#Godly leaders operated according to Scripture

[thinkingonscripture]

Godly Leadership: A Different Metric for Measuring Success

When considering those called into service by the Lord, success is measured by faithfulness to God, His Word, and the call itself, rather than output or results.

By most standards, successful leaders get good results. Their success is not measured by their output, but their outcomes. If the good results are not there, the leaders are called a failure. This is true in politics, business, sports, academics, nonprofits, etc. Ideally, we like to see leaders who operate by high moral standards AND produce good results. Sadly, there are some leaders who will…

[wolint]

FORM OF GODLINESS

FORM OF GODLINESS

2 Timothy 3:1-6

 

Religion is a form of godliness. It has no power!

True Godliness is powerful!

Godlessness demonstrates lack of power.

"The form"! Appearance! Everything looks like godliness. Talk the talk, walk the walk, look the part, keep the appearance but without the power, anointing and presence of God.

Mere religion and godlessness.

This has become a norm in “Christendom” today.

From these godless people, our text says “RUN”!

Avoid such people. Do not allow them to be part of the church or support their ministries. These people inflict pain on the vulnerable and weak within the body because their outward semblance of piety mask a wicked, evil, and destructive heart.

Form of Godliness doesn't have any spiritual value and nutrients, it’s looks like the divine but without spiritual substance.

We see a lot of that in the body of Christ today. People professing to be Christians, ministers of God doing, saying, and living outside the guidelines of the scriptures.

Godliness is the assignment of the pastors and the church, to create a godly environment, yet that is far from what so many are doing. Are you denying the faith? Are you operating in a “form of godliness”?

Those people who have a form of godliness are those who make an outward display of religion. They present themselves as godly, but it is all for show. There is no power behind their religion, as evidenced in the fact that their lives are unchanged. They speak of God and live in sin. They twist the scriptures for their gain and some of them have become hirelings. If your Pastor, church, or ministry leader is not operating according to 2 Timothy 4:2 and Jeremiah 3:15, “RUN”.

Godliness is the lifestyle that reflects the character of God. Every Christian should, therefore, reflect the character of God through Peter’s teaching in 2 Peter 1:3, the divine power is what helps us walk in the path of righteousness which is absent in the “form of godliness”.

False Christianity, form of godliness and false teachers are destructive! They stem from a place of selfishness, pride and arrogance while claiming the title of Christians, wearing before men the uniform of Christ, but by their lives dishonouring His name, and denying the truth of the scriptures and the power of the word.

Godliness is how we live, speaks and act, following God's standard and principles.

We now have Christian who don’t approve of some scriptures and twists God's word to suit their narratives.

God's word is not up for debate and compromise. Let God be true and everyone a liar says Romans 3:4. So, all those saying and doing things contrary to the scriptures are liars.

The Holy Spirit is our teacher but so many Christians have made the devil their teacher by not only listening to him but questions the authority, authenticity and power of God and His word.

2 Timothy 2:16 declares that worldliness is the enemy of Godliness. The power of God should accompany the form of godliness, as shown through the Holy Spirit and results in the transformation of lives. The Holy Spirit indwells us according to 1 Corinthians 6:19.

But today, Christians, Pastors ministers and leaders are now using everything except the scriptures to do God’s work. How?

They have not been transformed or renewed by the word of God as seen in Romans 12:1-4, instead they keep denying the faith verbally or by their actions.

We cannot deny the faith and express a form of godliness but expects God to empower them for whatever it is they do.

Run from every form of godliness but denies the faith without any power of God.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, help me to wisely follow the truth and to discern every form of godliness and false teachings in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Shalom

WOMEN OF LIGHT INT. PRAYER MIN.

[eruffin68]

The Christian Soldier: Ready For Spiritual Warfare!!!

II Timothy 2:3 – 4 KJV

3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

Every day, whether you realize it or not, you are fighting a struggle. The devil wants your life in his hands. His aim is to kill, steal, and destroy everything in your life that is good and Godly. You, too, have a plan from God. Finally, it is so that you may have fellowship with Him and eternal life through His Son Jesus.

It's no secret that Christians are fighting a spiritual battle. With each passing day, the battle that we are fighting becomes more difficult. The enemy's onslaught and tactics appear to have no bounds. We are up against an adversary that has worked against all that is sacred and righteous from the beginning of time. He will stop at nothing to wreck our lives and prevent us from doing the work we've been asked to accomplish.

God and the devil, on the other hand, are at odds over you and your life, and you must choose a side. You are not permitted to sit on the barrier. Because this is primarily a spiritual conflict rather than a physical one. The battle isn't solely between people; it's also a battle of ideas, values, and beliefs. The battle is between the values of God and the values of the devil. The battle is between the principles of God and the principles of the devil. The battle is between God's kingdom and the devil's troops. This is referred to as "spiritual warfare."

We can choose to ignore it, but the fact remains that on every hand, we are at odds.

Satan will use all means at his disposal to keep the church from being all that it can be for God's glory. He has no problem with churches that merely exist, but he despises those who strive to be fruitful for the Lord. If we want to win the battle, we need to be prepared.

If this church is to be ready, we, the people who make it up, must also be ready. We are the church, and we have a responsibility to do all possible to overcome. The attributes necessary to live a triumphant Christian life and beat the adversary are revealed in the verses we've just read. We need to be equipped and have the qualities and discipline of a soldier of Christ in this spiritual combat. Let us take a moment to evaluate what is required of us if we are to live a successful life: The Christian Soldier At War and Ready to Fight

The efforts of a Christian to live a faithful life are described in numerous ways in the New Testament:

1. Both as a walk and as a race

2. However, the term "warfare" is used the most frequently.

B. Ephesians 6:10-20 is one of the most important scriptures on spiritual warfare.

The apostle to the Gentiles referred to himself and his coworkers as soldiers on several occasions. He referred to the Christian life as a battle. Somehow, this strong soul-winner compared himself to a soldier, and the church to an army of soldiers, journeying, battling, suffering, enduring, and conquering. This noble preacher saw his ministry as more than just maneuvering and drawing rations; it was a war that required him to give everything in order to win. "Thou therefore suffer hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ," Paul wrote to Timothy, whom he referred to as "my son" and whom he adored.

So, there are some characteristics of the “good soldier of Jesus Christ!”

First, The Christian Soldier's Allegiance Must Be Demonstrated.

James 4:7 reads, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” In this verse, two commands are given: submit and resist. These are actually commandments that the Lord expects His followers to obey. This is a list of military terminology that every Christian soldier should be familiar with and follow. We have the privilege of serving the Captain of the Lord's host, and we have a responsibility to obey His commands and live in accordance with His will. As good soldiers we are enlisted to resist the will of the devil and to walk in the will of God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We must be dedicated and faithful soldiers to the kingdom of God and to His cause.

Submit is a word that refers to a position. “We must arrange ourselves under the authority of the Lord Himself,” it says. Without good leadership, no effective campaign has ever been documented in history. The armies that won battles had strong leaders in charge and obedient soldiers who carried out their orders. We must subject ourselves to the Lord's authority if we are to be victorious in this spiritual battle.

Secondly, We Must Be Tenacious and Durable!

How many times have we heard the question of how we should deal with Satan's attack? How will we be able to fend off his advances and deception? Resist him! is the answer to this frequently asked question. “Stand against him, oppose him in every situation,” this indicates. In any sector, there is no place for compromise. We can't give in to anything the devil puts in front of us.

We are to endure hardness. We should not allow ourselves to become easily discouraged if we are to endure hardness. It means we're ready for battle at any time of day, whether it's early in the morning or late at night. It means that we should not be intimidated by the enemy's threats. It indicates we will not give up because of the casualties all around us. A good soldier never considers resigning!

A Christian soldier is charged to be “strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might,” Ephesians 6:10 KJV. As Christian soldiers, we must have force, might, and strength. But keep in mind that this isn't fleshly strength; it's strength that comes from the Lord. Those who are conceited enough to assume nothing will never happen to them are great targets for Satan’s wrath. They are venerable because of their self-confidence. The truth is that we can't stand up to Satan and defeat him from within. He delivers things that are pleasant to the senses. If we want to be victorious, we must have God's power operating in us. One of the best ways to operate in God’s power and anointing is Romans 12:2 states, “and be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” To be durable and strong in the Lord we must let ourselves be transformed by the Lord and renewed in our way of thinking to God’s way.

Thirdly, Good Soldiers Are To Be Deliberate In Their Actions!!!!

Paul said, “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life.” All the things that happen in life do not distract a good soldier. His primary goal is to accurately portray the Lord Jesus in the battle and to ensure that He triumphs. Distractions may result in getting struck by the wicked one's fire dart. Distractions may make us vulnerable to spiritual assassination. Distractions may cause us to turn away from the truth, making us exposed to satanic attacks.

