http://www.walkingbyfaith.tv/journal/single-article en duane@reslife.org Copyright 2013 2013-02-27T18:34:47+00:00 http://www.walkingbyfaith.tv/site/dont_lose_heart/ http://www.walkingbyfaith.tv/site/dont_lose_heart/#When:17:34:47Z One of the biggest problems people face is discouragement. This is even true when it comes to spiritual things. We have a tendency to think that everything should happen more quickly than it sometimes does. We pray and wait…and wait some more. After awhile, we can be tempted to lose heart and give up. In the natural world, a farmer goes out and plows his field, plants some seed, and when he checks two weeks later, there are little green plants poking up through the soil. But often in our spiritual lives, we can sow a seed and not see much happening right away. You can keep doing the right things for weeks, months and sometimes years and find yourself wondering, “Is this even making a difference?” The Bible encourages us saying, “Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (Galatians 6:9). But how do we keep from losing heart? Remember This It helps to remember that difficulties, enemies, obstacles and problems are a normal part of every Christian’s life. Just because you experience those things doesn’t necessarily mean you are doing something wrong. Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33, NIV). The reality is, anytime you attempt to move in a positive direction, there is going to be some opposition. Circumstances will get in the way. There will be obstacles and enemies, but Jesus said to take heart. That is great news, but it gets even better: 1 John 4:4 ties His victory to yours when it says, “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.” What You Believe What you believe makes a huge difference. In a time of trouble, the psalmist David wrote, “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living” (Psalm 27:13). If you believe that God is faithful, that He is good and that He is for you, you won’t easily lose heart. Hebrews 11:6 (NIV) says: “Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” Biblical faith involves believing three things: that God exists, that He is a rewarder and that He will reward you when you seek Him. “Faith is,” Hebrews 11:1 (NIV) tells us, “being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” It is the confident belief that things not yet seen will happen the way God’s Word says.  When your faith is challenged and you are feeling weary, you would do well to read Ephesians 1:15-23 and pray in agreement with the Apostle Paul. Remind yourself that God loves you, that He saved you for a purpose, that you have a rich inheritance and that His unlimited power is available to you. In fact, the same power that raised Christ from the dead dwells in you (Romans 8:11) and is working for your good. Did you notice that Paul’s prayer doesn’t ask God to send more power or to send angels to help? No, he prayed that God would open our eyes so we can see and know the power that is already working in us. Why did he pray that? So we would not lose heart. When you start to feel discouraged, shift your focus away from the problem and look to God’s unlimited power that is already working on your behalf. When you believe you will see God’s goodness in the land of the living, you will not lose heart. Joshua’s Example In the first chapter of Joshua, we read that Moses has died and God has made Joshua the new leader over the children of Israel. He faced great challenges, but in verse 5, God tells him, “No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life.” In verse 6, He tells him: “Be strong and of good courage.” In verse 7: “Be strong and very courageous.” In verses 9 and 18: “Be strong and of good courage.” Over and over again, God poured instruction and encouragement into Joshua. Why? Because he was tempted to lose heart. We are not so different from Joshua. We all need to be encouraged, refreshed and renewed each day. The encouragement and advice God gave to Joshua enabled him to overcome all the adversity he faced, and it will do the same for you. God said, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success” (Joshua 1:8). Hebrews 4:12-13 tells us that “the Word of God is living and powerful…”  It brings life and power to us every time we take it in. No matter what is going on in your life, keep filling yourself with God’s Word. Read it, meditate on it, let it settle into your heart so that it is reflected in your words and actions. Why not get in the habit of reading a chapter while having your morning coffee, listening to an audio Bible while driving in the car or working out or reading a page or two before going to sleep each night. Even a little of God’s Word in your heart can make a big difference!  Strengthen Yourself in the Lord As with Joshua, we can learn much from what David did during a time of terrible distress. While he and six hundred of his fighting men were away, their enemies, the Amalekites, stole all their possessions, destroyed their homes and took their women and children captive. David and his men returned to find nothing but a smoking pile of rubble. Everything and everyone was gone. 1 Samuel 30:4 tells us, “David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep.” They were utterly devastated – and who wouldn’t be? Like the rest of the men, David had no choice in what had happened, but he recognized that he did have a choice in how he was going to respond.  He could stand there and see nothing but the disaster and his pain or he could look beyond the rubble and see God. He could have completely lost heart, but instead, 1 Samuel 30:6 tells us, “David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.” Then, “David inquired of the Lord, saying, ‘Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?’ And He answered him, ‘Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all’” (1 Samuel 30:8). David did as God said, and without fail, everything and everyone that had been taken was recovered. When in distress, you, like David, have a choice. You can focus on the trouble you face or you can look beyond it and see the God you believe in. You can choose to strengthen yourself in the Lord. How? By reminding yourself what the scriptures say about Him and His promises and by “inquiring of the Lord” as David did. Ask God for His direction and then apply His truth to the situation you are facing. God says, “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3). Finally… You are not alone, and you are not powerless. The Bible reminds us that God Himself said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). God is saying, “Not only will I never physically leave you, but my heart will never turn away from you.” Be assured and encouraged that when God says never, He means never. God has not left you or forsaken you, and He never will. Proverbs 4:23 says, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” Keep on guarding your heart and believing what God says. Continue sowing and doing good, and do not let yourself grow weary. God is true to His Word. While you may not always understand everything that happens, you will reap a harvest. Do not lose heart! ********************************************************************************************************* (All scriptures are from the New King James Version of the Bible unless otherwise stated.) Please contact our team if you would like prayer.     Encouragement 2013-02-27T17:34:47+00:00 http://www.walkingbyfaith.tv/site/realizing_your_potential/ http://www.walkingbyfaith.tv/site/realizing_your_potential/#When:17:54:35Z The Bible describes God as being “able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20) and tells us that, with Him, “nothing will be impossible” (Luke 1:37). There is never a day when this is not true. He is always able to do far more than we could even think of asking Him. Most of us tend to think too small, pray too small, believe too small and live too small. We believe the lie that “God may be able to do that for someone else, but not for me.” This kind of thinking limits what God can do in us and through us. It can also keep us from realizing our full potential in life. Developing Your Potential One definition of the word “potential” says it is “what you can do but have not yet accomplished.” If you aren’t careful, you can hear that as “reaching your potential is based solely on your own efforts.” Not true. It is about surrendering yourself to God and letting His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. We can better define potential this way: Potential is how far you can go, not alone, but with God. You see, God loves you and has great expectations for you. When you develop and use what He has given you, whether you view it as big or small, you are developing the potential He created in you. Here is what the Amplified Bible tells us in Ephesians 2:10: “For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].” God doesn’t expect you to do it by yourself. As you pray asking for His direction, take time to stop and listen (see Proverbs 3:5-6). Then, don’t be afraid to