The New Jerusalem

The New Jerusalem
by Harold Smith

"But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace." James 3:17

ABOVE - Greek: anothen (a-no-then) 1) from a higher place (infering spiritual dimension rather than direction) of things which come from God

Pure, Pureness, Purity: Greek: hagnos "pure from defilement, not contaminated" (from the same root as hagios, "holy"), signifies "unalloyed, pure;" used of unmixed substances.

Purity means different things to different people. For me, it is that excellence of spirit that Y'shua demonstrated in His walk among us here on earth - virtue. Many say that, because He is God, that walk is not something we humans can attain. I differ. The scripture tells us that He was born human, lived human and died human. It is because He lived in the flesh (John 1:14) among us, that a standard was set to inspire us to reach much higher than we thought we ever could. We are told to walk as He walked, to live as He lived.

So, if we have the same ability to reach to the same standard as Y'shua (Romans 8:29, John 14:12) - why don't we? It is because, thinking the most excellent to not be attainable, we settle for less than the highest. And what we settle for is usually the sensuous, the flamboyant, the mystical, or the mysterious ensconced in the edicts of men, thinking them to be of God, when scripture clearly indicates they are not (Matthew 15:1-20).

Today, there is a mixture of the pure with the impure within the Body of Christ. The only way we can know the difference is to not settle for anything less in our lives than the excellence of spirit He has offered to us from His Life - to know Him in His Purity. To be pure we must first become pure even as HE IS PURE - as He exhibited that Purity.

"Again David gathered all the choice men of Israel, thirty thousand. And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, whose name is called by the Name, the LORD of Hosts, who dwells between the cherubim. So they set the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart. And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill, accompanying the ark of God; and Ahio went before the ark. Then David and all the house of Israel played music before the LORD on all kinds of instruments of fir wood, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on sistrums, and on cymbals. And when they came to Nachon’s threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. Then the anger of the LORD was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error; and he died there by the ark of God." 2Samuel 6:1-7

Uzzah was not an evil person. He loved God. Uzzah was a man whose heart and soul was turned toward God. He wanted to see the ark back in its rightful place among God's People and was willing to take on a most difficult task to see that accomplished. Think about this - of the thirty thousand CHOICE men of Israel David gathered together, Uzzah and Ahio were the TWO from that assemblage chosen for the honor of caring for the Presence of God. They had to be considered men of esteem.

Was he well intentioned? Yes. Was he wanting to be helpful? Yes. Was he giving his all to what he thought was the right thing to do? Absolutely. Knowing the position he was in, he probably prayed all night in anticipation of his role in the next day's affairs, eagerly anticipating the dawn and all the promise it held. Yet, what happened? He placed his hands where they were not directed by the Lord to be.

This event was not about a man - it was about God. Whenever the impure comes in contact with the Pure, particularly in these last days, it is considered an obstacle to be removed. Increasingly, as that purity of Y'shua's Life becomes embraced and manifested by His Body, we will see that shaking become more intense until it breaks like the undetectable waves of a tsunami upon the shores of mankind. As in the days when the Father spoke over the Son, many only heard it as thunder and wondered if it was about to rain. So, today, will we see men of seeming stature taken suddenly, with no apparent reason - except to sober those of us who are left to fear the Lord for He alone is able to see into the innermost, hidden reaches of a man's spirit. Acts 5:11.

"…whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, 'Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.' Now this, 'Yet once more.' indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear." Heb 12:26-28

The "shaking" that is coming and now is that has been referenced from many quarters recently is the shaking out of the impure from the Church, His Body. He is coming for a bride that is pure - without spot, without blemish, without wrinkle, without shadow of darkness (Ephesians 5:27). Make no mistake - He will have such a bride. What He winked at in times past will be no more. This is an extraction that is often painful, not one that would elicit singing. To that remnant who have and are embracing His judgment in their lives to become pure and are ready to press in for more, there is a joy within for the reward that is set before them - but, when Y'shua went to the cross, He was not singing (Luke 9:23). Judgment begins at the household of God (1Peter 4:17; 1Corinthians 11:31, Matthew 21:44).

Most of us think of judgment as something to be avoided when, in reality, to judge - Greek diakrino (de-a-kre-no) - means, simply, "to decide". Psalm 19:9-11 says that the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether - they are to be desired more than gold for in the keeping of them there is great reward. That judgment includes our thoughts about how the things of God are to be accomplished in the circumstances we find ourselves in. If we are to be of that Bride He is coming for, then our decision is whether to embrace the purity of His judgment - or to be removed as an obstacle to that purity.

"Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God." 2Corinthians 7:1

This is the Way He showed us and commanded us to walk in even as He walked (1John 2:6). This is the Kingdom we carry within and are to manifest into this earthly realm (Matthew 6:10). This is the New Jerusalem. We are the Bride - that Holy City is you, if you will embrace all that He is in the purity of Who He is.

"I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming out of heaven from God,
prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband." (Revelation 21:2).

"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: They shall prosper that love you." (Psalm 122:6)
(prosper - from the Hebrew, "shalav", meaning "to be at rest")

God will hold us all accountable for our sins (Eze.18:30); We should hold each other accountable (Luke.17:3,4);We are Accountable in what we believe(John. 3:17,18,19,God will examine our actions (2Cor.5:10); Armor for physical battles (1Sam. 17:38); Weapons cannot stop God's power ( Eze. 38:4); Spiritual armor prepares us for life (Ro.13:12);Righteousness is a spiritual weapon (2Cor.6:7);God's weapons conquerors Satan's strongholds (2Cor.10:4); Put on the Armor (Eph.6:11-18) Jesus Is the Highest Authority (Matt.28:18) ;Choose a postive attitude (Hab.3:17-19) Bad attitudes hurts our relationship with God (Gen.4:6,7); Bad attitudes leads to poor decisions (Num.14:1-4) ;God gives christian a new attitude (Hab.3:17-19) More Than Conquerors (Ro.8:37)Christians should always rejoice (Phil.4:4) i_amgodschild@yahoo.com.

