THE GREATER ONE IS WITHIN US

1 John 4:4 (NKJV) You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

If we could ever really get within us what this verse truly is saying, it would change us forever.  The Greater One lives within us!  Not upon us, like we see in the Old Testament, but really in us.  The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit live in us.  They are not there to do nothing, but to help us in our course of life.

They want us to live the abundant life that Jesus promised us in John 10:10.  He said, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

Jesus wants His words fulfilled in our lives, and He is the promise that they will be.  We need to stop looking at ourselves as just a nobody, or like the world wants to say, “Just a dirt ball.”  We need to see ourselves as children of the Most High God, created in His image and likeness!  He has placed within us His wisdom and His breath, and as we take time to listen and obey, we can see these things come alive in us.

So today, make a decision to become God inside-minded.  See yourself living the abundant life.  As you see yourself with God on the inside, it will manifest on the outside.  Remember, all things begin in the spirit, and then manifest themselves in the physical.  So see yourself as the Word says you are, and watch what God is going to do!

Confession:  I see myself as God sees me: A world overcomer, with the Greater One leading and directing my steps.  I am God inside-minded, and I see Him doing great things through me!

 Today's Bible Reading

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Isaiah 60 - 62:5
Philippians 1:27 - 2:18
Psalms 72
Proverbs 24:11-12

CAST YOUR CARES ON THE LORD

Psalm 55:22 (NKJV) Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.

Have you ever gone through a day (or a week) when you are discouraged, and it seems like nothing is going right?  Well, be of good cheer, because you are not the only one.  When we look through the Bible, we see many of the great men of faith having times of discouragement. 

Moses had it with the children of Israel, yet he got through it.  Elijah, after his great victory on Mount Carmel, had to fight a great bout of depression when Jezebel said that she wanted to take his life.  He said in 1 Kings 19:4, "It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my father’s!"

Wow!  Here is this great man of God who just had this great victory over the prophets of Baal, and one lady, Jezebel, so intimidates him that he wants to die. 

And it can be the same with us.  We forget what the Lord did yesterday, and we look at today and see this problem or this situation, and we get discouraged.  But this verse tells us to “Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.”

God will sustain us as we make a decision to give it over to Him.  So today, try it!  Give it to God.  His shoulders are a lot bigger than yours, and He is a loving and caring Father.  Trust Him, and He will see you through. Remember, He did it in the past, and He will do it today and in the future.

Confession:  I put my trust in the Lord and I know that today, He will get me through what I am going through.  He told me to cast my cares on Him, and that is what I am going to do.  I trust and obey!

Today's Bible Reading
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Isaiah 57:15 - Isaiah 59
Philippians 1:1-26
Psalms 71
Proverbs 24:9-10

GOD’S WORD IS PROFITABLE

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NKJV) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

God's Word is profitable.  I do not know about you, but when I make an investment, I want to make a profit.  I do not invest something like money and say, “Well, I hope I lose on this investment.”  That would be foolish!  It is the same with the Word of Almighty God.  If we take time each day and deposit it into our hearts, it will bring a good return for us. 

It says here that the Scripture is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness.  Each of these points that Paul brings out by the Holy Spirit will totally change us.  If we let the Word work in our heart, it will bring peace into our lives, it will bring joy, contentment, healing, provision, and so much more!  His Word will bring a profit to us.  It will thoroughly equip us for every good work.

So today, let His Word get deep within you.  Take time, read it, chew it, swallow it, and let it change you from the inside out.  You do not need to be a scholar to understand His Word.  Even a child can understand the Bible.  All you need is an open heart, child-like faith, and a Bible.  So go ahead!  Get your Bible, and start today by reading it.  It will bring great profit to your life.  Let today be the start of a new day in Him!

Confession:  This is a new day.  It is a day of drinking and eating from the Word of God.  Today, I will read His Word and chew on it, and I thank God that I will receive a great profit from all that He has promised in His Word.  A profit of all His benefits!

Today's Bible Reading
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Isaiah 54 - 57:14
Ephesians 6
Psalms 70
Proverbs 24:8

WE HAVE A RESERVATION

Luke 10:20 (NKJV) Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.

Jesus, in this verse, is telling us not to rejoice just because spirits are subject to us, but to rejoice because our names are written in heaven.  Have you ever made a reservation for dinner at a restaurant, or maybe at an event?  If so, you know that when you arrived and you told them your name, they said, “Yes, you have a reservation.”

Well, this scripture is saying just about the same thing.  Jesus went before us, and because we have accepted Him as our Lord and Savior, we now have reservations in heaven.  Just like we go to the restaurant or hotel and they open their book to see if our name is in there, the Bible says that God does the same thing.