step out and do the things He tells you. Remember, He will never lead you to do something contrary to His written Word. You Are Unique God is into creativity and uniqueness. Think about it: every snowflake is different, no two people have the same fingerprints, and each of us has a unique DNA. He created only one “you,” and there will never be anyone else who can do exactly what He prepared for you to do. On the earth, value is often determined by how readily available or how scarce something is. Gold and diamonds are valuable because they are rare. Likewise, since there is no one identical to you, you are unique and irreplaceable. You are of great value! In Matthew 16:24-26, Jesus was talking to His disciples and said this: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” This passage is about surrendering to Jesus, but it is also about your value. Jesus is saying that every person has more value than the whole world. Why? Because the earth as we know it will pass away, but you will live forever. God’s Opinion Matters Most You cannot afford to allow past failures, the thoughts and opinions of others or even the devil make you feel devalued. Please do not let anyone or anything cause you to believe that your life does not matter or have a purpose. It is a lie. Do not believe it. Consider this: if you have a $20 bill, it has most likely been used to buy alcohol or drugs. Actually, law enforcement officials say it is nearly impossible to find one that does not have traces of cocaine on it. Your $20 bill has probably been stolen a few times, used to bribe someone or used for other immoral, unethical purposes. However, its value is not determined by what it has been through. Its value was determined by its maker, the U.S. Treasury. Likewise, your value is not determined by what you have been through. It was – and is – determined by God. The bad things that may have happened in your life do not present a problem for Him or disqualify you from reaching your potential. Agree With God You truly are worth more than this entire planet. 1 Peter 1:18-19 says, “…you were not redeemed with corruptible things like silver or gold…but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” All the world’s silver and gold would not be enough to redeem you. Only the blood of Jesus is precious enough. Please hear and understand this: Jesus did not die to make you valuable. His death for you simply proved your value. On your worst day, you are still worth more than the whole world. You need to agree with God and see yourself the way He sees you. Here is another thing God wants you to understand: you did not get your identity from your parents. You came through your parents, but your identity comes from God. Maybe you were not planned by your parents, but that is not the case with God. God said to Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5). God is the one who planned your entrance into this world, and He has good things in store for you. Please do not limit Him by trying to fulfill your destiny on your own instead of surrendering to Him. Don’t Limit God In Psalm 78:41, we are told that God’s people “limited the Holy One of Israel.” They saw Him split the Red Sea, and they walked through on dry ground. With their own eyes, they saw God drown Pharaoh and his whole army. They received provisions of bread from heaven every morning, and God even provided water from a rock. Though they had seen miracle after miracle after miracle, they limited Him. How could that happen? Verse 42 tells us, “They did not remember His power.” God desired to do so much more for them, and He wants to do more for you, too. But just like the children of Israel, you can limit God if you do not remember and rely on His power. Be Encouraged It bears repeating that potential is how far you can go, not alone, but with God. You see, it takes faith to go where you have never gone before, to do what you have never done before. Faith connects you with God’s power. Romans 1:17, in talking about the Gospel, says: “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith.’” Notice it says “from faith to faith.”  No one can live on yesterday’s faith, and the faith you have today is not enough to get you where God wants you to go tomorrow. You have to go from faith to faith. It is imperative that you have an ongoing relationship with God; one where you keep on connecting with Him and growing in your faith. We know from Hebrews 11:6 that, “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Just as it is impossible to connect with God without faith, it is also impossible to realize your full potential without faith. Finally… There is not a person alive today who has not been gifted by God. No one but Him knows the potential – the untapped power, dormant ability and unused strength - that is inside you. This potential came in seed form. It needs to grow and be developed. You will never ask God for more than He is able to do. It is time to start thinking bigger thoughts, praying bigger prayers, believing and living a larger life. It is time to surrender fully to Him, exercise your faith and realize your potential. (All scriptures are from the New King James Version of the Bible unless otherwise stated.) Please contact us if you would like someone to agree with you in prayer. Encouragement 2013-01-01T17:54:35+00:00 http://www.walkingbyfaith.tv/site/the_power_of_the_blood/ http://www.walkingbyfaith.tv/site/the_power_of_the_blood/#When:01:10:23Z No gift God has given us is more important than the blood of Jesus Christ. Yet many Christians do not fully comprehend the power of the blood. What’s worse is that many churches - even whole denominations - have stopped preaching and singing about the blood and its power. How about you? Do you understand the significance of the blood? The Powerful Blood The Bible tells us many powerful things that the blood of Jesus does when applied.  When you apply the blood, it: Provides forgiveness of your sins. “The law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22, NIV). Gives you life. “Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you” (John 6:53). Brings you close to God. “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13). Cleanses your conscience.  “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God” (Hebrews 9:14). Gives you boldness to approach God. “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus…” (Hebrews 10:19). Sanctifies you. “Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate” (Hebrews 13:12). Cleanses you. “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). Heals you.  “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24, NIV). Enables you to overcome the devil and his works.  “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony…”  (Revelation 12:11, NIV). Blood is Important Blood is so important to God that it is mentioned in the Bible around 700 times. David referred to the “incorruptible” blood. Peter spoke of the “precious” blood, and John wrote of the “overcoming” power of the blood. We’re told in Leviticus 17:11 that, “the life of the flesh is in the blood.” This is true in both spiritual and physical realms. Your natural blood supplies life-giving oxygen and nutrients to every cell in your body. If the flow of blood were to get cut off from an area of your body, that part would begin to die. Spiritually speaking, any part of your life that is cut off from the blood of Jesus is dead or dying. Your blood also carries away wastes and toxins from your cells. Spiritually, without the blood of Jesus, your life would be filled with filth just like the Pharisees in Matthew 23:27. Thank God for the blood of Jesus that removes the dirt of sin from our daily lives! God also equipped your body with white blood cells that fight off sickness. Any time bacteria or viruses try to get in, your white cells start destroying the invaders. When your natural blood is healthy, you are protected from disease; and when you are spiritually healthy, there isn’t anything the devil can bring against you that the blood of Jesus isn’t sufficient to overcome. There truly is life in the blood! Shed and Sprinkled Blood At the Last Supper, when Jesus held up the cup of wine, He said, ”...This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you” (Luke 22:20). The blood is so significant that this scripture is used every time we receive communion. Still, most Christians know only about the blood being shed and not about its being applied. In Exodus 12:22, the Israelites were commanded to kill a lamb and dip a branch of hyssop (a common herb) in its blood. They were then to sprinkle it on the lintel and side-posts of their front doors. That night, as the death angel came, he passed over every door where he saw the blood on the doorposts. Everyone whose doorposts had no blood lost their firstborn; those with the blood were spared. If an Israelite had left the blood in the basin instead of applying it, the death angel would have struck their home. Killing the lamb would have done them no good. The shedding of blood was not enough - the blood only had the power to save