Morning & Evening Devotional

Morning Verse

"The lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord." Proverbs 16:33

If the disposal of the lot is the Lord's whose is the arrangement of our whole life? If the a simple casting of a lot is guided by Him, how much more the events of our entire life--especially when we are told by our blessed Saviour: "The very hairs of your head are all numbered: not a sparrow falleth to the ground without your Father." It would bring a holy calm over your mind, dear friend, if you were always to remember this. It would so relieve your mind from anxiety, that you would be the better able to walk in patience, quiet, and cheerfulness as a Christian should. When a man is anxious he cannot pray with faith; when he is troubled about the world, he cannot serve his Master, his thoughts are serving himself. If you would "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness," all things would then be added unto you. You are meddling with Christ's business, and neglecting your own when you fret about your lot and circumstances. You have been trying "providing" work and forgetting that it is yours to obey. Be wise and attend to the obeying, and let Christ manage the providing. Come and survey your Father's storehouse, and ask whether He will let you starve while He has laid up so great an abundance in His garner? Look at His heart of mercy; see if that can ever prove unkind! Look at His inscrutable wisdom; see if that will ever be at fault. Above all, look up to Jesus Christ your Intercessor, and ask yourself, while He pleads, can your Father deal ungraciously with you? If He remembers even sparrows, will He forget one of the least of His poor children? "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He will sustain thee. He will never suffer the righteous to be moved."

My soul, rest happy in thy low estate,
Nor hope nor wish to be esteem'd or great;
To take the impress of the Will Divine,
Be that thy glory, and those riches thine.

Evening Verse

"And there was no more sea." Revelation 21:1

Scarcely could we rejoice at the thought of losing the glorious old ocean: the new heavens and the new earth are none the fairer to our imagination, if, indeed, literally there is to be no great and wide sea, with its gleaming waves and shelly shores. Is not the text to be read as a metaphor, tinged with the prejudice with which the Oriental mind universally regarded the sea in the olden times? A real physical world without a sea it is mournful to imagine, it would be an iron ring without the sapphire which made it precious. There must be a spiritual meaning here. In the new dispensation there will be no division--the sea separates nations and sunders peoples from each other. To John in Patmos the deep waters were like prison walls, shutting him out from his brethren and his work: there shall be no such barriers in the world to come. Leagues of rolling billows lie between us and many a kinsman whom to-night we prayerfully remember, but in the bright world to which we go there shall be unbroken fellowship for all the redeemed family. In this sense there shall be no more sea. The sea is the emblem of change; with its ebbs and flows, its glassy smoothness and its mountainous billows, its gentle murmurs and its tumultuous roarings, it is never long the same. Slave of the fickle winds and the changeful moon, its instability is proverbial. In this mortal state we have too much of this; earth is constant only in her inconstancy, but in the heavenly state all mournful change shall be unknown, and with it all fear of storm to wreck our hopes and drown our joys. The sea of glass glows with a glory unbroken by a wave. No tempest howls along the peaceful shores of paradise. Soon shall we reach that happy land where partings, and changes, and storms shall be ended! Jesus will waft us there. Are we in Him or not? This is the grand question. God will hold us all accountable for our sins (Eze.18:30); We should hold each other accountable (Luke.17:3,4);We are Accountable in what we believe(John. 3:17,18,19,God will examine our actions (2Cor.5:10); Armor for physical battles (1Sam. 17:38); Weapons cannot stop God's power ( Eze. 38:4); Spiritual armor prepares us for life (Ro.13:12);Righteousness is a spiritual weapon (2Cor.6:7);God's weapons conquerors Satan's strongholds (2Cor.10:4); Put on the Armor (Eph.6:11-18) Jesus Is the Highest Authority (Matt.28:18) ;Choose a postive attitude (Hab.3:17-19) Bad attitudes hurts our relationship with God (Gen.4:6,7); Bad attitudes leads to poor decisions (Num.14:1-4) ;God gives christian a new attitude (Hab.3:17-19) More Than Conquerors (Ro.8:37)Christians should always rejoice (Phil.4:4) i_amgodschild@yahoo.com.

Following Jesus as a Disciple

Following Jesus as a Disciple

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations . . . Follow Me . . . If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. (Mat_28:19; Joh_1:43; and Luk_9:23)

Living daily by God's grace depends upon getting to know Him and then walking in the humility and grace that are consequences of growing in fellowship with Him. We have reflected upon four ways to relate rightly to the Lord in humility and faith: living by the Spirit, living by resurrection power, living by the sufficiency of God, and living by the promises of God. Another example is following Jesus as a disciple.

When our Lord was about to leave His disciples, He gave them the marching orders that were to guide the lives of His people until He would return. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations." Jesus had been calling out people to follow Him as disciples. Now, they were to continue doing the same. A disciple is a follower of a master, who guides and shapes the lives of his followers. Jesus is the ultimate Master, who gives us a new life in him — life eternal. Jesus' invitation to discipleship was "Follow Me." Along with this invitation, Jesus often explained the terms of discipleship: "If anyone desires to come after Me." This would inform the willing and interested about how to respond. These terms dramatically depict the necessity of relating to the Lord in humility and faith.