On that day, He will open the Book of Life and say to us, “Yes, you have believed on the Name of my Son.  Yes, you have received the gift of salvation; the gift that only Jesus can give.  Come, enter into my presence and enjoy the reservation that has been set from the foundations of the world.”

I do not know about you, but for me, I am going to dance and lift my hands and say, "Thank you Jesus for going to the cross for me, and shedding your blood for me!  Thank you for dying for my sins!  Because of what you have done for me, I will now live with you for all eternity!”

If this is Good News for you today, think of someone you can share this great truth with.  Today, your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life!  Today, you have an eternal reservation!

Confession: I have a reservation in heaven that no one can take from me.  I have believed in Jesus as my Lord and Savior, and because of what He has done, my name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life!

Today's Bible Reading
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Isaiah 51 - 53
Ephesians 5
Psalms 69:19-36
Proverbs 24:7

WE HAVE AUTHORITY

Luke 10:19 (NKJV) Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

In these words of Jesus, He tells us that He has given us authority to trample on serpents and scorpions. Well, we know that He is not talking here about snakes, but as the next part brings out: "And over all the power of the enemy."

Jesus is telling us here that He has given us power over all the works of satan, that He has placed him under us, and that we can keep him in line through this promise, and the many more promises that tell us that he is defeated.

I joke around when I preach and I make statements like, “Satan is defeated, so he has no feet,” and “Satan is disarmed, so we know he has no arms.”  All kidding aside, he is powerless against a blood-bought, Spirit-filled child of God!

So what are the powers of the enemy?  Anything that is under the curse, such as sickness and disease, lack, oppression, and the list goes on and on. 

Today, we need to declare what Christ has done for us. We need to declare with our mouths that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. We need to declare that we have authority over the works of the enemy in our lives, and that we are going to live victorious in Christ Jesus.  As you declare these truths from the Word of God, they will become a reality in your life, and you will see the victory of the cross that Jesus won for you.  So today, rejoice and declare God’s goodness towards you!

Confession: I declare today that in my life, satan has been defeated.  I am victorious because of what Jesus has already done on the cross.  Sickness, lack, and all the rest of the curse, cannot stay in me because Christ has given me power over all the works of the devil. 

Today's Bible Reading
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Isaiah 48:12 - Isaiah 50
Ephesians 4:17-32
Psalms 69:1-18
Proverbs 24:5-6

THE NAME OF THE LORD (Part 2)

Proverbs 18:10 (NKJV) The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.

Yesterday we looked at the power of the Name.  Today, I want to look at the second part of this verse.  It says, "The righteous run to it and are safe."  As I look at this, I have to say that this verse is talking about us.  We see from God's Word that Jesus has made us righteous, and that through His shed blood on the cross of Calvary, my sins have been forgiven, and I have been restored to the place in Him of right standing with God.

2 Corinthians 5:21 says: “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

Jesus Christ (who never sinned, and no sin was ever found in Him) was made sin with our sins and our unrighteousness.  When Pilate examined him he said, “…I find no fault in this Man.” (Luke 23:4)

No sin was found in Jesus, yet my sins were placed on Him so that I can now be in right standing with God.  Jesus has brought us to a place of acceptance with our Heavenly Father, so that we can enjoy intimacy with Him.

So today, as you ponder who you are “In Christ” and all that Jesus did on that cross, remember that He is a strong tower to us that believe in His Name, and that He is our protector throughout life.

Confession: Today, not when I get to heaven, I stand before God as if I never sinned.  God, my Father, sees me and accepts me, all because of the blood of Jesus.  Thank you, Jesus, for going to the cross for me, and washing my sins away.

Today's Bible Reading
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Isaiah 45:11 - 48:11
Ephesians 4:1-16
Psalms 68:19-35
Proverbs 24:3-4 

THE NAME OF THE LORD

Proverbs 18:10 (NKJV) The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.

The Name of Jesus, to us that believe in that Name, is a very strong place to be.  In His Name there is protection, in His Name there is provision, and in His Name there is safety and comfort.

It is to the Name of Jesus that demons must bow.  It is in that Name that prayers are answered.  Let us look at a few scriptures today that show us these great truths:

Philippians 2:9-11 “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Mark 16:17 “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues.”

John 14:13-14 “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”

These are just a few of the many Scriptures that show that all power is given in that Name.  No wonder satan tries to downgrade the Name.  But we, who are called by His great Name, love and respect His Name: THE NAME OF JESUS!

Confession:  Today, I look at the power in the Name of Jesus, and I proclaim that He is Lord!  Through His Name I can cast out devils, and I can speak with new tongues.  In that Name I see my prayers answered.  Praise to His Name!

Today's Bible Reading
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Isaiah 43:14 - 45:10
Ephesians 3
Psalms 68:1-18
Proverbs 24:1-2