when it was taken out of the basin and applied! God Looks at the Blood It’s important to note that God’s protection wasn’t dependent on the zeal of the Israelites or their good works. He wasn’t looking at their degree of morality or even their devotional habits. God was only looking at the blood, and He is still looking at the blood! Remember, Leviticus 17:11 says, “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.” Throughout the Old Testament, it was the blood of the animals sacrificed that had the power to atone or make amends for wrong doing. In the New Testament, Jesus said, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:28, NIV). Even though there is nothing any person can do to compensate for their sins, many keep trying to make up for the things they’ve done. It may be something big or small: an addiction, an affair, an abortion, an angry outburst, an unforgiving heart - but the blood of Jesus is the only thing that can bring about the forgiveness you and I need. In 1 John 1:7-9 we’re told, “If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  When we admit our sins to God, the blood of Jesus provides for forgiveness and cleansing. Without the blood of Jesus, we are defenseless against the devil and his works. Yes, it’s good to have zeal and do good works. It’s good to have a high degree of morality and a strong devotional life. But none of those things alone can cleanse, heal, or protect you. When it comes to your forgiveness and cleansing, your healing, protection, and deliverance, God is still looking at the blood! Applying the Blood Just as the blood had to be sprinkled on the doorposts, you also must apply the blood of Jesus. It was already shed for you, but it becomes powerful in your life when you apply it. Under the old covenant, the blood of animals was applied by sprinkling with the hyssop. Under the new covenant, we apply the blood of Jesus with our words. “For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:10). You are applying the blood of Jesus when you say, “the blood of Jesus was shed on the cross for me.” You can apply the blood to your body to receive healing (Isaiah 53:5). You can apply the blood to yourself and your family for protection (Exodus 12:13). You can apply the blood to cover your children and their circumstances (Job 1:5). You can apply the blood to anything you have authority over or influence upon.  And whatever you apply the blood of Jesus to becomes redeemed by Christ, and Satan cannot touch it. The blood of Jesus will never lose its power, but it will only make a difference in your life when you apply it. There is power in the blood of Jesus Christ!  (All scriptures are from the New King James Version of the Bible unless otherwise stated.) Our prayer for you is that God’s best will always be yours. If you’d like someone from our team to pray with you, please contact us at 800-988-5120 or by clicking on “Need Prayer?” on our home page. Blood of Jesus 2012-11-05T01:10:23+00:00 http://www.walkingbyfaith.tv/site/nothing_but_the_blood/ http://www.walkingbyfaith.tv/site/nothing_but_the_blood/#When:06:31:01Z Some people consider the blood of Jesus to be nothing more than a metaphor and think that it has little or nothing to do with us today. That couldn’t be further from the truth. You need to know that salvation and its many benefits are obtainable only through the blood of Jesus. His blood plus nothing, minus nothing, paid for your sin. His blood plus nothing, minus nothing, redeems you, restoring you to favor and fellowship with God. The blood that Jesus shed for you was real blood. His blood deals with real problems and brings real solutions into your life. However, it does not affect your life until you put your faith in the blood. Faith in the Blood The Bible tells us that the just shall live by faith. This means your faith is supposed to have an effect on your life; it is supposed to be the determining factor in everything about your life. You should live by faith, and your faith needs to be in the blood of Jesus. We are told in Romans 3:25 (KJV) that God set Jesus forth “to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins.” That simply means that restoration to fellowship with God and His blessings has been made available through faith in Jesus’ blood. The New Living Translation says it this way: “God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed His life, shedding His blood.”  Just because Jesus shed His blood doesn’t mean it automatically changes your life. You must place your faith in His blood to receive the benefits of His sacrifice. It is only through the blood of Jesus that you are translated out of the kingdom of darkness and into God’s Kingdom. Colossians 1:13-14 (TLB) says that our heavenly Father “has rescued us out of the darkness and gloom of Satan’s kingdom and brought us into the Kingdom of His dear Son, who bought our freedom with His blood and forgave us all our sins.” Nothing but the blood can save you. Sacrifices The Bible teaches in Hebrews 9:22: “According to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.” Under the Old Testament law, the blood of innocent animals was shed for the sins of the guilty. However, the blood from these sacrifices only covered past sins and had to be repeated again and again. God’s Word teaches that we have a better covenant, established on better promises (Hebrews 8:6). Under the Old Covenant, sins were only covered, but with the New Covenant, “the blood of Jesus Christ…cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). He has “washed us from our sins in His own blood” (Revelation 1:5). It gets even better! Hebrews 9:12 (AMP) says: “He (Jesus) went once for all into the [Holy of] Holies [of heaven], not by virtue of the blood of goats and calves [by which to make reconciliation between God and man], but His own blood, having found and secured a complete redemption (an everlasting release for us).” Jesus’ blood secured a complete redemption that lasts for eternity. He did not leave anything out – everything is included. He planned and provided for you to experience freedom in every area through faith in the blood of Jesus. His blood was a one time, “once for all” sacrifice: once for all sin, bondage, guilt, sickness, disease, poverty, curses…the list goes on. There are no special problems or unique situations that are not covered or that God has overlooked in the plan of redemption. Jesus’ blood paid it all. Nothing but the blood can do that! Perfect for Imperfect Hebrews 10:13-14 (Message Bible) describes what Jesus did this way: “It was a perfect sacrifice by a perfect person to perfect some very imperfect people. By that single offering, He did everything that needed to be done for everyone who takes part in the purifying process.” By His single sacrifice, Jesus did EVERYTHING for EVERYONE who would EVER take part in the purifying process by putting faith in the blood. Under the Old Covenant, when you sinned, the priest examined the sacrifice you brought. He didn’t examine you or your sin, only your sacrifice. In fact, in Malachi 1:7-8, the prophet rebuked the people for bringing lame and blind sacrifices, saying they were unacceptable to God. But if your sacrifice was accepted, then you were accepted and your sins were covered. Today, we are still accepted based on our sacrifice, not our behavior. Thank God that we have a perfect sacrifice! 1 Peter 1:18-19 tells us that we were redeemed “with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” Even Pilate, who examined Jesus before the crucifixion, declared, “I find no fault in this Man” (Luke 23:4). Your relationship with God is not dependent on your behavior. When you put your faith in the precious blood of Jesus, the perfect sacrifice, you are accepted and your sins are forgiven (Ephesians 1:6-7). A Clean Conscience The Bible calls Satan the “accuser of the brethren” and says he accuses you before God day and night (Revelation 12:10). He keeps pointing out your failures, shortcomings and sins because he wants you to think that your relationship with God is more about your behavior than it is about the blood. But 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” Aren’t you thankful that the blood of Jesus frees you and cleanses your conscience? Indeed, the blood cleanses you inside and out. Hebrews 9:13-14 says, “For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” If you listen to the devil’s condemnation, you will believe that God is unable to bless you or use you. However, when the blood cleanses your conscience, everything changes! The devil can try to talk to you about sin, but instead of thinking about sin, all you think about is the blood. You are more blood-conscious than you are sin-conscious so you can freely and wholeheartedly serve God. Blood, Word and Testimony In Revelation 12:11 it says, “And they (that’s us, the believers) overcome him, (that’s the devil) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” Phillips’ Translation says it this way: “Now they have conquered him through the blood of the Lamb, and through the Word to which they bore witness.” Notice that these three things are necessary to overcome the enemy: the blood of the Lamb, the Word of God and your testimony. You overcome Satan when you personally testify what God’s Word says Jesus’ blood did for you. You overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the Word you speak. There is no overcoming victory unless you have God’s Word in your heart and you are speaking or testifying to what the blood has done for you. Your faith needs to be in the blood of Jesus.  