All things!
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Rom. 8:28; (NASB)

Some thirty-five years ago I used to minister in the jail systems of Los Angeles County. I would go on Tuesdays and Thursdays for several years conducting a Bible Study for the men who were in custody. I had this one gentleman who accepted Christ with me and he continued to study for approximately eight months more while he remained in custody. As the time came near for his release, he told me that he was glad that he was arrested and went to jail because if he was never incarcerated, he would not have heard about the gospel. He stated that he knew without a doubt that God used this negative experience for his good. Upon his release he contacted me and became a member of the church. He brought his wife and his five children who also accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior.

I know that over the years I have had some tough experiences that I did not understand. I have had frustrations and disappointments, I was treated unfairly, people spoke behind my back, told lies about me, my so-called friends left me, and doors closed to what I thought were positive opportunities for advancement. I know that throughout my fifty-three years walking with Christ He has used ALL THINGS, both good and bad, to shape and mature me. I have not always liked the answers God provided or the way He did things but eventually I saw His wisdom.

I have a suggestion that might help you out when you are in the valley of self-pity. Remember that God has ordered our steps. There is absolutely nothing can take place in your life that God can’t turn it around for His glory. Remember, I did not say that God brings negativity into our lives. Sometimes this negative problem we cause by our own disobedience but as we repent God can use them to teach us different things. Amid trouble praise God because you know that He loves you and is working things out on your behalf. I did not say praise Him for the bad, but in the middle of the bad because He loves you and will use all things for our benefit.

The Authority of the Name of Jesus!
The central truth of this teaching is that Jesus gave us the right and authority to use His name. This is our power of attorney. This occurs when we are born again and become new creations in Him. God hears and answer prayer. He’s not deaf and He’s not blind. But too many people just really don’t understand how prayer works. God left his word for us so we would know how prayer should work. Some people just hope that sooner or later is going to work out but that’s not prayer. That’s not faith that’s not standing in the name of Jesus.
There’s a term in law-enforcement called standard ground. There is a spiritual comparison to this, that we need to stand our ground on God ‘s Word, and let heaven earth and hell know that we believe it and stand on it like everything else believers must grow spiritually. When we are babies in the Lord he moves in different ways for us, but he expects us to grow.

The Bible teaches. There is a similarity between physical growth and spiritual growth. “As newborn babes, desires, the sincere milk of the word that you may grow up thereby. First Peter 2:2. No one is born a fully grown adult. We are born as babies and grow up. No one is born as a fully grown Christian either. Christians, or newborn babes, grow up. As we mature matured in the Lord we need to mature in His Word. As we mature in His Word our prayer life should mature as well.

“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.” John 15:7. His word is speaking directly to our inner man (our spirit man). As we grow in God, we exercise our ability to grow in faith. Abiding also means maintaining a good relationship with God striving to lead a godly life. This is the key to successful living and having prayers answered.

As Believers in Jesus, we have the Right to use His Name.
And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Mark 16:17-18.
Some people still pray to the Lord’s Prayer. When Jesus gave that prayer, it was a model of how we should pray to the Father before Jesus was glorified. Once Jesus was glorified through the cross of Calvary, the format of prayer changed. Now, we should pray to the Father, using the name of Jesus. When we use the name of Jesus for either individual needs, or when we deal with the devil, Jesus said, “in my name they shall cast out devils.”

When Jesus pointed the 70 disciples and sent them forth, Luke 10:17 says, and the 70 returned with Joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject to us through the name. In Acts 16:16-18 we read that Paul cast out the evil spirit of a girl using the name of Jesus. “Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Highest God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour. Acts 16:16-18.

Speaking In New Tongues.
Jesus said in “my name… they shall speak with new tongues” Mark 16: 17-18. Every believer has the right to the baptism of the Holy Spirit and to speak in new tongues.
Personal testimony. Acts 2:7-12, “Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” 12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?”
Drink any deadly thing accidentally. Mark 16:18- personal testimony.

Using the Name of Jesus!
Jesus gave us the legal right to use his name. The Father knew that the name of Jesus when used by his disciples to set captives free. Many believers don’t live an overcoming life. The Christians state that they are overcome by the devil. Every time they talk about how hard it is they’re giving devil the credit. Every time they talk about how sick they are they brag about the devil. Every time they say that it doesn’t look like they’re going to make it they’re bragging on the devil. Isn’t it about time to brag upon Jesus and all that he’s done for us?
The reality of the name of Jesus is that we only have to believe and He does rest. His name is the measure of His ability. The measure of the ability of the Lord Jesus Christ is value of His name. And all that is invested in that name belongs to us, for Jesus gave us unqualified use of His Name.