James 4:8 states, “draw nigh to God, and he will draw to you.” What a promise we discover for the cross-bearer. If we just get close to God, He will get close to us! Only the first step is required of us. Take the first step by seeking the Lord, and he will faithfully draw near to us. Isn't that a wonderful thought? All we have to do is take a step of faith toward the Lord, and we can be assured that He will always work in our favor. Be deliberate in your action to seek the Lord and stand on the right side of the Kingdom of God. I went through a period in which it seemed as if my life was dry spiritually. It was all because I did not seek the Lord deliberately. I did not set aside any time dedicated to daily prayers. Prayer can be powerful in regards to drawing us closer to God and helping to fight spiritual wickedness. There are powerful examples of prayer throughout the scriptures that can help you on your journey to draw nigh to the Lord. We must cleanse our hands and purify our hearts

Lastly, We Must Show Love

My pastor always says the Christian soldier is to show love. She would then follow it with the statement, “love is what it does!” Love is an action word. My mother always said, “give them their flowers why they live!” So, it is our action. How we live displays that we are Christian soldiers ready to wage war on the devil. It is through this Agape type love or the love of God that we can conduct spiritual warfare and fight wickedness.

We need to reach a point in our spiritual lives where we are bothered by what we see in the world. When we consider the state of the world, our hearts should be heavy. The fact that those around us are lost and on their path to an eternal torment should concern us. It should trouble us that our wonderful Lord is now unwelcome in many parts of the world. A decent cross soldier will be burdened by the requirements of this life. He will not be oblivious to other people's needs. He will not be content to live his life without a desire to reach out to people for Christ.

We are in the midst of a major battle for God's kingdom. We are His mercenaries. We're fighting for His cause and fighting His wars, and we must persevere until the finish. It is a soldier's life to never surrender and to never experience defeat. Addressing his troops, Garibaldi said, "I don't have any joy, quarters, or provisions to offer. Hunger, thirst, forced marches, warfare, and death are all on the table." Soldiers of the cross should be no less brave or willing to suffer and sacrifice than soldiers battling for an earthly ruler. God's kingdom is advanced through sacrifice and the perseverance of His servants in the face of adversity. It is both our honor and our responsibility to give everything we have to further God's work on earth.

We must have and keep a positive attitude. If we want to win, we must have a right perspective. Being a Christian soldier means to fight wickedness on every hand. It is an action word just like the word love. My mother always said, “I got to make 100 because 99 ½ won’t do! We are full time soldiers because it is our way of life.

Here are some resources that can help you in your Christian Walk:

Great Study Bibles

Bibles for African Americans

Free Spiritual Warfare E-Books

Spiritual Warfare

The Christian Soldier

[madewithonerib]

What Do Cessationists Believe About Prophecy? | Jon Bloom

    GOD doesn’t have to perform signs & wonders today to     confirm HIS WORD. The WORD is confirmed by the     HOLY SPIRIT witnessing to its truth. D.Benge Apr 7, 2019

    Dustin's tweet would have prompted puzzled looks from     NT authors [Heb 2:4; Acts 14:3; 1Cor. 2:4-5]. It's not an     issue of what GOD needs to do, but what GOD is     pleased to do & what the BIBLE says HE does & why. JB

    In 1 Corinthians 14:1, the apostle Paul writes,

    “Pursue love, & earnestly desire the Spiritual gifts,     especially that you may prophesy.”

    This verse is at the heart of a significant debate among     evangelical Christians. Some believe that to obey this     command today is to deny the authority & sufficiency of     SCRIPTURE.

    Others believe that to not obey it is to deny the authority     & sufficiency of SCRIPTURE.

    This article is the first in a series of articles on the gift of     prophecy in the NT. In the series, Jon Bloom will explore     both of the major positions, look at examples in the     Church today, & answer some frequently asked questions.

    One of the historic hallmarks of evangelicalism is a     robust belief in the HOLY SPIRIT-inspired, authoritative,     infallible, inerrant, sufficient nature of the revealed     WORD of GOD contained in the canon of SCRIPTURE.

    We evangelicals believe that when it comes to the BIBLE,     as the old hymn says,

        “there’s no other way to be happy in JESUS, but         to trust & obey” the whole counsel of GOD as         understood through the lens of CHRIST’s new         covenant.

    So, what should we do with the biblical command to     “earnestly desire the Spiritual gifts, especially that     you may prophesy” [1 Corinthians 14:1]?

    Well, the obvious answer is “trust & obey,” right?

    But for many evangelicals, this is not the obvious answer.

Problem of Prophecy

    The 2 primary groups in the debate over prophecy are     cessationists & continuationists.

    Cessationists believe that the so-called “revelatory”     gifts of the SPIRIT mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12–14     [most pointedly, prophecy & tongues/interpretation,     1 Corinthians 12:10] ceased sometime between the     deaths of the apostles & confirmation of the NT canon.

    Continuationists believe that all the gifts of the SPIRIT     listed in these chapters are meant to continue more or     less, according to the sovereign SPIRIT’s purposes,

        throughout the Church age until JESUS returns.

    The disagreement exists, ironically, because cessationists     & continuationists agree on the inspiration, authority,     infallibility, & sufficiency of the BIBLE.

    The debate hinges on what Paul meant by “prophesy” in     1 Corinthians 14:1.

        Did Paul understand the new covenant spiritual gift of         prophecy as HOLY SPIRIT-inspired, authoritative,         infallible, canon-equivalent revelation?

        Or did he understand it as HOLY SPIRIT-prompted,         subordinate revelation that could be partially or         fallibly reported & therefore intended to be subject         to GOD’s chosen apostolic & prophetic authoritative         teaching contained in the SPIRIT-determined         canonical writings of SCRIPTURE?

    If by “prophesy,” Paul meant the former, then to     “earnestly desire” to prophesy is to earnestly desire to     speak with scriptural authority—to challenge, in some     sense, the sufficiency of SCRIPTURE.

    If he meant the latter, then to not “earnestly desire” to     prophesy is to blatantly disobey a clear apostolic imperative     —to challenge, in some way, the sufficiency of SCRIPTURE.

    You see why the debate can get a bit intense.

Two Convictions, ONE Indivisible Church

    We at Desiring GOD are convinced continuationists.

    We believe the BIBLE teaches that all the gifts of the     SPIRIT [including prophecy, tongues, & interpretation]

    continue today, & will until JESUS returns.

    However, we have dear friends who are precious     colleagues in GOSPEL ministry, & highly esteemed     teachers [both past & present] who are convinced     cessationists.

    These are people whose skillful handling of GOD’s WORD,     personal holiness, & spiritually fruitful lives have profoundly     shaped ours.

    They hold their view of prophecy in good conscience     before GOD, as they [and we] should [Romans 14:5].

    And we are privileged & humbled to have them as our     brothers & sisters in the faith.

    Like differing evangelical views regarding the meaning &     modes of baptism, how we define NT prophecy is not a     core issue to the GOSPEL & has no necessary bearing     on the validity of a person’s regeneration.

    And like baptism, while how we define NT prophecy may     significantly influence what local Church fellowship we     join or don’t join, it ought never be an unbridgeable rift     between members of the global Christian family.

    However, also like baptism, NT prophecy is not unimportant     —particularly in view of 1 Corinthians 14:1.

    If we don’t especially desire to prophesy, we’d better     have a good reason, because not trusting & obeying     what the SPIRIT expressly commands in the     authoritative, infallible WORD of GOD is, as all true     evangelicals would agree, serious business.

Why Are There Cessationists?

    If you want to read a helpful overview of cessationism by     a trustworthy theologian who fairly represents the     conviction of many thoughtful evangelicals, read     Tom Schreiner’s article “Why I Am a Cessationist.”

    Tracing the roots of cessationism is not simple     [& beyond the scope of this article].

    Some assert that most of the most credible theologians     since the Reformation have been cessationists.

    But as Kevin DeYoung & Gavin Ortlund demonstrate,     that's not simple either.

    Prominent Protestant leaders & theologians across the     centuries have held a variety of theological convictions     regarding the revelatory gifts.

    But certainly at the core of cessationism is a desire to     preserve the Reformation doctrine of sola Scriptura,     the conviction that the written WORD of GOD—the 66     books that Protestants believe comprise the Christian     SCRIPTURES—is the final authority that governs the     Church of JESUS CHRIST in this age.

    All true evangelicals of the past & present stand in     agreement that the Scriptural canon is closed, that the     authoritative, infallible revelation recorded in the     BIBLE has ceased.

    But given what provoked the Protestant Reformation in     the 1st place—the Roman Catholic distortion of the     GOSPEL, its overreaching claims of papal & clerical     authority, & the resulting terrible corruption—& given     the recurring trouble with various false prophets &     faulty prophecy the Church has endured throughout     its history, some have found it compelling to equate the     NT spiritual gift of prophecy with how OT prophecy is     generally understood:

        HOLY SPIRIT-inspired, authoritative, infallible,         inerrant, canon-equivalent revelation.

    If this is true, then prophecy necessarily ceased at the     end of the apostolic age. For cessationists, a view that     allows for continuing prophetic “revelation” only invites     further distortion, abuse, & corruption into the Church     & undermines the BIBLE’s authority & sufficiency.

    However, many, if not most, cessationists concede that     “there’s no definitive teaching in the BIBLE that     [the revelatory gifts have] ceased.”

    It must, for the most part, be inferred.

