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coram_deo 08-Sep-21, 01:21 |
 “You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near to me, you and your children, your children’s children, your flocks and your herds, and all that you have. There I will provide for you.” Genesis 45:10–11 - SEPTEMBER 8 - BROUGHT NEAR TO GOD My friend, the world we live in today is fraught with famine, economic uncertainty, corruption, and all kinds of evil and tragedies. People are more afraid than ever to travel by air or sea. Many people are living stressed, anxious lives just due to the chaos they see all around them. As Scripture says, the world will get darker, and it is (Isa. 60:2). But in the midst of all this darkness and uncertainty, see how today’s scripture speaks of “the land of Goshen”—a place of nearness to God—where you and your family can take refuge in. That’s what the grace revolution does for you. It is a revolution of restored relationship. It brings you near to God. To be established on Mount Zion is to have an intimacy with God you never dreamed possible. And out of that intimacy, barrenness gives way to fruitfulness. Lack is replaced by abundance. Sadness and sickness with joy and life. Fear with love. Confusion and insecurity with peace and assurance. Defeat with victory. Breakdowns with breakthroughs. And aimlessness with divine destiny! What happens when you abide in Goshen, this place of nearness to God? You dwell in the place of abundance. Goshen literally means “drawing near” to God, and you can see in the Old Testament story of Joseph, how being brought near to God is to enjoy His protection and provision. When the land was in famine, Joseph said to his brothers, “Hurry and go up to my father, and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph: “God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not tarry. You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near to me, you and your children, your children’s children, your flocks and your herds, and all that you have. There I will provide for you, lest you and your household, and all that you have, come to poverty; for there are still five years of famine” ’ ” (Gen. 45:9–11). So in the midst of all the turbulence you see in the world today, I want you to know that there is a Goshen you and your family can take refuge in. It’s a blessed place where God says, “You shall be near to Me, you and your children, and your children’s children. There I will provide for you!” Beloved, you stay planted on Zion and in the place of nearness and intimacy with the Lord by being established in your righteous standing in Christ Jesus. Our Lord Jesus died on the cross and rose again on the third day to give us an everlasting righteousness that is anchored by faith in Him (Rom. 4:5). Now that is the gospel of Jesus Christ! Because of Jesus, today you can have the intimacy you’ve always longed for with God. Because God gave up His Son for your sins, you have His righteousness as a gift apart from your works, and you can come boldly to the Father as His beloved son or daughter. You can enjoy fruitfulness instead of dead works when you live in the realm of His love for you, and not out of a sense of religious obligation. If you’ve been beaten down by negative circumstances, a long-term condition, or an addiction you can’t seem to break, you can be a prisoner of hope and receive His gift of righteousness afresh to reign over it (Zech. 9:12, Rom. 5:17). You can have a fresh start in your career even when you have seen your dreams shattered, because you know that in the place of nearness, God loves you, hears you, and will restore you. You can live free of fear, terror, and oppression as you become more and more established in His righteousness day by day (Isa. 54:14). I pray that as you grow in your revelation of how Jesus has brought you to a place of closeness with God, you will walk in liberty. May you have victory over everything that is holding you back from fulfilling all that our Father has in store for your blessed future in Him. |
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coram_deo 08-Sep-21, 09:32 |
From Joseph Prince Ministries: Rest in Jesus’ Finished Work 08 September 2021 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:4-7 Look at the above passage. It tells us that by God's unmerited favor, we are seated together with Christ at the Father's right hand. To be seated in Christ is to rest, to trust in Him, and to receive everything our beautiful Savior has accomplished on our behalf. My friend, God wants us to take the position of relying on Jesus for good success in every area of our lives, instead of relying on our good works and human efforts to achieve success. What a blessing it is to be in this position of dependence on our Savior! But instead of looking at Jesus, believers are misled by the devil into looking at themselves. For thousands of years, the devil's strategy has not changed. He is a master at accusing you, pointing out all your flaws, weaknesses, mistakes, and blemishes. He will keep on reminding you of your past failures and use condemnation to perpetuate the cycle of defeat in your life. When the apostle Paul found himself sinking into self-occupation, he became depressed and cried out, "O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me...?" (Romans 7:24). In the very next verse, he sees God's solution and says, "I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!" Likewise, beloved, it's time for you to step out from being self-conscious and self-occupied, and begin to be Christ-occupied instead. Today, you should no longer be asking yourself, "Am I pleasing to God?" Instead, ask, "Is Christ pleasing to God?" Because as Christ is, so are you in this world (1 John 4:17). The old covenant of law is all about you, but the new covenant of grace is all about Jesus! The law places the demand on you to perform and makes you self-conscious, whereas grace places the demand on Jesus and makes you Jesus-conscious. Can you imagine a young child growing up and always wondering in his heart, "Am I pleasing to Daddy? Am I pleasing to Mummy? Do Daddy and Mummy accept me?" This child will grow up emotionally warped if he does not have the security and assurance of his parents' love and acceptance. That is why your loving heavenly Father wants you rooted, established, and anchored in His unwavering love for you. He demonstrated His love for you when He sent Jesus to become your sin on the cross so that you can become His righteousness. Our part today is to turn away from ourselves and to look at Jesus! |
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coram_deo 09-Sep-21, 02:38 |
“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power.” Ephesians 1:17–19 - SEPTEMBER 9 - THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM If God tells us that wisdom is the principal thing, then it behooves us to know and operate in the “spirit of wisdom.” But do you know what the “spirit of wisdom” is? Look at the prayer (above) that the apostle Paul prayed over the church in Ephesus. The spirit of wisdom and revelation is in the knowledge of Jesus! The more you know Jesus and have a revelation of His unmerited favor in your life, the more you will have the spirit of wisdom. I challenge you to pray this prayer for wisdom on a regular basis because when you increase in the knowledge of Jesus, He will surely lead you to good success in every aspect of your life. Note that when Paul was praying this prayer for the believers in Ephesus, they were already filled with the Holy Spirit. But Paul still prayed that God would give them a spirit of wisdom and revelation in their knowledge of Jesus. It is one thing to have the Holy Spirit inside you, but it is another thing to let the Holy Spirit inside you flow as the spirit of wisdom and revelation. And as you pray to be led by the spirit of wisdom today, be confident that you will experience the Holy Spirit leading you in Jesus’ divine and unmatched wisdom. When the Holy Spirit leads you in the wisdom of Jesus, there will be no impossible situation, no insolvable problem, and no insurmountable crisis. The wisdom of Jesus in you will help you to successfully navigate all your trials and cause you to prevail over all your challenges! |
