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“but the Children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the Tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the Children of Israel (Josh. 7:1).
Israel had won a great victory regarding Jericho. The victory, of course, belonged to the Lord. The Believer, however, as Joshua, is sometimes caught off guard after a great victory. It is easy at such a time to be overconfident, and, thereby, to forget prayer. Had Joshua prayed about Ai, sin would immediately have been discovered and defeat avoided.
A hidden sin was the cause of Israel’s defeat at Ai. God had given the Command that none of the “treasure” of Jericho was to be taken by the people; all of it was to be dedicated to the treasury of the Lord. Achan had disobeyed that Command and had taken for himself some silver, gold, and a Babylonian garment (Josh. 7:21).
In the life of victory, God is the One and Only strength of the Believer. We have no other strength. But God cannot give that strength if we indulge in sin. If He did, He would deny His Own Nature, which is Holiness. When He acts in power in the midst of His People, He must act in harmony with His Own Nature; hence, He must judge sin in the camp of Israel with the same “fierce anger” with which He judged it in the city of Jericho. In both cases, that Judgment was death.
But if the judgment and discovery of sin be painful, and if there be faithfulness in dealing with it, then Grace gives both blessing and victory, and the valley of Achor becomes a “Door of Hope” (Hos. 2:15).
The valley of Achor was where Achan was executed for his sin and his refusal to repent, until forced by Joshua. Sin should be feared, and extremely so, but neither its bitterness nor its punishment should be dreaded; for if it is dealt with correctly, by confessing it to the Lord, then, as stated, the “valley of Achor,” which had been a valley of death, now becomes a “Door of Hope” (I Jn. 1:9).
The Christian fails when the Christian gets his eyes off Christ and the Cross and onto self, which denies such a one the help of the Holy Spirit. That being the case, the person is to be restored by telling them “why” they failed, and how, once again, to resume the road of victory, i.e., Christ and the Cross (Gal. 6:1).”
—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”) Donnie Swaggart
Living out the Christian life is an impossibility if a Christian does not understand how the Holy Spirit helps him to carry out this task. Any man or woman who has been born-again and even Spirit-filled, will desire to obey the instructions regarding a proper lifestyle. However, without the understanding of how to gain the help of the Holy Spirit, their zealous attempts will face an impenetrable wall of constant opposition. Just having a desire to accomplish the attitudes and actions that are proper for a born-again believer is not enough to accomplish the task. To count on our own selves to achieve these proper and lofty goals is to operate in the flesh. We must not depend upon our own strength, ability, talent, education, or religious activity to produce a Christ-like life. Only the Holy Spirit has the power and ability to produce the fruit of the Spirit. There is an excellent rationale as to why these attributes are labeled as the Holy Spirit’s fruit. The Spirit will flow unhindered only when the believer depends totally upon Christ and His finished work at Calvary. Based on our proper object of faith, the Holy Spirit is released to accomplish the task. So start believing properly today and begin experiencing continuous growth!
Romans 6:22 - But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
Philippians 1:15
Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:
What Paul is now saying is tied to what he has mentioned concerning his bonds, which are his chains that are due to his preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. Those who preach Christ of envy and strife are those who preach Christ out of a selfish ambition, and therefore are glad Paul is in chains and they desire to add affliction to those chains (v. 16). Never forget that even though Christ may be being preached, where there is envy and strife, there is confusion and EVERY EVIL WORK (James 3:16).
If Christ is being preached, and I mean His work done at Calvary, anyone who believes that message can be saved, but if they are saved in a ministry full of envy and strife, they will not learn how to be led by the Holy Spirit, because of the envy, strife and confusion that opens the door to other spirits leading them. Some also preach Christ of good will, which is to preach Christ in love so the people can learn “How” to live for Christ and their love be found abounding in knowledge and all judgment (Philippians 1:9).
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2/28/2020
“then Joshua built an Altar unto the LORD God of Israel in Mount Ebal (Josh. 8:30).
There were two mountains in Israel, actually in the midst of the country, which were to be dedicated to the Lord. One was Mount Ebal, which was the Mount of Cursing; the other was Mount Gerizim, which was the Mount of Blessing. Both stood side by side (Deut., Chpts. 27-28).
