God Gives Us a Desire for Our Work, by Os Hillman

You shall call, and I will answer You; You shall desire the work of Your hands (Job 14:15 NKJV).

Did you know that God has already pre-wired you for the work He created you to do? We all have things inside of us that excite us when we think about it. God is the source of this passion. However, our career path may require many stepping stones before we reach the work that we were ultimately created for. The psalmist says "All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be" (Ps 139:16).

When the ark of the covenant was to be designed to contain the sacred ten commandments, God prepared a man to perform the important work.

"Then the LORD said to Moses, 'See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts -- to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship'" (Ex 31:1-6).

We do not know much about Bezalel, but you can be sure he had many jobs leading up to this most important assignment. He was also the first man mentioned in all of scripture to be "filled with the spirit of God."

When your work is empowered by the Spirit of God you will be hand-picked for some of the most important assignments. He says the skilled worker will even serve before kings (Prov. 22:9). God will see to it that your skills will be used for His ultimate purposes. This is the call of God for each of us -- to be fulfilled in our work and to use our work to fulfill His purposes on the earth.

He seals the hand of every man, that all men may know His work (Job 37:7 NKJV).

The Coming Wealth Transfer, by Os Hillman

But the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous (Prov 13:22).

In the last days there will be a transfer of wealth into the hands of the righteous for the purpose of funding a great harvest of souls and for believers to have greater influence on society in the name of Christ. This will happen in at least four ways.

1. Supernatural Transfer - Like the Israelites leaving Egypt, Christians and non-profit organizations will receive major gifts from individuals or foundations to carryout their Christian mission. In 2004, the Salvation Army received one of the largest gifts ever for Christian ministry via the founder's wife of McDonald's, Joan Kroc, in the amount of 1.5 billion dollars.

2. Power to Make Wealth - God is going to give witty inventions to believers throughout the world that will generate wealth. This has already begun. "But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today" (Deut 8:18).

3. Social Entrepreneurship - Just as Joseph was entrusted with the resources of Egypt to solve a societal problem resulting from a famine in the land, God is going to transfer money to believers who are solving societal problems. Governments will fund private enterprises because government has not been able to do it.

4. Wealthy Individual "Conversions" ? Finally, many non-believers who are wealthy will become Christians in these last days and will begin to use their wealth for Kingdom purposes.

The transfer of wealth is designed to accelerate God's activity on the earth, not to simply make believers wealthy. Pray that God uses your work life call to accelerate His Kingdom on earth. And pray that God raises up good stewards of wealth.

The Call of God, by Kong Hee

So David went to Baal Perazim, and David defeated them there; and he said, “The LORD has broken through my enemies before me, like a breakthrough of water.” Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim. 2 Samuel 5:20

Every one of us has a call of God for our lives. You are called by God to do something specific for Him. There is no useless person in life and you should not be drifting through life without a sense of destiny or purpose. From David’s experience in 2 Samuel 5, you can learn five important lessons about discerning God’s calling for you:

(1) What word or rhema have you received from the Lord? That word will be a good indicator of your calling in life. David had a word from heaven that he shall be the shepherd and ruler of Israel (5:1-2). Faith comes by hearing that rhema. Without that rhema revelation, you won’t have the faith to obey.

(2) What are you gifted and anointed with? David was anointed three times in his life: by the prophet Samuel, by the men of Judah, and by the elders of Israel (5:3). An anointing is an impartation of ability by the Holy Spirit. God never wastes His anointing. What He has gifted and anointed you with is often indicative of your calling.

(3) What does other trusted leadership see in you? The reason elders chose him was because the gifting and ability of kingship in David were already clearly evident to all (5:3). God works through spiritual protocol. A calling upon your life should be evident to the mature, spiritual leadership God has surrounded you with. Let them confi rm your calling.

(4) How are your enemies opposing you? If you are not walking in your calling, you will never be a threat to Satan. But the moment you step into your destiny, you can be sure he is not going take things lying down. He will be very agitated and start hindering you (5:3). Sometimes, an unprovoked attack could be an indication that you are walking in your calling.

(5) What breakthrough has God provided you with? When David went to the Valley of Rephaim, God provided a way for him to attain resounding victory over his enemies. He renamed that valley Baal Perazim, which means “Master of Breakthroughs”(5:20). God often speaks to us through an open door. When you receive a breakthrough in an impossible situation, it is a good sign that God wants you to walk through it. That is your calling from the Lord.