Applying the Blood Jesus paid too great a price for your freedom and victory for you to be bound and defeated! Be encouraged to agree with God’s Word and begin now to declare your faith in the blood of Jesus. Here’s a confession you can make: Jesus Christ was a perfect sacrifice, and He made me perfect before God (Hebrews 10:14). He took His blood into the holy of holies and placed it on the mercy seat. The blood is speaking today, saying that mercy, forgiveness, acceptance, healing and deliverance are mine. I apply faith in the blood of Jesus over my family, over my mind, over my thoughts, over my past, over my future, and over my conscience. His blood cleanses me from sin in all its forms and manifestations (1 John 1:7, AMP) so I will not be guilty, condemned or accused. I have peace with God through the blood of the cross (Colossians 1:20), and I am blameless in His sight (Colossians 1:22). My faith is in nothing but the blood of Jesus! *************************************************** (All scriptures are from the New King James Version of the Bible unless otherwise stated.) Please let us know if you would like someone to agree with you in prayer. Blood of Jesus 2012-11-03T06:31:01+00:00 http://www.walkingbyfaith.tv/site/recovering_what_you_lost/ http://www.walkingbyfaith.tv/site/recovering_what_you_lost/#When:14:20:26Z Most of us have areas in our lives where we need a breakthrough. Maybe you feel like you are just spinning your wheels or that, no matter what you do, nothing seems to work out right. If so, please read on. God wants you to receive everything Jesus paid the price for, and He wants you to recover everything that you have lost. Whether you need a breakthrough in your health, your finances, relationships or some other area, you need to know that He delights in making a way where there seems to be no way. In Isaiah 43:19, God said, “Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” It’s not time to give up. It’s time for a fresh start. Lost…and Found In 2 Kings 6:1-7 there is a rather obscure miracle involving the prophet Elisha.  He and a group of young prophets were getting ready to build an addition onto their school, when one of the men encountered a setback. In verses 4-5 we read, “…When they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. But as one was cutting down a tree, the iron axe head fell into the water; and he cried out and said, “Alas, master! For it was borrowed.”  This might not seem like a big deal to you, but the fact that the axe head was borrowed made it an especially painful loss for the young prophet. The Jordan was a muddy and dangerous river and, in the natural, there was very little chance of the axe head being recovered. Not only that, but it was made of iron which was rare and valuable in those days. The young prophet couldn’t just go into a store to get a replacement. “So the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” And he showed him the place. So he cut off a stick, and threw it in there; and he made the iron float. Therefore he said, “Pick it up for yourself.” So he reached out his hand and took it” (2 Kings 6:6-7). Notice that when Elisha heard of the problem, he didn’t despair and say, “This is hopeless!” Instead, he cut a stick and threw it into the water. It was just an ordinary stick, but spiritually, it represented the cross. When the cross was applied to the problem, the iron axe head miraculously floated to the surface! God’s solution is always the cross, and He wants you to recover everything you have lost. Whatever it is, when the cross is applied, you get back what you lost. Wholeheartedly Pursue God Did you notice that the young prophet had to pick up the axe head for himself? While the cross – the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ - is the provision for your recovery, you need to reach out, grab it and seize it by faith. You cannot be passive and receive all God wants you to receive. That is why reading the Bible, praying, worshiping God, being actively involved, giving and serving in the local church are so important. They all have a part in your wholehearted pursuit of God. Unless you are pursuing God with all your heart, you may be disappointed with Christianity. Why? Because Christianity is about losing your life so you can connect to the good life God has for you (see Galatians 2:20). Jeremiah 29:13 records this promise from God: “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jesus spoke of having a wholehearted devotion to God when He said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). Indeed, Christianity was never meant to involve seeking God with half your heart. How About You? We saw that the stick Elisha threw in the water represented the cross, but do you know what the axe head represents? It represents God’s power. It is His grace and His ability operating in your life. It is possible to lose the axe head but keep on swinging away, hoping that no one will notice that something is wrong. Maybe you are still doing some of the right stuff: you are still going to church; you are still with your spouse, but not loving him or her the way you should; you haven’t abandoned your kids, but you are not leading them; maybe you are throwing a tip in the offering plate, but you are not tithing. Perhaps it feels like you have lost something, like something is missing and you want it back. You are swinging but nothing is happening because there is no power of God, no grace of God, no supernatural effect on what you are doing. The question is: Where did it fall? When you identify where you lost it, you can apply the cross. Where Did It Fall? Maybe you entered into a wrong relationship or compromised your integrity by shifting a standard that should have been set in stone. Perhaps you participated in conversations that did not glorify God, or maybe you got discouraged and stopped reading the Bible and praying, stopped spending time with the Lord. Is it possible that you got lazy in your church attendance and service? Perhaps God nudged your heart to do something and you said “no,” and now you aren’t doing the last thing God told you. Could you possibly have stopped walking by faith and started trying to figure everything out by sight? Or did someone treat you wrong, and you got bitter and won’t forgive them? Maybe you started making decisions without consulting God. Or you may have surrendered to an addiction or stopped fighting a temptation. Perhaps you rebelled against a God-given authority, and now it seems there is no power of God in your life. Did you believe the lie from the devil that there is no grace, no love, no more forgiveness for you? Or are you just not pursuing God with your whole heart, but instead seeking things first rather than seeking first the kingdom? God Cares If God cared about one man’s lost axe head, don’t you think He cares if you have enough to eat or not? He cares that you have enough money to make your house payment. He cares about your job. He cares about you if you don’t have a job and are looking for one. He cares if your house is cold or your tires are bald. Jesus said in Luke 12:7 that the very hairs on your head are numbered. God not only knows exactly how many hairs you have, He also knows each one by number. If He is that concerned that much about your hair, you can be certain that He knows and cares about everything that is going on in your life today. Take It Back Lamentations 3:22-23 says: “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” Ours is a faithful God who specializes in recovery of the lost! You may have lost the power, the grace and favor of God in the Jordan of your life, but you can apply the cross of Jesus Christ, and reach out and take it back by faith. When you do, your connection with God and His power will be restored. 