not to give the enemy even an inch in such things as anger, bitterness, and unforgiveness. There’s another way to give the enemy room, a way that you probably didn’t even realize. That’s to magnify him. You may have thought that only devil worshipers magnify him. Another people do too – believers. When you attribute everything to the devil, when you dwell on his power and darkness, when you speak about him as being almost on a level with God, when you fear him – you’re magnifying him. When you magnify him, you’re giving him free publicity. Focus on evil, impurity, and sin, and that’s what you’ll find. You don’t conquer evil or the enemy by focusing on evil and the enemy. You overcome the enemy by focusing on God, and evil by focusing on good, and the flesh, by focusing on the Spirit. Stop being a P.R. agent for the enemy. Magnify the Lord, and the enemy will shrink. Give full room to God and the good news of salvation, and there will be no room left for the enemy.

From Message #764 – Crazy in Gedara
Scripture: Ephesians 5:1-2Today’s Mission – Don’t give the enemy credit, don’t dwell on evil today, but magnify the Lord in all things.

Philippians TV

Tuesday, July 27, 2021

In Philippians 4:8, it is written, “.. whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if there is anything of excellence or worthy of praise – let your mind dwell on such things…” Now let’s take this as a standard and apply it to your life, entertainment, magazines, music, internet sites and television you watch. Are those soap operas, daytime and late night talk shows true and right? Imagine if television had a Philippians Network – how much of contemporary television could they broadcast? Are you sitting in front of that television and letting these things fill your attention, thoughts, heart and soul? Who knows how it’s affecting your life; the bondages you may still be in, and the blessings you’ve never known. In fact, the very verse leads into a promise… those who dwell on the things of God, the peace of God will be with them. Do you want the blessing? Change the station. Turn off the junk. Turn on to the Word, the Presence, and the joy of the Lord, and your heart will always be tuned in to the shalom of God.

From Message #770 – The Flickering Blue God
Scripture: Romans 13:13-14

Today’s Mission – Remove one form of media that has captured your attention and may slowly be taking the place of God and replace it with more of God – starting today.

The Solitary Coal

Thursday, July 22, 2021

A Sunday school teacher once noticed that one of his students had been absent from class for a long time. So he visited his home, found him by the fireplace, and sat down beside him without a rebuke, without saying anything. Instead, he picked up the tongs and removed one of the glowing coals from the rest and placed it alone on the hearthstone. The two just sat there watching the burning coal grow colder and colder … until there was no more fire at all. The absent member turned to the teacher and said, “You don’t have to say a word. I’ll be there next Sunday!” There are many who say they don’t need to gather with the rest of the body or to go to church. But we are coals on God’s fireplace. And His fire is the Spirit. And so when we come together, we inspire each other, we challenge each other. So it’s not so much a matter of duty. It’s a matter of need. You need their fire, and they need yours. So don’t separate yourself. Get back in the fire and be warmed up. For there’s nothing more useless than a fireless coal.

From Message #1687 – Forsake Not
Scripture: Hebrews 10:24-25

Today’s Mission – Get back into – or more into – fellowship this week. Bring others into fellowship. Seek to reach out to those you haven’t seen in fellowship. Warm up those coals!

The Portable Mountaintop

Friday, July 23, 2021

God appeared to Moses on Mt. Sinai with a cloud and thunder and the sound of trumpets. The glory of God was there on that mountaintop. God told Moses to go down the mountain, to leave the mountaintop… but not to the leave the glory. But how? God told him to make a tent when he got down, to set it up in the valley. And there in the tent, God would come down to dwell with them in the valley, all the time. This is a profound secret. God wants you to learn the secret of having a glorious life at all times. And the way to do it is simple: build yourself a tent of meeting, a place in which you and God can meet every day. Enter into your tent of meeting and spend it in communion with the Lord. It doesn’t matter if you’re going through a good time or a bad time, you will bring the mountaintop with you every day, and the glory of God will dwell with you, and your life will be from glory to glory. So build your tent, for with God, all the mountaintops are portable.

From Message #737- The Mishkan Kit II
Scripture: Exodus 19:20

Today’s Mission – Starting today, find an unoccupied space and build your own personal “tent of meeting”. Look forward to the glorious time that you will spend with God there.

Alone on the Roof

Wednesday, July 21, 2021

Peter was staying at the house of Simon the Tanner and he went up on the roof to pray. So why did Peter go up on the roof to pray? He went up on the roof because he wanted to be alone with God. We often don’t realize how important it is to be alone with God. We’re busy on the job, busy in our families, busy in our activities. It was crucial that Peter go up on the roof to be alone. Because it was there that God spoke to him. And what God showed Peter changed history. It was that vision that opened up the Gospel to the Gentiles. But it would not have happened had Peter not gone up on the roof to pray and be alone with God. So how important is it for you to get alone with God? How many blessings have you missed because you haven’t been there for God to bless you? There’s a blessing waiting for your life. Get alone with God today, and at least once every day. And if there’s no place in your house to be alone – then get up on the roof.

From Message #735 – Heavenly Pork Chops
Scripture: Acts 10:9

Today’s Mission – Find a different – not your usual place to go and spend some time praying and listening to God today. Make it a special alone time with Him.

The Heart & the Day

Tuesday, July 20, 2021

How’s your day going? You probably think that if things are going bad you’re having a bad day and if things are going good, it’s a good day. But the Bible says something completely different. And it can change the way you live your life. Proverbs 15:15 says: “All the days of the downcast are bad, but a cheerful heart has an everlasting banquet.” – or – ‘All the days of the downcast are bad, but a good heart has a never-ending banquet.’ In other words, it’s not bad days that make the downcast heart. It’s the downcast heart that makes all the days bad. And it’s not the continual banquet that makes the good heart. It’s the good heart that makes the continual banquet. Get it? If your heart is complaining, your days will be rotten. If your heart is full of praise and thanksgiving, your days will be full and beautiful. So… you want a good day, a good week, a good year, a good life? Stop seeking after a good day, and seek instead to have a good heart. Give thanks in all things, and praise to God, and your life will become an everlasting banquet.

From Message #734 – The Never-Ending Banquet
Scripture: Psalm 42:11

Today’s Mission – No matter what’s around you today, give God thanks and praise Him as often as you can, and you will have a never-ending banquet.

The Butterfly’s Rage

Monday, July 12, 2021

Alright, you’re not really satisfied with your walk, not real happy with the way you act. You’re sick and tired of living less than joyous, less than holy, less than consistent, and less than victorious. It’s not a bad thing. It’s a good thing. The sin isn’t good, nor is the defeat. What’s good is that you’re not content with it. Suppose you spent your life something like a worm, crawling around, eating dirt. You’re doing all this, but you’re not happy with crawling, and you don’t even like dirt. It means you’re not a worm. If you were, you would have no problem with it; you’d enjoy it. If you’re not content with it, it points to something else. Are you not content with your present life, or that sin, that compromise, that failure? Good. Because you’re not a worm. You’re a butterfly. You’re not of this world. You’re born from above. You’re a beloved child of God. That raging discontent in your spirit is that of the new self: victorious, waiting to break free. So be discontented, but be encouraged and rage through to victory. Your very struggle is proof of your heavenly call.

From Message #608 – The Butterfly’s Child
Scripture: Hebrews 3:1Today’s Mission – Look now at that thing in your life that doesn’t line up with where you want to be in your walk with the Lord. Break it open and break through to your calling.

Heaven & Earth at the Same Time

Tuesday, July 13, 2021

The Feast of Tabernacles is a beautiful and even mystical feast. For it celebrated two things at once. They would celebrate God’s faithfulness to them in the wilderness while living in the Promised Land. The sukkah, or tabernacle in which they camped out represented the wilderness, and yet it was made of branches of fruits from the Promised Land. It was a joining together of the wilderness and the Promised Land. This is a profound thing. For the Promised Land represents to God’s children the Kingdom of Heaven. And the wilderness, or the journey to get there, represents this life right now. So the Feast of Tabernacles reveals a rarely understood truth…. For the child of God, Heaven and earth are joined. What does it mean? It means, though you journey on earth, your journey is not to be of earth. It’s to be of Heaven. For it is written that even now, you are to dwell in the Heavenlies. And you can only do that if Heaven is here and now. Learn to see Heaven in the midst of your life today, walk Heavenly, live Heavenly. For where the Lord and His camp is… there is Heaven.

From Message #724 – Heaven & Earth as One
Scripture: Leviticus 23:40-43

Today’s Mission – Think about one situation where God has brought you out of the wilderness and into the Promised Land – and celebrate.

Thou Shalt be Loved

Wednesday, July 14, 2021

Many commandments out there are not from the Bible. For instance, some of you went to Mt. Sinai and received a tablet that read, “Thou shalt be loved by everyone. Everyone shalt thou please and verily cause them to likest thee.” It sounds as if it could’ve been in with the other ten. So you’ve been obeying this command. You try to get people to like you, saying what you think they want to hear. You want to impress people so they will love you, praise you, accept you, adore you, receive you. Moses never carried down those words from Sinai. It’s not a command; not even a suggestion. I’ve got good news for you. Not everybody has to love you, like you or even accept you. So you’re free! Stop trying to impress people. Here’s a new command, “Thou shalt not spend the rest of thy life seeking the love or approval of people. It’s enough that God loves thee and accepted thee as His beloved. Therefore, seek no more love from people, but rather love them as He has loved thee. For thou art loved, and don’t thou forgettest it.” Amen.

From Message #615 – All The Commandments not in The Bible
Scripture: Jeremiah 31:3

Today’s Mission – Today, focus on God’s thoughts and His acceptance and not the thoughts of man.

The Pilgrim’s Souvenirs

Thursday, July 15, 2021

One of the biggest problems in leading pilgrimages to Israel is that of souvenirs. The Promised Land is filled with souvenirs, even in some of the holiest of sites. There was always the danger that some of the pilgrims would be sidetracked away from the reason of why we were there, tempted to acquire souvenirs and hold up the entire tour. So that was the choice, either focus on the Lord or on souvenirs. You may never have gone on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, but you are very much on a pilgrimage. Your life is a holy pilgrimage, because in the Lord, it’s holy. So as a Holy Land pilgrim, you have to guard against souvenirs. Throughout your pilgrimage you’re going to be faced with the temptation to acquire things: possessions, money. These are just souvenirs, but you can’t take them home. The more you get into things, the less you’ll be able to focus on God. So listen, pilgrim, travel light, resist the temptation, and keep your eyes and your heart away from its souvenirs. Focus on God. For you’re on a sacred pilgrimage, and you only go through it once.

From Message #622 – A Guide for The Pilgrim
Scripture: Matthew 6:19-21

Today’s Mission – Lay aside those souvenirs (or idols) that have distracted you, and today take hold of the real treasure of your pilgrimage, Messiah, Jesus, the joy of life.

Shadowing the Snow Plough

Tuesday, July 6, 2021

A friend of mine in ministry lived in upstate New York. When winter came, the snowfall would become so great that he couldn’t continue driving. He’d pull over and wait until a snow plough came. As soon as the snow plough passed him, he would pull out his car and follow it for as long as he could. The Lord taught him something through the snow plough. When you try to proceed in the Lord, you often encounter resistance. There’s a spiritual opposition that will throw anything it can to slow you down, discourage you, make you stop, and give up. It’s like a blizzard blocking up your path. What you have to do is pray. Prayer is like a spiritual snow plough. Without being in touch with God, you’ll end up stuck in your tracks. Prayer is like a plough that clears away the spiritual obstacles so you can move unhindered. Are you encountering obstacles? Did you pray about it or complain instead? Replace complaint, fear, discouragement, anger with prayer. Go for the spiritual snow plough and you won’t have to spin your wheels on the side of the road.

From Message #817 – The Jehoshaphat Guide to Victory I
Scripture: Philippians 4:6Today’s Mission – What problem in your life have you been concerned about? Convert your worry into prayer

The Mystery of the Scapegoat People

Wednesday, July 7, 2021

A scapegoat is someone you blame for your problems, someone you cast your sins upon. Of all the peoples in history, one stands above all for being the scapegoat of the nations… the Jewish people. From ancient times to our day, the Jews have been the most accused and vilified of peoples. Israel is the scapegoat nation. For this is the same nation that God linked to the scapegoat three thousand years before. Only the Jews have Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, which involves placing sins on the goat’s head, who then escapes carrying the iniquities of the nation. Messiah is the King of the scapegoat nation who took the sins of all upon Himself and carried them away. If you belong to Messiah, you too must be a little scapegoat called to bear the burdens, iniquities, even the unjust treatment of others, and love them in return. The Lord, your Scapegoat, bore your burdens to bring you salvation, so you are called to be a little scapegoat, to bear the burdens of those around you, so you might also bring them salvation.

From Message #489 – The Scapegoat and the End Times
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:21

Today’s Mission – Purposely ask those around you how they’re doing today; and if they start to unload the burdens of their heart, use it as an opportunity to bare their burdens and share the love of God with them.

Being Truly Diabolical

Thursday, July 8, 2021

What is the nature of the devil? The English word “devil” comes from the Greek word “diabolos” which comes from two Greek words: “dia” which means “against,” and “bolos” which means “to cast.” Together you get “to cast against” – “diabolos” – devil. This is the primary nature of the devil, to cast against. What does he cast? Words… thoughts…. notions; not performing scary special effects, but rather to slander, to defame, to libel, to charge, to impute, to accuse. If this is the very nature of satan, how much more must you, as a child of God, stay away from anything that remotely resembles it? Your nature must be the opposite. You must not only have anything to do with the enemy’s nature, but actively oppose, undo, and overturn it. Have nothing to do with gossip or slander. They cannot proceed from your mouth, nor can they enter your ears. You cannot receive them. You must actively oppose such words by stopping them in others and undoing them with words of life. Renounce all gossip from your lips and ears, and fight the devil with words of love. Anything less… is diabolical.

From Message #250 – The Temptation of Messiah
Scripture: James 4:7

Today’s Mission – Fight the good fight of faith today, take the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God–undo the enemy’s words with the Lord’s.

The Unrobing of the High Priest

Friday, July 9, 2021

The High Priest of Israel was told to wear holy garments: garments of blue and white, a breastplate of twelve precious gems, and a white turban framed by a golden crown with a golden plate on the front which read, “Holy to the Lord.” He was quite an impressive sight. And yet, on the holiest day of the year, in order to enter God’s presence, in order to make peace with God, in order to receive cleansing and blessings, the High Priest had to strip himself down, take off all the fine linens, all the precious jewels, all the gold, and enter the Holy of Holies dressed only in white linen. That should teach us something wonderful. Do you want to really enter God’s presence and find real peace? Then you have to strip yourself. You have to strip yourselves of your religiousness, your reputation, your busyness, your ministry, your status, your achievements – and come, just you, as a child, into His arms. You want God to be real to you, try being real to God. Come as you are for real and you will find your God as He is, for real. All the rest is clothing.

From Message #1206 – Sixteen Secrets of Yom Kippur
Scripture: Exodus 28:36

Today’s Mission – Today, let the Lord see the real you. Set aside the adornments of your life and just come into His presence as you are to receive His blessings.

God’s Feet on Your Thoughts

Wednesday, June 30, 2021

It is written in Isaiah 66:1: “Heaven is my throne, earth is my footstool.” That means that this whole world is, to God… a footstool. All our lives we’ve been living on a footstool; our thoughts in this world are footstool thoughts. It means that no matter how high our thoughts, God is still above them. No matter how theological our doctrines, they’re only footstool doctrines. God is still way above them. A footstool is made for feet. So our thoughts are made for God. Our thoughts, no matter how spiritual, will never be complete, never enough, never be sufficient in themselves. They need the presence of God to rest on them. It is written that God put everything under Messiah’s feet and so our thoughts. That means, we must put everything, every notion, every idea, under His feet, under His reality, under His rule, under His Lordship. Footstool regrets, pride, fears, grudges, are footstool thoughts. Put them all under God’s feet. For all our thoughts are footstool thoughts. They exist for one reason only, so you could place them under God’s feet.

From Message #708 – The Footstool World
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:27

Today’s Mission – The world is your footstool and all the problems and challenges therein – today practice putting it all under your feet.

The Ominous Case of Pastor Latzel

Thursday, July 1, 2021 Shalom, to you my Friend and Co-Minister in the Great Commission…

For years there had been warnings. For years it was said we were heading to it – but now it’s happened. It happened in Germany. It involved Pastor Olaf Latzel, a preacher in the Evangelical Church in Germany. A court in Bremen, Germany found Latzel guilty of ‘sedition.’ He was accused of “inciting hatred” against homosexuals. What exactly was this incitement? Latzel spoke of the biblical definitions of gender and sexuality. He spoke against the Berlin Pride March. He referred to gender ideology as an attack against God’s order and against the activists who advance it. It should be noted that Pastor Olaf’s services have in the past been disrupted by gay activists. His remarks were not given at a public rally but in his own church – and not even at a worship service, but to couples at a marriage seminar. And yet he was found guilty of a crime.

This has been a long time coming. First there was the movement for political correctness. Then came the ‘hate crime’ laws. And then came reports, particularly in Europe, of Christian street preachers being taken away by the police for speaking against homosexuality and disturbing the peace. But now a pastor in his own church, in his own seminar speaking, to his own people has been found guilty of a crime – and punished. If the ruling holds against appeal, it could lead to the punishing of German churches that refuse to bless homosexual unions. They could then lose their status as a charitable organization which can, in turn, devastate them financially.

What about Latzel’s fellow pastors? Seventy of them held a gathering for the purpose of denouncing him. What about his denomination? They initiated proceedings to discipline him. And the parliament of his region gathered to denounce him; the first time a minister had been denounced by a German parliament since the Second World War. But despite the ruling of the court, the condemnation of the parliament, the denouncement of his fellow pastors, and the rebuke of his own denomination, Pastor Latzel is refusing to back down.

If we have learned one thing, it’s that this movement to silence God’s word and God’s people is not going to fade away. If we seek to avoid dealing with it in the public square, we will surely find ourselves dealing with it when it comes to our front door, and to the doors of our sanctuaries. We must fight the good fight, always in love, always in truth, and always with courage.

And yet, this is as biblical a circumstance as we could imagine. It was the same for Elijah, for Jeremiah and Ezekiel, for Messiah, and for the apostles. We have long read of it. Now it is time to live it.

This month, make it your aim to live the Word without reluctance, hesitation, compromise, or fear. And may God greatly bless you as you do!

The Presence in the Present

Friday, July 2, 2021

Do you want to enter the presence of God? Past, present, and future – which one sounds like the presence of God? The present is linked to ‘the presence.’ If you want to enter the ‘presence’ of God, you have to enter the ‘present’ of God. You won’t find the presence of God if you’re living in the past – what happened, what didn’t happen, the good, the bad. God’s presence is not in the past. At the same time, you won’t find the presence of God if you’re living in the future – what you’re waiting for, what you’re anxious about. God’s presence is not in the future. The high priest entered the presence of God in the Holy of Holies. To enter the presence, He had to be present, in the present. If you want to live in the presence of God, start living in the present of God. Seek Him, not tomorrow, not yesterday, but today and now. Forget what happened, forget what’s supposed to happen. Seek Him now. Stop striving, be still, and know that He is God. Now is the time of salvation. The past is past, but present… is the presence.

From Message #507 – In the Fullness of Time
Scripture: Psalm 46:10

Today’s Mission – Wholeheartedly seek to be in the presence of God today; look for Him now.

Your Problem is a Plough

Monday, June 28, 2021

The ancient Hebrews rejoiced in the reaping of their harvests. But before they could reap, they had to sow, and before they could sow, they had to plough. It was the ploughing that readied the ground by turning the soil over and over again. In your life, there are times when everything gets turned upside down and all seems mixed up. When your life is being turned upside down, getting mixed up, and turned over and over again, it’s a sure sign that your life is being ploughed. And that’s a good thing. You see, ploughing has a purpose. Ploughing loosens up the hard ground, moistens the dry ground, brings oxygen and nutrients into the barren ground, and prepares the soil to receive new life. When you find your life in a ploughing time, God is breaking up the routine of your life, the hardness and dryness of your walk. He’s opening your life up to receive new life. So rejoice, and receive the change God wants to bring into your life for blessed are the ploughed, for they shall also be sown. And blessed are the sown, for they shall also bear much fruit.

From Message #700 – Seasons of the Harvest
Scripture: John 15:5

Today’s Mission – Whenever something comes your way today that seems to throw things off schedule or plan, see it as the ploughing of God and seek to see the good He wills to bring forth.

Proceeding Without Pleasure

Tuesday, June 29, 2021

Thomas More relays the incident when Lord Ellensborough, the presiding judge in a court case sat listening to a boring presentation by a lawyer. The lawyer asked, “Is it the pleasure of the court that I should proceed with my statement?” The judge replied, “Pleasure has been out of the question for a long time, but you may proceed.” It was a striking remark but profound; an important principle. Many people live on the pleasure principle. If it feels good, do it. But when it comes to doing what’s right, pleasure is out of the question. Whether you should proceed in a certain direction or action in life has nothing to do with pleasure, but everything to do with is it right? Is it God’s will? You can’t have it both ways. What is pleasurable is not always right and what is right is not always pleasurable. If you live seeking pleasure, you would live a life that was neither righteous nor pleasurable. For when it comes to goodness, put away pleasure and seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness for that is the pleasure of God. And your life will be filled with joy.