The first aspect of being a disciple of Jesus is renouncing the self-life. "Let him deny himself." This amounts to a refusal to attempt to develop a life that can be produced by natural human resources (which everyone inherits from Adam through physical birth). This is a repudiation of self-righteousness, self-sufficiency, self-help, self-exaltation, and the like. Our willingness to embrace this term of discipleship will be seen by a humble agreement with similar biblical pronouncements. "Make no provision for the flesh" (Rom_13:14). Those denying self are not wanting the flesh to have opportunities to indulge itself. "The flesh profits nothing" (Joh_6:63). Those who renounce self confess its total spiritual bankruptcy. We "have no confidence in the flesh" (Phi_3:3). Those who repudiate the self-life do not want to place any hope in the spiritual resources of the flesh. "That no flesh should glory in His presence" (1Co_1:29). Those denying the self-life agree that nothing of the flesh can ever boast in itself before the Lord God almighty.

Dear Lord Jesus, I want to relate rightly to You by following You as a disciple. I do not want my flesh to have any opportunity to indulge itself. I confess total spiritual bankruptcy in my flesh. I want to place no hope in my flesh. I agree that my flesh can never boast before You. I humbly renounce the self-life! Amen! Amen! i_amgodschild.

God will hold us all accountable for our sins (Eze.18:30); We should hold each other accountable (Luke.17:3,4);We are Accountable in what we believe(John. 3:17,18,19,God will examine our actions (2Cor.5:10); Armor for physical battles (1Sam. 17:38); Weapons cannot stop God's power ( Eze. 38:4); Spiritual armor prepares us for life (Ro.13:12);Righteousness is a spiritual weapon (2Cor.6:7);God's weapons conquerors Satan's strongholds (2Cor.10:4); Put on the Armor (Eph.6:11-18) Jesus Is the Highest Authority (Matt.28:18) ;Choose a postive attitude (Hab.3:17-19) Bad attitudes hurts our relationship with God (Gen.4:6,7); Bad attitudes leads to poor decisions (Num.14:1-4) ;God gives christian a new attitude (Hab.3:17-19) More Than Conquerors (Ro.8:37)Christians should always rejoice (Phil.4:4) i_amgodschild@yahoo.com.

Prayer 4 Jane

Our Heavenly Father, I come to you with a broken heart as I had read this e-mail on a missing loved one(pet) whom is missing from it's home we know that For nothing is secret, that shall not be manifest; neither anything hid, shall not be known and come abroad Luke 8:17,Fear them Not therefore; that shall Not be revealed; and hid that shall Not be known. Matthew 10:26. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit; for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea the deep things of God 2 Cor.2:10. Father it's because of you that watches every person & animal's life that you have made upon this earth and let thy power of your holy Spirit to bring out darkness unto the Light of our sister's beloved (pet) family member back home in leading it and guiding it the only way we know how to do in leaving the loved one home. Thy love is so great that not even a sparrow falls without your knowledge. We feel that it is with understanding that you look down on a scene like this today,when that which was so much loved (pet) is gone. As this pet was unto her jane the caretaker, ever loyal, ever faithful, may we, as we leave this place of solitude (of her loved one) resolve that to our Master Jesus Christ, we too find strength to be more loyal and faithful. Give us strength, for we ask it before you right now.I ask in the name of Jesus.

Father, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, I rebuke, bind and cast down the "Thief" and render him ineffective. .. and I say you can not have that which belongs to Jane, for she is a Blood bought child of the King of Kings ....and I further say loose that dog and let him go!

And in Jesus' name, I call this dog home to his owner. Let Your Glory and honor and power come unto them right now precious Lord Jesus as we thank You for bring this beloved (pet) back home. Amen! Amen! i_amgodschild.

God will hold us all accountable for our sins (Eze.18:30); We should hold each other accountable (Luke.17:3,4);We are Accountable in what we believe(John. 3:17,18,19,God will examine our actions (2Cor.5:10); Armor for physical battles (1Sam. 17:38); Weapons cannot stop God's power ( Eze. 38:4); Spiritual armor prepares us for life (Ro.13:12);Righteousness is a spiritual weapon (2Cor.6:7);God's weapons conquerors Satan's strongholds (2Cor.10:4); Put on the Armor (Eph.6:11-18) Jesus Is the Highest Authority (Matt.28:18) ;Choose a postive attitude (Hab.3:17-19) Bad attitudes hurts our relationship with God (Gen.4:6,7); Bad attitudes leads to poor decisions (Num.14:1-4) ;God gives christian a new attitude (Hab.3:17-19) More Than Conquerors (Ro.8:37)Christians should always rejoice (Phil.4:4) i_amgodschild@yahoo.com.

Update 4 Everyone

Hello Everybody whom has been keeping 'Charlie" uplifted in everyone's prayer. I wnated to share with everyone what the results was in sending out prayers for His Cancer that He has within his lungs and on the outter parts of it as well. He has been taking "Chemo" for treating for it to stop cancer cells from growing inside of Charlie which has been full does of it Chemotherapy works by destroying cancer cells; unfortunately, it cannot tell the difference between a cancer cell and some healthy cells. So chemotherapy eliminates not only the fast-growing cancer cells but also other fast-growing cells in your body, including, hair and blood cells.