In Prayer
In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. Jn. 16:23-24.
• In Spiritual Combat
And these signs will follow those who [a]believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they[b] will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Mark 16:17-18.
• The Great Commission
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Matthew 28:18–
• His Eternal Presence
Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. “Again, I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:19-20.

Making Prayer Your Priority!
The whole concept of prayer is central to the life of a Christian. If Cristian do not pray. They will see Little or no victory in their life. Prayer is the utmost importance in our lives. Christianity is a living faith and touch with a living. God who hears an answers prayer. Simply talking into the ceiling is not prayer. Going to church for 20 minutes on Sunday is not prayer. Listening to a sermon that is given at church is not prayer. Putting in the offering plate $5.00 is not prayer.

As with anything else in our lives, both professionally and personally, we want to see results. If you do not receive results two things are happening number one, you’re not walking in love, as a Holy Spirit would want us to. We are harboring some type of unconfessed sin to God And we have the form of religion without the power. God is stated that we have been given all things through Christ Jesus. If we are lacking, it’s not on God side and probably not even on the devil side. It’s on the person you see in the mirror.
God is still in the business of making miracles. He still listens and answers prayer. He says that we lift Him up and maintain our relationship and fellowship with Him. All things are possible.

Pray in the name of Jesus because Jesus stands behind His Word. When we pray, we come, according to God ‘s word, and your prayers will not fail.

Who do you trust?
But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you. Matt. 6:33.

I think we all like scriptures that build us and make us feel good. But at the same time, we need to take the Bible in its entirety. Many people are looking towards their jobs, the stock market, inheritance, or government assistance to supply their needs. But the scripture is very plain if we look to God, He will take care of those things. But how does this work?

I am convinced that it begins with an attitude of our heart. Are we really striving to live our lives as God wants us to? Who or what do we trust in? Are we honest people? I was having a conversation in our Bible Study that how it is important not to cheat on the reporting of our taxes. I was explaining that living in Mexico but working in the United States makes it impossible for us to have any deductions on our income tax. I further explained that this put a difficult financial burden upon us. One person stated why we didn’t just falsify our deductions. They stated that the government has lots of money and it would not be missed. I told them that I was tempted to cheat and falsify information but that would be stealing and that is not what God wants us to do.

How can we ask God to bless us and help us if we are lying and cheating and not taking responsibility for our actions? God says strive to do what is correct. People can come up with a million excuses not to do what is right. If we do not choose to do what is correct than what makes us any different from those who don’t love God? We need to be witnesses to honesty in a very dark world. We need to trust God that as we do what is right, He will do the rest.

Who do you trust?

Mind Your Own Business!
“.and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business….” I Thessalonians 4:11.

I must learn to mind my own business. My interference in matters have no place in my Christian Walk. God has no use for me to meddle in matters that do not concern me. God did not call me to be a midwife trying to help give birth to others, but to help in the process of growing others through teaching and discipleship. Too often I added my two cents by saying, “I wouldn’t do that”.
Peter was a great interferer. When Jesus announced his plan to submit to crucifixion, Peter jumped in immediately and tried to change the plan of God. “Get behind me Satan” was the Master’s stern reply (Matthew 16:23). God will not have us meddle in His will. Peter still did not learn. At the seaside he was more concerned with John’s future than his own, and again Jesus corrected him, “What is that to you? You follow me” (John 21:21).

It is very difficult for me to learn the difference between when God uses me and when I use myself. The problem is not motive, but discernment. At times I am so blind and full of myself that I cannot see the delicate and gentle movements of God in the hearts of others. I want them to fulfill my expectations and mold them according to my will. I want to solve other people’s problems when I don’t or won’t even take the time to solve my own. I blame others for their troubles by saying “if you only have listened to me.”

I must always remember I am a tool of God, not the hand of God. I should always be ready to help but not get in the way due to my impatience. God’s ways and plans are not my way of doing things. I want instance obedience from others when I do not do the same. Let me just rejoice when God calls me to be a “chosen vessel”. (Acts 9:15).

Nothing more, nothing less!

In Spite of…..
Don’t be glad when your enemy’s meet disaster, and don’t rejoice when they stumble. The LORD will know if you are gloating, and he will not like it; and then maybe he won’t punish them. Prov. 24: 17-18.

I think all of us at one time or another has struggles with anger towards someone who has treated us unkindly. I know this was the case for me. A person called me and told me that he did not want the devotionals we send out every morning. He was quite rude and vulgar. He called them stupid and other terrible things. All of this took place because we intervened in making a report on this person who had a history of domestic violence. We intervened because the children were in a very violent environment and were under much psychological distress and in constant physical danger.

Later on I heard that this same person who treated me unkindly fell into some problems and the Lord brought to my attention the above-mentioned scripture. I immediately understood what God was saying. I felt that I should pray for him and that he might come to know God’s love.

