A Divine Stream of Supernatural Revelation

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
— 1 Corinthians 2:9,10

I remember one January day several years ago when I was aroused from my sleep very early in the morning, and I sensed that the Holy Spirit was awaking me because there was something He wanted to tell me. At first, I thought I was just having a difficult time sleeping, so I tried to shrug it off and go back to sleep. But the longer I lay there in my bed, the more I became aware that it was God who was stirring up my spirit. There was something He wanted to say to me.

For months preceding that time, I had been seeking answers to some very important questions about the steps we needed to take in order to fulfill the assignment God had given us. I had spent hundreds of hours thinking over the questions I faced. I had worked my ink pen over endless pages that were scrawled with my notes. Yet I couldn’t find the right answer to the questions that were constantly on my mind. I had prayed and prayed about it, but it seemed that the correct answers kept evading me. Then in the early hours of that January morning, the answers suddenly came!

I walked back and forth in our apartment as I prayed. Finally, I went into the dining room and lay my head on the dining table to pray more earnestly. I said, “Holy Spirit, what is it that You want to reveal to me this morning? What is it that You want to communicate to me?”

Suddenly — and very unexpectedly — it seemed as if the spiritual realm miraculously opened, and a stream of information descended from Heaven and began to pour the answers I needed directly into my mind! As that information began surging into my mind, I instantly saw the solutions for which I had been seeking for so long! It was as if the Holy Spirit said, “Let Me pull the curtains off your mind, so you can see everything you’ve been desiring to see. I will remove the veil of ignorance that has blinded your sight. When I do this, the ignorance will be removed and you’ll instantly know every answer you’ve been seeking!”

This was not the first time I’d had that experience. The Holy Spirit had revealed many things to me through the years — and I know He will continue to be my unlimited Source of divine revelation for the rest of the time I live on this earth. He will do the same for any person who genuinely seeks to know God’s will for his or her life, for this is the right of every child of God.

Regarding the Holy Spirit’s supernatural revelation to believers, the apostle Paul wrote, “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God” (1 Corinthians 2:9,10).

Paul begins this verse by talking about man’s inability to understand the deep things of God by himself. It could have been translated, “The heart of man could never dream, imagine, or conjure up the things God hath prepared for them that love Him.” The human mind, by itself, cannot fathom, even in its wildest imagination, the wonderful things God has prepared for His people! If this is so, then how can you and I ever comprehend what God has planned for us?

Paul tells us the answer in the above verse: “But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit….” This means the day of ignorance is gone! Because the Holy Spirit has come, we can now know all the things God has planned and prepared for us!

Notice that Paul says, “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit….” The word “revealed” is the word apokalupto, which means to unveil, to reveal, or to uncover. It is actually a picture of something that is veiled or hidden at the moment when its veil or covering is suddenly removed. As a result, what was hidden for so long now comes into plain view. And God does all of this by His Spirit — just as He did for me on that early morning in January!

When the Holy Spirit lifts the cover and removes the veil that has blocked your view of God’s plans for you, the eyes of your spirit suddenly see and perceive truths that were previously veiled. This is what the Bible calls a revelation. In one instant, everything comes into clear view, answering all your questions and giving you the direction you’ve been seeking for a long time.

The word apokalupsis suggests this meaning for First Corinthians 2:9,10:

“…God has supernaturally pulled back the veil that previously obscured your view and blocked God’s plan from your sight. It was the Holy Spirit who actually carried out this operation and made all of these once-concealed things now visible to you….”

Truthfully, God gave us our brains so we could use them, and we need to learn how to use them well. But there are some things the mind alone will never perceive. If we are ever going to see those spiritual truths, we will have to have a spiritual experience that opens our eyes to them.

If you have been seeking answers that your mind can’t find, why not go to the ultimate Source of divine revelation? God holds all the answers you seek. As you sincerely ask in faith and genuinely open your heart so the Holy Spirit can speak to you, He will tell you everything He wants you to know!

My Prayer for Today

Lord, now I understand that I’ve been trying to find answers I’ll never discover by myself. The things I long to know can only be revealed by You, so today I ask You to pull back the veil that has concealed those things I long to understand. I know that when You get involved, my eyes will be opened and my ignorance will evaporate. I sincerely ask You in faith to speak to me and to show me those things I need to know.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

My Confession for Today

I affirm that with the help of the Holy Spirit, I clearly see and understand everything the Holy Spirit wants me to know. The day of ignorance has been removed because the Holy Spirit has come to reveal the benefits Jesus has provided for me. Now I have access to the secrets that were previously hidden to my natural mind and perception. I am thankful for the Spirit’s revealing work in my life, and I declare that I never have to claim ignorance again!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

Questions to Answer

1. Have you been seeking God for answers that seem elusive to you?

2. Why not make a list of the questions for which you’re seeking answers?

3. Have you sincerely asked in faith for answers to your questions and then genuinely opened your heart to God so He can speak to you?

Don’t Ignore the Last Words!

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
— Ephesians 6:10

In the sixth chapter of Ephesians, the apostle Paul writes his great text about spiritual warfare and spiritual weapons. But before Paul goes into a detailed explanation of our spiritual armor, he first passionately beseeches us, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord….”

