But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.
— Romans 5:20

In yesterday’s Sparkling Gem, I recounted the time we baptized 926 new believers in a public swimming pool during the first meetings we held in the former Soviet Union. But there is more to this amazing story! As I stood and looked at all the people being water-baptized that week, I heard the Holy Spirit say, “What will you do with all these people now that they have been baptized?” In that moment, it was like a streak of divine revelation pierced through my soul — and I knew that God was telling me to take responsibility for these new believers. Denise and I were being instructed by the Holy Spirit to start a church.

Soon afterward, we began searching for a location to start a new church. When Jesus started his ministry, He announced that He was anointed to preach the good news of the Gospel (see Luke 4:18), so we felt we should name the church the Good News Church because the Gospel was such good news! Especially in the wake of the collapse of USSR when there was so much bad news all around in this part of the world, we believed this name would signal the truth of what the Gospel is.

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After being rejected by several locations that we had investigated as potential sites for our church, we learned that an old auditorium formerly used by the Communist Party was available if we wanted to rent it. Within hours of receiving that information, I went to that auditorium to see if it would work as our new church building. There I was — surrounded by 680 leather-padded, theater-style, Communist-red seats. An enormous chandelier hung from the ceiling with gigantic, matching light fixtures that surrounded the circular auditorium. The walls were adorned with emblems of the Soviet Union that included a huge cameo of Marx and Lenin adorning the top left and right of the stage. The back rooms of the stage were filled with Communist paraphernalia — including flags of every Republic of USSR, a gargantuan bust of Lenin, and a huge copper emblem that celebrated one of the anniversaries of the Communist party.

When I stood on that stage and looked out onto those empty seats, I understood that this was the location where Jesus wanted us to start the Good News Church. We contacted the new believers who had been water-baptized and invited them to a full week of meetings in the new location. From the onset of those meetings, the power of God literally burst into that place and established the Church of Jesus Christ in that part of the world!

During that first week, every chair was filled, and people crowded the steps and lined the auditorium each evening. The auditorium was packed to maximum capacity until the number of people attending overflowed beyond the limitations prescribed by the local fire department, and we had to begin holding multiple services each week to accommodate our burgeoning congregation. In the middle of that location — where Communist powers had once prevailed — the grace of God was being poured out!

That week I couldn’t help but be reminded of the apostle Paul’s words in Romans 5:20, where he wrote, “Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” Paul said that sin “abounded” — from the Greek word pleonadzo, which describes something that exists in abundance. However, Paul went on to use comparative language to tell us that regardless of how immense sin and its dominion was in a person’s life, it is nothing in comparison to the working of God’s grace.

When I looked at that auditorium, I thought of how that building, like so many lives, was once dominated by a horrible working of sin. But regardless of what sinful decisions were made there, it is nothing compared to the grace now poured out upon us!

God’s grace is being poured out in a measure that is way above and beyond anything that that sin ever dreamed to accomplish. Paul said grace did “much more abound” — that was his inspired way of explaining the profuse, lavish, bountiful, and overflowing nature of God’s grace!

The words “much more abound” are actually a translation of the Greek word huperperisseo, which is a compound of the words huper and perisseo. The first part of this compound is the word huper, which means over, above, and beyond. It depicts something that is way beyond measure. It carries the idea of superiority — something that is utmost, paramount, foremost, first-rate, first-class, and top-notch; greater, higher, and better than; superior to; preeminent, dominant, and incomparable; more than a match for; unsurpassed, unequaled, and unrivaled by any person or thing.

The second part of this compound is the word perisseo, which depicts something that abounds in an extraordinary measure or something so profuse that it can be likened to a river that is overflowing and flooding beyond its banks. It is so full that it simply cannot be contained in a single location. Thus, when these two words are compounded to form the word huperperisseo, it dramatically portrays grace as a force that is measureless and which can never be exhausted. So this verse could be understood to mean, “Where sin existed in abundance, grace FAR exceeded it!”

This is not only true of that location where our first church gathered in Riga, but it is also true of you. Sin may have once existed in abundance in your life, but the grace of God has far exceeded anything that the devil or any past sin ever attempted to fulfill in your life. The grace of God working in you is higher, preeminent, unsurpassed, and unrivaled by any past rule of sin in your life. God’s grace in you is simply measureless and inexhaustible!

Just as the grace of God was poured out in that old Communist auditorium, it is now being poured out abundantly — without measure — in your life. This is your time to gloat over what God can do in a person’s life. There you are, a former temple of sin, and now you have become a place where God with all His miracle-working power is at work. It leaves one speechless to consider what God has done and is doing in you!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, although sin once dominated in my life, Your lavish, overflowing grace has abounded even more in me. Your grace far exceeds the work or influence of sin. Holy Spirit, I ask You to open the eyes of my understanding and help me begin to understand how to cooperate more fully with the grace of God that is at work in my life.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that the grace of God abounds in my life, teaching me to say no to ungodliness and yes to living a morally upright life in this present age. The grace of God working in me is unsurpassed and unrivaled by any past rule of sin in my life. In the areas of my life and thoughts where fear and other sins once held control, the grace of God released to me now holds the superior position, and I allow that grace to reign supreme.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. When you survey your life and the areas where sin once operated in you without restraint, what differences do you see now because of the grace of God at work in your life?
2. How is grace abounding in your life? Describe the ways in which you are deliberately cooperating with the grace of God so its work can increase in your life.
3. What is the most notable change that you have observed in your thoughts and attitudes toward others due to the measureless grace of God overflowing the banks of your life?

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit….
— Matthew 28:19

In yesterday’s Sparkling Gem, I related the story of the first large meetings that Denise and I conducted in the former Soviet Union. We held those meetings in Latvia’s capital city of Riga. During that amazing week, approximately 8,000 people attended the meetings on all five nights — for a total attendance of 40,000 people. Just as people followed Jesus to witness the powerful, mind-blowing miracles He performed during His earthly ministry, we discovered that these precious people didn’t want to go away once they had been touched by God’s power. Miraculous power abounded all around us, and that week we witnessed several thousand people come to a saving faith in Jesus Christ!

However, during these meetings, I was deeply disturbed by one very important fact: These new believers needed to be water-baptized! In Matthew 28:19, Jesus proclaimed, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Jesus didn’t tell us to just preach to them; He commanded that we baptize them and get them moving on the road to discipleship! Jesus treated baptism like it was important, so I knew I needed to find a way to get these new believers into baptismal waters.

*[If you started reading this from your email, begin reading here.]

Before I continue with this story, let’s look at the word “baptism” for a moment to see what it originally meant in the Greek. The word “baptize” is from the Greek word baptidzo, a word that originally meant to dip and to dye. For instance, in very early cases, the word baptidzo described the process of dipping a cloth or garment into a vat of color to dye it; leaving it there long enough for the material to soak up the new color; and then pulling that garment out of the dye with a permanently changed outward appearance. Likewise a person who comes to Jesus Christ can be likened to an old garment that needs to be dipped into a vat of dye so its color can be changed. However, the person isn’t dipped into a vat of colored dye, but into the precious blood of the Lamb! This person is so totally transformed by Jesus’ blood that he becomes a new creature. His countenance is so changed that he even looks different. You could say that this new believer has been supernaturally “dipped and dyed”!