Some cancer cells grow slowly while others grow rapidly. As a result, different types of chemotherapy drugs target the growth patterns of specific types of cancer cells. Each drug has a different way of working and is effective at a specific time in the life cycle of the cell it targets. Your doctor will determine the chemotherapy drug which,The goal is to make your chemotherapy as effective, timely, and problem-free as possible. But while your chemotherapy treatment works to fight your cancer, it also can cause side effects such as a lowered white blood cell count. A low white blood cell count means your immune system isn't as strong as it could be, which can increase your risk of infection. It also can require your doctor to change your dose or schedule of your chemotherapy. The thing results are as I was told by His siter and Himself as they had shared with me the minute they came home tonight. Apparently he had 3 cancer cells inside of him in which we had been told he had only one at first. Now with all of the scams and x-rays that the doctor had done the first time the second rounds has shown unto them that the three was on the x-rays after the second round but as they had done the last set they had found that two are them are completely gone now. But the biggest one is shrinking inside of him as of today at the doctors office. He has water retention that needs to go away and his iron level needs to be raised to be normal readings inside of charlie. So he has one last round of chemo to go through then comes the radition treatment to come next at least in what some more scans on his lungs and his heart scan too. We truly 'Thank Jesus for healing Him with his Holy Spirit power in providing him and the entire family as our internet family in praying for Charlie. He's truly Thanking Jesus in what He's doing in his life. Praise you Jesus because Jesus Christ is keeping him alive for all the work Jesus has for him in his continued work in God's Kingdom until He comes for everyone in taking us to our heavenly home. Please continue praying for Him and never cease it so Jesus Christ will be praised for what He's done in charlie's life and to have a witness unto others whom the Lord bring unto him to be a witness unto the Lord. God will hold us all accountable for our sins (Eze.18:30); We should hold each other accountable (Luke.17:3,4);We are Accountable in what we believe(John. 3:17,18,19,God will examine our actions (2Cor.5:10); Armor for physical battles (1Sam. 17:38); Weapons cannot stop God's power ( Eze. 38:4); Spiritual armor prepares us for life (Ro.13:12);Righteousness is a spiritual weapon (2Cor.6:7);God's weapons conquerors Satan's strongholds (2Cor.10:4); Put on the Armor (Eph.6:11-18) Jesus Is the Highest Authority (Matt.28:18) ;Choose a postive attitude (Hab.3:17-19) Bad attitudes hurts our relationship with God (Gen.4:6,7); Bad attitudes leads to poor decisions (Num.14:1-4) ;God gives christian a new attitude (Hab.3:17-19) More Than Conquerors (Ro.8:37)Christians should always rejoice (Phil.4:4) i_amgodschild@yahoo.com.

Prayer Goes Up !

Dear Prcious Heavenly Father; In the name of Jesus I want to thank you and praise you for being our miracle working God in our lives today. We want to praise you for being our God in each of our hearts and what you do before us each and every day for you are A Might God and being the Alpha and Omega in which your title hold the beginning and the end for it is your wordwhich brings down your Holy Spirit amongst us all in being in reverance of You Father, Thank You for your Word which keeps us from going amonk in our life. I want to thank you for giving me many prayer partners and all intercessor Father in taking up their sword of faith along side of us in our daily life as we stand in prayer for one another in all we say unto you as you've lead us daily. Thank you for keeping us accountable along side by side and with the intercessors too. As we come togatherin our prayers in an agreement before you Father it's our faith that binds us up togather in one accord that we feelowship with you as your most precious Word in Matthew 16:18-20 as you have said unto us by this word: And I say unto thee. That "thou art peter and unto this rock I will build my church: and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shlt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt be loose in earth shall be loosed in heaven. Then charge he his disciples that they shall tell No man that he was Jesus Christ. with you Father hearing us and giving answering before us before we could ever finish speaking Isaiah 65:24 these words unto us And it shall come to pass, that before they call. I will answer;and while before they are speaking, I will hear. Precious Jesus You hath said in 2 Chronicles 7:14-16 If my people which are called by my namem shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from there wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.Now ' mine eyes shall be open, and my ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place. For now have I choosen this house, that my name be there forever; and mine eye and my h eart shall be there perpetually. Thank You Lord Jesus for us knowing it never ceases unto Your children whom are truly deeply devoted unto you. Oh, Father as we humble oneself before You as we pray unto You, we seek you face and repent of everything that is within us unto You as we know how to do from what already has been fortold in these last days in what those super powers of men in darkness of this world is doing unto Isreal that is within it's places and throughout the land today therefore are the apple of your eyes. How we grieve and cry out unto you today in all hopes that would not have done this not only unto you but we whom love it too. How it has literally broken our heart into, protect them mightly within it's walls and with the peple of the whole nation. Give them holy spirit to touch every single family Father and widows, orphans, children, adults, young teens, you adults with in it's borders as you hover over them. with your might protection, provision in leading them along with those whom are fighting for their country against all attacks that's before them all. How it breaks our hearts so much in what the bilderburgs and all nations has done to them it truly made our hearts cry out unto you as we weep before your altar father we know you are with us and unto the people of Isreal. We shutter to think what is coming for us in America, for we had not that hard of total destruction before us as you've kept us under your wings so closely all of these years. We know and understand that it's coming unto us by those high people in this nation that has turned it back on you and as your people are asking for their forgivness and plead all of those lives before you to have mercy on us by the hand of grace. Father You truly know and understand that we are under all of th ose hands whom are in what the upper hand of this nations society that is under secery but has been told whom they are which has been brought unto the open unto us as your people for in your words has been said unto us about it,You said For nothing is secret, that shall not be manifest; neither anything hid, shall not be known and come abroad Luke 8:17,Fear them Not therefore; that shall Not be revealed; and hid that shall Not be known. Matthew 10:26. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit; for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea the deep things of God 2 Cor.2:10. For their destiny was made known unto your praying people of the children of God by Your Holy Spirit and we thank you Jesus and we praise your name as our most High God. For we call them a thief, killers, liars of the Anti-christ whom are doing their best to destry all of your children, Saints and thier families whom are protected and guarded by You and Your Holy Spirit by the Covenant baptised by You Holy Spirit in whom guides us daily in that divine intervention that moves more into You precious Jesus and we Bless Your Holy name whom is our most High God. Father we pray for every single prayer requests that has asked for your manifestation of your healing them in all that they have asked for in each famoly that's represented on all of the prayer boards that has been mentioned or have asked by unspoken as well. We are obedient unto all of your spoken word in our lives, and if have back slidden we ask for your holy spirit to touch those lives in being restored by what we have done before you.Heal and touch those whom are sickness in body, mind, emotional, physcial torments , blind, hearing, speech, diabebetes, hearing impared, broken bones, speech, kidneys, back trouble, arthristis, blood troubles, burns, dieases, cancer, asthna, all allergies, Ezema, eyes, facial, hands, heart disease, hemmorrhoids, lungs, mental conditions, nervous kindtions, pain, palsy, strokes, muscular dystrophy, sclerosis, spirit of sleepness, stuttering, teeth, tic doulourus, tiredness, tumors, ulcers, warts, water retention, wounds, and giving shelter to all people of the homless people and children, runaways and eldery and adluts in keeping warm on these very cold days and have had someone pick them up if they are disabled in many, many homes in knowing that as we ask to send in your might warring angels as they have your provisions by your holy Spirit in for a complete healing unto all of those asking for your healing Lord Jesus. for we take everything that has been stolen from all of Your children as it is spoken in Matt.11:12 And in the days of John The Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violence takes it by force and all such things shall come unto them by seven - fold shall be given his or her substance of those homes Prov.6:30,31. in our agreement we do stand all of the gaps and wages war in the heavenlies realm by binding and taking authority over the anti-christ spirit with every principalities, and praince of thise world and casting down every spiritual wickedness in all high places coming aginst everyone and everything in all territories according to 2 Corn. 10:4,5 And did all drink the same spiritual drink; for they drank of that spiritual rock that followed them:and that rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not we;; pleased for they were over thrown into the wilderness. We cancle every word that has spoken negative spoken about all territories, and all leaders of those lands by them or others. We ask for your forgivness as we pull down all of those strongholds and render them all inactive and powerless to operate in all of these territoriesand in our agreement that has now been places against everyone in the mighty name of Jesus. By the power of Jesus Christ blood we loose and bind and destroying power, burden - removing yoke of the Holy Ghost over all of the territories, people whom asked for prayers in the Name of Jesus. Thy Kingdom come They will be done as it is on earth as it is in heaven is established all the land of Isreal, and the United States and leaders whom govern all of the cooperte people whom are obedient unto the Lord Jesus Christ and all of the children of God and families, and men and women in this war today in agrrement with us right now today. And ministers, missionaries, and all people whom is in some types pf prision in all nations, and all has a canceled and crushed into tiny pieces on order and we call it all done by you Father God and we truly want a full manifestion in LL OF OUR PETIONS that has come before you A as we lay it all at your feet in the throne of grance and mercy in Jesus'name we pray (All God's Children say)... Amen. i_amgodschild.