    The argument for cessation is built on the unique authority     of the “apostles & prophets,” who laid the foundation on     which the Church was built by delivering to it canon-level     revelation [Ephesians 2:19–21].

    Paul seemed to know that he was the last [“untimely born”]     of these CHRIST-appointed, authoritative apostles     [1 Corinthians 15:8–9].

    And while most cessationists affirm that the “perfect” Paul     speaks of in 1 Corinthians 13:10—the event he says will     bring about the ceasing of prophecy—refers to JESUS’s     return [not the formation of the canon], they argue that     Paul wrote in the expectation that he might live to see     the eschaton & spoke of the gifts with similar expectations.

    But since neither he nor any of the apostles survived to     see the return of JESUS, this unique gift of apostleship     ceased in the Church—a spiritual gift cessation the     vast majority of evangelicals embrace.

    And when that gift ceased, canon-level prophecy ceased     with it. And cessationists would say that while     1 Corinthians 13:8–12 seems to imply the continuation of     this gift, it does not necessarily require its continuation. lol

What We Love about Cessationists

    We do, of course, have an argument to make that the     NT gift of prophecy is something different than     canon-level revelation & does indeed continue to     operate in the Church.

    But that is not our purpose here.

    Before making our case, we want to stop, carefully     ponder the cessationist argument, & appreciate the     deep concern that fuels the cessationist conviction

        —a concern to which we are very sympathetic.

    The BIBLE is unspeakably precious, & its authority     & sufficiency must be gladly guarded for the sake     of CHRIST’s glory & the Church’s joy.

    Godly cessationists believe this, & we deeply     love & respect them for it.

    Again, the cessationist/continuationist debate is not     central to the GOSPEL.

    There are wonderful, faithful, & fruitful saints on both sides.

    But it’s not an unimportant debate.

        “Earnestly desire the Spiritual gifts, especially that         you may prophesy” is an apostolic imperative.

    How we respond is a matter of fear & trembling.

    We don’t want to practice or teach others anything false,     nor neglect any precious means of grace GOD HIMSELF     has given us.

    So, let each of us weigh GOD’s own words carefully &     prayerfully, & let “each one . . . be fully convinced in     his own mind”—for “it is before his own master that     he stands or falls” [Romans 14:4–5].

        Because the glory of GOD is at stake in how we         trust & obey HIS authoritative, sufficient word.

https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/what-do-cessationists-believe-about-prophecy

[dfroza]

the Word that cleanses us

(inside & out)

because what we do matters. all will be purely Judged by our Creator.

Today’s reading of the Scriptures from the New Testament continues with the Letter of First Peter:

Since the Anointed suffered in the flesh, prepare yourselves to do the same—anyone who has suffered in the flesh for the Lord is no longer in the grip of sin—so that you may live the rest of your life on earth controlled not by earthly desires but by the will of God.

You have already wasted enough time living like those outsiders in the society around you: losing yourselves in sex, in addictions and desires, in drinking and lawless idolatry, in giving your time and allegiance to things that are not godly. When you don’t play the same games they do, they notice that you are living by different rules. That’s why they say such terrible things about you. Someday they, too, will have to give an account of themselves to the One who judges the living and the dead. (This is why the good news had to be brought to those who are dead so that although they are judged in the flesh, they might live in the spirit in the way that pleases God.)

We are coming to the end of all things, so be serious and keep your wits about you in order to pray more forcefully. Most of all, love each other steadily and unselfishly, because love makes up for many faults. Show hospitality to each other without complaint. Use whatever gift you’ve received for the good of one another so that you can show yourselves to be good stewards of God’s grace in all its varieties. If you’re called upon to talk, speak as though God put the words in your mouth; if you’re called upon to serve others, serve as though you had the strength of God behind you. In these ways, God may be glorified in all you do through Jesus the Anointed, to whom belongs glory and power, now and forever. Amen.

Dear ones, don’t be surprised when you experience your trial by fire. It is not something strange and unusual, but it is something you should rejoice in. In it you share the Anointed’s sufferings, and you will be that much more joyful when His glory is revealed. If anyone condemns you for following Jesus as the Anointed One, consider yourself blessed. The glorious Spirit of God rests on you. But none of you should ever merit suffering like those who have murdered or stolen, meddled in the affairs of others or done evil things. But if you should suffer for being a Christian, don’t think of it as a disgrace, as it would be if you had done wrong. Praise God that you’re permitted to carry this name.

For the time for judgment has come, and it is beginning with the household of God. If it is starting with us, what will happen to those who have rejected God’s good news? It is written in Proverbs,

If it is hard for the righteous ones to be saved,

what will happen to the ungodly and the sinners?

So even if you should suffer now for doing God’s will, continue doing good and trust your futures to the judgment and mercy of a faithful Creator.

The Letter of 1st Peter, Chapter 4 (The Voice)

Today’s paired chapter of the Testaments is the 28th chapter of First Chronicles where King David gives his son Solomon the [blueprint] for building the Temple in Jerusalem:

[David’s Valedictory Address]

David called together all the leaders of Israel—tribal administrators, heads of various governmental operations, military commanders and captains, stewards in charge of the property and livestock belonging to the king and his sons—everyone who held responsible positions in the kingdom.

King David stood tall and spoke: “Listen to me, my people: I fully intended to build a permanent structure for the Chest of the Covenant of God, God’s footstool. But when I got ready to build it, God said to me, ‘You may not build a house to honor me—you’ve done too much fighting—killed too many people.’ God chose me out of my family to be king over Israel forever. First he chose Judah as the lead tribe, then he narrowed it down to my family, and finally he picked me from my father’s sons, pleased to make me the king over all Israel. And then from all my sons—and God gave me many!—he chose my son Solomon to sit on the throne of God’s rule over Israel. He went on to say, ‘Your son Solomon will build my house and my courts: I have chosen him to be my royal adopted son; and I will be to him a father. I will guarantee that his kingdom will last if he continues to be as strong-minded in doing what I command and carrying out my decisions as he is doing now.’

“And now, in this public place, all Israel looking on and God listening in, as God’s people, obey and study every last one of the commandments of your God so that you can make the most of living in this good land and pass it on intact to your children, insuring a good future.

“And you, Solomon my son, get to know well your father’s God; serve him with a whole heart and eager mind, for God examines every heart and sees through every motive. If you seek him, he’ll make sure you find him, but if you abandon him, he’ll leave you for good. Look sharp now! God has chosen you to build his holy house. Be brave, determined! And do it!”

Then David presented his son Solomon with the plans for The Temple complex: porch, storerooms, meeting rooms, and the place for atoning sacrifice. He turned over the plans for everything that God’s Spirit had brought to his mind: the design of the courtyards, the arrangements of rooms, and the closets for storing all the holy things. He gave him his plan for organizing the Levites and priests in their work of leading and ordering worship in the house of God, and for caring for the liturgical furnishings. He provided exact specifications for how much gold and silver was needed for each article used in the services of worship: the gold and silver Lampstands and lamps, the gold tables for consecrated bread, the silver tables, the gold forks, the bowls and the jars, and the Incense Altar. And he gave him the plan for sculpting the cherubs with their wings outstretched over the Chest of the Covenant of God—the cherubim throne. “Here are the blueprints for the whole project as God gave me to understand it,” David said.

David continued to address Solomon: “Take charge! Take heart! Don’t be anxious or get discouraged. God, my God, is with you in this; he won’t walk off and leave you in the lurch. He’s at your side until every last detail is completed for conducting the worship of God. You have all the priests and Levites standing ready to pitch in, and skillful craftsmen and artisans of every kind ready to go to work. Both leaders and people are ready. Just say the word.”

The Book of 1st Chronicles, Chapter 28 (The Message)

my personal reading of the Scriptures for Wednesday, january 27 of 2021 with a paired chapter from each Testament of the Bible, along with Today’s Psalms and Proverbs

A post by John Parsons about the “fruit” we bear from the seed of the Spirit & Word within:

The Fruit of Spirit - פרי הרוח

Traditional Judaism identifies various middot ha-lev (qualities of heart) that attend to a genuinely Jewish life. Among others these include Talmud Torah (studying Scripture), ahavat Adonai (loving God), gemilut chasidim (doing works of compassion), bikkur cholim (visiting the sick), and so on. The follower of Yeshua likewise is intended to evidence middot hav-lev, though the Source for such comes directly from the power of the Ruach Ha-Kodesh (Holy Spirit) working within the heart of faith. The priot (fruits) listed in Galatians 5:22-23 represent nine visible attributes of a true follower of Yeshua, namely: love (אהבה), joy (שׂמחה), peace (שׁלום), patience (סבלנות), generosity (נדיבות לב), kindness (חסד), faithfulness (נֶאֱמָנוּת), humility (ענוה), and modesty (צְנִיעוּת).

Note that these priot are not realized through self-effort or attempts at human “reformation,” but rather are a supernatural outgrowth of the grace and love of God in the life of one who puts their trust in Yeshua as Savior. They are fruits of the Spirit (פּרי הרוח). See John 15:1-8. Our lives are sanctified in the manner in which they were initially justified: wholly by faith in the love and grace of God...

