Jacob The Heel Catcher - Spiritual Adultery
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Bread Crumbs “Miracles Every Day”
Miracles happen every day in the life of the believer. In fact, every time God interrupts the normal flow of the course of events, that can be defined as a miracle. Every time that God intervenes behind the scenes and moves by His Spirit to make the life of one of His children a little better, a little happier, or a little easier, that is a miracle. When just the right pieces of the puzzle of life come together at exactly the right time, that is a miracle. God is constantly moving things around in this world’s system for our benefit and every time He alters what would have been by the power of His Spirit, that is a miracle. I am afraid we travel through so much of life unaware of the interventions of God that is happening consistently around us. So let us be expecting the specific, wonderful, mighty, manifesting miracle that is so desperately needed. Let us also begin to praise the Lord for the smaller less visible interruptions of God that can make our daily lives full of joy and simple ease. He is worthy of more praise than we give Him! Truly I live “under the shadow” of His wings!
Proverbs 3:6 - In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.
Pastor Loren Larson
Loren Larson Ministries
Miracles happen every day in the life of the believer. In fact, every time God interrupts the normal flow of the course of events, that can be defined as a miracle. Every time that God intervenes behind the scenes and moves by His Spirit to make the life of one of His children a little better, a little happier, or a little easier, that is a miracle. When just the right pieces of the puzzle of life come together at exactly the right time, that is a miracle. God is constantly moving things around in this world’s system for our benefit and every time He alters what would have been by the power of His Spirit, that is a miracle. I am afraid we travel through so much of life unaware of the interventions of God that is happening consistently around us. So let us be expecting the specific, wonderful, mighty, manifesting miracle that is so desperately needed. Let us also begin to praise the Lord for the smaller less visible interruptions of God that can make our daily lives full of joy and simple ease. He is worthy of more praise than we give Him! Truly I live “under the shadow” of His wings!
Proverbs 3:6 - In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.
Pastor Loren Larson
Loren Larson Ministries
The Miracle of God’s Word
Proverbs 24:17
Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:
Here again we see the child of God who is EXPERIENCING their justified position in Christ as they are grieved over the enemies fallen state rather than rejoicing about it. The child of God who is walking after the Spirit, and not after the flesh (Romans 8:1) will not be glad when those who have done them wrong are stumbling. It is only those who look through the blood daily that can guard their hearts with all diligence realizing that out of it comes the very issues of their lives (Proverbs 4:23).
God our Father in heaven loved us so much that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, for us, and Jesus loved us so much that He gave His Life for us, and the Holy Spirit loves us so much that He refuses to point to anything other than that. This is all because our faithful God loves the fallen and all those who stumble, therefore let us pray for those who stumble and those who are fallen, that they may be recovered from the snare of the enemy (2 Timothy 2:24-26), just as He has delivered us.
Seeking God in His Word and experiencing Him through faith in the sacrifice of Christ!
Pastor Curtis
Proverbs 24:17
Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:
Here again we see the child of God who is EXPERIENCING their justified position in Christ as they are grieved over the enemies fallen state rather than rejoicing about it. The child of God who is walking after the Spirit, and not after the flesh (Romans 8:1) will not be glad when those who have done them wrong are stumbling. It is only those who look through the blood daily that can guard their hearts with all diligence realizing that out of it comes the very issues of their lives (Proverbs 4:23).
God our Father in heaven loved us so much that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, for us, and Jesus loved us so much that He gave His Life for us, and the Holy Spirit loves us so much that He refuses to point to anything other than that. This is all because our faithful God loves the fallen and all those who stumble, therefore let us pray for those who stumble and those who are fallen, that they may be recovered from the snare of the enemy (2 Timothy 2:24-26), just as He has delivered us.
Seeking God in His Word and experiencing Him through faith in the sacrifice of Christ!
Pastor Curtis
Your Word for Today
“he rose from supper, and laid aside His garments; and took a towel, and girded Himself. After that He poured water into a basin, and began to wash the Disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel, wherewith He was girded (Jn. 13:4-5).
The action presented here, Jesus washing His Disciples’ feet, plays out to several particulars.
First of all, and concerning this, Williams says, “Nothing is more amazing than the fact of God assuming Manhood in order to serve man. Man could only be saved through the self humiliation of Christ — ‘if I wash you not,’ etc. — such is sin; its cleansing demanded such a humiliation!”
Second, the feet only were washed.
Under the Mosaic Law, when the Priests went into the Holy Place, they had to wash both their hands and their feet at the Brazen Laver. To not do so could bring death.
So why didn’t Jesus also wash the hands of His Disciples, along with their feet?
Under the Law, the entire episode presented a constant “doing,” hence, the necessity of the hands also being washed.
Under Christ, the “doing” has already been “done,” hence, the necessity of washing the feet only. The washing of the feet addressed our “walk” before the Lord. Despite the fact that we are Sanctified in Christ, which means to constantly be “made clean,” nevertheless, the very fact of living in this evil world pollutes, sullies, and stains, necessitating the need for constant washing.
What Christ did was only a symbolism, and not meant to be repeated, because ceremonies cannot cleanse.
The Believer is constantly cleansed by placing his Faith exclusively in Christ and the Cross, thereby adhering strictly to the Word of God.
Last of all, what Jesus did presents the pattern for all Believers. The pattern is:
1. “He laid aside His garments”: This speaks of His Incarnation, when He laid aside the expression of His Deity, while not losing the possession of His Deity.
2. “And took a towel”: This represented the Service He would perform for mankind. The Believer is to never be a lord over others, but rather a servant to others, here exampled by Christ.
3. “And girded Himself”: When He laid aside His garments of Deity, He then “girded Himself” with the mantle of humanity, i.e., the Incarnation.
4. “After that He poured water into a basin”: This represents the Holy Spirit working through the Master, carrying out the work of obedience regarding the Father’s Will.
The example for us is obvious! (Jn. 13:13-17).”
—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”
Donnie Swaggart
“he rose from supper, and laid aside His garments; and took a towel, and girded Himself. After that He poured water into a basin, and began to wash the Disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel, wherewith He was girded (Jn. 13:4-5).
The action presented here, Jesus washing His Disciples’ feet, plays out to several particulars.
First of all, and concerning this, Williams says, “Nothing is more amazing than the fact of God assuming Manhood in order to serve man. Man could only be saved through the self humiliation of Christ — ‘if I wash you not,’ etc. — such is sin; its cleansing demanded such a humiliation!”
Second, the feet only were washed.
Under the Mosaic Law, when the Priests went into the Holy Place, they had to wash both their hands and their feet at the Brazen Laver. To not do so could bring death.
So why didn’t Jesus also wash the hands of His Disciples, along with their feet?
Under the Law, the entire episode presented a constant “doing,” hence, the necessity of the hands also being washed.
Under Christ, the “doing” has already been “done,” hence, the necessity of washing the feet only. The washing of the feet addressed our “walk” before the Lord. Despite the fact that we are Sanctified in Christ, which means to constantly be “made clean,” nevertheless, the very fact of living in this evil world pollutes, sullies, and stains, necessitating the need for constant washing.
What Christ did was only a symbolism, and not meant to be repeated, because ceremonies cannot cleanse.
The Believer is constantly cleansed by placing his Faith exclusively in Christ and the Cross, thereby adhering strictly to the Word of God.
Last of all, what Jesus did presents the pattern for all Believers. The pattern is:
1. “He laid aside His garments”: This speaks of His Incarnation, when He laid aside the expression of His Deity, while not losing the possession of His Deity.
2. “And took a towel”: This represented the Service He would perform for mankind. The Believer is to never be a lord over others, but rather a servant to others, here exampled by Christ.
3. “And girded Himself”: When He laid aside His garments of Deity, He then “girded Himself” with the mantle of humanity, i.e., the Incarnation.
4. “After that He poured water into a basin”: This represents the Holy Spirit working through the Master, carrying out the work of obedience regarding the Father’s Will.