From Message #1191 – The Pleasure Principle
Scripture: Matthew 6:33Today’s Mission – Today seek not to go on the pleasure principle – but on the righteousness principle – Don’t do what feels good or avoid what feels bad – do what’s right no matter what

The Outside Room

Thursday, June 24, 2021

Why did Josef and Mary go outside to bear their Child? Because there was no room at the inn? Yes. But more than that. Even if there was room at the inn, there would still be no room at the inn. The Lord’s presence came into this world not in the inn but in the out, the outside…. The only place that could contain Him… Without walls, there’s no containing. God is so big; only a room with no walls can contain Him. Nothing can contain Him, not the highest heaven, much less our doctrines, our religiousness, our ministries, our thoughts, our music, our services. God’s presence came in the open. The miracle of God cannot be contained, but only comes in the open. You want a miracle? The miracle of God’s presence to come new and fresh into your life? Then you must find it in the open. For in the open it comes: in an open mind, an open heart, and an open life. Open up your whole life today. Start breaking down the walls. Enter the room of the open. The uncontainable can only be contained in a room with no walls.

From Message #584 – No Room at the Inn
Scripture: Philippians 1:6

Today’s Mission – Go outside today – and take some time with God, meditate on His vastness, greatness, the great expanse of His love.

The Non-Commandments

Friday, June 25, 2021

There are times in ministry where people are carrying out a directive which they were told came from me. One day they tell me about it and I say, “I never said that.” They say, “But I’ve been doing things this way because I was told that’s the way you wanted it.” It turned out someone misunderstood or assumed something, and then told someone else that this was the directive from me. But it never was. These are miscommunications and misdirectives. It doesn’t only happen with earthly things. There are heavenly miscommandments. People often make mistakes when it comes to hearing Him and then relaying what He said to others. When this happens, I’ll tell the person, ‘Don’t assume that something is from me, just because someone said it. Come to me about it. Get it direct.” The same way with the Lord. You have to go direct and check back with the Word, as the Bereans when they heard Paul. You have to hear direct, from God’s Spirit to your heart. Don’t waste your walk believing misunderstandings, obeying miscommandments, and carrying out misdirectives. For Messiah died… so you could go direct.

From Message #615 – All The Commandments not in the Bible
Scripture: Proverbs 22:20-22Today’s Mission – Today make it a point to go directly to God about any and everything that comes up

The Tubes and the Flowers

Wednesday, June 23, 2021

My memory of Israel: When I got off the plane, I began noticing beautiful flowers everywhere. When I looked closer, I noticed little plastic tubes running through the soil, carrying water to each flower. You see, when the Jewish people came back to Israel, there were very few flowers. It was a barren, desert wasteland. In order to bloom, the flowers needed lots of help and care. The flowers that greeted me were being given water through a delicate line of plastic tubing. The flowers of the Promised Land aren’t just flowers, they’re miracles. So the flowers of the Promised Land and its children. If you’re born again, you’re a child of the Promised Land. Your new life in God is a miracle. God took what was a barren wasteland, your life without God that could not produce anything heavenly, and brought forth something beautiful. The life of God growing through your life is not natural, but a miracle. Never take it for granted. Cherish, protect and nourish it with the water of the Word and the rivers of His Spirit. It is nothing less than a miracle flower blossoming in the desert.

From Message #576 – Israel Pilgrimage 1996
Scripture: Isaiah 51:3

Today’s Mission – Take a moment to reflect on the miracle of your life in God, the life that once was a barren, desert wasteland and now radiates with the love and glory of Messiah.

The Womb of Leah

Tuesday, June 22, 2021

Leah was the older, unattractive, unloved, rejected wife of Jacob. Yet God opened her womb. From Leah came Reuben, Simeon and Levi, from whom came Moses and Aaron, the priesthood of Israel, Ezekiel, Zechariah, even John the Baptist, Judah, Boaz, David, Hezekiah, Josiah, Mary, Joseph, and Messiah Himself. Although rejected, Leah’s womb was the most fruitful of all. So in our lives… it is generally not the good times that produce the most fruit for God.. but the hard times. It is generally not those most comfortable or popular who produce the most fruit for God, but those who are not. If you are rejected, unloved, despised, or mocked, mistreated, disappointed, or left with a broken heart… praise God. Look to God. God can use your situation… It’s the womb of Leah. Those who don’t find what they’re looking for, and turn to God, end up the most fruitful. In God, your sorrows will give birth to true joy, your disappointments to true hope, your rejection to true love, and your broken heart, to true life. Give thanks, even for your sorrows. Give them to the Lord. They will be as blessed… as Leah’s womb.

From Message #541 – The Children of Leah
Scripture: Philippians 4:4Today’s Mission – Give all your sorrows, disappointments, rejection and brokenness to the Lord. Do not hold back. Then receive all the love and healing, peace and joy that He has for you

The Tubes and the Flowers

Wednesday, June 23, 2021

My memory of Israel: When I got off the plane, I began noticing beautiful flowers everywhere. When I looked closer, I noticed little plastic tubes running through the soil, carrying water to each flower. You see, when the Jewish people came back to Israel, there were very few flowers. It was a barren, desert wasteland. In order to bloom, the flowers needed lots of help and care. The flowers that greeted me were being given water through a delicate line of plastic tubing. The flowers of the Promised Land aren’t just flowers, they’re miracles. So the flowers of the Promised Land and its children. If you’re born again, you’re a child of the Promised Land. Your new life in God is a miracle. God took what was a barren wasteland, your life without God that could not produce anything heavenly, and brought forth something beautiful. The life of God growing through your life is not natural, but a miracle. Never take it for granted. Cherish, protect and nourish it with the water of the Word and the rivers of His Spirit. It is nothing less than a miracle flower blossoming in the desert.

From Message #576 – Israel Pilgrimage 1996
Scripture: Isaiah 51:3

Today’s Mission – Take a moment to reflect on the miracle of your life in God, the life that once was a barren, desert wasteland and now radiates with the love and glory of Messiah.

The Mayim of Messiah

Thursday, June 17, 2021

Isaiah 12 says, “And in joy you shall draw water from the wells of salvation.” In Hebrew, the word for salvation is “y’shua,” from which you get the Hebrew name “Yeshua,” the real name of “Jesus.” It says, “And in joy you shall draw water from the wells of Y’shua, or “the wells of Jesus.” The Hebrew word for “water,” mayim isn’t singular, but plural. “And in joy you shall draw waters from the wells of Y’shua.” The wells of salvation, the wells of Messiah, aren’t filled with water, but with waters. In salvation, there are many waters to drink from. We draw continuously. We shall draw in joy. As there are many waters, there are many joys in salvation. You may have drawn from the wells of salvation years ago and you think that’s it. There’s no end to the wells of salvation, and no shortage to the waters that come out. Come once again to the wells of Yeshua and anew the new waters of salvation, the mayim which flows newly, every day. You will be refreshed, renewed and overflowing. For the wells of salvation are the mayim of Yeshua.

From Message #492 – The Divine Pluralities
Scripture: Isaiah 12:3

Today’s Mission – Sit in the presence of God today. Draw from His never-ending supply of waters of salvation, of love, of joy, of whatever you need and be refreshed and renewed.

In Order to be an Apostle

Friday, June 18, 2021

The movement was growing and with the growth came more pressing needs and urgent issues. The apostles said, “We can’t do all this…. We have to devote ourselves instead to prayer and the Word.” It might seem strange to say that. However the apostles were in charge of leading. If all they did was respond to the latest need, how would they have time to hear from the Lord? If they didn’t hear from the Lord, how could they be led? If they weren’t led, how could they lead others? They did the right thing and got away from the ministry and spent time receiving from the Lord. It’s easy to get caught up in the details of life and then lose the meaning of what life’s all about. It’s easy to get caught up in the details of ministry and lose the purpose and meaning as to why you’re ministering in the first place. You have to be led by the Word and prayer. Get away from pressing issues, even ministry, and get alone with God, in prayer and the Word. If the apostles had to make that choice, so do you.

From Message #520 – The Magnificent Seven
Scripture: Mark 6:45-46

Today’s Mission – Before you do anything today – take time in God’s presence – and don’t just go through this day – seek to be sent.

The Power of The Royal Priests

Monday, June 21, 2021

The Hebrew Scriptures speak of Israel as a “kingdom of priests.” In the New Testament, it’s written, that those who are born again, are part of the commonwealth of Israel. The Book of Peter says that you are a ‘royal priesthood.’ In the days of the Bible, those who were royalty were the same as those who ruled. A royal king or prince was someone who governed. The Hebrew word for prince “Sar,” means one who rules. Royalty means that in this world… you’re not to be following… you’re to be leading. It means you don’t follow the course of this world, for you are royalty. You’re not to follow the gods and trends of this world, your emotions and your circumstances. You don’t even follow your enemies by reacting to them. You are royalty. The Bible says it. Stop acting like a peasant. Take charge of your life and your world, by the Holy Spirit. Start leading. It’s your royal right.

From Message #534 – The Royal Priesthood
Scripture: 1 Peter 2:9,10

Today’s Mission – Walk in this newness today assuming your royal priesthood. You have been called, born into the commonwealth of Israel, God’s chosen people. Rejoice in this and serve Messiah with all your heart.

The Disciples’ Stand

Wednesday, June 16, 2021

Two Jewish believers, Shimon Peter and John, are in the court of the Sanhedrin for preaching the Gospel. The verdict is – stop preaching the Gospel or else! Their response is, “We’re gonna keep preaching the good news, we’re following God.” The disciples kept preaching the Gospel in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and all over the world. Had they listened to the Sanhedrin, we would never have come to know Jesus, and the Great Commission would’ve come to a standstill. Instead, they went right out and continued to preach the Gospel and the Sanhedrin couldn’t stop them. The Sanhedrin had no power to stop the Gospel. They looked like they had the power, but it was all a bluff. In the same way, Satan has no power to stop you in the Lord, but he can put on a big show. It’s all a bluff. He has no real authority. Yet if you believe his authority, you’ll stop yourself. Keep going. That’s the authority of Messiah’s disciple. For greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

From Message #478 – The “Oh Yeah” Principle
Scripture: 1 John 4:4

Today’s Mission – You’re Messiah’s representative. Your mission today is to be bold, to speak out, and to take a stand for what you know is the right thing to do. His authority has been given to you.

The Twenty Percent Principle

Monday, June 14, 2021

When the Israelites were on the verge of entering the Promised Land, Moses sent 12 spies to check out the land and give a report. Ten of the spies came back with a bad report. Two of the spies came back with a good report; ten to two, or five to one. The Five-to-One Principle: For every good report you hear, you’ll hear about ten bad reports. Just look at the news. The Israelites went with the ten bad reports. As a result, they lost confidence, faith, strength, and the Promised Land. They began their days of wandering in the wilderness. Years later, the only ones of that generation to enter the Promised Land were the two spies who bore the good report, Joshua and Caleb. The news is ten to two against five bad reports to one good report. If you don’t want to spend the rest of your life walking in circles, you have to go with the one good report. If you want to enter the Promised Land, firmly believe the good news. It’s the Gospel. For those who enter the Promised Land, it’s only the good news that matters.

From Message #471 – Be ye Imperfect II
Scripture: Numbers 13

Today’s Mission – Today, the majority doesn’t rule. Trust God and believe that one good report that you received and enter into the Promised Land.

The ‘Have it Your Way’ Gospel

Tuesday, June 15, 2021

A fast-food franchise made famous the slogan, “Have it your way.” Unfortunately, we live in a fast food culture and subscribe to a fast food faith. What this means is: the subjectification of the Gospel. The Gospel isn’t really about God anymore but about what God can do for me. It’s not about the truth, but what I feel. If I feel it, it’s true. It’s not about the absolute, it’s about the subjective. We don’t mold our lives to conform to God’s absolute truth. Rather we mold our beliefs to conform the way we live our lives. The Bible has become as valuable to us as a hamburger. Have it your way. We must reject fast food Christianity – this subjectification of the Gospel. We’re not saved by a subjective truth. Such gospels and philosophies save no one. We’re saved by the Absolute Truth, the unchangeable God, and the unalterable Gospel. Reject the spirit of the age and live by the Holy Spirit. Let’s not bend the truth to fit our lives, but let’s conform our lives to fit the truth. For the eternal and unchanging truth of God… is not a hamburger.

From Message #513 – Fast Food Christianity
Scripture: Romans 12:2Today’s Mission – Today, let your slogan be, “Do it God’s way

The Faith With the Mohar

Monday, June 7, 2021

In the ancient Hebrew wedding, in order for the man and woman to become bridegroom and bride, the man would have to offer up a sacrifice of love, a precious gift, and a large sum of money to show his love for the woman. In the same way, there are many faiths, gods, religions, and ideologies vying for the hand of the human soul in marriage. But the question is ‘where’s the mohar?’ Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Orthodox Judaism, and nominal religious Christianity, each ask devotion from its adherents, but each offer no mohar. If a man showed up in ancient Israel seeking the covenant of the bride without giving her his mohar, he would be rejected immediately. There is only one God who came down to earth and offered the greatest of mohars, His own life on the cross to give life to the bride. And only upon that, did He ask us for our hand in eternal marriage. Only Messiah is our Savior. Today, give Him all you have, for the love of Him. For only He who offers up the mohar… is the Bridegroom of your soul.

From Message #373 – The Mohar
Scripture: Galatians 2:20

Today’s Mission – Offer up to God your mohar. Give Him your absolute best in all that you do today – as a gift of love.

Mercy Like a Womb

Tuesday, June 8, 2021

The word that expresses having mercy in Hebrew is ‘racham,’ and the word for the womb in Hebrew is ‘rechem.’ They’re virtually identical. Why? Mercy in Hebrew means tenderness, compassion, as one would have on the weak, and as one would have on a small child. So the womb is a place of tenderness, compassion, and a place to nurture and care for the weakest of human lives: the unborn child. What does this have to do with your life? Everything. You see Messiah said, ‘Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ And how are we born again? Through the mercy of God in Messiah, salvation comes. The mercy of God leads and causes us to be born again, racham and rechem. For God’s mercy is the ‘rechem,’ the place that shelters, nurtures and protects us, until we are fully formed as a child of Heaven. So, with all the things you do with your life, dwell inside the racham – the mercy of God – surrounded by His tender compassion. For the mercy of God is Heaven’s womb.

From Message #408 – Rachamim
Scripture: Luke 6:36

Today’s Mission – As a born-again believer, seek today to show active mercy, tenderness and compassion to others as Messiah has already done to you.

The Death of God Miracle

Wednesday, June 9, 2021

In the Book of Acts, Simon Peter, speaking to the Sanhedrin says this: ‘you … put to death the Prince of Life.’ How is it possible to put to death the Prince of Life? You can’t kill the Prince of Life… unless He lets you. But the Prince of Life can give His life in love. And that’s how lives are redeemed. How do you find life? By giving up your own, by dying to self. How can the self, die to self? Not by itself, but by the miracle of His death. And how did He die? By giving His life. How can you die to self? You can’t do it alone. But you can do it by a miracle… of the death of the Prince of Life, of the giving of His life and by receiving the giving of His life, in love. So forget about trying to die to yourself. It’s already been done. Receive the gift of His death, of the giving of His life, and the miracle of dying to self will be yours. For it is the miracle of the death… of the Prince of Life.

From Message #415 – The Prince of Life
Scripture: Romans 6:5-7

Today’s Mission – If your old self is trying to resurrect itself again, don’t believe the lie. Your sins have been done away with by the miracle of His death once and for all. He did not die in vain and you don’t have to live in sin.

Seeing in The Womb

Thursday, June 10, 2021

When you were in the womb you had eyes and yet there was nothing to see. Your eyes were made to focus on distant objects. Your eyes had rods and cones to distinguish shades, tones and colors, yet you were in total darkness. But you had eyes that were made to see the light. And for that very reason, your eyes were the evidence that beyond the womb was a whole other world you couldn’t yet see. As you dwell in this world, you have a heart that can never be satisfied by the things it sees in this world. Why is that? It’s because this life is Heaven’s womb. It is here that you are being formed to enter the realm of the Heavenly. And because of this, the world can never show you what the eyes of your heart long to see. So don’t be discouraged that this life cannot give you what your heart longs for. It’s a reminder of your inheritance yet to come. Seek them in the heavenlies for your very longings are holy, the evidence on earth of the reality of the eternal, heavenly eyes in the darkness.

From Message #429 – Heaven’s Womb
Scripture: Ephesians 1:18

Today’s Mission – Seek to live this day through the eyes of faith, to see beyond every earthly situation and all obstacles – to the heavenly.

Changing Your Brain

Friday, June 11, 2021

When a baby is born, his or her brain contains 100 billion neurons. Then the brain begins forming trillions of neural connections depending on the flood of information going on within it. The end result is that every brain is different having been molded by what we saw, heard, touched, remembered, or imagined. So it’s not just a matter of what kind of brain you have, but what you did with it. The Word of God tells us to put on the ‘mind of Messiah. Your brain actually changes depending on what you think about. The word for repentance in the New Testament, ‘metanoia,’ means to “change one’s mind.” It doesn’t matter if you have an impure mind – that can all change. Dwell on what is good – and you will end up with a pure mind. Choose to focus your mind on love, on salvation, on heaven, on God, and you’ll end up with a mind that is heavenly, loving, forgiving, and joyful. So you’re not happy with your mind? That’s okay. Start focusing your thoughts on God and the things which are above. And you know what? You’ll actually end up… changing your mind.

From Message #1081 – The Ten Minds
Scripture: Philippians 4:8

Today’s Mission – Make up your mind today to memorize Phil. 4:8 – and think on those things instead of the impure.

The Humble Shall be Glad

Wednesday, June 2, 2021

‘The humble shall see and be glad…’ Psalm 69:32. How profound that humility and gladness go together. What do humble and joyous people have in common? They both look up. The truly humble don’t look down on anyone; they look up. They have to look up because their eyes are on God and He’s above them. And the joyous always look up; otherwise, they wouldn’t be rejoicing, for they are believing the good news, so they rejoice. For the joyous, things are looking up, or rather, for the joyous, the joyous are looking up. The prideful, on the other hand are those who think they’re above everything else and so they look down. The prideful are connected to others who look down: the cynical, the doubting, the despairing, the depressed, the sorrowful, and the hopeless. Pride leads to despair, but humility leads to joy. Get your eyes off yourself, off your problem, off the world. Fix your eyes on God. That means you’re going to have to look up. Get into the blessing of seeing God, the blessing of the humble. For those who look up in humility and faith, also look up in joy.

From Message #188 – The Joy of Humility
Scripture: Psalm 34:2

Today’s Mission – Today, lose yourself in God’s greatness. Learn the joy of the humble.

Gas Lines & Love

Thursday, June 3, 2021

It doesn’t matter if you are a child or a corporate executive… you still need love. This world is made up of people looking and hoping for love, crying over love, or unhappy that they were never loved as they should’ve been. What does it mean that everyone’s looking for love? If everyone was looking for food, you’d conclude there was a food shortage, or looking for gasoline, you’d have to conclude there was a gas shortage. So, if everyone’s looking for love, there’s only one conclusion…there’s a love shortage; and if everyone is looking for it, who can give it? You see, we need love, because we were made for love, so there has to be a love we were made for. And there is. For it is written, ‘God is love.’ So should you seek love? Yes, but not from this world. Seek love with all your heart, but stop seeking it from people, seek it from God. For only God is love. He will never refuse you, so you never need to suffer a love shortage in your life. There’s more than enough to go around. For God is love.

From Message #243 – In the Beloved
Scripture: John 3:16

Today’s Mission – Seek to find love, acceptance, and affirmation solely from God today – and not from people. And then, give it to people.

You Can’t buy What’s Sold out

Friday, June 4, 2021

Were you ever set on buying a certain thing only to be told ‘Sorry, we’re all sold out.’? We learn a very profound lesson from this; you can’t buy that which is sold out. Those who are corrupt try to corrupt others by buying them out. Spiritually, the enemy is trying to buy you out with seduction, lust, money, success, materialism, comfort, all sorts of things. I was once talking to a corporate leader who told me, ‘Everyone can be bought. You just have to find their price.’ I thought, yes, everyone does have a price. Everyone can be bought. But you can’t buy what’s sold out. There’s only one type of a person who cannot be bought by all the money or all the love and comfort in the world; only one kind of person who cannot be bought by the enemy. That’s the one who is sold out for the Lord. You want to be strong and immovable? Be sold out to the one who gave His life to purchase you. And when the enemy comes looking to buy you out, you can say, ‘Sorry I’m all sold out.