The tough question we need to ask ourselves is whether our lives give evidence to the power and agency of the Holy Spirit within us. Strictly speaking, these nine attributes are qualities that only God Himself possesses, since He alone is perfectly loving, perfectly joyful, and so on. But since we are created be’tzelem elohim (in the image of God) and were given the Holy Spirit to help us resemble our Teacher (Luke 6:40), spiritual fruit should be seen in our own lives (John 14:12; 15:1-8; 26-7). Obtaining such fruit is invariably a matter of faith - trusting that God will help us live our lives in truthful union with Him.

Let’s remember to pray for one another and ask the LORD to make each of us fruitful l'shem shamayim - for the sake of the Name of our beloved One. [Hebrew for Christians]

https://hebrew4christians.com/

1.26.21 • Facebook

Today’s message from the Institute for Creation Research

January 27, 2021

Delivered by the Word

“Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law. Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy word.” (Psalm 119:153-154)

Much of the Old Testament records God’s intervention into the affairs of men, often in huge victories on the battlefield. The great military king David wrote frequently of his deliverance amid slaughter, and certainly there is an overtone of physical deliverance felt in these verses.

The key to this prayer, however, is in verse 158: “I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word.” Although the psalmist spoke of his many “persecutors and...enemies” (v. 157), his desire was fixed directly on the faithfulness of God’s promises. Note the constant reliance on the truth of what God has said:

“I do not forget thy law” (v. 153). God spoke of the opposite condition through Hosea: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6).

“Quicken me according to thy word” (v. 154), for the “wicked...seek not thy statutes” (v. 155).

Even though there are many enemies who persecuted him “without cause” (Psalm 35:7), this godly man would not “decline from thy testimonies” (Psalm 119:157).

“I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word” (v. 158). Jesus felt the same righteous emotion when He “looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts” (Mark 3:5).

Hearts not stirred with the Holy Spirit’s indignation at the wicked culture and flagrant violators of God’s Word should “give diligence to make your calling and election sure” (2 Peter 1:10). Those who love God’s holiness also love God’s Word. HMM III

[cfijerusalem]

LIFTING UP THE LEADERS

Therefore, first of all I urge that requests, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be made on behalf of all people – for kings and all who are in authority – so we may live a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and respectfulness” I Timothy 2:1-2 TLV.

Benjamin Netanyahu Prime Minister of Israel (CC BY 3.0, Wikipedia); Knesset - Room (CC BY 2.5, by Itzik Edri, Wikipedia)

Until the time comes that the Prince of Peace reigns over the world from Jerusalem, there will be an ongoing necessity to pray for leaders. Throughout the history of the world, people who follow God have found themselves living under the authority of governments and rulers who oppose the honorable standards by which the godly live. Virtuous leaders who do administer by righteous principles are a continual target of the enemy’s attacks by lies and seditious schemes. For that reason, Paul urges us to pray in various ways for those in authority; this includes heads of governments, businesses, educational institutions, media organizations, as well as religious and family leaders. Let’s lift up the leaders in prayer!

Israel’s government officials, as well as other world leaders, are in dire need of our prayers right now. In the last nine months, Israel has held the same election three times for leadership of the nation: April 2019, September 2019, and March 2020. In each case, no one was able to form a governing coalition. An agreement was finally reached on 20 April 2020 between Prime Minister Netanyahu and Benny Gantz, Member of Knesset, on the formation of a national unity government. However, on December 2, 2020, a preliminary measure was enacted to also dissolve that government because there was still no coalition formed. It seems that a fourth election may be looming in the future. The need for unity among leaders is crucial! Unity requires humility, cooperation, common principles, and a mutual goal. “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!” (Psalms 133:1 TLV).

True and lasting unity comes as people submit themselves to the laws of God – the Master of the Universe, the Creator of Heaven and Earth. Who would know better than The Holy One, who designed the world, how to successfully operate it? When leaders humble themselves under His authority, they will find lasting peace, joy and fulfillment. King David described the results of unity, “...it is like the precious oil upon the head, coming down upon the beard – Aaron’s beard – coming down on the collar of his robes. It is like the dew of Hermon, coming down upon the mountains of Zion. For there Adonai commanded the blessing – life forevermore!” (Psalms 133:2-3 TLV).  Can you imagine how different it would be when leaders are unified?  It would be like the pleasant fragrance of the priests’ anointing oil permeating the atmosphere in government meeting rooms. Instead of harsh words, hard hearts, and selfish ambitions, the dew from heaven would soften their hearts allowing them to be more flexible and able to see things from God’s perspective – according to His Word. Then the Lord could send His blessing of life to the nations! This is the will of God.

Lift up Israel’s leaders in prayer

Give thanks to the Lord for the wonderful opportunity to commune with Him in worship and prayer. “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name” (Psalms 100:4 KJV).

Ask God to raise up voices in Israel’s government that will speak His principles and fulfill HIs will. “So now, O kings, be wise, take warning, O judges of the earth! Serve Adonai with fear, and rejoice with trembling...” (Psalm 2:10-11 AMP).

Implore the Lord to open the eyes of more of Israel’s officials to see their work as a service unto God, for His glory and satisfaction. “Whatever you do, work at it from the soul, as for the Lord and not for people. For you know that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as a reward…” (Colossians 3:23-24 TLV).

Intercede on behalf of Israel’s leaders. Pray that God would raise up more who are truly concerned for the well-being of Israel, those shepherds that He said He would give Israel at this time. “I will give you shepherds after My own heart who will feed you knowledge and understanding” (Jeremiah 3:15 TLV). “I will gather the remnant of My flock out of all the countries where I have driven them... I will raise up shepherds over them who will feed them. They will no longer be afraid or dismayed, nor will any be missing. It is a declaration of Adonai” (Jeremiah 23:3-4 TLV).

Praise God for the faithful people who are currently serving in the government. Pray that the blessings and favor of the Lord will rest upon them. “Then Ahimelech answered the king saying, Who among all your servants is as trusted as David, the king’s son-in-law, a captain of the royal guard, and honored in your house?” (1 Sam. 22:14 TLV).

Our Dear Intercessors,

We praise God for 2021, a year of Greater Expectations. As we move closer to the return of our Messiah, we can expect more of scripture to be fulfilled–a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit and more Jewish people making Aliyah to Israel. At the same time, we can expect stronger spiritual battles these days. It’s time to dig our spiritual roots deeper into God’s Word and learn more of His ways. Let’s strap on our warfare gear and prepare for the days ahead!  “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power” (Ephesians 6:10 TLV).

In HIs Service,

Linda D. McMurray

Wall of Prayer Supervisor

[papirouge]

I was under a cult leader who behaved just like you - claimed to speak for the absolute truth, and set himself up as an authority of God who cannot be questioned, with the threat of "The Unforgivable Sin". You're doing the same things to your followers. You are treading a dangerous path and risk being one of those who are cast from the sight of God in Matthew 7:21-23. You are using scripture to control people's actions in a sociopathic way. You are bearing fruit of confusion and fear.

Me? a cult leader?

Are you okay...? like...haven’t your arms dislocated from this reach?

I’m basically a nobody with a blog - if anything, the impact my post are getting is not of my own effort but by the actual Holy Spirit operating through me. The Holy Spirit, which is, ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE ITSELF “a spirit of Truth”

John 16:13

13 But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. he will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

And as far as I know, God is Truth and His Truth cannot be questioned. NEXT.  If you’re a Christian, you really shouldn’t have any issue with that statement.

And if I didn’t make it clear enough, I do not take any personal Glory in any of this. I’m not typing any of these with my own intelligence, knowledge or personal emotion. The godly sorrow that I felt when reading Missy struggles or the offense I took when witnessing the reckless endorsement of wordliness by Christians wasn’t of my flesh. I mean, what gain would I get doing this? My blog is very regular - I do not aim becoming some Christian guru transforming my blog into a “Christian Q&A” (like others), involving myself into pointless theological debates and whatnot. I’m not here boasting about how Christian I am every day on this page. I am nobody with a blog yet my exhortations managed to create a legit drama into the lil Tumblr Christian scene. THIS is not of my own force that it happened.

God decided it was eventually my time to do “my part” as one His servant. I HATE attention, I'm very lowkey most of the time, and yet He decided make things to turn out this way.. it's really not something that I asked for.

When I say what I exhort is the Truth it’s in full confidence of the Holy Spirit and what’s he’s trying to achieve through me. I FEAR THE LORD : trust me when I say I wouldn’t take the risk of angering Him by acting like a fool out of nowhere.

Every Christian is supposed to grasp that the Holy Spirit lies within every single of us, so I really don't get why some of you are getting so bothered when me, a Christian, is actually claiming after Him, saying I'm "using His name in vain".

Yall won’t stop claiming how Christian isn’t a religion but rather a relationship with God (which is true) but be all up in arms against someone claiming after His authority. Unbelievable.

This is EXACTLY what I was talking about when I said a bunch of self professed Christians were PERFORMING Christianity before being authentic servants of Christ.