The word “finally” is one of the most important words in this text. It is taken from the Greek phrase tou loipou and would be better translated for the rest of the matter; in conclusion; or in summation. The phrase tou loipou is used in other Greek manuscripts of that same period to depict something so extremely important that it is placed at the very end of the letter. This way if the reader remembers nothing else in the letter, he will be more likely to remember this one thing.

With this in mind, the word “finally” in Ephesians 6:10 carries this idea:

“In conclusion, I have saved the most important issue of this epistle until the end of the letter, so if you remember nothing else I have said, you will remember this. I want this to stand out in your mind!…”

This is a remarkable statement! The book of Ephesians contains some of the deepest theological teaching in the New Testament. Let me mention just a few of these theological points. Paul writes about:

The election of the saints (Ephesians 1:4)
The predestination work of God (Ephesians 1:5)
The adoption of the sons of God (Ephesians 1:5)
The dispensation of the fullness of times (Ephesians 1:10)
The sealing of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13)
The earnest of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:14)
The power of God that is available to every believer (Ephesians 1:19)
The grace of God (Ephesians 2:1-10)
The eternal plan of God (Ephesians 3:10-11)
The fivefold ministry gifts (Ephesians 4:11-13)
The infilling with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18-19)

And the list goes on and on.

But in addition to these important theological points, the book of Ephesians also includes some of the most practical instructions in the New Testament regarding such issues as:

The relationship between believers (Ephesians 4:25-5:2)
The relationship between believers and the world (Ephesians 5:3-16)
The relationship between husbands and wives (Ephesians 5:22-33)
The relationship between parents and children (Ephesians 6:1-4)
The relationship between employers and employees (Ephesians 6:5-9)

Yet when you come to the end of this epistle that is so jam-packed with theological and practical truths, Paul says, “Finally…” and then begins to speak to us about spiritual warfare!

Why is this? Because like so many in the Church world today, the Ephesian believers had gathered together a vast accumulation of spiritual knowledge, information, and facts; nevertheless, this alone was not enough to keep the devil under their feet where he belonged! As we read through chapter 4, we can see that the devil was apparently attacking the Ephesian church and was having some success!

That’s why Paul had to instruct these believers to put away lying, steal no more, let no corrupt communication out of their mouths, grieve not the Holy Spirit, and put aside all anger and malice (Ephesians 4:25-31). Does this sound like a church full of victorious people to you? The Ephesian believers were members of the largest church of that day, yet they were not fully experiencing the overcoming, abundant life that Jesus Christ had come to offer them.

Consider your own life. Are you experiencing victory in most areas of your life, or are you suffering defeat in key areas? Have you ignored the fact that spiritual warfare is real? Have you gathered lots of spiritual information, knowledge, and facts, yet forgotten to put on the whole armor of God?

Praise God for all the knowledge you’ve gained, but now it’s time to turn your intellectual knowledge of God’s Word into the sword of the Spirit. Then you must raise it high and brandish it against the onslaughts the enemy has been trying to bring against you. It’s also time for you to turn your knowledge about faith into a shield that withstands every demonic attack! That’s why Paul said, “Finally.…” In case the Ephesian believers didn’t remember anything else, he wanted them to remember that they had to have spiritual weapons to keep the devil under their feet.

How about you? Are you dressed in the whole armor of God today?

My Prayer for Today

Lord, I ask You to forgive me for the times I have allowed strife to get into my heart. Also, please forgive me for those occasions when I have been the origin of strife and fighting. Help me grow in discernment so I can quickly recognize when the devil is trying to create division. Show me how to be a peacekeeper and a source of harmony rather than a player in the midst of others’ wrong attitudes.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

My Confession for Today

I confess that I do not yield to envy and strife! When the opportunity for strife arises, I beat Satan at his own game by choosing to respectfully make room for the ideas, thoughts, and opinions of others. Even if I don’t agree with what they say, I let them know that I value their right to have a differing opinion. I maintain an attitude of staying on the same side with my fellow believers; therefore, I put the devil on the run and keep him OUT of my relationships!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

Questions to Answer

1. Do your coworkers, friends, and family members find you open-hearted to their suggestions, or do they find it difficult to express themselves honestly in front of you?

2. When the opportunity for strife arises, what can you do to circumvent it and promote peace?

3. Can you recall moments when you were so sure you were right, only to discover that someone else’s idea was really much better than yours?

Do Whatever Is Necessary To Keep Envy and Strife Out of Your Life!

For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
— James 3:16

The devil knows that envy and strife destroy relationships and long-term friendships. He is aware that if he can create envy and strife between you and the ones you love, he can ruin those special relationships that God intended to be a blessing in your life. Do you have any relationships in your life right now that are under this kind of demonic assault?

The devil doesn’t just target friendships with this type of assault. He also knows how to get in between you and your church family, a ministry you love and support, or even the organization or place of business where you work. The enemy doesn’t care whom he divides — he simply wants to divide! Since envy and strife are some of the tools he uses to do this, it is crucial that you understand how to recognize envy and strife and how to stand against them!

In James 3:16, the Bible says, “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.” I want you to notice the word “envy” in this verse. It is taken from the Greek word zelos, and it denotes a fierce desire to promote one’s own ideas and convictions to the exclusion of everyone else. This word zelos is where we get the word zealot, which describes a person who is so fixated, obsessed, and fanatical about his own cause that others perceive him as an extremist on the threshold of becoming militant.