You Are Called By God, by Ps Kong Hee

Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began. 2 Timothy 1:9

There are four things 2 Timothy 1:9 tells us:

(1) You are called the moment you are saved. You need to see that being called is part of salvation. The moment you give your heart to Jesus, He saves you and calls you with a “holy calling.”

(2) Your calling sets you apart from the crowd. Because your calling is “holy,” it sets limits and boundaries to the things you can indulge in. Every Christian is like a champion athlete. An athlete sets himself apart to be better, faster and stronger. But in order to succeed, he must devote himself totally to that cause and go all out after it.

(3) God will give you the strength to fulfill your calling. It is not going to depend on your own abilities, level of education or social status. Whenever you go for job interviews, these are the things people generally quiz you about. What school did you come from? Do you have a degree? But when it comes to the calling of God, it is “not according to our works” or achievements. He is going to strengthen you by the power of the Holy Spirit. His grace is sufficient for you.

(4) God’s calling for you was settled before time began. God has settled in advance the destiny of your life. And when the right time comes, He calls you. Nothing in life happens by accident. You are part of God’s eternal plan even before He created anything. That is why when God saves us, He can immediately call us. Because your purpose was already in His mind. As such, you need to discover your calling. The way you do that is to unreservedly give God your life. Once you discover your purpose, you need to cultivate that calling. That requires focus, discipline and training.

One of the greatest soccer players who ever played for Manchester United is George Best. In practically every game he played, MU would win that match. But George Best was addicted to women and drinking. No one could rely on him to turn up for a game. The club wanted him so much that they offered him £50,000 every time he showed up, which was a lot of money in the sixties! But George Best blew it all away. Why? A lack of dedication. He never achieved his greatest potential because he didn’t cultivate his calling. The Holy Spirit will never lead you beyond the point that you want to be controlled by Him. There can be no substitute for the decision you make of your own accord. Don’t blow your calling because of a lack of decisive, radical dedication.

We are all meant to shine...

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” -Marianne Williamson

Belief or Unbelief

Romans 4:3 ..."Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."

Each morning we awake and go about our day based on one of two beliefs: Either we believe in God and our every action is motivated by this central value, or we do not really believe and our actions reflect so.

You can be a believer yet act as though there is no God. Whenever you fret over life circumstances, you immediately demonstrate unbelief. Whenever you move out of fear or anxiety, you believe a lie about God's nature.

Each day your actions affirm or convict you of your belief system. It reveals who the central focus of your life really is-you or God. It reveals who you place your ultimate trust in-you or God. It is one of the great paradoxes for believers. One day we can believe Him to move mountains. The next day we can question His very existence.

Peter believed God and walked on water.
A sick woman touched the hem of His garment and was healed.
A Canaanite woman believed and freed her daughter from demon-possession.

In what circumstances do you act as an "unbeliever"? Ask God to increase your level of trust so that your actions match up with one who believes every day.

Kingdom Principles for a Financial Harvest by Benny Hinn

Dr. Myles Munroe of Bahamas Faith Ministries International is one of my favorite guests on This Is Your Day! because he speaks candidly about the need for believers to understand God’s kingdom principles and to allow those principles to help each Christian become a world-changer.

On one of our recent programs he said, “There are 6.7 billion people on the earth, and they are seeking the same thing—good government. Nations spend billions of dollars every few years to vote in a new government, and they do it because people believe that it holds the answers to earth’s problems. This is why these elections are such a big deal.”

The reason why people around the globe put so much emphasis on government is because the human heart, deep inside, believes that the problems of the world can be solved by better government.

Human governments are important. That is why the Bible is so emphatic about government. There is a deep desire for governmental systems, since through the fall of Adam and Eve, man lost a government.

You can read in Genesis 1:26 that God gave Adam dominion. The Hebrew word for dominion means “kingdom.”

The Kingdom Lost

A kingdom is the governing influence of a king over a territory. Ideally, the king impacts the dominion with his will and his purposes so he can produce people who reflect the king’s morals and values.

As Dr. Munroe taught, “When Adam disobeyed God, he lost a government. God’s original idea was to colonize the earth with the kingdom of heaven so the earth would become the reflection of what heaven is like in every way. God’s plan was to fill the earth with the culture of heaven, since the most powerful thing in any country is its culture.”