I am NOT special. Claiming to act upon God’s order/divine inspiration (that’s basically the ministry of prophecy) happened many times in History - as well as in the Bible, not less..!

If anything, you being so bothered by this reality betrays an overall lack of intimacy with God. Having the Holy Spirit talk/counseling to you is not something out of ordinary for Christians. Plenty of times I’ve encountered Christians who told me the Holy Spirit compelled them to do specifics thing. You know when it’s the Holy Spirit talking to you  and when in doubt (which happens quite often to me lol), and you ask again, He confirms his commands - the Holy Spirit is basically Christ way of reaching out to you:

John 16:14

He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.

Back when I was a very young rookie Christian and I was battling spiritually, one of my sister in Christ told me that GOD revealed to her that I needed some time for retreat because I was struggling. GOD HIMSELF advised her about my situation, and what she should do about it...!!?!! ..That crazy!!! This experience really troubled me because it really showed how incredibly omniscient yet affectionate God was to care about me, to the point of informing another Christian about my struggle... I-😭 

And it didn’t stop here, plenty of other time God talked to me, in dreams, signs, etc... At one occurrence, one girl (who’s not even Christian) made a prophetic dream about me (cause yes, God can also use pagans for His plan, that’s biblical)

THIS is what having a relationship with God is. This is not just a slogan some are so prone to pull out without accepting its actual repercussions.

YES, God talk to His Children (through the Holy Spirit) - those that He knows. That’s why I find ridiculously ironic that you brought up Matthew 7:21-23 when this verse is precisely about those who have God’s name on the lips but not on their heart. Do you think God would bother interceding in my favor/answering to my prayers/call for guidance or reassurance if He didn’t know me?

Beside, do you think I didn’t consult Him before engaging into this spiritual fight? I got His green light. I’m settled : I got God’s approval, I don’t need yours. End of the story.

You people might call me all kind of name (crazy, liar, sociopath, etc) it really doesn’t bother me the sightliest because I know God is on my side. You might throw stick & stones on my way, I have nothing to fear. And I won’t stop anyway (lol)

His children claiming His name back is NOT calling God’s name in vain, it’s giving back to the King His rightful authority.

A bunch of you cussing out authentic servants of God like the Pharisees cussed out Jesus saying His miracles were out of Belzebul’s power (for me it’s “manipulative” sociopath” “cult leader” “mentally ill” etc LOL). Your incredulity is SHOWING.

The “Unforgivable Sin threat” you’re talking about is not of my own invention so I don’t get why you’re trying to put it back on me. Am I guilty of...actually reminding you Scripture, and how Christians should be mindful of throwing anathemas when someone exhorts in His name?  The fact you’re feeling “fear” and “confusion” at such a blanket biblical statement” is not something I should be blamed of. Feelings are not “fruits”.

Why not addressing this to God instead - after all, that’s His rules, not mine.

[nolimitsongrace]

Praying With Fire for the Nations

A Prayer to Change Your City Add to Favorites

It happens all the time.

A neighborhood, a school or a city is riddled with violence, poverty and despair…until one person steps forward. One believer who is willing to stand in the gap. One Christian who has the audacity to use his or her faith to change what others say is a permanent situation.

A street in Los Angeles known for constant gang activity and drug sales was transformed by an elderly woman with a little bottle of anointing oil and a faith so big, no demon in hell could touch it. Just this woman and Jesus changed one street forever.

A town in Colorado known for extensive witchcraft activity saw demonic activity driven out by a small group of Christians who weren’t satisfied to sit and watch the enemy have his way in their community. They gathered to pray and engage in spiritual warfare until it was driven completely out!

A KCM Partner, who is also a Tulsa police officer, prayed over his district and declared the Word of God over the area every single day while he was patrolling. In his entire tenure as a police officer, there was no violent crime in his district, which is unheard of!

What is your assigned area of dominion? The street you live on, your neighborhood, the schools or the city?

Whatever the situation, you can be among these powerful Christians who take the Word of God and use it like a weapon to change your city. Begin today with this prayer to change your city you can pray in faith:

Father, in the Name of Jesus, I thank You for my city and that I am blessed with the privilege of living here. I thank You that by placing me here, You have assigned me to spiritually steward the place where I live. So today, I rise up and take my place at the right hand of the Father in all spiritual authority.

Lord, according to Zechariah 10:1, I pray that You would send forth rain to my city. Let an outpouring of the Holy Spirit fall on this place and overcome any evil forces operating against it.

In the Name of Jesus, I curse every wicked spirit operating against this city right now and command every demon to flee this place in Jesus’ Name. The righteous are claiming this place. No weapon formed against it will prosper. Every tongue that rises against this city will be shown to be in the wrong.

I declare this is a godly city and righteousness prevails. I command the spirits of poverty, violence, anger, hate, witchcraft, atheism, lying, sexual immorality and all other wrong spirits to leave in Jesus’ Name. I bind every foul spirit that is affecting this city and command them to stop in their maneuvers, and cease and desist in their actions. Now, go!

I plead the blood of Jesus around this city and declare angels are encamped around us here. Psalm 91 is over my city.

I pray for every leader in this city according to 1 Timothy 2:1-2—the mayor, the city council and all others in authority. I pray that they would rule justly and with godly wisdom. I pray for strength and blessing for them.

In the Name of Jesus, I bind Satan from operating over the political scene of this city. I command Satan to take his hands off my city’s government, economy and social scene right now in Jesus’ mighty Name.

I ask You, Lord of the harvest, to send forth laborers to every neighborhood. Let Your light shine throughout every neighborhood, school, storefront and church. Let the gospel permeate every part of this city and break through every area of darkness.

Thank You, Lord, for revival in this land. I ask all these things in faith, knowing that Your Word says one man can chase a thousand. The mighty Name of Jesus, spoken by one with faith, is enough to transform a city.

I expect it, I receive it and I thank You for it.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

As you continue to pray for your city, keep expecting to see a change! When you drive by places known for immorality or violence, curse that spirit in Jesus’ Name! Speak blessing and declarations as you drive to work or to the store. Take back your city in Jesus’ Name. You have been given all power and authority to do so!

Scriptures: Deuteronomy 28, 32:30; Zechariah 10:1; Psalm 91; Matthew

9:38, 18:18; 1 Timothy 2:1-2

Watch Gloria Copeland and Billye Brim teach you how to pray with fire for the nations.

[newstfionline]

Nelson and the ‘R’ word

By Peggy Fletcher Stack, Salt Lake Tribune, October 2, 2018

By his own account, Russell M. Nelson speaks often to God, or, rather, God speaks often to him.

Nelson, the 94-year-old president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said recently that he was awakened at 2 a.m. with a distinct impression that he should go to the Dominican Republic.

Within days, the Church News reported, the energetic nonagenarian was on a plane to that Caribbean nation.

This is an “era of unprecedented revelation,” Nelson told the missionaries gathered to hear him there Sept. 1.

Indeed, in his first nearly nine months as the Utah-based faith’s top “prophet, seer and revelator,” Nelson has used the term “revelation” again and again to describe his motivation for initiatives and changes.

It is not unusual for Latter-day Saint presidents to speak of being inspired by deity. After all, members believe that their movement began with founder Joseph Smith’s directions from God in a New York forest not to join any other church but to start his own. From then to now, all Mormon prophets believed their calling was to express the mind and will of God for the church and the wider world.

Few of Nelson’s modern predecessors, however, have made such strong use of the word “revelation,” at least in public or in news releases. The current Latter-day Saint leader, on the other hand, speaks boldly of his prayer life and divine mandates.

In January, the month Nelson took the faith’s reins, his wife, Wendy Watson Nelson, reported that one night she was prompted to leave her husband alone in their bedroom.

“Two hours later, he emerged from the room,” Wendy Nelson told apostle Neil L. Andersen, who reported it on Facebook. “Wendy, you won’t believe what’s been happening,” the church president told his wife, according to Andersen’s account. “The Lord has given me detailed instructions on what I am to do.”

His choice of counselors in the governing First Presidency? The Lord instructed him. New apostles? The Lord inspired him. Emphasizing the church’s full name and eschewing its long-standing “Mormon” nickname? The Lord “impressed” it on his mind.

It’s not surprising, then, that Nelson’s first major sermon to the global membership during his inaugural General Conference since taking the hierarchy’s helm was titled “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives.”

Ever since their faith’s founding in 1830, Latter-day Saints have come to expect their prophet to have regular exchanges with the Almighty, who they believe is directing the church.

Smith reported a visionary experience with God and Jesus as well as the spiritual ability to “translate” ancient scripture--including the faith’s Book of Mormon--into modern English.

His adherents collected Smith’s proclaimed interactions with the heavens and published them (as well as other materials) in a volume known as the Doctrine and Covenants.

Subsequent Latter-day Saint prophets were less comfortable than Smith attaching “thus saith the Lord” to their admonitions. But they definitely felt the mantle of godly spokesman.

In the 1930s, Mormon apostle John A. Widtsoe described two kinds of revelation, said historian Matthew Bowman, author of “The Mormon People: The Making of an American Faith.”