The example for us is obvious! (Jn. 13:13-17).”
—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”
Donnie Swaggart
What Is The True Gospel?
“For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, where of ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth.” Colossians 1:5-6
The Epistle to the Colossians was written by Paul while he was a prisoner of Rome. The church at Colossae was probably founded by Epaphras (Col. 1:7). Prominent members of this church were Philemon and later his slave, Onesimus (Col. 4:9).
It is thought that Epaphras heard Paul preach while visiting in Ephesus and experiencing salvation. He returned to Colossae and started the church there.
The purpose of this epistle was to correct the Colossians regarding false teaching which denied the supremacy and all sufficiency of Christ as the head of the body of the church. The epistle points out God’s way of holiness as opposed to man’s way. The error in the Colossae church could be summed up in three directions:
1. Asceticism_. Asceticism is the practice of strict self-denial of anything that is pleasurable, as a measure of personal and spiritual discipline. It seems that some of the Colossians were attempting to subjugate the flesh by various means of self-control or self-denial (Col. 2:23).
2._Legalism. Legalism is when Christians attempt to attain to righteousness and holiness by obedience to man-made rules and regulations. Holiness was equated with strict adherence to codes and rituals regarding meat, drink, feast days, and fast days (Col. 2:16-17).
3. Gnosticism. Gnosticism is the idea that certain individuals possess a greater knowledge and intellectualism that made them arrogant and haughty. They regarded themselves as superior because they had greater knowledge apart from the Word of God (Col. 2:8-10, 18).
I wish I could say that these problems were no longer in the church today, but sad to say they still are.
Hope
Colossians 1:5 states: “For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven.”
In the New Testament, the word hope signifies both the sentiment of hope and the thing hoped for. Here it signifies the thing hoped for, meaning that it is guaranteed of fulfillment, but not necessarily knowing the time of fulfillment. “In heaven,” means that our hope is stored up in heaven; in effect he is saying that all true hope is of God and from God. There is no hope here on earth.
The hope that Paul speaks of is made possible by what Jesus did at the cross and the resurrection. There is no hope outside of Calvary, and this “hope” is speaking of the coming resurrection of all saints and our eternal presence with Christ. If one’s hope is placed in anything other than Christ and Him crucified, then your hope is in vain.
Whereof Ye Heard Before In The Word Of The Truth Of The Gospel
This phrase contrasts the true gospel of Epaphras with the false gospel of recent teachers. Epaphras was the one who brought the gospel to Colossae, having heard the true gospel from the apostle Paul himself.
The word heard indicates a completed act, or decision meaning they had believed and accepted the true gospel when it was first preached unto them.
The word before refers not to their former pagan state, but prior to their hearing the false teachers.
This false teaching was devoid of the true object of faith—Christ and Him crucified.
Paul is here calling the church back to the truth.
What Is The True Gospel?
First of all there is only one true gospel, while there are many false gospels. The true gospel is Jesus Christ and Him crucified. The emphasis must always be on Jesus Christ and Him crucified. That is the foundation of true Bible Christianity. Other aspects of the true gospel are as follows:
• Salvation by the precious blood of Jesus Christ: Man is a sinner, and he cannot be saved outside of faith in Christ and what Christ has done for us at the cross (Jn. 3:16; Rom. 4:3; 5:1-2).
• The baptism with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking with other tongues (Acts 2:4; 8:14-17; 9:17; 10:44-48; 19:1-7).
• Divine healing according to believing prayer (Mk. 9:23; Jn. 15:14-16).
• A victorious, overcoming, Christian life, made possible by the believer’s faith being in Christ and the cross exclusively, ever making the cross of Christ the object of one’s faith (Rom. 6:1-14; 8:2; I Cor. 1:17-18, 23; 2:2; Gal. Chpt. 5; 6:14; Eph. 2:13-18; Col. 2:14-15).
• The rapture of the church (I Thess. 4:13-18; I Cor. 15:35-58).
• The second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to rule and reign on this earth for 1,000 years (Rev. 19:11-21).
• The perfect age to come that will actually be an age without end. When the perfect age comes, the Lord will transfer His headquarters from heaven to earth (Rev. 21-22).
Which Is Come Unto You;
As It Is In All The World;
And Bringeth Forth Fruit
The true gospel produces fruit-bearing power and that fruit is the fruit of the Spirit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance” (Gal. 5:22-23). True fruit in one’s life authenticates the proof of the gospel.
The phrase, “In all the world” is not to be taken in strict literalness. The term is used as a deliberate exaggeration meaning the gospel had indeed made great progress in other parts of the world. It is not different than being asked, “Who was in church today?” and hearing the reply: “Everyone was there.” The hearer understands that literally not everyone was there but that there was a good representation.
And Knew The Grace Of God In Truth
This phrase means, “the grace of God in its genuine simplicity, without adulteration.”
The idea of this statement is that the grace of God cannot function except in truth, which of course is the gospel of Christ. The idea is explicit: If the Colossians accept the false messages of false messengers, then the grace of God will instantly stop, and if one continues along a false path, then his soul is at stake.
The gospel is not speculation, but fact. It is truth, because it is the record of a person who is the Truth: the Lord Jesus Christ. I’m grateful that I know the true gospel.
Donnie Swaggart
“For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, where of ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth.” Colossians 1:5-6
The Epistle to the Colossians was written by Paul while he was a prisoner of Rome. The church at Colossae was probably founded by Epaphras (Col. 1:7). Prominent members of this church were Philemon and later his slave, Onesimus (Col. 4:9).
It is thought that Epaphras heard Paul preach while visiting in Ephesus and experiencing salvation. He returned to Colossae and started the church there.
The purpose of this epistle was to correct the Colossians regarding false teaching which denied the supremacy and all sufficiency of Christ as the head of the body of the church. The epistle points out God’s way of holiness as opposed to man’s way. The error in the Colossae church could be summed up in three directions:
1. Asceticism_. Asceticism is the practice of strict self-denial of anything that is pleasurable, as a measure of personal and spiritual discipline. It seems that some of the Colossians were attempting to subjugate the flesh by various means of self-control or self-denial (Col. 2:23).
2._Legalism. Legalism is when Christians attempt to attain to righteousness and holiness by obedience to man-made rules and regulations. Holiness was equated with strict adherence to codes and rituals regarding meat, drink, feast days, and fast days (Col. 2:16-17).
3. Gnosticism. Gnosticism is the idea that certain individuals possess a greater knowledge and intellectualism that made them arrogant and haughty. They regarded themselves as superior because they had greater knowledge apart from the Word of God (Col. 2:8-10, 18).
I wish I could say that these problems were no longer in the church today, but sad to say they still are.
Hope
Colossians 1:5 states: “For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven.”
In the New Testament, the word hope signifies both the sentiment of hope and the thing hoped for. Here it signifies the thing hoped for, meaning that it is guaranteed of fulfillment, but not necessarily knowing the time of fulfillment. “In heaven,” means that our hope is stored up in heaven; in effect he is saying that all true hope is of God and from God. There is no hope here on earth.
The hope that Paul speaks of is made possible by what Jesus did at the cross and the resurrection. There is no hope outside of Calvary, and this “hope” is speaking of the coming resurrection of all saints and our eternal presence with Christ. If one’s hope is placed in anything other than Christ and Him crucified, then your hope is in vain.
Whereof Ye Heard Before In The Word Of The Truth Of The Gospel
This phrase contrasts the true gospel of Epaphras with the false gospel of recent teachers. Epaphras was the one who brought the gospel to Colossae, having heard the true gospel from the apostle Paul himself.
The word heard indicates a completed act, or decision meaning they had believed and accepted the true gospel when it was first preached unto them.
The word before refers not to their former pagan state, but prior to their hearing the false teachers.
This false teaching was devoid of the true object of faith—Christ and Him crucified.
Paul is here calling the church back to the truth.
What Is The True Gospel?