Since Adam disobeyed God and lost the dominion over the earth, satan has done everything in his power to pollute mankind and keep us from understanding what God’s original plan was.
God wanted man to dominate the earth with the kingdom of heaven. But Adam and Eve, through sin, declared independence from God’s plan.

But God’s plan has never wavered. The Bible chronicles His plan to restore His kingdom on earth, as it is in heaven.

The Kingdom Restored

Adam had to develop his own government. The first act of that government was murder within the family. And we have not recovered since. Look at the world around you. We think we can govern ourselves, but we end up destroying more than we build.
We are still under the curse of independence from God. And when you declare independence from a kingdom, you throw off the influence of the king and the government of the king.

That is what has happened through the centuries with the King of kings.

Yet when our Lord Jesus Christ was promised in Genesis 3, it was foretold that He would come to crush the serpent’s head.

The power and the government of a snake is in its head. That’s where the poisonous serpent’s venom is.

So the prophecy pointed to a time when Jesus would come to take back the power, the authority, and the kingdom that satan stole through the sin of Adam and Eve.

Isaiah prophesied that the government would come upon the Messiah’s shoulders and that it would not end:

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. (Isaiah 9:6-7)

Christ came to earth to restore God’s government. That is why He tells us to pray this way:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. (Matthew 6:9-13)

Dr. Munroe tells us on This Is Your Day! that when we are told to pray “Our Father” that it refers to the Father as our Source, our Government.

Kingdom Prosperity

So many wonderful benefits come from being part of God’s kingdom—salvation, healing, fellowship with the Father, and so much more.

One of the most wonderful benefits of His government is prosperity.

“Prosperity is evidence of kingdom colonization,” Myles says. “Poverty is a sign that the kingdom has not impacted an area yet. The power of multiplication comes from the kingdom of God. The law of sowing and reaping comes from the kingdom of God.”

In fact, the Lord Jesus promises that kingdom-sized sowing will yield kingdom-sized reaping. We don’t give just to receive. We give because it is a kingdom principle that works!

There are many, many reasons why planting seed into the kingdom is so important. For one, planting brings harvest: “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again” (Luke 6:38).

Understanding Kingdom Principles

Why you plant and how you plant are crucial to the harvest you receive!

You cannot understand kingdom giving until you understand kingdom principles. In fact, one of the first things Jesus Christ did during His earthly ministry was to announce His kingdom “mission statement”: “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17).

He uses the word kingdom for an obvious purpose: Jesus Christ is King of that kingdom! He is not a mayor. He is not a president. He is not a prime minister or a governor. He is the King. This is an important point, because a king is very different from a president or some other head of state. He is not voted into power. There is no national referendum to select him.

A true king is born a king.

In other words, if you really want to understand what God thinks about this kingdom principle, you have to study what a king is and what a king is not.

Seven Kingdom Principles

God never gave man ownership over the world. Everything is His! We are simply stewards of whatever He gives us of His kingdom. This is an important point, because it means that whenever God wants to shift His property around—to give it to other people—He can, and He will!

Here are seven kingdom principles about government and giving to a king:

1. Because the power and glory of a king are displayed in the ruler’s wealth, kings desire territory and wealth.

2. The purpose of a king’s wealth is to secure the reputation of his glory. His reputation is determined by the accumulation of his wealth. When he is wealthy, he’s respected by other kings.

3. Giving to a king acknowledges the king’s ownership. A king does not just rule his territory. He owns it. The people are his property; the land is his property. That is why even earthly kings are called “lord,” for it means “mighty owner.” Psalm 24:1 says, “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” In verse 8 of the same chapter, we are told who the King is: “Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.” He is the King.

4. Giving of any kind is the greatest act of acknowledgment. Any gift that you bring to the king reveals the value and worth that you put on the king. The measure of your gift tells the king what you think of him.

5. Worship demands a gift, and giving is worship. You cannot go to a king and say, “I love you and I worship you,” without bringing a gift to prove it. Even the wise men from the Orient, who were apparently kings of a small territory, came to Jesus bearing expensive gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Scripture tells us that no one should appear before Him empty-handed (Exodus 34:20).

6. Giving to a king is expressing our thanks for what we still have. In other words, if we bring one-tenth of all we own to the king, we are showing gratefulness for the nine-tenths that we still have.