From Message #250 The Temptation Of Messiah
Scripture: Romans 8:38

Today’s Mission – Today, allow the Lord to show you an area of your life where the enemy is keeping you distracted from being completely sold out to Messiah, and prayerfully go to work to remove it.

A STRANGE THING HAPPENED TO AMERICA’S CHILDREN

Tuesday, June 1, 2021

Shalom, to you my Friend and Co-Minister in the Great Commission…

A recent Gallup poll revealed a metamorphosis taking place in America, one that has no precedent in American or human history. The poll focused on sexual or gender identity. The percentage of people born before 1946 who identified as something other than male/female heterosexual – or as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, or something else amounted to 1.3% – or just slightly more than 1 person in 100. Of those born from 1946 to the early 1960s, the baby boom generation, the proportion was just slightly higher, 2 out of 100 people.

But for Generation Z, those born between 1997 and the early 2000s, the results were unprecedented. The numbers identifying as something other than heterosexual, as primarily LGBT, was 16%. To put it in perspective, from the baby boomers to the most recent generation of young adults, the proportion of those identifying as LGBT has not doubled, or tripled, but has increased by 8 times, or 800%! The change as measured from the generation that preceded the boomers is over 1,000%, over 12 times!

To put it in still other terms, if you went to a high school class today, you could expect 1 of every 6 students to be gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender – 1 out of 6! But since the survey involved 19-24 year olds, the high school number would be expected to be even greater.

What could account for such a massive transformation of American youth and concerning something so basic as gender identity? Undoubtedly, it is overwhelmingly the result of a massive barrage of pro-LGBT indoctrination as administered through the media, the government, public education, the corporate world, big tech, the entertainment industry, the music industry, the internet, etc. which children have been exposed to for years, with much of the indoctrination taking place under the radar of parents and guardians. It has all produced a generation unlike any other in world history.

Without a massive cultural and spiritual change, this phenomenon will only continue – and continue to rise. Without a change, the number of those identifying as LGBT will, at one point, outnumber those identifying as born again followers of Messiah. Add to this, the fact that this agenda has become the most potent anti-Christian force in modern culture – and you have the end-times.

We must diligently pray for this generation, and we must be even bolder to speak the truth and share the gospel to those in darkness. And if the dark grows yet darker, it’s time for us, as the lights of God, to shine all the more brightly still.

This month, shine with the light of God and light up the darkness. And may God greatly bless you as you do!

Your brother and co-laborer

in His love and service,

Jonathan

The Twig That Blacked out a City

Thursday, May 27, 2021

Messiah taught us that not even one sparrow falls to the ground without God’s care. Yet what about the sparrow’s twig? A sparrow dropped a little twig at the Central Power and Light Co. in Weslaco, Texas. When the twig hit the insulator, there was a 69,000-volt flashover which destroyed three insulators and blew out two 69,000-volt fuses. The city of Weslaco had no power for almost a half an hour… all because of a twig dropped by a sparrow. It’s hard to believe that something so little could cause a city to come to a halt. It happens in our lives too. One careless word can destroy a friendship. One careless indiscretion can destroy a marriage. One careless choice can destroy a ministry. One careless action can destroy a career. Beware of being careless with the words that come out of your mouth. Better to say nothing than to let one word of anger, frustration, gossip or evil come out of your mouth. Live every moment as holy, sacred, and beautiful for Him who cares even for the sparrow, and sees the drop of the sparrow’s twig.

From Message #509 – The First Step
Scripture: Proverbs 15:4

Today’s Mission – Today, choose your words carefully – not carelessly. Make every word count for life and blessing.

All Those Who Said “No”

Friday, May 28, 2021

The books in the Bible that have names are generally named after someone who said “yes” to God. Ruth, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Samuel said “yes” to God. Even Jonah said “yes” to God. Mary, Peter and John said “yes” to God. The question is … what happened to all the people who said “no” to God? The answer is… nothing worthy of recording or naming a Biblical book. What happened to the prophet who said “no” to God? Nothing we know of. He was called to be a prophet, but never said “yes.” And the apostle who said “no” to God? He was never sent. What will happen to your life if you keep saying “no” to God? Nothing worthy of being recorded in the Lamb’s book of life. Be a “no” person and the life you live will end up having no purpose, making no difference, and being of no ultimate good. Give God your “yes,” your unconditional, no holds barred, all out, “yes” – and the life you live will be worthy of being recorded in the annals of Heaven.

From Message #120 – For Such a Time as This
Scripture:

Today’s Mission – Take a leap of faith today and give your unconditional ‘Yes’ to God. Hold nothing back.

The Gandhi’s Christian Hope

Tuesday, May 25, 2021

In the early twentieth century, people of India were under the rule of the British. Mahatma Gandhi, the father of modern India, was approached by Lord Irwin, the British viceroy. Irwin asked him what he considered to be the solution to the problems of India and his country. Gandhi took a book and opened it to the Gospel of Matthew, the fifth chapter. He answered, “When your country and mine shall get together on the teachings of Christ in this Sermon on the Mount, we shall have solved the problems not only of our countries but those of the whole world.” It took a Hindu to remind Christians of the British Empire of the teachings of Messiah and to notice the striking disparity between what many Christians quote on one hand, and how they live their lives on the other. It took a Hindu to remind Christians that Messiah’s words are to be applied to every area of our lives and say that if one doesn’t do that, one has no business calling oneself by the name of Messiah. Let’s conform our lives to Messiah’s words, that we may have the honor of being called His disciples.

From Message #555 – Show-Em
Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Today’s Mission – When you read the Bible today, don’t take God’s words lightly. Take one verse that you’ve read today and apply it to your life.

The Man at the Wedding

Monday, May 24, 2021

During a wedding ceremony, I shared the Gospel and closed with a prayer to receive salvation. During the reception, this restlessness came over me. I had to get up and go for a walk outside. I saw a guy smoking a cigarette. I walked up to him and said “Hi.” He says, “I’ve been waiting for you.” Trying not to miss a beat I said, “Well I’ve been sent to you.” I shared with him about salvation. He told me that when I led in the prayer of salvation, he had prayed with me but was confused. He’d hoped that I would come to him and explain it. These things happened in the Book of Acts. They still happen because we’re still in the Great Commission and the Book of Acts goes on. There are people all over waiting to hear the Good News. You’ll never know it unless you step out and go to them. There are ‘good works’ just waiting for you to walk into them. Share the Gospel and you’ll find that they too, by the Holy Spirit, were waiting for you.

From Message #746 – The Pork Chop People
Scripture: Acts 5:42

Today’s Mission – Take notice of the people around you today – they may just be waiting for you to share the ‘good news’ of Messiah with them. Be bold, step out of your comfort zone, and do it.

The Hand That Reaches Down

Friday, May 21, 2021

There are many different religious teachings. Hinduism teaches that salvation comes when man merges back into God through reincarnation. Islam teaches that salvation is to obey the Shariah, Islamic Law. Buddhism teaches that salvation is to extinguish all desires of the soul and enter a state of nothingness called ‘Nirvana.’ Orthodox Judaism teaches that salvation comes when one observes all the mitzvahs to where one’s good deeds outweigh one’s bad deeds. Although these teachings are very diverse, they all maintain that salvation has to come from man, the one who needs to be saved. It’s all about a hand reaching up to heaven and hoping, by one’s own effort, to achieve it. The one who needs to be saved cannot save himself. All the religions of the world speak of an arm reaching up, of our achieving salvation except one – the Gospel. That alone declares an arm from heaven reaching down. So stop striving to be good enough, and seeking to save yourself, for you cannot and do not have to. Messiah is reaching His arm down to you. Just grab hold of His arm. He’ll do the rest.

From Message #378 – God on the Blue Planet
Scripture: Deuteronomy 7:19

Today’s Mission – Today, don’t look for answers from earth, from the situation, even from your own efforts. Give it to God and look for the answer from His Hand.

The Guest who Leaves in the Morning

Wednesday, May 19, 2021

Have you ever had overnight guests? Usually they lodge for one night and take off the next day. What if your guests decided to stay permanently and become part of your family? Do you call the police and have them removed from the premises? In Psalm 30 says “Weeping endures for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” In the original Hebrew, weeping doesn’t endure for the night, it lun for the night. Lun means to lodge, only for the night. What does that tell you? Weeping or sorrow will sometimes show up at your door and enter. To pretend that it doesn’t show up in life is not real. But the good news is that if you’re a born again child of God, then when weeping turns up at your door, no sorrow is permanent for God promises to work all things in your life together for good. That weeping, sadness, or anger you’re going through is only temporary. It has no right to stay with you or you with it – for weeping is never more than an overnight lodger. And you can rejoice in that.

From Message # 425 – The Chanukah Psalm
Scripture: Psalm 30:11-12

Today’s Mission – No matter what you’re dealing with, a problem, a challenge, a difficulty, encourage yourself with these words “Joy will come in the morning.”

It’s not the Rank, it’s the Side You’re On

Thursday, May 20, 2021

In an army, you can be many things: a private, a sergeant, a lieutenant, a corporal, a captain, a major, a colonel, a general. Each has its own rights, status, and responsibilities. But the main object is not your rank in the army, but the army of your rank. Which is better, to be the general in a defeated army, or a private in a victorious one? You might be looking at your rank in life, your status, your situation, your job, your rank in the Lord. You may not feel you have much rank. It’s not your rank that means anything in the end, but what army you’re in… Or more importantly, whos side you’re on. It doesnt matter if you’re a private or a general, or on the winning side. When victory comes, the private rejoices as much as the general. How do you know if you’re on the winning side? If you’re born again and you’re with God, then you’re a winner. So start rejoicing, for you are more than a conqueror through Messiah who loves you; a heavenly private on the winning side.

From Message #661 – The Private And The General
Scripture: Exodus 17:11Today’s Mission – Take a stand for what you know is the right thing to do, whether you’re a student or a teacher, a layman or a preacher. No matter what it looks like, you’re on the winning side.

Respecting Your Lion

Tuesday, May 18, 2021

The Hebrew Scriptures and New Testament, describe God as a lion. A lion is strong, wild and ferocious. You don’t mess around with it or try to make it adjust to your way. You adjust your way around it. Every true house of worship is a Lion’s House. It houses the presence of God. Much of religion is lion-less. Too many churches are without any sign of the lion, the ferociously real presence of God. They’ve got the lion’s trail – they know where he once was and what he once did. But He’s long gone. A lion isn’t predictable, but much of our religion is. A lion isn’t systematic, but much of our theology is. A lion isn’t dull, but much of our services are. Everything functions safely. There’s no roar left. If you want God to be real in your life then let Him have His way and not yours. Stop trying to conform Him around your life and yield your life to be conformed to His. Break out the religiousness of your life, your systematic, predictable, and safe way of relating to God and encounter the God who is real, awesome, and un-tame-able.

From Message #594 – The Lion’s Trail
Scripture: Romans 12:2

Today’s Mission – Let God be God in your life today. Don’t bend His Word to fit into your life – but let your life be conformed and changed to His Word and presence.

The Bread you Don’t Have

Monday, May 17, 2021

There’s something strange in the Lord’s Prayer: “Give us this day our daily bread.” The Lord is telling us to pray for bread every day. What’s strange about it is that most likely you already have bread. So if you’re keeping your bread, and you already have it, then how can you pray “Give us this day our daily bread?” Most believers ignore this contradiction. But the contradiction is everything. If you have bread in your house and yet if God tells you to ask Him for bread everyday, what does it mean? It means that every day you have to start out by acknowledging that all the bread you have even though you bought it, you don’t really own it. Everything you have in this life, you don’t own. It’s all God’s. Whether you’re rich or poor, you’re still told to pray that prayer and ask God for your bread each day. Let go of all you own today, and all your burdens with it. And when you wake up tomorrow morning, receive all your blessings afresh and new from God… along with your daily bread.

Schereschewsky’s Gift

Friday, May 14, 2021

Samuel Isaac Joseph Schereschewsky, a Lithuanian Jew, was preparing to be a rabbi at Breslau University. While studying the Old and New Testaments, he became convinced that Yeshua, Jesus, was the Messiah. He set out for China to serve the Lord laboring for twenty years translating the New Testament into Mandarin. Stricken by sunstroke, he became paralyzed except for one finger. With the help of his devoted wife, he translated the entire Bible into classical Chinese typing it with one finger. It took him seven years, and almost superhuman strength; but he translated the entire Bible into classical Chinese. The children of Abraham came into this world to bless the nations. Schereschewsky, after finding his Messiah, did just that. It took lots of work, everything he had, but the Chinese people received the word of God in their language. If you’re born again, you too are a child of Abraham and called to be a blessing. Being a blessing takes work, perseverance and painstaking commitment. But it’s worth it. If a Jewish man from Lithuania could give the Gospel to China, then you too must persevere in your calling, and you too will be a blessing to the world.

From Message #1433 – Lights to the World
Scripture: John 9:4

Today’s Mission – Make it your aim today to be a blessing to everyone you come in contact with.

The Lots of Prophecy

Tuesday, May 4, 2021

When Messiah was dying on the cross, the Roman soldiers cast lots for His clothing. Why was there gambling at this holy scene? Lots and gambling depend on random events, chance. People often wonder if that’s what life is, the casting of the lot with no particular purpose or meaning. And with the Messiah dying, the disciples must have wondered in the same way. In the twenty-second Psalm, David had prophesied of the entire event, the Son of God being pierced and dying before his enemies. Even the casting of the lots was prophesied. In your own life, there are things that happen that don’t make sense, even tragedies. There are times when it looks as if God’s purposes have failed and hope is gone. There are times when you say, ‘Why God?’ But whenever it looks that way, remember the crucifixion and the lots. It looked worse then. It was not out of control, not random, and not by chance. For even the lots fulfilled God’s prophecy. In the end, it’s God’s will, God’s purpose, and God’s word, that prevails. For your life is sealed not by the roll of the dice; but by the blood of Messiah.

From Message #602 – The Purim
Scripture: Luke 23:24

Today’s Mission – Is there something in your life that doesn’t make sense or you’re not at peace with? Today cast it, and any burden upon the Lord.

Learning to Talk Algonquin

Monday, May 3, 2021

John Eliot had just graduated from Cambridge University and had arrived in Boston. The year was 1631. He immediately noticed that the English so-called Christians were treating the Indians in a less than Christian way. They probably viewed the Algonquins as savages. But it disturbed him. ‘With God’s help, I must do something’ he said. And he did. He converted the Algonquin language to writing, taught it to his Indian disciples, and then translated the entire Bible into the Algonquin tongue. John Eliot’s Algonquin Bible was the first Bible ever printed in the New World and the first to be published for a people who had neither alphabet nor written language. And so, how do you treat people? You treat them as John Eliot treated the Algonquins. You give them the Word of God; you love them. But they don’t understand it? Well… learn their language and translate God’s Word and love into the language they can understand. It may be hard, but it’ll be worth it when they get saved. They might be savages. It’s o.k. Translate His love. Translate His word. And that’s how to treat the Algonquins.

From Message #259 – The Master Secret of Evangelism
Scripture: Proverbs 12:25

Today’s Mission – Today, seek to be a translater of God’s Word – take the Word of God – and communicate it to those who are from God – in their language, in a way that can reach them.

Longing for Moses

Wednesday, May 5, 2021

The book of Joshua begins, ‘Moses, My servant, is dead.’ Did you ever wonder why God had to tell Joshua that in the first place? It was through Moses that some of the most glorious events took place: the judgments of Egypt, the Passover, the parting of the Red Sea, and the giving of the Ten Commandments. It would be easy for the children of Israel, even for Joshua to long for the days of Moses. So by telling Joshua that Moses was dead, God was saying this: ‘Don’t long for the days of Moses. I am alive and I am with you.’ So you were once strong or beautiful or you had all the time in the world. And now that’s all gone. Who cares? Not God. That’s all in the past. And the Spirit is saying ‘Moses is dead.’ Stop looking back. Stop looking for the past. God is not there. God is here and now. Now is the day of salvation. Now is the day of His presence. Now is the day of the miracles He has yet to do in your life. Now get moving. You have a Jordan to cross.

From Message #609 – Moses Is Dead
Scripture: Philippians 3:13-14

Today’s Mission – Today seek to not ponder or dwell on anything from the past. But seek instead to look forward to the miracles and blessings that are ahead of you.

He Didn’t Have to Become Hitler

Thursday, May 6, 2021

What made Adolf Hitler — Adolf Hitler? How does a man become a monster? Well, if you looked at Hitler’s childhood you found out that he had a very stern, and at times brutal father. Hitler’s father would regularly thrash him. The boy grew up with a vendetta against his father. And it’s not hard, from that, to go to hating others, even entire peoples. So on one hand, it makes sense – cause and effect. But, on the other hand, there have been many others in history who have likewise been thrashed by their fathers and who didn’t grow up to be monsters. How? They chose not to be defined by the bad, but by the good, not by the abuse of their childhood, but by the grace of their salvation. Don’t be like Hitler. Be like Paul. He chose to define his life, not by his past, not by his circumstance, but by the grace of God. You are not a victim of your past. You are a recipient; if you choose, of the grace of God. You do the same. And you’ll end up like the Apostle Paul, and not like Adolf Hitler.

From Message #630 – The Kingdom of Broken Crosses
Scripture: Hebrews 12:15

Today’s Mission – Seek today not to be defined by your circumstances, but instead to define them by the power of God.

The Amazing Revelation of Scroll 4Q285

Friday, April 30, 2021

Growing up, I was taught that the idea of a Messiah dying for sins was totally not Jewish even to this day. However, the disclosing of an ancient parchment, text 4Q285, one of the Dead Sea Scrolls refuted all that. It says of the Messiah: “They will kill the Prince of the People…” In other words, Messiah will be killed, and everything we were taught was wrong. It is Jewish to believe in a Messiah who is killed. The Dead Sea Scroll continues: “They will kill the Prince of the People with khalal.” Khalal is the same word found in Isaiah 53: “He was pierced through for our transgressions.” The word for wounded or pierced through is khalal. So the scroll which was hidden in the Judean desert for two thousand years and then kept hidden from the public another forty years revealed to have said that Messiah will be killed in the same manner as the Savior of Isaiah 53, through piercings. If you know anybody like that, He’s the Messiah who gave up His life for you. There’s only one thing you can do… follow Him with all your heart.

From Message #291 – The Mystery of the Hidden Scrolls
Scripture: Isaiah 53:5

Today’s Mission – Thank God today for the gift of salvation, the price He paid, for all the blessings in your life, and live today as a gift of thanks back to Him.

God is not Bound by Reality

Thursday, April 29, 2021

People often say, “You have to be a realist. It’s fine to have faith and dreams but ultimately you have to be a realist.” I’ve got news for you…You don’t have to be a realist. In fact, you shouldn’t be a realist. We’re supposed to be like God…God isn’t a realist. God doesn’t just accept things as they are, nor does he limit Himself by the reality of the world. He made the world when there was no world. If He were a realist, He would’ve just looked at the situation and accepted it. He would have said, “Well there’s no light and we just have to accept that.” He never did because God isn’t a realist. He said, “Let there be light!” And there was light. In the same way, if you call yourself a child of God, then you also cannot be a realist, nor be bound by what is real. You’re not called to accept the world; you’re called to change the world. So whenever you’re faced by a situation of darkness, don’t accept it. Say, “Let there be light!” And there will be light. For God is your father, and your Father is no realist!

From Message #440 – The Sunrise Commandment
Scripture: Matthew 5:14Today’s Mission – Don’t be a realist! Don’t be bound by the reality of your circumstances or problems. But, in God, live in faith, by His better and overcoming reality

The Sprouters

Thursday, April 22, 2021

In the book of Zechariah, Messiah is called the ‘Branch.’ When the Rabbis translated this prophecy into Greek, they rendered the word Branch as Anot-Ol-ay, the same word that is translated as Sunrise or Dayspring in the New Testament. How do we get a sunrise out of a branch? The word for branch in Hebrew is Tzemach, which means that which sprouts, to sprout up, grow, bud, to spring forth. A branch springs forth, but so does the dawn. Messiah will come forth springing forth like a shoot, springing forth like the dawn, the sunrise. For Messiah is the Tzemach. If you belong to Messiah, that means it’s your nature, in Messiah, to likewise, rise, blossom, spring forth as the dawn, and increase in light as the sunrise. The sprout doesn’t start out fully grown, and the sunrise doesn’t start out light. Your walk might not be much, but that’s not the end of the story. It’s just the beginning. For you are of the Tzemach. It’s your nature to rise and blossom. So rise, blossom, spring forth, shine like the dawn in the light of Him who is your Redeemer, the Tzemach, the Branch, the Sunrise.

From Message #559 – The Dayspring
Scripture: Isaiah 60:1

Today’s Mission – Seek to grow today, to blossom, to not only shine your light but to increase and shine more greatly than you have before.