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coram_deo 09-Sep-21, 21:52 |
Q: Is it true that knowing that God is involved in our lives is more important than “feeling” His presence? While I understand that faith is about believing without actually seeing, isn’t there some way to know that God truly is active and real? – G.T. A: On a windy day, a boy went out to fly his kite. The sky was filled with puffy clouds and a gentle breeze. As the boy lengthened the string, the kite went up and up, until it was hidden by the clouds. “What are you doing?” a man asked the boy. “I’m flying my kite,” the boy replied. “Flying a kite?” asked the man. “How can you be sure? You can’t see the kite.” “No,” the boy said. “I can’t see it, but I can feel it tug, so I know for sure it’s there!” God is real. We must not let other people’s doubts cast a shadow of disbelief over us. His presence is just as sure as the tug on the boy’s kite. And His love is just like the wind that carries the kite high into the sky. You can’t see the wind, but you know for sure it is there. When we invite the Lord Jesus into our lives, He gives us assurance His ever-present Spirit is with us to guide and direct our steps. The Bible tells us that God’s Spirit bears witness with our spirit and this is a wonderful truth (Romans 8:16). But we must seek Him every day, asking for His help. This happens when we pray and listen to Him speak to us through His Word. The warm tug on our hearts brings peace that He truly watches over those who belong to Him. |
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coram_deo 10-Sep-21, 23:38 |
Peace In The Midst Of A Storm “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty…. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge;” Psalm 91:1, 4 I remember reading about an art competition where the theme given was "peace." The artist who most effectively depicted peace in his artwork would win the competition. The artists gathered their paints, canvases and brushes and started creating their masterpieces. When the time came to judge the artworks, the judges were impressed by the various scenes of tranquility illustrated by the artists. There was a majestic piece capturing the brilliance of the sun setting over lush greenery, one that depicted a serene landscape of moonlit hills and another evocative piece that showed a lone man walking leisurely through a rustic paddy field. Then, the judges came upon a peculiar piece that looked almost horrifying and perhaps even ugly to some. It was the very antithesis of every other piece that the judges had seen. It was a wild cacophony of violent colors and the aggression with which the artist had lashed his brush against the canvas was obvious. It depicted a raging storm where the ocean waves were swollen to menacing heights and slamming against the craggy edges of a cliff with thunderous force. Lightning zigzagged across the blackened sky and the branches of the single tree that was perched atop the cliff were all swept to the side by the force of the gale. Now, how could this picture be the epitome of peace? Yet, the judges unanimously awarded the first prize to the artist who painted the turbulent storm. While the results initially appeared to be appalling, the judges' decision immediately became clear once you give the winning canvas a closer look. Hidden in a crevice in the cliff is a family of eagles snug in their nest. The mother eagle faces the blustering winds, but her young chicks are oblivious to the storm and have dozed off under the shelter of her wings. Now, that's the kind of peace that Jesus gives to you and me! He gives us peace, security, covering, and protection even in the midst of a storm. The psalmist describes this beautifully: "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.... He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge." There is no safer place than under the protective shelter of your Savior's wings. It does not matter what circumstances may be raging around you. You can cry to the Lord for His unmerited favor, as David did in Psalm 57:1—"Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; and in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, until these calamities have passed by." The New American Standard Bible says, "Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me, for my soul takes refuge in You; and in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge until destruction passes by." What blessed assurance we can have today, knowing that even if destruction rages around us, we can take refuge in the Lord. |
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coram_deo 11-Sep-21, 07:52 |
Q: I home-school my children and am teaching them about the tragic events of 9/11. I was only 8, but the visions of what happened will always be in my mind. I don’t want my kids just to know the tragedy, but I want them to learn from it. – A.E. A: Sept. 11, 2001, is a date people remember everywhere and will for generations. On that terrible day, four passenger jets were hijacked and used as weapons against the United States. Thousands of innocent people died. What does God want us to learn from tragedies like 9/11? While the full answer is hard to determine, it caused many people to turn to God for the first time, and millions came together to pray. Tragedies have lessons. Jack Mowday served in the military as a helicopter pilot, but tragically died while falling from a hot-air balloon that had caught a high-tension wire. His wife later said that her husband knew that if he didn’t survive the leap, he would be in Heaven with the Lord. Because she had that complete assurance that Jack had prepared for death, she would someday see him again. She said, “My own life has changed dramatically. … I have supernatural peace because the Lord really meets us in our times of need. Although the pain of missing Jack is very real, the comforting presence of the Lord is also very real.” One lesson God would teach us all is that our only lasting hope is in Him. Life has always been uncertain, and events like 9/11 make that clear. Only God’s kingdom will never end. This is why it’s vital for people to put their faith and trust — their very lives — in the hand of God, for He alone offers us “a kingdom which cannot be shaken” (Hebrews 12:28). |
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coram_deo 12-Sep-21, 09:09 |
“. . . for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many.” Matthew 26:28 NLT - SEPTEMBER 12 - KILL CONDEMNATION AT THE ROOT There was a time when I did not know what the main function of Jesus’ blood was or why it provided protection. I just covered everything with the blood of Jesus because I knew His blood protects us from the schemes of the devil. But the main reason His blood was shed was for the forgiveness of all our sins. It’s imperative that you understand this because it will give you the confidence to come before the throne of God boldly and see Him as a loving Father. My friend, “the accuser” will come at various times to make you feel guilty. He will prosecute you for every one of your failures and make you feel unworthy to enter God’s presence. He will bring back every piece of dirty laundry, show you evidence after evidence of your failures, and condemn you for being a hypocrite. While you are trying to deal with stress and fear, the devil goes straight for the deepest root by using the law to heap guilt and condemnation on you. He knows that when you are under condemnation, fear, stress, and all kinds of sicknesses will follow, so he goes straight for the jugular. What should you do then? You should kill condemnation at its very root and eradicate it from your life. No matter what the devil condemns you of, the truth is that the blood of Jesus has