OPEN ARMS

GOD IS ALWAYS READY TO RECEIVE YOU WITH OPEN ARMS

Who do you approach boldly? Your spouse or loved one? A close friend or your child? Who do you approach cautiously? Someone you don’t know or maybe someone you had a conflict with?

The other day I was reading in Hebrews, and in chapter four, verse 16 it says “to come boldly to the throne of grace and receive mercy.” I was thinking, how many times do people shrink back or hide from God because of guilt, condemnation or fear? They have a misconception about how God views them, and it affects their relationship with Him. It’s just like Adam and Eve in the garden way back in the very beginning. They sinned and hid from God. (As if you can really hide from God.) But God doesn’t want us to hide from Him; He wants us to come boldly to Him so He can give us His mercy. He’s saying today, “I don’t care what you’ve done, come to Me. Let Me make you whole and new again.”

I encounter so many people who believe that God is always mad at them. When things don’t go well, the first thing they say is, “Well, God, You did it to me again!” It’s as if they think God is just waiting for them to do something wrong so He can punish them and make their lives difficult. Let me assure you right now, that is the farthest thing from the truth! God is not mad at you; He is madly in love with you! When you receive His love, it will give you confidence to go to Him.

Remember, it doesn’t matter how many times you’ve made a mistake; it doesn’t matter how many times you’ve blown it. God is always ready to receive you with open, loving arms. In fact, He’s already forgiven you for anything you’ve done in the past and anything you will do in the future. All you must do is come boldly and receive His grace and mercy today!

PLAY TO WIN :
Who is he that over cometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? – 1 John 5:5

I've often heard people say, "It's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game." That's nonsense. If you play the game right, you'll win!

Any coach will tell you that part of playing the game right is having a winning attitude. That's what God wants us, as believers, to have. He wants us to have so much faith in Him that we expect to whip any obstacle the devil brings our way. He wants us to expect to win at the game of life.

We don't always come by that attitude easily. We're so accustomed to losing that we have to totally change our way of thinking if we want to have a winning mind-set. In Ephesians, the Apostle Paul told the Church to renew their minds. They needed to change their attitudes, to renew their minds to the fact that Jesus has overcome the world.

If you haven't already, you need to do that too! You need to develop a glorious sense of confidence that says, "Hey, devil, I'm going to be victorious and there's not a thing you can do to stop me!"

"But, Brother, you don't know the kinds of problems I'm facing."

I know I don't, but Jesus does and He said you should "cheer up" because He can give you peace in the midst of tribulation. He said that when Satan comes against you with everything he has, you should take heart because He's already beaten it-- Jesus has already overcome it and so can you!

First John 5:5 puts it this way, "Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?"

Do you know what that scripture means? It means that if you are a born-again believer, you have an absolute right to be a winner, to overcome every aspect of this evil world. Think about that. Meditate on it. Start developing a winning attitude today!

KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON

We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth. —Ezra 5:11

Keep calm and call mom.” “Keep calm and eat bacon.” “Keep calm and put the kettle on.” These sayings originate from the phrase: “Keep Calm and Carry On.” This message first appeared in Great Britain as World War II began in 1939. British officials printed it on posters designed to offset panic and discouragement during the war.

Having returned to the land of Israel after a time of captivity, the Israelites had to overcome their own fear and enemy interference as they began to rebuild the temple (Ezra 3:3). Once they finished the foundation, their opponents “hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose” (4:5). Israel’s enemies also wrote accusing letters to government officials and successfully delayed the project (vv.6,24). Despite this, King Darius eventually issued a decree that allowed them to complete the temple (6:12-14).

When we are engaged in God’s work and we encounter setbacks, we can calmly carry on because, like the Israelites, “We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth” (5:11). Obstacles and delays may discourage us, but we can rest in Jesus’ promise: “I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it” (Matt. 16:18 NLT). It is God’s power that enables His work, not our own.

Thou art our life, by which alone we live,
And all our substance and our strength receive.
Sustain us by Thy faith and by Thy power,
And give us strength in every trying hour.

God’s Spirit gives the power to our witness.

JESUS YOUR HIGH PRIEST INTERCEDES FOR YOU :

… He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. - Hebrews 7:25

The verse says that Jesus always lives to make intercession for us. Once, I used to think that this meant that Jesus is seated at the Father’s right hand today, praying all the time for us, waiting and hoping that the Father will do something for us.

But that is not true. Look at what Jesus prayed when He stood before Lazarus’ tomb. He declared, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.” (John 11:41) He prayed these words even before Lazarus came forth from his tomb alive. Jesus knew that what He said would come to pass because the Father always hears Him. (John 11:42)

So what does “Jesus always lives to make intercession for us” mean?

Because Jesus is our High Priest (Hebrews 4:14), we get a picture of what happens when we pray when we understand what the high priest in the Old Testament did with the burnt offering of a bird. (Leviticus 1:14–17)

The birds brought to the high priest are a picture of our prayers “flying” to the Lord Jesus because we pray to the Father in Jesus’ name. Now, just as the high priest removes the bird’s feathers after killing it, Jesus removes all that is superfluous and unclean from our prayers, such as unbelief and self-centeredness.