The View from His Heart

Wednesday, April 21, 2021

They were bed-ridden and deathly ill in a prison hospital. One of the prisoners would lie in bed going on about the beautiful things he saw outside the window. Some of the other prisoners just closed their eyes and took it in. Others were envious. One day the prisoner died and one envious prisoner moved into the vacant bed. He looked out the window expecting to see a beautiful scene. Instead he saw the brick wall of another wing of the hospital. All that the departed prisoner had seen existed not on the other side of the prison wall, but inside his heart. An important lesson – the scenery that surrounds your life matters little, it’s what’s inside your heart that will determine the life you lead. We spend so much time trying to change the scenery of our life when the scenery is not what determines our life, joy, peace, or what kind of life we live. The Bible contains a prayer that the eyes of our hearts would be open, so that we might see the love, hope, and glory that is outside – on the other side of a prison wall.

From Message #517 – The Lamp of the Soul
Scripture: Ephesians 1:17-18Today’s Mission – Pray that the eyes of your heart will be open today to see all of the beautiful things of God that your natural eyes cannot see and look for them!

The First Fruits of Nations

Tuesday, April 20, 2021

Did you ever wonder why the Spirit came on the day it did, or why they spoke in tongues, or why all those people were baptized? To understand it – you have to understand the law of the Bikoreem – the First Fruits. When you want to dedicate something “holy” – you offer up the very first fruits to the Lord before you harvest your land. The first fruits represent and stand-in for all the other fruits that’ll be reaped in the future. Before the summer harvest, God gave Israel a Feast of First Fruits in which they would consecrate all the things they would reap at the harvest to come. The feast was called – “Shavuot.” In Greek, it’s known as – “Pentecostes” – Pentecost. On that day the people would wave and sanctify the first fruits to the Lord. Every soul that came to salvation that day – every tongue that was uttered – would come to God from every nation. So if you ever wonder whether God really accepts you – or whether you’re really declared “holy” – God has declared it 2,000 years ago, on the day of First Fruits – Shavuot – Pentecost. You are received. Live it by the Spirit of God.

From Message #777 – The Shavuot Mystery
Scripture: Exodus 23:16

Today’s Mission – Make today a day of dedication to the Lord. Offer up to Him the best first fruits – it’s you.

Humphrey Bogart, Nestle’s Quik & the Rebirth of Israel

Friday, April 16, 2021

Years ago, when Israel became a nation, several world events took place: Gandhi was assassinated, Stalin reigned the Soviet Union, Truman was re-elected president of the United States, Bogart starred in Key Largo, and Nestle’s Quik and V-8 juice were marketed. The year of all these events was 1948, when the nation of Israel was resurrected into history fulfilling all the prophecies from Moses to Zechariah. What does Bogart have to do with Biblical prophecy or vice versa? You see, life is filled with all sorts of details that seem to have nothing to do with God. It is often difficult to see the hand of God in your life, or know what He’s doing. You may think that your everyday world of Nestle’s Quik and V-8 juice is Biblical – remember 1948 – God was working it all together for good to fulfill the ancient prophecy, and so it is for your life. As you love and follow God, know with assurance that His hand is on your life, as it is written, “We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.”

From Message #309 – The Gathering
Scripture: Romans 8:28

Today’s Mission – Meditate on Romans 8:28 – and apply it today in every challenge, problem, or concern declare and believe He will work ALL things for good.

The Resurrection of Israel & the Dead Sea Scrolls

Thursday, April 15, 2021

In the late 1940s, Israel stood on the brink of being resurrected from the dead. On November 29, 1947, Eleazer Sukenik, an Israeli archaeologist had discovered the oldest writings of Hebrew in the world – the Dead Sea Scrolls. On the other side of the globe, Sukenik’s son was reporting the vote of each country from the newly-formed United Nations on whether Israel would be reborn or not. Israel was declared a nation after 2000 years of dispersion. At the same time, Sukenik was reading the ancient words of a Dead Sea Scroll prophecy based on Scripture, which lay hidden in the Israeli sands for 2000 years. The words on what was called the Scroll of Thanksgiving said: “I was driven from my home like a bird from its nest. I was cast down, but raised up again…” Isn’t God awesome? At the very moment, He raised His ancient nation from the dead, letting his people know that it was by His hand that the miracle happened. God keeps His promises, and is faithful, even when His people of Israel didn’t follow Him. How much more will He be faithful and keep His promises to you who follow Him?

From Message #1407 – The Resurrection of Zion
Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:24

Today’s Mission – Encourage yourself today with this fact – God has kept His promises to Israel for thousands of years – He will certainly be faithful and keep His promises to you!

The Preparation Day and Shabbat

Wednesday, April 14, 2021

For the observant Jew, Friday is a special day. It’s called the Day of Preparation. It’s the day given to prepare for the Shabbat, the Sabbath. So observant Jews will often rush around to do their shopping, to finish up what they have to in order to prepare for, and enter the Day of Rest. Now when you read the Gospels, you come across an interesting phrase. It’s written that Messiah died on the Day of Preparation. The day He completed what He had to do, and then said, ‘It is finished.’ God gave His people the Shabbat, the Day of Rest and Blessing, so His people might find peace, healing, and communion with God. This teaches us something very important. You need to prepare for blessing. If you want to enter God’s presence, you have to take it seriously and even, yes, labor to enter it. You may even have to tie up loose ends, forgive that person, bless that other person, put away that other thing that has to go from your life. God has in store for you a Day of Blessing. But you need first to take a Day of Preparation.

From Message #487 – Prepare Ye the Way
Scripture: John 19:31

Today’s Mission – Today, make preparations for your ‘Day of Blessing’ by spending some great time in the presence of the Lord.

Waiting for Life

Tuesday, April 13, 2021

Entire rooms are built just for people to wait in. Every doctor subscribes to magazines to keep you busy. You sit in a room full of strangers, sitting in a place you don’t want to be, with people you don’t particularly want to be with, waiting to go a place you don’t particularly want to go. Whoever came up with the doctrine of Purgatory had to have spent a lot of his life waiting in a doctor’s office. Many believers spend their lives the same way. Heaven is the office, and earth is the waiting room. They’re just waiting for it to be over – in a place they don’t want to be, with people they don’t want to be with, waiting for a place they hope will be better. They spend their days on earth just trying to get through. This life isn’t a waiting room. God promised us life abundantly now. We look forward to heaven, but the heavenly life starts now or not at all. Stop waiting for life and start living it, fully, victoriously, and heavenly. This life is the beginning of eternal life and not a cosmic waiting room.

From Message #587 – Waiting for Heaven
Scripture: Romans 5:17

Today’s Mission – Stop waiting to live – And start living. Live as if your heavenly life actually begins now.

The Greatest Battle David Ever Fought

Friday, April 9, 2021

David was a warrior…a great one, for the Lord. During his life, he fought many battles. His greatest battle happened after having fallen into sin with Bathsheba. Here his battle began… the battle to acknowledge his sin, to confess it, to repent of it, and then… to accept the grace of God. It was the battle to accept God’s love when everything pointed against it, to believe that God was still faithful to Him even though there was no reason for God to be so. And so with you my friend. Your greatest battle will have nothing to do with habits or career or people. It will have to do with you and God, and staying close to His heart. It will be about His grace and love… how much you truly accepted and how much you never did. David won the battle, and at the end it was written that he was a man ‘after God’s own heart.’ You be the same. Fight your good fight of faith, believe in God’s grace, and take hold of His love, no matter what, and you too will be as triumphant as King David.

From Message #694 – The Beloved
Scripture: Acts 13:22

Today’s Mission – Fight the good fight of faith today. Choose faith when other disheartening thoughts are trying to creep in. The Lord is very near to bless and keep you through to your victory.

The Model of Life

Thursday, April 8, 2021

A man was once doing carpentry work using a square measure to make sure the board was straight. “Why are you so careful, Daddy?” asked his little boy. “We can’t guess in carpentry work.” “You have to be just right.” “I guess there are no squares of living by,” the boy replied. “Yes, there are” said the man, “you’ll find them in the Bible. Test all that you do by them, and you’ll go straight in life, my boy.” You want to build something out of wood, you need a straight measure. That’s true for carpentry, and also true for life. And you can’t build a life without a straight edge, a ruler, a measure to keep you straight. The measure of straightness is the Word of God. Measure all you do by it. Plan all you do with it. Test all you’ve done and everything else in your life according to it. Start with the Word and take it straight for what it is. Then get your life straight. How? By lining up your life with the Word of God. Do this and your life will be blessed and straight. And that’s the truth… pure and straight.

From Message #548 – The Huppogrammus
Scripture: Psalm 119:160

Today’s Mission – Find a verse today with which your life does not line up. Don’t ignore it or bend it to fit your life – Bend your life today to line up with the Word of God.

The Fall of Marshall Petain

Wednesday, April 7, 2021

At the beginning of World War II, the French defensive lines collapsed. Marshall Petain became prime minister and surrendered France to the Nazis. The Vichy government, under Marshall Petain, was convinced that Germany had won the war, and so saw its mission as that of adapting France toward submission to Hitler. The Nazis began increasingly draining France of her natural resources and her people. French collaborators, in submission to Hitler, began rounding up Jews to be sent to the concentration camps. By November of 1942, the Vichy government was nothing but a shadowy puppet regime of the Nazis. But, in the end, the collaborators were put to shame. The judgment of their nation and of history fell against them. Petain, a great war hero of World War 1, was put in prison where he died. The lesson? There’s no compromise or collaborating with the enemy. No matter what it looks like or how hopeless it seems, don’t give in, and don’t collaborate. Join the Resistance of God. Resist the sin, the temptation, resist the devil… and he will flee. Fight the good fight, my friend, and you’ll win in the end. Vive le Resistance!

From Message #665 – The Resistance
Scripture: James 4:7

Today’s Mission – Is there any area of life – a sin, an indulgence, and attitude, where you’re cooperating with the enemy? Cut the ties. End your collaboration and join the Resistance!

The Good Book From Bad Men?

Tuesday, April 6, 2021

Skeptics claim that the Bible is not from God, but from men. So the question then is, what kind of men? Bad men wouldn’t want to write the words of the Bible. For the words of the Bible condemn sin and judgment on those who live in evil. Bad men could not come up with Psalm 23, John 3:16 or the Beatitudes. Even if they could, they would certainly take credit for it. To come up with it and not take credit is evidence of great virtue and extreme humility. The words of the Bible turn bad men into good men. The problem is, good people wouldn’t do very bad things. And so, to say that the Bible was the Word of God, when it was really their own words and stories they just made up, would be a very bad thing–a hoax and fraud. The fact is, whichever way you go… you’re led back to one thing. The Bible is the Word of God. So read it, study it, receive it, treasure it… and live it. It’s the Word of God and it will transform your life for blessing, whether you be good… or bad.

From Message #834 – The Jerusalem Evidence
Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16

Today’s Mission – Give thanks and rejoice for the Word of God. Take a word today, ponder it, take it specifcially to your life, and go with it.

Kadosh in Every Realm

Monday, April 5, 2021

Two words today… Kohayn and Kadosh. Kohayn means ‘priest.’ Kadosh means ‘holy.’ In 1 Peter 2 it says that if you’re born again, you belong to a royal priesthood. But what does that mean? Well, if you look at the high priest of Israel, you see he wore a crown on his head. Engraved on the crown was the word “Kadosh” or “Kodesh.” “Kadosh L’Adonai,” “Kadosh to the Lord.” Kadosh means “Holy,” “Separated,” and “Consecrated to God.” If you are God’s priest, your life must be separated from the world to Him. A Kohayn, a priest, must be holy with regard to his or her home life, finances, temper, relationships and sexuality… Holy in treating one’s parents, wife, husband, and children…holy in what one does in one’s private life, in one’s entertainment and pleasures. If you are Kohayn, a priest of the living God, then, above all, your life must be characterized by ‘kadosh,’ the quality of holiness and separateness to God. Put away that unholy thing and be kadosh as your Father in heaven is kadosh. For that is the crown of your priesthood.

From Message #658 – The Call of The Kohanim
Scripture: Leviticus 11:44

Today’s Mission – Assume your royal priesthood today as you walk in holiness and separateness, consecrated to God in all that you do.

The Anan Ha Ketoret

Friday, April 2, 2021

ANAN HA KETORET was the Cloud of Incense. In ancient times, the glory of God would appear in the Holy of Holies inside the Temple of Jerusalem. The High Priest of Israel was allowed to enter in the Holy of Holies once a year. He had to do it with incense. The glory of God was too much to behold, so he had to cloud it up with incense. The Anan Ha Ketoret, the Cloud of Incense, was part of the Old Covenant. The New Covenant has no Cloud of Incense, just the glory. Yet we as New Covenant believers, tend to make our own cloud of incense because we’re afraid of the glory. We cloud up the word with a cloud of compromise. We blur the lines of what God said. The problem with the cloud is that as long as you live in it, you’ll never see the glory of God or know the glorious life He has for you. You want to live a life that’s glorious? Then stop clouding up the issue. Be done with compromise. Take God at His word. You’ll live a glorious life… with no clouds in sight.

From Message #614 – The Incense and The Glory
Scripture: 2 Sam. 22:31

Today’s Mission – What is it that’s “clouding” your love, your devotion, your victory in God. Seek to clear up the doubt, break up the cloud, and move forward.

THE SHADOW BAN

Thursday, April 1, 2021

Shalom, to you my Friend and Co-Minister in the Great Commission…

For years, I have warned of coming persecution. The principle goes back thousands of years and is revealed in Isaiah 5:10: “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil.” A culture, a civilization, or a nation that deems evil to be good, will deem good to be evil. And so America’s fall from God began with the toleration of evil, calling evil good. But that was only the first stage. In the second stage, the viewing of good as evil becomes more prominent. We are now there. We are now witnessing an increasing progression towards censorship, silencing, and attempted abolition of anything and anyone that stands in the way of the new morality – namely traditional values, biblical values, Christians, ministries, the word of God.

At the time of Biden’s inauguration, I was led to record a message. It would be labelled: “Jonathan Cahn: Prophetic Message to Joe Biden.” It was posted on a Monday morning. By Monday after noon, there were half a million views. We had never seen a video gain so many views so fast. By Tuesday afternoon, it had doubled, breaking a million views.

It was then that we noticed something strange. When one googled to find the video, no result would come up. It was as if the video had vanished. More than that, it was as if it had never existed in the first place. There were others, in that time, who had reposted the video, so their videos came up, but most of these were small and escaped the notice of those who ‘run’ the web. The main video with over a million views was gone. It was still posted on our youtube account, but no one could now find it. It was apparent that Google was seeking to suppress it. The message wasn’t political but spiritual and moral – biblical – and yet it was deemed too dangerous.

The technique is called Shadow Banning. It’s when the powers that be seek to ban a message, site, or posting, but do it in such a way that one may be completely unaware that it is being done. In many ways, it’s even more dangerous than an outright ban. By this technique, believers may find themselves banned from promotions, jobs, services, speech, etc. and have no idea that forces are manipulating systems in what amounts to covert persecution. It’s a sign of what may become more and more common in the days to come.

We are entering new territory. And we must be prepared, stronger in the Lord, more grounded in His word, more filled with His presence. And we must remember that, two thousand years ago, He told us this would happen – and not to fear – He would be with us always – and, in the end, it will be revealed that, all along, we were on the winning side. Make it your aim this month to grow stronger in the power of His might.

And may God greatly bless you as you do!

60,000 in One Accord!

Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Ants dwell in colonies of about 60,000 to 90,000 ants. Ants can’t prosper on their own – they need each other. How does a colony of 60,000 ants work together? When there’s unity. The ants share the same goal – that’s how it works. What then do we learn from ants? Just as ants can’t prosper on their own and they share the same goal, so should we, as God’s people. Yet we have a lot of differences. We don’t have to agree on when the tribulation or rapture will take place. Yet we do have to be intent on the same purpose – to glorify God, spread His word, to love God, and love each other. Make love your aim. There’s no other aim – no job, ministry, house, nothing. All those are secondary, and all those divide. When we make love our aim, then there’s peace and unity – in family, marriage, congregation, and the world. Put away your other aims and goals. Make love your aim and God will bless your colony. For God’s people should be at least as wise… as ants.

From Message #607 – Heavenly Ant Lessons
Scripture: John 13:35

Today’s Mission – Be more loving today, more peaceful – whatever is needed, aim to do it.

Becoming A Keeper

Tuesday, March 30, 2021

In Hebrew, policemen are called ‘shomreem.’ In ancient times the guards were also called the ‘shomreem.’ Shomreem comes from the word ‘shomair,’ which means to ‘keep.’ It’s a real important word in the Bible. The Lord is called ‘Shomair Yisrael,’ the Keeper of Israel. Yet the word isn’t just for the Lord. It says in God’s word… ‘You will be blessed if you shomair. It’s important to keep. Keep the covenant. the command, keep My way, keep My word, keep My Torah… keep. It’s all a matter of keeping. It’s written, we have this treasure in earthen vessels. It’s not enough to have a treasure. A treasure must be watched, treasured. A treasure must be kept. It’s written that Miryam, Mary, kept all these things in her heart. If you want to live a life that is precious you must do the same. Become one of God’s shomreem. Become a keeper. Keep His word in your mind, His love in your heart, His wonders in your testimony, His presence in your Spirit. Learn to be a keeper. For what God has given you… is for keeps.

From Message #600 – A Heart of Miracles
Scripture: Leviticus 25:18Today’s Mission – Memorize Jude 1:24 – and well on it today.

Lean Your Whole Weight

Monday, March 29, 2021

John Paton was a pioneer missionary to the New Hebrides in the Pacific Ocean. He sought to translate the New Testament into the language of the South Sea islanders. But he came up against a problem. He couldn’t find anything in the South Sea vocabulary that would embody the word ‘believe.’ Finally he came up with answer. It came from the Book of Acts. It was the answer that Paul and Silas gave to the Philippian jailer when he asked, “What must I do to be saved?'” The answer was, “Lean your whole weight upon the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved.” This world is a heavy place. It’s filled with gravity. So the Lord said, ‘Come to me all you who are tired and weighed down. And I’ll give you rest.’ What does it mean to believe? It means to choose to lean your whole weight on Him. It means to take the weight of your life, the weight of your situation, the weight of your plans, the weight of your sins, your desires, your troubles, worries and anxieties, and lean it on Him. His shoulders are big. And we all need somebody to lean on.

From Message #524 – Trust in The Lord
Scripture: Matthew 11:28Today’s Mission – Whatever weight might be upon your shoulders today, bring it to God. Don’t hesitate. HE can handle it.

The Joy of Willing

Friday, March 26, 2021

Believers have a strange idea that if you will something, then it can’t be the Spirit. And yet God’s word is filled with the opposite. You can’t read the Bible without reading the word ‘Choose!’ You can’t get saved without the word ‘choose.’ It says ‘Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.’ That takes your will. And that’s the Spirit. Some believers think that following God means just going along with the flow. Yes and no. There are different flows – the flow of the Spirit and the flow of the world. In order to serve God you have to choose the flow of the Spirit and you have to choose against the flow of the world. And that requires choice, determination, and decision. So many believers spend their whole lives trying to find the will of God. You want the will of God in your life? Stop asking everyone about it. Choose it. Obey it. Agree on it. Decide it. Will it. And the will of God will be done in your life, on earth, as it is in heaven.

From Message #572 – The Root of The Righteous
Scripture: Joshua 24:14-15

Today’s Mission – After reading your Bible today, choose one verse to obey and do what you know the will of the Lord is.

You Like an Airplane

Thursday, March 25, 2021

Believers and airplanes… what do they have in common? Airplanes are unique among all transportation. You can stop a horse, you can stop a car, and all of them will simply stop and stay there. But if you try to stop a plane in mid-air, the plane will descend and crash. Further a horse can back up, a car can back up, but a plane can’t. So for a plane, there’s no backing up, and there’s no standing still. So it is for a believer. Other people can back up, but you can’t. Your walk in God has no provision for backing up. That’s why, when you start going backwards you’re so miserable. Maybe your walk isn’t going anywhere and hasn’t been going anywhere for a while. Don’t let it crash. Turn on your spiritual engines and start moving forward. For Paul wrote, ‘But this I do, forgetting what lies behind, and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Messiah Yeshiva, Jesus. You, my friend, are like an airplane. Press on, press on, press on, and you’ll find yourself flying in the heavenliest.

From Message #910 – The Upward Call
Scripture: Philippians 3:13-15

Today’s Mission – Think of a way to move a step forward in the Lord today – and go forward (especially in an area where you may have been slipping backward)

The Season of Blossoms

Wednesday, March 24, 2021

In Exodus 12, the Lord tells Israel that the present month was now to become the first of Months for them, the beginning of their year. The month was called Nisan. It literally means, “The Beginning”. But it wasn’t just “The Beginning.” It was the New Beginning that ended the old year and begins the new. It was Nisan also that ended the winter and began the spring. And so it was Nisan that Messiah chose as the month and season in which He would die for the sins of the world and rise from death for its redemption. The Hebrew word for winter is Sethav. It means the season of darkness and hiding. Nisan brought that to an end. What is the Resurrection? It’s your Nisan, the Nisan appointed to end your winter, your season of hiding, your season of darkness. It’s your new beginning, your season of springtime. And what’s God saying to you in all this? He’s saying: “Arise my love and come away, for behold the winter is past… the rains are over and gone…. the flowers have appeared in our land … and the time for singing has come.”