What a new light this sheds on baptism! In Romans 6:4, the apostle Paul said, “Therefore, we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). Water baptism is a symbolic proclamation of the fact that believers have been buried with Christ and raised with Him. When a believer is placed in the baptismal waters, it symbolizes being immersed in one condition and coming out looking brand-new. In other words, it is a picture of what happened to that person when he got saved! This outward symbol represents the fact that he has been dipped in the blood of the Lamb, and now his entire life has been newly colored and transformed to be like Jesus!

According to Paul’s instructions in Romans 6, this was the act of officially burying the past and starting a new life in Christ. At the time of those meetings, I fully understood that Christ commanded us to lead people into the waters of baptism as a public declaration of what God had done in their lives — in addition to preaching and leading people in a prayer of repentance. When we saw so many people get saved the first night, I knew we had to come up with a solution to baptize them.

To solve this problem, we rented a public swimming pool for three afternoons, and I announced that we would make water baptism available to each new believer and that we would instruct him or her about water baptism around the sides of the swimming pool before they entered it to be baptized.

We thought it would be extraordinary if 100 converts showed up to be baptized in a mid- afternoon service, but even at that, our team was ready to baptize 10 people at a time. We thought that with all the getting in and out of the pool, we could handle 100 people in one hour per afternoon if we were really careful with our time. We thought that if 300 of the new converts showed up over the course of all three afternoons, it would be a fabulous turnout — so you can imagine how stunned we were when more than 300 people showed up the first afternoon. There were so many people that we could not fit them around the edge of the pool in one teaching session, so we decided to divide the afternoon into three different baptismal sessions that each accommodated about 100 people. This meant we ended up baptizing a little more than 300 people in that first afternoon.

But on the second day, another 300-plus people came to the pool for water baptism — meaning the turnout had already exceeded 600 people! Then on the third day, we were stunned when an additional 300-plus people showed up to be baptized. By the end of those three afternoons, we had water-baptized 926 people. To be honest, we were both spiritually elated and physically exhausted. And we still had one more evening service to preach where more people would repent. That meant even more people would need to be water-baptized!

It was an amazing week in our lives. It was our first public event in the former USSR. Approximately 40,000 people attended, approximately 7,000 people repented and received Christ, countless notable miracles abounded, and we water-baptized 926 people in a public swimming pool! Little did we know that we were just getting started, but as you will see in tomorrow’s Sparkling Gem, God had plans that we were unaware of when that week of meetings began!

So have YOU ever received water baptism?

I am amazed at how many believers think that water baptism is optional because Scripture never presents it as an option. Certainly it doesn’t save us, but it is, in fact, the first step of obedience for a believer who wants to become a disciple. Jesus commanded that we receive water baptism in Matthew 28:19.

Since Jesus spoke of water baptism as the first serious step for a believer, it is essential that you not simply skip over this step, as so many people have done. I have seen over many years of ministry that people who neglect this divine command tend to let other vital requirements of their Christian walk slip through the cracks. Don’t let this describe you. You’ve been washed in the blood of Jesus, and if you haven’t already been water-baptized, it’s time for you to go under the waters of baptism to declare publicly that the old man is gone and that you are now “dyed” in the blood of Jesus Christ! Don’t you want to do what Jesus has asked you to do?

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, today I see more clearly than ever the significance of water baptism as a powerful demonstration of my spiritual transformation in Christ. Father, just as Jesus publicly obeyed You when He suffered and died to purchase my redemption, I obey the Lord’s command to publicly proclaim through the waters of baptism that I have been washed in the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb. I thank You that because Jesus died in my place and You raised Him to new life, I take every step to demonstrate that I am a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. Clothed in His righteousness alone, baptism symbolizes that I’ve been dipped and dyed in the crimson flood of Jesus’ blood as I gratefully proclaim: I am a child of God!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that I am a new creation in Christ Jesus. Old things have passed away and through Him, all things have become new. Crucified with Christ, I follow the Lord into baptism to bury my old man in a watery grave. And when I rise up, it is as a demonstration of how Jesus saves.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. At what age were you water baptized? What do you remember about that event? Were there changes you witnessed in your life as a result of publicly proclaiming your faith in Christ with the act of water baptism?
2. If you have never been water baptized, why not? What would prevent you from obeying the Lord in this very elementary first step of obedience? Did you inadvertently skip it because no one told you it was important?
3. Do you attend a church that regularly baptizes people? If not, why do you attend a church that doesn’t obey a command of Jesus that is so clear and simple? If your church doesn’t regularly baptize people, is it possible that you should ask your pastor for the church’s position on water baptism?

And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.
— John 6:2

Today I want to talk to you about miracles and the effect that God’s power has on people’s lives. Throughout our many years of ministry, Denise and I have seen countless miracles, and we learned long ago that miracles always have a profound effect on people! Let me relate to you an example that occurred in the early years of our ministry abroad just after the breakup of the Soviet Union in the year 1991.

During those tumultuous times, that entire region of the world was facing many serious economic struggles. Food supplies were rare; gasoline was almost nonexistent; and medicines and medical supplies were in short supply. Well-trained doctors could diagnose a patient’s sickness, but people remained untreated because no medications were available. In fact, even basic medications such as aspirin were a treasure because they were so hard to obtain.

*[If you started reading this from your email, begin reading here.]

In the midst of this dismal state of affairs, Denise and I announced on television that we were going to hold a series of miracle services in Riga, Latvia. These would be our first meetings in Latvia, and we wanted to facilitate a powerful demonstration of God’s power in this city. For two weeks prior to those big meetings, we broadcast advertisements for the miracle services many times a day on television. We had no idea what kind of effect the commercials would have, but we prayed that people would come to the meetings to hear the Gospel, receive a miraculous touch from God, and come to personally know Jesus Christ.

The long-anticipated day finally arrived, and we drove to the city to begin our series of meetings. When we arrived at the large rented auditorium, thousands of people were already in line, waiting to get into the building for the meeting. As Denise and I stood on the stage and looked out over the audience in that large hockey arena, we were stunned to see nearly 8,000 people! Many of these were sick people who had no means of obtaining desperately needed medicines and had therefore turned to the power of God as their only hope for physical healing.

Night after night, we saw mighty miracles occur before our eyes. Blind eyes were opened; epileptics were healed; and deaf ears were unstopped. And the greatest miracle of all was the hundreds of people who came forward to give their lives to Jesus at the conclusion of the meetings each night! By the end of that week, more than 7,000 people prayed to receive Jesus as their Lord. Then on the last night of those meetings, we witnessed one of the greatest miracles we have ever seen in our ministry.