In the case of James 3:16, this word presents a picture of a believer who is so obsessed, gripped, and preoccupied with his own view of things that he can’t see or hear the view of anyone else. In fact, his militant perspective has made him lopsided in his thinking. He never takes a softer line but holds out until all the other parties admit defeat and agree with his point of view.

Therefore, the word “envy” in James 3:16 could be translated this way:

“For where there is a fierce desire to promote one’s own ideas and convictions to the elimination of everyone else.…”

If this kind of attitude continues, it will naturally lead to the next step in this horrible sequence of events. This is where strife comes into the picture! Notice that James goes on to say, “For where envying and strife is….”

The word “strife” is taken from the Greek word eritheia. It was used by the ancient Greeks to stand for a political party. This Greek word is often translated as a party spirit because of its linkage to political systems and political parties. Therefore, in order for us to understand why James used this word, we need to stop and think about the way political parties are formed and how they function.

Political parties are formed by a group of people who have similar values and views. After the party is formed, the participants develop a unified agenda; once the agenda is decided on, they create a platform. From that platform, the people begin to push their agenda and ideas, fighting fiercely to see that their party’s platform is accepted and eventually put in the position of ruling and calling the shots.

In the same way, some Christians become so clouded by their ambition to see their own views adopted that they have no tolerance for anyone who sees things differently than they do. These people usually gravitate to other believers who hold similar views.

Once these “like-minded” Christians find each other, they naturally begin to take sides, forming a kind of allegiance. Then they begin to form agendas and develop plans to see their views pushed, promoted, and accepted. As a result, people who once stood shoulder to shoulder often end up standing on different sides of a fight with their relationships ruined and filled with hurt.

When envy and strife have made it this far, the next step in this sequence of events becomes inevitable. James 3:16 continues, “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion….”

The word “confusion” is taken from the word akatastasia. It was used in New Testament times to describe civil disobedience, disorder, and anarchy in a city, state, or government. By using this word, James explicitly tells us that when situations of strife and discord are allowed to persist, an atmosphere of anarchy sets in and begins to destroy the relationships once loved and cherished. Rational thinking is replaced by raw emotions, and people end up getting hurt.

James wants to make sure we understand what this kind of conduct eventually produces if this behavior isn’t stopped. He goes on to say, “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”

The word “evil” is from the word phaulos, describing something that is terribly bad or exceedingly vile. We get the word “foul” from this Greek word. James is saying that where envy and strife are permitted to operate, thus producing confusion and anarchy in relationships, they ultimately yield a foul-smelling situation!

These various Greek words in James 3:16 convey this idea:

“For where there is a fierce desire to promote one’s own ideas and convictions to the exclusion of everyone else’s, it produces divisions so great that people end up taking sides and forming differing parties with conflicting agendas. This is a terrible event, because it creates great unrest among people who should be united. Ultimately, the whole situation becomes a stinking mess!”

But understand this: You can help stop this from happening by choosing to consider other people’s opinions to be just as important as your own! Instead of pushing your own agenda, why not stop and listen to what others have to say? They may have something powerful to contribute, but if you can’t hear them, you’ll never benefit from their perspective.

You don’t have to yield to envy and strife! When the opportunity for strife arises, you can beat Satan at his own game by choosing to make room for the ideas, thoughts, and opinions of others. Even if you don’t agree with what they say, at least you can demonstrate that you value their right to have a differing opinion. By maintaining an attitude of staying on the same side with your fellow believers, you can put the devil on the run and keep your relationships alive, healthy, and long-lasting!

My Prayer for Today

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

My Confession for Today

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

Questions to Answer

1. Do your coworkers, friends, and family members find you open-hearted to their suggestions, or do they find it difficult to express themselves honestly in front of you?

2. When the opportunity for strife arises, what can you do to circumvent it and promote peace?

3. Can you recall moments when you were so sure you were right, only to discover that someone else’s idea was really much better than yours?

The Greatest Price Ever Paid to Set a Slave Free!

Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
— Titus 2:14

The word “redeem” used in the verse above is one of the most important words in the entire New Testament, so today I want us to look more deeply into its historical roots. Since Jesus redeemed us, we need to know all the powerful images that are contained in this key New Testament word!

In New Testament times, slaves could be very costly. When a slave purchaser came to the slave market to look for a new slave, he would meander through the aisles of the marketplace, his eyes roaming over all the slaves for sale as he searched for the one he wanted. After pinpointing the slave who seemed to fit his needs, the purchaser was then allowed to inspect the slave’s condition. The purpose of this inspection was similar to that of a test drive when a person is checking out a car before he purchases it. Just as every buyer wants to be sure he’s getting a good product, every slave buyer wanted to check out the merchandise before he put his money on the table.

The inspection included physically beating the slave to see how he responded to abuse, so the purchaser would know how much “wear and tear” the slave could take on the job. The buyer was also allowed to pull open the slave’s mouth and look at his teeth to see if they were rotten or in good shape as he tried to establish the slave’s physical health before making an offer to purchase him.

If the buyer decided to proceed with the purchase after the inspection was complete, it was then time for the next stage of the process — that moment when the slave was put on the auction block. When the auctioneer knew that a buyer really had his eye set on a specific slave, he would take that as a signal to push the price for that slave as high as possible. And if the buyer continued to show interest in that same slave, that would let the auctioneer know he could demand a completely unreasonable price and probably get it!