7. Finally, giving to a king puts pressure on the king to give something greater back to you. Remember the story of the queen of Sheba and King Solomon (1 Kings 10). She came with her servants bearing precious gifts worth millions in today’s dollars “to prove him.” What she was saying is that she wanted to prove that she was the greater royalty. What she discovered was a kingdom filled with plenty, and King Solomon gave back seven times more than he received. It was a competition of out-blessing each other! That is the way it works in kingdoms.

If we could only grasp what the Lord wants us to understand through the kingdom principles throughout the Bible. We would never appear before Him empty-handed. We would bring our greatest gifts, knowing that He always gives back much more than we offer Him.

If we truly understood how to give to our King Jesus, we would realize that God can shift wealth around just as easily and quickly as He did overnight by giving the wealth of Egypt to their slaves—the children of Israel.

God promises that when He directs us to give into the kingdom, we put pressure on Him to give back even greater to us: “Prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it” (Malachi 3:10). In today’s terms, the Lord was saying, “I dare you to try and outgive me!”

When you give to any king, you put pressure on him to prove that he is greater by outgiving you. This is a kingdom principle that Jesus wants us to understand and enter into.

Your obedience in giving proves that the next time He asks you for an even larger gift into the kingdom, not only will you be able to afford it because of the outpouring, but He knows He can trust you to give it as your faith grows. As trust builds, blessings flow more abundantly.

The harvest depends upon the seed you plant into the kingdom: “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully” (2 Corinthians 9:6).

What will you give to the King of kings?

Open your heart and give that generous seed that will bring lost souls into the kingdom of God now, for we know that King Jesus is coming soon, and what we do for Him, we must do quickly!

The Reason for Giving to God’s Kingdom

Why you plant and how you plant are crucial to the harvest you receive. By your giving, many are now living! And as you give according to the kingdom principles at work all around you, the Lord will reward you for your faithfulness to His glorious cause. I stand in agreement with you for an abundant financial increase in your life, even as you give today for a historic harvest of souls. Sow your most generous seed today with expectancy and faith. Then watch God open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing so abundant that you cannot contain it!

Be generous during this unprecedented season of harvest and outpouring as we continue to reach out through crusades, broadcasts, and mission outreaches around the globe.

Let’s do it together while there is still time!

For it is “not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6)…
Preaching the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ,teaching the unchanging Word of God,and expecting the mighty and miraculous power of the Holy Spirit,

Benny Hinn

The Alpha Course 11-Sep-08 to 20-Nov-08

Next event coming up from our church: The Alpha Course

I have learned so much about Christianity through this course and I recommend it to anyone who wants to explore everything you want to want to know about it.. hee!

Do send me an email if you wish to attend!

What is Alpha?

The Alpha Course is an opportunity for anyone to explore the Christian faith, and it consists of a series of talks addressing key issues relating to the Christian faith.

It’s relaxed, low-key, friendly and fun.

Meal: There is a meal together at the beginning of each session which gives people a chance to get to know each other.

Talk: There will be a talk by Rev Nicky Gumbel on video, or done live by a speaker on topics of interest. See below for topics.

Coffee & Small groups: Listen, learn, discuss and discover. And ask anything. Alpha is a place where no question is too simple or too hostile.


Talk Topics

1) Christianity: Boring, Untrue and Irrelevant? [11-Sep-08]
2) Who is Jesus? [18-Sep-08]
3) Why did Jesus die? [25-Sep-08]
4) How can I be sure of my faith? [02-Oct-08]
5) Why and how should I read the Bible? [09-Oct-08]
6) Why and how should I pray? [16-Oct-08]
7) How does God guide us? [23-Oct-08]
8) Who is the Holy Spirit? [01-No-08] Saturday
What does the Holy Spirit do?
How can I be filled with the Holy Spirit?
9) How can I resist evil? [06-Nov-08]
10) Does God heal today? [13-Nov-08]
11) How can I make the most of the rest of my life? [20-Nov-08]


Who is it for?

Anyone can join a Alpha Course and it is free!
(You may be asked to pay a contribution towards the cost of the dinner and the weekend)

Alpha is for everyone, especially:
- Those wanting to investigate Christianity
- New Christians
- Newcomers to the church
- Those who want to brush up on the basics

Alpha runs in every type of church, including Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, Salvation Army, Free Church, Pentecostal, Assemblies of God and Independent Churches. All the churches provide the same material, making alterations only to suit local culture

Alpha is also run in homes, offices, prisons and halfway houses. There are also special courses catering to youths, students, different languages e.g. Mandarin, Japanese, Tamil, Burmese, etc.

