Turning the Tide of Evil!
God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. Acts 10:38

My reaction when I am confronted by evil must be more than negative; it must be positive. I must seize evil and turn it into good. Jesus did not just ignore Satan; He defeated him at the cross. (Colossians 2:25). We have another example of Josephs brother who meant to do him “evil”, but God turned it into good”. (Genesis 50:20)
.
How do I do that? Isn’t it God’s prerogative to operate on evil and defang it? That is exactly what was accomplished on the Cross of Calvery. Jesus turned the tide of evil through offering Himself as penalty paid. This is REDEMPTION in its essence.

If I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, then I will manifest Calvary’s principle of compelling evil to yield victory given to me by Jesus. We must understand that we are COMPLETE in Him. We lack nothing. We have been redeemed from the curse of the law which is from spiritual death, sickness and disease, and poverty. We do this by Believing, Speaking and Walking in the Word of God. (2 Corinthians 4:13, Colossians 2:20, and 2 Peter 1:2-4, Galatians 3:13, Deuteronomy 28:15-46).

This means there has been declared on Heavens side a complete reversal of the works of evil and my attitude towards it. I am no longer afraid of Satan or his kingdom because his power has been broken over me. (Romans 6:14, Colossians 1:13). I have been transformed from a worried and fearful disciple into a bold believer walking in the power of the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:2-4).
I will be a living example as the saints of old like Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham and all the modern-day men and women who believe God and His Word. We believe, so we speak…(2 Corinthians 4:13).
How do we do this? By Believing, Speaking and Walking in the Word of God.

Shalom
שלום
PEACE

To some people, the idea of peace is a stress-free day. To others, peace is the serenity of a gorgeous sunrise or sunset. Whatever your definition, peace is something we all want. But do you pursue it? Do you see peace? Do you chase after it every day?

An ancient Jewish tradition, peace was valued more than truth. The rabbis would argue that if there was a situation in which truth and peace were against each other, peace should take precedent. Perhaps, this is because the Hebrew word for “peace” is shalom, which means to be holy unified with God and others. Among the rabbis, it was more important for you to be unified with God and others than to be right. I have a Jewish friend who puts this idea into modern terms when he says, “you are more important than my view” but how often do we get this the other way around and put our need to be “right” in ahead of people?

The first believers in God taught us that those who follow God should love peace, and pursue it, love their neighbors, and attract others to the God. This is the peace of Jesus Christ offered. He said of God-peace of God, and peace with each other. This sort of peace that attracts people to the truth. In this crazy world Jesus stated that, “in the world you shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world”. (John 16:33). Peace is a place of true confidence in Jesus and how He overcame all problems through the peace that He brought through Calvary.

Does your life exhibit peace like this? How will you attract people to God today through the peace you display?

YESHUA-Salvation
ישועה-ישועה

Many people don’t understand the importance of a name. When people hear your name, what do they think about it? What type of person are you? What have you done to better the lives of others? What’s in the name?

You see, the name Jesus in Hebrew is Yeshua, which means “salvation”. So, when Jesus went to the house of tax collector named Zacharias and said today, “salvation has come to this house” He was making a point because “salvation”, Jesus came to Zachary’s house that day. (Luke 19:9).
The translation also gives us significance verses like surely “God is my salvation”, (Isaiah 12:2) also “the Lord has become my salvation”. (Exodus 25:2). The Hebrew translation of these verses would use the word Yeshua for “salvation”.

We all have a name. Our name identifies us, and for some of us it defines our credibility and even our reputation. But the Scriptures say that only one name can shine light in dark darkness, bring hope to hopelessness, and heal the brokenhearted. His name is Jesus, is our salvation. How would your life change if your identity and reputation was built on the name of Jesus? Can others see Jesus in you?

Will You Graduate?
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. 2 Peter 3:18.

God wants no Christian men or women stunted in spiritual growth serving Him. Of course, the statue of a person is not a hindrance unless the hindrances have to do with their heart and mind. (Luke 19:1-10). God looks at the person not on their physical appearance. (I Samuel 16:7). God gives liberally to all that seek Him with a proper heart. (James 1:5). God’s mind and His plans are not ours (Romans 11:33-34). God’s love is everlasting. (Jeremiah 31:3). It is not wonder why Father God rejects disciples who are narrow minded, petty, and childish.

Smallness in a Christian is the result of largeness one’s ego. He sees himself as all important. He has not learned the law of detachment; he feels that he himself necessary to God’s work as is the instrument for God’s power. He does not understand that to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit is to walk in love. (Romans 13:8,10).

This is not all. If I am dwarfish towards others, it is because first I am dwarfed toward God. I can never be stingy, prejudiced, and opinionated if I am open to the work of the Holy Spirit in my life. God is love and whoever does not walk in love does not know God. (I John 4:8). Paul’s words strike me forcibly, “Grow up…toward… Christ” (Ephesians 4:15). Paul tells us to grow up. It is our responsibility to put away childish behavior. To end my spiritual dwarfism is to make continual progress to become Christ like. The end of this childlike behavior is not what we are supposed to be. We are to grow into strong men and women for Jesus.