been shed for the forgiveness of all your sins. There is not a sin, not one iota of guilt or condemnation that the devil can throw at you today, that Jesus’ blood has not completely removed. Iris, who lives in South Africa, has a testimony to share that demonstrates the liberating power of God’s gift of no condemnation. Growing up with alcoholic parents, Iris had suffered sexual and physical abuse at the hands of her father and became an alcoholic herself at age thirteen after her mother was killed in a car accident. Shortly after she was put in a children’s home at age fifteen, she started taking drugs and leading a promiscuous lifestyle. Later in life, she got married and had three children, but her marriage failed, ultimately leading her into a downward spiral of depression and ill health. By that time, she had been born again but still had no knowledge of the love and grace of God. Only when the Lord showed her what her root problem was did real healing begin to take place: In church, I went through months of “healing” for my brokenness and yet I couldn’t get out of the ditch I was in. Then one day, sometime in 2011, I tuned in to your television broadcast on Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) and heard your message about how condemnation is the root of our problems. I listened really carefully and realized that what you said was true. Every problem in my life went back to condemnation. And when I understood that and received the gift of no condemnation from the Lord, I felt, for the first time, so FREE! From then on, I have been watching your program every night. I am so much better physically, mentally, and spiritually. What years and years of being in church could not do for me, my Daddy God did in a short time by having me watch you on TBN and by my reading your daily devotionals. I can truly say every day is a blessing to me now because of the freedom I am experiencing in so many areas, and I just want to live life giving praise to my Daddy God every day for His words of life and grace that have healed my body, my heart, and my mind. My prayer is that He will give me the same anointing that is on you to impart His love, His favor, and His grace to others. What a wonderful testimony! My friend, receiving your freedom and breakthrough does not depend on how littered your past is with painful experiences or the mistakes you have made. Like Iris, when you receive Jesus’ grace, love, and life, you can receive the liberty and future you want to see. When you eradicate condemnation from your life, you begin to step into your freedom, healing, and breakthrough. Beloved, for every failure in thought, word, or deed the enemy brings to your mind, receive this afresh today: there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Receiving this truth and being conscious of it every day will cause you to reign over any sin, addiction, depression, or challenge that is holding you captive. When Jesus died on the cross, all your failures were already condemned in His body. Today, you are free to live a victorious life not because of your obedience to the law, but because of your obedience of faith in Jesus’ blood and righteousness. |
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coram_deo 12-Sep-21, 11:11 |
From the Joseph Prince Ministries app: Start Your Day With Jesus 12 September 2021 It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; to declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night, Psalm 92:1-2 It is amazing how many people wake up in the morning, and the first thing that they do is read the newspapers, which often brings us bad news about wars, unrest, disasters, financial collapses, violence, unemployment, famines, and new strains of deadly viruses. Now, please understand that I am not against reading or watching the news, but I want to encourage you to start your day with Jesus instead, practicing His presence, acknowledging Him, committing your plans to Him, and trusting Him for His unmerited favor, wisdom, and strength for the day. Remember to be like Joseph in the Bible. The Lord was with Joseph and he was a successful man! Your success does not come as a result of you being updated about the latest virus or you being cued in to the latest disaster. No, your success will come as a result of your being tuned in to the presence of Jesus in your life! There are many people in my church who start the day each morning by partaking of the Holy Communion, not as a ritual, but as a time to remember Jesus and the power of His cross. They look to Jesus for His strength, receiving His divine life for their physical bodies as they partake of the bread. They renew their consciousness of their free gift of righteousness purchased by the blood of Jesus on the cross as they partake of the cup. What a way to start the day! |
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coram_deo 12-Sep-21, 22:04 |
Q: My dad always said, “Mind over matter,” when it came to dealing with problems. Now that he’s gone, I find myself hearing those words in my head when I’m up against a struggle. Can our minds really help us in times of trouble? — M.T. A: Think about the incredible number of messages that surround us every day that shape our thinking. Information that comes to us through television, radio, websites, magazines, song lyrics, movies, conversations with friends—the list is almost endless. This is sometimes called “information overload,” and it goes into the mind and remains. Images, words, and persuasions become part of who we are, and much of it is harmful. The mind is the devil’s favorite avenue of attack. Our minds are molded in many different ways—often in ways we are not aware of at the time. What the world calls valuable, God calls worthless. What the world looks down on, God praises. Our thoughts are not God’s thoughts (Isaiah 55:8). When we fill our minds with the things of God, it begins to affect our thinking and our decisions in the right way. The very practice of reading the Bible will have a purifying effect upon the mind and heart. The truth is, God wants our minds to be shaped by Him so that our thoughts and actions reflect Christ. He instructs families to “fix these words of mine in your hearts and mind” (Deuteronomy 11:18-19). The Scripture goes on to instruct us to dwell on His words when we rise up and when we go to bed at night, and when we walk along the way of life. It simply means to think of these things continually. His words are truth and they will shape us. |
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coram_deo 14-Sep-21, 05:12 |
Pray For Right Happenings 14 September 2021 “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” James 5:16b NLT The Hebrew word qarah is often used in the Bible to explain God-ordained happenings. The first time qarah is mentioned is in Genesis 24:12, when Abraham sent his servant to get a bride for his son, Isaac. The servant did not know which girl would be the right one, so he prayed, "O Lord God of my master Abraham, please give me success this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham" (boldface mine). The phrase "please give me success" is the word qarah. The servant asked God to give him qarah—right happening. Doesn't that remind you of what we said earlier about pega qarah being "prayed happenings"? If you follow the story, you will see how Abraham's servant was successful in his task. What I want you to focus on here is the posture of the servant. He prayed for God's help, intervention, and leading. He had a posture of humility. We all need the Lord in our daily lives. No matter how intelligent we are, we can't put ourselves at the right place at the right time a hundred percent of the time. Only the Lord can do this for us. If we stay "low" and lean on the Lord for wisdom, guidance, and understanding, He will guide us and protect us. To pray is to adopt a posture of humility. It is saying to God, "Father, I can't, but You can." A lady who attends our church regularly shared that on one of her overseas trips, she got so engrossed in her quiet time with the Lord that she missed breakfast in the hotel at which she was staying. But while she was in her room, a horrific terror attack took place in the hotel's restaurant. She was dwelling in the secret place of the Most High and was supernaturally led to linger in His presence that morning. She humbly prioritized her time with the Lord over the scheduled time for her breakfast. If she had gone down to eat, she would have been at the wrong place at the wrong time. That is why I like to call Psalm 91 the prayer of protection. When we pray this prayer, we are saying, "Lord Jesus, we can't protect ourselves, but You can. We humble ourselves before You. Be our refuge, our fortress, and our God. Surely You shall protect us and deliver us from harm in these dangerous times. Lead us to be at the right place at the right time and to be with the right people." |