Nineteen years earlier, a man in that crowd had become paralyzed from the waist down after falling from the roof of a house. On the first day of the meetings, we saw this man as he hobbled toward the stage on his crutches to give his life to Jesus. On the second day of the meetings, he came to receive the infilling of the Holy Spirit. On the fourth day, he showed up at the local swimming pool where we were baptizing people, and he was water-baptized. If nothing else happened, his life had already been completely transformed by the power of God.

But on the last night of the meetings, just as we closed the final service, I heard a noise to my left and turned to see what the commotion was all about. This paralyzed man had released his faith and thrown his arms into the air — and as his crutches hit the ground, the lower part of his body had come alive! Now he was standing with no crutches to hold him up.

Because of where the man was seated, the entire crowd turned to watch as he began to take his first steps in nineteen years. He took one step, then another, and then another — and with each step, he moved faster and faster. Soon he was running back and forth all across the front of the vast crowd that was gasping with shock at the miracle they were witnessing. The entire crowd saw this miracle take place!

After that remarkable event, I gave an invitation for the lost, and more people gave their lives to Jesus Christ that night than in any of the other services. Years later, people still recall that amazing miracle, and as a result of that miracle and the other miracles that took place during those meetings, multitudes believed in Jesus. Many of these people hadn’t previously believed in the existence of God at all, but because of these miraculous demonstrations, they gave their lives to Jesus Christ!

God has always used miracles to attract people to Jesus Christ. Many such examples can be found in Scripture, but one of the greatest demonstrations of this truth is recorded in John 6:2, which says, “And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.”

The word “great” in this verse is a translation of the Greek word polus, which refers to a great numeric quantity. This tells us that the crowd following Jesus was really huge. In addition, the Greek word for “multitude” is ochlos, which always describes a massive crowd. By using these two words back to back, John was emphasizing that the crowd following Jesus wasn’t simply large — it was an enormously massive group of people!

This verse goes on to tell us that this group of people “followed” Jesus. The Greek word used here denotes continuous, unbroken action. Taking this into account, the first part of this verse could be translated, “And a great multitude kept on following and following and following him.…” You see, there was something about Jesus’ ministry that attracted these throngs of people. They didn’t want to be away from Him, not even for a moment! They just kept on following and following and following Him everywhere He went!

Why was this massive multitude following Jesus? The verse tells us: “…because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.” The word “because” is the word hoti, and it points to the reason the crowd was following Jesus. It says they were following Him “…because they saw his miracles.…”

I want you to look at the word “saw” in this verse. This word means to be a spectator, to notice, or to watch in full detail. Just as one would sit and watch a play from a seat in the theater, this crowd watched intently to see every miracle Jesus was performing. Like spectators in a theater who are mesmerized by an amazing show, they didn’t want to miss one act in this supernatural performance, so they followed Jesus to get a close-up look at the miracles that were constantly occurring in His ministry.

The verse goes on to say, “…They saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.” The word “miracles” used here actually comes from the Greek word semeion. In the Greek world of the First Century AD, this word semeion signified the official written notice that announced the final verdict of a court, the signature or seal applied to documents to guarantee their authenticity, or a sign that marked key locations in a city.

Taking this into account, we find these miracles were the final verdict or proof that God was with Jesus. When that crowd saw the miracles, they knew those supernatural acts were God’s stamp of approval on Jesus’ ministry. These superhuman deeds were the guarantee that Jesus was anointed by God. The miracles He performed were like signs that declared, “God is here! You are in the right place!” They were comparable to a signature or a seal that authenticated and guaranteed that God was with Him. That’s why these followers didn’t want to be away from Jesus. They knew Jesus had the stamp of God’s approval!

John 6:2 even gives us an idea of what kind of miracles primarily caught the attention of the crowd. It says, “And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.” The words “he did” come from the Greek word poieo, which often conveys the idea of creativity. This is important because in this context, poieo gives the suggestion of creative miracles. The use of this Greek word implies that extraordinary miracles of a creative nature were regularly occurring and that these miracles in particular were catching the attention of the crowd.

Furthermore, John recorded that Jesus was healing those who were “diseased.” The word “diseased” comes from the Greek word astheneo. This word doesn’t refer to people with minor ailments such as the common cold; rather, it depicts people who are physically frail or feeble due to some bodily condition. Their physical condition is so serious that it has rendered them unable to move about freely. These were feeble, frail, broken people.

However, when Jesus walked the earth, He carried the anointing to heal the sick — and He regularly healed people who were physically frail or feeble due to some bodily condition. The health of these people had deteriorated to the point that they had become weak and frail — but once Jesus touched them, they were restored to health!

Taking all these words into consideration, an interpretative translation of John 6:2 could read:

“A massive multitude continually followed Jesus because they were constantly seeing the mighty signs He was performing on those who were sick. Those whose health was so deteriorated that they were physically frail were recipients of these mighty deeds that authenticated the fact that God was with Jesus!”

Those who followed Jesus during His ministry on this earth knew that something wonderful was always happening. People’s lives were being changed; their health was being restored; and their purpose in life was being renewed. Jesus was the best thing that had ever happened to every person who ever came in contact with Him!

And Jesus is still the best thing that has ever happened to every person who comes in contact with Him today! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8), so why don’t you go ahead and believe for miracles to start working in your life as they did in Jesus’ life? When people see those miracles and experience the power of God, it will open their hearts to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ. Miracles will get their attention, and then you can tell them about Jesus!

Think of the profound effect that a single miracle would have on your circle of friends and the people you know. God wants to work through you! As a believer, you are anointed and commissioned to lay hands on the sick, and you have the right to expect to see those sick people get well. That’s God’s promise in Mark 16:18, so boldly claim it by faith and reach out to let His power operate through you to others!

Having witnessed so many miracles in our ministry, I want to encourage you to believe God for miracles in your own life and in the lives of those around you. When people see and experience the power of God, it makes them want to follow Jesus, just like the crowds who followed Him in John 6:2. Miracles are God’s way of shouting, “I am here and I love you!”

It is sad that many people think Jesus’ miracle-working power is only a thing of the past, because He is the same today as He was then. He is both able and willing now to do the same things He did when He walked the earth 2,000 years ago. Jesus hasn’t changed. He wants to touch, heal, and restore people. That’s why I want to encourage you to make room in your life for Jesus to perform His miracle-working, life-changing ministry through you!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, I am so thankful that Jesus came to earth to reveal Your will and to show us Your ways. Just as Jesus went about manifesting Your goodness by destroying the works of the devil, He is the same — yesterday, today, and forever. Father, it’s Your goodness and loving-kindness that leads people to repentance. I make myself available to You as a vessel through whom Jesus can manifest Himself to others. Jesus was the best thing that ever happened to every person who ever came in contact with Him. Holy Spirit, bring people into contact with Jesus through me as You use my life. Demonstrate Your miracle power through my life to open hearts and change lives. Make me a vessel You can flow through to cause people’s health to be restored and their hope to be renewed by a personal encounter with You.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that I give place for Jesus Christ to perform His miracle-working, life-changing ministry through me. When Jesus walked the earth, He went about doing good, healing all, and destroying the works of the devil. I am anointed and commissioned by Him to lay my hands on the sick in His name and to see them recover. That is God’s promise in Mark 16:18, and I boldly claim it by faith as I yield to His compassion and reach out to others with confident expectation to see His miracle-working power released to others through my life.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. What miracle do you need in your own life right now? What touch of God do you need in your family? What supernatural provision do you need in your job, your business, or your finances? If you will release your faith in Jesus, He will step in and work miracles in any situation you’re facing!
2. Can you think of people in your life who are in desperate need of a miracle? Have you asked the Lord what part He may want you to take in releasing His miracle-working power through you into their lives or situations?
3. Have you prayed with those people about that need, expecting God to move on their behalf to see that miracle manifest? If you haven’t, why not? Let the love and compassion of God flow through you as you pray for these individuals — always with faith believing you have received the answer!