1 John 1:9 tells us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” God is a God of full recovery. No matter what you have lost, you can have it back. Just identify where you lost it, confess any sin God reveals to you, and turn to Him, praying: Father, thank You that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes. Right now, by faith, I take the cross of Jesus Christ and apply it to my life. Thank you that there is forgiveness, that bondages are broken, that my heart reconnects with You, and that my passion for you is restored. Father, thank you that the things that have gotten between us melt away just like the mountains melt at Your presence, O Lord. In Jesus’ Name. Amen. (All scriptures are from the New King James Version of the Bible unless otherwise stated.) Please contact us at prayer@walkingbyfaith.tv or call us at 800-988-5120. Victorious Living 2012-11-02T14:20:26+00:00 http://www.walkingbyfaith.tv/site/dealing_with_anger/ http://www.walkingbyfaith.tv/site/dealing_with_anger/#When:18:28:02Z Everyone gets angry from time to time. It happens when we think we have been mistreated, misunderstood or threatened. Anger also results from disappointment, frustration, grief or loss, and it is a normal emotional response when we feel that our real or perceived rights have been violated. Uncontrolled anger affects non-Christians and Christians alike, taking a toll on physical health, damaging relationships, ruining businesses, wrecking marriages and dividing families. It can – and often does – lead to abuse, violence and destruction. Unresolved Anger An untold number of people walk around with smiles on their faces, but just under the surface, anger is waiting to explode. Ecclesiastes 7:9 tells us, “Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.” When a person does not deal with the source of their anger, it remains unresolved and rests on the inside of them, causing them trouble with things others would hardly even notice. When they reach a tipping point, their reaction is often out of proportion to the size of the issue. Why? Because they aren’t reacting only to the current situation, but to an accumulation of unresolved anger. You see, people are like pressure cookers. As anger is stuffed inside, pressure begins building. When more offenses come, the pressure increases until anger is vented in little bursts, or it builds and builds until it erupts like a volcano. Certainly that is not the best way to deal with anger. Take Responsibility You may not be able to control the events that make you mad, but your response to them is your responsibility. Listen to what the Apostle Paul said: “Be angry, and do not sin: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil” (Ephesians 4:26, NKJV). Notice that it doesn’t say it is wrong for you to get angry or that anger is a sin. However, it makes it clear that you are responsible for dealing with anger before it opens the door to the devil. We know from John 10:10 that the devil comes to steal, kill and destroy.  Anytime you give him an inch, he will take a mile. That’s why Paul tells you how to keep the door closed to sin, saying: “Do not let the sun go down on your anger.” He is urging you to deal with problems when they arise and reminding you not to let a single day pass with unresolved anger in your heart.  Maybe you grew up in an anger-filled environment. If so, you may have a problem with your temper and not even realize it. However, you are still responsible for how you handle it. No one makes you respond out of anger. You make the choice to throw things, hit people, swear or say things that hurt others, or you make the choice not to. Minimizing anger or making excuses for it only perpetuates the problem. You won’t get free until you admit you are angry and take responsibility for your angry actions.  Don’t React In Galatians 5:20, anger is identified as a work of the flesh. Fortunately, in verse 16, we are given the remedy for fleshly works. “So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” Simply put, you “live by the Spirit” by reading, praying and meditating on the Word of God and then doing what it says. If you have a habit of reacting in the flesh whenever someone pushes your buttons, you will want to develop a pattern of acting instead of reacting. Here’s a practical example: Suppose you have a habit of getting upset with other drivers who cut you off. Maybe you react by swearing at them (even though they can’t hear you) or making angry gestures (that they may not even notice). If so, begin now to build a new vocabulary for the next time it happens, one that praises God and blesses those you previously would have cursed. Be ready to act by praying for them. Have words ready to speak blessings over them. Make the choice in advance to smile at them (even though they won’t see you). When you do this, you are putting 1 Peter 3:9 into action. It says: “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.” Repaying evil with evil is reacting. Blessing is acting. As you live by the Spirit, the things people do will no longer have the same effect on you. When something happens that would normally cause your flesh to respond in anger, your spirit will rise up and you will respond in love. Forgive The Bible says, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice”  (Ephesians 4:31). How do you do that? Verse 32 provides the answer. It is by forgiving “just as in Christ, God forgave you.” Jesus made it clear that we need to forgive people as much for our sake as for theirs. He said, “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins” (Mark 11:25).  This means that anytime anyone hurts you, no matter how deep the wound, you need to pray and forgive them, releasing the penalty of the offense to God. It doesn’t matter who they are or what they did, whether they are living or dead, just forgive them.   When you choose to forgive, you are released on the inside. The ones who offended you may never acknowledge their wrongdoing, but when you forgive them in prayer to God, your heart is freed from bitterness, anger and wrath. Not “Do’s” and “Don’ts” Paul, in Colossians 3:8 says, “Rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.” He says you should do this, because as a Christian, you have “taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator” (Colossians 3:9-10). To live as the man or woman of God that He created and redeemed you to be, you also need to clothe yourself with “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Colossians 3:12). It’s critical that we do not reduce statements like these – or any other of God’s Words – to a list of what to do and what not to do. The legalistic Pharisees tried to do that with God’s Law, but they failed because the Law wasn’t in their hearts, it was only in their heads. They were more concerned with obeying the letter of the Law than they were on depending on God to make them righteous on the inside. Jesus said of them: “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me” (Mark 7:6). God’s Word was never meant to be treated as a list of “Do’s” and “Don’ts.” That would be missing the point. God wants to change you from the inside out, not just change your behavior. He wants you to honor Him not only with your lips, but also with your heart and with your life.  Finally… Remember, your response to anger is your responsibility. 1 Peter 2:23 talks about Jesus’ attitude and actions as He went to the cross. It tells us: “When they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead, He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly,” Like Jesus, we need to stop focusing on our wounds and those who caused them and surrender ourselves to the One who judges justly.    You will never end up with God’s best in a situation if you say and do things hastily out of anger. James 1:19-20 (NKJV) says, “Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” You don’t have to be dominated by anger. Take action now! (All scriptures are from the New International Version of the Bible unless otherwise stated.)  If you have a problem with anger or need prayer for any other thing, please contact us right now. The Walking By Faith Prayer Center team is glad to be here for you! Anger 2012-11-01T18:28:02+00:00 http://www.walkingbyfaith.tv/site/keys_to_answered_prayer/ http://www.walkingbyfaith.tv/site/keys_to_answered_prayer/#When:18:35:22Z “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16 NIV).   God cares about the details of your life, and Hebrews 4:15 tells us that He is “touched by the feeling of our infirmities”. He not only wants to have communication with you, He wants you to be able to run to Him with confidence, knowing that He is both willing and able to listen and give you what you need. Talking With Your Father   In a healthy family, the father is someone you can go to when you have a problem. You can ask him for things because you know he loves you and wants to take care of you. You don’t have to be afraid to go to him when you don’t understand something. Even though he’s not perfect, you can turn to a good father when you need comfort security or love and he’ll be there for you.     Your Heavenly Father is like that – only He’s perfect! He wants you to come to Him all the time for everything you need because He loves you, and you’re His child. Security, confidence and peace can be yours when you pray because God can be trusted to take care of everything you put in His hands. He longs to exchange your worries and cares with His peace and provision whenever you pray. Answers Promised   Answers to prayer are a benefit that Jesus Himself promised to every believer when He said, “Whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive” (Matthew 21:22). Still, it is apparent that some prayers go unanswered despite God’s willingness and ability to provide.   