All of these images are contained in the word “redemption,” which comes from the Greek word lutroo. This is the word used in Titus 2:14, where Paul says, “…That he might redeem us from all iniquity….” This Greek word depicts a person who paid a very high price to obtain the slave of his choice. Once the price was offered and accepted, that slave became his personal property.

However, the word lutroo was used in another very significant way that also has to do with the concept of redemption. At times, a caring and compassionate individual would come to the slave market for the sole purpose of purchasing slaves out of slavery to liberate and set them free! In this case, the payment offered was viewed as a ransom — paid to obtain freedom for slaves.

Because Paul uses the word lutroo to denote the redemptive work of Jesus Christ on our behalf, it tells us several important things:

Jesus came into the world, Satan’s slave market, because He was looking for us.
Jesus knew He wanted us and wouldn’t be satisfied until the purchase was complete.
Jesus was willing to pay any price demanded to purchase us from the slave market.
Jesus purchased us with His own blood so we would become His own personal property.
Jesus paid the price with His blood, purchased us for Himself, and gave us a liberating freedom that can only be known because of His work in our lives!

Our freedom from Satan’s power was extremely expensive. The price Jesus paid for us was the highest price ever paid for a slave. What was the ransom that Jesus paid in order to procure our freedom from Satan’s ownership? His own blood!

This means that the word lutroo in Titus 2:14 conveys this idea:

“Who gave Himself for us, that He might purchase us out of the slave market to become His own personal property — yes, He was willing to pay the ransom price to see us liberated and set free.…”

It was the shedding of Jesus’ own blood that guaranteed our deliverance and lasting freedom from the demonic powers that had previously held us captive. The word lutroo unmistakably means Jesus paid the ransom that set you and me free! He bought us with His own blood! As Hebrews 9:12 says, “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.”

Jesus gave Himself as the ransom to set you free from sin. Someone had to enter Satan’s slave market, so Jesus chose to go. Someone had to offer a price, so Jesus offered to pay the price for your freedom with His own blood. Someone had to finalize the deal, so Jesus willingly paid the price with His own life on the Cross.

My Prayer for Today

Lord, I want to thank You for loving me so much that You gave Your precious blood on the Cross for me. I was so lost and so hopeless, but You came for me — and when You came into my life, everything in me changed. Hope, joy, and peace came into my heart, and today I am completely different from the person I used to be. All this happened because of Your shed blood, Jesus, so today I want to take this moment to thank You for doing what no one else could do for me!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

My Confession for Today

I declare that Jesus’ blood purchased my deliverance and lasting freedom from the demonic powers that had previously held me captive. Jesus loves me so much that He was willing to do for me what no one else was willing to do. He went into the slave market, found me, and bought me for Himself. For the rest of my life, I will live to serve and glorify Him.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

Questions to Answer

1. How can you repay Jesus for what He has done for you?

2. Do you have areas in your life where you have allowed yourself to slip back into some kind of bondage? What are those areas?

3. How long has it been since you stopped to really meditate on the price Jesus paid so you could be liberated from Satan’s captivity and the power of sin?

Does God’s Word Feel at Home in Your Life?

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly .…
— Colossians 3:16

Many years ago when I was speaking in a particular church, the pastor informed me that because the church couldn’t afford a hotel for me, I’d be staying that week with a family from his church. When I arrived at this family’s home, the host met me at the front door, showed me my bedroom, and pointed out the bathroom and kitchen. Then the entire family ignored me for the rest of the week!

If I asked the family members a question, they pretended not to hear me. When it was time to eat, they informed me that it wasn’t their responsibility to feed me and that I could just take care of myself because they weren’t there to nurse me.

Words cannot describe how uncomfortable I was in that home! Everything that family did let me know that they wished I wasn’t there. When that week concluded, I was so happy to move out of that miserable predicament! I pledged that I would never let myself be put in that kind of situation again.

How about you? Have you ever stayed as a guest in a home where the people made you feel very unwelcome and unwanted?

I remember that when this happened, I was studying Colossians 3:16, where it says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.…” The chilly reception I felt in that home caused me to look at my own heart and ask, What kind of reception have I given the Word of God in my life? I wanted to know:

Have I given God’s Word the kind of reception it deserves, or have I ignored it and given it the “cold shoulder”?
Does God’s Word feel at home in my life, or does it feel unwanted?
Have I rolled out the red carpet and given God’s Word a grand reception, making it clear that I love the Word and am privileged to have it dwelling in my heart?

In Colossians 3:16, Paul tells us that the word of Christ should “dwell” in us richly. I decided to go get my Greek New Testament and study the word “dwell” so I could determine what kind of reception I had given God’s Word in my own life.

I found that the word “dwell” is taken from the word enoikeo. The word enoikeo is a compound of the words en and oikos. The word en means in, and the word oikos is the Greek word for a house. When the two words are compounded together, they form the word enoikeo, which means to dwell in a house. This is the same Greek word used in both New Testament literature and secular literature to signify someone who takes up permanent residency in a home. The person is so at home and contented in this new location that he has chosen to make it his permanent dwelling place for the rest of his life.

So when Paul tells us to let the word of Christ “dwell” in us, he is beseeching us to give God’s Word such a grand, welcoming reception that it literally feels at home in us and therefore comes to take up permanent residency!