First of all there is only one true gospel, while there are many false gospels. The true gospel is Jesus Christ and Him crucified. The emphasis must always be on Jesus Christ and Him crucified. That is the foundation of true Bible Christianity. Other aspects of the true gospel are as follows:
• Salvation by the precious blood of Jesus Christ: Man is a sinner, and he cannot be saved outside of faith in Christ and what Christ has done for us at the cross (Jn. 3:16; Rom. 4:3; 5:1-2).
• The baptism with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking with other tongues (Acts 2:4; 8:14-17; 9:17; 10:44-48; 19:1-7).
• Divine healing according to believing prayer (Mk. 9:23; Jn. 15:14-16).
• A victorious, overcoming, Christian life, made possible by the believer’s faith being in Christ and the cross exclusively, ever making the cross of Christ the object of one’s faith (Rom. 6:1-14; 8:2; I Cor. 1:17-18, 23; 2:2; Gal. Chpt. 5; 6:14; Eph. 2:13-18; Col. 2:14-15).
• The rapture of the church (I Thess. 4:13-18; I Cor. 15:35-58).
• The second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to rule and reign on this earth for 1,000 years (Rev. 19:11-21).
• The perfect age to come that will actually be an age without end. When the perfect age comes, the Lord will transfer His headquarters from heaven to earth (Rev. 21-22).
Which Is Come Unto You;
As It Is In All The World;
And Bringeth Forth Fruit
The true gospel produces fruit-bearing power and that fruit is the fruit of the Spirit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance” (Gal. 5:22-23). True fruit in one’s life authenticates the proof of the gospel.
The phrase, “In all the world” is not to be taken in strict literalness. The term is used as a deliberate exaggeration meaning the gospel had indeed made great progress in other parts of the world. It is not different than being asked, “Who was in church today?” and hearing the reply: “Everyone was there.” The hearer understands that literally not everyone was there but that there was a good representation.
And Knew The Grace Of God In Truth
This phrase means, “the grace of God in its genuine simplicity, without adulteration.”
The idea of this statement is that the grace of God cannot function except in truth, which of course is the gospel of Christ. The idea is explicit: If the Colossians accept the false messages of false messengers, then the grace of God will instantly stop, and if one continues along a false path, then his soul is at stake.
The gospel is not speculation, but fact. It is truth, because it is the record of a person who is the Truth: the Lord Jesus Christ. I’m grateful that I know the true gospel.
Donnie Swaggart
The Song of Mary
“And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; as he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed forever.”
—Luke 1:46-55
These verses comprise a song of worship very similar to the song of Deborah (Judg. 5:1-31) and the song of Hannah (I Sam. 2:1-10).
There are songs and prayers of worship and songs and prayers of praise. Praise is the acknowledgment of what the Lord has done, is doing, and shall do. Worship is acknowledging God for who He is. It is exaltation of the goodness of God, and God’s goodness is centered around the cross. Calvary is the greatest expression of God’s goodness toward humanity.
In the words of Mary’s song we are given a road map directing us through the journey of life.
Magnify The Lord
Mary would sing, “My soul doth magnify the Lord.” The word magnify means to “declare great”; a better definition would be “to declare the greatness of God.” Every day we should declare the goodness of God. In doing this we focus on the Lord and not on ourselves. This is a wonderful truth during times of oppression. The more one magnifies the Lord the less emphasis is placed on that believer, which is what oppression or depression does.
Rejoice
Mary said, “My spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.” No matter what the trials and tribulations of life may be, the believer has something to rejoice about and that is his salvation. No matter what one may not have in the material sense, what the believer has spiritually far out distances the latter.
Circumstances
Mary’s circumstances in the natural were not good. Though she was in the lineage of David, the throne of David had ceased to exist; hence she was of low estate. Royalty on earth did not recognize her, but the royalty of heaven did recognize her, therefore she would proclaim, “For He hath regarded the low estate of His handmaiden.” It doesn’t matter how the world sees you, only how God sees you.
Blessed
Mary said, “All generations shall call me blessed.” This statement is prophecy fulfilled. As well, the word blessed means “a recipient of grace.” Grace is the goodness of God given to undeserving man. All who are saved are recipients of grace, therefore we are blessed. Salvation is the Christian’s greatest blessing.
Great Things
Mary said, “For He that is mighty hath done to me great things.” This phrase speaks of the power of God, which could alone bring forth the incarnation, which was the power of the Holy Spirit. As believers we also have the Holy Spirit working on our behalf in order to do great things for the children of God. Justification is great; sanctification is great; healing, and all that the Lord has for us, is great.
Holy Is His Name
This proclaims His attribute of holiness and proclaims that it is bound up in His name. His name is holy because His character, nature, and His very essence is holy. He is holy, and we must never misuse His wonderful name.
Mercy
Mary said, “His mercy is on them that fear Him.” Mercy is a product of grace. Men today are fond of demanding justice, but the reality is that man needs mercy, and whenever sinful man accepts Christ, mercy rewrites his life. Mercy is always tied to the fear of God. The fear of God is rooted in the understanding that we deserve nothing, but because of the grace of God, we receive the good things of God. It’s not that we are scared of God, but godly fear is a holy awe and respect.
She then says, “From generation to generation,” meaning this promise is forever.
Strength
Verse 51 says, “He hath shewed strength with His arm.” This proclaims the power of God.
Psalm 63:8 says, “My soul followeth hard after thee: Thy right hand upholdeth me.”
Psalm 37:24 says, “Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with His hand.” As stated, this speaks of God’s power. His power protects us, strengthens us, helps us, and fights for us.
Luke 1:51 ends by stating, “He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.” The Lord ignores the proud and the haughty but shines His glory on the humble.
Humility
Luke 1:52 says, “He puts down the mighty from their seats and exalts them of low degree.” Once again, humility is stressed here. Luke 18:14 says, “For everyone that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”
Good Things
Luke 1:53 says, “He hath filled the hungry with good things.”
Matthew 5:6 says, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: For they shall be filled.” Filled with what? Good things!
“The rich He hath sent empty away,” (Lk. 1:53). Revelation 3:17 says, “Because you say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing: And knowest not that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.”
Forever
Finally, Mary said, “He hath helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy; as He spoke to our fathers to Abraham and to his seed forever.”
Mary’s song begins with “magnifying the Lord,” and closes with the promises of God being remembered forever.
The song of Mary—may we ever learn and walk in its intent.
Donnie Swaggart
“And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; as he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed forever.”
—Luke 1:46-55
These verses comprise a song of worship very similar to the song of Deborah (Judg. 5:1-31) and the song of Hannah (I Sam. 2:1-10).
There are songs and prayers of worship and songs and prayers of praise. Praise is the acknowledgment of what the Lord has done, is doing, and shall do. Worship is acknowledging God for who He is. It is exaltation of the goodness of God, and God’s goodness is centered around the cross. Calvary is the greatest expression of God’s goodness toward humanity.
In the words of Mary’s song we are given a road map directing us through the journey of life.
Magnify The Lord
Mary would sing, “My soul doth magnify the Lord.” The word magnify means to “declare great”; a better definition would be “to declare the greatness of God.” Every day we should declare the goodness of God. In doing this we focus on the Lord and not on ourselves. This is a wonderful truth during times of oppression. The more one magnifies the Lord the less emphasis is placed on that believer, which is what oppression or depression does.
Rejoice
Mary said, “My spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.” No matter what the trials and tribulations of life may be, the believer has something to rejoice about and that is his salvation. No matter what one may not have in the material sense, what the believer has spiritually far out distances the latter.
Circumstances
Mary’s circumstances in the natural were not good. Though she was in the lineage of David, the throne of David had ceased to exist; hence she was of low estate. Royalty on earth did not recognize her, but the royalty of heaven did recognize her, therefore she would proclaim, “For He hath regarded the low estate of His handmaiden.” It doesn’t matter how the world sees you, only how God sees you.