…If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
— Mark 9:23

Never underestimate the power of faith! What you believe determines what you receive, so make sure you are thinking and believing correctly.

Mark 9:14-29 tells the account of a deeply distressed father who learned the power of faith first-hand on the day he came to Jesus with his son, who was severely demon-possessed. This boy wasn’t just demonically affected — he was being violently attacked by demon spirits that had repeatedly tried to kill him by throwing him into both fire and water. As far as the father was concerned, this situation was irreversible and impossible to cure. So in desperation, he brought his son to Jesus’ disciples, but they were unable to help the man. After repeated, unsuccessful attempts to cast the demons out of this child, the disciples finally brought the boy to Jesus to see if He could cast them out.

*[If you started reading this from your email, begin reading here.]

In New Testament times, demon possession was considered to be the most impossible malady to cure. People, including religious leaders, were so powerless in the presence of demons that demon-possessed individuals were often chained up and left in remote conditions. A famous example of this in Scripture is the demoniac who was kept in the remote region of Gadara (see Mark 5:1-20). However, when this father in Mark 9:23 brought his severely tormented child to Jesus, he didn’t see his son’s condition as an impossible situation at all — because he believed Jesus had power over those demons. Jesus responded to this man’s faith and said, “…If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth” (Mark 9:23). Because the father believed, Jesus cast the demons out of his son and returned the boy to his father as a normal child (see Mark 9:24-28).

That day Jesus taught this principle: If one can simply believe, anything is possible — even setting a possessed person free from demon spirits. Wherever faith is present, the impossible is doable!

This verse always makes me think of all the times people have presented me with seemingly impossible odds and said, “Rick, no one has ever been able to do what you’re attempting to do. We know several who tried to do it in the past, but they failed and ended up in a mess. So be careful because it is unlikely that you’ll be able to achieve such a huge undertaking!”

Over the years, that kind of gloomy, pessimistic prediction has been made to my wife Denise and me more times than we can count. With nearly everything that we’ve ever done, someone has tried to tell us the task was impossible. But in every case, they were wrong. I want to say it again — wherever faith is present, the impossible is doable.

When I hear someone say something is impossible, I inwardly laugh, because I personally know that we serve a God who does the impossible! Jesus said, “…If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth” (Mark 9:23). Jesus made it plain — if we will believe, all things will be possible to us!

The word “possible” is the Greek word dunata, and it expresses the idea of ability, power, one who is able and capable, or one who is competent. The word dunata shares the same root with the word dunamis, which is the Greek word for power. This emphatically tells us that there is a power that causes one to become able, capable, or competent for any task. When this explosive power comes on the scene and begins to operate in a person’s life, it doesn’t matter how unfit or unqualified he was before — this power supernaturally energizes him and makes him capable for the task set before him.

But who is the type of person who will accomplish impossible feats? Jesus clearly answered that question. He said, “…All things are possible to him that believeth.” The word “believeth” is the Greek word pistis, meaning faith. However, the tense used in this verse pictures a person who is believing. This is not someone who once had an experience of faith in the past; rather, it is a person who is presently believing right now. He didn’t just believe in the past — he is a believer. His faith is actively reaching forward right now to grab hold of what God has promised. His faith is habitually, constantly, consistently, and unwaveringly straining forward to take hold of that desired goal he sees before him!

Faith is the spark that ignites the impossible and causes it to become possible. When a person’s faith is activated, it sets supernatural power in motion that enables that person to do what he normally would never be able to do! This is why Jesus said, “…If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.” Once faith has been activated and remains activated, a person becomes enabled and empowered so that he is capable and competent to do whatever it is God has told him to do. That person can even do the impossible!

In my particular case, this means:

• When I receive a new mandate from God to push forward into new and uncharted territory, I look at the project from every angle, and then immediately begin renewing my mind to believe that I can do anything God has asked me to do. Even what seems to be impossible will be possible to me!
• If He has told me to do something — regardless of how big or how impossible it seems to the natural mind — I begin to tell myself that I can do it and that my eyes will see it come to pass.
• After all, if it couldn’t be done, why would Jesus ask me to do it?

The fact is, in God all things are possible. Therefore, it’s up to you and me to get our thinking in line with God’s Word. And as we build up our faith to the level it needs to be for the new challenge, we experience an explosion of supernatural power in us that literally carries us over into the realm where impossible things becomes possible!

• Jesus made it very clear that we receive exactly what we believe.
• If I believe I can do the impossible, I will do it.
• But if I believe I cannot do the impossible, I will not do it.
• When I look at those who have warned me about all the things they thought couldn’t be done, most of those people have done nothing.
• Because we dared to believe, today we are standing in the middle of many accomplished “impossible” assignments that others said could never happen.
• Wherever faith is, the impossible is doable!

Until that father in Mark 9 met Jesus, he had probably been surrounded with a group of people who gave him no hope and demonstrated no faith. Apparently even the disciples had a hard time believing that little boy could be set free. But as soon as that father got around Jesus and heard Jesus speaking words of faith, he believed — and as soon as the father believed, it was just a matter of minutes before that son was completely and totally set free. Once faith is activated, it often doesn’t take long for the impossible to become possible!

So today I want to encourage you to believe that all things are possible. Push that doubt and unbelief out of the way — and if you must, find a new group of friends who will get into a position of faith with you. Then release your faith for the impossible to become possible!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, I believe Your Word! I will not listen to the naysayers who haven’t accomplished anything. They want to halt and entangle me with their fear and unbelief. It doesn’t matter how unqualified I may have been, Your explosive, supernatural power will energize me and make me capable. Faith comes when I hear Your Word, and I am determined to release my faith through obedient action. Regardless of the difficulty or impossibility before me, I know that when faith is present, anything is doable. Holy Spirit, I ask You to help me instantly discern when someone is not in agreement with You so I won’t allow their polluting doubt to sink down into my heart. I am determined to push doubt and unbelief out of the way. I believe God, and it will be exactly as He spoke it to me. I believe God, and all things are possible to me.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that my faith is not just past tense — I am a believer this very moment! My faith is actively reaching forward right now to grab hold of what God has promised. My faith is unwaveringly straining forward to take hold of that desired goal set before me! My faith ignites the impossible, causing it to become possible, and sets supernatural power in motion that enables me to do what others thought I would never be able to do. With confident expectation, I say it out loud repeatedly: I believe God, and all things are possible to me!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. Have you ever attempted to do something that others said was impossible? How did their words affect you? Did they encourage you to believe or did they drag you down into unbelief and defeat?
2. Who is speaking into your life right now? When you look at the friends who speak into your life, are they people who have challenged the impossible and done it, or are they people who have done nothing and are telling you that you are going to do nothing too?
3. If the impossible happens where faith is activated, what is likely going to happen in your life if things continue the way they are going right now?