If I am spiritually immature, it is because something has gone very wrong with my heart, my mind and my spiritual growth. Many Christians do not grow in maturity because they are in a perpetual state of babyhood. The question is will do mature? Will you graduate? Fixing our eyes on the Author and the Finisher of our faith is the key to on-going spiritual growth. (Hebrews 12:2). How do you measure up?

A Cheap View of Heaven!
Therefore, all who dwell upon the Earth whose names written in the Book of Life by the Lamb, who was slain from the beginning of the world, shall worship him. Revelation 13:8.

Forgive me Father for having a cheap view of heaven. I have rejoiced indeed that Jesus died to make a place for me there; but Your Word keeps reminding the difference of salvation and being a disciple.

Isn’t that what Paul means; “Christ…loved the church and gave Himself up for her-that He might present to Himself the church in all of her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing” (Ephesians 5:25-27).

It is one thing to arrive in heaven by the skin of my teeth, but how much better to arrive there applauded! The right to be there is because what Jesus has done for me but also involves the work He has done in me. Simple faith in Him assures me of a place in heaven, but only firmly following Him confirms me being a disciple (2 Peter 1:11).

I must confess that I have been one of those who have cheapened your grace. I have led many to believe that the ease of accepting Christ as Savior also applies to the lived-out in my Christian life. God’s grace is not softness, as witnessed by Calvary’s wounds. God’s grace is simply permission, not qualification. It merely opens the door to God’s great school of training and discipline; it does not promise us it will not come with persecution and suffering.

I thank you Father God for your grace! Without it we would be suffering endlessly and hopelessly lost. Lord, may we never throw your grace to the pigs by living irresponsibly and sloppy here on earth will please You! (Matthew 16:25). Discipleship is a long road in the same direction to the cross.

Developing a Hardness!
No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier. 2 Timothy 2:4.

If I am going to be an example of what a disciple of Jesus Christ I must learn to develop a hardness. Jesus Himself was a mixture of both tenderness and hardness. And unless I develop the same mixture I will drift off into sentimentality or else become very rigid.

Jesus never became hard to His Father’s will, but always towards the people who tried to prevent Him from doing that will. He set His face like stone to go to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51). If I decide to follow Jesus I will be pulled in many directions, all supposedly for good to save me from myself. The disciple who does not deliberately develop a hardness will find himself too weak to resist the warnings from family and friends that he is too fanatical.

Jesus developed a hardness toward people even His closet friends, whenever they appeared to block His path in doing God’s will. Jesus made statements like “Get behind me Satan” (Matthew 16:23); “What is it to you?” (John 21:22). “Women, what do I have to do with you?” (John 9:24). If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me”. (John 13:8).

I must always be tender toward human need but incorrigibly hard against human short-sightedness. The person who is shortsighted will always want to take shortcuts around the will of the Father. I must walk both in love but with wisdom being on the lookout for those who would want me to become soft and self-indulgent. My strength comes from me setting my face like stone to accomplish the Father’s will. “Our sufficiency is of God,” Paul said (2 Corinthians 3:5). That is the sufficiency from God and the stubbornness of a person who will not be sidetracked from accomplishing the will of God. Paul stated when he encountered obstacles “I am ready not only to be jailed…but also die for the Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 21:13).

The Exceeding Life!
And God is able to make every grace abound to you, so that in everything at every time having every sufficiency, you may have an abundance for every good deed.
2 Corinthians 9:8.

I must remember that God has not called me to “succeed” on my own strength. He has called me to “exceed” on His strength. Success is something that I should not be concerned with. I must be diligent in giving glory to Him. The scripture above states very clearly that God will supply in making all things for every task as abundant as we submit to Him. Furthermore, He stated unless my righteousness shall “exceed” the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees” I will not enter the Kingdom of God. (Matthew 5:20).

The problem with the religious community is they want all the credit instead of glorifying Father God. This is the sin of pride. It is God who provides all that we need for the tasks the He calls us to do. We must remember that Jesus did not come to match earth’s best, but to produce heaven’s better. We as disciples must produce all things in that glorifies God.

Jesus Christ in in the business of producing the greatness of Father God. The two sins of Israel, basically, were forsaking God and not glorifying Him more. There were many Israelites who were not idolaters, but they were still had a religion of works rather than faith in God for salvation. The sin of the Laodicea church is that they became indifferent and apathetic. (Revelation 3:14-2). They were going through the motions of being religious but no longer interested in the message of the cross. This made them very attractive to the world-because they no longer needed God. They relied on their earthly knowledge, riches, and sophistication but Jesus called them pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.

Jesus has called us to exceed, overflowing with the Masters love for a dying world. I must stand up for the righteousness of God as the prophets did. I am a poor disciple if the world sees no difference between themselves and me. I must make the world either to despise me or desperately longing of the righteousness of God working within me. I can only do this through Him who is “made into us…righteousness”. (I Corinthians 1:30).