Blessed
Mary said, “All generations shall call me blessed.” This statement is prophecy fulfilled. As well, the word blessed means “a recipient of grace.” Grace is the goodness of God given to undeserving man. All who are saved are recipients of grace, therefore we are blessed. Salvation is the Christian’s greatest blessing.
Great Things
Mary said, “For He that is mighty hath done to me great things.” This phrase speaks of the power of God, which could alone bring forth the incarnation, which was the power of the Holy Spirit. As believers we also have the Holy Spirit working on our behalf in order to do great things for the children of God. Justification is great; sanctification is great; healing, and all that the Lord has for us, is great.
Holy Is His Name
This proclaims His attribute of holiness and proclaims that it is bound up in His name. His name is holy because His character, nature, and His very essence is holy. He is holy, and we must never misuse His wonderful name.
Mercy
Mary said, “His mercy is on them that fear Him.” Mercy is a product of grace. Men today are fond of demanding justice, but the reality is that man needs mercy, and whenever sinful man accepts Christ, mercy rewrites his life. Mercy is always tied to the fear of God. The fear of God is rooted in the understanding that we deserve nothing, but because of the grace of God, we receive the good things of God. It’s not that we are scared of God, but godly fear is a holy awe and respect.
She then says, “From generation to generation,” meaning this promise is forever.
Strength
Verse 51 says, “He hath shewed strength with His arm.” This proclaims the power of God.
Psalm 63:8 says, “My soul followeth hard after thee: Thy right hand upholdeth me.”
Psalm 37:24 says, “Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with His hand.” As stated, this speaks of God’s power. His power protects us, strengthens us, helps us, and fights for us.
Luke 1:51 ends by stating, “He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.” The Lord ignores the proud and the haughty but shines His glory on the humble.
Humility
Luke 1:52 says, “He puts down the mighty from their seats and exalts them of low degree.” Once again, humility is stressed here. Luke 18:14 says, “For everyone that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”
Good Things
Luke 1:53 says, “He hath filled the hungry with good things.”
Matthew 5:6 says, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: For they shall be filled.” Filled with what? Good things!
“The rich He hath sent empty away,” (Lk. 1:53). Revelation 3:17 says, “Because you say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing: And knowest not that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.”
Forever
Finally, Mary said, “He hath helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy; as He spoke to our fathers to Abraham and to his seed forever.”
Mary’s song begins with “magnifying the Lord,” and closes with the promises of God being remembered forever.
The song of Mary—may we ever learn and walk in its intent.
Donnie Swaggart
Bread Crumbs “Steps in the Desert”
There will be times in our Christian life where the Lord takes us through desert experiences that are not enjoyable. As human beings it is natural for us to depend upon ourselves. It is unnatural for us to depend upon God and His Word. God may see the need to humble us to help us grasp the power and life giving potential of His precious Word. He may have to allow a circumstance to hinder our wrong direction and send us scampering in desperation towards the pages of that Bible, so long neglected. He may bring us to hunger, but only that we might see the need to search out “manna from heaven.” He longs for us to realize that man is not meant to live by bread alone. The Lord desires for us to develop a daily dependence upon His Words. All direction for life and living flows from them. And, if need be, God will take us through a desert to teach us reliance upon His wonderful words of life. When you began to search out His Word on a daily basis, your desert experience will begin to blossom and bloom into the security of riches and wisdom contained in the precious seed of God’s Word!
Deuteronomy 8:3 - And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.
Pastor Loren Larson
Loren Larson Ministries
There will be times in our Christian life where the Lord takes us through desert experiences that are not enjoyable. As human beings it is natural for us to depend upon ourselves. It is unnatural for us to depend upon God and His Word. God may see the need to humble us to help us grasp the power and life giving potential of His precious Word. He may have to allow a circumstance to hinder our wrong direction and send us scampering in desperation towards the pages of that Bible, so long neglected. He may bring us to hunger, but only that we might see the need to search out “manna from heaven.” He longs for us to realize that man is not meant to live by bread alone. The Lord desires for us to develop a daily dependence upon His Words. All direction for life and living flows from them. And, if need be, God will take us through a desert to teach us reliance upon His wonderful words of life. When you began to search out His Word on a daily basis, your desert experience will begin to blossom and bloom into the security of riches and wisdom contained in the precious seed of God’s Word!
Deuteronomy 8:3 - And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.
Pastor Loren Larson
Loren Larson Ministries
The Miracle of God’s Word
Proverbs 24:18
Lest the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
This is amazing! The Lord reveals here the benefit of our NOT rejoicing when our enemy falls, or being glad when they stumble. He is displeased, which first of all, reveals that we are not walking IN THE FAITH when our hearts are not right toward even those who are against us. It is impossible to please Him without faith (Hebrews 11:6). Our faithful Lord says that He will be displeased when this happens and turn His wrath from them.
It is far better for the child of God to have God’s wrath against those who are against us, than for us to retaliate with gladness of heart and rejoicing when we see them stumbling and falling. The Lord can handle those who are stumbling and falling, but when our hearts are not right toward their situation, He will remove His wrath from them, and this would not be a good thing for the child of God, for His wrath against the enemy is one of the things He uses for our protection. Faith in the cross is the only object God has given anyone to be able to hear properly, receive properly and to be able to have the needed heart toward even those who are against us.
Seeking God in His Word and experiencing Him through faith in the sacrifice of Christ!
Pastor Curtis
Proverbs 24:18
Lest the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
This is amazing! The Lord reveals here the benefit of our NOT rejoicing when our enemy falls, or being glad when they stumble. He is displeased, which first of all, reveals that we are not walking IN THE FAITH when our hearts are not right toward even those who are against us. It is impossible to please Him without faith (Hebrews 11:6). Our faithful Lord says that He will be displeased when this happens and turn His wrath from them.
It is far better for the child of God to have God’s wrath against those who are against us, than for us to retaliate with gladness of heart and rejoicing when we see them stumbling and falling. The Lord can handle those who are stumbling and falling, but when our hearts are not right toward their situation, He will remove His wrath from them, and this would not be a good thing for the child of God, for His wrath against the enemy is one of the things He uses for our protection. Faith in the cross is the only object God has given anyone to be able to hear properly, receive properly and to be able to have the needed heart toward even those who are against us.
Seeking God in His Word and experiencing Him through faith in the sacrifice of Christ!
Pastor Curtis
Your Word for Today
“and I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of Truth; Whom the world cannot receive, because it sees Him not, neither knows Him: but you know Him; for He dwells with you, and shall be in you (Jn. 14:16-17).
Jesus said more about the Holy Spirit the last week of His Life than all the balance of His Ministry put together. There was a reason for that. He is now about to leave His Disciples. So now He will tell them how the Holy Spirit will be sent back to them in a completely new dimension, a dimension, in fact, that Believers had not heretofore known.
Before the Cross, the Holy Spirit only dwelt “with Believers,” only coming into hearts and lives occasionally, and then only for a period of time to enable certain individuals to carry out the work designed for them by the Lord. However, even among the great Prophets and Sages of the Old Testament, still, the Spirit’s Work with them was severely restricted and limited, even though He helped them to do great things on many occasions.
John the Baptist was the one who would introduce Christ, the One to Whom all the other great Prophets had pointed. So, John could be rightly said to be the greatest Prophet born of woman under the Old Covenant. But, because of the new dimension of the Holy Spirit’s Work in the lives of Believers after the Cross was a Finished Work, Jesus said that the least Believer under the New Covenant was greater than John the Baptist (Lk. 7:28).
That didn’t mean that modern Believers would be greater in character, etc., but rather greater in privileges, all because of what Christ has done at the Cross.
Before the Cross, animal sacrifices served as a substitute until the Substance would eventually come, Who, of course, would be Christ; however, the blood of animal sacrifices was woefully insufficient to retire the sin debt (Heb. 10:4). The sin debt, therefore, remained, which meant that the Holy Spirit was limited in what He could do.