Good Things Versus God-Things by Os Hillman

Romans 8:14 Because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

The greatest sign that you and I are maturing in our walk with God is when we can discern the difference between "good things" and "God-things." When the people of Israel journeyed out of Egypt through the desert, they were led by the cloud by day. They could move only as fast as the cloud. If they went ahead, they went without God's presence. If they lagged behind, they also lost God's presence.

Each of us must have the discernment to know when God is leading in a matter, or if it is simply a good idea. There are so many things in which you and I can be involved, and the more successful you become, the greater the temptations to enter into things where God has not called you. Entrepreneurs are especially prone to see all the opportunities.

I recall one time when I entered into a project that I thought was a great idea. It would help many people. After two years, the project had to be discontinued. It was a great lesson on understanding what projects have God's blessing on them. There are some projects you and I might get involved in that result in little fruit compared to the investment put into them. That is because they may never have been birthed by the Holy Spirit.

As sons of God, we are called to be led by the Spirit. This requires a level of dependence on God in which many of us really do not want to invest. It requires listening, waiting, and moving only when God's Spirit tells us to move. Businesspeople are "action" people. We know how to get things done, but our greatest strength can be our greatest weakness.

Today, ask God to make you a Romans 8:14 man or woman who is led by the Spirit of God. Pray against lagging behind or moving ahead. Ask God to reveal whether the next project you consider is a "good thing" or a "God-thing."

The Butterfly Principle

Exodus 14:8 The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out boldly.

Overprotective parents do their children a great injustice. The caterpillar that lies inside the cocoon will never become the beautiful butterfly if someone cuts open the cocoon prematurely. It is the struggle itself that allows the butterfly to emerge as a strong, new creature of nature.
God understands how necessary this process is. That is why we are allowed to experience difficult, often life-changing events. He even orchestrates them-all for our benefit. What the Israelites thought was a cruel joke when Pharaoh sent troops to pursue them after they had been freed and penned against the shore of the Red Sea became the stage for the most publicized miracle of all time-the parting of the Red Sea. Generation after generation has heard this incredible story of deliverance. God puts us against the "Red Seas" in order to show His power in and through us. If we do not know God can deliver, then we can never learn to trust Him. Circumstances that go beyond our capabilities of solving them place us at God's complete mercy. This is how He likes it.

Do not fear the calamity that comes your way. If you are faithful to Him in the test, you will see God's power manifested like never before. Just as the Israelites were able to sing a song of deliverance, you too will have your own testimony of the Lord's faithfulness; and you will be able to recall it for others to build your faith and theirs.

Defining Moments by Os Hillman

Acts 9:3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.

For Moses, it was the burning bush.
For Peter, it was walking on water.
For Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, it was walking through the burning furnace untouched.
For Paul, it was being blinded and spoken to by Jesus on the Damascus road.
For Daniel, it was deliverance from the lions' den.
For Joshua, it was parting the Jordan River and crossing into the Promised Land.

There have been many defining moments in the lives of human beings that changed their lives forever. These defining moments often set the course for the balance of their lives.
We could go on and on. Each of these servants had years of preparation leading up to their defining moment. These moments forced the servants to be involved in something beyond their human experiences. It took them outside their own paradigms of life. God had to move them outside their own boxes. And when He did, their lives were never the same.

You may be in one of three stages of life: You may not have had your "defining moment" yet-God may be preparing you with many important life experiences. You may have had your defining moment and you are living out your call. Or, you may be toward the end of your journey and you have already experienced what I speak of.

We are all called to a relationship with God; and we are all called vocationally, which is often ushered in by a defining moment. And there can be more than one defining moment, each pointing you down a path that God foreordained from the foundation of the world. The secret of a great life is often a man's ability to discern the defining moments given to him, understanding them, and learning to walk in the path that leads him to his ultimate destination.

Once you have had a defining moment, you are never the same. Pray that you have eyes to see and ears to hear when your Master brings a defining moment into your life.

The Fellowship of the Believers

Acts 2:42-47 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Fulfilling God's Purpose by Derek Prince

Psalm 138:8 The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O LORD, endures forever—do not abandon the works of your hands. NIV

It’s good to know that God has a purpose for each one of us. The Scripture there does not say that the Lord will fulfill my purpose; it says the Lord will fulfill His purpose for me. There’s a great difference. I may have one purpose; God may have another. God does not guarantee that He will fulfill my purpose, but He does promise that He will fulfill His purpose.