One explanation for unanswered prayer is found in James 4:3 where it says, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” If we ask God for something with an impure motive, or without a clear understanding of how to pray, we do not receive. However, when we understand how God wants us to pray and our motives are pure, we can expect to receive!   Since our Heavenly Father wants to have constant communication with us and answer our prayers, He is the best source for information on how to pray. In the Bible, God gives us many keys that can unlock the door of unanswered prayer. Biblical Keys to Answered Prayer:   Abide in God and His Word - “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you” (John 15:7).   Jesus promised that if we live in close fellowship with Him and allow His Word to live in us, we will see results in prayer. The opposite is also true: if our hearts are distant from Him and we don’t make God’s Word the top priority in our lives, how can we expect answers to prayer?   Have Faith - “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).   No one can please God without faith. When you believe He exists and that He can answer your prayers, you are on the way to receiving what you need when you pray.   You might say, “I know God is able, but I’m not sure He is willing to answer my prayers.” Take a step of faith, and take Him at His Word. He will reward you when you wholeheartedly seek Him.   Don’t Doubt - “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord” (James 1:6-7).   If your faith is based on your feelings, emotions or circumstances, it will be unstable: up one day and down the next. But a stable faith will enable you to believe and receive. The kind of stable faith you need comes and grows as you hear more and more of God’s Word (Romans 10:17), and can be built up as you pray in the Holy Spirit (Jude 1:20).   Pray According to God’s Will - “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him” (1 John 5:14-15).   When you pray according to God’s will, you can be confident that He hears you and that He will answer. But how can you be sure you know the will of God?   God reveals His will through His Word. You could say it this way: God’s Word is His will. Praying according to God’s will is as easy as finding a promise in God’s Word that applies to your situation and praying to receive the benefit of that promise. With over 7000 promises in the Bible, you can be sure God has made provision for your need! It’s His will to do what His Word promises.   Turn Away From Evil - “For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the LORD is against those who do evil” (1 Peter 3:12).   Sin interrupts the flow of God’s blessings as David wrote in Psalm 66:18, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear.”  Thank God that through His grace, we have the promise of cleansing. 1 John 1:9-10 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”    Seek to Please the Lord - “Whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight” (1 John 3:22).   Prayers are answered when we seek to do God’s will and please Him with our life. This doesn’t mean we try to earn something from God. Rather, we take care to put our faith into action.  Jesus said, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:30-31). Living with this focus will bring you great results in prayer!   Speak to Your Situation - “For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, be removed and be cast into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says” (Mark 11:23).   Jesus indicated that we will all sometimes encounter mountains (big obstacles and problems) that we literally need to speak to, telling them to move in Jesus’ name.   Proverbs 18:21 teaches that, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue…” When you speak to the mountains in your life, God’s power to move them goes through your words and, as He promises, you will have whatever you say.   Persevere  “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (Galatians 6:9).   Possibly the greatest reason prayers go unanswered is because many stop praying and believing before they receive their answer. As long as you have the promise of God’s Word, be persistent and patient. Keep believing, and don’t quit, no matter how long it takes! God has a “due season” and He will bring the answer to pass.   Finally…   “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank Him for His answers. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7 TLB).   So, right now as you read this, do you have needs? Are you worried or anxious about anything? Don’t hesitate to trust your Heavenly Father. Run to Him in prayer. He is listening and waiting for you to call out to Him, and He is eager to exchange what is troubling you with His wonderful peace! (All scriptures are from the New King James Version of the Bible unless otherwise stated.) Prayer & Fasting 2012-09-01T18:35:22+00:00 http://www.walkingbyfaith.tv/site/is_god_listening/ http://www.walkingbyfaith.tv/site/is_god_listening/#When:18:31:22Z We all know people who seem to have a hotline to God. Every prayer they pray seems to get answered. Still, many others are left wondering if God even hears them when they pray. How about you? Do you pray? Does God answer you when you do?     Most people pray – at the very least, a cry of “HELP!” now and then – but many feel their prayers are ineffective. They ask God for health, and sickness comes; they ask for help with their finances, and a financial crisis arises; they pray for the healing of a family member, and the condition appears to get worse. If God wants to communicate with us and help us, why do so many people struggle with receiving answers to prayer?   The source of the problem is identified in the fourth chapter of James, where it says, “You have not because you ask not. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss.” Clearly, the problem isn’t with God; it’s with us. When we don’t get what we need, it’s probably because we have not prayed at all or because we have not understood how to pray. Faith Brings A Reward   Good communication is always important, especially in your relationship with the Lord. Simply put, prayer is a conversation between you and God. He speaks to you through His Word and the inner witness of the Holy Spirit. You communicate by talking to Him just as you would talk with any close friend.   One of the reasons people don’t pray is unbelief. Hebrews 11:6 says, “Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” How can you converse with someone you’re not sure exists? And if you believe He exists, do you believe He is able to answer your prayers? You might say, “I know God is able, but I’m not sure He is willing.” You need to take Him at His Word and believe it when the Bible says He will reward you when you seek Him. Two Keys   When Jesus spoke of prayer, He said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you” (Jn. 16:23). Not only is this a great promise, but it also contains two very important keys to prayer. In fact, every prayer you pray should have these two things in common. Always pray to God the Father, and always pray in the name of Jesus. This comes as a surprise to many people because as children they learned prayers that ended with “for Jesus’ sake, amen”. I remember growing up praying, “Bless Dad and Mom and my sisters for Jesus’ sake” and “Bless this food for Jesus’ sake”. But it wasn’t for Jesus’ sake that the food needed to be blessed. It was for my sake! I was the one who had to eat it!     When we pray in Jesus’ name, we aren’t trying to trick God into thinking He’s doing it for Jesus and not us. We’re simply using a key God has given us to have access to Him. Just as your salvation is through Jesus, so is your communication with God. When you pray to God the Father in Jesus’ name, He hears you just as if Jesus were asking.   The Third Key   Here’s the third key to prayer. “This is the confidence we have in approaching God; if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have what we asked of Him” (1 Jn. 5:14-15). You can be confident God hears you and will answer when you pray “according to His will.” But how can you presume to know the will of God?   God’s Word is His will. If it’s in the Bible, you can be sure it’s what God wants for you. In fact, there are over 7000 promises in the Bible and every one of them is available to you! When you have a request, find the promise in the Word that applies to your situation and pray the promise. When you do, you will be praying according to God’s will, and you can be confident that He hears you and will bring it to pass.   God cares about the daily details of your life. Scripture tells us He is “touched by the feeling of our infirmities” and wants us to pray. His Word instructs us to “pray always, with all kinds of prayer” (Eph. 6:18). What are the kinds of prayer, and how do you know if you should pray once and stand in faith or keep on praying until you see the answer?       Kinds of Prayer   The prayer of petition is probably the most common type of prayer. It’s a prayer you pray for yourself. Mark 11:24 says, “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” When you pray a prayer of petition, you need to pray it only once. Believe when you ask, and God promises you will have it sometime in the future. Pray, then stand in faith expecting to receive what you requested.   