But since the Cross, where the price was paid for sin — past, present, and future — and in every capacity, at least for all who will believe (Jn. 3:16), man, as a vessel, by evidencing Faith in Christ and what Christ did at the Cross, can be clean in every capacity, thereby a fit subject for the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Of all the great things the Cross afforded, one could probably say, without fear of contradiction, that the enabling of the Holy Spirit coming now in a new dimension is undoubtedly the greatest help of all.
Before the Law, the Holy Spirit, in a sense, accompanied the Sacrifices, at least those ordained by God. During the time of the Law, the Holy Spirit occupied the Holy of Holies, actually residing, so to speak, between the Mercy Seat and the Cherubim. During the time of Christ, He resided exclusively within the Lamb of God, because He was no longer residing in the Holy of Holies in the Temple.
Some 500 years before Christ, in fact, Ezekiel saw the Holy Spirit leave the Temple in Jerusalem because of Israel’s rebellion against the Lord regarding the worshipping of idols (Ezek. 11:23). But when Jesus died on the Cross, and then was resurrected and ascended to the Father, due to what He had done at the Cross, He could now send back the Holy Spirit in this glorious new dimension, which He most definitely did, Who now resides in the hearts and lives of Believers, and does so permanently, all made possible, as stated, by the Cross (I Cor. 3:16).”
—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”
Donnie Swaggart
“and I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of Truth; Whom the world cannot receive, because it sees Him not, neither knows Him: but you know Him; for He dwells with you, and shall be in you (Jn. 14:16-17).
Jesus said more about the Holy Spirit the last week of His Life than all the balance of His Ministry put together. There was a reason for that. He is now about to leave His Disciples. So now He will tell them how the Holy Spirit will be sent back to them in a completely new dimension, a dimension, in fact, that Believers had not heretofore known.
Before the Cross, the Holy Spirit only dwelt “with Believers,” only coming into hearts and lives occasionally, and then only for a period of time to enable certain individuals to carry out the work designed for them by the Lord. However, even among the great Prophets and Sages of the Old Testament, still, the Spirit’s Work with them was severely restricted and limited, even though He helped them to do great things on many occasions.
John the Baptist was the one who would introduce Christ, the One to Whom all the other great Prophets had pointed. So, John could be rightly said to be the greatest Prophet born of woman under the Old Covenant. But, because of the new dimension of the Holy Spirit’s Work in the lives of Believers after the Cross was a Finished Work, Jesus said that the least Believer under the New Covenant was greater than John the Baptist (Lk. 7:28).
That didn’t mean that modern Believers would be greater in character, etc., but rather greater in privileges, all because of what Christ has done at the Cross.
Before the Cross, animal sacrifices served as a substitute until the Substance would eventually come, Who, of course, would be Christ; however, the blood of animal sacrifices was woefully insufficient to retire the sin debt (Heb. 10:4). The sin debt, therefore, remained, which meant that the Holy Spirit was limited in what He could do.
But since the Cross, where the price was paid for sin — past, present, and future — and in every capacity, at least for all who will believe (Jn. 3:16), man, as a vessel, by evidencing Faith in Christ and what Christ did at the Cross, can be clean in every capacity, thereby a fit subject for the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Of all the great things the Cross afforded, one could probably say, without fear of contradiction, that the enabling of the Holy Spirit coming now in a new dimension is undoubtedly the greatest help of all.
Before the Law, the Holy Spirit, in a sense, accompanied the Sacrifices, at least those ordained by God. During the time of the Law, the Holy Spirit occupied the Holy of Holies, actually residing, so to speak, between the Mercy Seat and the Cherubim. During the time of Christ, He resided exclusively within the Lamb of God, because He was no longer residing in the Holy of Holies in the Temple.
Some 500 years before Christ, in fact, Ezekiel saw the Holy Spirit leave the Temple in Jerusalem because of Israel’s rebellion against the Lord regarding the worshipping of idols (Ezek. 11:23). But when Jesus died on the Cross, and then was resurrected and ascended to the Father, due to what He had done at the Cross, He could now send back the Holy Spirit in this glorious new dimension, which He most definitely did, Who now resides in the hearts and lives of Believers, and does so permanently, all made possible, as stated, by the Cross (I Cor. 3:16).”
—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”
Donnie Swaggart
Bread Crumbs “My Greatest Treasure”
The greatest treasure of my life is the relationship that I have with my Heavenly Father. By faith I have accepted Christ as my Savior and He, in turn, has introduced me to God the Father. I have found Him to be kind, all knowing, merciful, all-powerful, glorious and regal. Yet He remains both humble and unassuming. He daily spreads a table before me laden with good things that brings life and strength to my soul. He guides me through the obstacle course of life and helps me to run this race with power and strength that far surpasses my natural ability. In Him I have found a complete companion, a constant comforter, and a careful confidant. My heavenly Father sustains my soul, fills my heart with gladness, brings perfect peace to my mind, and coddles me like a little child when I feel lonely or lost. At times He chastises, rebukes, or reproves my choices, my actions, and my attitudes. But this too is done out of His immeasurable love for me and His ongoing aggressive desire for my well-being. My Father in heaven truly is my greatest treasure, my prize possession, and my one true reason for living.
Matthew 13:45-46 - Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: (46) Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
Pastor Loren Larson
Loren Larson Ministries
The greatest treasure of my life is the relationship that I have with my Heavenly Father. By faith I have accepted Christ as my Savior and He, in turn, has introduced me to God the Father. I have found Him to be kind, all knowing, merciful, all-powerful, glorious and regal. Yet He remains both humble and unassuming. He daily spreads a table before me laden with good things that brings life and strength to my soul. He guides me through the obstacle course of life and helps me to run this race with power and strength that far surpasses my natural ability. In Him I have found a complete companion, a constant comforter, and a careful confidant. My heavenly Father sustains my soul, fills my heart with gladness, brings perfect peace to my mind, and coddles me like a little child when I feel lonely or lost. At times He chastises, rebukes, or reproves my choices, my actions, and my attitudes. But this too is done out of His immeasurable love for me and His ongoing aggressive desire for my well-being. My Father in heaven truly is my greatest treasure, my prize possession, and my one true reason for living.
Matthew 13:45-46 - Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: (46) Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
Pastor Loren Larson
Loren Larson Ministries
The Miracle of God’s Word
Proverbs 24:19
Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked;
For all of man’s existence, the enemy has never ceased to put on a display of what seems to be so attractive, but in reality only offers death. It was not God’s people that invented cattle ranching, the forging of weapons, musical instruments, or any of the other arts of this world in which Satan is the god of (2 Corinthians 4:4). God has offered His people the great benefit of knowing Him and walking with Him, those of which this present world is not worthy to even have now among them (Hebrews 11:37-38).
The devil offered Jesus Himself all the riches of this world, but Jesus wouldn’t bow the knee to him and as our example and Savior we should walk separate from them also. We have been crucified to the world and the world unto us as believers In Christ (Galatians 6:14), and therefore we should see the world as it really is, which is DEAD IN SIN, even though it looks mighty tasty to the flesh as did the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil was to Eve, we are not to envy them, but to live a Life In Christ that rather causes them to envy us!
Seeking God in His Word and experiencing Him through faith in the sacrifice of Christ!
Pastor Curtis
Proverbs 24:19
Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked;
For all of man’s existence, the enemy has never ceased to put on a display of what seems to be so attractive, but in reality only offers death. It was not God’s people that invented cattle ranching, the forging of weapons, musical instruments, or any of the other arts of this world in which Satan is the god of (2 Corinthians 4:4). God has offered His people the great benefit of knowing Him and walking with Him, those of which this present world is not worthy to even have now among them (Hebrews 11:37-38).
The devil offered Jesus Himself all the riches of this world, but Jesus wouldn’t bow the knee to him and as our example and Savior we should walk separate from them also. We have been crucified to the world and the world unto us as believers In Christ (Galatians 6:14), and therefore we should see the world as it really is, which is DEAD IN SIN, even though it looks mighty tasty to the flesh as did the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil was to Eve, we are not to envy them, but to live a Life In Christ that rather causes them to envy us!