And straightway he [Jesus] constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people. And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.
— Mark 6:45,46

When taking stock of the monumental issues facing the world today, many believers are tempted to succumb to worry, stress, and anxiety. However, living in a mental prison of fear and anxiety is not God’s plan for your life. As a child of God, you can find peace, no matter what storm is raging all around you! Psalm 55:22 states, “Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” According to this verse, the way to remain in peace is to spend concentrated time in the presence of the Lord.

Setting time aside to get quiet and seek God so you can hear His voice can be a challenge for busy people. Personally, I am the type of person who loves to be on the go all the time, and there have been times in my life when I neglected to take enough time to be quiet before the Lord. However, a few years ago, He spoke to my heart and called me aside for a special, intense time of prayer and seeking His face. I am so thankful that I heeded His call because that time with God opened my heart so He could show me the areas of my life that required change. During that special time of prayer, I pored over the Scriptures, and as I studied, I found there were many examples in the Bible of believers who sensed a “calling away.” Moreover, I found that each person who obeyed this call to prayer and separated himself for a time of seeking the Lord received divine blessings as a result.

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Even Jesus had times when He withdrew from the daily schedule of life to give Himself to consecrated times of prayer. An example can be found in Mark 6:45 and 46, which says, “And straightway he [Jesus] constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people. And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.”

Prior to the events described in this verse, Jesus had just miraculously fed 5,000 people, concluded one of the largest meetings of His ministry, and built momentum and excitement among His followers. In fact, the entire region was buzzing about the miracle of providing supernatural food for the entire multitude. But how did Jesus respond to this astounding event? He told the disciples to get on a ship and sail away; He sent away the crowds; and then He headed for the mountains to pray!

I want you to notice the word “straightway” in Mark 6:45. This word is a translation of the Greek word eutheos, which carries the idea of doing something without any delays, intervening circumstances, or detours. This word speaks both to the timing and the determination of Jesus. His response to a great victory was to withdraw without delay or interruption and get to a place where He could pray to the Father without interference. Jesus sent away the disciples and the multitude so that He might have time alone with God.

Next, notice the word “constrained” in the same verse. This is the Greek word anagkazo, which is a compound of the two words ana and agkale. Ana means up, and agkale means arm. When compounded, the new word paints the picture of a raised arm, which demonstrates force and authority. It literally means to compel by force. In light of the miracle that had just occurred in Jesus’ ministry, I am amazed by the Gospel writer’s choice of these two words “straightway” and “constrained” because it illustrates exactly how Jesus responded to that great meeting: He immediately — with determined force — caused everyone to leave Him alone so that He could pray!

With so much work to be done in our own ministry, I frequently feel compelled to just keep going strong without a break. But that is not what Jesus did. He recognized His need to stay in touch with the Father, even in the midst of successful events. And it’s interesting to note that it was after His time with the Father that Jesus walked on the water and commanded a storm to be still (see Mark 6:47-51). I want to follow Jesus’ example.

Anyone who knows Denise and me and is familiar with our ministry knows that we believe wholeheartedly in working very hard and giving 100 percent to the call of God. But there is a time when each of us must come aside to spend special time with the Lord and press into His presence so He can refresh us and renew us by His Spirit, just as Jesus did after He fed the multitude. So I have determined to carve out special time with the Father — to pray, to read His Word, and to fellowship with Him. I set aside time just for Him so He can search my heart and change me and so I can hear Him speak to me with no distractions and interruptions.

I know many people are facing struggles right now, and maybe this is a hard time for you as well. The only way you will get through this time victoriously is by spending time with the Lord and casting the weight of all your cares on Him (see Psalm 55:22). Isn’t it time for you to give God more time than you’ve been giving Him?

If God is calling you to set aside some extra time for Him, you need to be prepared for your flesh to put up a fight! That’s why it’s going to take determination to do it. When other things try to scream for your attention and pull you out of that consecrated place, you have to be determined to stay there unmoved, because that is where your source of strength, your peace, and all your answers will come from.

So obey what the Holy Spirit tells you to do by going to your mountain to be with the Father — in other words, by coming aside every day to spend special time with Him. I guarantee you that your obedience will bring a great reward. As the author of Hebrews declares, “…He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).

It is essential that you make a deliberate effort to regularly spend time in consecrated prayer. Start this week — start today. Start by giving Him at least a few more minutes each day. Then let your special time with the Lord grow and grow until you are finally experiencing quality time with God that surpasses anything you’ve ever known in your life. He will open your heart, remove the things that have troubled you and caused your defeat, refill you with the Holy Spirit, and give you joy unspeakable and full of glory!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, with all that I have to do today, I cannot afford to miss spending time alone with You. I repent for the days I have sought to serve You in my own strength. I was busy, but not always fruitful because I failed to maintain my vital connection with You. Lord Jesus, I deliberately look to You, and I look away from all that would distract my attention from You. Father, I diligently seek You, and I thank You for rewarding me with a greater revelation of Your wisdom and Your ways. Holy Spirit, teach me to order my days with the Lord occupying first place. Please refill me today with Your power and Your joy, which is my impenetrable strength!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that I will daily spend time in the Father’s presence. No matter how full my schedule may be, I will come to Him for direction and to be refreshed and renewed. I make God’s Word my priority. I will not allow my flesh to lure me away from staying vitally united to the Vine because apart from Him, I know I can’t do anything of eternal value. I set aside time to read the Word, pray, and fellowship with the Lord. I search my own heart on a regular basis and allow Him to change me so His anointing will flow pure and strong through my life.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. Do you spend daily time with the Lord? How do you spend that time?
2. Do you have a daily Bible reading plan that helps you spend your time with the Lord? If not, a variety of reading plans are available online and are easy to Having a scheduled plan will help you feel like you are not having to figure it all out on your own.
3. I personally have a “place” where I go to read my Bible and to pray. It has become my “mountain” where I retreat from the busyness of life to be with Jesus. Do you have such a place? Where is it?

For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ….
— 1 Corinthians 12:12

I’m sure you realize that there is nothing accidental about God. He’s very intentional and strategic in what He says to us and how He says it. Today I want to show you a specific example of this that I believe will help you. In First Corinthians 12:12-27, Paul likened the local church body to a physical body. It’s one of those very intentional divine analogies that God uses to help enlighten us to how we are to operate according to His Kingdom, because there really are so many pertinent similarities between the physical human body and the spiritual entity called the Body of Christ.