Godliness is Not Geographical!
God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and truth.” John 4:24.

I must remember that my relationship with Father God is not determined by a certain place. Godliness is not produced by topography. Man builds himself tremendous, large cathedrals thinking that this impresses Father God and proves their holiness. This is exactly what Jesus confronted with the religious leaders of His day.

Jesus vividly made this point to the woman at the well (John 4:4). She was emphatic about Mount Gerizim: the place where men ought to worship” (John 4:20). Jesus replied that it did not matter where she worshiped, it was how to worship that she needed to be correct about. The house of worship is in spirit, that is, and being properly tuned to God spiritually.
Jeremiah stated in his parable regarding the ripe and the spoiled figs. (Jeremiah 24). The good figs were the Jews, who had been taken to Babylonia, while the rotten figs were the Jews who remained in the holy land.

The parable ends forever the sin of place. Babylon was supposed to be the evil place, Judah, the good. But that was not true of the figs, for the rotten ones were in the good place; the good ones were in the rotten place.

How this speaks to my heart just now! Babylon with all its evils did not corrupt the captive Jews. Why? Because the right kind of geography was inside of them, not outside. Their hearts were right though their surroundings were evil. It was exactly the reverse with the Judean Jews, whose hearts were wrong though they were surroundings were right.

How often I have blamed my friends, my family, my job, or my environment for hindering my progress with God. False! The blame lies in my own negligent heart. The battle is one or lost within me. Babylon can become my purest heaven or Judea, my deep as hell, depending upon the state of my heart. The Lord God said in His Word that Jesus was a tender plant in a dry desert. (Isaiah 53:2). Father God, you want me to make sure to be the opposite of my surroundings, a touch of heavenly beauty in a barren land.

Playing with Fire!
Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
Ephesians 6:13.

Lord, I know that I cannot serve two masters. There are many examples of people who try to obey their own fleshly desires, inspired by Satan and at the same time trying to serve God.
I remember the bitter lesson King Asa learned trying to play both ends against the middle. He appeased the King of Syria, an archetype of Satan, by giving him expensive gifts from the Temple. Result? “He helped him not.” (2 Chronicles 28:21). Distressed Ahaz turned to Syria and sacrificed to its gods, “but they were the ruin of him” (v23). The king made the mistake thinking that he could satisfy Satan. The more he tried to appease Satan his situation grew worse.

How many believers are self-deceived thinking if they give into grip of sin over them will weaken. They really believe if they don’t make waves and give in a little Satan will leave them alone. There are many examples of people who try to obey their own fleshly, desires, and Satan who inspires them and at the same time trying to serve God. I like what Paul stated when he said we should give no opportunity to Satan. (Ephesians 4:27). Look at the ruined lives of those who gave him a chance-Eve, David, Judas, Ananias and Sapphira. The price is too steep.

My carnal nature loves to bargain. I shrink from pain and struggle; because we think it is easier to keep Satan quiet. Appeasement is the habit of a careless life, not the habit of a soldier. There is something inwardly begins to crumble if I do stand up to Satan. Appeasement is my confession of defeat and failure, my resignation from discipleship, my surrender to the one who nailed Jesus to the cross. Paul stated, “not for one moment do we yield”. (Galatian 2:5). Each time I refuse Satan and his lies I will be strengthened; each resistance will make be a better solider of Jesus Christ.

Surviving or Overcoming?
For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 1 John 5:4

I am determined not merely to survive as a Christian, but to overcome. Too often my life has been a “hanging in there” kind of thing, God has called me to be an overcomer. Do I get into one problem after another and then say, “Thank God I got out of that one alive”. Is that all there is, getting out of things alive?

The secret to overcoming is to have adequate resources, and the secret of adequate resources is tapping the infinite supply of God’s provision. When I read over the acts of mercy of Father God I remember the poor widow’s plight. (2 Kings 4). She had a little oil, nothing more. Creditors were pressing her to sell her sons as slaves. Elisha advised her to procure all the empty jars she could get and begin to pour the little bit of oil into these jars. Then it happened! By God’s wonderous power the oil kept flowing until every jar was full. She was obedient to the word of the prophet and her need was met.

Where did the oil come from? Where else but the same place as the loaves, the fish, the wine, the manna, and the thousand other things God sent His poverty-stricken people. God simply was supplying out of His storehouse. The people could not see this but God moved on their behalf. We see God’s abundance through our eyes of FAITH. Faith calleth those things that are not as though they were. (Romans 4:17). I am an overcomer because I believe what God has said in His word. Sometimes to my natural mind it does not make sense but FAITH SEES THE ANSWER even before it is manifested in the physical realm.

I overcome because Jesus is the great overcomer. His redemptive sacrifice on the cross of Calvary paid for it all. As we BELIEVE, we SPEAK. And as we believe and speak, we LIVE a life of faith. He stated that He has provided everything for us according to our faith. (Philippians 4:19). Our measure and our supply are according to our faith. If you are lacking in any area don’t blame God blame your lack of faith.