Seeking God in His Word and experiencing Him through faith in the sacrifice of Christ!
Pastor Curtis
Your Word for Today
“and now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your Own Name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one, as We are (Jn. 17:11).
Five times in this one prayer, incidentally, the longest recorded prayer of Christ, Jesus prayed for unity among Believers. Five is the number of Grace, signifying that this unity can be reached only by and through the Grace of God. But considering that He prayed five times in this one prayer for that petition to be fulfilled, we should then know and realize just how important this is for which He prayed.
The five times are found in Verses 11, 21 (two times in this one Verse), 22 and 23.
What did Jesus actually mean concerning Believers being “one”?
First of all, this certainly cannot be done unless Believers are properly in Christ. Jesus said, “that they also may be one in Us” (17:21). This is so important, being properly in Christ, that Paul used this phrase (i.e., “in Christ) or one of its derivatives (i.e., “in Him, in Whom,” etc.) over one hundred times in His fourteen Epistles. So, unity is impossible without all being in Christ.
The next requirement is the critical issue. It pertains to the great Plan of God, consummated in Jesus Christ, which refers to the price that Christ paid on the Cross of Calvary. In other words, the “unity” here addressed must be in the Message of the Cross. Immediately after this prayer, Jesus went to the Cross. He gave to the Apostle Paul the meaning of the Cross, which, in effect, is the meaning of the New Covenant. Therefore, the “oneness” of which our Lord spoke must be centered up in His atoning, Substitutionary, Efficacious, and Vicarious Work on the Cross. This was Paul’s Message as well!
In the First Chapter of I Corinthians, Paul warned greatly about division and then summed it up by saying, “For Christ sent me not to baptize (meaning that the unity is not to be found in Church ordinances), but to preach the Gospel (now he tells us what the Gospel actually is): not with wisdom of words, lest the Cross of Christ should be made of none effect” (I Cor. 1:17). There, and there alone, Christ and the Substitutionary Offering of Himself in Sacrifice, must be the sphere of unity, as it alone can be the sphere of unity.
For those who preach another Message, the Word is clear, “Let him be accursed” (Gal. 1:8).”
—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”
Donnie Swaggart
“and now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your Own Name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one, as We are (Jn. 17:11).
Five times in this one prayer, incidentally, the longest recorded prayer of Christ, Jesus prayed for unity among Believers. Five is the number of Grace, signifying that this unity can be reached only by and through the Grace of God. But considering that He prayed five times in this one prayer for that petition to be fulfilled, we should then know and realize just how important this is for which He prayed.
The five times are found in Verses 11, 21 (two times in this one Verse), 22 and 23.
What did Jesus actually mean concerning Believers being “one”?
First of all, this certainly cannot be done unless Believers are properly in Christ. Jesus said, “that they also may be one in Us” (17:21). This is so important, being properly in Christ, that Paul used this phrase (i.e., “in Christ) or one of its derivatives (i.e., “in Him, in Whom,” etc.) over one hundred times in His fourteen Epistles. So, unity is impossible without all being in Christ.
The next requirement is the critical issue. It pertains to the great Plan of God, consummated in Jesus Christ, which refers to the price that Christ paid on the Cross of Calvary. In other words, the “unity” here addressed must be in the Message of the Cross. Immediately after this prayer, Jesus went to the Cross. He gave to the Apostle Paul the meaning of the Cross, which, in effect, is the meaning of the New Covenant. Therefore, the “oneness” of which our Lord spoke must be centered up in His atoning, Substitutionary, Efficacious, and Vicarious Work on the Cross. This was Paul’s Message as well!
In the First Chapter of I Corinthians, Paul warned greatly about division and then summed it up by saying, “For Christ sent me not to baptize (meaning that the unity is not to be found in Church ordinances), but to preach the Gospel (now he tells us what the Gospel actually is): not with wisdom of words, lest the Cross of Christ should be made of none effect” (I Cor. 1:17). There, and there alone, Christ and the Substitutionary Offering of Himself in Sacrifice, must be the sphere of unity, as it alone can be the sphere of unity.
For those who preach another Message, the Word is clear, “Let him be accursed” (Gal. 1:8).”
—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”
Donnie Swaggart
It is foreign to humanity yet available to all. It is the opposite of sin. It is moral perfection. It is that which makes us acceptable to God. It is an indispensable immutable characteristic of God. I’m talking about righteousness.
Necessary To Enter Heaven
“(A Psalm of David.) LORD, who shall abide in Thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in Thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart” (Ps. 15:1-2). David tells us that “working righteousness” is a requirement if we desire to dwell in God’s holy hill one day. Of course we understand that he is talking about dwelling with God in heaven.
The Need For Righteousness
Paul, as a skilled builder, lays down a theological foundation for the book of Romans by proving that all of mankind, whether Jew or Gentile, stands guilty of sin and is therefore in need of a Saviour. “For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law” (Rom. 2:12).
If this was not clear enough, Paul goes on to state it in the most straightforward fashion possible: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). This verse expresses the universal condition of the whole human race. It’s not that the majority of mankind is unrighteous, but all of mankind is void of even a smidgen of righteousness.
Two Kinds Of Righteousness
“Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith” (Phil. 3:8-9).
Two sources of righteousness are presented here: a man-made righteousness and the righteousness which is by God. There is no third source. If our righteousness does not come from God and Him alone, it is unrighteousness.
Obtaining God’s Righteousness
Let us look at the foundation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Through repentance and faith, we can receive the imputed righteousness of God. Salvation is an act of grace and not an act of works. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:8-9).
Imputed righteousness is God’s righteousness freely given to us as a result of receiving Christ as our Saviour. We give Him our sins, and He gives us His righteousness. Some call this double imputation. Our sins were imputed upon Jesus at Calvary, and His righteousness was imputed to us when we accepted Christ as our Lord and Saviour. At that point of time, Jesus, the personification of God’s righteousness, credits us with His righteousness.
Which Righteousness Do You Have?
Which type of righteousness do you have? It is either man-made righteousness or it is God-given righteousness. There are some who would try to convince you that it can be a little of both. They are mistaken. We cannot begin with imputed righteousness for salvation then switch to man-made righteousness for our sanctification. We cannot start in grace but continue by works. The righteousness a believer walks in from day to day is still tied to the completed work of Calvary. He is forever my source of righteousness and victory.
Pastor Mike Muzzerall
Necessary To Enter Heaven
“(A Psalm of David.) LORD, who shall abide in Thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in Thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart” (Ps. 15:1-2). David tells us that “working righteousness” is a requirement if we desire to dwell in God’s holy hill one day. Of course we understand that he is talking about dwelling with God in heaven.
The Need For Righteousness
Paul, as a skilled builder, lays down a theological foundation for the book of Romans by proving that all of mankind, whether Jew or Gentile, stands guilty of sin and is therefore in need of a Saviour. “For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law” (Rom. 2:12).
If this was not clear enough, Paul goes on to state it in the most straightforward fashion possible: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). This verse expresses the universal condition of the whole human race. It’s not that the majority of mankind is unrighteous, but all of mankind is void of even a smidgen of righteousness.
Two Kinds Of Righteousness
“Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith” (Phil. 3:8-9).
Two sources of righteousness are presented here: a man-made righteousness and the righteousness which is by God. There is no third source. If our righteousness does not come from God and Him alone, it is unrighteousness.
Obtaining God’s Righteousness
Let us look at the foundation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Through repentance and faith, we can receive the imputed righteousness of God. Salvation is an act of grace and not an act of works. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:8-9).
Imputed righteousness is God’s righteousness freely given to us as a result of receiving Christ as our Saviour. We give Him our sins, and He gives us His righteousness. Some call this double imputation. Our sins were imputed upon Jesus at Calvary, and His righteousness was imputed to us when we accepted Christ as our Lord and Saviour. At that point of time, Jesus, the personification of God’s righteousness, credits us with His righteousness.