In particular, I want to draw a comparison to how the human body and the spiritual church body respond to attacks. You see, the human body exhibits distinct symptoms when an infection begins to spread, and the same thing is true in a local church body. A local church will demonstrate many telling signs that a spiritual infection has begun to take root in its midst. It’s so important to be aware of and sensitive to detect these signs so you can stay alert in prayer as a “watchman on the wall” to ward off the enemy’s attacks — not only from your own life, but also from the lives of your pastors and your church family.

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• So let’s take an in-depth look at the many parallels that exist between a physical infection that has invaded a human body and a spiritual infection that has invaded a local church body.

• Physical infection can be defined as the injurious colonization of a human body by a foreign species that begins to utilize the host’s resources to assist in its own infectious multiplication. Once inside a human body, an infecting organism quickly begins to multiply inside its host. Normally, the human body has multiple systems of defense designed to protect the body from infection. But when the human body is physically weak, malnourished, or exposed to fatigue over a long period of time, the immune system is compromised, and the body becomes susceptible to infection. Ultimately, an infected person becomes contagious to others.
• Persistent infections occur when a body is unable to completely purge the harmful organisms after the initial infection. Such infections may appear to go into remission, but in actuality, the infectious organisms merely remain dormant in the body, fully capable of being reactivated if the immune system is weakened once again. For persistent infections to be eliminated from the body, serious, directed treatment is often required.
• Infection can be transmitted in a variety of ways, but the most common means is horizontal transmission, or the direct or indirect transfer of an infectious organism from one person to another. Transmission through direct contact may occur when a healthy individual comes into physical contact with an infected person’s body or bodily fluids. This can occur in numerous ways, but two very common causes of direct transmission are unprotected sexual contact and breathing air that has been contaminated by an infected person’s cough or sneeze.
• Infections can also be transmitted through indirect contact. This occurs when a person touches a physical object that an infected person has previously handled. Common examples would be actions as simple as touching the same furniture, doorknobs, or toys or sharing foods or liquids. Although a person may not directly contact an infected individual, environment alone can be sufficient to transmit infection in extremely contagious cases. In these instances, the germs can be so robust that they are able to survive outside the human body for long periods of time and still retain their infectious nature. This fact demonstrates the necessity to thoroughly cleanse and sanitize any areas, items, or people that have been exposed to the environment of an infected person.
• The longevity of an infection is dependent on whether the infecting organism is transmitted from one person to the next. If this transmission is stopped, the infection is stopped. Therefore, it is essential to stop that transmission process.
• In order to stop an infection from being transmitted to others, an infected individual must be willing to undergo treatment. Even in the ancient world, medication was used to treat infected individuals. Although the medication may be distasteful and unwanted, it is absolutely necessary to annihilate the infecting organisms in order to stop the spread of disease to others.
• If an infection progresses to a point in a person’s body that medicine alone is no longer sufficient to halt its advance, the infected person may need to submit to a surgical procedure. As unwanted and painful as this step is, it may be the only way to stop the spread of disease to the entire body. Removal or surgical correction is never easy to endure, but this procedure may save the life of a person in that dire condition.
• In most cases, it is relatively simple to avoid an outbreak of infection by making minor adjustments to one’s lifestyle. For instance, germs thrive in unsanitary environments, so regularly cleansing one’s hands and making an effort to live in a clean, sanitary environment are helpful in preventing infection. In addition, it is important to eat food that is well prepared, healthy, and clean since unhealthy, dirty food is often a major contributor to the transmission of infection.
• In the human body, some infections are easy to detect because they are accompanied by immediate symptoms, whereas others produce no symptoms until the infection has already spread inside its host. Bodily aches, tenderness to the touch, chills, fatigue, inflammation, fever, loss of appetite, nausea, pain, weight loss, and vomiting are all common, easily detectable signs of infection. These symptoms alert a person that a foreign entity has penetrated his body and is now multiplying inside.

So how does all this apply to a case of spiritual infection in a local church?

• When spiritual infection finds its way into a local church, it quickly begins to multiply inside that congregation unless it is quickly addressed and stopped. God has designed the Body of Christ to supernaturally withstand most attacks by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. However, if a particular congregation has undergone a difficult period and become fatigued, spiritually malnourished, and weak, that congregation’s God-given “immune system” may become more susceptible to infection from deceptive doctrines. Ultimately, if these destructive forces are allowed to propagate within a church, they will gain strength and spread to the entire congregation, even though they may have initially been embraced by only a few.
• Persistent spiritual infections occur when a church is unable to clear itself of an initial outbreak. This chronic condition may seem to go into remission — but if true repentance hasn’t occurred, it will only be a matter of time before difficult conditions cause that toxic poison to be reactivated in the congregation. If this situation isn’t dealt with properly — if the infection isn’t eliminated as soon as it first becomes evident within the congregation — the infection will simply go into “sleep mode” — and will be certain to reawaken at a later time. This is why it must be dealt with immediately and directly if it is to be permanently eliminated from the church body.
• In order to stop spiritual infection from metastasizing inside a congregation, the person spreading the disease must be willing to “undergo treatment” by submitting to authority and correction. If the church itself has become diseased due to a long-term toxic condition, the spiritually infected person may also be required to submit to a stricter discipline. In extreme cases, the only way to bring correction to a church may be to remove the person at the source of infection. Although unwanted and painful, this corrective action may prolong the life of the church.
• The prevention of spiritual infection is relatively simple in most cases. Making minor adjustments to one’s lifestyle, avoiding temptations to compromise, refusing to bend on one’s moral positions, spending time daily in prayer and the Word, and keeping one’s heart right toward the local church are all critical elements in preventing outbreaks of spiritual infection. Furthermore, it is very important to be fed a balanced, well-prepared, untainted diet of God’s Word.
• Churches experience distinct symptoms when they have been invaded by a spiritual infection. For instance, just as a physical body might experience a lack of energy or weight loss when it has an infection, a church body can experience a lack of power or a drop in attendance when a spiritual disease has infiltrated the congregation. Or in the same way that a person dealing with infection might experience a loss of appetite, a church usually experiences a diminishing of spiritual hunger when it is infected.
• There are other striking similarities between the symptoms of physical and spiritual infection. Inflamed, infected tissue often produces swelling and becomes hot and painful. The spiritual counterpart to this physical phenomenon would be the tendency for infected churches to experience swelling crowds of uncommitted believers with itching ears because a spiritually contaminated congregation often appeals to others with perhaps different but equally diseased “ideas.” Church attendance may increase in size yet be completely devoid of healthy growth. But in an infected church, “quantity” fails to reflect “quality” as people flock only to what feeds their selfish interests. Eventually the blend of these inflamed, swelling ranks becomes a toxic soup that spills out to infect ever-increasing numbers of people.
• In addition, the tenderness or pain displayed in an infected physical body may manifest as a spiritual infection in a local body of believers as a combination of touchiness, agitation, and anger. This “soreness” is often reflected in the attitude of spiritually infected individuals who become belligerent with anyone who questions their erroneous beliefs. Their touchiness is always on display because they view every conversation as a potential challenge to their perspective. They become insufferable and cantankerous, feeling the need to take on the world to prove their point and producing “dis-ease” and discomfort among all who even slightly bump into them. Their irrational words, attitudes, and actions resemble the disorientation of a fevered person who can make outlandish statements and reflect bizarre behavior because of the way the inflammation has affected his or her brain.
• A local church often views the symptoms described above as demonic attacks. Although this is definitely true in part, the church leadership must still determine how the devil found access into the congregation in the first place. Seeking God in earnest prayer is essential to obtaining an answer to this question. Once the answer is known, repentance is required to rid the local body of whatever is allowing the enemy to poison and destroy from within.
• The most difficult type of spiritual infection to detect and treat is when one or more church leaders within a congregation become infected. False doctrine that finds its way into the heart of one leader, if it is not corrected, will begin to pass to others, just as an infection is passed from one host to the next. If this transmission isn’t stopped, it has the potential to eventually infect an entire congregation.
• A spiritual leader who is infected with false doctrine is only one person — but he is an influential person that touches many lives. If the infection in his soul isn’t eliminated, it is likely that others will be contaminated through his His diseased influence will spread like germs until it infects people who gather to worship. If correction doesn’t come to his life, his words and teachings have the potential to become food that makes others sick. Because his influence is strong, it is likely that those who are close to him will pick up whatever has contaminated him and become infected with the same spiritual problems.