The Lord commanded Joshua to build an Altar on Mount Ebal, which was, as stated, the Mount of Sin and the Judgment of Cursing. The Altar pictured Jesus and the price He would pay at Calvary’s Cross. The Altar was to be built of “whole stones,” which meant that no tool was to embellish the Altar, which means that Calvary and what it stands for is never to be changed.
Unfortunately, the modern Church is attempting to build an Altar, that is, if it recognizes the Altar at all, on Mount Gerizim, the Mount of Blessing.
But let it ever be understood:
There can be no Blessing until we recognize that our problem is sin, typified by Mount Ebal, and that the only answer to sin is the Cross of Christ.
Unfortunately, we presently have “Blessing Churches” and “Cursing Churches.” To major in either one to the exclusion of the other is wrong. The Church that is Biblical will understand that sin is the problem and the “Altar” is the answer. That being done, the “Blessing” will abundantly follow! Otherwise, there is no Blessing!”
—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”) Donnie Swaggart
Bread Crumbs “The Test of True Christianity” February 29
“If you is what you was … then you ain’t!” I received this quote in an email some time ago. I am not the author of the statement but yet I agree with what is proclaimed most wholeheartedly. When an individual is born-again by placing their faith in Jesus Christ, their life is forever changed. Regeneration by the Holy Spirit then takes place, which means that both the soul and spirit of the individual is re-created. God then removes the person’s hardened heart and replaces it with a fleshly pliable heart that can be better molded by His hands. Then this new creation man experiences the arrival of the indwelling presence of God’s Spirit. This Spirit is the power source of the new creation man. A new soul causes one to love God and all things that pertain to him. A new spirit becomes the receiver of information to which the Holy Spirit brings revelation, knowledge, and insight pertaining to the things of God. It would be physically and spiritually improbable if not impossible for this newly transformed individual to remain as they were prior to salvation. The regeneration and indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit comes with the potential that the needed changes within us will come.
Matthew 7:17 - Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
Philippians 1:16
The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:
The ones who preach of contention are the ones preaching out of hearts full of envy and strife. If they preach Christ and folks get born again, yet there is envy and strife, there will be confusion and EVERY EVIL WORK (James 3:16). Yes, even if Christ is preached, and folks are born again, they will be almost as miserable as they were when they were lost. We will have enough against us in this walk without opening the door to evil through envy and strife.
Looking unto Jesus Christ and His finished work at Calvary will allow the Holy Spirit to cause the love of God to abound in our hearts, if we will continue to grow in His knowledge, His grace and all judgment (Philippians 1:9, 2 Peter 3:18). God forbid that we be found as ministers of Christ in contention and not in love! If our faith remains in the Truth that saved us through which God gave us His love (Romans 5:5), that love will rejoice in that Truth (1 Corinthians 13:6), and we will not have to worry about the Lord removing the Light of our witness (Revelation 2:5). Cling to the old rugged cross and live!
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2/29/2020
“and they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We be come from a far country: now therefore make you a league with us. And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation swore unto them (Josh. 9:6, 15).
The Gibeonites, which were inhabitants of the land of Canaan, deceived Joshua and the Elders of Israel into believing that they were from a far country and that a covenant of peace should be made with them. And so it was. But after three days, Israel found out that the Gibeonites were instead only a short distance away. However, Israel had sworn to protect them; irrespective of the deception, Israel must keep her oath (Josh. 9:18).
Several things here were wrongly done. In the first place, the Scripture says that Joshua made peace with them because he believed them without “asking counsel at the mouth of the LORD” (Josh. 9:14). This tells us that we must pray about everything. In other words, we cannot trust the flesh, which speaks of mere human wisdom, to do anything right. It is incumbent upon the Child of God to seek the Lord about anything and everything, irrespective as to how small it, at first, may seem to be. We must have His Leading and Guidance in all things (Jn. 16:18).
Second, the Gibeonites practiced deception, which was wrong. Had they come to Joshua and the Elders of Israel in humble supplication, the evidence is they would have been spared. This is proven by the place and position given to them by the Lord.
When most people come to the Lord, however, they little come for the correct and the right reasons. But yet, if faith is evidenced, God always honors it, no matter how misplaced, at least for the person coming to Christ. As an example, almost no believing sinner comes to Christ as a result of love for the Lord, but rather because they fear Hell, etc.