Then, just as the high priest offers the bird as a burnt sacrifice, a sweet aroma to the Lord, Jesus our High Priest adds His perfection, beauty, excellence and fragrance, which the Father so delights in, to our prayers. That is how He presents our prayers to the Father. That is how He lives to make intercession for you.

My friend, you don’t have to run to a church leader to get him to pray “more powerfully” for you. You can pray yourself. Then, take advantage of Jesus’ intercession for you and say, “Lord Jesus, I don’t know what else to say… please intercede for me.” And when Jesus gives His personal touch to your prayer, you can be sure that it will be answered!

Thought For The Day:

Jesus removes all that is superfluous and unclean from our prayers, and adds His perfection, beauty, excellence and fragrance to them!

Trust believes God’s promises will come to pass even when circumstances look impossible. Trust says, “My God specializes in making the impossible, possible!”

Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. - Hebrews 11:3

God uses words to create. He used His Word to "frame" the worlds. Just look in the first chapter of Genesis and count how many times you see the phrase, "God said." "God said, Let there be light: and there was light.... God said, Let there be a firmament.... God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together.... God said, Let the earth bring forth...."

God doesn't do anything without saying it first. That's His MO, His mode of operation. And, if you're smart, you'll use that mode of operation too. You'll take His words and speak them out until they take on form and substance and become a reality in your life.

TARES AMONG THE WHEAT :

Matthew 13:25, "But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way."

Satan has secretly infiltrated the Church with some of his followers for the purpose of hindering the influence of the Church. This has been a more effective strategy than direct opposition.

These tares that are spoken of refer to the Old World variety of darnel, which is poisonous. Virtually all grains are almost indistinguishable from tares when they send up the first blade from the ground. By the time the tares become distinguishable, they are so well rooted that, if growing in close proximity to a productive grain, uprooting the tares would also mean uprooting the productive grain. Therefore, verse 30 admonishes us to let both grow together until the harvest. The grains of the tares are long and black in contrast to the wheat, and are easily recognizable at harvest time. Many will profess Christianity, but "by their fruits ye shall know them."

There will be those who are deceived and unaware that they are not born again, who will remain among the Church. Jesus warns us against trying to root them out especially since it is not always possible to discern other people's hearts. In an effort to destroy these tares, we might offend one of Christ's "little ones" and cause his or her profession of faith to waver.

It is important, though, for our own personal benefit that we be aware that the children of the Wicked One are placed among the true believers. Our best defense is to preach the Word of God without watering it down. False brethren will not endure sound doctrine. They leave when the Word, which is sharper than any two-edged sword, begins to expose the thoughts and intents of the heart. Stick to the Word!

GOD CAN DO IT AGAIN

Say to those with fearful hearts, "Be strong, and do not fear, for your God is coming to destroy your enemies. He is coming to save you." —Isa 35:4, NLT

Haman, the villain in the story of Esther, hated the Jews and sought to exterminate them. He succeeded in getting a decree issued to annihilate all the Jews in one day.

But God used Queen Esther and Mordecai, both Jews, to turn the tables on Haman and save their people.

Haman was hanged, while a counter-decree was given that allowed the Jews to defend themselves and destroy their enemies in one day. And so, God turned what had begun as an evil day for the Jews into many good days. He turned their mourning into rejoicing and gave them victory over their enemies.

God can do the same for you today. He can turn the tables on your enemies and turn your sadness into joy! Simply rest in Jesus’ finished work at the cross, which has set you above every evil assault the devil attempts to throw at you, and watch your evil day turn into days of rejoicing

PRAYER FOR THE DAY :

“May Your ways be known throughout the earth; Your saving power among people everywhere!” (Psalm 67:2)

Dear Lord God, I praise You. I honor You. God has ascended with a mighty shout on this glorious morning. Trumpets blaring and hymns of praise are spread all over the world. Holy God, I sing You a new song on this wonderful day for You have done great things in me. Your unfailing love in me endures forever and Your plan for me is to prosper me and strengthen me. I humbly pray that God anoints me; pouring out the oil of joy on me bountifully. Let Your holy kiss come upon my face each morning for I am Your chosen servant and wonderfully made child. Use me O God! Bless the work I touch that brings You glory day by day.

Gratefully, in Jesus’ holy name. Amen !!!!

ANGEL OF CHANGE

There are many demonic forces involved in these modern-day forces such as, magical, numerology, occult, mystical, shamanistic, religious, antichrist, and many more.

These are damnable doctrines of Devils, twisted word, witchcraft doctrines, witches, wizards, etc., are going to cause the greatest massacre in the Church of Jesus Christ has ever experienced in the History of the world.

In Matthew 24 Jesus describes the world before He returns in His Second Coming, as a world where the love of most has grown cold because of false teachers (Matt. 24:11-12); and where "the Faith" will be nearly extinct, (Lk. 18:8).
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