Does the Word have this kind of place in your life? Does it really “dwell” in you richly? Does it feel at home and comfortable in your life? Or is the Word of God treated like a stranger that is occasionally welcomed into your life as a visitor? Be honest!

Why not make today the day that the Word of God comes to take up permanent residency in your life? Throw the door open, roll out the red carpet, and welcome the Word of God as a new, permanent resident in your heart!

My Prayer for Today

Lord, how can I ever thank You enough for the power of Your Word? I am so honored that You would place such a gift in my life. Help me to appreciate it, value it, and give it the kind of reception it deserves. I want to make Your Word a top priority in my life; I want it to feel welcomed, wanted, and deeply loved. Starting today, I open my heart wider than ever before and ask that Your Word come to richly dwell inside me!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

My Confession for Today

I confess that the Word of God dwells richly in me. It has such a grand reception in my life that it literally feels at home in me. Because I give it this place of prominence in my life, it produces phenomenal amounts of spiritual wealth in my life. I have so many spiritual riches inside me that they continually flow forth to enrich those around me.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

Questions to Answer

1. Is God’s Word a priority in your life or just a sideline issue?

2. How can you better give God’s Word a grand, welcoming reception in your life?

3. What steps can you take to make God’s Word feel so at home in your life that it takes up permanent residency?

Unshackled From The Tyranny and Cruelty of Sin!

But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
— Romans 6:17

Would you like to more fully appreciate how the grace of God has changed you? Why not take a little time today to recall what your spiritual condition was like before His grace touched your life? As you do that, I think you’ll realize that before Jesus Christ came into your heart, life was doomed to failure. In fact, it was so unpromising that Romans 6:17 says you were, in reality, a “servant” to sin.

When Paul writes that we were previously the servants of sin, he uses the Greek word doulos, one of the most wretched expressions for a slave in the ancient Greek language. It described a servant who was so totally sold into slavery that he had no destiny of his own; rather, he was perpetually obligated to do the bidding of his owner — fulfilling the whims, impulses, quirks, urges, and desires of his master for the rest of his life.

In other words, the word doulos depicts one whose very existence is to fulfill the commands of his master. Or as one expositor explained, the word portrays one whose will is completely swallowed up in the will of another.

This is the word Paul uses to describe our slavery to sin before Jesus came into our lives. Paul is saying that prior to our salvation experience, we were completely consumed, swallowed up, devoured, and engulfed in the will of Satan. We may have thought we were in charge of our lives; we may have assumed we were “calling the shots” ourselves. But in reality, you and I were in the grip of sin, and our sin nature was controlling our lives and destinies. We were like captives sold into the depravity of slavery. As the slaves of sin, our destinies were being masterminded by an unseen, diabolical spirit that wanted to destroy us.

Because of the word doulos in Romans 6:17, one section of this verse could be taken to read:

“…In the past you were the wretched slaves of sin — sold out entirely to sin — and you had no ‘say-so’ about your life, your future, or your desires. At that time, your entire existence on earth was centered around fulfilling the whims, impulses, quirks, urges, and desires of your master — sin….”

Our prior slavery to Satan was so deeply rooted in our nature that we became inseparable from the sinful nature that so constantly worked in us and controlled us. Indeed, this pervading demonic presence in our lives was so absolute and supreme that Paul described it this way in Ephesians 2:2: “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.”

In Greek, the word “worketh” is the word energeo. The word energeo denotes a force that is energizing. In fact, this is where we get the word energy.

By choosing to use this word, the Holy Spirit is vividly portraying how destitute our spiritual condition was before you and I were born again. It plainly means that prior to our salvation experience, we were energized by the spirit that works in all the sons of disobedience. The devil himself used to have authorization to accomplish his destructive will in our lives. Because we were his slaves, he could do whatever he wanted with us.

But when Jesus Christ came into our lives, we were immediately emancipated — totally set free! Because of this, we are no longer servants to sin; now we are servants of the Almighty God.

The evil spirits that once exacted every ounce of your being and required your all-inclusive servitude no longer possess the authorization to control you or to dictate your destiny. Now Jesus is your Lord. Now it is the Spirit of God who works in you and supernaturally energizes you to fulfill God’s will in your life. You have a new Master, and His name is Jesus! You have a new Source of energy on the inside — the power of the Holy Spirit!

Refuse to let sin have its way in your life any longer. Yes, you were a servant to sin in the past, but now you are a servant of Jesus Christ. So tell the devil to hit the road and take his temptations elsewhere! It’s time for you to yield to the Holy Spirit so He can mightily release His divine power in you and give you the energy you need to live a life of obedience to God!

My Prayer for Today

Lord, I thank You for coming into my life and for breaking the power of sin that used to hold me captive. I remember the futility I felt as I tried to change myself but couldn’t do it. But when You came into my life, everything changed! I praise You for loving me so much that You left Heaven and descended into a world filled with sin and depravity. You did that for me, and I thank You so much!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

My Confession for Today

I confess that I am free because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The shedding of His blood paid the ransom for me. The hold Satan used to have on me is broken, and I am liberated and set free! Now God’s divine power operates mightily in me, and I have authority over the enemy who used to control me!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

Questions to Answer

1. What were some of the sinful impulses and desires you were set free from when Jesus came into your life?

2. Are you continuing to walk in the freedom from sin that Jesus Christ gave you?

3. Why not take time right now to ask the Holy Spirit to release His divine power in you so you can walk in greater obedience to the will of God?