God expects us to pray for those who persecute us for righteousness sake. The lesson here is no matter much a person has hurt us God expects us to forgive and show mercy. Who has hurt you? How much pain do you feel? Understand that people act mean because they do not know the love of God. Your prayer for them can make all of the difference in the world?

Who do you need to pray for?

God Hears and Answers!
Praise awaits you, O God, in Zion; to you our vows will be fulfilled. O you who hear prayer, to you all men will come. When we were overwhelmed by sins, you atoned for our transgressions. Psalm 65:1–3

We must realize that everything that manifests itself physically, emotionally, or psychologically has its roots in the spiritual. Everyone must consider what they are chasing in life and if it will last. The world offers dry wells from which people seek fulfillment. But Father God who is the fountain of living water offers an oasis in a very dry and desolate world. When we are in a counseling people with some troubled person who has a marital problem or financial problem or some other kind of problem; I must tell that person very honestly: God is extremely interested in you. However, we must understand that we live in a culture where we want instant answers and instant success. We want everything we see on TV and more. We want everything at the speed of a microwave oven. We want instant healing, success, instant discipleship, instant holiness, and instant answers to our prayers. How many people do you know that have many material things but are miserable? When one chooses to follow Christ, this is not an easy road to embark on. We are constantly being pulled way to follow our desires and our will. God wants us to depend upon Him and follow His example. He does not want us to rely on our own strength, wisdom, or how the world wants us to think and act. He wants to lead. He wants us to ask Him for every area in our life. His answer may not what we want to hear but God will answer. Usually, the answer to our questions is in God’s Word. We must also understand that we have an enemy that will resist us drawing near to God at every situation and circumstance in our lives. We need to check our hearts and see if really, we are embracing God and His promises.

That’s what the psalmist says, “O you who hear prayer, to you all men will come.” Ultimately everybody needs God. Everybody needs to know that God hears and answers prayer. That’s what’s going to bring, is the fact that God hears and answers prayer. It may not be the answer we expect or like but it is His answer. And there’s one special prayer that He delights to answer above all others and that is the prayer for forgiveness of our sins. When we’ve sinned and failed God and man we don’t need to turn away in despair, we can turn back to God, cry to Him for forgiveness and then we’ll be able to say, as the psalmist says there, “When we were overwhelmed by sins, you atoned for our transgressions.”

Don’t let fear or guilt or despair keep you from praying. When you are in trouble don’t blame God. Don’t run from the cross, run to the Cross of Calvary. Following Father God and His word is a long road of obedience in the same direction towards the Cross of Calvary. Remember, in the depths of your agony God hears and He answers prayer.

Don’t settle for less!
Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot (Haran’s son), and Sarai his daughter-in-law (his son Abram’s wife) and set out with them from Ur of the Chaldees for the land of Canaan. But when they got as far as Haran, they settled down there. Terah lived 200 years. He died in Haran. The Lord said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. Gen. 11:31-32 & Gen 12: 1-2.

This is the tale of two men. This is a story of how the son followed God and his father chooses not to. Both received from God a call to leave their country and go to the land of Canaan but one obeyed and the other did not. Canaan represents the blessing of God. A land of fruitfulness. A place of plenty and peace. A place where one can fulfill one’s dreams. A place where your very presence will be a blessing to others.

Why did Terah (Abraham’s father) travel towards Canaan but settled halfway? Why does a person not reach out for the very best God has to offer? Why do some find it easier to complain about their circumstances and wallow in self-pity? We all know people who will continually have a pity party for themselves. They are always complaining about something however others blossom no matter where God calls them to be. Why is this? I believe that it has to do with the attitude of our heart. We all have been knocked around by life. We have all had many hardships and trials. Why do some settle for mediocrity and others for total victory? Terah gave up when it got difficult. He settled in and died in the land of mediocrity. He never experienced God’s best. Anything that is worth anything takes a lot of persistence and hard work. But Tereh did not have it within him to continue. Why? Maybe because he was a crybaby? Don’t ever give up. That is easy. Don’t have a pity party when things get tough.

God has great plans for each one of us. He wants to bless us and fulfill our dreams. He wants to take you further than you have ever dreamed. But He needs your complete trust. He needs you to look to Him and believe that all things are possible for those who trust Him.

Don’t be a quitter! Be steadfast in God and in His power and you will eventually overcome all obstacles.

Trusting in God’s Faithfulness!
[Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4

God tests us by allowing us to go through different experiences so we may grow in faith and endurance. Sometimes those testing’s come by our disobedience toward Him and His Word. I remember there was a time that I was extremely ill. It was not God testing me it was due to my poor eating habits and lack of exercise. My disobedience in these areas created havoc on my body.
How can we rejoice in those difficult moments of testing? Remember, God does not use sickness or sinful situations to test us. The enemy, Satan uses sickness and disease. The testing of our faith produces both endurance and patience. God stated that in this world we would face tribulation and persecution but we are to stand strong and resist the enemy. Standing strong and resisting the enemy is the testing of our faith.