But Grace triumphed over the folly of the Gibeonites, which it always does. The Gibeonites became the Nethinim. This word means “given,” i.e., devoted to the Sanctuary of Jehovah. Their lives were spared because the Princes of Israel had taken an oath to them in the Name of Jehovah. But, because of their deceit, they were condemned to be drawers of water to the House of the Lord. They were not condemned to domestic slavery to the Israelites, but to bondage to “the congregation.” This meant they were to make certain the Brazen Laver was always filled with water and there always was wood for the Brazen Altar.
Grace, therefore, brought them into the Glory and Joy of Psalms 84:10. It also instructed David to appoint them to high positions in the Temple (Ezra 8:20). Later on, they were carried away captive with Israel; however, they were among the first to return with Ezra and Nehemiah, pledging themselves to keep the Statutes given by God to Moses (Ezra 2:43-58; Neh. 8:60). We last read of them (Neh. 3:26; 10:28; 11:21) making their home outside the watergate of Jerusalem.
Why the watergate?
Because, by being near the water supply, they could more readily discharge the honorable bondage to which Joshua had condemned them, i.e., of being drawers of water to the Temple of Jehovah. Thus, a curse, justly pronounced by Law, becomes, by Grace, a blessing.
And so it does with us all, and all made possible by Jesus and His Sacrificial, Atoning Death.”
—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”) Donnie Swaggart
One of the most magnificent results of Christ's death on Calvary is the entrance of the Holy Spirit into every one who is born-again. Men have always been saved by faith, but the benefits of their salvation did not always include the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. The indwelling Spirit of God will do whatever it takes to form each believer into the image of Christ. The Spirit of God is always on the move, never stopping, never faltering, always looking for a way to gain more access into the deep secret places of the heart. He is relentless, yet gentle. He is all powerful, yet never abusive. He brings life to the believer and supplies conviction to the sinner. He is a light to those in darkness and brings optimistic expectation to the desperate. I am distressed without His presence, desirous of His touch, dying without His aid, and determined to apprehend His favor. As one day ends and each new day dawns, are you hungry for Him? Do you know how greatly He longs to be given permission to address the deepest recesses of our souls? As for me dear Lord, help my cry to be, “Move in me, Mighty Spirit, move in me!”
John 14:26 - But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Philippians 1:17
But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.
Although Paul says that some preach Christ in contention, there are also those who preach Christ in love, and either way Christ is being preached. Now, every minister believes he is preaching Christ in love, so how does the minister know he isn’t deceived? Deception is “I don’t know that I don’t know, but I think I do.” If the love God has shed abroad in our hearts (Romans 5:5) due to our trust in His work at Calvary in Christ, continues to abound in knowledge and all judgment, then we will know.
The very Spirit of Christ is the Spirit of surrender. If our hearts remain in a realization of our desperate need for the work of Christ at the cross carried out by the Holy Spirit for our own personal daily lives, we will find His love abounding. The result will be to approve those things that are excellent (Philippians 1:10), and to be sincere and without offence (Philippians 1:11) while we are awaiting our soon coming Savior!
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3/1/2020
“and the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into your hand; there shall not a man of them stand before you (Josh. 10:8).
Gibeon had made peace with Joshua, although under somewhat devious circumstances. But yet Joshua was bound to defend them. When anyone makes peace with the Divine Joshua, he brings upon himself the anger of those who had once been his friends and companions. Thus it was with Gibeon.
Five kings formed a confederation against Gibeon, not understanding, I suppose, that Joshua would come to their rescue. But to their help he would go; he would, in fact, win a tremendous victory, because the Lord had given him instructions. Not only did the Lord use Joshua and his army, giving them superhuman strength, but “the Lord cast down great stones from Heaven upon them” (Josh. 10:11). These were hailstones, which wreaked havoc among the enemy. But the greatest miracle was yet to come!
The day was far spent, and the victory had not yet been won. Joshua asked the Lord for one of the greatest miracles that had ever been performed, and that was for the Earth to stop in its rotation. He said, “Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in valley of Ajalon.”
Hebrew Scholars point out that the words, “stand still,” and “midst” are defective translations. The word “Sun” is to be understood as “sunlight,” as in many other Passages in the Bible. “Stand still” should be translated “remain”; “midst” means the “half of,” i.e., the horizon, for so they spoke in those days.