Is It Ever Right To Hate Something?

And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
— Jude 1:23

I don’t know about you, but I believe the word “hate” is a very strong word that should only rarely be used. When our children were young, Denise and I forbade our children to use this word. Even if we strongly disliked something or someone, we never allowed ourselves or our children to use the word “hate” to describe this strong dislike. It was simply too strong an expression to describe how we or our children felt about something or someone.

But there is a proper time and place for hate! Jude 1:23 gives us an example of one of those times. It says, “…Hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.”

The word “hate” in this verse is taken from the word miseo. It is one of the strongest, fiercest words in the Greek New Testament. In fact, it is so strong that it actually carries the idea of a hatred that can turn violent. So when Jude tells us to “hate” the garments spotted by the flesh, he isn’t talking about a mere dislike of something; he is talking about a radical, violent aversion to something.

The Greek word miseo is the same Greek word that is used in Revelation 2:6 and 2:15, when Jesus declares that He “hates” the deeds of the Nicolaitans. Because the word miseo is used in these verses, the Bible categorically tells us that Jesus had no taste for what the Nicolaitans were doing. In Jesus’ opinion, their deeds and teachings were repugnant, disgusting, revolting, repulsive, and nauseating. The Lord Jesus possessed a deep-seated aversion to their activities and found their deeds abhorrent.

Now Jude uses this Greek word miseo in Jude 1:23 when he writes, “…Hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.” There is no doubt about it. Jude is letting us know that we should have a strong aversion to sin — so strong that it allows absolutely no tolerance for sin in our lives or in the lives of other believers.

This part of verse 23 could be taken to mean:

“When it comes to sin in your life or in the lives of others, you should have no stomach for it at all. In fact, your feelings about sin should be so strong that you possess an aversion and repugnance to it…”

Our aversion to sin should be so fierce that Jude says we are to hate “…even the garment spotted by the flesh.” The word “garment” (from the Greek word chiton) was used in ancient times to describe a person’s undergarment. You see, the outer robe may be changed to look fresh and clean while the undergarment remains just as dirty as ever! A new, clean robe may hide the truth that a person’s undergarment is filthy — but this disguise doesn’t alter the fact that he has a deeper problem to deal with!

Sin isn’t just a superficial, outward problem. If we allow wrong attitudes and behavior to continue in our lives, this moral decay will eventually permeate deeper than the surface and penetrate even to the deepest, most hidden parts of our souls. The defilement may begin as an outward problem, the same way loose dirt can soil a man’s outer garment. But if this filth is never dealt with, it will begin to work its way through every area of a person’s life until he is completely defiled.

When this happens, Jude says the person has been “spotted by the flesh.” The word “spotted” is the word spilos. It means to stain, defile, or contaminate. This person could have dealt with his moral problems before the problem got so serious. However, through neglect he allowed that filth to contaminate his entire life.

Thus, the second part of this verse conveys this idea:

“…And don’t just deal with the superficial issues of sin by cloaking yourself with a garment that hides the true picture. Be honest with yourself about your true situations. And be hard on sin, refusing to allow it access to the deeper parts of your life. If sin sinks that deep below the surface, it won’t be long until you are completely contaminated and affected by it.”

It is imperative that we understand the consequences of sin and learn to hate even the smallest hint of its presence in our lives. If we don’t deal with sin while it’s still a small, superficial problem, it will become a much deeper problem — and much more difficult to deal with!

So before you do anything else today, ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to those areas of your life that need attention and correction. He will lovingly point them out to you and then show you how to change!

My Prayer for Today

Lord, help me see sin the way You see it so that I have no stomach for it in my life. I know that as long as I view sin only as a mistake or a weakness, I will be tempted to tolerate it. So I ask You to teach me to see sin exactly the way You do so my desire for change will grow. Holy Spirit, help me see the truth and know the proper steps I need to take in order to make those needed changes.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

My Confession for Today

I confess that I understand the consequences of sin and that I hate even the smallest hint of sin in my life. I will deal with sin while it is still a small, superficial problem so that it never becomes a much deeper problem. The Holy Spirit opens my eyes to those areas of my life that need attention and correction. He lovingly shows me what needs to change, and I willingly obey Him as He shows me how to change.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

Questions to Answer

1. Have you had any ongoing battles with particular sins? Make a list of the areas you’ve been struggling with, and be honest with yourself.

2. Have you asked the Lord to help you overcome and change in these areas of your life?

3. What can you begin to do differently that will help you walk free of these sins once and for all?

Royal Ambassadors For Christ

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ.…
— 2 Corinthians 5:20

Did you know that you have a high-ranking, esteemed, celebrated, impressive, and influential job in the Kingdom of God? It’s true! You are so important to the Kingdom of God that all of Heaven is standing behind you, just waiting to back you up, defend you, provide for you, help and assist you, and join forces with your actions of faith! In short, Heaven is just waiting to act on your behalf. Why? Because you are an ambassador for Christ to this world!

In Second Corinthians 5:20, Paul wrote, “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ.…” The word “ambassador” comes from the Greek word presbeuo. It describes an ambassador or one who fulfills the duties of an ambassador. How wonderful that Paul would use this word to describe you and me!