And then the psalmist goes on to say, “Your love, O LORD [and that means ‘your covenant-keeping faithfulness’], endures forever.” When God commits Himself to us to fulfill His purpose in our lives, that is a commitment for time and for eternity.

And then, maybe out of a situation of desperation, the psalmist says, “Do not abandon the works of your hands.” I remember once being at the deathbed of a lady who was dying of cancer, a strong believer. She read that last verse in the version of The Living Bible: “You made me; don’t abandon me.” And she had strong assurance as she read those words: “You made me; don’t abandon me.” But that’s for each one of us. God made us; He will not abandon us. He has a purpose; He’s going to fulfill it. Maybe it won’t be your purpose, but it will be His purpose. That purpose will stand sure and unshakable no matter what you go through. - Derek Prince

Thirsting After God by Os Hillman

2 Kings 2:9 ..."Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit"....

The first requirement to move in greater power and authority in God is to hunger for it. Yet even this hunger is born from God. Elisha hungered after God. Elisha saw many miracles as Elijah's servant. But he wanted more. He wanted a double portion of Elijah's spirit. When he asked Elijah for this, the prophet responded, "You have asked a difficult thing." It wasn't because it couldn't be granted. Elijah knew that with great anointing came a great weight of responsibility and difficulty.

Second, humility comes before honor. Elisha was known as the "servant of Elijah." How would you like to be known as "the servant of John"? Your name is not even mentioned. This was the preparation of Elisha. It has been the preparation of many men of God. Consider Joseph, the servant of Pharaoh. Consider David, the servant of Saul.

Third, Elisha committed himself totally to his calling. The Scripture says when Elisha was called to join Elijah, the younger man left his farm business completely. He slaughtered his oxen and had a great feast for the community. It was all or nothing. He could not fall back on his farm trade if his new venture didn't work. This demonstrates Elisha's pioneer spirit in stepping out, not knowing what was ahead.

Do you want greater anointing in God? "You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart. I will be found by you" (Jer. 29:13-14a). Begin thirsting for God's anointing in your heart today. This is the starting place.

Obedience-Based Decisions Versus Skill and Ability by Os Hillman

1 Chronicles 14:15 As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move out to battle.

The Philistines were attacking. David wanted to know how to respond. His first inquiry of God revealed that he was to attack the Philistines straightaway and God would give him victory. David followed God's instruction and gained victory. Shortly after, the Philistines mounted another attack. "So David inquired of God again, and God answered him, 'Do not go straight up, but circle around them and attack them in front of the balsam trees' " (1 Chron. 14:14).

David was a well-trained warrior, a strategist. Yet, we find that David's dependence on God to direct his efforts was very great. In fact, after he won the first battle, he went right back to inquire again. This is the most important lesson we can learn from this story. God told David to attack, but only after he heard the marching in the balsam trees.

How many times have you or I operated in the marketplace based only on our skill and ability, without seeking to know the details of God's will in the matter? David could have simply assumed that since he had won the last battle, surely God would give him victory the same way. No. David had learned that communicating with the living God is the only sure way of victory. His skill was not enough. He had to have God's blessing.

How many times have we worked in our business life the same way each time only because it was the way we did it last time? What if God has a better way? What if God has a different plan than ours? "So David inquired of God..." These are the important words that we are to learn from. We must be in such relationship with God that we are constantly inquiring of His mind on every matter. When we do this, we can expect the same results that David achieved-success in our endeavor and recognition by God.

"So David's fame spread throughout every land, and the Lord made all the nations fear him" (1 Chron. 14:17). This is the reward of obedience to God. We don't have to build a name for ourselves. God will see to it that we are honored for our obedience. He wants to make known those servants who are willing to obey Him at all costs.

Our Distinct Advantage by Joe Stowell

“The LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

Have you ever felt that if God were to show up today as often as He did in the lives of the people in Bible times, you too could be a spiritual hero? It’s easy to think that people like Abraham, Moses, Paul, and others had a distinct edge because God showed up in spectacular ways to talk with and tell them exactly what to do. We think that if Jesus would just appear and give us the lowdown on life face-to-face, we could all be the smashing success for Him that we always wanted to be.

But it’s not just the people of the Bible who leave us thinking that we must be second-rate Christians. All you have to do is go to a prayer meeting where someone gives a glowing report on the way in which God dramatically answered their prayer, while your prayer list remains full of unanswered prayers. Let’s face it. It’s easy to grow discouraged and sometimes even disillusioned with our less-than-spectacular Christianity. And when that happens, our walk with Christ becomes ritualistic and unenthusiastic.