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coram_deo 14-Sep-21, 17:26 |
Faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. Romans 10:17 NASB WHAT ARE YOU HEARING? Allow me to show you something from the story of the woman in Mark 5 whom Jesus healed from a “flow of blood” that had caused her great suffering for twelve years. We see in Mark 5:27 that her miracle began when she “heard about Jesus.” What do you think the woman heard about Jesus that was so powerful? For twelve years she had been bleeding. According to Levitical law, she was “unclean.” Whoever touched her or even touched anything she had sat on was also considered unclean (Lev. 15:19–25). This means for twelve years she had been shunned and ostracized. For twelve years she was not allowed to touch anyone so she would not defile them. Can you imagine living a life where every single day, you are painfully reminded of how unclean, how impure, and how disqualified you are? But then she heard something about Jesus. She heard something that caused hope to spring up in her jaded heart and gave her the faith to believe she would be made well simply by touching His clothes. She heard something that gave her the boldness and resolve to press her weakened body through an entire crowd, even though Levitical law forbade her from touching anyone. Most of all, she heard something that caused her to believe that in spite of the fact she was unclean, she could receive healing. That is what I want you to hear about our Lord Jesus today. In spite of the fact you are unclean, in spite of the fact you have failed, in spite of the fact there is sin in your life, you can receive healing! Don’t allow man’s traditions to keep you away from your loving Savior. Come to Him just as you are. You do not need to do anything to qualify yourself. You do not need to wash yourself clean before you can approach Him. You do not have to long for His touch from a distance, wishing you were good enough or pure enough. Come to Him with all your sins and all your burdens—He will make you clean. The same Jesus who gave His body for your healing also gave His blood for your forgiveness. Just come to Him! |
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coram_deo 14-Sep-21, 17:28 |
Q: Is it true that knowing that God is involved in our lives is more important than “feeling” His presence? While I understand that faith is about believing without actually seeing, isn’t there some way to know that God truly is active and real? – G.T. A: On a windy day, a boy went out to fly his kite. The sky was filled with puffy clouds and a gentle breeze. As the boy lengthened the string, the kite went up and up, until it was hidden by the clouds. “What are you doing?” a man asked the boy. “I’m flying my kite,” the boy replied. “Flying a kite?” asked the man. “How can you be sure? You can’t see the kite.” “No,” the boy said. “I can’t see it, but I can feel it tug, so I know for sure it’s there!” God is real. We must not let other people’s doubts cast a shadow of disbelief over us. His presence is just as sure as the tug on the boy’s kite. And His love is just like the wind that carries the kite high into the sky. You can’t see the wind, but you know for sure it is there. When we invite the Lord Jesus into our lives, He gives us assurance His ever-present Spirit is with us to guide and direct our steps. The Bible tells us that God’s Spirit bears witness with our spirit and this is a wonderful truth (Romans 8:16). But we must seek Him every day, asking for His help. This happens when we pray and listen to Him speak to us through His Word. The warm tug on our hearts brings peace that He truly watches over those who belong to Him. |
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coram_deo 14-Sep-21, 17:39 |
So posting this in its place… From Joseph Prince Ministries: “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. . . You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.” 2 Chronicles 20:15, 17 - SEPTEMBER 13 - STAND STILL When King Jehoshaphat and the small tribe of Judah were besieged on all fronts by 3 powerful and bloodthirsty armies rapidly advancing toward Jerusalem (2 Chron. 20), the king set himself to seek the Lord and pray with hope before all the assembly of Judah. It was then that the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel, who spoke the words of the Lord that we read in today’s scripture. On hearing these words of hope, all Judah humbled themselves before the Lord, bowing before Him and worshiping Him. Today the Lord is saying the same words to you in your situation. Hope in Him for He loves you! You don’t have to live in fear and discouragement when you know that the battle is not yours, but the Lord’s. Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. The battle is His, and you will not need to fight in it. What do you do when you don’t know what to do? The best thing you can do is to stand still. Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord in your situation. But Pastor Prince, if I stand still, nothing will happen! My friend, standing still is not inactivity or doing nothing. It’s a posture of hope, and it involves keeping your hope anchored on the person of Jesus and having a sure and confident expectation of good. When the marauding armies of Pharaoh were charging toward the children of Israel, hell-bent on annihilating them, Moses simply declared to the terrified Israelites, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord” (Exod. 14:13). The Hebrew word for salvation is yeshua, which is actually the name of Jesus. So salvation is the person of Jesus, and He is with you. When you are caught in a hopeless situation, learn to position yourself— stand still and see the saving power of Jesus work on your behalf. He will never leave you nor forsake you (Heb. 13:5). And as you center yourself, your thoughts, your beliefs, and your hopes on Him, He will lead you concerning what to do, just as He led Jehoshaphat to a triumphant victory over his enemies. |
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coram_deo 14-Sep-21, 23:58 |
Q: There was a day when even entertainers acknowledged that Jesus was who He said He was, yet did not claim Him as their Savior. Today there’s a deep hatred at the mention of His name. Can people acknowledge Jesus as a real person and still not believe? — A.J. A: The Saturday Evening Post once published a landmark interview with the great physicist and mathematician Albert Einstein. His response to questions of Jesus as a historical figure are breathtaking. He stated, “I am enthralled by the luminous figure of the Nazarene.… No one can read the Gospels without feeling the actual presence of Jesus. His personality pulsates in every word. No myth is filled with such life.” No one knows whether Einstein ever received Christ as Savior, but near the end of life he said, “If you ask me to prove what I believe, I can’t.… The mind can proceed only so far upon what it knows and can prove. There comes a point where the mind takes a leap… and comes out upon a higher plane of knowledge, but can never prove how it got there. All great discoveries have involved such a leap.” But we can’t rely on the testimony of others over the testimony of Christ Himself who said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8:58). This leap of faith is given when we speak the name of Jesus in sincere truth, realizing that we’re bound to a dark eternity without His forgiveness, grace, and mercy. Regardless of the knowledge gathered, no one can know Jesus without taking the certain leap of faith that salvation comes only from Him. “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1). |