God will hold us all accountable for our sins (Eze.18:30); We should hold each other accountable (Luke.17:3,4);We are Accountable in what we believe(John. 3:17,18,19,God will examine our actions (2Cor.5:10); Armor for physical battles (1Sam. 17:38); Weapons cannot stop God's power ( Eze. 38:4); Spiritual armor prepares us for life (Ro.13:12);Righteousness is a spiritual weapon (2Cor.6:7);God's weapons conquerors Satan's strongholds (2Cor.10:4); Put on the Armor (Eph.6:11-18) Jesus Is the Highest Authority (Matt.28:18) ;Choose a postive attitude (Hab.3:17-19) Bad attitudes hurts our relationship with God (Gen.4:6,7); Bad attitudes leads to poor decisions (Num.14:1-4) ;God gives christian a new attitude (Hab.3:17-19) More Than Conquerors (Ro.8:37)Christians should always rejoice (Phil.4:4) i_amgodschild@yahoo.com.

More on Relating Rightly to the God of All Grace

More on Relating Rightly to the God of All Grace

The God of all grace . . . it is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing . . . that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection. (1Pe_5:10; Joh_6:63; and Phi_3:10)

In order to live day by day by grace, we must relate rightly to "the God of all grace" (1Pe_5:10). Essentially, this involves the developing of a personal relationship with the Lord. "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent" (Joh_17:3). A growing relationship with the true and living God produces the relational realities of humility and faith. Thereby, we are able to live by the grace of God: "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble . . . We have access by faith into this grace in which we stand" (1Pe_5:5 and Rom_5:2).

As we are in the word of God, growing in the knowing of God, there are many ways to appropriately express humility and faith toward the Lord. We have emphasized a number of these in previous sections of these devotions. Living by the Spirit was one of these. "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing." The spiritual life that the Holy Spirit alone can provide is what the new covenant of grace offers to man. God "also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life" (2Co_3:6). As we humbly depend upon the Spirit, God graciously fills our lives with His life.

We considered another way to walk relationally in humility and faith in living by the power of the resurrection: "That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection." Yes, resurrection power is available for daily Christian living. "The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know . . . what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places" (Eph_1:18-20). Of course, experiencing this power hinges upon us humbly admitting that we have no power on our own, and then relying on His mighty power.

Living by the Spirit and living by resurrection power are two ways to relate rightly to the God of all grace. They both are experienced through humble dependence. They both result in the grace of God becoming our daily resource from the Lord.

Lord God of all grace, I need Your Holy Spirit to fill me with Your life. My flesh profits nothing. Lord, each day, I need the power of Your resurrection working in my life. I have no effective power that I can generate on my own. I praise You that these are available through humble dependence! i_amgodschild

God will hold us all accountable for our sins (Eze.18:30); We should hold each other accountable (Luke.17:3,4);We are Accountable in what we believe(John. 3:17,18,19,God will examine our actions (2Cor.5:10); Armor for physical battles (1Sam. 17:38); Weapons cannot stop God's power ( Eze. 38:4); Spiritual armor prepares us for life (Ro.13:12);Righteousness is a spiritual weapon (2Cor.6:7);God's weapons conquerors Satan's strongholds (2Cor.10:4); Put on the Armor (Eph.6:11-18) Jesus Is the Highest Authority (Matt.28:18) ;Choose a postive attitude (Hab.3:17-19) Bad attitudes hurts our relationship with God (Gen.4:6,7); Bad attitudes leads to poor decisions (Num.14:1-4) ;God gives christian a new attitude (Hab.3:17-19) More Than Conquerors (Ro.8:37)Christians should always rejoice (Phil.4:4) i_amgodschild@yahoo.com.