The prayer of commitment is a prayer we often need to pray over and over again. Three times (in one night!) Jesus prayed the very same prayer. He was in the Garden of Gethsemane when He prayed, “O Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I desire, but as You desire.” He kept on committing Himself to His Father’s will. Likewise, we need to surrender and keep on surrendering areas of our lives to Him. When we are anxious or worried, we can keep on committing our cares to God again and again.   Intercessory prayer is prayer for other people. In Luke 11:5-10, Jesus tells of a person going to their neighbor’s house at midnight to ask for bread for a friend in need. He encourages us to be persistent in this type of prayer saying, “Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened unto you.” It is perfectly scriptural to intercede for someone over and over again until you see results. You can’t make unbelievers come to the Lord, but you can pray for their hearts to be softened. If they harden their hearts, you can keep on praying until they respond to God’s moving in their lives. Persistence pays off in intercessory prayer.   Matthew 18:19-20 says, “If two of you agree on earth concerning anything they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there in the midst of them.” This is the basis for another type of prayer, the prayer of agreement. It requires two or more people in total agreement, believing the same thing, praying together. It is a very powerful way to pray because where there is unity, “the Lord commands a blessing” (Psalm 133:3).   Praying in the Spirit is often mentioned in the New Testament.  Jude 20 says, “But you, dear friends, build yourself up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.” This is a prayer that goes beyond the limits of our minds as is explained in 1 Cor. 14:14. “For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.” When we pray in the Spirit, according to Romans 8:26-27, “the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” If you don’t know how else to pray, it is always appropriate and effective to pray in the Spirit.   Worship is powerful as a form of prayer when it’s put into action as illustrated in 2 Chron. 20:20-24. As Judah headed into battle, King Jehoshaphat “appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise Him for the splendor of His holiness as they went out at the head of the army saying: ‘Give thanks to the Lord, for His love endures forever.’” A great victory was won as a result of this inspired battle strategy, and not one of Judah’s enemies escaped! The same strategy is available to us today. As we offer praise and worship to God for who He is and what He does, He is moved to work on our behalf. Not only that, but as we worship, our hearts are changed to make us more ready to obey God’s voice.   Prayer is not about overcoming God’s reluctance to help you, but it is about taking hold of His willingness to perform His Word. He is listening and waiting for you to cry out to Him, and He is most willing to answer your prayers. When you pray in faith using Biblical keys, you can have a hotline to God and receive the answers you need! Prayer & Fasting 2012-09-01T18:31:22+00:00 http://www.walkingbyfaith.tv/site/the_kingdom_of_god/ http://www.walkingbyfaith.tv/site/the_kingdom_of_god/#When:13:10:22Z I believe that one of evangelical Christianity’s biggest mistakes is that we have made salvation postmortem. By that, I mean that many Christians today, if asked why they got saved, would respond, “So I can go to heaven when I die.” While it is true that salvation has a future tense, Jesus’ ministry was not focused on merely helping people escape hell. Instead, He taught and demonstrated how to live in the kingdom of God now. The kingdom of God is such a significant topic to Jesus that He started His ministry by preaching about it. Mark 1:14-15 tells us, “Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the Gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel.’” The Message Bible says it this way: “Times up, God’s kingdom is here. Change your life and believe the message.” God’s Kingdom is Here The kingdom that Jesus and His disciples preached was far from being only about what happens after death. This can be seen clearly in Acts 2:40 where Peter urged the people, “Be saved from this perverse generation.”  You see, God wants to transform your life today.  Not just when you die.  He wants you to be saved today from this perverse generation.  The word “perverse” as used here comes from the Greek word skolios which means crooked or warped. Peter was telling them that they lived in a generation where the people were not following God’s ways but were walking in ways that were crooked and their warped lifestyles proved it. The same can certainly be said of our generation. At one time or another, we have all seen old, dilapidated, rusted-out, oil-burning, going-crooked-down-the-road automobiles.  The condition of those cars is undoubtedly not what the engineers who designed them had in mind. Likewise, people who live according to this crooked generation are not what God had in mind, either. He wants to bring each of us back to His original design and purpose. God originally designed humans for this earth.  That’s what you were created for; your original purpose was for right here. And the kingdom of God doesn’t begin when you die. Jesus said it’s here right now.  Change Your Life The most appropriate response to knowing that the kingdom of God is here is to “change your life and believe the message” (Mark 1:15, Message). Other translators say to “rethink your life.”  Because culture is headed in the wrong direction, Jesus said you need to change your life and that you need to believe His message. When you reached out and took hold of God’s gift of salvation, He relocated you into His kingdom in the spiritual realm. Colossians 1:13 says, “[The Father] has delivered and drawn us to Himself out of the control and the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love” (AMP). God wants us to think of ourselves as being in this world but not part of its system or its moral values, concepts, and philosophies.  He also wants us to rethink or change how we live to reflect the ways of His kingdom.  Christ Formed in You Receiving Christ is more than an event, more than just praying a prayer.  It is a process, and prayer is the event that begins the process. The Apostle Paul was referring to this process when he wrote, “My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you…” (Galatians 4:19).  Christianity is what the Bible calls here, “Christ being formed in you.”  In Colossians 1:27, Paul called it, “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Jesus spoke of it as, “Making disciples of all nations…teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded…” (Matthew 28:19-20).  It’s not just an event, it is a process. The purpose of Christianity in your life, the purpose of the kingdom, is for Christ to be formed in you. Someone might ask the question: “Doesn’t God love me like I am?”  Absolutely!  He loves you so much that He won’t leave you the way you are. He wants to salvage your life. He wants Christ to be formed in you so that you are an expression and manifestation of the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is not about heaven and hell “minimums.” Rather, it is about God invading your life and transforming you right now. It’s about Christ being formed in you so that you have His character, His morals, His ethics, and the mind of Christ. You and I are living in a culture that is so warped that many no longer believe there is absolute truth - truth that is true for all people everywhere, all the time, no matter what. However, the Bible makes it very clear that there is an absolute truth, and Proverbs 14:12 tells us, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” People sometimes ask, “Can I be a Christian and do ‘this or that’?”  That is not a bad question if you are asking because you sincerely want to please God.  But more often than not, people who ask that question are really saying, “I want to do what I want to do, but I still want to go to heaven and not hell.”  Because they are not really seeking a transformed life, they do not really want to break free from the ways of the world. Since they would rather walk as close to the line as possible, they often miss out on much of the good life God desires for them. The Good Life It is not wrong to want to live the good life as long as you have God’s picture of what the good life is supposed to look like. The Bible tells us, “We are God’s (own) handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, (born anew) that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us (taking paths which He prepared ahead of time), that we should walk in them (living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live)” (Ephesians 2:10, AMP). From God’s perspective, living the good life has nothing to do with the American Dream, materialism, or greed. It has everything to do with living the life that God has already laid out for you to live. It is about doing the good and right things that He has prepared in advance for you to do. Our culture will try to lure you into a false view of the “good life,” but, believe me, there is no place where you will have more of what you really desire than when you are walking in God’s plan for your life. It’s not only the good life, it is the abundant life. Finally… The mystery of the kingdom of God is that it is here, but it is also coming.  