From Message #363 – Arise My Love
Scripture: S. Songs 2:10-12

Today’s Mission – Today ask the Lord to bring you to a new Nissan in you walk with Him – new experiences and growth in His presence.

Anatolay

Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Tzemach is a most important word because it’s given in the Hebrew Scriptures as the name of Messiah. In Zechariah 6:12 it says, “Behold the man whose name is Tzemach, for He will branch out from where He is and He will build the temple of the Lord.” The word Tzemach means the shoot branch, to spring forth again. Messiah rose up from the depths of the earth from the dead to life, the Shooting Forth – the Tzemach. When this prophecy was translated by the rabbis into Greek, they chose a Greek word to represent Tzemach. The word was Anatolay. It means the rising of the light, the sunrise. In fact it’s used in the New Testament and is translated as the Day Spring, The Morningstar, The Rising Sun. Are you in the depths? It’s okay. The power of the Tzemach is to rise up from the depths. So live in the Tzemach, for He has risen, He has blossomed, He has dawned, He has broken the new day. And you too will rise and shine, for your light has come. And the glory of the Lord has risen upon you in the Tzemach – your rising.

From Message #1151 – The Tzemach
Scripture: Revelation 22:16

Today’s Mission – What area of your life needs the power of the Tzemach, the springing forth? Lift it up to the Lrod and rise in His power.

The Sabbath Bringer

Monday, March 22, 2021

Messiah died on Friday just before sunset. Why? Because Friday night was the beginning of the Shabbat, the Sabbath, the Day of Rest. And what was Messiah doing on the cross? He was working. But when the Sabbath came, all work had to cease. So even in His death, Messiah honored the Word of God. He rested in the tomb. So He had to die when He did, because the Shabbat was coming. He had to finish His work. It’s not so much that He died because the Shabbat was coming – but rather it was that the Shabbat came because He died. Messiah’s peace is more powerful than time and space and never dependent on circumstance. Stop waiting for the Sabbath. Stop waiting for the circumstance to change. It doesn’t matter what day it is, it doesn’t matter how many problems you have, or what condition your life is in enter Messiah’s peace now, and the Shabbat will come. Come sun or storm, hell or high water, it doesn’t matter. Bring it to Calvary and dwell in Messiah’s rest, and He will cause the Sabbath to come. For the Son of Man is Lord of Shabbat.

From Message #456 – Messiah’s Sabbath
Scripture: Matthew 11:28

Today’s Mission – Enter His peace today, living as if the circumstances surrounding you have already changed – it doesn’t matter what you see or feel, remind yourself you have the victory through His finished work.

The Cosmic Lamb Bone

Friday, March 19, 2021

We continue the Passover Mysteries with the mystery of the Zeroah. On virtually every Passover Seder Plate there is something called the Zeroah. Yet it just sits there on the plate and is never touched and rarely mentioned. What is it? The Zeroah is the roasted shank bone of a Lamb. The Zeroah is the full and awesome power of God. And in Isaiah 53, the mystery is revealed. For it is written, “To whom has the Zeroah of the Lord been revealed?” Your translation will read arm, but the Hebrew is Zeroah, the same word as the Lamb’s bone. The Zeroah is Messiah, who is wounded for our sins, scourged and crushed for our punishment, and who goes to His death as a lamb. And by the Zeroah, we are saved. This is the true full power of the Almighty, the loving, gentle, merciful, giving, and beautiful One who bore all things to save us. This is the Zeroah, the arm that saved your life. Trust in it, rest in it, reach for it, rejoice in it, and live by it, and nothing will be impossible for you.

From Message #220 – The Mystery of The Zeroah
Scripture: John 10:14-18

Today’s Mission – Today take some time to thank the Lord for all of the many blessings He has given you. Commit this day to rejoice in the Zeroah of your life.

The First Holiday Ever Given to The Jewish People

Thursday, March 18, 2021

What was the first Jewish holy day? Chanukah? Yom Kippur? Passover? The Sabbath? No… The first Jewish holy day was Palm Sunday, the most ancient, Jewish holy day given through Moses. In Exodus 12:3 – “Tell the whole congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of the month, the month of Nisan, each one is to take a lamb.” Four days later came the eve of Passover. Now if we count back four days from the Passover when Messiah was taken to His death, it comes to the day when he entered the city of Jerusalem – what we know as Palm Sunday. Messiah began the work of redemption on the first and most ancient Hebrew holy day. So when the Jewish people fulfill this ordinance – and receive the Lamb of God, the purposes of God will be fulfilled. The greatest thing we have ever done in our lives is to receive the Lamb. But it’s not just a one-time thing. Receive Him even more, even deeper, into your heart, into your mind – into every part of your life. For the more you receive the Lamb, the more the purposes of God will be fulfilled in your life.

From Message #299 – The Palm Sunday Connection
Scripture: Zechariah 9:9

Today’s Mission – Think about that sin or problem you need to deal with today. Pray and ask God to help you to destroy it before it destroys your life.

The Lamb and the Closets of Your Life

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

There was a day ordained in the Hebrew Scriptures, in Exodus 12, on which every Hebrew family was commanded to take a lamb home. Now it was on this very same day, when Jewish people were taking the Passover lambs to their houses, that Messiah was received into Jerusalem with Palm Branches and Hosanna – Palm Sunday. Further, the Exodus 12 command “Take the Lamb” can also be translated as “Receive the Lamb,” “Accept the Lamb.” This is amazing stuff. Redemption comes when you receive the Lamb, when you bring Him home, when you bring Jesus to the place you really live. We keep Him at church, in worship, and in fellowship. We never really bring Him to our marriage, to our relationships with our children and parents, the place we really live our lives. Do you really want the joy and blessings of salvation? Then bring the Lamb home – let His salvation have its way in the place you really live – in ALL the rooms/closets of your life. Open up those long locked doors and welcome Him in – for that is what Palm Sunday is really all about.

From Message #897 – The Lamb Home
Scripture: Matthew 21:1-11

Today’s Mission – Today focus on bringing Messiah into every part of your life – especially those areas you haven’t let Him touch before.

N.A.S.A. and Job 26:7

Tuesday, March 16, 2021

In ancient times, the wise men of the nations had it all figured out how the world stayed where it was. Some believed it was held up on the back of a giant named Atlas. Others believed it was supported on the shell of a giant tortoise. But in the ancient world, there was one book that said otherwise… the Hebrew Bible. In the Book of Job, chapter 26, verse 7, says, “He stretches out the north over empty space, and hangs the earth on nothing.” Well, it’s taken thousands of years and a twentieth-century space program to catch up with the Bible. It just proves the Bible is the Word of God. To the ancient mind, the idea that the earth was hung on nothing was incomprehensible. In the same way, there are many things we don’t yet understand about God or His ways. Our wisdom is like trusting in giant tortoises. And what seems like nothing and foolishness, turns out to be wisdom in the end. Trust in the Lord, you’ll walk with faith and have the wisdom that takes a millennia to understand.

From Message #1442 – The Kadima Redemption Mystery
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:19Today’s Mission – Ask God for HIS wisdom today and do not depend on the wisdom of the world – which is foolishness.

The No-Funeral People

Monday, March 15, 2021

Messiah told a parable about a rich man and a beggar named Lazarus. The Lord tells us that the rich man died and was buried; but of Lazarus, he says only that he died. There’s no mention of burial because Lazarus was poor so his funeral would be nothing to note. You see, the rich man had a lot in the world, but that’s all he had. So when he died, it was a big event and a tragedy, for he was losing everything. But Lazarus had little in the world and when he died, it was no big loss. His treasures were in heaven. For Lazarus, death was no big tragedy, but a passing into something much, much better. He was taken right away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. So why have a big funeral? You see, if you live a life that is not bound to earth but bound only by the Spirit; then death will cast no shadow over your life. So live free and store up your treasures in heaven.

From Message #628 – How to Ruin a Funeral
Scripture: Matthew 6:19-20

Today’s Mission – Think about what treasures of this world have too much of your attention. What things of God your attention can be focused on instead? Decide to let go of one of them and start to live free.

The Prince, The Nightingale, and The Bullfrog

Friday, March 12, 2021

Once upon a time there lived a frog, a nightingale, and a prince. The nightingale used to sing the most beautiful songs with the most beautiful of voices. The frog just croaked. Whenever the nightingale started to sing, the frog would start to croak. This was very disconcerting for the nightingale. Whenever the frog started croaking, the nightingale would stop singing. It was driving the nightingale crazy. One night, the prince was walking by the nightingales’ tree. He stopped, hoping to hear it sing. There was no singing. He could only hear the croaking of the frog. “Aren’t you going to sing?” asked the prince, “I know you have a beautiful voice.” “Sing!” replied the nightingale. “How can I sing when all day long I have to listen to that stupid bullfrog and those horrible noises he makes. Don’t you hear it?” “Yes,” said the prince, “I do hear it. But I wouldn’t hear it if you’d stop complaining and start singing.” Let the one who has ears hear… You don’t have to be dealing with that bullfrog. You could be singing. Start singing to the glory of God and the croaking will disappear.

From Message #522 – Drowning out Haman
Scripture: Psalm 100

Today’s Mission – Praise God for His blessings in spite of and over all the little annoyances of the day.

You’re Traveling 18.5 Miles Every Second!

Thursday, March 11, 2021

It may seem quiet where you are. It may seem that nothing’s really happening, but it’s not really the case. Every second you’re travelling 18.5 miles. That’s the speed of the earth. Every tick of the clock, you’re 18.5 miles away from where you were before the last tick. If that’s not enough, when you count to ten, you end up 200 miles away from the place you were when you started counting. Can you imagine how long you’ve traveled just reading this message? Even though it may not look like it, everything is moving. Every soul is moving, either toward God or away from God. It’s not just true for the earth. It’s true for you. Your life is heading somewhere. It’s meant to head to glory. God wants to bring your life to a good place. You should decide that since you’re going places anyway, it can’t ever be away from God, but to Him. Move closer. You can’t stay where you are. Move ahead in love, faith and in God – because God definitely wants you and your life… to be going places.

From Message # 668 – The Tents of Abraham
Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11

Today’s Mission – Take a look at your life. What direction is it moving in? Seek today to move in only one direction, closer to the Lord.

Why Have I Found Favor?

Wednesday, March 10, 2021

In the second chapter of Ruth, Boaz blesses the Gentile stranger who gleans in his fields. Ruth could’ve just said, ‘Thanks.’ However she says, ‘Why have I found favor?’ Boaz gives an answer, but really there’s no answer except that God ordained it that way. In the same way, you’ve found yourself in the fields of the Redeemer. How did you end up so blessed? How did you end up saved? Was it because you were a good person? There’s no good answer why you have found favor. Grace is not supposed to be explained. You don’t explain grace. You receive it. If you explain it, you can’t receive it. If you receive it, you can’t explain it. Most believers can explain salvation. They think they did the right things, said the right prayer, and lived a pretty decent life in God. However, when you can explain why you’ve found favor, it’s not favor anymore. There’s no reason why you should be saved, except God loves you. That’s why it’s called ‘grace.’ Never stop saying, ‘Why am I so blessed?’ Because when you can say why, you don’t know why. But when you don’t know why… that’s why.

From Message #508 – The Dance of the Heavenly Circles
Scripture: Ruth 2:7-16

Today’s Mission – Thank God today for His love, blessing, grace and favor upon you.

The Atheist Test

Tuesday, March 9, 2021

Charles Bradlaugh was a famous atheist in England. Hugh Price Hughes was a minister who served in the slums of London. Bradlaugh challenged Hughes to a debate on the validity of Christianity. Hughes challenge was that each bring concrete evidences of our beliefs in the form of men and women who have been redeemed from sin and shame by the influence of our teaching. ‘I will bring 100 such men and women, and I challenge you to do the same. If you cannot bring 100, bring 50 men and women. If you cannot bring 50, then bring 20 people who will say, as my 100 will, that they have a great joy in a life of self-respect as a result of your atheistic teachings. If you cannot bring 20, bring 10. No, I challenge you to bring just one man or woman who will make such a testimony regarding the uplifting of your atheistic teachings.’ With great embarrassment, Bradlaugh withdrew his challenge. You don’t have to get into a long involved argument – the testimony of God is your life. You don’t have to argue Messiah. Show them Messiah. Show them a changed life and they’ll see.

From Message #378 – God on the Blue Planet
Scripture: Acts 20:24

Today’s Mission – Today, let people see Messiah in you by the way you behave.

This World, Your Bridal Chamber

Monday, March 8, 2021

Every bride seeks to appear beautiful in the eyes of her groom. But it’s often an involved process, an expensive and a long process. In the ancient Hebrew marriage, the bride and groom would stay separated for a year. The groom would prepare a place for the bride. And the bride would prepare herself for the groom. Her mission was to get ready and make herself beautiful. Now anyone who has witnessed a woman making herself beautiful knows things often get worse before they get better. A woman covered with facial cream is not very beautiful. Sometimes, looking uglier is a necessary part of becoming more beautiful. If you’re born again, you’re the bride, and now is the time of your preparation. That’s why you and Messiah are separated, because this is the time given you to prepare for marriage, to become beautiful in His eyes. If you’re looking at yourself, your heart, your attitude, your spirituality… it can be pretty ugly… but don’t be discouraged. For it’s in seeing her lack of beauty that the bride becomes beautiful in the Lord. This is the time of your preparation. You have to become beautiful.

From Message #405 – The Sound of The Bridegroom
Scripture: John 3:29

Today’s Mission – Today, in every situation, look to see it as Heaven’s bridal chamber. Seek to see in everything, the good and the bad, the purposes of God to make you grow into His image.

The Will of God in the Heart of God

Friday, March 5, 2021

Most believers spend a good deal of time seeking to find out the will of God. Who should I marry? What job should I take? What house should I buy? And there’s something to all this… But on a deeper level, it misses the point. The will of God is much deeper than whom you should marry, what job you should take, what home you should live in. What most believers miss, and never get to, is that the will of God is the will of God. It’s a matter of the heart. You can’t have a will without a heart. To know the will of God is to desire the things that God desires, to be passionate about those things about which God is passionate, and to be broken by those things which break the heart of God. You can’t know the will of God unless you know the heart of God. To know the heart of God is to have the heart of God. If you want the will of God in your life; read the Bible. Find out what He wants and make that your desire. And the will of God will follow.

From Message #189 – Knowing God’s Will
Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Today’s Mission – Today, seek to find what the heart and will of God is in every situation, and make it your heart and your will.

The Darkness You Need for Light

Thursday, March 4, 2021

Y’hee Or!’ It’s Hebrew for ‘Let there be light!’ It’s what God said in the beginning. This is His very first act of creation and the foundation of all His other works. It was in the darkness of a Judean tomb circa the year 30 A.D. that God said again, ‘Y’hee Or! Let there be light!’ And there was light, in the resurrection. So it’s not just that God brings light, but that God brings light specifically out of darkness. Most believers curse, fear or shun the darkness; or, at best, avoid the darkness. That may be you. Chances are, there is some darkness in your life, in your circumstance, or on the horizon that you fear or look upon as a negative thing. But according to the Scripture, darkness is not something to be cursed, feared, shunned, or avoided. God doesn’t fear the dark; He brings miracles out of it. And you need to be the same. It’s only in the dark that you might have the awesome privilege of performing a miracle by the power of God. Let’s hear it: “Y’hee Or! Let there be light!” And there will be light.

From Message #1548 – The Mystery of The Eighth Day
Scripture: Genesis 1:3

Today’s Mission – Confront an area of darkness in your life. Open it up to the Lord and let the light of His word, the light of truth, and the light of His love break in.

The Buildings of the Builders

Wednesday, March 3, 2021

Much of the modern world was built by the Jewish people. Modern capitalism had its roots in the Middle Ages among Jewish merchants and moneylenders. Also modern communism was built by a Jewish man, Karl Marx. Why is that? The answer is found in Psalm 118; the Jewish people are called, “the builders.” They were called by God to be His builders, to build His kingdom on earth. It also says, ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.’ In other words, though the Jewish people are God’s builders, they would reject the cornerstone of their Temple. The Cornerstone is Messiah. Without that cornerstone, whatever house is built, will be empty. That’s why communism had to fail, and capitalism without God, is empty. It’s not just true for the Jewish people but for you too – for you are called to be a builder. You’re building your life. What are you building right now – your looks, reputation, abilities or comfort? If you build your life on these things other than Messiah, then your life will be empty. Come back to the foundation and ground everything you do upon the rock that the builders rejected: Messiah, the Cornerstone.

From Message #175 – The Cornerstone
Scripture: Psalm 118

Today’s Mission – Seek today, to be a builder for God. Aim to build up in everything you do.

Koon and The Secret of Stability

Tuesday, March 2, 2021

Have you heard of the “Koon People?” In Proverbs 12:3, it’s written: “A man will not be established by wickedness but the root of the righteous will not be moved.” The word there for established is the Hebrew word, “Koon”. It also means stable. It’s saying, “A man will not be established by wickedness…” Sin in your life will not establish you and will not make you stable. Righteousness in your life is stability. Righteousness will make you a “Koon Person,” who’s rooted and not moved. Unfortunately, “stability” is a foreign word to many believers. For many believers, life with God is not a “walk”, but a ride on a roller coaster. You’re up, down, in the clouds, in the pits, God loves you, He loves you not. God calls you for better than that. If you are truthful and see a lack of stability in your life, chances are you’re doing things your way and not God’s way. You’ve got some sins to put away and some righteousness to take up. God wants you stable. Turn away from the ups and downs of sin and turn to the root of the righteous – one of the “Koon People.”

From Message #572 – The Root Of The Righteous
Scripture: Proverbs 4:26

Today’s Mission – Spend time today rooting your soul, grounding your emotions, centering your feelings, in the love and peace of God.

The Agag Principle

Friday, February 26, 2021

King Saul was told to destroy the house of his enemy, King Agag. But Saul would not. He spared the king and his sons. And he did so long enough for one of Agag’s sons, apparently, to get away. Years later, a man rose up, named Haman, who sought to destroy the Jewish people. The Bible records that Haman was an Agagite. In other words, he was a descendant of King Agag. So from the same house that King Saul was told to destroy, came a man who would one day and almost destroy every Jewish man, woman, and child in Persia. So God raised up Mordecai from the same tribe as Saul, the tribe of Benjamin, along with Esther, to defeat the son of Agag. What does this reveal? Don’t neglect dealing with sin, or evil, or any gap in your life, even if it doesn’t seem that big. Because if you don’t deal with it, in the end it will become big, and empowered, to harm or destroy your life. Deal with sin as soon as it starts, deal with the problem at the beginning, and you won’t end up dealing with Haman.

From Message #1167 – Hanging Haman
Scripture: Luke 4:8

Today’s Mission – Think about that sin or problem you need to deal with today. Pray and ask God to help you to destroy it before it destroys your life.

The Agag Principle

Friday, February 26, 2021

King Saul was told to destroy the house of his enemy, King Agag. But Saul would not. He spared the king and his sons. And he did so long enough for one of Agag’s sons, apparently, to get away. Years later, a man rose up, named Haman, who sought to destroy the Jewish people. The Bible records that Haman was an Agagite. In other words, he was a descendant of King Agag. So from the same house that King Saul was told to destroy, came a man who would one day and almost destroy every Jewish man, woman, and child in Persia. So God raised up Mordecai from the same tribe as Saul, the tribe of Benjamin, along with Esther, to defeat the son of Agag. What does this reveal? Don’t neglect dealing with sin, or evil, or any gap in your life, even if it doesn’t seem that big. Because if you don’t deal with it, in the end it will become big, and empowered, to harm or destroy your life. Deal with sin as soon as it starts, deal with the problem at the beginning, and you won’t end up dealing with Haman.

From Message #1167 – Hanging Haman
Scripture: Luke 4:8

Today’s Mission – Think about that sin or problem you need to deal with today. Pray and ask God to help you to destroy it before it destroys your life.

Isaac Newton and Haman

Thursday, February 25, 2021

Haman and Isaac Newton discovered the same thing. Isaac Newton discovered that for every action there’s an equal and opposite reaction. Haman discovered the same thing in the Gallows Principle. Haman was a vain, spiteful, judgmental man. He was furious because Mordecai, a righteous man, refused to bow down to him. He plotted to kill Mordecai by hanging him and built a gallows. In the end Mordecai was lifted up. Haman was hung on the very gallows he built for the man he saw as his enemy. The Gallows Principle is as sure as Newton’s law of motion. The gallows you build for others, will end up hanging you. Messiah said, “In the same way you judge, you will be judged.” This affects eternity and every area of your life. When you judge someone, hold a grudge, or you’re bitter about something – there’s a gallow in your heart. When you curse someone in your heart, there’s a curse darkening your life. It affects your emotions, health, relationships, family, and the course of your life. Gallows are for hanging. You can’t be blessed until you destroy your gallows. Then the darkness will lift and the dawn will break.