I Enjoy Having A Merry Christmas

In my own Christmas past there had been going and buying for people in our family sharing with other the true meaning of christmas with the sounds of christmas carols in the background of the holiday season with christmas music surrounding our home with snow on the ground made it especially blessed for there was farmers whom needed the moisture for the year coming up to get all that needs to be done on a daily basis for we shared with the whole entire family in what we would be doing in a couple of days, prior to heading down to all of the shelter we had fixed up food boxes with tons of presents for all of the families to be put under there christmas trees for each of them to have something to open that day.There had been so many people with them talking about christmas with being in wonderment of what will be happening as those doors was closed and about to open for each of them that had being on those lists with every name that has signed up and what they wanted for christmas even the elderly had a request in what they needed, it might sounded insignificant to us whom worked and had given to place to help the needy of our cities or towns across the nation. But seeing it as Jesus Christ would have us do just sounded it was the thing to do at that time by several of us spending time over night at some shelters,we had a couple of nights in preparing for all of those families. Heading down to the homeless shelters and bike rides in having others to give to those countless of people as well places in serving tons of love and warm wishes to be handed to the people in whom a from a bunch of us from church as we got the banquet hall cooking and preparing all that was going to be passed out to them. All the adults with each children surrounding each other waiting to be feed. We had santa claus waiting to speak to the children in which they all had a pictures taken while they were there but most of all by a local pastors speaking to them just what christmas was truly all about in what it really means in this time of year. It was amazing to see those faces as the Christmas Season is all about and they started singing carols all over that place with tears in all of our eyes with Joy of Jesus Christ Birth. As the Birth was fortold by the prophet in this sermon, [Isa.11:1-9] Spoken of a child that should be born, a son that should be given, on whose shoulders the government should be, intending this for the comfort of the people of God in times of trouble, as dying Jacob, many ages before, had intended the prospect of Shiloh for the comfort of his seed in their affliction in Egypt[Isa.4:2].

And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: [Isa.11:3].

He had said And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away. But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. [Isa 11:4].

And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.[Isa 11:5].

The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them [Isa.11:6].

And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox[Isa 11:7] .

And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den[Isa 11:8].

They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea[Isa 11:9].

And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious[Isa 11:10].

And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea[Isa 11:11].

And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth [Isa 11:12].

The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim[Isa 11:13] .

But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them[Isa.11:4].

And the LORD shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod[Isa 11:15] .

And there shall be an highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt[Isa 11:16] .

And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene. [Matt.2:23].

This begins with the account of Christ's parentage and birth, the ancestors from whom he descended, and the manner of his entry into the world, to make it appear that he was indeed the Messiah promised, for it was foretold that he should be the son of David, and should be born of a virgin; and that he was so is here plainly shown; for here is this account of Jesus Christ as it Refers to.Hi Royalty,His pedigree from Abraham in forty-two generations, three fourteens.

Here stands for everyone in this world in the clearing up of the descent of the Messiah from the fathers; and since his coming that nation is so dispersed and confounded that it is a question whether any person in the world can legally prove himself to be a son of Abraham; however, it is certain that none can prove himself to either a son of Aaron or a son of David, so that the priestly and kingly office must either be given up, as lost for ever, or be lodged in the hands of our Lord Jesus. Christ is here first called the son of David, because under that title he was commonly spoken of, and expected, among the Jews.

They who owned him to be the Christ, called him the son of David and the son of Abraham, and therefore of that nation and family out of which the Messiah was to arise. Abraham and David were, in their day, the great trustees of the promise relating to the Messiah. The promise of the blessing was made to Abraham and his seed, of the dominion to David and his seed; and they who would have an interest in Christ, as the son of Abraham, in whom all the families of the earth are to be blessed, must be faithful, loyal subjects to him as the son of David, by whom all the families of the earth are to be ruled. It was promised to Abraham that Christ should descend from him

But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting[Mic.5:2].

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost[Matt.18:1:18].

Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily[Mat 1:19].

But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost[Mat 1:20].

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins[Mat 1:21].

Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying[Mat 1:22],

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us[Mat 1:23].

Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife[Mat 1:24].

And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS[Mat 1:25 ]. His Hebrew name is : "Yehosua" Meaning Jesus Saves... Which pin points to the very purpose of which why Jesus Christ coming to this world. This is truly all foundstions to bring [All] sinners unto Him which is the Gospel unto this world. Hallelujah Chorus for this season unto Jesus Christ our Savior.

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

The kingdom of this world is become
the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and of His Christ;
and He shall reign for ever and ever
and He shall reign for ever and ever
and He shall reign for ever and ever
and He shall reign for ever and ever

King of Kings,
for ever and ever. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
and Lord of Lords,
for ever and ever. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

King of Kings,
for ever and ever. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
and Lord of Lords,
for ever and ever. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

King of Kings,
for ever and ever. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
and Lord of Lords,
for ever and ever. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

King of Kings, and Lord of Lords,
and He shall reign for ever and ever
and He shall reign for ever and ever

King of Kings
for ever and ever. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

and He shall reign for ever and ever,
for ever and ever,
King of Kings,
and Lord of Lords,
King of Kings,
and Lord of Lords,
and He shall reign for ever and ever,

King of Kings,
and Lord of Lords.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Keeping Everyone In My Prayers

Not Only Christmas Day

Lord, this is my prayer
Not only on Christmas Day
But until I see You face to face
May I live my life this way:

Just like the baby Jesus
I ever hope to be,
Resting in Your loving arms
Trusting in Your sovereignty.