But before you get depressed, it’s possible that your expectations and perspectives are out of whack. When we think that all Bible people had it good, we should note that God “showed up” in Abraham’s life only about once every 15 years! Abraham had no Bible, no small-group fellowship, and no exhilarating worship experiences, yet his steadfast faith is celebrated in Hebrews 11:8-19. And even though Joseph was unrelentingly faithful to God against great odds, for many years God didn’t “show up” to rescue him from his plight. Yet he hung in there because he knew that “the Lord was with him” (Genesis 39:21). Paul had only two direct encounters with Jesus. You can count on it, the rest of their lives were pretty ordinary, a lot like yours and mine.

It’s easy to think that Joshua and God’s people in the Old Testament were unusually blessed because God promised to be with them (Deuteronomy 31:6-8; Joshua 1:9). But we shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that the same promise is given to us in the New Testament (Hebrews 13:5). Jesus Himself promised that He would not leave us as “orphans” but would send the Holy Spirit to be in us and with us (John 14:16-18). In fact, if anybody has an edge, we do! God dwells within us in the person of the Holy Spirit to convict, comfort, guide, and encourage. His 24/7 presence is waiting to be tapped and used no matter where we are or what we are facing. We have the full revelation of Scripture that the Holy Spirit uses to teach and direct our lives. No Bible hero had the privilege of having a Book that could be carried, read, memorized, and used in transforming ways to tell them everything they needed to know about God and themselves—but you and I do!

You may still be saying, “Yeah, but God hasn’t done anything for me lately!” If so, remember that if He does nothing more than save us from sin, cancel hell, and guarantee heaven, He has already done far more than we deserve and enough to keep us happily praising Him for the rest of our lives!

Now’s a good time to start rejoicing. You’ve been blessed with all you need for growth and glory! Tap the resource.

Failure That Leads to Godliness by Os Hillman

1 Samuel 22:2 All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader....

God uses broken things to accomplish His greatest work. When David was anointed to be the next king, he was just a boy, the youngest among all his brothers. Little did he know that the next several years would be years of fleeing from Saul whose successes turned into obsessions as a leader who had fallen from God's anointing. Perhaps David thought, Why am I living a life as a fugitive? I am the next king of Israel. Yet, his life was filled with adversity after adversity before he ever fulfilled the ultimate calling God had for him. Others began to hear of David's successes and identify with his plight. But, it wasn't the successful and polished who came to join him. It was "those who were in distress or in debt or discontented" who would be part of his army-and an army it was! His army would become known throughout the world as the greatest ever assembled, not because of their skill, but because of the God behind the army. God turned David's men into "mighty men of valor" (see 1 Chron. 11:10).

God often uses failure to make us useful. When Jesus called the disciples, He did not go out and find the most qualified and successful people. He found the most willing, and He found them in the marketplace. He found a fisherman, a tax collector, a farmer, and a doctor.

The Hebrews knew that failure was a part of maturing in God. The Greeks used failure as a reason for disqualification. Sadly, in the Church, we often treat one another in this way. This is not God's way. We need to understand that failing does not make us failures. It makes us experienced. It makes us more prepared to be useful in God's Kingdom-if we have learned from it. And that is the most important ingredient for what God wants in His children.

On The Road Again by Joe Stowell

“For God… made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:6

I hate being lost. I’ve always had a good sense of direction and can usually find my way around without much trouble. But on the rare occasions when I lose my way, I hate not knowing where I’m going (and, being male, it’s unthinkable to stop and ask for directions!).

It used to be that we could rely on a good map to help us get around, but now with tools like MapQuest and GPS systems, we have no excuse for being lost. And in some situations we really can’t afford to be lost. A bride on her way to the church where her groom is waiting doesn’t want to end up on a dead-end street! And the man driving his pregnant wife to the hospital had better know how to get there—and fast! But more importantly, if you are a follower of Jesus you can’t afford to be lost!