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coram_deo 15-Sep-21, 14:47 |
“He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.” Matthew 8:17 IT IS ALL ABOUT JESUS You might be familiar with the verse, Isaiah 53:4, which says, “Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.” But notice how the author of the gospel of Matthew quoted it in today’s scripture. I love the word Himself because it is so personal and so intimate. Surely He Himself took our diseases and our infirmities. It wasn’t an angel. Your health and wholeness were too important to Him, so He Himself bore your every sickness and disease. Take some time to meditate on the word Himself. Take some time to remember the One who suffered and died for you, the One who took your infirmities and bore your sicknesses so you need not bear them. Jesus Himself did it because you are so precious to Him. Whatever condition the doctors have diagnosed you with, Jesus Himself has taken it upon His own body. Don’t focus on looking for healing; focus on the Lord Jesus Himself. Focus on the One “who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed” (1 Pet 2:24). Many times when you seek Him and simply spend time in His presence, your fears and worries just melt away. You find that in His presence there is shalom-peace. There is healing. There is wholeness. And when you look for your symptoms, you find them no more. Why? Because you are in the presence of the Healer. When God told the children of Israel, “I am the LORD who heals you” (Exod. 15:26), He was introducing Himself as Jehovah Rapha. He was not saying, “I will give you healing” or “I will provide you health.” He was saying I AM your healing, and I AM your health. When you touch Jesus, you touch healing. He does not give healing as though it were a thing. He gives Himself. You don’t have to seek after healing, provision, and protection. When you have Jesus, you have all you need. If there is an area of death in your body, the Lord says to you, “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25). If doctors have told you that you will die young, the Lord says to you, “I am your life and the length of your days” (Deut. 30:20). If you have received a negative diagnosis and are fearful, the Lord says to you, “Do not be afraid. I am your shield” (Gen. 15:1). If you have been dealing with relapse after relapse and the discouragement is overwhelming you, the Lord declares to you, “I am your strength and your song” (Exod. 15:2)! |
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coram_deo 16-Sep-21, 07:35 |
Q: It’s troubling to hear preachers say that all people are sinners who have rebelled against God and will one day face judgment, and then describe him as a god of love. I have nothing against God, but I don’t believe that he cares about how people live as long as they don’t commit murder or harm children, things like that. To me, sin’s a negative and there’s so much negative in the world. We need to just concentrate on how to be happy. — S.U. A: The Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin (Galatians 3:22). God has defined sin and nothing man can do will change God’s truth. But no matter what sin a person has committed, God loves the human race. The Bible clearly states that all have sinned and fallen short of God’s wonderful glory. Sin is more than something negative. God is not indifferent to right and wrong. The judgment of a Holy God is as much a part of His nature as His love for us. In the end, God’s will shall be accomplished. But there’s one thing that God cannot do; He cannot forgive the unrepentant sinner. The human race is called on throughout the Bible to repent of sin and return to God. Now His love can be entirely rejected. God doesn’t force Himself upon anyone. It is evident that we are living on a very unhappy planet. Stand on a city street corner and watch the wearied faces. Jesus died for each one, and He offers to the whole world His forgiveness and love. But we must admit our sin and turn from it to His salvation that covers our sin. This is true happiness. |
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coram_deo 16-Sep-21, 21:48 |
Reigning Is God’s Will For You 17 September 2021 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. Romans 5:17 You are destined to reign in life! You are called by the Lord to be a success, to enjoy provision, to enjoy health, and to enjoy a life of victory. I want you to know that it is not the Lord's desire that you live a life of defeat, poverty, and failure. He has called you to be the head and not the tail. What this means is that if you are a businessman, God wants you to have a thriving business. If you are a homemaker, you are anointed to bring up wonderful children in the Lord. If you are a student, God wants you to excel in your studies and examinations. And if you are trusting the Lord for a new career, He doesn't just want you to have a job, He wants you to have a position of influence, so you can be a blessing and an asset to your organization! My friend, when you reign in life, you reign over sin, you reign over the powers of darkness, and you reign over depression, over perpetual lack, over every curse, and over every sickness and disease. You reign over the devil and all his devices! So how do we reign in life? The power to reign does not depend on your family background, your educational qualifications, how you look, or how much savings you have in your bank account. Look at today's Scripture again. The power to reign is based entirely on Jesus and on Him alone: "much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ." My friend, if you are living a life of defeat—if you are defeated by sin, by constant guilt and condemnation, by sicknesses, by anxiety attacks, by financial lack, and by broken relationships—you are not living the life that God intended for you. Based on the authority of God's Word, you are destined to reign in life, to have dominion over all your challenges and circumstances! You are called to be above them all and not be trampled by them. The time has come for you to lay hold of your right to reign over every area of defeat in your life. And through Christ Jesus, through the abundance of His grace and the gift of righteousness, you can. Believe today that God is for you and wants you to experience breakthroughs and divine success. Your days of defeat are coming to an end. Days of joy, peace, and victory are headed your way! |
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coram_deo 17-Sep-21, 04:54 |