The first type is the one employed by Smith and his immediate successor, Brigham Young, which “pertained to the cosmos and the kingdom of God.”

The second is “more mundane, day-to-day things of the kingdom,” said Bowman, paraphrasing Widtsoe. “But those are revelations, too.”

Widtsoe was trying to help members, the historian said, grapple with the “fading of the charismatic element in the church.”

Bowman said short-lived church President Harold B. Lee believed that the faith’s welfare plan--to help members during the Great Depression and beyond--was revelatory.

As an apostle in that desperate era, Lee went into an isolated woods to pray about the issue, describing it in language much like Smith’s well-known “First Vision.”

“As I kneeled down, my petition was, ‘What kind of an organization should be set up in order to accomplish what the presidency has assigned?’” Lee recalled in a General Conference speech in 1972. “And there came to me on that glorious morning one of the most heavenly realizations of the power of the priesthood of God. It was as though something were saying to me, ‘There is no new organization necessary to take care of the needs of this people. All that is necessary is to put the priesthood of God to work.’”

Perhaps the most momentous assertion of divine revelation to a 20th-century Mormon prophet happened in 1978 to Spencer W. Kimball, who ended a centurylong ban on black men and boys being ordained to the all-male priesthood and on women and girls entering Latter-day Saint temples.

The decision to change the long-standing policy came first to Kimball after years of prayer and meditation and then to top Latter-day Saint authorities meeting in the Salt Lake Temple.

“We joined [President Kimball] in prayer in the most sacred of circumstances,” recalled Gordon B. Hinckley, who was an apostle at the time and later rose to church president. “I do not recall the exact words that he spoke. But I do recall my own feelings and the nature of the expressions of my brethren. There was a hallowed and sanctified atmosphere in the room.”

For Hinckley, “it felt as if a conduit opened between the heavenly throne and the kneeling, pleading prophet of God who was joined by his brethren,” he told members a decade after the experience. “The Spirit of God was there.”

The future president went on to say that there was not the sound of a “‘rushing mighty wind,’ there were not ‘cloven tongues like as of fire’ as there had been on the Day of Pentecost. But there was a Pentecostal spirit.”

The assembled men did not hear a “voice audible to our physical ears,” Hinckley said. “… But the voice of the [Holy] Spirit whispered with certainty into our minds and our very souls.”

One of the few changes Hinckley attached directly to God, at least in public, was the Perpetual Education Fund, which offers school loans to needy members. He described it in a 2001 General Conference sermon as “a plan which we believe is inspired by the Lord.”

That hardly means these men shied away from mentioning their revelatory experiences in private or from referring openly to their prayers and pleadings with the Lord.

“They clearly believed they were inspired by God and willingly assumed the prophetic mantle,” said Patrick Mason, head of Mormon studies at Claremont Graduate University. “But they rarely went to the ‘God spoke to me’ rhetoric.”

Modern Mormons typically say “we’ve been praying and feel inspired,” Mason said. “We teach revelation, but we inhabit inspiration as a practice.”

Most Latter-day Saint leaders are “a little gun-shy to go to the ‘R’ word,” the scholar said. “Nelson isn’t.”

Just because Nelson is a bit of a throwback to earlier times, said Mormon historian Ardis Parshall, doesn’t negate his experience.

“There is a real difference between how generally 19th-century people speak about revelation and prophecy (and speaking in tongues, and healing, and other gifts of the Spirit) and how current and recent generations do,” Parshall said. “Prophets have different gifts, different styles. Few of them express their impressions as Joseph Smith did.”

When Latter-day Saint presidents say that they felt “inspired” or received “an impression,” she wrote in an email, “they ARE saying that it is a revelation.”

For Parshall, it’s a question of style, not substance.

Nelson uses “old-style language--and is possibly unique in that style among recent leaders,” Parshall said, “but I think it’s only his language, not his claimed experiences, that are unique.”

Even before Nelson became the church’s 17th president, he was comfortable using the “R” word.

In that first sermon, the Latter-day Saint prophet reiterated that “the privilege of receiving revelation is one of the greatest gifts of God to his children.”

Before Nelson’s appointment more than 34 years ago to full-time church service as an apostle, he was a renowned heart surgeon. He said in his April speech that “in an operating room, I have stood over a patient--unsure how to perform an unprecedented procedure--and experienced the Holy Ghost diagramming the technique in my mind.”

Nelson explained that revelation from on high is a sacred process.

“The [three-member] First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles counsel together and share all the Lord has directed us to understand and to feel, individually and collectively,” he said. “And then, we watch the Lord move upon the president of the church to proclaim the Lord’s will.”

Such statements echoed words and phrases used by Kimball and others to describe their experience ending the racial ban in 1978.

This language is one of “authority and legitimation,” Bowman said. “It adds weight to claims [he] is making.”

The “willingness to claim revelation in public,” the historian noted, “has grown more rare over time.”

Stuart Reid, a former Utah legislator who previously worked in the church’s public affairs department, believes that Nelson’s use of the term “revelation” is no accident but rather reflects the Latter-day Saint leader’s real interactions with divinity.

“The Lord really does speak to him in the night,” Reid said on a recent episode of The Salt Lake Tribune’s “Mormon Land” podcast. “He is a person who seeks revelation and insight … of what the Lord expects of this church.”

The elderly leader seems to have a sense of urgency, Reid said. If listeners pay attention to his language and “start connecting the dots, they will see he is laying a foundation for the church in ways we have not heard in a long, long time. … Each intermediate step [announcement] is a building block in that foundation.”

Nelson is preparing the faithful for the long-awaited Second Coming of Christ, Reid said, and relaying God’s will is a key factor in that readying.

[endtimeheadlines]

Apostles And the Full Preterism Deception

(By Jeremiah Johnson) As I continue to personally interact with many so-called modern day “apostles” and study current apostolic trends in the earth, I’m convinced that a great deception is currently attempting to sweep the body of Christ and the alarm must be sounded! It’s called “full preterism” and it’s currently being specifically pushed by some so-called “apostles”.

Full preterism is the belief that the prophecies in Matthew 24 (spoken by Jesus on the Mount of Olives) and the Book of Revelation were completely fulfilled in the PAST, particularly in the events leading up to and surrounding the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in A.D. 70.

According to Full-Preterists…

• The Tribulation • The Antichrist • The Abomination of Desolation • Jesus’ Second Coming (Matthew 24; Revelation 19)

…are all things of the past.

Here are 5 prophetic warnings for those potentially being deceived into this dangerous doctrine by “apostles”:

1. Full Preterism Operates in a Scoffing Spirit

2 Peter 3:3 says, “Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days SCOFFERS will come, MOCKING the truth and following their own desires. They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again…?

There is a scoffing and mocking spirit operating in some circles in the body of Christ toward the return of Jesus Christ. They believe He has already come and any tribulation, persecution etc is not a future event. You will hear full preterists constantly mock and scoff at references to the “end times” as they glory in their deception.

2. Full Preterism Leads to Hyper-Grace Theology

The apostles in the New Testament constantly appealed to the second coming of Jesus as a primary reason for why the Church must live holy and righteously before God.

1 Thessalonians 3:13 “May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.”

1 Timothy 6:13- “I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time…”

Titus 2:12-14 “Grace teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope – the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”

Holiness and consecration are rarely if at all emphasized and preached among full preterists. They typically embrace hyper grace theology and never appeal to the return of Jesus Christ as to why people should be living right with God.

Many of them will claim that we are living in a “better covenant” and God is no longer judging anyone.

3. Full Preterism Breeds Lazy and Complacent Christianity

The urgency of the hour and the fact that Jesus Christ could return at any moment fueled the zeal and passion of the first century Church for the proclamation of the gospel message and the repentance of sin.

1 John 2:28 “And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.”

Acts 3:19-21 “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you – even Jesus. He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.”

Because full preterists believe that Jesus has already returned, there is no urgency for the proclamation of the Gospel or for anyone to repent of sin with fervency and sobriety.

4. Full Preterism Leaves the Church Completely Unprepared for the Days Ahead

Those who are deceived by full preterism will become offended and fall away as persecution and tribulations increases in many parts of the earth in the days ahead. The New Testament clearly helps believers realize that trouble will come in the days ahead, but in the midst of trouble, we are anchored to the promise of Jesus’ bodily return. Full preterism teaches that trouble is not coming and Jesus has already returned. Therefore there is no preparation for trouble, nor any hope in the midst of it when it comes.

2 Peter 3:10-13 “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.”

5. Full Preterism Disconnects the Church from the Crisis that is Coming to Israel.

Scripture consistently teaches that trouble will come to Jerusalem and the national salvation of all of Israel will take place. This is why we must understand this trouble and what God’s plan is for it (Matthew 24:15). Full Preterism tells us all these prophecies have already been fulfilled and therefore the trouble in the Middle East has no biblical significance whatsoever.

Because full preterism does not accurately interpret the signs of our times, it creates a culture of prayerlessness, a scoffing spirit, hyper-grace theology, lazy and complacent Christianity, and a misunderstanding surrounding events in/around Israel.