From Message #292 – The Gallows Principle
Scripture: Esther 7

Today’s Mission – Seek to apply this principle, and to sow only what is good and right, godly thoughts, and godly actions.

Making a New Reality

Wednesday, February 24, 2021

People say, “It’s fine to have faith and dreams, but ultimately, you have to be a realist.” Well, you don’t have to be a realist. In fact, you shouldn’t be a realist. We’re supposed to be like God, and God isn’t a realist. God doesn’t just accept things as they are. God doesn’t limit Himself by the reality of the world. He made the world. If He were a realist, He would’ve just looked at the situation and said, “Well there’s no light and we just have to accept that fact.” Instead He said, “Let there be light!” And there was light. God never just accepts things as they are. He doesn’t care how things are. In the same way, if you call yourself a child of God, then you also can’t be a realist. You can’t be bound by what is real. You’re not called to accept the world, you’re called to change the world. Whenever you’re faced by a situation of darkness, fear, gloom, anger or sin – don’t accept it. Say, “Let there be light!” For God is your Father and your Father is no realist.

From Message #440 – The Sunrise Commandment
Scripture: Genesis 1:3

Today’s Mission – Don’t be bound by your situation, your problems, your circumstances today – but live solely by the Word of God.

The Stubborn Moabite

Tuesday, February 23, 2021

In the Book of Ruth, Naomi tries to convince her Gentile daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth, to leave her and not follow as she returns to her homeland in Israel. Orpah agrees to leave, but Ruth refuses. Finally Naomi let Ruth come because she saw that Ruth was amats. Amats is the Hebrew word for steadfast, stubborn, and hardened. It’s not good to be stubborn in sin and hardened to God. Yet it’s very good to be stubborn in love and hardened for righteousness. We must not only follow God, we must be amats in following. We need to be stubborn in faith, steadfast in love, hardened in our commitment. If you’re not stubborn about what is good, then the enemy will discourage you from entering the blessings God has for you. Ruth refused to be discouraged. Ruth was stubborn. When Naomi saw she was amats, she let her come. When the enemy sees that you are amats, he will give up. Be steadfast in faith, unwavering in hope, and stubborn in love. Don’t just be a believer, be an amats believer, and nothing on earth will keep you from all the blessings God has in store.

From Message #426 – Wherever You Dwell
Scripture: Psalm 57:7

Today’s Mission – In what areas do you tend to get discouraged or give up? Make it your aim today to keep going in holy, stubborn, amats!

The Atheist’s Testimony

Monday, February 22, 2021

Madeline Murray O’Hare, the famous atheist who helped remove prayer from public school, was speaking at a college. Her speech denigrated all clergy, mocked those who trusted in prayer, and labeled all religious people “stupid.” At the end, a petite girl spoke up in a soft voice filled with compassion. “Mrs. O’Hare, so happy you came to speak to us tonight. Thank you for showing us what an atheist is. We are grateful for your visit, because now we have strengthened our Christian beliefs by listening to you. We really feel sorry for you. Thank you because you have strengthened my faith.” Madalyn O’Hare was at a loss for words. The applause for the young woman’s response was deafening. Atheism might testify against God, but atheists only testify to Him. For without God there can be no real hope, trust, meaning, and no real love. Atheists like Lenin, Stalin and Mao, even in their denial of God, bear witness of His existence by their examples. If atheists who deny God, bear witness of Him, how much more must you, who affirm God, bear Him witness. God lives. Even atheists bear Him.

From Message #1590 – The Cosmic X
Scripture: Ephesians 2:11-13

Today’s Mission – Think of a way today to show a non-believer that Messiah is real, that He exists, and that He lives.

Arise My Love

Friday, February 19, 2021

In the Song of Solomon, the Bridegroom says to the Bride “Arise my love, my beautiful one and come.” That first word, arise, is the Hebrew word Koomi. Koomi means “RISE.” It’s one of God’s favorite words – and His word to you – Koomi – Rise. God’s will for you is not for you to fail, trip up, fall or stay down – or wallow in guilt and regret. God’s will for you is Koomi – Rise! He doesn’t want you to fall. He’s not sitting on the sidelines with a scorecard dispassionately judging how you walk – as if He didn’t care. He cares with all His heart. He’s rooting for you. His word to you is Koomi – Rise! Rise up from your despair, your stumbling, your failures. Rise up from the past, your sorrow, your bondage. Rise up from your years of slumber. Rise up from your falling. He wills life for you. He commands joy. Just say Yes and Rise. For God says to you Koomi Lahkh Koomi Raheetee Rise up my beloved, my beautiful one and come – Rise Rise Rise!

From Message #363 – Arise My Love
Scripture: Song of Solomon 2

Today’s Mission – Meditate on the fact that God is actually encouraging you – take a word of encouragement from the Bible and live by it today.

The Secret of the Arranged Marriage

Thursday, February 18, 2021

In Biblical times, how did you find a husband or wife? Did you go to the Jerusalem single’s bar? Read the single’s confidential section in the Dead Sea Scroll… 25 year old Pharisee guy, looking for a young Sadduccean woman, likes performing rituals, offering up sacrifices, and all around good times? Back in Biblical times, many marriages were arranged by the parents. Today, we go shopping for that Perfect One, the person with all the right and desired characteristics. Now you’d think that the modern system, where you choose the one you want to marry would produce better marriages than the ancient system where you had no choice; but not so. With all our searching and choosing the perfect mate, one out of every two marriages ends in divorce. And yet back then, when marriages were arranged, there was little divorce. What’s the secret? It’s about choosing to love the one who isn’t perfect. In an arranged marriage you didn’t choose that person at all. But you chose to love him or her with a perfect love. For God’s love is not based on choosing perfect people, but choosing to love imperfect people with a perfect love.

From Message #460 – Uncovering His Feet
Scripture: 1 John 4:18

Today’s Mission – Today, make it your aim not to look for, expect, or demand perfect people or perfect situations, but seek instead to love with a perfect love and rejoice with a perfect joy.

Let the Wicked Perish!

Wednesday, February 17, 2021

In Psalm 83, David says, “Let the wicked perish.” It seems almost unbiblical, not the same spirit as you find in the New Testament. Are we not told to love our enemies? So how could he write, Let the wicked perish? How can you pray, Let the wicked perish? Let the wicked perish starting with the old me and all its old, sinful, selfish ways… Let that wicked man perish! One of our problems is we never pray like that anymore. David did. But you need to pray like that, that hard, harsh, and politically incorrect prayer; only you have to direct it at yourself – the old fleshly nature… that’s definitely included in the word wicked. And so it must be the desire of your heart to see your old nature, with its lust, its self-centeredness, its pride, its ego, its self-pity, its deceit, its anger, and fear… perish!!! You have to be just as fed up with the wicked as David was and just as zealous to get rid of it. Because it’ll only happen when you’re that fed up with it. So let’s pray a new prayer, starting with me and you… ‘Let the wicked… perish!’

From Message #453 – The Power of Perishing
Scripture: Ephesians 4:31-32

Today’s Mission – Today, if you’re tempted to pray for God to change someone that might have hurt or angered you, get your ego out of the way and ask God to change you first.

Even Heaven has to Receive Jesus

Tuesday, February 16, 2021

In Acts 3:20-21, a strange verse appears, ‘Jesus the Messiah, whom Heaven must receive…’ You’ve heard that you must receive Jesus, but Heaven? Why does Heaven need to receive Jesus? What could be more wonderful than Heaven? Heaven… the place that has everything: streets of gold, angelic music, gates of pearl, no more death or pain or crying. And yet with all that, Heaven still needs to receive Jesus. There’s still something missing. The fact is, if you got to Heaven and Jesus wasn’t there, then it wouldn’t really be Heaven. Heaven is empty without Jesus. If Heaven is empty without Jesus, how much more are you… and your life. If Heaven is empty without Jesus, then it doesn’t matter how much money you have, how much success, or power or anything else you get in this life. It will still need Jesus to be the center. Even if your life was filled with every heavenly thing and supernatural gifts, it would still be empty without Jesus. So do today, what even Heaven must do… receive Jesus as the center of your life; for without Him, even Heaven isn’t Heaven. But wherever He is, there is Heaven.

From Message #439 – Children of The Prophets
Scripture: Acts 16:31

Today’s Mission – If you haven’t already done so, make today your day to receive the Lord. If you have, bring Him into everything and every part of your day and life.

The Phantom Moth

Monday, February 15, 2021

In Great Britain, a night train was carrying Queen Victoria. Suddenly, the engineer saw a phantom figure… in a black cloak standing in the middle of the tracks, waving its arms back and forth. The engineer jammed the brakes, stared into the fog, and saw the bridge ahead had been swept away. When they reached London, the engineer discovered a dead moth at the bottom of the engine’s head lamp. He pressed the moth against the glass of the lamp, turned on the light and saw the black-robed figure. Seconds before the train was due to pass over the missing bridge; the moth had flown into the lamp. The image was of a black-robed man waving his arms to stop. The queen was saved by a moth. As far as the moth was concerned, it was just flying to a light. It is written, ‘God works all things together for good, for those who love Him…’ I was hit by a train. That’s how I came to the Lord. So, if you love Him, be at peace, and rejoice that He’s working everything together for good, in your life, whether it be a train… or a moth!

From Message #1363 – The Steps of a Man
Scripture: Romans 8:28

Today’s Mission – Today look for the good and the good purposes of God in all things in your life.

The Testimony of the Shark

Friday, February 12, 2021

In 1799, an American ship named the “Nancy” suspected of carrying contraband, was seized by a British vessel. But before the ‘Nancy’ was boarded, the crew disposed of the illegal cargo. The captain threw the ship’s records overboard and substituted a fake set of records in the event of capture. The officers were put on trial for smuggling, but the evidence was lacking. Just when the crew was about to be acquitted, the captain of another vessel walked into the courtroom with the original papers of the ‘Nancy,’ the very record its captain had thrown into the sea. The papers, it turned out, had been eaten by a shark. What do the ‘Shark Papers’ teach us? Messiah told us that in the Day of Judgment, everything you do in secret shall be seen in the light, and all you whisper shall be shouted from the rooftops. Those crewmen thought their sins were well hidden. But truth has a way of coming out. Therefore, let the light of God wash away your sins and be pure. Live a life you would be glad to have illuminated by the light and shouted from the rooftops.

From Message #753 – The Eyes Of God
Scripture: Ephesians 5:11-13

Today’s Mission – Today, everything you do, do in the light of God, transparent, no hiding, as if all is being seen – as it is.

A Derech is not a Place

Thursday, February 11, 2021

One of the most famous verses in Scripture is Isaiah 40: “Prepare the way for the Lord.” It doesn’t say “Prepare a place for the Lord.” It says, “Prepare the way for the Lord.” The difference is a place is limited, it comes to an end; but a way goes on and on. Too often we prepare God a place, but not a way. We give Him time for worship, events, and experiences. But spaces end – the Sunday high stops and you have a Monday morning low. But the key of a life for blessing isn’t to prepare God places to fill, but to prepare Him a way. A way is a space that keeps going – a “derech” in Hebrew means a path, a lifestyle, a way of life. You need to turn those holy spaces at Worship Service into godly ways that go right through Monday – for blessings of God must need to flow… Give them a derech, a life of holiness, and joy. Then your innermost being will well up with a river of life when you obey the command and prepare for the Lord, a derech, a way, in your life.

From Message #487 – Prepare Ye The Way
Scripture: Luke 3:4

Today’s Mission – Think of some action steps that you can take today to “prepare the way for the Lord”.

But He Walked on Water

Wednesday, February 10, 2021

Kayfa, also known as Simon Peter, messed up. We know more about his mess ups than the mess ups of anyone else in the New Testament. He messed up rebuking the Lord, denying the Lord, comparing the Lord to Moses and Elijah, and sinking into the water. Peter seems, often, to be stumbling through the New Testament. The main thing about Peter is not that he stumbled, but that he walked. He may have stumbled… but at least he walked. He was the only apostle who started sinking into the water, but at least he walked on the water. None of the others sank, but none of the others walked. Which had the better portion? It was the one who at least walked on the water. And Peter became the leader of them all. Most of the disciples and most of us would rather avoid the risk of stumbling, falling, and sinking by choosing not to step out in faith. God is calling you to step out in faith – for better to have stepped out in faith than to have never stepped out at all.

From Message #481 – Kayfah : A Man Called Peter II
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:7

Today’s Mission – Take a half-step today, if that’s all you can do, by faith. At least make a start.

The Holy Place in

Tuesday, February 9, 2021

The Wilderness So… you’re going through a wilderness…Or, you’ve just gone through a wilderness…or, you’re about to go through a wilderness… or … whatever the case … you probably don’t like the wilderness, those hard times in the Lord. But if you go into any synagogue in the world, you’ll find something called the Ark, the holiest place. Inside the Ark is the Torah, the most holy scroll which contains the Five Books of Moses. But think about it… this most sacred scroll, the Torah, was written completely in the wilderness…. Genesis and the creation of the world, Exodus and Passover, the Ten Commandments, the Law, the Ark of the Covenant, and the Holy of Holies. The wilderness is sacred, a special place and time where you get the chance of drawing especially near to God. It is in the wilderness that He gives you the Tent of Meeting, and reveals His presence in the deepest ways. So do not despise your wilderness, but bless it. For God Himself will dwell among you in the most special of ways and make your wilderness most holy.

From Message #474 – The Midbar
Scripture: James 4:8

Today’s Mission – Create a special place to spend time getting closer to the Lord today – just Him and you. Make your wilderness holy.

The Elected Mule

Monday, February 8, 2021

You may not have a high opinion of politicians and this probably won’t help…. a cautionary tale… and true. In 1938, the Democratic mayor of Milton, Washington sponsored the running of a candidate who was obviously not qualified for the government. The candidate was a mule. The election came, and by a 51 vote plurality, the mule was elected to public office. I’m sure the citizens of Milton didn’t fancy the idea of being governed by a mule. Although I’m sure for some, it represented a distinct improvement. The point is, if we complain about those who govern us, we’re complaining against ourselves because we elect them. It’s not just true for politics; it’s also true for life. You don’t only elect rulers in the political realm, but also in the spiritual. When you give yourself to anger, lust, that habit, that activity, you’re electing it to rule over you. Give yourself to prayer and worship, and activities that are good and righteous and thoughts that are godly. As it is written, “Let the peace of Messiah rule in your hearts.” Elect the Lord today. It’s far better than being governed by a mule.

From Message #800 – Smash the gods
Scripture: Acts 13:39Today’s Mission – Take a one-person vote today and decide by a unanimous decision to meet with God daily in prayer, in Bible reading, in worship – in however the Lord leads you

The Unplanned and the Planned

Friday, February 5, 2021

The Planned Let’s say you wanted to have a rotten relationship with someone. How do you go about planning the rotten relationship? You could plan never to express any love to them. You could plan to be critical all the time. You could plan to not come through on your responsibilities. You could plan on not coming home on time, being irritable, inconsiderate, hurting their feelings, purposely neglecting their birthday, and just never going out of your way for them. You do these things and chances are you’ll end up with a rotten relationship. That’s how you plan out bad relationships. No one plans to end up with rotten relationships. But that’s exactly how bad relationships happen — with no planning. Good relationships don’t happen that way. Good relationships take planning. If you want a good relationship with your parents or children or husband or wife, you’re going to have to want it. You’ll have to plan for it, work at it and persevere in it. But it’s more than worth it. It will make the difference between what is worthless and what is precious.

From Message #83 – Purpose Forgotten
Scripture: Proverbs 16:3

Today’s Mission – Make plans to spend a day with someone you may have been neglecting. Mark it on your calendar.

Your Other Treasure

Thursday, February 4, 2021

There’s an expression, “Time is money.” But that’s not true. Time is not money. Time is time. We often use money to purchase good times. And the more we give, the more good times we expect. If we put a quarter into a pinball machine or video game, we get a few minutes of fun. If we spend a few dollars in the cinema, we get two hours of entertainment. If we spend 20 or 30 dollars in a restaurant, we get a night out. Yet all of these things we spend money on ultimately end and then there’s nothing. But Messiah said, “Don’t store up your treasures on earth where moths and rust devour, and thieves break in and steal.” He told us to store up our treasures in heaven because that’s the only place where treasures last forever. When you invest your treasures in the Kingdom of Heaven you get blessings forever – you get eternal dividends. Be wise with your investments. Invest whatever you have in this life in the Kingdom of God. You’ll inherit everlasting riches and all the time in the world – and then some.

From Message #66 – Tithes And Offerings
Scripture: Matthew 6:19-20

Today’s Mission – Re-evaluate your spiritual investment plan and make one necessary change in your life today that will give you a better return in the Kingdom of God.

The Computer Built by Accident

Wednesday, February 3, 2021

The Book of Hebrews says that God is the builder of everything. In other words, when you see leaves, butterflies and flowers there’s a builder behind it. Now imagine if you saw a television set with a screen, plugs, channels, digital remote control, circuitry, plastic molding and the name “Panasonic” on it, and someone tried to convince you that no one built that television set. It just came together by accident. Would you believe it? Would anyone? Of course not. And yet the most complex television set can’t compare to the complexity of the human eye. The most complex stereo system can’t compare to the complexity of the human ear. All the electrical systems known to man can’t compare to the complexity of one human cell. And the most complex computer ever devised by human intelligence can’t compare to the complexity of the human brain. The fact is, God is the builder of everything. Be strong in that. And rejoice in this: He also built you, gave His life for you and is now building your life into something good and precious.

From Message #708 – The Footstool World
Scripture: Hebrews 11:10

Today’s Mission – Spend some time giving honor and glory to the Lord God, the creator of all things – especially for you.

You Have to Move on

Tuesday, February 2, 2021

On the road with Messiah ministering in Galilee: He’s healing the blind and making the crippled walk. But suddenly Messiah leaves and says, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, for I was sent for this purpose.” Messiah is in effect saying, “I have to move on.” If you’re following Messiah and He’s moving on, then how can you follow Him if you don’t move on? Don’t stop following. Don’t stay where you are. Don’t stop stepping out in faith. Don’t stop moving ahead. Messiah called his disciples to follow him because he’s always moving. Have you been stuck in the same place? Pondering what you once had but lost? Get over it. Move on already. The Lord is not staying in it, and neither should you. Move on with your life. Step out and go. The Lord is always moving on. If you want the continuing presence and joy of the Lord, then move on with the Lord because moving on is the only way to go when you’re going with the Lord.

From Message #684 – The Other Cities
Scripture: John 10:27

Today’s Mission – Think of one step of faith that you can take to keep you moving forward in the Lord and act on it today. Don’t be left behind.

A YEAR UNLIKE ANY OTHER

Monday, February 1, 2021

Shalom, to you my Friend and Co-Minister in the Great Commission…

As we have begun the year 2021, it is warranted that we take a moment to fathom the year we’ve just experienced: 2020. In the autumn of 2019, while in prayer, I had a deep sense that 2020 would be a year of shaking and that I had to write the book I had held off from writing for 8 years, The Harbinger II – the sequel to The Harbinger. One of the details of the biblical template of national judgment in The Harbinger concerned a mystery that pointed to the year 2020 as a year of great shakings. In fact, it was a year ago, in the January, issue of Sapphires that I spoke of that template and the potential of 2020 being a year of dramatic events.

It could have hardly been more dramatic. Within three months of its beginning, America was struck by a plague that brought its daily life and functioning to a standstill – as nothing in the nation’s history had ever done before. We are still living in the shadow of that plague and that paralysis. A few months later, the nation was hit by an unprecedented outbreak of civil unrest, riots, violence, and destruction. Added to the chaos were movements seeking to overturn the nation’s ideological and political foundation. On top of this, the American economy began deteriorating on a scale that rivaled the Great Depression.

As the nation approached the presidential election, it found itself more polarized and divided than in any time in living memory. Far from bringing the country together, the election only served to leave it even more divided. By the end of the year, a new presidential administration stood poised to take power and promised to enact a sweeping agenda that many saw as presenting an unprecedented danger to religious liberty, free speech, the unborn and the issue of life, the functioning of the Church, and the spread of the Gospel.

As we continue this new year, where does all this leave us? Up to this date, there has been no spiritual revival in America of a national scale. Without revival, the nation is lost. And yet, as people of God, we are of hope. Regardless of who sits in the White House, we know Who sits on the throne. And He is never finished. And if we find the surrounding culture darkening, we know it is time that we all the more shine as the lights we were called to be. And though these are perilous times, they are also the times that open the door to greatness for those who will stand uncompromised. As we continue 2021, let us not let up in our vigilance to pray for America, for repentance, return, and revival – for God’s people, for America, and for the world.

And may God greatly bless you this month as you do.