From Joseph Prince Ministries: For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. Romans 10:3 - SEPTEMBER 17 - SEE YOURSELF CLOTHED IN JESUS’ RIGHTEOUSNESS Are you, like some believers today, still rather confused about the gift of righteousness you have received through Christ? Perhaps you’ve heard through conventional theology that although you were made righteous by grace (called “positional righteousness”), you now have to do right and keep the law to continue being righteous. (They call this having “practical righteousness.”) My friend, this is something that Apostle Paul never taught! Today’s scripture declares that there is only one righteousness of God that we are to submit to. It is clear that Paul is against any teaching that says you have to merit or maintain your own righteousness. You are either righteous or you are not. There is no such thing as first having “positional righteousness” and then having to maintain that through “practical righteousness.” You are the righteousness of God in Christ, period! There are many believers who are very sincere about keeping the law and establishing their own righteousness, but I’m sorry to say this: they are sincerely wrong. God’s way is by grace. Righteousness cannot be earned by good works. It can only be received as a gift. A gift is no longer a gift if you have to work for it. If I gave you a brand new, dazzling red Ferrari on the condition that you pay me US$20,000 every month until it is all paid up, is the Ferrari really a gift? Of course not! How can it be a gift if you have to pay or work for it? That is double-talk! So stop trying to earn God’s gifts with your own works. His gifts to us are without conditions attached and can only be received by faith. Many believers are defeated today because they are trying to earn their own righteousness by their law keeping and good works. My friend, start believing that righteousness is a gift because of what Jesus has accomplished on the cross for you. All your sins—past, present, and future—have been washed away by His precious blood. You were completely forgiven the moment you received Jesus into your life. You will never be held liable by God for your sins ever again. You have been made as righteous as Jesus not through your behavior, but by faith in Him and His finished work on the cross (Phil. 3:9). Perhaps you are saying, “But I didn’t do anything to become righteous!” That is exactly right. And Jesus did nothing to become sin. Being clothed with Jesus’ perfect righteousness is a gift that He purchased for you with His own blood! Therefore, righteousness before the Lord cannot be earned. Your righteous standing or right standing before Him can only be received as a gift. Today, your right to be righteous is a blood-bought right! There is nothing you can do that will make God love you more, and there is nothing you can do that will make Him love you less. He loves you perfectly and sees you clothed with Jesus’ righteousness. My friend, you no longer have to live confused about your standing before God. Know that when God sees you today, He sees you clothed with Jesus’ righteousness. Use your faith to believe that God accepts you and sees you righteous, blessed, favored, and healed. See yourself as God sees you and begin to be set free from every pang of guilt, all forms of condemnation, and every kind of bondage and sin! |
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coram_deo 18-Sep-21, 08:34 |
From the Joseph Prince Ministries’ app: A Robust Revelation Of Your Righteousness 18 September 2021 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness,… Isaiah 61:10 I really want you to reign in all areas of life by receiving a robust revelation of your righteousness in Christ. You grow in this revelation the more you hear about what Jesus has accomplished for you at the cross. The Bible tells us that blessings crown the head of the righteous (see Prov. 10:6). So the larger the revelation of your righteousness in Christ and the more you are established in it, the more you will see God's blessings manifest in your life. Let me put it another way: See the robe of righteousness that God has already clothed you with having pockets labeled "favor", "healing", "deliverance", "provision", "wisdom", "family blessings" and so on. The more conscious you are of this robe on you, the more you will experience the good gifts that come with it and live a purposeful and fulfilling life—a life where you have more than enough to bless others as well! |
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coram_deo 19-Sep-21, 01:40 |
The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. Lamentations 3:22–23 NLT - SEPTEMBER 19 - FRESH GRACE FOR EVERY FAILING My friend, every time you fail, there is fresh grace from Jesus to rescue you. Every time you fall short, confess your righteousness in Jesus by faith. I know you probably won’t feel particularly righteous, and that is why you need to say it by faith. I have received so many testimonies of breakthroughs from people around the world who, even as they succumb to their addictions, would confess, “Even right now, I am the righteousness of God in Christ” and eventually found freedom from their bondages. It could be a smoking addiction or an alcohol or pornography addiction. Michael, a brother in Australia, happily shared, “I have just given up smoking by following what you’ve taught in your books and DVDs (about being conscious of and confessing my righteousness in Christ) whenever I was tempted to smoke. I have also been set free from twenty years of drug and alcohol abuse and am free of paranoid thoughts. I couldn’t give them up through my own efforts, but through Christ I have.” The more these people confessed and saw themselves as righteous in Jesus, even in the midst of their failings, the more they came to see their true identity in Christ. The dead leaves began to fall, and they came to the place where they didn’t have any desire to ever smoke another cigarette, drink another drop of alcohol, or visit another pornographic website. New leaves, new flowers, and new fruits unconsciously and effortlessly sprang up in their lives. Grace put an end to the barrenness and torment of winter and ushered in perpetual spring for them. Beloved, if you are grappling with something right now, stop struggling and start receiving. Start receiving the abundance of the Lord’s unmerited favor. Start receiving the free gift of His righteousness. Start receiving the cleansing power of His forgiveness. There is nothing for you to do but to soak it all up and to allow His resurrection power to drive out every symptom of death and decay in your circumstances and in your life. |
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coram_deo 21-Sep-21, 11:04 |
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1 - SEPTEMBER 21 - LET JESUS SAVE YOU Do you feel as if you have been toiling hard but not seeing any results? Perhaps you feel as though you are in a dead-end situation in your career. Or perhaps whatever you have been trying to do to save your marriage just isn’t working. Maybe your toil is in the area of your parenting—no matter how much effort you put into reaching out to your child, the relationship just seems to grow colder and more distant by the day. My friend, now is not the time to give up, but to listen to your wonderful Lord and Savior, Jesus. Hear Him. Rather than depend on your experience and expertise, lean in to Him. You are not alone. Listen to Him and do exactly what He tells you to do. Our Lord Jesus told Peter to let down “your nets”—plural in Luke 5:4. The request didn't make sense to Peter because he and his fishing crew had toiled all night and caught nothing. Nevertheless, Peter said, “At Your word I will let down the net”—singular (Luke 5:5). It is no wonder the net began to break and Peter had to call for his friends to come and help him. Jesus is your very present help in time of need. Whatever your struggle is today, you can know beyond the shadow of a doubt that He is with you and knows exactly how to help you. There are also people who have been laboring relentlessly, trying everything they know to get their lives right and win God’s approval. The more they try, the more distant they feel from Him. The harder they push, the more they feel that they consistently fail and disappoint Him. They are just as exasperated, fatigued, and frustrated as the fishermen who had toiled all night and caught nothing. My friend, if this describes you, I want you to know that God loves you even with all your imperfections. Yes, in all your failings, in all your mistakes, God still loves you! Come to Him just as you are. But Pastor Prince, you don’t understand. Let me sort out my life first, then I will come. My friend, no one tries to clean himself before he takes a bath. Jesus is the bath! Come to Him with all your inadequacies, all your addictions, all your habits, and all your hang-ups, and let Him do what He does best. Let Him save you and restore you to wholeness! Jesus will transform you with His perfect love. |
