Have you ever wondered if something is holding you back from experiencing the promises of God? I remember a time in my life when I was hearing about all the promises of God but never actually experiencing them. I heard about peace, but I didn't have any. I heard about joy, but I was unhappy all the time. I could see God's promises in His Word and I believed them, but something was missing. As I spent time studying God's Word, I came to realize that the root of my problem was found in the wrong mindsets I was living with.
All around us, the hearts of men and women are failing. Many are spiritually asleep from sorrow over a world in turmoil. It's so easy to listen to the voices of this world when we need to be hearing the voice of the Father. In 2012, when I was serving on the National Executive Committee of America for Jesus, I met a businessman from Philadelphia whose son was part of a yacht crew and competed in regattas. During one competition, several university scouts had come to watch his son. "There were thousands of people there, and I was screaming for him, 'You've got this, son!'" my friend explained.
This past weekend I spoke at a men's conference in Rwentobo, Uganda. Most of the men were Anglicans, including an archbishop from Rwanda and a bishop from Kenya. But these were not your grandmother's Anglicans. These men danced in the aisles, shouted their praises, and spoke in tongues. Even the bishops with clerical collars talked about healing the sick and casting out demons. In Africa, Christians aren't embarrassed to talk about the Holy Spirit. If your church allows this kind of freedom, you are blessed—because many American pastors today are afraid to allow the Spirit to move. We've put Him in a box.
"Behold, I have received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot reverse it." Numbers 23:20 Take time to reread today's scripture. They are precious words, and they reveal how God sees you and me today. They were spoken by a prophet named Balaam, who had been hired by Balak, the king of Moab, to invoke a curse to drive his enemy, the Israelites, from his territory. However, when Balaam opened his mouth to curse, blessings from God flowed out upon the Israelites instead (Num. 23:21–24)!
As Holy Spirit filled believers, Jesus has given us the ability to see, and do things beyond the natural realm. He has given us discernment from heaven's perspective. We should be able to perceive what the Lord is doing and then release it on this earth, whether it is preaching, a prophetic word, a word of knowledge, healing or one of the other gifts of the Holy Spirit. We have been given these unique gifts to be able to tune into the frequencies of heaven and discern the voice of God.
Joshua's words went out to "the chosen generation." God had waited until all those who were stiff-necked and rebellious had grown old and died. That younger generation would go forth and inherit the promises. After they crossed the Jordan, God told Joshua to "make flint knives for yourself and circumcise the sons of Israel again the second time," (Josh. 5:2). The older generation was circumcised, but the younger generation had not been. They were to bear the mark of covenant in their flesh before God would take them any further.
We have been seeing that the testimony of Jesus is Christ, and what Christ signifies in relation to God's eternal thought as to man and the world. You can go beyond that, if you like, and say, of the universe. That signification is comprehensive and all-comprehending, but it is gathered up into three things, and those three things are: Light, Life and Love. We come now to Life. Life has a large place in John's first epistle, just as we saw Light has, and as we may yet see that Love has. What does this say?
I am not (on purpose) going to act like I am anything or anyone that I am not. I see a lot of people who act bigger than their calling and this "aura" surrounds them like what happened to THEM is better than others. This SO DEFEATS the Cause of Christ in His Redemption work! Some just can't resist that, and then they make all these "special distinctions" that set them apart from others! That is the spirit of the Pharisees!!! I don't know if Americans or others can get cured of that or not! I am strong in my gift now, because of my sincere efforts, but it wasn't always that way!
In the journey of faith, a profound path beckons each believer toward a life marked by transformation and divine fulfillment. This path is illuminated by God's presence, which invites us into an intimate relationship with the Creator, offering a foundation upon which the entirety of our lives can be built. In this sacred space of closeness with God, we begin to truly experience the depth of His power, the abundance of His produce, and the clarity of His purpose for us. As we seek His face and dwell in His presence, we are not merely observers of the divine; we become participants in the supernatural. This journey is about seeking God for what He can do in our lives and discovering who we can become in Him.
Economists are calling it the "Whiplash Effect." After a post-pandemic surge, wages are under pressure and hiring is declining. Inflation is eroding purchasing power; people's money just doesn't go as far. Does it seem you just can't win? Is it all bad news or is there any hope? Do we just hold on? Or can we advance? Coming out stronger? That our lives and blessings would overflow to others? Deuteronomy 8:18 reminds us that, "And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is to this day."
