Devotions

A friend of mine was looking to build an addition to his church, but he had to get permission first from a majority of the neighborhood within a three block area. He went door to door with a survey, and almost every neighbor said, “Absolutely, you can add on. We’ve lived next to you for 10 years, and you’ve never bothered us once.”

Only two blocks away, someone told him, “Sure. We never even noticed that you were there.” He was appalled because he realized his church was only having an impact on its attendees.

Jesus gave the power and authority to his disciples to reach the unsaved. “And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal” (Luke 9:1-2, ESV). I want to tell you today that you are no less anointed than these men. His promises to the first generation in the New Testament church are no different than the promises that he has for you and me today.

God’s power in our lives demonstrates his heart to heal and to deliver, to take people whose lives have been ruined by demonic forces and set them free. “As servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance…by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left” (2 Corinthians 6:4-7).

Your church is meant to have an impact in such a way that causes cities to repent. God has equipped us to reach the lost. The Holy Spirit wants to use you in such a way that you would see it as natural to function supernaturally in the signs and wonders. Healing is central to God’s plan because his kindness leads us to repentance. Soul-winning is central to God’s plan. That is what brings repentance to a city.

In 2 Timothy 4:10, Paul writes, “For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica.” Demas used to travel with Paul. How would you travel with Paul and see the miracles and hear that man preach and then forsake him?

The Bible clearly says, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15).

There is no holding pattern with God. You may start the race, but you still have to finish too. That’s not legalism; that’s just scripture. If we’re not growing, then we’re going backwards. We’re either growing, getting closer to God and learning more; or we’re sliding backwards, and our instincts will totally change.

You can see that in the history of different denominations. They started out on fire, and they didn’t have 10 dollars to rub together. Now they’ve got millions and property, and they’re a shell. They’re slick, but they’re empty. You know it, and I know it, and everybody knows it. They talk about the ‘good old days,’ but why? Because they know it isn’t that way anymore.

So we learn that we all have to keep growing. We have to keep being challenged. We need to be around other believers who will push us.

The Bible says, “Rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he [Jesus] departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed” (Mark 1:35). What’s Jesus praying for? He’s the Son of the living God! He’s the Word, the promises incarnate, and he’s still praying. But we ‘don’t have time’ to lay ahold of God’s promises?

Jesus told his followers, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8).

If there’s no asking, there’s no receiving. If there’s no prayer, you’re going to go sideways quickly. We move forward toward God or away.   

^{Jim Cymbala began the Brooklyn Tabernacle with less than twenty members in a small, rundown building in a difficult part of the city. A native of Brooklyn, he is a longtime friend of both David and Gary Wilkerson.}

I pray diligently over these messages, and while praying about what the Lord would have me write in this one, the Holy Spirit whispered clearly, “Encourage God’s people. Tell them how much they are loved by the Lord and how greatly he delights in his children.”

I believe this is a special word for many reading this message. You need to hear deep within, at this very hour, that the Lord is going to keep you and that he delights in you during your present hour of testing.  Here is the text I believe you need to receive as a personal word from him right now:

“My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor detest his correction; for whom the Lord loves he corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights” (Proverbs 3:11-12, NKJV).

“In you, O Lord, I put my trust; let me never be ashamed; deliver me in your righteousness….  Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord God of truth” (Psalm 31:1, 5).

“I have hated those who regard useless idols; but I trust in the Lord. I will be glad and rejoice in your mercy, for you have considered my trouble; you have known my soul in adversities, and have not shut me up into the hand of the enemy; you have set my feet in a wide place” (Psalm 31:6-8).

“You number my wanderings; put my tears into your bottle; are they not in your book? When I cry out to you, then my enemies will turn back; this I know, because God is for me” (Psalm 56:8-9).

Even if what you are going through right now is loving discipline, remember it is a sure sign your Father loves you and delights in you. If you will receive this word that he deeply loves you and rejoices over you, you will know all things are working out for your good and that your steps are truly being ordered by him.

Please underline the scripture portion that the Spirit witnesses is yours. Believe it! God has sent it to you today.

There is a text in the original Hebrew that has blessed me greatly, and I want to share it with you. “When designing pursuers approached me, who are far from thy law; then you, O Jehovah, wast near with all thy faithful commandments” (Psalm 119:150-151, Helen Spurrell Translation).

Demonic principalities and powers had surrounded King David, trying to bring him and Israel to ruin and destruction. This man of God testified that as the enemy drew near, he trusted the Lord to draw even nearer. David said that God held him by his right hand, walking him through every enemy assault.

Here in David’s testimony is a wonderful promise for you and me. We can be sure Satan is out to destroy, harass and pull down all who love the Lord. The enemy will do all within his power to bring us into a pit of despair, confusion, guilt and condemnation.

Do you have any satanic “designing pursuers” coming against you right now?  Overwhelming temptations? Trials? Financial burdens? Marriage or family problems? Business problems? When your pursuers come near you with a design to destroy you, take heart! The Lord God Almighty is even nearer. He is at your side; and if he is near you, he will act on your behalf. I cannot imagine God being near any child of his and yet sitting by allowing the devil to abuse or corrupt his beloved in any way.

“Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered; let those also who hate him flee before him. As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; as wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God. But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God; yes, let them rejoice exceedingly. Sing to God, sing praises to his name; extol him who rides on the clouds, by his name Yah, and rejoice before him” (Psalm 68:1-4, NKJV).

See what God has promised to do for you, if you will trust him. You can claim these four verses for now and throughout the year. Memorize these verses, stand on them and God will put your enemies to chase.

In the book of Jude, we read of a future day so wicked and vile that God will come with thousands of his saints to execute judgment for all ungodly deeds. Jude prophesied men would be given over to their filthy lusts, becoming mockers, sensual, “foaming up their own shame” (Jude 1:13, NKJV). These would comprise a society of corrupt fornicators going after “strange flesh,” referring to pandemic homosexuality.

Today, America is not the only nation casting aside all moral restraint. The moral landslide is worldwide, and it is becoming very evident that Satan is retching the abominations of hell upon humankind. It is a time that we are warned in scripture, when the devil will try to seduce God’s elect.

Jude looked ahead into those awful, wicked times and saw something else, something most inspiring and miraculous. In the midst of all the immorality and mounting degradation, he witnessed a people “who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ” (Jude 1:1).

No matter how corrupt this world becomes in the days ahead — no matter how devilish the media, TV and movies become, no matter how much devil worship increases, no matter how far homosexuals force their agenda on society, no matter if the devil himself walks our streets — God is going to preserve his children. He is going to preserve for himself a sanctified, holy people. He will keep them from the wicked one, and they will become strong in faith and devotion, while the ungodly race toward destruction.

Hear the word of the Lord. “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).

David said, “For the Lord loves justice, and does not forsake his saints” (Psalm 37:28) and “You shall keep them, O Lord, you shall preserve them from this generation forever. The wicked prowl on every side, when vileness is exalted among the sons of men” (Psalm 12:7-8).

Let this prayer of the apostle Paul be yours and mine in the evil, troubled times ahead: “The Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom” (2 Timothy 4:18). Rejoice! God has covenanted to keep and preserve those who fully trust him.