It is here today in the hearts and lives of followers of Jesus Christ.  It will come in its fullness when Jesus returns.  We can see both aspects of this in the prayer that Jesus taught His disciples to pray. This prayer, commonly known as the Lord’s Prayer, says: “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).  We must realize that Christianity is not simply a religion, a moral teaching, or a philosophy. It is not just like a kingdom. It is a kingdom – a spiritual kingdom with Jesus reigning and ruling in our hearts. When you look at what Jesus and His disciples taught, they talked about God invading your life today. They talked about “Christ in you, the hope of glory,” and about “Christ being formed in you.” “My little children,” Paul said, “for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you…” (Galatians 4:19). That is the goal of the kingdom of God for your life: that Christ be formed in you.  (All scriptures are from the New King James Version of the Bible unless otherwise stated.) If you would like someone to agree with you in prayer, please click on “need prayer” or call us at (800)988-5120. Kingdom Living 2012-09-01T13:10:22+00:00 http://www.walkingbyfaith.tv/site/the_reality_of_hell/ http://www.walkingbyfaith.tv/site/the_reality_of_hell/#When:12:50:01Z What happens to a person after they die? Some believe that the only heaven or hell anyone will ever experience is here on earth. Others believe in reincarnation; that when you die you come back as something or someone else.  Still others are filled with fear, because they don’t know what to believe. Everyone needs to know the truth about heaven and hell because, according to 1 Thessalonians 5:23, each of us has a spirit and a soul as well as a body. When your physical body dies, your spirit – the real you – will live somewhere forever. The question is, where? Heaven Is A Real Place According to the Bible, heaven is a real place populated with real people. Those who go there enter through a real gate, travel on real streets and live in real buildings. They have new, perfect bodies, and receive eternal rewards. There is no sickness or pain in heaven. Death, war, fear and prejudice are things of the past, as are abortion, strife, broken-heartedness, and sin of all kinds. Just as Abraham was “gathered to his people” (Genesis 25:8), those in heaven experience happy reunions. All of these things are awesome, but the best thing about heaven is that God lives there. Revelation 22:3 says, “There shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him.” All who live in heaven will be in God’s presence, never again experiencing the curse that came with the fall of man! Hell Is Also Real Hell is also a real place populated with real people. From the Bible, we know that it is a bottomless pit, a place of sorrow filled with torment and the sounds of wailing and gnashing of teeth. The inhabitants of hell experience loneliness and regret. There is no escape. By reading Jesus’ account of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31, we can see that anyone already in hell would not want friends and relatives to join them there! Matthew 25:41 makes it clear that hell’s everlasting fire was never intended for people, but was “prepared for the devil and his angels.” Psalm 9:17 shows us that hell is a place for the wicked and the nations that forget God. Those who know the truth and disobey it are also destined for hell. But it is not the wicked or disobedient man’s sin that sends him to hell – it is his rejection of Jesus Christ. As John 3:18 states, “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” Three Heresies Jesus Christ is the head of the church, and no one has any right to try to rewrite or change the fundamental doctrines He established. Nevertheless, three heresies regarding hell have surfaced in our culture. It is important to know the truth regarding each of these: ~ Universalism (Inclusionism) – This false teaching says that all humans will eventually be saved. In this view, there is only one place to go after death, and that is heaven. Jesus dealt with this very clearly in Matthew 25:46. He said, “And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” In the Greek, the word used here for “everlasting” is the same exact word used for “eternal.” Jesus talked about heaven as eternal life and hell as eternal punishment using the exact same terms - in the very same verse. Clearly there is an eternal heaven and a place of eternal punishment. In John 3:16, Jesus said, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Jesus paid for the sins of all humanity. However, each individual must do something to receive the salvation He offers. They must believe in Him. Those who do not believe, perish. ~ Restorationism (Ultimate Reconciliation) – Followers of this flawed teaching believe that some people go to hell. There, they suffer and pay for their sins but eventually go to heaven. Some really bad people may never leave hell, but most do. Restorationists have changed the doctrine of eternal judgment into one of temporary judgment. Jesus went to the cross because it was the only way to redeem humanity. You will recall that, in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed, “Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 26:39). In other words, He was saying, “If there is any other way to redeem mankind, please do it that way.” There was no other way, and 1 Peter 1:19 boldly proclaims that redemption comes by “the precious blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” You and I cannot save ourselves by works after death any more than we can save ourselves by works today. No one but Jesus can pay for your sins. ~ Annihilationism  – Those who hold this theory believe that the wicked merely cease to exist when they die. That’s not what the Bible says. When Jesus talked about the judgment in Matthew 25, He made it clear that the unrighteous face an everlasting (perpetual, eternal) fate. Listen to what He said: “Then He [the Son of Man] will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels’” (Matthew 25:41).  No one simply ceases to exist, and according to Revelation 20:15, there is only one way to escape the “lake of fire.” That is to have your name written in the Lamb’s book of life. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). Christianity is not a smorgasbord where individuals can mix and match their own personal blend of beliefs. On the contrary, Jude 3 makes it clear that Christians must “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.”  No amount of wishing will change the reality of hell. We are not called to believe what we wish, but we are called to believe the truth as stated in God’s Word. What About You? Where you spend eternity is your choice. The Bible tells us that God is “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). That is God’s heart, and Romans 10:9 promises, “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” If you have already surrendered your life to Jesus Christ, you are facing a glorious future in heaven, and you have a tremendous opportunity to help others by telling them the truth about heaven and hell. But perhaps you are thinking, “I’ve known about Jesus in my head, but I want to know Him in my heart. I want Him to change me and make me a brand new person on the inside. I want to live for Him now and spend eternity with Him.” If that’s you, you can pray this prayer, believing in your heart and confessing with your mouth Jesus as your Lord: Dear God, I believe that Jesus is Your Son, that He died on the cross and shed His blood to pay for my sins.  I receive forgiveness for every sin I have ever committed. I believe that Jesus rose from the dead, victorious over death, sin and the devil, so right now I receive Him as Lord of my life. I give Him all of my heart and all of my life. I am not going to live to please myself; I am going to live for Jesus every day. Thank You, God, that You have heard my prayer, that my past is gone, my sins are forgiven, and I am part of your eternal kingdom. In Jesus’ name. Amen. If you just prayed to receive Jesus Christ as your Savior, we want to send you a free copy of Pastor Duane’s book, Your New Life, to help you grow in your relationship with the Lord. To receive it, or to request prayer, please contact us. (All scriptures are from the New King James Version of the Bible unless otherwise stated.) Heaven / Hell 2012-09-01T12:50:01+00:00