Saints, beware of so-called “apostles” pushing this belief system in the days ahead. Those who are deceived will be given over to strong delusion! Remember, the apostles nor the early church fathers mentioned Christ’s Second Coming as having already occurred. By “church fathers” I am referring to those leaders in the church of the first three centuries A.D. following the original apostles (e.g., Justin Martyr, Eusebius, Tertullian, Polycarp).

Let’s stay alert in this hour and ask God for a spirit of sobriety and revelation.

Sounding the alarm, Jeremiah Johnson

[perspectivemattersministries]

What Leadership Requires!

PERSPECTIVE MATTERS...

25 “Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” ~ Matthew 20:25-28 NIV

Considering the state of leadership in our world today, whether we are talking about leadership in government or in our own households, it might just profit us greatly to revisit God’s perspective on the matter. I don’t think anyone would argue that leadership is severely lacking in our world today. The state of our nation today, in particular, makes this fact painfully obvious. But that should not come as a surprise to us since the world has little to no understanding of what authentic leadership requires. The perspective of the world concerning leadership is vastly different from God’s perspective on the subject.

In the above-captioned Scripture, Jesus is teaching on the subject of leadership. He was notably instructing His disciples who were engaged in a tepid tirade about the personal ambitions of those who served alongside them. Jesus made a delineating distinction between those who lead in the world from those who would lead in His kingdom. The two contrasts could not possibly be more starkly different.

Jesus noted the tendency of the leaders of the world to “lord it over them.” This term has oppressive implications of weighing others beneath them down. The notion of being an oppressive overlord comes to mind. Conversely, Jesus taught that those who would become leaders among those in His kingdom would serve to lift others up from a posture of serving from beneath rather than from above those you serve. Power would be wielded differently by those who would be elevated by the King of kings and Lord of lords to lead those in His kingdom. Kingdom leadership demonstrates pushing others up as opposed to pressing others down. Kingdom leadership serves others from under them, not over them. The ascending to leadership within the kingdom of God requires demonstrative service to others at the expense of self-interest. Authentic leadership requires servant leadership. To get Christlike results from leadership requires Christlike leaders!

Authentic leadership is not motivated by ambition. It is motivated by love - first by a sincere and genuine love for God, who in turn gives His consecrated leaders the capacity to love people - God’s greatest creation - indiscriminately. Apart from the Holy Spirit put into operation in the life of God’s leaders, such ability to lead according to love is impossible. When Jesus said, “Apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5), He absolutely meant it. The leaders who populate world governments at each and every level, absent the presence and power of the Holy Spirit given operation in their lives, are incapable of demonstrating true godly servant leadership. And true godly servant leadership is exactly what this world, its governments, its institutions, its businesses - and our households - are so very much in need of today.

This is why we who are true followers of Christ must reject wholesale the notion coming from out of the mouths of the hireling false shepherds who populate the pulpits of the Evangelical Christian church of today, who say with regularity that we don’t elect a “Pastor-In-Chief” when we elect a president. The Franklin Grahams, Pat Robertsons, Jim Bakers, Robert Jeffress’, et al of this world - they are merely attempting to defend the indefensible. In their own grab for power spawned by their own twisted ambitions to become the next Billy Graham, to have access to political power in a demonically inspired effort to conserve their worldly culture rather than serve the culture of the kingdom of God, they have flat out sold-out the gospel of the kingdom for another lesser gospel of civic culture at the expense of the Christ of the Scriptures. Their objective appears to be the conservation of the culture of white supremacy at the cost of the gospel of the kingdom that Christ both lived and preached.

“22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” ~ Galatians 5:22-23

Authentic servant leadership evidences the fruit of the Spirit in operation. It is a leadership that is motivated by love and demonstrates joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control in its wake. It lifts others up rather than weighs others down. It isn’t as quick to pick up a microphone as it is to pick other people up. Servant leadership is demonstrated by its tendency to exemplify the example of Christ in its sacrificial serving and giving out of no ambition of its own other than to please God by serving Him in service to others. Servant leadership is costly. It cost Christ everything and it will cost you no less. It will make demands on you that only your God-given potential can thoroughly answer. It will cost you your personal ambition, your will, and your ego. But its vast rewards are worth everything it will cost you to become a true servant leader.

Begin your journey to becoming a servant leader today. Start in your own household, in your marriage, among your own family members at home, in your church, in your community, on your job, in your business. Watch God begin to promote you as you selflessly “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (see Matthew 6:33). To seek power for power's sake or a platform for platform’s sake is to play right into the destructive demonic forces at work in this world today. Enlist yourself in the work of the kingdom instead and support those servant leaders at work around you. Chances are that they are under-appreciated, under-recognized, under-funded and under-assisted. Drop the mic and pick up a towel. God has the feet of people for you to wash. A leader is not what you call yourself, it’s what others call you! Don’t just seek to become a leader, seek to become a servant leader. Perspective Matters...

Be encouraged, enlightened and enriched daily. Visit us online at https://PerspectiveMatters.org/devotional-matters.html

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[wolint]

A LIVING CONSCIENCE

A LIVING CONSCIENCE

1 Samuel 24:4-11

 

We must all have and exhibit good or living conscience according to 1 Timothy 1:19. But what’s a conscience. Then? It is a person's moral sense of right and wrong, viewed as acting as a guide to one's behaviour. Having a living conscience is to ably discern between what is wrong and right and choosing to always do the right thing.

David here, shows us about a living conscience and how to chose what’s right, even when what we want is contrary to what we do. The fact that David was sorry after he had cut Saul’s robe shows that David respected Saul as the Lord’s anointed because Saul was still on the royal throne as king over Israel, even though the Spirit of the Lord has already left him, as well as telling us that David realizes that doing unscriptural things to the Lord’s anointed one is an offense against the Lord himself.

David’s conscience wouldn’t allow him to harm Saul because he had great respect for Saul, although Saul was trying to kill him. Although Saul was sinning and rebelling against God with his constant pursuit of David, David still respected the position he held as God’s anointed king because of his living conscience. David knew he would one day be king, and he also knew it was wrong to strike down the man God had placed on the throne. If David assassinated Saul, he would be setting a precedent for his own opponents to assassinate him some day.

Living conscience means we are to respect those God has placed or allow to be in leadership like Saul according to Romans 13:1-7. We may not know why, but like David, we are to respect the positions and roles of those whom God has given authority. However, there is one exception. Because God is our highest authority, we should not allow a leader to pressure us to violate God’s law but in good conscience, honour, respect and obey them within reasons.

When we operate in living conscience, like David did, we would refuse to do anything that brings dishonour to the Lord but exult Him in all we do.

Let’s remember Miriam and Aaron in Numbers 12:9-12 whose conscience didn’t bother them in trying to call Moses out as a usurper and God dealt with them severely for dishonouring His anointed one.

David’s godliness is why his conscience troubled him, unlike his men who were gleeful and wanted David to finish off Saul. We must be careful to not allow the negative voice of influence push us to do things against our conscience.

We must always allow our hearts and spirit to be convicted of wrong doings us and our conscience smitten by the Spirit of truth. It is only in this state that we can obey Hebrews 10:22 to draw near to the Lord.

A living conscience will always reveal what is in our hearts because everyone has a conscience, the inner awareness of what is right and what is wrong. We must, through the word of God exercise good conscience always as used in 1 Timothy 1:5: “But the end of the charge is love out of a pure heart and out of a good conscience and out of unfeigned faith.”

Endeavour to have a good, and living conscience, a conscience cleared from guilt by having sound faith in Christ.

Regardless of what’s said against us, done against us and afflictions on us according to 1 Peter 2:12, emulate Christ and David and exhibit a living conscience in all areas of life to display Christ and exhibit the Scriptures.

The word of God tells us what is true, right, and good, and what we can act on. So too with a living conscience; we can act against it, but we ought not.

PRAYER: Lord of grace, help me to always exercise and exhibit a living conscience, to always do the right and godly things that will honour you in Jesus’s name. Amen.

Shalom

WOMEN OF LIGHT INT. PRAYER MIN.

[wolint]

FRESH MANNA

JESUS POWER

Matthew 10:1-15

"Jesus power, superpower and other powers, powerless power" was a popular song growing up.

This is the most scriptural song ever known because it's straight from the bible.

Verse 1 says "And Jesus summoned to Him His twelve disciples and gave them power and authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out, and to cure all kinds of diseases, weakness and infirmity.

What more can one say about Jesus’s power?

He gave them! He gave us and every believer, church members and leaders alike the same power to do kingdom business effectively.

Yet, today’s "Christians" are looking for more power, and are putting their hands where they shouldn't be, connecting with those they shouldn't be connected with and dabbling in things outside of scripture. If Jesus gave you power, what more or other power are you looking for?

There are powers and powers, supernatural powers from the pit of hell, that may seem to work as well as Jesus’s powers but if not stepped in Christ and the scriptures, it's demonic.

Ask Simon the Sorcerer, sometimes referred to as Simon Magus or Simon of Gitta, is mentioned in Acts 8:9–24 saying that people paid earnest attention to him, from the least to the greatest because he exhibited the power of God (what they thought was the power of God) but he was using sorcery which was confirmed in verse 11.