The hill of Gibeon at the moment when Joshua spoke was behind him to the east, and the sun was setting in front of him to the west. It was evening and a continuance of the daylight was needed in order to complete the victory. What Joshua said may, therefore, be thus expressed in modern English: “Sun, keep shining upon Gibeon, and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon!” And the sunlight remained and the moonlight continued, until the people of God had avenged themselves on their enemies.
God is a miracle-working God; He will do the same presently for all who believe Him!”
—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”) Donnie Swaggart
Whenever I find myself in a dejected state of hopelessness, I can be doubly sure of one thing. I have forgotten the true power and nature of the God that I serve. That “mountain” that is set before my eyes, my heart, and my mind seems to be an impassable impossibility. I must always bear in mind that the God I have given my life to is never limited in any way, shape, fashion, or form. He is capable of accomplishing, what may on the surface appear to be impossible, with very little effort on His part. So of one thing I should stand assured. Life will offer me many challenges. Some days there will be joy. Other days there will be sorrow. But one thing that remains a constant is the grace that is afforded the believer who ever relies upon the Lord. My strength will fail. My determination will falter. My abilities will dwindle. My potential will diminish. But the Lord’s strength never weakens. He is never short of what we need and there is nothing He cannot do. So for today and every day, “Be strong in the Lord and in the Power of His might.” He provides His power to those who wait and trust in Him.
Jeremiah 32:17 - Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:
Philippians 1:18
What then? Notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.
Paul the Apostle says that whichever way Christ is preached, at least Christ is being preached, and he will rejoice about that. Of course he doesn’t rejoice in the contention and pretence through which some preach Christ, but that Christ is being preached. Nor does he here accuse them of preaching another Jesus (2 Corinthians 11:4), but preaching Jesus in contention and pretence, which is with wrong motives.
If Jesus Christ and His glorious gospel is preached, men can be saved because the power of God is not the men who preach, but rather in the gospel of Jesus Christ when preached (1 Corinthians 1:18). Even though we are called to be burdened for the people of God and a lost world, it is never to be such a burden that would keep us from rejoicing in the Lord ourselves. Let us continue to preach the cross of Jesus Christ in love and not only will we be preaching the right Jesus, but we will also see our hearts changed for His glory and many others affected!
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3/2/2020
“and it came to pass, when they brought out those kings unto Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said unto the captains of the men of war which went with him, Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings. And they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them (Josh. 10:24).
The placing of the foot on the head or neck of someone speaks of total dominion. There is but one way to deal with sin and that is to place the triumphant foot of faith upon its neck, putting it to death. It is impossible to come to terms with sin, just as, in the Judgment of God, it was impossible for Israel to improve these five kings. Man, in his folly, tries to improve what is opposed to God; but the failure of his effort ever reveals its foolishness.
Sin, in some way, is ever the problem of humanity. The solution to the sin problem, and there is only one solution, is the Cross of Christ (Rom. 8:1-2, 11). Man keeps trying to improve self, and the Church leads the way.
Let it ever be understood:
Self cannot improve self. It is impossible!
While self definitely needs to be improved, it can only be accomplished by the Power and Person of the Holy Spirit.
And how do we get Him to carry out this necessary work within our hearts and lives, which, in effect, is the development of the “Fruit of the Spirit” (Gal. 5:22-23)?
Let us say it again:
One cannot come to terms with sin, not in any capacity. It must be totally and completely defeated and put out of our lives, typified here by the feet of God’s warriors being placed on the necks of these enemies.
The method? There is only one.
“For the Law (that which we are about to give is a Law of God, devised by the Godhead in eternity past [I Pet. 1:18-20]; this Law, in fact, is ‘God’s Prescribed Order of Victory’) of the Spirit (Holy Spirit, i.e., ‘the way the Spirit works’) of Life (all life comes from Christ, but through the Holy Spirit [Jn. 16:13-14]) in Christ Jesus (anytime Paul uses this term, or one of its derivatives, he is, without fail, referring to what Christ did at the Cross, which makes this ‘life’ possible) has made me free (given me total Victory) from the Law of sin and death (these are the two most powerful Laws in the Universe; the ‘Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus’ alone is stronger than the ‘Law of sin and death’; if the Believer attempts to live for God by any manner other than Faith in Christ and the Cross, he is doomed to failure” (Rom. 8:2).”
