REFUSE

REFUSE TO BE DEFEATED

"Satan's strategy is to keep you out of your promised land, to prevent you from inheriting all the blessings God has promised you...

He will cause you to doubt God and His Word.
He will temp you to murmur against God.
He will cause you to turn away from God.
He will cause you to refuse to hear God's voice.
He will cause you to reject God's voice and reject God's Word.
He will steal the fear of God out of your heart.
He will cause you to fear man more than you fear God.
He will cause you to reject God's will and follow your self-will.
He will deceive you into compromising what God has spoken to you.
He will try to steal your vision.

God will bring us to a new level of spiritual destiny. He has positioned us to victory. He has placed His Spirit within us, giving us the will, desire and power to obey. God has set a new powerful spiritual dimension before us and is saying, "Go up and possess it!"

Your Spiritual destiny is in your hands. You have a choice....
...to obey God and, by faith, take full possession of your spiritual inheritance and enter this new spiritual dimension, or..
...to rebel and disobey God and, though your unbelief, forfeit your inheritance and live in defeat.

Go forward and take offensive action and defeat satan's strategy to lead you into rebellion and disobedience against God.

Know the voice of God.
Hear the voice of God.
Obey the voice of God.
Walk in the manifestation of God's glory.
Believe God's promises.

Behind us is a life of struggle, failure and defeat. Before us lies new spiritual territory.

A place of peace and security.
A place of blessings and provision.
A place of power and victory.
A place of joy and contentment.

Go forward in the power of the Almighty God and take possession of your spiritual inheritance! Refuse to be defeated! He has promised, He will be with you always!"

ABOUT THOSE PHARISEES :

John 9:34 "They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out."

Much of the Pharisees' problem was spiritual pride, as is very evident by this statement. They were so blinded by their arrogance that they couldn't believe anyone who hadn't been through their "seminary" could teach them anything.

The name "Pharisees" comes from a Hebrew word meaning "separate." This term was applied to this sect because of its extreme devotion to the Mosaic law and commitment to leading a separated life. This was a reaction of the devout Jews who came back to Jerusalem from the Babylonian captivity, and saw the pagan customs and influences of the Babylonians everywhere. Not only their religion but their identity as a nation was being threatened. The Pharisees were patriots as well as religious zealots, who in the beginning served a very needed function in the Jewish nation which was struggling for survival. However, over the centuries the Pharisees had departed from the Mosaic law and had written their own interpretations of the law - interpretations which they held to be God-inspired and equal to that of Moses. In Jesus' day this group was characterized by hypocrisy and self-righteousness. They, as a whole, persecuted Jesus and His followers and received the Lord's most stinging rebukes.

The Pharisees, like many people today, were ignorant of achieving right standing (righteousness) with God through the simple act of receiving His forgiveness by faith and were trying to earn salvation by their own acts. No one can fulfill God's commands (Rom. 3:23) except Jesus (Heb. 4:15). Therefore, to be righteous, we must put our faith in what He has done for us.

TAKE A STAND AGAINST STRIFE :

The beginning of strife is as when water first trickles [from a crack in a dam]; therefore stop contention before it becomes worse and quarreling breaks out. – Proverbs 17:14

Throughout the Scriptures, God warns us about the danger of strife. Yet, it's still one of the most common problems among believers. We let it get into our homes, our work places, our churches...everywhere!

Of course, we don't purposely let it in. We don't wake up in the morning and say, "I think I'm going to stir up some major strife today." We just inadvertently let it slip up on us one minor irritation at a time.

So, I urge you today to take a big stand against those little opportunities for strife. If you have a tendency to let things irritate you, decide to overcome that tendency. Arm yourself against them with the knowledge that this world isn't perfect, that there are people in it that aren't going to be nice to you. There are people who are going to stir you up and annoy you on purpose or by accident.

Make up your mind that, by the power of God, you're not going to let them get your peace. That peace is so important to your well-being. It will keep your body healthy. It will keep your relationships healthy. It will put you in a place where God can guide your steps and save you from some very grave mistakes.

If you've spent a lifetime getting your feathers ruffled over every little thing, it may take a while for you to break that habit. You may have to work at it a moment at a time. But you can do it.