In New Testament times and in today’s world, the word “ambassador” has the same meaning. An “ambassador” can be defined as:

An envoy sent to represent a nation to a foreign land.
A diplomatic agent of the highest rank accredited to a foreign government or king.
A representative temporarily sent to a foreign country to represent the king or country that sent him.
An authorized messenger who has the power to make decisions and to represent the will of the government, nation, or king he represents.
An official representative who is authorized to speak on behalf of his sender.

According to Paul’s words in Second Corinthians 5:20, we are heavenly delegates — “ambassadors” who have been sent forth as Heaven’s representatives to planet earth! As ambassadors for Christ, we are the voice of Heaven. As His representatives, we are authorized to speak and act on behalf of the Lord. And as Heaven’s ambassadors, we are fully backed, fully funded, fully defended, and fully assisted by the authority and resources of Heaven!

Paul’s words in Second Corinthians 5:20 therefore mean:

“We are sent forth and temporarily stationed here as the fully authorized representatives of Jesus Christ! As His ambassadors, we are here to be His voice and His will — a true representation of who He really is. As His official representatives sent here to do His business, we are fully backed up by all the power and resources of Heaven….”

Don’t ever think that you are unimportant to the plan of God. You are an ambassador! You represent Jesus Christ to your family, to your place of employment, and to your neighborhood. You have been invested with royal powers, including the name of Jesus and the authority of His blood, and you may call upon Heaven to assist you at any given moment! All angelic powers and all the vast resources stored in the treasury of Heaven are available for your use when you are representing Heaven to this world!

So wherever you go today and whatever you do, remember the One you are representing. If you need special help from above in order to represent the Lord in a positive way, remember that as an ambassador of Christ, all of Heaven is standing by to fully support you!

As your day gets started, stop for a moment and think about who you really are in Jesus Christ. You are a royal ambassador for the King of Kings Himself!

My Prayer for Today

Lord, I thank You for the tremendous privilege of representing You on this earth! Please forgive me for the times I have overlooked the honor of being a child of God. I am sorry for the moments when I’ve been negative about myself, talked badly about myself, and did not acknowledge who You have made me to be in Jesus Christ. Today I am asking the Holy Spirit to help me see and truly perceive that You have made me to be an ambassador in this world!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

My Confession for Today

I confess that I am important to the plan of God. I am an ambassador! I represent Jesus Christ to my family, to my place of employment, and to my neighborhood. I have been invested with royal powers, including the name of Jesus and the authority of the blood, and I may call upon Heaven to assist me at any given moment! All angelic powers and all the vast resources stored in the treasury of Heaven are available for my use when I am representing Jesus to this world!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

Questions to Answer

1. Have you ever viewed yourself as an ambassador of Jesus Christ?

2. Have you asked the Father to give you a revelation of your rightful place as an ambassador for Jesus Christ?

3. In what ways can you act as an ambassador for Jesus where you live and work?

You’re Not a Spiritual Orphan!

I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
— John 14:18

Have you ever felt isolated or alone in this world? If you have, just remember — you are never alone! Imagine how alone the disciples felt when Jesus informed them that He would soon ascend to Heaven and leave them behind on the earth!

What do you think the disciples felt when Jesus told them this? They must have wondered, What will life be like without Jesus? How will we continue without the Master walking right alongside of us? But it was time for Jesus to ascend to the Father and to take His place as our Great High Priest.

It was natural for the disciples to feel sorrowful. To them, it must have seemed like the end of their wonderful encounter with the Lord and with the power of God. Living and walking with Jesus was more than they had ever hoped for in this world. With Jesus at their side, their lives had been filled with adventure, excitement, joy, victory, power, healings, and miracles.

Feelings of insecurity and uncertainty would have been normal for any human beings who found themselves in the disciples’ position. They had grown dependent upon the physical, visible presence of Jesus — something we’ve never experienced and therefore cannot fully comprehend. The thought of Jesus leaving this earth probably made the disciples feel spiritually forsaken and abandoned.

In the midst of these fears, Jesus promised His disciples, “I will not leave you comfortless…” (John 14:18). Today I want us to look at the word “comfortless” in this verse. It is taken from the Greek word orphanos, which is where we get the word orphan.

In New Testament times, the word orphanos described children left without a father or mother. In today’s world, the word orphan has exactly the same meaning. It refers to a child who is abandoned due to the death or desertion of a father or mother. Once orphaned, the child is deprived of parental care, supervision, and protection — unless that child is placed in the custody of a blood relative or a new guardian who assumes a parental role in that child’s life.

However, in New Testament times the word orphanos was also used in a broader sense to describe students who had been abandoned by their teacher. Just as children are dependent on their parents, these students were reliant on their teacher to teach them, to guide them, and to prepare them for life. But once the teacher abandoned them, they felt deserted, forsaken, discarded, and thrown away.

In both cases, the word orphanos is used to carry the same idea, whether it refers to children abandoned by their parents or students discarded by their teacher. It gives the picture of younger, less educated, less knowledgeable people feeling deserted by those they trusted and looked to for guidance.

Jesus was a spiritual father to the disciples. He knew they were completely reliant upon Him. They couldn’t make it on their own in the world without Him. This is why He promised them, “I will not leave you like orphans.”

Jesus’ words could be translated to express this idea:

“I will not leave you behind like orphans who have been deserted by their parents, nor will I desert you like an unfaithful teacher who walks out on his students and leaves them with no supervision or help.…”

Jesus knew the disciples couldn’t make it on their own in the world. That’s why He sent the Holy Spirit into the world to be their new Guardian and Teacher.

