Don’t Lose Your Head!
Friday, November 15, 2024
As a child, before I knew the Lord, I participated in Halloween. The most inexpensive costume was the headless man. We would lift our jackets over our heads, ring the doorbell and stand there with our bags out, trusting they would be filled since we couldn’t see anything. A man walking around without his head is the stuff of horror movies. However, a lot of believers are basically running around without their heads. They run after the latest trend, movement, teaching, emotion, sign, wonder, problem, or circumstance. They’re following everything but the Lord. They think it’s the Spirit, but they’re really following feelings and circumstances. One day they think God’s telling them to get married, and the next day to be single. It’s the amazing headless Christian. We must be open to the moving of God’s Spirit but we must also make sure we are grounded in His Word. God gave you a head, use it! In order to love the Lord with all your mind, you must keep your head. For headless Christians are just plain scary.
From Message #652 – Little Monsters
Scripture: Acts 20:29-30
Today’s Mission – Today, take a Word of God and root and ground yourself in it. Stand by it the entire day.
The Cub Scouts Who Worked Against The Police
Thursday, November 14, 2024
In Surrey, England, two cub scouts decided to do a very special good deed for all the motorists in their area. They stood on the side of the road warning the cars of a police radar trap just ahead. When the organization found out what was happening, they quickly put an end to it. Sometimes what we think are good deeds aren’t really good. They may be nice, but nice isn’t always good. It might be nice to agree with people to make them feel good, but sometimes the very thing that makes them feel good hinders them from ever becoming good. Living simply to please people, giving them what they demand, isn’t the way of righteousness. If someone is drunk and wants to drive home, you can be nice and let them go. The good thing to do is to stop them. It doesn’t feel good, but it’s the most loving thing you can do. You’re not called to be agreeable and nice, you’re called to be good, and sometimes love has to be tough. God isn’t always agreeable, but He’s always good. You be the same.
From Message #376 – Truth in Love
Scripture: 3 John 1:11
Today’s Mission – Walk in righteousness and do what is good today.
On The Edge of The Race
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
When I was a boy, I would go sledding with friends. We always started out sitting on top of the hill, right on the edge. It only took the slightest push for gravity’s momentum to kick in and do the rest. That little nudge made all the difference between going somewhere or going nowhere. So too it is in our lives. It is written that God has already prepared good works for you to enter into, but it’s not going to happen if you just sit there on the edge of fulfilling God’s calling on your life. All it takes is just a little push for you to begin, that first step of righteousness, of holiness, of courage, of ministry, of overcoming fear. Take the first step against fear, worry, complacency, apathy, inertial, and that rut. Start moving to victory. One little nudge is the difference between a life of going nowhere and a life that’s moving in God’s Spirit. Do what God is calling you to do. Then, in the momentum of the Spirit, the ride will begin!
From Message #294 – Healing
Scripture: John 16:7
Today’s Mission – Today, take that first step towards victory and break out of that rut.
The Sons of Deity
Tuesday, November 12, 2024
Greek mythology tells of supernatural beings who were children of the gods. There was Hercules, son of Zeus, and Perseus, another son of Zeus. Of course, it’s all a myth. The amazing thing is that something even more supernatural than this actually does exist. Those who are born again are divine beings. They are children of the Living God. That’s much greater than being a child of Zeus. What an awesome thing it is to be born again. In mythology, the children of the gods were considered to be supernatural beings, with supernatural powers, heroes who overcame great odds, colossal foes, and bringing deliverance. You are a supernatural being, with the supernatural powers of the Spirit. You are called to be a hero, to overcome great odds, and to bring deliverance in every situation by the power of Messiah. In the new birth you’re a child of God- by His Spirit, more valiant than Perseus and stronger than Hercules. Live like it, for it’s no myth.
From Message #608 – The Butterfly’s Child
Scripture: Galatians 3:26
Today’s Mission – Today, live as a child of Deity. Walk in the supernatural power of God and overcome all things.
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The God of The Everyland Land
Monday, November 11, 2024
One of the many things that makes Israel so amazing is that it’s filled with landscapes of every kind. Its western coast is the Mediterranean seashore. Its northern border has a snow capped mountain. In its middle is the fertile valley of Jezreel. Above the valley is the beautiful hills and Sea of Galilee. In its south is the barren moonscape of the Negev… and so much more – all in a piece of land no larger than the state of New Jersey. Our God is the God of Israel. He’s the God of the everyland land. He’s not only the God of the mountains, He’s the God of the valleys, the high places and the low, the beautiful planes, and the dry and barren wilderness. In your life, He’s not only the God of your mountaintops, but of your valleys as well. His love for you is everywhere. He will be with you in every landscape of your life. As He is faithful to you in every moment and place, so live faithful to Him. He’s your everyland God – you be His everyland disciple.
From Message #451 – The Waters of Zion
Scripture: Acts 17:24
Today’s Mission – Today, see yourself walking hand in hand with your Father God, whether it’s a mountain top or a valley.
Interrogating The Interrogator
Thursday, November 7, 2024
Richard Wurmbrand was imprisoned for his faith by the communist government of Romania. He was interrogated and tortured day in and day out. One day he said to his interrogator, “You interrogate me all the time. Now I want to interrogate you. Have you ever been in love?” “What kind of question is that?” said the interrogator. Wurmbrand answered, “I once fell in love with the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. Not long after we met, I asked her to marry me and she said yes. She loved me! When anybody asked how I was, I answered, ‘She loves me.’ So here you are, asking me so many questions, and the one thing I can tell you is, ‘Jesus loves me.’ So when you come to know the love of God, you won’t have to ask so many questions. His love will answer the questions in your heart.” So, you too might have a lot of questions in your life, but remember the words of the prisoner. In the end, it’s God’s love that’s going to matter. Whatever you’re going through, let go and say, “But God loves me.”