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coram_deo 21-Sep-21, 21:36 |
Always Remember That You Are God’s Beloved 22 September 2021 Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. Ephesians 1:5-6 Do you believe that you are beloved and highly favored by God? Ephesians 1:6 says, "to the praise of the glory of His grace [unmerited favor], by which He made us accepted in the Beloved." It is not possible for us to make ourselves accepted. We are made accepted by the glory of the Lord's unmerited favor. The word "accepted" in Ephesians 1:6 is the Greek word charitoo. Now, the root word for charitoo is charis, which means "grace." So charitoo simply means "highly graced" or "highly favored." In other words, you are highly favored in the Beloved! Now, we know that "the Beloved" in Ephesians 1:6 refers to Jesus. If you read on, it says in the next verse that "In Him [Jesus the Beloved] we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace [unmerited favor]." Now, why didn't the Bible just say that we are highly favored in Jesus or in Christ? (There are no insignificant details in the Bible.) Why did the Holy Spirit choose specifically to say that we are highly favored "in the Beloved"? "Beloved" is a warm and intimate term that was used by God at the Jordan River to describe Jesus. The Bible tells us that when Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River, "He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. Then a voice came from heaven, 'You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased'" (Mark 1:10–11). God the Father spoke publicly and His words were recorded for you to know that to be "accepted in the Beloved" means that God is well pleased with you today. See yourself sandwiched right smack in the midst of Jesus, God's Beloved. When God looks at you, He doesn't see you in your failures and shortcomings. He sees you in Jesus' perfection and loveliness! Because you are in Christ, God says to you, "You, _______________ (insert your name here), are My beloved, in whom I am well pleased." Jesus is well-pleasing to God because He kept the law perfectly. You and I are well-pleasing to God because we are accepted and highly favored in the Beloved, who took all our sins and fulfilled the law on our behalf! Immediately after Jesus was baptized, He was led into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. The devil came to Jesus and said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread" (Matthew 4:3). Now, don't forget that Jesus had just heard the voice of His Father affirming Him with the words "You are My beloved Son." Do you notice that the devil deliberately left out the word "beloved"? Friend, for the devil's temptations to work, he cannot remind you that you are God's beloved. The moment you are reminded of your identity as God's beloved in Christ, he will not be able to succeed! It is no wonder that the devil wants to rob believers of their sense of being God's beloved. So don't fall for the devil's trick. Remind yourself today and every day that you are God's beloved! |
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coram_deo 22-Sep-21, 07:06 |
“. . . the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound… to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness . . .” Isaiah 61:1, 3 - SEPTEMBER 22 - ONLY GRACE BRINGS HOPE After several decades of ministry, I have found that only the preaching of God’s radical grace brings hope to believers. Only the finished work of Jesus can bring us wholeness, shalom-peace, and freedom from condemnation and a painful past. Let me share with you a heartfelt praise report I received from Alena, who lives in New Zealand. Listen to how God put her heart back together: Pastor Prince, I grew up in a home with an abusive father whose difficult ways strained our family relationships to the breaking point. When his health deteriorated with multiple diseases, the Lord placed in my heart my parents’ need for help. I asked Him, “Why me? I can’t stand my father’s ways!” In the end, I told God that although I didn’t want to, I would do it for Him. My care for my parents lasted many, many years, and I sacrificed much to take care of my father. I put my entire heart into it, praying for him and keeping him company when he was lonely. Yet, right up to the moment he died, all I received from him was rejection. Whenever I went to him, he would just turn his face away. He never relented, not when I asked him for forgiveness for anything I may have done to cause him hurt, and not even on his deathbed. You can imagine how heartbreaking that was. During his funeral preparations, I was so devastated that I couldn’t even think straight. I was totally broken. I couldn’t breathe through the pain and overwhelming guilt in my heart. Reading your book has brought a healing release that I needed so much because of all the guilt and condemnation that had built up inside me. The release was so tremendous that I jumped for joy, cried my heart out for days, and felt God’s peace in my heart and life. I feel so free! Free from the weight of legalistic teachings, rejection, and bondage. The weight that came off me was phenomenal. My heart that was once so full of pain became so light, so at peace. Thank You, Jesus, for Your finished work on the cross! I am free from condemnation! Every day, I confess over my family and myself that I am greatly blessed, highly favored, and deeply loved! Hallelujah! You may be familiar with the guilt and condemnation Alena experienced during that devastating period in her life. Perhaps condemnation has also imprisoned you in a suffocating grip over some things that may have happened in your past. Beloved, God in His love and grace wants to set you free today. What you need to know is that no amount of trying to fulfill God’s law can ever bring you the wholeness and restoration you need. But where you could not and cannot, Jesus fulfilled the law on your behalf and paid the price for your sins at the cross. Today, your part is to believe in your Savior and receive from Him the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness. That’s how you receive healing for your broken heart and body, wholeness for your mind, and His strength and victory to overcome every area of defeat and darkness in your life. It’s time to step into a life of rest in Christ Jesus and His finished work, and watch Him give you the breakthrough you need. |
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coram_deo 23-Sep-21, 05:24 |
Gotta love the positivity! youtu.be |
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coram_deo 24-Sep-21, 06:00 |
From Joseph Prince Ministries: “All” Means All 24 September 2021 You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. Colossians 2:13-14 NLT When I preach on our total forgiveness in Christ, someone will inadvertently ask, Pastor Prince, if all my sins are forgiven, that means my future sins are too. But how can my future sins be forgiven? Well, that's a great question. The reality is, when Jesus died on the cross two thousand years ago, all our sins were in the future. There are people who argue that there is no Scripture that says that all our future sins are forgiven. They teach that when we receive Jesus, all our past sins are forgiven, but our future sins are only forgiven as we confess them and ask God for forgiveness. First let me say to those who claim there is no Bible verse stating that our future sins are forgiven, that there is also no Bible verse stating that only our past sins are forgiven! But there is a Scripture that clearly states, "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace" (Eph. 1:7, emphasis mine). In the original Greek text, the verb for "have" is in the present tense, which indicates durative action, meaning we are continually having forgiveness of sins, including every sin we will ever commit. Furthermore, in 1 John 2:12, it says, "I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake." The Greek perfect tense is used here for "are forgiven," meaning this forgiveness is a definite action completed in the past, with the effect of this action continuing into the present. This means that God's forgiveness avails for you in your present, and continues into your future. Do you see that? Next, I want you to consider today's Scripture. Colossians 2:13–14 declares that Jesus forgave all our sins! The word "all" is the Greek pas, meaning "every kind or variety... the totality of the persons or things referred to." It refers to "all, any, every, the whole." So "all" means all. God's forgiveness of our sins covers every sin—past, present, and future! When we received the Lord Jesus as our Savior, we received the total and complete forgiveness of all our sins. In Hebrews 10:11–14, the Bible says, "And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified." Now, according to this Scripture, as a believer, for how long are you perfected? Forever! How can you be perfected forever, if your future sins are not forgiven? Obviously, they are! |