I know. I had to do that where worrying is concerned. I'd worried for so many years and had come from such a family of worriers that I did it almost without thinking. When I learned worrying went contrary to the Word of God, I had to give it up one minute at a time. With the help of the Holy Spirit, every time a worried thought would come to me, I would overcome it with the Word of God. And I did that until I broke that worrying habit for good.

You can do the same thing with strife. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you start to notice and overcome it one moment at a time. Then, every time you start to get upset about something, rebuke that strife in the Name of Jesus and resist it. Say right out loud, "I am walking in the peace of God today."

You'll be surprised how much more wonderful living can be.

JESUS HEALS WILLINGLY ALL SICKNESS

MATTHEW 8:5 Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him,
6 saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented."
7 And Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal him."
8 The centurion answered and said, "Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.
9 For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."
10 When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, "Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!
11 And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.
12 But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you." And his servant was healed that same hour.
14 Now when Jesus had come into Peter's house, He saw his wife's mother lying sick with a fever.
15 So He touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she arose and served them.
16 When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick,
17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: " He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses."

Scriptures tells us that Jesus Christ who is the same yesterday, today and forever heals all sickness and casts out all demonic spirits. Jesus said to Centurion and says to all believers "I will come and heal him." Remember nothing is too difficult or impossible with God who raised His friend Lazarus from the dead. So believe God for your healing and/or deliverance in Jesus name!

ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. —Psalm 46:1
An acquaintance of mine was hunting with friends near Balmoral, the country estate of the queen of England. As they walked, he twisted his ankle so badly that he couldn’t go on, so he told his friends to continue and he would wait by the side of the road.

As he sat there, a car came down the road, slowed, and stopped. The woman driving rolled the window down and asked if he was okay. He explained and said he was waiting for his friends to return. She said, “Get in; I’ll take you back to where you are staying.” He limped to the car and opened the door only to realize that it was Queen Elizabeth!

As shocking as receiving help from the queen of England may be, we have an offer of help that is even more astounding. The Creator-God of the universe descends into our world, sees our trouble, and offers to marshal His resources to help us. As the psalmist confidently affirms, “God is . . . a very present help in trouble” (Ps. 46:1). Our Savior helps by giving us grace to endure, His Word to sustain us, friends to encourage and pray for us, and the confidence that He will ultimately work it all together for our spiritual good.

Next time you feel stranded along life’s road, look for your Helper.

Lord, I’m thankful that when I experience trouble You are waiting and wanting to help. Teach me to look to You and to rest in Your kind and loving care until You deliver me safely home.

Rejoice! Your God is a helping King!

LESSONS FROM THE PRODIGAL SON (2) :

'...[He] wasted his substance...' Luke 15:13 KJV

The Prodigal Son told his father, 'I want it all, now!' To know whether something is good for you or not, you need to understand where the desire for it came from. Loving parents don't give their children things because they cry for them; they reward them for acting responsibly. They know what's age-appropriate. And God is a loving parent. We all know good, well-intentioned people whose talents elevated them. Yet they crashed and burned because of some immature, undisciplined area in their life. Please listen to your heavenly Father and don't leave home until He says you're ready! The Prodigal 'wasted his substance with riotous living.' Note the word 'substance'. Satan is after more than your material possessions: he's after your character, your self-esteem, your staying power, and your life's purpose. Like the Prodigal Son, you can reach a place where you lose your very desire for life itself. It's possible to bask in the accolades of others and think you're going places in life, yet be only a few steps from the pig sty. The Bible says, '...He...joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.' (Luke 15:15 KJV) Note the word 'joined'. To gauge where you are spiritually, look at who you're 'joined' to. The company you keep is like a compass that points you in the direction you're headed. And that compass doesn't lie. But there's hope. When the Prodigal Son returned home, his father was waiting for him with open arms. And your heavenly Father is waiting for you too, so come while you still can.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY :

“May God be merciful and bless us. May His face smile with favor on us.” (Psalm 67:1)

Dear Heavenly Father, I praise You. I honor You. I see Your face in every sunrise. Your smile breaks through the cloud with brilliant sunshine this morning. The Light of God brightens up the world and makes everything on revival. Let the morning brings me the unfailing love of God for I put my truth in Him; show me the way I should go for I lean on Him.

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

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