You can’t make it on your own in this world either — but you don’t have to, because Jesus did not abandon you! He did not desert you, walk out on you, or throw you away. When He ascended to the Father, He sent the Holy Spirit to care for you, to guide you, and to teach you. Jesus did not leave you as an orphan in this world!

So meditate on this truth today, and let it sink deep into your heart: I’m not alone! I’m not a spiritual orphan. Jesus has given me the Holy Spirit to comfort, guide, counsel, and strengthen me in every situation of life!

My Prayer for Today

Lord, I thank You that I am not a spiritual orphan in this world. You didn’t abandon me or leave me to figure out everything on my own. You sent the Holy Spirit to be my Teacher and Guide. So right now I open my heart wide to the Holy Spirit, so He can be the Helper You sent Him to be in my life. I give You thanks for sending this divine Helper, and I ask You to teach me how to lean upon Him more and more in the course of my life.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

My Confession for Today

I boldly declare that the Holy Spirit is my Helper, my Teacher, and my Guide. Everything Jesus did for the disciples, the Holy Spirit now does for me. He leads me, He teaches me, and He shows me everything the Father wants me to know. I am not a spiritual orphan! I am a child of God who is fully befriended, indwelt, empowered, and led by the Spirit of God.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

Questions to Answer

1. Can you think of a critical moment in your life when you felt abandoned and alone and turned to God for comfort and support?

2. What are some of the ways the Father has comforted you in the past?

3. Are you allowing the Holy Spirit to be your Comforter, Strengthener, and Guide?

Is It Time To Make a Change In Your Environment?

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us.…
— Hebrews 12:1

Your biggest potential enemy in life (besides your own wrong thinking and the devil himself) is the environment in which you live. For instance, if you constantly live in an atmosphere of doubt and unbelief, it’s just a fact that you’ll have a much more difficult time maintaining a walk of strong faith. That doubt-filled environment will try to rub off on you!

It’s just a fact that your environment tends to affect you and the way you think. For example, if you used to smoke or if you used to have a drinking problem, it’s obviously not a smart idea for you to hang around smokers or drinkers — unless, that is, you want to be influenced to return to your old habits. Hanging around people who still do these things may lure you to pick up a cigarette to take a smoke or to allow yourself one more small drink.

However, those little allowances may possibly be the very hook that the devil uses to drag you back into the bondage from which Jesus Christ already delivered you. That’s why it’s vital for you to understand that the environment surrounding you is very important!

With this in mind, look at the phrase “…the sin which doth so easily beset us….” What kind of sin is this verse talking about? The words “so easily beset us” are from the Greek word euperistatos, a compound of three words: eu, peri, and statos. Let’s look at all three of these words.

The word eu usually means well, but in this case it carries the idea of something that feels well or something that is comfortable. The Greek word peri means around or being completely surrounded. The word statos is from the root word istimi, meaning to stand. When these three words are compounded, the new word describes something that comfortably stands all around you, such as a comfortable environment.

So this phrase in Hebrews 12:1 could be understood to say:

“…Lay aside the sin and the environment that so comfortably envelops you….”

Sometimes in order to make necessary changes in your life, you must physically remove yourself from an unprofitable situation. If you’re not strong enough in your faith to stay there without being affected, you need to get up and get out of that unbelieving, negative environment — the one you’ve been comfortably living in for a long, long time. If you’re not strong enough to overcome it, it will unquestionably try to reach out and drag you back into your old behavior again.

If God’s admonition to lay aside every weight applies to you, then obey Him and make a break from that unhealthy environment! Perhaps old friends, old places, or wrong believing are trying to exert a bad influence on you and you’re not resisting that influence too well. If that’s the case, get out of there! For you, that environment is sin if it keeps you from fulfilling your potential in Jesus Christ.

Be honest as you consider your workplace, your friends, and your living conditions. Ask yourself, Is this environment conducive to my walk in Christ, or is it dragging me back down into the mire I was delivered from?

Your friends and your job are not so important that you should let them destroy your spiritual life. If you cannot successfully handle the environment you’re in, get out of there. Then watch the Lord provide a better job and better friends than you’ve ever had in your life!

Your Christian life is serious business. Don’t let your environment fill you with doubt and knock you out of your spiritual race! If you can’t handle your environment victoriously, initiate a plan of action to change it today!

My Prayer for Today

Lord, I want to stay in an environment that will keep my faith alive and strong. Help me recognize those relationships and places I should avoid to keep my faith from being negatively affected. As You show me places, people, and things I should avoid, give me the strength I need to do what is right — and give me the wisdom I need to know how to avoid those places and people!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

My Confession for Today

I confess that I will physically remove myself from unprofitable situations that are not positive for my faith. I make the choice to get up and get out of unbelieving, negative environments that tend to pull me down. I am laying aside every weight, and I am making a break from all unhealthy environments! With God’s help, I make right choices and right friends. I do everything I can to stay in environments that help me keep my faith alive and well.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

Questions to Answer

1. Have you been in any relationships or environments that you should have avoided? How did they affect your walk with God?

2. Are there any unprofitable situations or relationships that you need to remove yourself from now?

3. What steps can you take to start making better choices of friends and environments? What do you think the Lord wants you to do with your current relationships and places that you frequent?