From Message #502 – Mercy and Truth
Scripture: 1 John 4:16
Today’s Mission – Today, no matter what comes your way, dwell on and rejoice in the fact that God loves you.
Facing The Ninevites
Wednesday, November 6, 2024
The prophet Jonah was called to preach judgment to the city of Nineveh. Nineveh was the royal city of the Assyrians. The Assyrians were some of the fiercest, most savage peoples of the ancient world. So why wasn’t Jonah afraid to confront the Assyrians? He first ran away. But after three days in the stomach of a fish sent by God, Jonah was more afraid of God than of man. If you’re a child of God and you’re afraid to share the Gospel because of what people might think of you or whether they’ll accept or reject you, what you’re saying is you fear man more than God. Jonah could only fear the Assyrians if he didn’t fear God, and you could only fear others if you don’t fear God. If you fear God most of all and He’s with you, then it’s impossible to fear anything or anyone else. Greater is He that is in you than he who is in the world. Therefore, go and preach the Gospel to all men and fear no man- only God.
From Message #392 – Keys of Revival
Scripture: 1 Peter 2:17
Today’s Mission – Today, fear God only, and don’t be afraid to share Messiah with everyone.
Facing The Ninevites
Wednesday, November 6, 2024
The prophet Jonah was called to preach judgment to the city of Nineveh. Nineveh was the royal city of the Assyrians. The Assyrians were some of the fiercest, most savage peoples of the ancient world. So why wasn’t Jonah afraid to confront the Assyrians? He first ran away. But after three days in the stomach of a fish sent by God, Jonah was more afraid of God than of man. If you’re a child of God and you’re afraid to share the Gospel because of what people might think of you or whether they’ll accept or reject you, what you’re saying is you fear man more than God. Jonah could only fear the Assyrians if he didn’t fear God, and you could only fear others if you don’t fear God. If you fear God most of all and He’s with you, then it’s impossible to fear anything or anyone else. Greater is He that is in you than he who is in the world. Therefore, go and preach the Gospel to all men and fear no man- only God.
From Message #392 – Keys of Revival
Scripture: 1 Peter 2:17
Today’s Mission – Today, fear God only, and don’t be afraid to share Messiah with everyone.
Before The Bread
Monday, November 4, 2024
There’s a secret of abundant life and victory found in The Lord’s Prayer. It said, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” and, “Give us this day our daily bread-“. The secret is right there: the will- “Your will be done”- and the want- “Give us this day our daily bread”. Notice, it’s the will that comes first. Messiah gave us this to be the model prayer of our heart. God does care about your needs and desires, but He doesn’t want you to be wrapped up in them. If you want to live victoriously, do it according to The Lord’s Prayer. Put His will before your want, even before your need. If you live by what you want or need, your life will always be wanting and needy. But if you live by His will, your life will always be in His will. So, seek His will above your needs and you won’t dwell in need. Live by His will, not by your want, and you’ll never be wanting for any good thing.
From Message #482 – As it is in Heaven
Scripture: Psalm 34:10
Today’s Mission – Today, put the Lord’s will before your wants and needs.
AMERICA’S REAL PROBLEM
Friday, November 1, 2024
Shalom, to you my Friend and Co-Minister in the Great Commission…
Many Christians believe that if they can elect the right people, place into position the right Supreme Court justices, pass the right laws, they can save America. We should, by all means, vote and do all we can to impact our government. I am the first to encourage that. But that alone won’t save America. Though politics play an important part, America’s problem is not ultimately political. It is not ultimately economic, and not even ultimately cultural.
America’s problem is ultimately spiritual – and so only a spiritual answer can solve it. If we change laws but not hearts, then the unchanged hearts will, in time, change back the laws. We should seek to change unrighteous laws, but if we don’t change hearts, we will lose everything in the end. The overturning of Roe V. Wade was momentous and by the hand of God. But without the overturning of hearts, people will seek abortion, if not one way, then another, if not in one state, then another, until they can overturn the overturning itself. A recent poll found that 66% of Americans oppose the total overturning of Roe V. Wade with 29% in favor. How long can that be sustained if hearts don’t change.
According to another recent poll, the percentage of Americans who want to overturn the legalizing of gay marriage is 28%. The percentage in favor of legalized gay marriage was found to be around 70%. As for the more conservative, as in Republicans, the percentage was somewhere around 50%. Among young Americans, the percentage is even higher than 70%, but then about 1-in-5 to 1-in-4 young Americans now consider themselves LGBT in one form or another. With regard to America’s future, it is that last percentage, that of the young, that will prove the most important. We must face the fact that we are living in a nation in a state of apostasy.
In the years 2016 to 2020, the American government was led by a Republican and conservative administration. And there were many accomplishments that conservatives and Christians could boast in – executive orders issued on behalf of life and religious liberty, the appointment of conservative Supreme Court justices, the Jerusalem Declaration, the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the Abrahamic Accords, the recognition of Israel’s sovereignty in the Golan Heights, and more. But at the same time, America’s spiritual, moral, and cultural decline, apostasy, and fall, did not stop. If anything the indoctrination of its children in the classroom, online, and in mass media, into the ways of immorality and godlessness only increased. If we don’t change those things, we will not change America’s trajectory – or its fall.
Electing a more godly or moral administration will not matter in the end, if there is no changing of hearts, no turning back to God, no revival. On the other hand, electing an ungodly or immoral administration will not matter in the end, even if we do change hearts, if the nation does turn back to God, and if true revival does come to America.
This month, let us now vote with our prayers, and fervently plead with God for revival. It is that only that can save this nation. And May God greatly bless you this month as you do!
Your brother and co-laborer
in His love and service,