How do you respond to that situation? Do you say to yourself, “Everything’s gone wrong! The Lord’s promise will never come true”? No, I don’t believe that. It says, “Until the time that the promise came, the word of the Lord tested him.” How important it is to see that when the Lord gives us a promise, many times everything that happens next will seem to be the very opposite of what God has promised. It’s so important that at times like that we don’t give up on the promise, we don’t say, “God has forgotten; God has failed.”
We must speak unto those mountains that we are facing the promises of God. We should confess openly and without shame our trust in God. Many people speak of their mountains but not of their faith.

You see, that promise that God gave us is testing us. It’s testing our faith and our constancy to see if we’ll hold on in the darkest hour. And when we pass the test, then, like all the people in scripture, we will see the promises of God will be fulfilled.

Remember the way to Think, is what you will Speak. And what you speak is how you will Live!

Take Back What the Devil has Stolen!
He redeems your life from the Pit; He crowns you with faithful love and compassion. Psalm 103:4.

Lord, I thank you that no matter how Satan attacks you are full of mercy and compassion. You are the Master of the irreversible. I have seen God turn around very difficult situations. The key to victory is called FAITH!

Some time ago I was targeted by a supervisor where I taught classes in a college. At our first encounter in 2017 she was pleasant yet appeared to be fearful. I sensed this and after a while I prayed with her to overcome fears. Over the years she became quite hostile towards me because I was very open with the students of my Christian faith. She conducted an evaluation of my teaching and stated that she found me to be bigoted, racist, and homophobic. We discussed the evaluation and I told her that I did not agree with her assessment.

A week later I received her written evaluation and she told me just to sign it and all would be fine. I must admit I was quite angry regarding this untruthful injustice but after I calmed down, we decided to trust God for His intervention. As my wife and I prayed about this the Holy Spirit told me not to sign it and contact the union.

My wife and I continued in prayer about this and so I contacted the union all the while praying that Father God would provide us a Christian person to defend me. The union rep spoke with me and then contacted her superiors and told them what she was doing was against the law and if this was not rescinded, we would file a lawsuit. I told my rep that I was not comfortable suing her or the college. I said to him that I never saw Jesus sue His enemies. I was happy that this was resolved in a positive manner. The unlawful evaluation was removed from my personnel file and I taught for two years more.

The key here was to pray for the situation and for her. We still pray for her because our goal is for her to surrender to Jesus!

Redemptive Love!
And we love to come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. I John 4:16

God commands us to love others. However, He does not mean I should love them naturally, but redemptively. Marriage is not a contract but rather it’s a covenant. The covenant between not only between the couple but also the couple with God. The basic difference between traditional marriage and covenant marriage is how the parties enter into the marital contract. In a traditional or “contract” marriage, a couple need only purchase a marriage license, obtain two witnesses and have a state-licensed agent to perform at the ceremony. In a covenant marriage God has established it with Him through covenant because it is only through loving him can we truly love one another. It’s based on redemptive love God’s love.

Redemptive love is God’s way. God showed this convincingly in the life of Hosea, the prophet. His wife left him and went to live with another man, and Hosea had the humiliating experience of having to buy her back from her adultery. (Hosea 3:1-3). Think about buying back what is already yours! Yet, that is what God did for us at Calvary. Father God told Hosea to do this because this is exactly what Israel did to Him. They left Him, and went after false gods. We fail to understand that God is a jealous God and He wants all our love, all of dedication, all of us. Not just on Sundays but every day of our life.

It is my great pleasure to say that I have been married to my best friend for 25 years. We have not always seen eye to eye and yes, we’ve had our ups and downs but in all we understand the relationship is a covenant not just between ourselves but with our Lord Jesus Christ. Redemptive love knows no shame; it is concerned with the loved one, not with its own feelings. Jesus did not cry out in self-pity, “Poor Me” when He was hanging on the cross. Hosea did not flinch or complain when he bought back his wife. He took her shame and disgrace as his own and for her sake he paid her debt willingly and brought her home safely once again. Redemptive love binds and makes permanent. Gomer, Hosea’s wife, never left him again. How could she, after love like that? I am at times weak and run from God but soon God brings me back home once again. Redemptive love is the most powerful binding force in the world.

We should realize that we cannot love others naturally. We must run to Christ and hove Him fill us with His love so we can love others as He has commanded us. This is redemptive love. Marriages and relationships fail because we rely on human love. Human love will never be sufficient. It is never enough. It’s only through God’s love that we can truly reach and be there for one another.