Settling Down in Sodom

Friday, January 29, 2021

Abraham’s nephew, Lot, chose to live in Sodom. One day he’s visited by two angels. The people of Sodom were so perverted that they followed the angels to Lot’s house. In an attempt to protect the angels, Lot basically tells the people, “Listen, I have two daughters. I’ll bring them out to you and you can do whatever you like with them.” Lot grew up with and looked up to Abraham. But he settled down in Sodom. Abraham too lived among pagans, but he never settled down with them. He stayed in a tent, and journeyed in the presence of God. Lot gradually grew comfortable in Sodom. He even called the people of the city “my brothers.” It weakened him. And it probably happened without him even realizing it. Maybe you’ve let yourself grow comfortable with what you used to know was wrong. Don’t be corrupted like Lot. Turn from Sodom and put away all its unclean ways. Dwell instead in the Tents of Abraham, and the Lord will bless you with an everlasting inheritance in the Promised Land.

From Message #668 – The Tents of Abraham
Scripture: Psalm 139:23-24

Today’s Mission – In your time of prayer today, ask God to search your heart and show you those unclean things that must be put away for good.

The Private and the General

Thursday, January 28, 2021

In an army, you can be many things: a private, lieutenant, corporal, captain, colonel, or general; each rank has its own rights, status, and responsibilities. You might be looking at your rank in life, your status, your situation, your job, your rank in the Lord. But that doesn’t really matter. It’s not your rank that means anything in the end, but what side you’re on or whose side you’re on. It doesn’t matter if you’re a private or a general; if you’re on the winning side, you’re a winner. When victory comes, the private rejoices as much as the general. If you’re born again then you’re on the winning side. You’re going to rejoice in the end. So you might as well start rejoicing now. Stop looking at your rank. Stop being intimidated by the enemy. Stop fearing. And start rejoicing now, for you are more than a conqueror through Messiah who loves you, a heavenly private on the winning side.

From Message #661 – The Private and the General
Scripture: Psalm 55:18

Today’s Mission – The Private And The General Whatever battles you might be facing, your assignment today is to: Praise the Lord. Be at peace, for it’s already been won.

The Blasphemer’s Testimony

Wednesday, January 27, 2021

Rabbi Shaul, commonly known as the apostle Paul, wrote an amazing thing at the end of his life: “Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy. Messiah came into, the world to save sinners – of whom I am the worst”. Paul was saying, “I was wrong. I was wrong about the Lord. I was wrong about the Bible. I was wrong about Judaism. I was wrong about religion. I was wrong about my life.” Had he never been able to say “I was wrong,” he’d never been able to preach the Word, or proclaim the Gospel, or be an apostle, or write the Epistles, or change the world. The Book of Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, and Ephesians, all rest on three initial words, “I was wrong.” These three words turned the chief of sinners into the foremost apostle. Don’t fear saying, “I was wrong.” For those very words, in the grace of God, will set you free from the old and open up your life for the glory of God.

From Message #646 – The Power of Being Wrong
Scripture: John 8:36

Today’s Mission – Think of one area in your life where you can honestly say that “you are wrong” and repent. Know that the grace of God sets you free.

Rabbi Joden’s Christmas

Monday, January 25, 2021

Rabbis don’t talk about the virgin birth in the synagogue. Most Jewish people are raised believing that the virgin birth is totally un-Jewish. Hidden in the writings of the Rabbis is an amazing thing. Rabbi Joden, speaking about the virgin birth, wrote, “Truth.. shall spring out… the nativity of the Messiah is not to be as other creatures in the world, but (He) shall be born without carnal relations; and therefore no one has mentioned his father, as who must be hidden from the knowledge of men till he himself shall come and reveal him.” “That the Spirit, by the impulse of a mighty power, shall come forth of the womb, though shut up, that will become a mighty Prince, the King Messiah.” Do you realize how incredible this is? It’s Jewish to believe in the virgin birth! The virgin birth teaches us that God wills to take impossible situations and bring life. Whatever impossible thing has been in your life… lift it up to God and let His Spirit overshadow it. Then the virgin birth won’t just be theology, it’ll be your life – as even the Rabbis bear it witness.

From Message #523 – Behold The Maiden
Scripture: Luke 1:37

Today’s Mission – Do you have an impossible situation in your life? Take it to the Lord and believe that with God, nothing is impossible.

The Faithfulness of King

Tuesday, January 26, 2021

There was a Collie named King. King’s master, Del Plato, was close to the dog. Del Plato was killed in a car accident. King stood by as the casket was lowered into the ground. Every day King went to the cemetery to visit his master’s grave. If he was tied up, he’d break the ropes to get to the grave. We live in an age of little faithfulness. It spills over to the church. Believers make commitments to help out; but when they don’t feel like it anymore, they stop. When it costs something to follow the Lord or requires something to maintain a marriage, they give up. When it means being unpopular with the crowd, they compromise. We can learn a lot from a dog. The dog stayed devoted to his master and by his master’s grave. “Don’t we owe more faithfulness to Messiah” – at least as much as that of a dog? Let’s stay by His grave, and bear the reproach of the cross. Let’s be faithful to Him and each other. The Lord is the Master of masters and deserves more devotion than the faithfulness of a dog.

From Message #1211 – Faithful
Scripture: Psalm 37:5

Today’s Mission – Have you been tempted to give up? Today, renew your commitment to do whatever you said you would do.

The Matchmaker and Your Circumstance

Friday, January 22, 2021

There was a young Jewish man, a Jewish matchmaker proposed that he marry a certain young woman. The man says, “No, she’s blind!” “You call that a fault?” said the matchmaker, “On the contrary, it’s a virtue. She won’t see your faults.” “She can’t talk.” “Another virtue,” said the matchmaker, “you’ll never hear a critical word out of her mouth.” “She’s deaf!” “Another virtue,” said the matchmaker, “She won’t hear your complaining.” “She’s a hunchback!” The matchmaker replied, “Can’t you even tolerate one fault in the woman you plan to marry?” This isn’t only a comment on matchmaking but on your life. If you’re a child of God, you and your circumstances are matched up. You may find a lot of faults with your circumstance. Scripture says that God is working all things for good as you love and follow Him. Your circumstances may not look that good, but they really are. All those problems you complain about are actually blessings in disguise which will bless your life eternally. Put a positive spin on every problem – because in God’s grace – it’s true… your life really is something beautiful.

From Message #502 – Mercy and Truth
Scripture: Romans 8:28

Today’s Mission – Look at the positive in your problem or circumstance today. See it from God’s point of view.

The Many Voices of God

Thursday, January 21, 2021

Look at the Book of Jonah, only four chapters and yet it’s amazing how many ways God speaks – through His word, through circumstance, through adversity, through a sign, through trouble, through events, through a direct revelation, through illustrations, and on and on. There are all sorts of books to tell you how God speaks and leads. But the fact is God speaks in all sorts of ways. In fact, chances are, God is speaking to you a lot more than you’re hearing. You see the point of the Book of Jonah is not that God wasn’t speaking to him. The point is, he wasn’t listening. So even though God was leading, Jonah was still outside the will of God. The point wasn’t about knowing the will of God for his life, it was about following it, saying yes to it. It’s obeying the will of God you already know. It’s doing what you already know He wants you to do, and to turn from doing what you know He doesn’t. God will give you all the leading you need. The point is obey what you already know is His voice and you’ll hear His voice loud and clear.

From Message #629 – Latter Days and Sundry Times
Scripture: Jonah 1:1-3

Today’s Mission – Decide to do what you know God has already called you to do.

The False Sinai

Wednesday, January 20, 2021

I was doing a tour in Israel a while back. We went to Mt. Sinai… was it the real Sinai? We don’t know. There are about 20 mountains people claim as Sinai. It’s a major problem discerning what Sinai is from what is not. The Orthodox Jews accept all sorts of laws, mitzvoth, and commandments that came not from Moses. Also, we in the Lord, accept many other Sinais and commandments that God never gave. For instance: “Thou shalt drive thyself with work until thou droppest dead at an early age;” or, “Thou shalt live every day worrying about the next;” or, “Thou shalt never take time to be refreshed in the presence of God;” or, “Thou shalt never feel the love of God or believe that thou art truly loved.” Now what Sinai did you get that from? If you can’t name the Sinai, then what are you doing treating these things as commandments? I’ve got good news for you. You can disobey that fraudulent command that’s been hindering your life. That’s right, smash those phony tablets. Start living free in the Lord. Good news – It’s not from Sinai!

From Message #615 – All The Commandments Not In The Bible
Scripture: Acts 13:39

Today’s Mission – Believe! Believe God’s word today that you have been set free from all sin and unrighteousness. Start living for Him.

His Name is a Sentence

Tuesday, January 19, 2021

In Hebrew the word for “God” is EL, as in Elohim. The word for “us” or “our” is NU or Ahnu or Aynu as in Elohaynu and Avinu. And the Hebrew word for “with” is EEM. Put them together and you have – El Eem Anu Or Eem Anu Ayl – Immanuel – God is with us. That’s what Bethlehem is all about – a child named Eem anu ayl – But in Hebrew, Immanuel is never just a name – it’s a living sentence. When He slept on the boat in the storm, it was Eem anu ayl, God is with us in the storm. When He rode into Jerusalem, it was God is with us in joy and victory. When He hung on the cross, it was Eem anu ayl – God is with us in death. And when He rose from death, it was Eem anu ayl – God is with us, through all things, and forever. Rejoice and be glad for EEM ANU AYL, God is with us yesterday, today, and forever and ever. Amen.

From Message #351 & 352 – Immanuel I & II
Scripture: Matthew 14:35-36

Today’s Mission – Close your eyes and imagine touching the hem of Messiah’s garment as you lift up your prayers to Him today – believe God for His power to touch your life.

The Zoroastrian Heart

Monday, January 18, 2021

Who were the Magi? The Magi were a special caste of Persian priests. They were astrologers. They practiced that which God condemned. No believer has any business with astrology, horoscopes, fortune tellers, psychic hotlines, or the occult. But the Magi teach us something profound. Even though they were using astrology, they sought after God, and with all their hearts. So God, by His grace, met them where they were at, and led them to His presence in Bethlehem. If you looked at their doctrine, few people were as far away from God as the Magi. But if you looked at their hearts, few were as close. So we as believers might have the doctrine down pat, but if we stop actively seeking God, His love, His truth, His presence in our lives, then all our knowledge and doctrine will mean nothing. Be grounded in the Word and keep seeking Him with all your heart. Have the doctrine of a Christian, but the heart of the Magi. Keep seeking Him, to go farther, closer, and deeper in His love and presence every day of your life, and you’ll find Him waiting for you in Bethlehem.

From Message #190 – The Journey of the Magi
Scripture: Matthew 2:1-2

Today’s Mission – Spend today especially seeking the Lord, following after Him, wanting more of Him, being open to and going wherever He leads you.

The Caterpillar’s Doubt

Friday, January 15, 2021

What if you went up to a caterpillar and tried to tell it the truth about its life? You’d say something like: “Listen I know it looks like you’re a worm, it feels like you’re a worm, and you’re pretty much living a worm’s life, but… you’re not a worm. You’re a child of the butterfly. You’re not bound by earth. You’re a child of the heavens.” Would the caterpillar be convinced? All it’s ever known is a worm’s life, an earthbound worm’s life. You’re asking it to believe what it’s never seen and beyond all its experience and comprehension. It’s true… not only for the caterpillar, but for you! And I’m here to help convince you that though your life might look like a worm’s life, might feel like a worm’s life and if you take a good look at yourself in the mirror, you might see a worm… you’re not a worm. If you’re born again, you’re no longer a child of your circumstance; you’re a child of the Most High. So stop living earthbound. Stop crawling through your walk. And start soaring… For you are a child of Most High… stop living like a worm.

From Message #608 – The Butterfly’s Child
Scripture: 1 John 3:1-3

Today’s Mission – Choose to believe today that you are who God says you are – and act like it – “children of God”.

The Huppah

Wednesday, January 13, 2021

In Isaiah 4:5, it says: “Then the Lord will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night, and over all the glory will be a defense.” But the original Hebrew behind the word “defence” contains a treasure. The actual Hebrew word is “Huppah.” The huppah is the canopy of the Hebrew marriage, spread over the heads of the bride and groom, who sit together as king and queen as one. In other words, in the days of the kingdom, God will spread a wedding canopy over His people. In that day, as the Bible says, even the land will be married, everything will be married. And if you want to live in the blessings of the kingdom now, then the key is marry everything in your life to the Lord – your dreams, your problems, your weaknesses, joys, desires, sins, plans, home, job, spouse, secret life, career, money, possessions, everything. Bring every part of your life under His Huppah, joined to Him. For that which is under the Huppah shall be blessed.

From Message #1271 – The Seventh Age
Scripture: Isaiah 58:11

Today’s Mission – Share everything that you have with the Lord today, especially the secret things, and be blessed.

The Eyes of Joshua & Caleb

Thursday, January 14, 2021

Joshua and Caleb never pretended that there weren’t giants in the land. They knew full well what they were up against. In fact, Joshua would become the general to defeat those giants. Then what was it that separated Joshua and Caleb from the other ten spies who also saw the giants but brought back a bad report to the Israelites? The difference was that though Joshua and Caleb saw the giants – they didn’t dwell on them. They didn’t focus on them. Instead they focused on the blessings, the promise, the faithfulness, and the power of God. And they were the ones who entered and apprehended all that God had promised. So with you, it’s not that you don’t or wont’ have problems in your life. You will. It’s part of life. The key is – don’t focus on them – don’t dwell on them. They’re only giants. They’re there in your life to manifest the power, the victory, the faithfulness, and the triumph of God. They’re only giants. Set your focus instead on the giant power, the giant love, and the giant faithfulness of your God and you too will enter the land of blessing God has promised you.

From Message #1274 – The Joshua People
Scripture: Jeremiah 32:27

Today’s Mission – Keep your eyes on the Messiah today so that you won’t focus on the problems — for nothing is too hard for Him.

Times of Great Change

Tuesday, January 12, 2021

People will sometimes ask me how old my computer is. If I answer, “It’s seven months old.” They reply, “Then it’s a dinosaur.” “Oh really?” I reply, “And what kind of computer do you have?” “Well, I’m just about to purchase a new computer with 1000 terabytes. It’s just coming out.” “That’s nice, but I’d give it two months, and you’ve got a dinosaur. All you’re doing is buying a future dinosaur.” The newer something is in this world, the quicker it becomes old. New technology becomes old in a matter of months – New movies, in a matter of weeks – New news, a matter of hours. The newer it is, the quicker it grows old. But there’s one thing that breaks all those rules – the Word of God. The Word of God is, at the latest, two thousand years old, and yet when you receive it, it’s newer than yesterday’s newspaper. And how much is yesterday’s newspaper worth? Nothing. But the Word of God, thousands of years old is as new and as priceless now as it was when it first came out. So what should you be spending your time on?

From Message #1270 – Unchangeable
Scripture: Hebrews 13:8

Today’s Mission – When you read your Bible today, ask God to show you something new.

White Sins & Vaccinations

Monday, January 11, 2021

In Isaiah 1, it’s written, “Though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” An amazing thing. How can sins become white as snow? When God forgives a sin, and when we receive it, our past sins become as white as snow. What was evil, is neutralized and is used for good. Sin is evil. But a sin forgiven, and repented of, becomes something else altogether. In the same way, a deadly bacteria is something dangerous. But if that disease is neutralized, killed, rendered ineffective and put into the form of a vaccination, its nature is changed. It becomes something altogether different. It becomes an inoculation that prevents and protects the person from the very disease it once was. So too, to have your sins forgiven, to truly receive the fact that your sins are forgiven, that your past is wiped clean, and you’re free because of the grace and mercy of God – what that does is inoculate you against that sin and cause you to become new. So your sins… your sins forgiven, your past redeemed… by the blood of Messiah, will truly become as white as snow.

From Message #390 – The Gospel and Your Immune System
Scripture: Psalm 51:7

Today’s Mission – The Gospel And Your Immune SystemIf you’re still holding onto dirty laundry from your past, know that you’ve been washed in the blood of the Lamb. You’re clean, you’re forgiven.

The Festival of the Brave & the Free

Friday, January 8, 2021

Chanukah is one of the few holy days that would not have existed without courage. Antiochus Epiphanes, ruler of the Greek-Syrian Empire decided to wipe out the Jewish faith. He defiled the Temple of Jerusalem, darkened its lamp, and set up a statue of Zeus and commanded all of Israel to worship it. It looked as if the Jewish faith was about to be completely extinguished. But then one man said, “No.” “I won’t abandon my faith.” And his sons followed. They were called the Maccabees. They took a stand and fought against all odds, outnumbered and out armed, they defeated the entire Syrian Empire. The Temple was restored, its lamp was relit, and Israel was set free. And not long after that, a baby was born in Bethlehem who would be called the Light of the World. Chanukah is called the Festival of Freedom but it’s also the Festival of Courage. If you are God’s child, you are called to be free – but to be free you must become a man or woman of courage, by faith in God. When all looks darkest and hopeless, stand and you will see the Lord’s victory.

From Message #1220 – The Chanukizers
Scripture: Ephesians 6:13-15

Today’s Mission – Take a stand today, share the light of Messiah with someone who needs to be touched by the love of God.

The Winter is Over

Thursday, January 7, 2021

In the Song of Solomon, the Groom says to his Bride: “Arise my beloved, my beautiful one, and come away. For behold the winter is gone.” It’s written that God is our Bridegroom, and we who have said “yes” are His Bride. These are also the words of God to us. What does that mean and why is that important? It’s important because salvation is about the ending of winter and the coming of spring; the ending of the old life and the beginning of the new. When it says, “The winter is gone..,” it means literally, the season of hiding. That’s what the old life is…the time of hiding and living in the darkness. It’s no accident that the Lord died and rose in the springtime. That’s because He came to end the winter in your life. Why would anyone have to say, “For behold the winter is gone?” God is telling you, you don’t have to live in the old darkness, in the fears, bondages, and sins of your winter. “For spring has come,” the Lord is saying to you, “Arise my beloved, my beautiful one and come away. For behold… the winter… is gone.”

See Message – Arise my Love
Scripture: Song of Solomon 2:10-11

Today’s Mission – Make today your day of Springtime. Get rid of the old, heavy winter burdens.

Ephesians: The Unlikely Prison Letter

Wednesday, January 6, 2021

When you read the Book of Ephesians, it’s hard to imagine that it was all written in jail. That’s what makes it so amazing. In the natural, Ephesians would go like this: “What a dump this place is! The food is terrible. I could use a sweater.” You don’t read anything like it. Instead, you find thanksgiving: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus the Messiah, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Messiah.” You’d never have any idea that Paul was in prison. When you dwell in the heavenlies, even in prison, you’re not in prison. Just because you’re in your circumstance, that’s no reason to be of your circumstance. If he could be in the heavenlies in his situation, how much more can you be in the heavenlies in yours? You have to choose it, and it all begins when you give thanks. No matter where you are, thank God for all His love and His blessings, and no prison will ever hold you… only the heavenlies.

See Message – A Letter From Prison
Scripture: Psalm 118

Today’s Mission – Choose how you will dwell on your circumstances today – from above with thanksgiving or from below with grumbling.

The Adequacy of Being Inadequate

Tuesday, January 5, 2021

At the beginning of the Book of Acts, before the Holy Spirit descended, it says that the apostles were in prayer. Why? They had just been told to go out and spread the word to all nations. Why did they spend their time in prayer? No doubt they were feeling inadequate. They knew they were weak and needed the power of God desperately. What happened? God poured out His Spirit, His power, and His adequacy. It was no accident. You find it again and again. Moses thought he was too ineloquent, Isaiah thought he was too sinful, and Jeremiah thought he was too young to serve the Lord. God only chooses inadequate people to be His ministers to do great things. If you’re not serving the Lord because you don’t feel good, holy, able, spiritual, old, or young enough – time to put away that excuse – time to rise to your call. God’s call always has an inadequacy clause – that is… The only people who are adequate to minister for God are those who are completely inadequate. Let’s do great things for God. Why? Because we’re not adequate – but thank God, He is.

From Message #322 – Peter and Judas
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 13:9

Today’s Mission – No matter how inadequate you feel in your calling, all the more step out and take that leap of faith today. Know that great things are ahead for you.

My own Firework Display

Monday, January 4, 2021

Because I had a friend who had a dramatic experience coming to the Lord, I thought that this is how it was for everyone’s salvation – that when you come to the Lord, you get some kind of sign indicating you made it in. So when I prayed to receive the Lord I was expecting something, some sign, the sound of a bell, a trumpet, fireworks, anything telling me I was received – but there was nothing, no fireworks. Twenty years later, I returned to the place where I received the Lord – on a mountaintop – at night. As I reached the place where I prayed, something caught my eye – To my right was a display of fireworks. So after 20 years of serving the Lord, He finally gave me my firework display and on the same place. The Lord calls us to live a life of faith, to serve Him even when you see no sign of blessing or reward. Even when it’s hard, do the right thing, keep going – because your reward will surely come, no matter what, and the one who lives by faith will be blessed – even with a display of fireworks.

From Message #1324 – The Secret of Mars Hill
Scripture: Proverbs 4:27

Today’s Mission – When you get the urge to get off course or make a detour from doing what is right, refuse to go off course – press on and to higher ground.