The point is that it doesn’t take too many erring individuals to transmit sickness to a church body when they hold positions of influence.

In cases where spiritual infection is extremely contagious and dangerous, quarantine may even be required to prevent the infection from spreading throughout the rest of the congregation. The person who is the source of infection may not understand the severity of his condition, or he may refuse to put sufficient space between himself and others to prevent the spread of contagion. To avoid putting the entire congregation at risk, the infected individual may have to be removed from the midst of the congregation to stop the destructive poison from spreading further.

It might be difficult to imagine that a congregation with loyalty to Christ would simultaneously be infected with an internal spiritual disease. However, Satan has learned that if he can’t destroy a church with external pressure, he has to attack it from within. Often believers have been so focused on combating the external opposition that they overlooked the greater enemy that had risen up in their midst.

We must be careful to guard against enemies not only from without, but also from infections that grow from within. Those internal infections are harder to deal with, because they come from people we love and who have been with us for a long time. So after we have made sure that we’re not the source of spiritual infection through poisonous attitudes, offense, lack of self-restraint with our words, and so forth — we must stay alert to detect any sign of infection creeping into our midst. And as watchmen on the wall, it’s our responsibility to pray that God’s wisdom prevails in every situation — first, to stop the potential spread of infection within the local body, and, second, to do everything possible to restore those “infected” to wholeness once again.

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, I am amazed by the many similarities between the operation of the physical body and the local church body. I ask You to give my pastor and the spiritual leaders of my church the discernment to recognize when a spiritual infection has begun to fester inside the church, as well as the wisdom and insight to know how to deal with it before it becomes a bigger issue. Holy Spirit, You are the Spirit of wisdom, counsel, and might. Thank You for revealing not only to leadership but also to the local body how we are to deal with these issues so that we can walk in spiritual health and wholeness, free from spiritual contamination of any kind.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that I am a contributor to wholeness in the Christian community. The Body of Christ is healthier because I am in it. I think with a sound mind; I appreciate sound doctrine; I respect spiritual authority; and I am a contributor to the overall health of the Church. When I see that something is amiss, I bring it to the attention of spiritual leadership, and they have the God-given wisdom to know what to do in every situation. The Holy Spirit is our Leader. He is the great Restorer, and I declare that He brings order and restoration to every place where spiritual infection has tried to take root.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. Have you ever seen a spiritual sickness try to spread throughout a local church?
2. When that occurred, what did spiritual leadership do to address the situation and to bring healing to the congregation? This is a very difficult question, I know, but what did you learn from the experience?
3. What did you learn from reading today’s Sparkling Gem? Is there anything that is particularly relevant to what you are experiencing in your own local church?

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance….
— Galatians 5:22,23

God has sown His Spirit and His Word into your heart, so you have every right to expect divine fruit to be produced inside you. The fruit that the Spirit produces is wonderful, godly fruit, overflowing with blessings and life. In Galatians 5:22 and 23, the apostle Paul listed the fruit of the Holy Spirit, writing, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance…. ” Today I want to focus on the word “temperance” and see how we can cultivate this precious fruit in our lives.

In Greek, the word “temperance” is egkrateia, which is a compound of the words en and kratos. The word en simply means in, and kratos is the Greek word for power. When the two are compounded, the new word egkrateia means in power, in control, or in balance and pictures a person who is fully in command of his will, his urges, and his emotions. It is the idea of self-control and discipline.

*[If you started reading this from your email, begin reading here.]

The ability to exercise self-restraint (enkrateia) is absolutely crucial in all arenas of your life, including your personal finances, diet and physical exercise, productivity at work, or any other area where discipline is required in order to progress. However, because so many believers struggle with self-control in the realm of finances, I want to address this specific issue. If you will allow the Holy Spirit to work in this very important area of your life, I know He will help you become financially temperate and very prosperous as a result.

Managing your personal finances in a fiscally responsible manner is an essential part of being a person through whom God can work effectively. By doing so, you remain free from the bondage of unnecessary, frivolous debt and thus are able to pursue your calling without the hindrance and distraction of crushing financial obligations to creditors slowing you down. However, if you repeatedly succumb to your flesh and use your credit card to purchase items you don’t need and can’t afford, you will inevitably end up swamped in debt and financially ruined. The Holy Spirit wants to help you be temperate in the realm of your finances, as well as in every other realm. So once you’ve made a commitment to exercise self-control (enkrateia) and stay debt-free, know that with His help and by His grace, you can stick to your commitment!

If you feel that you’re failing at exercising self-control with your finances — or in any other area of your life — simply ask for God’s forgiveness, and you will be forgiven and cleansed (see 1 John 1:9). Then let the Holy Spirit help you develop a practical plan that will help you begin the journey toward becoming financially free and responsible by cultivating temperance (enkrateia) in your life.

One truth Denise and I have witnessed time and time again is that sowing seed into the Kingdom of God is one of the most important tools we have to get out of debt. Tithing opens the windows of Heaven. In Second Corinthians 9:6, Paul confirmed this principle, saying, “…He which soweth sparingly will reap sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.”

As you ask the Holy Spirit for a plan for financial freedom, ask Him also to direct you in your giving to the work of God’s Kingdom. In addition to taking natural, common-sense steps toward financial freedom, it’s imperative that you honor God with your tithes and special offerings — for this is a vital key to obtaining freedom in the financial realm both now and in the future.