Following Jesus means that we stay on the road with Him. And, if you ask me what road Jesus travels, I would answer that His road is the “Glory Road.” Throughout His entire life and ministry, one dynamic was always in play. He lived to demonstrate the glory of His father. When John summarized the life of Jesus (as though someone had asked him to describe Jesus in 25 words or less), he pointed out that Jesus “made His dwelling among us” and noted that the disciples had “seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only . . . full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Simply put, Jesus came to glorify God by showing us what God was really like. He traveled that glory road all the way to the cross where the love, mercy, grace, justice, and holiness of God were demonstrated in a dramatic moment of servanthood and sacrifice.
But it wasn’t just at the cross. In all of His relationships and encounters, He showed us what God, His Father, was like. The glory of God’s compassion touched the blind and they could see. The glory of God’s intolerance with religious pride and hypocrisy was clearly seen in Christ’s dealing with the Pharisees. God’s justice and advocacy for the poor and oppressed became evident when Jesus turned over the tables in the temple and chased out the thieves who were overcharging poor pilgrims who simply came to worship God. God’s faithfulness and loyal love was consistently demonstrated in Christ’s patient tolerance of the often misguided thoughts and attitudes of His disciples.

So, to be a follower of Jesus means that we must be on the road with Him—the glory road. That’s where He travels. And, you’ll know you are on the right road when your life looks more and more like Jesus in attitude and action, because He is “the radiance of God’s glory” (Hebrews 1:3). You’ll know that you’re getting up to speed with Him when you see all your relationships and encounters as opportunities to make the qualities and characteristics of our glorious God clearly seen and experienced.

It’s easy to get lost. Satan has lots of off-ramps, side roads, and detours. In fact, he loves it when you are lost. But all of his off-ramps eventually lead to living for our own tainted glory and the fallen glory of Satan himself. And believe me, that’s never a pretty picture.

Psalm 132:3-5,8 by Derek Prince

“I will not enter my house or go to my bed—I will allow no sleep to my eyes, no slumber to my eyelids, till I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob. Arise, O LORD, and come to your resting place, you and the ark of your might. NIV

Those words were spoken by David. He’d become conscious of the need to bring back to Jerusalem the ark of the Lord, which had been taken by the Philistines. But he’d come to realize also that he had to prepare a place, find and prepare a place, before he could invite the Lord to take up His resting place in the midst of His people. And there’s an important principle there, we need to prepare a place for the Lord before we ask Him to take up His residence with us.

There are two great hindrances, I believe, to the Lord dwelling with us. Each of them in English begins with the letter “p.” The first is pride, the second is prejudice. As long as we’re arrogant and haughty, we do not have a place for the Lord. As long as we’re occupied with our own ways, our own thoughts, our own concepts, we’re determined to make God act the way we think He ought to act. Those two barriers of pride and prejudice can keep the Lord from finding a resting place in our hearts and lives.

So let’s remember that before we invite the Lord to make His resting place, to come with the ark of His might and bring the fullness of His presence and His blessing, we have to be sure that we’ve prepared an appropriate place for God to rest in.

Obedience-Based Decisions by Os Hillman

Acts 5:32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.

So often we as a society equate numbers with success. The larger the conference, the more successful we deem it. The larger a church, the more we believe that God is blessing. And so on. I recall planning a conference one time. Registrations were not where I felt they needed to be a few weeks before the date of the event. It wasn't long before I began to get "under the pile" about the level of attendance. My friend, who was organizing this conference with me, called and asked how I was doing. I had to confess where I was. He immediately reminded me of my own teaching in this area. We are all called to be led by the Spirit, not by outcomes. "If God called us to put on this conference, then the outcome is up to Him if we have done our part." He went on to explain how he learned this lesson in a similar way a few years earlier.

He and a friend were led to host a Bible study group. His friend was to speak. It was nine o'clock and they were the only two people there. His friend was discouraged and was ready to leave.
"No," said my friend. "We have done what the Holy Spirit directed." He then stood up and began to welcome people as though there were many in the room. (No one was in the room.) He introduced his friend and they began the meeting. A few minutes later, people began to straggle in. By the time the meeting was over, ten had shown up, and one man in particular was impacted by the meeting.

Being led by the Spirit often means we must not use the world's standard for success as our measuring stick. You never know what an act of obedience will yield at the time. We must leave results to God. Our role is to obey. His role is to bring results from our obedience.

Do you make decisions based on the potential outcome or by the direction of the Holy Spirit in your life? Do you overly evaluate the pros and cons without consideration to what the Holy Spirit might be saying deep inside? We are all prone to make decisions based on reasoning alone. Ask God to give you a willingness and ability to hear the Holy Spirit and to obey His promptings.