Yes, they were bewitched!

Every other power is powerless power!

Is there any other religion in the world with Jesus' power? They may all have and exhibit supernatural powers but unless it’s from God, it is counterfeit and powerless, again look at Simon the sorcerer.

The Christian faith according to 1 Corinthians 4:20 is all about power saying “For the kingdom of God consists of and is based on not talk but power ( moral power and excellence of soul). We cannot compare Jesus’ power to any phenomenon, power or authority because nothing created is ever going to be more powerful than the creator.

No power is sufficient for the work of God.

Jesus gives power away to those who’ll use it wisely and multiply their influence for effective Christian living and ministry.

But how can one have true spiritual power?

Look no further than 2 Corinthians 3:5. It says “Not that we are fit (qualified and sufficient in ability) of ourselves to form personal judgments or to claim or count anything as coming from us, but our power and ability and sufficiency are from God. In other words, God is the ultimate source of power.

Stop looking for a superpower to make you a superman.

There are no other sources of sustainable power outside Jesus.

No matter the height one wants to attain, one must depend on the Lord, for according to 1 Corinthians 6:14, only God can raise us by His power.

All power on earth and in heaven belongs to Jesus according to Matthew 28:18 and none can be found with anyone or anywhere else if not given by him.

True and godly power comes from God alone. There are counterfeits and they are not powerless, though they cannot overcome God’s power. They must be confronted with God’s power. God gives us all the power we need to stand firm against Satan’s attacks.

He provides armour for us comprised of truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and prayer. The same God who has equipped us wants to train us for His service by His power.

Power comes from living in fellowship with Jesus Christ. If you are not being spiritually fruitful, it’s time to re-examine your connection with Jesus and the power you’re operating in.

PRAYER: Father, help me to remain grounded in you while operating in my God-given power and not seek more power elsewhere in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Shalom

WOMEN OF LIGHT INT. PRAYER MIN.

[nolimitsongrace]

July 4: Praying for Those in Authority

Praying for Those in AuthorityJuly 4, 2019

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour…. — 1 Timothy 2:1-3

Even if we don’t like the way things are going in our government, we must obey the apostle Paul’s exhortation in First Timothy 2:1-3 to pray for our governmental leaders. Before you dismiss Paul’s instructions to pray for those in authority as too simplistic, remember that he lived at a time of grossly immoral governmental leadership and that he ultimately was martyred by Nero — the very “king” he asked people to pray for! In First Timothy 2:1-3, Paul declared, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour….”

Paul gave us six prayer commands in these verses that God expects us to obey — regardless of who is calling the shots politically. In this passage of Scripture, he clearly defined guidelines for us to follow when we pray. Rather than rush to God with accusations, complaints, grumbling, protestations, and whining, we are to follow the positive approach in prayer Paul provided. He began by saying, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications….”

1.  A Right Attitude

The word “supplications” is a translation of the Greek word deisis, which describes the attitude of one who beseeched a king. Access to a throne was a great privilege in the ancient world, so when an individual approached a king, he showed respect and gratitude for the privilege.

*[If you started reading this from your email, begin reading here.]

As Paul began to outline his instructions regarding how we should pray, he reminded us of the kind of attitude we ought to have when we draw near to God. Before we utter a single word in prayer, we must clearly understand in our hearts that we have been afforded a great privilege to access the throne room of God. Regardless of the thoughts swirling around in our minds or the complaints we may be harboring in our souls, we need to come into God’s presence with hearts of respect and gratitude. We certainly are not to enter His presence ready to unabashedly spew ugly, disrespectful, or slanderous words at Him as though it’s His fault that things aren’t going the way we wished they were going!

Therefore, the first thing we need to do when we prepare to pray for our government is get our attitudes right.

2.  A Prayer of Personal Consecration

As Paul continued, he wrote, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers.…” The word “prayers” — the Greek word proseuche — literally means an exchange or a surrender and pictures a person who comes into the intimate presence of God to consecrate himself as a first matter of priority.

So Paul affirmed that our first responsibility as believers before we ever utter a request or a complaint regarding others — before we utter anything else at all — is to enter the presence of God and get our own attitudes and thoughts right before Him. Then with clear hearts we can receive His thoughts and know His ways in the place of prayer. When our own attitudes are corrected and realigned, it usually changes the way we pray concerning others, because our words reflect the Father’s heart instead of our own personal preference or opinions.

Everything must be surrendered to God and the power of His Spirit before anything else is spoken to Him in prayer.

3.  A Prayer of Intercession for Others

Once a believer has dealt with his own wrong attitudes and his need of consecration, Paul wrote what to do next. He said, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions….”

The word “intercessions” is the Greek word huperentugchano, which means to appeal to God on behalf of someone else. Once you have dealt with your own attitude and consecrated yourself to the will of God, you are in a position to appeal to God about someone else.

Perhaps you sense the Holy Spirit’s leading to pray for someone who is unable to pray for himself, such as a novice believer who simply doesn’t know how to pray effectively, or for a government leader whose spiritual condition and unwise decisions are negatively affecting masses of people. In other words, you sense the Holy Spirit’s leading to assume an intercessory position and to focus your prayers toward a specific individual or situation. And if you have made sure your own heart is clear of clutter, you can pray for others in this way while remaining free from any selfish agenda or wrong attitude.

4.  A Prayer of Thankfulness

Paul continued in his list of prayer guidelines by saying, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks….” According to this verse, you are also to give “thanks” while you are in God’s presence. This phrase “giving of thanks,” which is a form of the Greek word eucharistos, depicts an overflowing, grateful heart.

Let’s be honest — it’s difficult to be grateful and thankful when you are harboring a complaining attitude at the same time! God knows this. So He instructs you to allow thankfulness to flow from your heart, which will literally shift your “inner atmosphere” during your time of prayer.

So before you start griping about a political leader — or anyone else for that matter! — first take time to think of reasons you can be thankful regarding that person. This will change your tone and make you more effective in prayer. And rest assured — God will appreciate your change of attitude!

5.  A Prayer for Everyone

Paul continued, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men….” The word “all” means we are not to show favoritism or to be picky about the people we pray for. Regardless of their spiritual status or political affiliation, we are to pray for “all men.” This is a good test, because if there is someone you think you can’t pray for, it probably indicates a problematic attitude inside you that needs to be consecrated to God. This is very important to understand, because your inability to pray for someone actually reveals a deep need for change in you.

6.  A Prayer for Governmental Officials

Next, Paul said that we must pray for “for kings.” If anyone needed prayer, it was the unsaved kings who possessed lofty positions of power and authority in the First Century AD! But Paul broadened the scope of this divine command by saying that we are to pray for all who are “in authority.” The word “authority” used here is huperarche and depicts prominent governmental officials. Ponder that for a moment. That means we are to pray for all prominent governmental officials — even those whom we don’t care for at all! Paul told us the reason for all this praying is “…that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior….”

Most believers in New Testament times had no option to vote, so they did what they could do and followed Paul’s six prayer commands. I’m sure if they had been given the right to vote, they would have rushed to the polling booths to cast their votes. But the only vote they could cast was in prayer — so they prayed! Since their governmental leaders were entrenched in power and there was nothing they could do to change it, these early believers took their role in prayer very seriously. And ultimately the power of those prayers brought about change far greater than any election day could ever produce!

Remember — our democratic system allows us to vote, and we must exercise this cherished right. But once the election is over, we have to face the fact that the men and women who have been placed in positions of power are there because of the democratic system that elected them. They represent the choice of the people who put them there. If we are unsatisfied with the outcome, our opportunity is coming again a few years down the road to change the situation. Yet even so, our greatest effectiveness will be found as we enter God’s presence in the authority of Jesus’ name and fulfill these six prayer commands given by the Holy Spirit to the Church through the apostle Paul!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, I cherish the right to vote. It is a freedom that cost the lives of many. At the appointed time, I will exercise that privilege to make my voice heard via my voting ballot. However, I realize that I don’t have to wait for an upcoming election to cast my vote for righteousness. I take my place in prayer, in obedience to Your Word, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, and I pray with all manner of prayer and supplications. Seated together with Christ Jesus and by the authority of His name, I pray with confidence according to Your will, knowing that You hear me.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that I exercise my rights on earth and in Heaven. I pray for those in offices of governmental authority as I exercise my authority in Christ through prayer. I operate according to the divine law of love, and I refrain from criticism and negative speech. Instead, I speak words in agreement with the will of God and the establishment of righteousness in my land.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

Do you have the right to vote? If so, do you appreciate it? Do you actually vote, or are you among the millions of people who no longer go to the polls and just trust that everyone else will do the voting?

How often do you pray for those who are in authority? Often people feel free to criticize leaders, but they fail to pray for them. Which category do you fit into? If you are one who criticizes only, how will you change after reading today’s Sparkling Gem? Will you begin to pray for those who are in authority?

Without looking back at what you read today, can you recall the six prayer commands that Paul gave to us? Since these are commands, it would be good for you to memorize them so you can make them a regular part of your prayer life.