Living Letters of Christ

You are manifestly an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.  (2Co_ 3:3)

Another significant characteristic resulting from living by grace is that we become living letters of Christ. "You are manifestly an epistle of Christ." The Lord wants to turn our lives into a "walking and talking letter of Him." He wants to make us a living explanation of who Christ is and all that He offers. What a great opportunity this presents. As we go about our daily responsibilities, others are often "reading our lives." While they are observing us, they can actually be learning of the truth and love of our Lord Jesus, as He is working in and through our lives. Although this may sound like too much to hope for, the Lord declares in His word that this process can become very clear to those who are watching us: "You are manifestly [that is, "to be plainly recognized as"] an epistle of Christ."

Remember, this is what is available for "ministers [i.e., servants] of the new covenant" (2Co_3:6). This is what happens in those who live by the grace of God. This is something that God does in us, not something we manufacture for Him. Certainly, people are involved in the process. We become fully engaged by humbly and dependently seeking after the Lord who wants to work in us. Others also get involved by ministering to us. "You are manifestly an epistle of Christ, ministered by us." Paul had ministered God's truth to these saints at Corinth. Yet, these living letters of Christ were not being written by ink, as ordinary letters would be.

"You are manifestly an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God." God's Holy Spirit was at work writing the letters that their lives were becoming.
Notice where the Lord was inscribing these living letters: "not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart." The old covenant message of law was written on stones. The new covenant message of grace is written on the hearts of all who will walk in humble dependence upon God. This heavenly work changes us from the inside out, making us living letters of Christ!

Prayer
Dear God of all grace, I humbly admit that I need to be more and more changed into a living letter of Christ. So often, those who read me see only me. I ask You in faith to inscribe the character of Christ upon my heart, that others may see Him in my daily walk, Amen.

The One Necessary Thing

That I may know Him . . . Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do . . . one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.  (Phi_3:10, Phi_3:13, and Luk_10:42)

Paul's goal in life was to grow in intimacy with the Lord  "That I may know Him." He wanted to know the Lord so well that his life would be transformed into "resurrected living" in this spiritually lifeless world. He humbly admitted that he had not yet reached such spiritual maturity. "Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended." Thus, in light of his own need to grow, coupled with the excellence of the goal, he had a single focus in his life: "one thing I do." This one thing was his ongoing quest to know the Lord more and more.

This focused quest is similar to the heart that Mary demonstrated, as recorded in the gospel of Luke. When Jesus visited the home of Mary and Martha, Mary "sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word" (Luk_10:39). Martha was functioning as a busy hostess, desiring to bless her Lord. However, her busy labors distracted her from the one she was attempting to serve. "But Martha was distracted with much serving" (Luk_10:40). The solution was obvious to Martha. She would insist that Jesus send her sister to help. "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me" (Luk_10:40).

How startled Martha must have been when Jesus indicated she was the problem, not Mary. "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things" (Luk_10:41). The many concerns of Martha's ministry were causing anxiety and inner turmoil. Her desire to serve the Lord had deteriorated to self-pity and irritation. Then, Jesus offered an astounding revelation that put everything into perfect spiritual perspective. "But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her" (Luk_10:42).

What an amazing truth: "one thing is needed." That one necessary matter is Jesus. Mary chose Jesus. She was at the feet of her master, getting to know Him, listening to His words of truth and grace. This was Paul's heart: "one thing I do . . . that I may know Him."

Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, shape in me a heart like Paul, like Mary. Stir in me a passion to know You better. May this become the consuming goal in my life. Forgive me for allowing busy service to eclipse You, the one I desire to please. Help me to spend frequent quiet times at Your feet. Then, when I rise up to serve You, may my heart always remain at Your feet, abiding in You,

It Takes More Than Feelings

It Takes More Than Feelings

(2Co 10:4) For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds

Many times, in our churches, we get caught up in the wrong things. And usually, once it starts, it becomes the religious norm these days. People seem to be getting so caught up in emotions that their faith begins to be built upon what and how they feel physically more than what they know definitely! There are some churches that, when there is no organist, drummer, or musician present, service cannot begin. Or if the preacher does not yell, hype the crowd, or become heart attack prone, he was not anointed. If the choir doesn't turn cartwheels down the aisle while marching in, or if super-saved people aren't squakin' all through the service making it sound like a rain forest, then church was not filled with the spirit. Well, we have to learn that God is Spirit and our emotions don't dictate his presence.