—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”) Donnie Swaggart
In the agricultural setting in which Jesus ministered, the parable of the sower would have been well understood. Jesus taught that the sower cast his seed onto soil that existed in a variety of conditions. The ground represented the condition of the human heart. If the heart has been adequately prepared for the Word, then the Word has a chance to be buried deep, to grow, and bring forth great fruit. So the sower must sow the Word. If the word sown is a false word, one that does not coincide with the written Word of God, we should reject it. However, if it is in line with the Bible, we dare not neglect or reject it. In order to be ready to receive the Word, the hardened condition of our hearts must be continually broken up and prepared. The soil of the soul must be softened by the continual rain of the Spirit and all fallow ground upturned by the plow of conviction. The stones of immaturity need to be removed and the thorns that threaten to choke the Word should be pulled up and cast aside. Then, by the help of the Spirit, we may receive the Word and it will bring forth fruit. Is your heart ready to receive the Word?
Mark 4:8 - And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.
Philippians 1:19
For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
Even though Paul and those who carry the message of the cross, and are determined NOT to know anything other (1 Corinthians 2:2) are attacked by many other saints and ministers, all know that there are Christians praying for them. The supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ being great in the ministry of the Apostle Paul and partly due to the prayers of the Saints should show us something wonderful.
If we stay the course and refuse to use God’s Word outside of His Righteous avenue, which is Christ and Him crucified, the attacks will be many even by others who are preaching Christ, but in contention. Paul says that even his bonds will end up working for his own deliverance and further thrust into the ministry! Keep marching soldiers of Christ and don’t look back!
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3/3/2020
“and Joshua at that time turned back, and took Hazor, and smote the king thereof with the sword: for Hazor beforetime was the head of all those kingdoms (Josh. 11:10).
Hazor was the center of power for this area. Conventional wisdom would propose to make it the seat of the new government, so that it should be that for God which it previously had been for the world — “for Hazor beforetime was the head of all those kingdoms.” But God will in no wise allow this seat of power to become that of His People. They were to depend exclusively on Him, thereby allowing Him to lead them accordingly.
So Hazor is to be totally destroyed. Not a vestige of its former power must remain to compete with Gilgal, where the Lord then resided. The center and source of power must be all Divine. At that time, Joshua also destroyed the Anakims, who were giants, actually the product of the union of fallen angels and women (Gen. 6:4).
The Believer must ever understand that God demands nothing less than total victory. Every work of the flesh must be subdued and destroyed. This can be done only by the Believer placing his Faith exclusively in the Cross of Christ, which then gives the Holy Spirit great latitude to work within our lives. What is impossible for us is totally possible for Him. He is God!”
—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”) Donnie Swaggart
Most Christians are deceived by that which is good, not by that which is evil. This is one reason why we so easily fall prey to the schemes, fads, and routines offered to us by men of religion. Satan uses our love for God as unholy leverage to catapult us toward some “good” work or some “good” effort. The idea is implanted that if we will only try hard enough, we will ultimately become the person that God truly wants us to become. If we can find it within ourselves to be dedicated enough, we will be able to do the work that God has called us to do. Driven by our love for God, we set out on a man-made course to accomplish a God-centered goal. If we operate in this way, we will never gain the desired results. The first “good work” for the Christian should always be the “good fight of faith.” Faith properly centered in Christ and Him Crucified allows the believer to become the recipient of never-ending grace. Faith alone is what pleases God. Do not be deceived by that which is good! Believe in that which is right and become the believer you always have wanted to be, by His Grace!
Romans 7:13 - Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
Philippians 1:20
According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also
Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
The mission and goal of the Child of God who has not allowed his faith to slip away will always be to magnify Christ, and only with that mission in heart, will there be an accompanied boldness. Paul declared while even in chains that Christ will be magnified in his body whether it be by life or by death. While we are here we must be found with a boldness to express Christ, rather than being ashamed for what we have received through the blood of Jesus.
May Christ be magnified, and may we remember that there is only one avenue of Christ being exalted, and that is through our faith in what He did for us at Calvary so that He might be exalted in and through us (Philippians 2:8-9) through our faith today. There alone will we find the boldness that removes shame (Hebrews 10:19), and the Holy Spirit working in and through us (Psalm 33:4, Romans 8:2) to express Christ whether it be in life or death!
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3/4/2020