The Power of Chains

Friday, January 1, 2021 Shalom, to you my Friend and Co-Minister in the Great Commission…

The apostle Paul found himself in prison for his faith and ministry. He wrote this:
“But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Messiah; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident because of my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.” Philippians 1:12-14
Here was Paul in a Roman prison, literally bound by chains and yet, he appears to boast of them. Not only do his chains not hinder the gospel, they have advanced them. The point that Paul is making is that nothing can stop the purposes of God – not even chains – in fact, they will actually be used to bring all these things to their fruition. Bound by chains and prison walls, Paul couldn’t preach to the tens or hundreds that he preached to in the marketplaces and squares and synagogues. Instead, he committed his word to parchment and would reach millions, even billions of souls – even us, to this day. It was prison walls and chains that unleashed the gospel and unchained the Word of God to reach the world and every age.
That’s how Paul dealt with everything. His life was filled with obstacles, hindrances, problems, and adversities, he didn’t complain about them, he didn’t confess them away, and he never blamed them for preventing things. He always looked for and found a way to fulfill the calling he had been given.
If we look at our present circumstances, it is easy to feel hindered, bound, prevented, limited, unable to do what we need to do, unable to advance God’s purposes, unable to fulfill our calling. All the more we must take and apply Paul’s secret and strategy. No circumstance, problem, adversity, or hindrance can stop you from fulfilling the calling of God. They are nothing more than chains. Don’t bemoan your chains, your situation, your obstacles – use them all for the glory of God. If a door closes, another will open. If the other door closes, He’ll open a window. Don’t ever stop. Find the way, glorify God, fulfill your calling – and use the chains to bring forth the unstoppable purposes of God. And may God greatly bless you this month as you do!

Your brother and co-laborer
in His love and service,

The Two Mysteries of the Adelphos

Thursday, December 31, 2020

In the New Covenant writings, Messiah is called “our brother.” But the actual word used in the Greek for brother is “Adelphos.” Adelphos comes from the Greek root word “Delphos” which means “womb.” Why? A brother is someone who is born of the same womb as you. So if Messiah is our brother, what does it mean? Two mysteries. The first is that Messiah is born of the same womb as we – thus the incarnation – Messiah was born into this world, in flesh and blood, as from the same womb as we are born. The second mystery is this – We now have the chance to be born of the womb from which Messiah is born – born of heaven’s womb – born of the Spirit – of the second birth. In fact, the two mysteries are joined – He was born of earth’s womb, that we might be born of heaven’s. In other words, Messiah is your adelphos, in that He so intimately joined every part of His life to your life, that you… now… would make it your aim to so intimately join every part of your life to Him – your adelphos.

From Message #1355 – Adelphos
Scripture: Proverbs 18:24

Today’s Mission – Today, seek to join every part of your life, the good, the bad, the ugly, the godly and the ungodly to God in Messiah.

The Season of the Bikureem

Wednesday, December 30, 2020

2000 years ago, on the Day of Pentecost, the Spirit fell on a gathering of Jewish believers. In the Bible, Israel is spoken of as a fig tree. The fig tree puts forth early figs and late figs. The early figs are called the bikureem – or the first fruits. When do the bikureem, the first or early fruit come into their blossoming? They come into their blossoming in June – the time of the Feast of Pentecost! So it was during the actual time of the blossoming of the early figs, the first fruits of the fig tree, that the first fruits of Israel, or Israel’s early figs, came into their blossoming on the Day of Pentecost! What does that tell us? The fig tree not only puts forth its early figs – but also its late figs. And what does that reveal? It means that the children of Israel are due for another revival, another blossoming, another outpouring of the Holy Spirit. It’s still to come. So pray for the Jewish people and for that day. For when they blossom a second time, it will mean the redemption of the world.

From Message #1354 – Message To The Fig Tree
Scripture: Matthew 24:32-33

Today’s Mission – Pray today for the peace of Jerusalem, pray for the salvation of the Jewish people, and the redemption of Israel, and for those who don’t yet know God.

The Flag of Messiah’s Tallit

Tuesday, December 29, 2020

The flag of Israel consists of the Star of David and two stripes, all in blue on a white cloth. Why is that? It’s because the flag of Israel is modeled after the Jewish prayer cloth – the tallit. The tallit is white with stripes on each side in blue – because God commanded the children of Israel to wear garments with blue fringes. Messiah also wore blue fringes on His garment or tallit. In fact, it was these fringes which were the “hem” of His garment – the sacred fringe that the sick and disabled would touch and be healed. For 2000 years the dye that produced that blue on Messiah’s garment was missing from the tallits of Israel. Only in modern times has it been restored – and now even the flag of Israel bears it. So the flag of Israel is the color of Messiah’s garment, with the blue that marked the hem by which the sick were healed. Take it as a sign and a reminder to pray for the day when Israel will again reach out and touch the hem of Messiah’s garment – and find their healing.

From Message #1602 The Kraspedon Mysteries I
Scripture: Matthew 14:35-36

Today’s Mission – Close your eyes and imagine touching the hem of Messiah’s garment as you lift up your prayers to Him today – believe God for His power to touch your life.

Before Leaving The Mayflower

Monday, December 28, 2020

They had come across the Atlantic Ocean through rough seas and storms, 66 days, locked up in small quarters and the storm tossed. Finally they came to solid ground. It was Saturday afternoon. Despite their eagerness, hunger, sea-sickness, they didn’t set foot on land until Monday. Why? They knew before they embarked on this new life, they had to begin in prayer and worship. And it was from these weary but faithful travelers that came the civilization known as the United States of America. America isn’t perfect, but think of how different the world would be without it. Without America, there would likely be no Israel in the world, millions of the poor and persecuted would have perished, and the world would be ruled by the followers of Hitler or Stalin. And it all began with prayer and worship.Before you do anything, before you set foot into your new day, before you set foot into that new job, that new relationship, that new ministry… be a wise pilgrim, and do as they did on the Mayflower, first spend time with God, dedicate it all to the Lord and seek first His will… and all these things will be added to you.

From Message #981 – The City On The Hill
Scripture: Psalm 100:4

Today’s Mission – Before your day starts, dedicate all you’ll do for the Lord’s purposes and seek His direction in all things.

The Withdrawing of the Cloud

Friday, December 25, 2020

Have there been times in your life and walk when you just didn’t feel the presence of God… or His love… or His favor… or His blessings? Maybe you felt He was distant… or withdrawing from you. But there’s a blessing you may be missing. If you were in the wilderness with Moses, and you witnessed the presence of God withdrawing from the camp – it wouldn’t be a bad thing – but a good thing. The withdrawing of His presence was a sign that He was calling the people of God to get moving. It was the sign that it was time to move forward in the journey to the Promised Land. In the same way, if you’re in God’s will, and you don’t feel Him as close as you did – it’s a sign that God wants you to move forward, to not live by feelings, but to seek after Him – to make a change in your routine – to press forward to find more of Him and to enter higher ground. So don’t get down – But get up… and follow the cloud!

From Message #1352 – Follow The Cloud
Scripture: Psalm 78:14

Today’s Mission – In what area do you not feel God’s closeness, or as you used to? Seek God in that area, move forward with Him, follow the cloud.

Seeking What you Have

Thursday, December 24, 2020

Did you ever buy something and afterwards you realize you already had it? I’ve done that a few times. I’ve actually ordered something out of a magazine, only to discover later that I already had it. I must have forgotten. Or it must have looked so good in that magazine that I just didn’t realize. It’s one thing to do that with an order form. It’s another to do that in life. Too many believers spend their lives trying to obtain what they already have – seeking approval and love when, in God, they have more love than they could ever handle – striving after more money and wealth while missing the true riches and wealth they have in God – or seeking for joy and happiness in what the world has to offer, when in God they have the potential for more joy than their hearts could contain. Is that you? Are you seeking for love, acceptance, recognition, riches, status, comfort, happiness… from people or from this world? A secret… you already have it! Start discovering the joy of the priceless blessings you already have, and you won’t be out seeking imitations.

From Message #1351 – Watered: The Well Watered Life
Scripture: Isaiah 58:11

Today’s Mission – Instead of dwelling on what you don’t have today and what you want to get, dwell on what you do have, and give thanks to God.

The President’s Dream

Wednesday, December 23, 2020

We were in a Red Sea situation. Our landlord had set to demolish our house of worship. We had to search for a new building and fast. My wife and I walked into a large furniture warehouse that was above any expectations we had. The president of the company that owned the warehouse asked us to come to his office. There, he begins weeping at his desk. He says to me, “I know you’re a man of God. I had a dream about you…. twice…. twice this month… once this past week. And in the dream, I knew you had something to do with Jesus.” My wife and I just looked at each other. And that building would end up becoming ours. God was preparing the answer before we had any idea of it. And so for you too, no matter what you’re dealing with, God is already preparing the solution. He’s already there ahead of you, waiting at the finish line to tell you, “Your victory was here all along, prepared and waiting.” And it is. So press on. For all you have to do is keep going – and you’ll get there.

From Message #1349 – THE AWESOME GOD AND THE HOUSE OF GLORY I
Scripture: Isaiah 65:24

Today’s Mission – The Awesome God & The House Of Glory I Today, when you ask God for something, pray knowing, and resting, and thanking Him in the knowledge that He already has the answer.

The Tabernacle of His Peace

Tuesday, December 22, 2020

In the ancient Hebrew prayer and chant called the “Hashkiveinu.” These words are spoken: “Spread over us the Tabernacle of your peace” – or, in Hebrew, the “Sukkah” of your shalom. It’s a strange prayer and a strange picture. Those praying ask God to spread over them His Tabernacle. It’s a bit mystical. But if you look in the last book of the Bible; Revelation, you find a vision of a great multitude of people standing before the throne, clothed in white robes, holding palm branches in their hands, which is what the Jewish people held in their hands on the Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot. And then it says this: “And He who sits on the throne shall spread over them His Tabernacle. It’s a strange picture – but it’s the same exact words of the ancient Hebrew prayer. God wants His people to dwell under His Sukkah, the Tabernacle of His Shalom. A Sukkah can be set up anywhere. So no matter where you are today, no matter the situation, or the problem, ask God to spread over you the Tabernacle of His peace, and, for your part, start dwelling in it!

From Message #1327 – The Age of the Huppah
Scripture: Revelation 7:9-17

Today’s Mission – Pray and ask God to spread the tabernacle of His shalom over every problem, challenge, and situation you go through today.

Messiah Garden of Death

Monday, December 21, 2020

When sin entered the world on the day of man’s fall, God took man out of the garden, a garden of life. On the day when sin was put to death, the opposite happened – man brought God down from the cross and into a garden, a garden of death – the garden tomb. So in the Song of Solomon, the bride says of the Bridegroom, “Awake oh north wind and come oh south wind, and blow upon my garden that the spices may flow out.” So man brought God into a garden of death, the garden tomb, and there laid upon him spices, spices which came from a garden. So also in the Song of Solomon, the bride says, “Let my Beloved come into His garden. The tomb of God is a garden tomb – meaning, it’s merely a tomb, the place of endings – it’s a garden, the place of beginnings and life. For all life in God now comes out of that tomb. So don’t be afraid of entering Messiah’s tomb, and dying to self. For it’s not just a tomb – it’s a garden tomb, and those who enter it will find true life.

From Message #1346 -Yom Eden & The Way To Paradise
Scripture: Galatians 2:20

Today’s Mission – Enter into the Garden Tomb. Lay down your old life, your old identity, your ego and bury it – Then walk in the newness of life.

The Ant Hero & The Dumb Ant

Friday, December 18, 2020

I was once attempting to show mercy… to an ant. I was trying to lead it around its obstacles to freedom outside. I was trying to be an ant hero. But the problem was I was dealing with an especially dumb ant. It kept going the wrong way, no matter what I did. Now ants do indeed have brains the size of a small bread crumbs. But the ant didn’t have to have a high I.Q. All it needed to do was to trust me. If it trusted me, that ant would have functioned as if it had super-intelligence, as compared to its fellow ants, functioning on the reasoning of a human brain. Compared to God, our intelligence is even less than that of a bread crumb-sized brain. So if you’re wise, you won’t rely on your own intelligence and understanding. If you do, you’ll be living like a dumb ant. But if you trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding….then the Lord will direct your path and you won’t live your life like a dumb ant!

From Message #1342 – And he Will Direct Your Paths
Scripture: Psalm 115:9-15

The God Coin

Thursday, December 17, 2020

Messiah asked those who were testing him about taxes, “Whose image is on this coin?” They answered, “Caesar’s.” To which He responded, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and render to God the things that are God’s.” In other words, if the coin bears the image of Caesar, then it belongs to Caesar and must be given to him. But then, what is it that bears the image of God? What bears the image of God is man. Thus, as a coin is to Caesar – so you are to God. If you bear God’s image, then you belong to Him, and if you belong to Him, you must render, give yourself unto Him. It’s the only natural and proper thing to do – since we already belong to Him. And beyond that, it reveals that if you don’t give yourself totally and wholly for God, then your life is lived in debt. In fact, your life becomes stolen property, an illegal substance. That’s why when you do your own thing with your life, it never works out, something is always wrong. So render unto God today that thing that is God’s – namely… you!

From Message #1340 – The Weights of the Scale
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:4

Today’s Mission – Consider this, your life bears the image of God, therefore you belong to Him. Live today as one whose entire being is owned and belongs to God – do all for His glory.

The Cup Strategy

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

A famous evangelist was dining with his acquaintances. One of them asked how to overcome sin. The evangelist filled his glass with water and asked, “Can you pour your drink into this glass?” “No,” the one answered, “how could I? The glass is full.” “Exactly,” said the evangelist, “and that’s your answer.” And the evangelist was right. The answer is in the cup being filled. You don’t overcome sin by trying not to sin, or temptation by trying not to be tempted. It doesn’t matter how much you try – if your cup is empty, you’re going to be vulnerable to sin. But if you fill yourself up with God, you won’t have any room to be filled with anything else. And even better than a full cup, is an overflowing cup. An overflowing cup can hardly be touched or polluted. If you fill yourself up with God and overflow with His joy, His Spirit, His presence, and His love then the enemy won’t be able to do anything – and there won’t be any sin you can’t overcome. So practice the secret today of overcoming all sin. It’s as simple as an overflowing cup.

From Message #1333- The Beelzebub Solution
Scripture: Colossians 2:6-7

Today’s Mission – Ask God to fill you today with His overflowing presence of love, joy, and peace – till your cup runneth over.

Exceeding The Orthodox

Tuesday, December 15, 2020

Orthodox Jews live under the law of Moses. Virtually everything in their life is governed by one law or tradition or another. Think of how zealous they are, how careful, how vigilant they are in following what they know of God. How does that compare with most believers? Do most believers you know treat the word of God as seriously, as reverently as the Orthodox treat their laws and traditions? Chances are they don’t. Chances are, you may not either. And yet Messiah told us that between the two, between the righteousness of the Orthodox, or in His case the Pharisees, under the Old Covenant, and the righteousness of His disciples in the New Covenant – your righteousness, the righteousness of His disciples is to be much greater and higher. You in the New Covenant are to be more devoted, more zealous, more loving, more pure, more self-disciplined, more giving, more studious, more reverent, more holy than they. Is that the case? If not, start making it so today. For the New Covenant is not lower, but higher than the Old, and the disciples of Messiah more holy and vigilant than the Orthodox.

From Message #1337 – The Nazir: Apostles & Skinheads
Scripture: Psalm 119:1-8

Today’s Mission – Commit to seeking the Lord’s righteousness and living by a higher level of righteousness and holiness in all areas of your life.

The Father’s Legacy

Monday, December 14, 2020

They did a study of men who ended up in therapy: 23% of them had physically absent fathers, 29% had psychologically absent fathers, 18% had disapproving fathers, 15% had dangerous fathers, only 15% had fathers who were nurturing. Thus, 85% of men in therapy had bad relationships with their fathers! Other studies have shown over and over again, that one of the most central causes of crime and social problems is the lack of a father. If you’re a father, take this to heart. Fatherhood is one of the most important ministries on earth. Treat it as such. And if you’ve had a tough time with your father, and he’s still alive – forgive and bless him – you can change that relationship. And above all, no matter what kind of relationship you had or didn’t have with your father – remember you ultimately have another Father – a Father who is never absent, never abusive, never anything less than loving. No matter what your past has been, you have the chance to overcome it. And you can. Discover the Perfect and Loving Heavenly Father you now have, and you’ll become the perfect Beloved Child you were always meant to be.

From Message #1329 – Birkhat Avote
Scripture: Mark 11:25

Today’s Mission – Today, take some time to bring before your heavenly Father, any past hurts, rejections, or scars that you’ve carried, and receive the unconditional love and healing that can only come from your Heavenly Father.

The Lips of a Cohayn

Friday, December 11, 2020

I was sitting in a diner when I was asked to go into full-time ministry. I went into my car and turned on the radio. The man speaking was quoting from Malachi. He said this: “The lips of a priest are to preserve knowledge and men are to seek the law from His mouth as a messenger of the Lord of Hosts.” But he didn’t say the word “priest.” Instead, he used the original Hebrew word “Cohayn” Cohayn is the root word for my last name “Cahn.” It’s linked to my heritage in the house of Aaron. It was the first confirmation of my calling – and more than that, a confirmation that God has a calling on each of our lives, a calling that fulfills everything we are – and that everything in our life is to be redeemed or used for His glory. So too, if you give everything in your life to God, God will use it for His glory. Give everything in your life to Him – Give Him your unconditional “yes” and He will reveal and fulfill the mystery of your life.

From Message #1309 – Apples of Gold
Scripture: 1 Peter 2:9

Today’s Mission – What is the voice of God calling you to do, or to stop doing – answer that call today – give Him your unconditional “yes.”

Reclining on the Soccer Field

Thursday, December 10, 2020

I remember one high school gym class, they had us play soccer. They assigned me and some others to play on defense along with the goal keeper. But the other players on our team were so good that all the action took place down at the other end of the field. No action took place on our end. So after a while, we decided to take it easy and spent the rest of the game reclining on the grass as if on beach chairs on a tropical vacation. But there’s an important principle there. The reason why we could be so relaxed on defense was because those who were on the offense were good and aggressive. So it is said, “The best defense is a good offense.” It’s true in the Lord as well. Don’t live in the Lord just trying to maintain your ground as the world, the flesh and the devil attack. Because then you’ll always be living on the defensive and up against a wall. Rather live on the spiritual offensive. Always press forward and take new ground. You stay on the offensive, and let the enemy be on defense.

From Message #824 – Higher Ground
Scripture: Philippians 3:13-15

Today’s Mission – Is there an area in your life where you’re living on the defensive – Turn it around – live on the offensive for God and against the enemy.

King Christian’s Stand

Wednesday, December 9, 2020

During the Second World War, the Danish monarch, King Christian X, spotted a Nazi swastika flying over a public building. “Take it down,” demanded the king to a German officer guarding the building. The officer indignantly refused. “The flag must be removed before 12 o’clock; otherwise, I will send a soldier to do it,” answered the king. “The soldier will be shot,” the officer replied. “I am the soldier,” replied the king. The swastika was removed from the building. King Christian was able to resist the evil of Nazism on more than one occasion. And the secret was, he put his life where his conviction were. And it’s true in the Lord as well. If you’re going to make a stand for righteousness, and against evil, if you’re going to make a difference in this world, then you have to do likewise. Righteousness has a cost. Pay it. Whatever sacrifice, whatever price, whatever risk, whatever it means, do the right thing – because the will and authority of God is with the righteous. And no matter what, in the end, they overcome.

From Message #636 – The Reich And The Kingdom
Scripture: Romans 1:17

Today’s Mission – Stand up for what is right, even if it costs you.

The Infinity Equation

Tuesday, December 8, 2020

The “Trinity” or the “triune nature of God” is one of the most controversial of doctrines. People, nonbelievers, and cult leaders have argued against it for ages. And even believers struggle with it. The simple truth is, when it comes to mathematics is that 1 cannot be 3 and 3 cannot be 1. But there’s a secret here. Those laws only apply when you’re dealing with finite entities – finite numbers. But the Bible declares that God is not finite – but infinite. So we have the realm of infinite entities or infinities. It’s 1 infinity plus 1 infinity plus1 infinity. And what does it equal? 1 infinity! 1 infinity divided by 3 still equals 1 infinity. Thus, the infinity of God plus the infinity of God plus the infinity of God equals…. The infinity of God. Can we fully understand infinity? No. Nor could we fully comprehend God – and we don’t have to. Rather, we just have to believe in Him. For there is no real “trinity problem” or “problem with God” – the only problem is how to open up our hearts, our minds, and our faith to that which is so much bigger.

From Message #1304 – The Infinity Solution
Scripture: Psalm 147:5

Today’s Mission – Is there an area or issue in your life – in which you are limiting God? Open up the limit, open your heart, mind, and soul – believe God for whatever it is – for with God, nothing shall be impossible.