I would much rather go to church and allow the presence of God to move in a way that people have something to take home and live on rather than just getting an emotional fix during service with no substance or real word from above. We can dance and party all we want in the service, but if it's not God, then we will leave the same, only tired and worn out. Now, I do believe the Spirit of God moves upon us and we may shout, dance, sing, run, etc. to express our joy, but I also believe that when the Spirit of God comes, he brings more than a feeling. He also should bring healing, deliverance, blessings, direction, peace, love, etc. He can't show up in your service and only cause everyone to go crazy. There is always change after the presence of God is here. There should be attributes of his presence, not just emotional stuff, but deep, spiritual things should take place. The preacher yelling and mixing in your favorite R&B tunes in his message won't do it. The organist playing fast music on the organ won't do it. The soloist doing rolls and riffs that give you chills up your spine won't do it. It may make you feel good, but God is bigger than that. When his true presence fills the place, you will be changed.

Suggested Reading: 2 Cor. 10:1, 1 Tim. 3:15

Daily Warfare Prayer

Daily Warfare Prayer

Begin with Praise and Thanksgiving, then continue,

Heavenly Father, I come to You in the Name of Jesus, and I ask You to forgive me of anything I have done that could displease You in any way. I ask You to cover me with the Blood of Jesus and fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Cause my thoughts to be Your thoughts, my desires Your desires, my will Your will, and put a guard across my mouth that I can say no more or no less than You would have me say. Keep me on the path that You have laid out for me today, and show me Satan's tactics in advance.

I acknowledge the whole armor of God. I pray that every thought that Satan or any of his kingdom tries to put in my mind will bounce off the helmet of salvation and return to the sender. Heal every memory that could hold me back from being all that You want me to be. I recognize that I have on the breastplate of righteousness, my loins are girded with the truth and my feet are shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. I take up the sword of the spirit and the shield of faith.

Now, for myself and all the people I am going to refer to, I ask You to draw us to Yourself, convict us mightily of our sins, keep us from temptation, deliver us from evil and cover us with the Blood of Jesus. Dispatch angels (and I now dispatch them) to keep us from any kind of accidents, harm, injuries, illness, death, destruction, disease, pain or infection.

Bind our marriages together and make us one in You. Bind our families together and make us one in You. If there is anyone in our lives that You do not approve of, I ask You to move them out and move in the people that You do approve of. Bless every bite of food we eat, the air we breathe and any medication we take; let it help us and not hurt us. Bless our finances and give us as much as we can handle without sinning against You.

Now, Satan, I come against you and your entire kingdom and I declare, in the Name of Jesus, that you cannot and will not have any part in my life or the lives of the people I refer to, in any way shape or form. You can have nothing to do with our minds, bodies, souls, spirits, emotions and wills; our marriages, finances,
friendships, acquaintances and fellowships; our homes, schools, workplaces and places of recreation; our transportation, or any vehicle that could come close to us; or any decision that is made concerning anyone of us. (Now call out the name of every person that you pray for daily.)

For every person I have referred to, I now break every curse, spell and hex that may have been put out against anyone of us. I break the power of any curse from a witch, warlock or satanist; every Santeria curse, roots curse, Indian curse, voodoo curse, and curse of words spoken, or anything written or any objects. I reverse the curse and send it back to the demon that brought it in the first place, AND I COMMAND THAT DEMON TO GO BOUND INTO THE PIT IN THE NAME OF JESUS. I break every ungodly emotional soul tie that is connected to any of us, in the Name of Jesus.