And like the growing Christ child
In wisdom daily learning,
May I ever seek to know You
With my mind and spirit yearning.

Like the Son so faithful
Let me follow in Your light,
Meek and bold, humble and strong
Not afraid to face the night.

Nor cowardly to suffer
And stand for truth alone,
Knowing that Your kingdom
Awaits my going home.

Not afraid to sacrifice
Though great may be the cost,
Mindful how You rescued me
From broken-hearted loss.

Like my risen Savior
The babe, the child, the Son,
May my life forever speak
Of who You are and all You've done.

So while this world rejoices
And celebrates Your birth,
I treasure You, the greatest gift
Unequaled in Your worth.

I long to hear the same words
That welcomed home Your Son,
"Come, good and faithful servant,"
Your Master says, "Well done."

And may heaven welcome others
Who will join with me in praise
Because I lived for Jesus Christ
Not only Christmas Day

-- Mary Fairchild

Dear Precious Lord Jesus in whom I send My praises unto You with such a greatful Heart in all that you've have given for the world to know just what you have done for us upon that cross to save those whom come to you as a person whom sees themselves and lay it at the foot of the cross which gives us mercy and grace in all that we had done and to have those witness as we have nelt to pray in accepting us for what we had not of you but of this world that you have taught to us on the day of savlation to bring us home to you. For our former things has passed away so we can become brand new for You are faithful and true for you have given us the water of life that bubles up inside of with joy and laughter in our life. At times we lose our way but with your Holy Spirit teaches us as we are covered by your blood that takes us through in our prayers as often time we wait for your answers as it shows us the right path to go before you as we make our way with you. Father, we are so blessed in this nation by giving whom you are to others and gladly let them know just how much you love and care for them like no one has ever done for them, as that tabernacle lies with them that shares with them and showing them to direct thy path before them that shine is truth, that never lies, but speaks what knowledge, understanding wisdom that gives them discernment in dealing with the pains of life. In other nations Lord they totally reject you and your children that are saints whom tells them truths but often times enough as you have shared with us that trial and triblations comes just as they rejected you they will do the same with us as well. Father forgive the people whom rule and judge us and the jews as those whom tries to kill us in what they have done to jerusalem in dividing it like they had done. Those people in power will see just what you will bring unto all of those lives in thinking that you would do nothing about it. But Father, only You know just what you will do, Father those whom kept vigliant prayer over Jerusalem of which you already know in letting know just what you bring upon them in keeping us safe from harm. How it has broken our heart and have cried inside of ourselves in seeing what they have done to Jerusalem the apple of your eyes. We pray for your keeping them safe in your eagle wings that no more harm comes to them that is our distance home far away. It literally has taken us down in what satan has in store for them not only there but here as well in that coming day. He forgot how you provided us your Holy Spirit covering, as you keep everyone in your love that when you have us as you carry your people through which leads us to the promise land of the new heaven which is Jerusalem. S instead of feeling sorrowful we can shout with praise in our victory in being with you in that home where glory abounds with heavenly music that never ceases .... For you alway's dwell with us as we are your people with the thought of No more death neither No more pain for it will be literally passed away from us living in our promised home to live through all eternity with our Father God and His Son whom is You Jesus. For there is never ever any end to that city far away.