Which Righteousness Do You Have?
Which type of righteousness do you have? It is either man-made righteousness or it is God-given righteousness. There are some who would try to convince you that it can be a little of both. They are mistaken. We cannot begin with imputed righteousness for salvation then switch to man-made righteousness for our sanctification. We cannot start in grace but continue by works. The righteousness a believer walks in from day to day is still tied to the completed work of Calvary. He is forever my source of righteousness and victory.
Pastor Mike Muzzerall
“Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the LORD, Tomorrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria. Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.” — II Kings 7:1-2
It Came To Pass
As believers we will often face situations that are difficult. We should always recall to mind that God is in charge of all that occurs in the life of His saints. While it may not seem so at the time, the issues we face today—issues that bring anxiety or even pain into our lives—will not last forever. God will often allow certain situations to exist in order to affect a needed change in our hearts. He knows what kind of pressure will be needed to break us of self sufficiency, dependence upon the flesh, pride, or trust in anything other than His delivering and sustaining power. As we travel through the trials of life, keep in mind that we are traveling through. Over and over again in the Scriptures that little clause is repeated: “It came to pass.” Well, my friend, be assured that this which you are going through today will pass as well.
Our God Is A “Suddenly” God!
When we have learned all that we can learn from our present trial, God will remove it. Even when our own foolishness or sin has created the situation, God is able to bring good out of it. If we as believers will repent of our wrongdoing, God will always bring us back to a place where His peace and strength will dim the trials of our past. And the beauty of it all is that it does not take God years, months, or even weeks to turn things around. We serve a “suddenly” God.
In a single moment, on any given day, at the time of His choosing, God can turn a seemingly unredeemable and unending situation upside down, reverse its course, and bring a blessing out of heartache. He is not limited as man is limited. When God is ready to move, nothing can stand in His way. Again, I encourage you to believe. I encourage you to look up, for “your redemption draweth nigh.” The change you have dreamed of and cried for may be only one moment from occurring. Let hope arise in your heart and allow the Holy Spirit to strengthen you until that time when God does what He has promised to do. He is able!
Elisha’s Story
In our opening text, Elisha prophesied an unbelievable deliverance from the Lord. Samaria was under siege by the armies of Assyria. Famine gripped the city to the extent that mothers were eating their children. Donkey head and dove dung were expensive fare for a meal. No end of this situation could be seen. But one day, Elisha stands up and in essence says, “By this time tomorrow the famine will be over, the enemy will be defeated, and abundance of food and money will flow through the gates of Samaria.”
A lord who was close to the king stood up and rebuked Elisha for his words. He chose to walk in unbelief in regard to the word given through Elisha. But God would do exactly as He had spoken through the man of God. That evening, just as the sun was setting, four lepers who were desperate and beyond hope brought the news. They had ventured out into the camp of the Assyrians and had been the first to see God’s miracle working hand. The enemy had fled and left great supplies of food and spoil. In less than one day, God had done the impossible. Incidentally, the man who acted in unbelief was trampled by the people as they ran to obtain what he had refused to believe. Don’t stop believing God!
He Will Do It For You
The Bible plainly states that God is no respecter of persons. What He has done for others, He can do for us. Joseph’s prison sentence was changed in a day. He went from being a prisoner to being the prince of Egypt. The demoniac of Gadara started off one day tormented by a legion of devils and began the next day sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. Paul and Silas were beaten within an inch of their lives, but at midnight God heard their praise and sent an earthquake to free them.
Take heart, dear friend, if God can do it for these, He can and will do it for you!
Pastor Loren Larson
It Came To Pass
As believers we will often face situations that are difficult. We should always recall to mind that God is in charge of all that occurs in the life of His saints. While it may not seem so at the time, the issues we face today—issues that bring anxiety or even pain into our lives—will not last forever. God will often allow certain situations to exist in order to affect a needed change in our hearts. He knows what kind of pressure will be needed to break us of self sufficiency, dependence upon the flesh, pride, or trust in anything other than His delivering and sustaining power. As we travel through the trials of life, keep in mind that we are traveling through. Over and over again in the Scriptures that little clause is repeated: “It came to pass.” Well, my friend, be assured that this which you are going through today will pass as well.
Our God Is A “Suddenly” God!
When we have learned all that we can learn from our present trial, God will remove it. Even when our own foolishness or sin has created the situation, God is able to bring good out of it. If we as believers will repent of our wrongdoing, God will always bring us back to a place where His peace and strength will dim the trials of our past. And the beauty of it all is that it does not take God years, months, or even weeks to turn things around. We serve a “suddenly” God.
In a single moment, on any given day, at the time of His choosing, God can turn a seemingly unredeemable and unending situation upside down, reverse its course, and bring a blessing out of heartache. He is not limited as man is limited. When God is ready to move, nothing can stand in His way. Again, I encourage you to believe. I encourage you to look up, for “your redemption draweth nigh.” The change you have dreamed of and cried for may be only one moment from occurring. Let hope arise in your heart and allow the Holy Spirit to strengthen you until that time when God does what He has promised to do. He is able!
Elisha’s Story
In our opening text, Elisha prophesied an unbelievable deliverance from the Lord. Samaria was under siege by the armies of Assyria. Famine gripped the city to the extent that mothers were eating their children. Donkey head and dove dung were expensive fare for a meal. No end of this situation could be seen. But one day, Elisha stands up and in essence says, “By this time tomorrow the famine will be over, the enemy will be defeated, and abundance of food and money will flow through the gates of Samaria.”
A lord who was close to the king stood up and rebuked Elisha for his words. He chose to walk in unbelief in regard to the word given through Elisha. But God would do exactly as He had spoken through the man of God. That evening, just as the sun was setting, four lepers who were desperate and beyond hope brought the news. They had ventured out into the camp of the Assyrians and had been the first to see God’s miracle working hand. The enemy had fled and left great supplies of food and spoil. In less than one day, God had done the impossible. Incidentally, the man who acted in unbelief was trampled by the people as they ran to obtain what he had refused to believe. Don’t stop believing God!
He Will Do It For You
The Bible plainly states that God is no respecter of persons. What He has done for others, He can do for us. Joseph’s prison sentence was changed in a day. He went from being a prisoner to being the prince of Egypt. The demoniac of Gadara started off one day tormented by a legion of devils and began the next day sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. Paul and Silas were beaten within an inch of their lives, but at midnight God heard their praise and sent an earthquake to free them.
Take heart, dear friend, if God can do it for these, He can and will do it for you!
Pastor Loren Larson
Bread Crumbs “Reviving Relationship With Jesus”
There is a special unique beauty that resides within the framework of the relationship of a first love. The excitement that exists, the wonder, the sharing, the learning about one another. All of these earmark the spectacle of giving your heart away. We wonder, at the beginning, if our love will be returned. We are a little nervous about putting ourselves in the position where we might be disappointed or hurt. Sadly, there is always the chance that the cutting edge of this sensational relationship could begin to grow dull. What was once new, fresh, and exciting falls prey to the doldrums of daily activity and schedule. We may even begin to be unappreciative of all that this other person brings into our lives. The worse case scenario would be that a lack of interest grows until little or no attention is paid to the one who has always paid attention to us. Have you forgotten the excitement of that “just saved” feeling? Has relationship with Jesus succumbed to a routine of religious activity? If that is the case then let me suggest that it's never too late for a revival of your “first love” for Jesus. Perhaps its past time for a second honeymoon?
Psalm 63:3 - Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.