In the Name of Jesus and through His living blood, I bind and sever every cord of any prince or principality, any strong man and every spirit of darkness over my house at (your address). I put a Jesus Christ bloodline in between each one of you and I cut off your communications, confuse your camp, render you inactive, and cast you out, in
Jesus' Name.

I bind and cast out every spirit of poverty, lack, confusion, cloudiness, mind binding, selfishness, anxiety, and procrastination. I bind and cast out every spirit of fear, heaviness, jealousy, bondage, boredom, lying, perversion, slumber and infirmity. I plead the blood of Jesus around the property line, above the roof, and below the foundation of my home, and I bind you, Satan, and your entire kingdom from crossing the bloodline. I command you for myself and the people I have just referred to, that you can have nothing to do with us or any aspect of our lives in any way, shape or form! I now call on God's warring angels to make it happen.

In the Name of Jesus, I loose myself and each family member to the power of the Holy Spirit and I speak forth blessings of prosperity, clarity, wisdom, understanding, knowledge, discernment, abundance, and good health. I also speak creativity and a sound mind. I take control of my mind and reject every evil thought and receive every good thought, in the Name of Jesus. I loose myself and my children to the ministry of the Holy Spirit and speak love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance into our lives.

Satan, I take authority and command you and all your evil spirits to loose our family household and all the things you have stolen from us, including our property, income and investments, and return it seven-fold, in Jesus' Name.

I ask you, Father, that You send Your warring angels and cause to come into our family all the monies, treasures, properties, assets and things Satan has stolen from us that have been ours through the blessings of Jesus Christ.

In the Name of Jesus, I take authority and bind every principality and strong man over (name business, job and any endeavors) at (name locations). I come against and cast out every spirit of fear, mismanagement, poverty, confusion, lack, failure and bankruptcy. In the Name of Jesus and through the power of the Holy Spirit, I loose sound management, prosperity, clarity, wisdom, knowledge, blessings, profit, honesty, success, and favor from any business associates. Father, I ask You, in the Name of Jesus, that You send warring angels to go before me to accomplish these blessings and create favor in my business.

In the Name of Jesus Christ and through His living blood, I bind you Satan, and your entire kingdom so that you cannot and will not be active in (your community), in any person or animal. I come against your strongholds over every place dealing in drugs, pornography, prostitution, bars and nude bars, places selling witchcraft paraphernalia, palm readers and any place worshiping a false god. Through the power of the Holy Spirit vested in me, I tear down and curse these businesses at the roots and command them to dry up and go away. Lord, don't let me be just a warrior
in Your Kingdom, but let me be a mighty warrior and front line soldier, so that when I
see You face to face You will say, "Well done, good and faithful servant; come on in." Amen.

ARE YOU BEING TEMPTED?

ARE YOU BEING TEMPTED?

'...We will receive...grace to help us when we need it.' Hebrews 4:16

No matter how spiritually mature you become you will never outgrow temptation. When you conquer it on one front it attacks you on another. And the closer you get to God the more satan will try to tempt you. Paul explains it this way: 'The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants...These two forces are constantly fighting each other...' (Galations 5:17 NLT).

So what's the answer? Here are two ways you can overcome temptation: First, be honest about it. Ask yourself, 'When am I tempted most?' Usually we are most vulnerable when we are under stress: when we are hurt, angry, worried, alone, bored, tired or after a big success or spiritual high. Learn to identify your patterns: 'God's people...protect themselves by watching where they go' (Proverbs 16:17 CEV). Second reach for God's help. 'Call on me in times of trouble. I will rescue you...' (Psalm 50:15 GWT).

So why don't we call on God more often? Because sometimes we just want to do what we want to do, right? Or we are embarrassed because we keep giving in to the same temptations. Don't be discouraged; God won't give up on you. His Word says, 'Let us...come before God's throne where...we [will] receive...grace to help us when we need it' (Hebrews 4:16 NCV). If you have to cry out for God's help every hour of the day, He will be there for you! Just as the roots of a tree deepen when storms come, each time you stand up to a temptation you become stronger.