All of our voices will be prasing our God and King which is alpha & omega the first and the last whom sits and reigns on the Throne... Allelujah, Allelujah, Allelujah to the Messiah for we rejoice with blessing and honor in His righteousness whom judges us in decisions whom will stay in Heaven and whom will go to hell for only You can tell those whom don't believe in You. Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be the name of the Lord whom reigns and rules the world. For they we scorners and very mischievous and foolish that hath all kinds of abomination to mankind which had drawn down to one's own death before you For you Oh, Lord seen it all and it had displeased you so very much, how we cry out to you in asking for those people to be forgiven and send in your warring angles in providing your provision to see if they will turn away from what they themselves has done. We lay a hold in prayer for our goverment in ll forms of it in what they have done unto Isreal and unto America, To our service men and women and all families whom are fighting in this war in which we ought not to have been in the first place but those people in the bilderburg of whom are the power brokers, and those people in the secret societies whom where in rooms that was shut and locked and guarded so no one could hurt them. You Father God knows those plans that was hid in darkness of those souls and knew all of thier minds in seeing and hearing them as they want to destory your people, For we are so broken and torn apart in knowing what they have done unto you and to the future of our children in living in what they had done to Jerusalem and thier land before You Jesus. They have wanted your enemy to hurt and kill your children within it's palace and in their homes and in other countries as well as ours in their plans and devices to do the same behind closed doors in which that very horrible decisions upon us all whom obey and holding every words that you have laid before us in alway's holding on to our hope being with you deep within our hearts. Lord Jesus, I commit my life to You totally, spirit, soul, and body. I ask that You bend, break, and mold me into the person that You want me to be. Lord, teach me to trust in You and to live and walk by faith in You and Your Word. I commit to You, Lord, to take accountability and responsibility in my walk with You and Your Word. No more will the enemy’s devices and the deceptions of the old man easily sway me. I purpose to firmly fix my eyes and heart on You, Lord, totally today. I press, push and apprehend all that you have for me today, keeping in the back of my remembrance that the enemy loves a lazy or slothful mind. satan, I come against you and all hosts of hell and I reject everything that you would have for me today. satan, I refuse all snares, pits, and traps that you have set to draw me away from my Lord Jesus Christ. I rebuke you, satan, and all your hosts in the name of Jesus from every assignment you have assigned against me or my family, my property, my health and my finances. Father I ask and believe for Your best in my life today and that Your will and purposes be done in and through me. I also ask that You keep me in Your perfect will and make me a yielded vessel fit for Your work today. I place myself under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust", for I chose to dwell in the secret place of the Most High. In Jesus Name, Iam a blessed child of God. I fear the Lord and delight greatly in His commandments. My seed will be mighty in the earth and my generations will be blessed. Wealth and riches will be in my house and my righteousness will endure forever. Because I walk uprightly before the Lord, light will arise in the darkness. My confusion will be overcome and I will have guidance from the Holy Spirit. There is no problems which can come against me that I will not have wisdom and the leading of the Lord to overcome. I will also guide my personal, family and business affairs with discretion. I have wisdom beyond my natural ability. Because I am gracious, compassionate, righteous and give to others, favor follows after me. Everywhere I go, blessings find me. Surely I will not be moved forever. I cannot be shaken by circumstances or fear from the enemy, because I keep the Lord forever in my remembrance. I will not be afraid of evil tidings. My heart is fixed. I trust in the Lord. My heart is established, I will never be afraid. Satan desires to see me defeated. I desire to see him defeated and destroyed. His desire will not come to pass over me. My desire will come to pass over him. With God’s power, I will outlast Satan every time. I have dispersed and given to the poor. My acts of righteousness are eternal. My horn is lifted up in anticipation of a great outpouring of God’s blessing into my life and unto other nations for a revival that pure in your Holy Spirit that come upon every state, cities, country in those whom worships you in countless of lives. The wicked will see it and be grieved. Though they gnash their teeth at me, they will melt away and their desires shall perish. My desires will be granted by the Lord and my treasuries will be filled. Iam a blessed child of God. I fear the Lord and delight greatly in His commandments. My seed will be mighty in the earth and my generations will be blessed. Wealth and riches will be in my house and my righteousness will endure forever. Because I walk uprightly before the Lord, light will arise in the darkness. My confusion will be overcome and I will have guidance from the Holy Spirit. There is no problems which can come against me that I will not have wisdom and the leading of the Lord to overcome. I will also guide my personal, family and business affairs with discretion. I have wisdom beyond my natural ability. Because I am gracious, compassionate, righteous and give to others, favor follows after me. Everywhere I go, blessings find me. Surely I will not be moved forever. I cannot be shaken by circumstances or fear from the enemy, because I keep the Lord forever in my remembrance. I will not be afraid of evil tidings. My heart is fixed. I trust in the Lord. My heart is established, I will never be afraid. Satan desires to see me defeated. I desire to see him defeated and destroyed. His desire will not come to pass over me. My desire will come to pass over him. With God’s power, I will outlast Satan every time. I have dispersed and given to the poor. My acts of righteousness are eternal. My horn is lifted up in anticipation of a great outpouring of God’s blessing into my life. The wicked will see it and be grieved. Though they gnash their teeth at me, they will melt away and their desires shall perish. My desires will be granted by the Lord and my treasuries will be filled. "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I WILL FEAR NO EVIL!!! I FEAR NOT for thou art WITH ME. I am not dismayed for thou art my God. Thou art HELPING me! Thou art STRENGTHENING me! Thou art upholding me with the right hand of thy!" "Thou hast not given me the spirit of fear, but of power, love and sound mind. I have the SPIRIT OF POWER lN ME! I have the SPIRIT OF LOVE IN ME! I have the SPIRIT OF A SOUND MIND IN ME!" "Over me is the BLOOD OF THE LAMB! The Lord goes BEFORE ME! Jesus is IN me! The angel of the Lord encamps AROUND me! UNDERNEATH me are the everlasting arms of God! AND GOODNESS AND MERCY FOLLOW ME ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE! Hallelujah!! FEAR HAS NO PLACE IN MY LIFE!" Amen. i_amgodschild

Courageous, Selfless Ministry by the Grace of God

Courageous, Selfless Ministry by the Grace of God

But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. (Act_20:24)

Paul was given ministry by the grace of God. "I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me" (Eph_3:7). To put it another way, he received his ministry from the Lord: "the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus." Paul's bountiful ministry was developed by the grace of God. "I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me" (1Co_15:10). Also, his ministry was to declare God's grace: "to testify to the gospel of the grace of God." Paul's life demonstrates that such "grace saturated" service leads to courageous, selfless ministry.

Paul's ministry was courageous. "But none of these things move me." The things that Paul faced were formidable. "The Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me" (Act_20:23). Down through the centuries, matters less substantial than these have moved many a professing Christian from completing his calling. Yet, by leaning upon the sustaining grace of God, Paul courageously endured great hardship and danger in the service of the gospel of grace. "But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings" (2Co_6:4-5).

Related to this courageous service was Paul's selflessness: "nor do I count my life dear to myself." Soon, he would encounter another sober warning. It was given from a prophet of the Lord, who took Paul's belt and bound his own hands and feet. "So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles" (Act_21:11). Those standing by, who loved Paul deeply, urged him not to proceed. Nevertheless, Paul confessed his willingness to even lose his life for the gospel, if necessary. "Then Paul answered, 'What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus' " (Act_21:13). Such renouncing of self allowed Paul to "finish [his] race with joy." Thus his final testimony would become, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2Ti_4:7).

Jesus, my Lord and Master, You know the things that threaten to move me away from Your calling for me. You know the times I am tempted to hold my life dear, wanting to shrink back in a self-serving manner. Please saturate my life with Your grace that I might serve courageously and selflesslyAmen.i_amgodschild