Pastor Loren Larson
Loren Larson Ministries
There is a special unique beauty that resides within the framework of the relationship of a first love. The excitement that exists, the wonder, the sharing, the learning about one another. All of these earmark the spectacle of giving your heart away. We wonder, at the beginning, if our love will be returned. We are a little nervous about putting ourselves in the position where we might be disappointed or hurt. Sadly, there is always the chance that the cutting edge of this sensational relationship could begin to grow dull. What was once new, fresh, and exciting falls prey to the doldrums of daily activity and schedule. We may even begin to be unappreciative of all that this other person brings into our lives. The worse case scenario would be that a lack of interest grows until little or no attention is paid to the one who has always paid attention to us. Have you forgotten the excitement of that “just saved” feeling? Has relationship with Jesus succumbed to a routine of religious activity? If that is the case then let me suggest that it's never too late for a revival of your “first love” for Jesus. Perhaps its past time for a second honeymoon?
Psalm 63:3 - Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.
Pastor Loren Larson
Loren Larson Ministries
The Miracle of God’s Word
Proverbs 24:20
For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.
More knowledge concerning why the child of God shouldn’t envy the wicked and the evil ways of the world. God says there will be no reward to the evil man, and even the candle of the wicked will be put out, which refers to the spirit of man God calls His candle. The candle of man is the spirit of man (Proverbs 20:27), and this candle will ultimately be put out forever if they have rejected the Lord and chosen the ways of the world.
This is not the case with the child of God who has chosen Christ over the ways of the world, and are trusting in Him to soon see that place He is preparing for them. Today we choose Christ again and His Way of Life which is the Way of the Cross, and there we see His face and find His will for our lives. Praise be to the Lamb of God forever and ever!
Seeking God in His Word and experiencing Him through faith in the sacrifice of Christ!
Pastor Curtis
Proverbs 24:20
For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.
More knowledge concerning why the child of God shouldn’t envy the wicked and the evil ways of the world. God says there will be no reward to the evil man, and even the candle of the wicked will be put out, which refers to the spirit of man God calls His candle. The candle of man is the spirit of man (Proverbs 20:27), and this candle will ultimately be put out forever if they have rejected the Lord and chosen the ways of the world.
This is not the case with the child of God who has chosen Christ over the ways of the world, and are trusting in Him to soon see that place He is preparing for them. Today we choose Christ again and His Way of Life which is the Way of the Cross, and there we see His face and find His will for our lives. Praise be to the Lamb of God forever and ever!
Seeking God in His Word and experiencing Him through faith in the sacrifice of Christ!
Pastor Curtis
Your Word for Today
“and the Glory which You gave Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as We are One (Jn. 17:22).
It can be said, I think, that the Holy Spirit through Christ explained the Trinity in this Seventeenth Chapter of the Gospel of John as no place else in the Word of God. While there are three Personalities in the Godhead, there is but One God; Jesus here explains what He means by “One.”
These three Personalities, are, above all, One in Essence, and are manifested in “God the Father,” “God the Son,” and “God the Holy Spirit.” All three, as stated, are God, but there aren’t three Gods, just One; One in Unity, One in Purpose, and One in Essence.
Jesus used the word “One” six times in this Seventeenth Chapter. The word, as He used it, was not as a number, but rather as Unity and Purpose.
Concerning Himself and the Father, He used the pronouns, “We” and “Us” (Vss. 11, 21, 22), denoting plurality. Jesus was praying to the Father, and the Holy Spirit was helping Him pray, which denotes the Trinity.
If Jesus and the Father are One and the Same, as some teach, then Jesus was here praying to Himself, which is ridiculous! No! He was praying to His Father in Heaven, which means that He and the Father, although “One” in Unity, Purpose, and Essence, are two distinct Personalities. The confusion concerning the Trinity comes in because of Three manifestations being One; however, Jesus explains it perfectly in this Seventeenth Chapter. “One” is not referred to as a number, but rather as a description. If it is understood in that light, then problems regarding the Trinity are cleared up, becoming, in fact, easy to understand, at least as far as we poor human beings can understand such.
As well, if a person wants to know what God the Father is like, that person only has to look at the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philip said to the Lord, “Show us the Father.” Jesus answered him by saying, “Have I been so long with you, and yet have you not known Me, Philip?” (Jn. 14:8-9). Jesus wasn’t meaning that He was the Father, but rather that He was the same as the Father in Essence. So, if you’ve seen Jesus, you’ve seen the Father (Jn. 14:10-11).”
—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”
Donnie Swaggart
“and the Glory which You gave Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as We are One (Jn. 17:22).
It can be said, I think, that the Holy Spirit through Christ explained the Trinity in this Seventeenth Chapter of the Gospel of John as no place else in the Word of God. While there are three Personalities in the Godhead, there is but One God; Jesus here explains what He means by “One.”
These three Personalities, are, above all, One in Essence, and are manifested in “God the Father,” “God the Son,” and “God the Holy Spirit.” All three, as stated, are God, but there aren’t three Gods, just One; One in Unity, One in Purpose, and One in Essence.
Jesus used the word “One” six times in this Seventeenth Chapter. The word, as He used it, was not as a number, but rather as Unity and Purpose.
Concerning Himself and the Father, He used the pronouns, “We” and “Us” (Vss. 11, 21, 22), denoting plurality. Jesus was praying to the Father, and the Holy Spirit was helping Him pray, which denotes the Trinity.
If Jesus and the Father are One and the Same, as some teach, then Jesus was here praying to Himself, which is ridiculous! No! He was praying to His Father in Heaven, which means that He and the Father, although “One” in Unity, Purpose, and Essence, are two distinct Personalities. The confusion concerning the Trinity comes in because of Three manifestations being One; however, Jesus explains it perfectly in this Seventeenth Chapter. “One” is not referred to as a number, but rather as a description. If it is understood in that light, then problems regarding the Trinity are cleared up, becoming, in fact, easy to understand, at least as far as we poor human beings can understand such.
As well, if a person wants to know what God the Father is like, that person only has to look at the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philip said to the Lord, “Show us the Father.” Jesus answered him by saying, “Have I been so long with you, and yet have you not known Me, Philip?” (Jn. 14:8-9). Jesus wasn’t meaning that He was the Father, but rather that He was the same as the Father in Essence. So, if you’ve seen Jesus, you’ve seen the Father (Jn. 14:10-11).”
—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”
Donnie Swaggart
Bread Crumbs “Loving Your Neighbor”
The Bible tells us that we are to love our neighbor as much as we love ourselves. If one would truly consider the exorbitant amount of time we spend thinking about ourselves and our everyday situations, we would truly appreciate the impact of this command. Ever since man fell in the garden of Eden we have been inappropriately focused upon ourselves. Everything is about “me.” What I want. What I feel. What I expect. I pray about my needs. I take steps to provide my desires. I travel in the direction that I desire to go. When we pursue headlong into a life of self absorption the ability to notice the needs of others is greatly hindered. I am free to love Christ, to love people, and to love life. But the liberty that I have in Christ is not just a liberty by which I serve myself. This freedom that I enjoy should always include thoughts regarding the needs and desires of those around us.
Selfishness will almost always precede an abuse of this Christian liberty, causing our selfish actions to poorly reflect upon the Christ we have chosen to serve. Let us serve others with the same zeal and intensity with which we pursue the things that pertain to us.
Matthew 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Pastor Loren Larson
Loren Larson Ministries
The Bible tells us that we are to love our neighbor as much as we love ourselves. If one would truly consider the exorbitant amount of time we spend thinking about ourselves and our everyday situations, we would truly appreciate the impact of this command. Ever since man fell in the garden of Eden we have been inappropriately focused upon ourselves. Everything is about “me.” What I want. What I feel. What I expect. I pray about my needs. I take steps to provide my desires. I travel in the direction that I desire to go. When we pursue headlong into a life of self absorption the ability to notice the needs of others is greatly hindered. I am free to love Christ, to love people, and to love life. But the liberty that I have in Christ is not just a liberty by which I serve myself. This freedom that I enjoy should always include thoughts regarding the needs and desires of those around us.
Selfishness will almost always precede an abuse of this Christian liberty, causing our selfish actions to poorly reflect upon the Christ we have chosen to serve. Let us serve others with the same zeal and intensity with which we pursue the things that pertain to us.
Matthew 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Pastor Loren Larson
Loren Larson Ministries