What is your Jericho?
“And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.” Matt. 20:29

Jericho is a very significant place in the Bible. All of the prophets and kings confronted their enemies at Jericho. Israel could not enter the promise land until Jericho was destroyed. Did you know that Jericho can be a very different place for different people? Jericho can be a place where you have a weakness in some areas of your life. Your Jericho might be sexual temptation. Your

Jericho might not be walking in love. Your Jericho might be talking about others behind their backs. Your Jericho might be overspending and buying things you don’t need. Your Jericho might not be giving to others. Your Jericho might be overcoming alcohol, drugs, smoking, etc. Whatever Jericho might be in your life it is a place whereby YOU MUST overcome it with the strength of God. Until you overcome your Jericho’s with the power of God you won’t enter into your promised land!

Jericho’s can be a very lonely place in which no one understands your situation. And it is not important that others understand as long as you understand that which hinders the power of God in your life. We must become VERY SERIOUS to get rid of those things that hinder the power of God in our lives. But when we surrender those secret things to God then we will see God’s power come alive in us. The above scripture states that when they left (Jesus and His disciples) Jericho then the multitudes followed. We must leave our Jericho’s behind us then people we see God’s power in our lives. Then they will follow because they see God working in us and through us.

What is your Jericho? What is hindering God working to His fullest in your life? Put those struggles and temptations behind and you will enter into that promise land of peace, joy, and abundant living.

No Fear!
“God is love. There is no fear in love; perfect love drives out all fear. So then, love has not been made perfect in anyone who is afraid, because fear has to do with punishment. There is no fear in love; perfect love drives out all fear.” I Jn. 4: 16b & 18.

Every Monday night at 7:00 PM we had our Bible Study at our home. I must say that I did not prepare for the study. To my shame I did not pray or study the scriptures or even really think of studying until the doorbell rang. At the beginning of the study, we always pray asking God to guide us for the night. Not knowing why, I asked my wife to read the above-mentioned scripture. As she began to read, I felt the presence of God so strong that I could hardly speak. It was like God touching my chest. I began to weep and it was hard for me to talk. I had to stop several times to calm down so I could continue with the study.

During our study the Lord brought to my memory some words that my father used to say. What I am going to say are the exact words that my father used to say when I was a child. I must have heard it from my father a hundred times. My father used to say the following, “Everything I touch turns to shit”. My father had very low self-esteem and he passed that on to me. I used to think and say that very same thing that my earthly used to say about himself.

In short, the first thing I believe what God is saying from the above-mentioned scripture is do we believe that He is love and that He loves us unconditionally? If we know this then we know that He has not forgotten us. He has not ignored us nor will He fail to perfect His plan for our lives. The second thing that we need to believe is that we are His masterpiece and no matter how many times we mess up He will continue to love us.

Most of us suffer from some very traumatic experiences that have left deep scars in our lives and psychics. We have been told by others that we have no worth. We have been made to feel that we are failures. At times we feel that we have nothing to offer to anyone. This is the fear that the scripture speaks about. The feeling of inadequacy torments us. We punish ourselves repeatedly for past mistakes. I don’t know if you ever have asked God for forgiveness for not believing in Him. I don’t know if you ever have asked God forgiveness for thinking that He does not love you. I don’t know if you ever felt that God only blesses His favorite people.

God is not deaf or blind. He sees and hears all. He heard your first cry for forgiveness and He forgave you. Now, He wants you to forgive yourself. He wants you to believe in His love for you. You are His masterpiece! Let the knowledge of His love for YOU sink deep into your soul and drive out all fear! Receive His love today!

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?