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coram_deo 26-Sep-21, 22:05 |
Wisdom Is The Principal Thing 27 September 2021 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. Proverbs 4:7 The solution to money problems is the wisdom of God. Today, as you believe God for increase, I want to encourage you to ask God first for wisdom with regard to all the provision challenges that you are facing right now. In James 1:5, we learn that if anyone lacks wisdom, "let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him". The wisdom of God will help you to identify and solve the money problems that you are currently experiencing. Don't prioritize accumulating material things. God's Word declares that wisdom is the principal thing. My friend, in all your getting, get wisdom and understanding! |
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coram_deo 30-Sep-21, 11:25 |
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Ephesians 5:15–17 NIV - SEPTEMBER 30 - DISCERNMENT AND WISDOM Jesus demonstrated how we can stay safe and protected by not acting presumptuously or irresponsibly, but by leaning in to God’s wisdom. When the devil tried to tempt Him to jump off the pinnacle of the temple, quoting Scripture to say that angels were supposed to bear Him up, our Lord Jesus responded by saying, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God’” (Matt. 4:7 NLT). Likewise, let us not test the Lord by making irresponsible and unwise decisions that ignore the written Word of God or the godly counsel spoken over our lives. When you are led by His wisdom, the Lord can protect you from making unwise decisions. For example, someone may offer you “the investment opportunity of a lifetime.” On the surface, everything might seem to check out and it may appear to be a legitimate opportunity that is not to be missed. But before you rush to commit to anything, can I encourage you to first ask the Lord for His wisdom and leading? There is a principle we can learn from in Isaiah 11, where it says of the Lord that “the spirit of wisdom and understanding” will rest on Him, and “He will not judge by what His eyes see, nor make a decision by what His ears hear” (Isa. 11:2–3 NASB). You see, there is a discernment and wisdom from the Lord that goes beyond looking at the outward appearance of a matter. When you call on Him, He will answer you and give you an answer of peace. If you don’t feel a peace to proceed, don’t allow anyone to pressure you into making a decision you will regret! |
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coram_deo 30-Sep-21, 11:31 |
From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham Q: Why do Christians believe that they have the only religion that leads to heaven? – H.B. A: Christians believe God’s every word. Jesus said, “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). Who doesn’t want to be saved? Some years ago, a man’s plane crashed into the ocean. He survived the crash, but had blood on his forehead that attracted the sharks; he spent 10 hours kicking at the sharks to survive. Finally, he spotted an aircraft and waved his orange life vest. The pilot saw him, dropped a smoke canister, and radioed a Coast Guard cutter that was 12 minutes away, saying: “Hurry! There’s a man down there surrounded by sharks.” The Coast Guard swooped in and rescued him. The man did not need a new swimming technique in order to be saved; he needed outside intervention. We all need outside intervention if we’re going to live eternally with God in Heaven someday. This is why God sent His Son on a rescue mission. It isn’t narrow-minded to claim that there is only one way of salvation or that the Christian message leads to the right way. Do we fault a pilot for being narrow-minded when he or she follows the instrument panel while landing in a rainstorm? No, we want the pilot to remain narrowly focused! Millions of people today want salvation and the hope of Heaven, but on their own terms. Christians do not proclaim salvation in any other but Jesus Christ; “for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). The Christian hope is that everyone will come to know Jesus as their Savior. The greatest act a Christian can perform is to tell others about Him. |
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coram_deo 03-Oct-21, 09:13 |
The Promise Is Received By Faith 03 October 2021 For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. Romans 4:13 In Romans 4:13, it is clear that God's promise that Abraham and his seed would be heirs of the world was not through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. Today, because we belong to Jesus, we are Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise (see Gal. 3:29). And the more we believe that we are righteous in Christ, the more we will experience His provision. My friend, being an heir of the world and walking in Abraham's blessings of health, protection, and abundant provision come by faith. This is believing that even though we don't deserve any blessing from God, we have been made righteous by the sacrifice and finished work of His Son, and qualify for all His blessings! On the cross, Jesus took our sins and gave us His righteousness. He took our poverty and gave us His abundance. He took our shame and gave us His victory. Today, believe that you have been made righteous by Jesus' finished work and start walking in the blessings of Abraham! |
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coram_deo 03-Oct-21, 10:24 |
Q: The Bible says over and over again, “Fear not,” but it also says to “fear God.” Why does the Bible contradict itself? – F.R. A: There are different kinds of fear. Not all fear is wrong. It is right for a child to fear a hot stove or a sharp knife, because those can harm the child. It is right for us also to fear sin and Satan, for they can bring devastation. While the Bible indeed does tell us to fear God, it doesn’t mean that we’re to be in terror or Him, shrinking from Him and even fleeing from Him. What we should fear, however, is His judgment, and this is why God has made a way for people to escape His judgment by receiving His salvation. When He becomes our Savior, we have a reverence and respect for Him, knowing that He is holy and all-powerful. This can be a wonderful word study using Scripture. When we hear preachers or others talk about things of God, it pleases the Lord when it drives us to His Word. He Himself will teach us the truth about all things. Think of the fears that so easily grip us, even keep us enslaved. There is the fear of problems we face and what might happen to us. Jesus declared, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Fears are real, but Christ has come to take away the source of our fears. “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives … let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27). |
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