If you’ll listen to the Holy Spirit, He’ll help you put together a plan to exercise temperance in your life. If you’ll stick with His plan, He will lead you to a place of glorious financial freedom and will help you bring discipline and self-control to every other area of your life. When you get to this place, you’ll never want to go back! Denise and I have learned firsthand that the fruit of temperance not only provides freedom — it gives peace! I’m praying for you to make the decision to let the Holy Spirit develop this fruit in your life in a greater measure than ever before — starting today!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, I recognize that fiscal responsibility and financial freedom are essential for me to be effective in my service to You. I repent of the poor choices I’ve made financially due to fear, negligence, lack of self-control, or ignorance. Holy Spirit, I ask You to show me Your plan and wisdom for my finances so I can be the blessing I desire to be for the Kingdom of God. Please bring to me the knowledge I need, and then grant me the understanding and self-discipline I need to gain a heart of wisdom. I make a decision now to do what You reveal to me. I am willing to sacrifice what I want now in order to obtain what I need to possess later. Father, it glorifies You for me to be fully supplied so I can do the work You have given me to do without hindrance or delay. I receive Your help, and I commit my way to You.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that I honor the Lord with my tithes and offerings, and I seek first His ways in everything — including my finances. I declare that I am not wasteful of my time or my money. I acknowledge that wisdom is the principal thing in all the affairs of life. Therefore, I cultivate temperance by allowing this wisdom and patience to have its perfect work in me. I am diligent in business, obedient to the Word of God, and my finances steadily increase. I exercise wisdom in my sowing, saving, and spending. I am faithful in little, and God can trust me with much because I am proving that I am satisfied in Him and I no longer seek to gratify undisciplined impulses with my finances.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. Do you know what it is like to be so bound by debt that you are barely able to get by on your salary? What were the circumstances that produced that situation? What are the steps that you know are needed to turn that situation around?
2. Have you ever asked the Holy Spirit to give you a financial temperance plan that will walk you out of any mess you might be in now into a life of freedom and liberty? If you don’t know how to devise such a plan, why not ask someone you trust to help you develop one?
3. Are you so in debt that you can’t regularly pay your tithe? Be honest! Doesn’t it make you feel guilty before the Lord? When you’re not tithing, you are living below God’s plan for your life. Consider the joy you’ll experience knowing that your financial temperance plan has brought you to a place where you can freely and regularly tithe!

And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead.…
— Ephesians 1:19,20

One day my wife Denise and I were talking to each other about the mighty power of God that works so profoundly in the lives of believers. As we talked back and forth, we were just in awe as we contemplated the power available to us as believers in Jesus Christ. We both looked at each other and quoted Ephesians 1:19,20 as the ultimate answer to what kind of power operates inside us. In that verse, the apostle Paul wrote, “And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead….”

Let’s look at the phrase “exceeding greatness of his power,” as these words were Paul’s answer to describe how great is the power of God that works in us.

*[If you started reading this from your email, begin reading here.]

The word “exceeding” is the Greek word huperballo, a compound of the words huper and ballo. The word huper describes something that is above and beyond anything else. The word ballo means to throw or to hurl. However, when these words are used in conjunction with each other, together they depict an archer who overshoots his goal. He put so much energy into it that when he pulls back on his bow and releases his arrow, he overshoots, overreaches, surpasses, and eclipses his goal.

The word “greatness” is the Greek word megethos, a form of mega, meaning great. However, as megethos, this word would be better translated vast. This means that the power Paul is describing is boundless, immense, limitless, measureless, and vast. One could say that it is so mighty that it is simply beyond human ability to measure.

The word “power” is from the well-known Greek word dunamis, which describes power or ability. But very often in Classical Greek and in the Old Testament Septuagint, the word dunamis was also used to depict the assembled forces of an army whose combined strength enabled them to achieve unrivaled victories. These troops were so strong that they simply could not be resisted. But in addition, we find in Classical Greek and in the Septuagint that the word dunamis can also describe the power that is inherent in a certain aspect of nature. For example, the power in a hurricane would be described as dunamis power, because it is a power so mighty that it is impossible to resist or impossible to defeat.

So when Paul used these three words to describe the power of God that works in us — huperballo, megethos, dunamis — he was piling image on top of image to show how overshooting and irresistible is the power that works in us who believe. This power is so mighty it can neither be measured nor resisted. There is simply no human power in existence to compare to it!

The apostle Paul went on to say that it is the same “…mighty power, which he [God] wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead….” Paul was making it emphatically clear that no power has ever equaled or rivaled the power that was required for Christ’s resurrection. It was the greatest manifestation of power that the universe has ever witnessed. It literally seized Jesus from death’s grip, raised Him back into His body, and then continued to lift Him up through demonic principalities, powers, might, and dominion until He was seated at His throne at the right hand of the Father. No power in hell or on earth, and no principality or power in the heavens, was able to resist this demonstration of divine energy.

As Denise and I discussed this verse and all that it means, we felt an even greater sense of awe. What a thrill to realize that God doesn’t just put a small dose of power inside us who believe. He has placed the power of His Son’s resurrection in us! It is a power that utterly eclipses any other power. It is full, boundless, measureless energy — so mighty that no evil power can resist it. And to think God has made it available to those who believe! Now that is something for you to think about as you prepare for this Easter season!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, You held nothing back when You exercised Your mighty power in raising Christ from the dead. I am in awe that You not only raised me from death unto life by that same power, but You have also breathed that mighty power into me by the same Spirit who raised Christ. Holy Spirit, I acknowledge the presence of Your power within me. And I ask You to conform me more and more unto the image of Christ as I let that irresistible power of God work in me and through me according to the counsel of Your will!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that the mighty power of God that raised Christ from the dead dwells in me. That power, which is at work in me, is beyond measure. It is vast, boundless, immense, limitless, and measureless! The power that is in me now by the presence of the Holy Spirit eclipses all other power and cannot be resisted by any work of the enemy. Glory to God! Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. Use your imagination to describe what it would have been like to experience the power at Christ’s physical resurrection.
2. Have you ever considered that this same mighty power is resident inside you? If it’s inside you, do you experience it in the situations you face every day? If not, what do you need to do to release God’s resurrection power in your life?
3. How is the power of God manifested in the life of a believer? Take some time to think it over, and write your answers on a piece of paper so that you really ponder your answers.

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
— Hebrews 12:2

When a person initiates a new, huge endeavor, his passion to succeed in that endeavor strengthens him to keep his eye on the goal in front of him. For example, as an athlete starts a race, his desire to win that race helps him keep his eyes fixed on the finish line. While constructing a building, workers who keep their eyes on the architect’s finalized rendering are encouraged to sustain the momentum of the building process. While writing this book you hold in your hands, I encouraged myself by keeping my sight fixed on December 31 — the last Sparkling Gem I knew I would write for this volume. With every new daily entry I completed, I moved closer to that goal, and it gave me courage to keep writing. As a result of my writing and staying on track, you are reading this devotional today.

But what do you think Jesus focused on when He was hanging on the Cross and enduring the agony and shame we discussed in the last three days of Sparkling Gems? You can imagine that He must have had moments when He thought, I don’t have to do this! I could call on legions of angels to deliver me! I could come down from this Cross! What do you think motivated Him to remain there until the job was done?

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Hebrews 12:2 tells us very clearly: “…who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

This verse says Jesus focused on “the joy” that was set before Him as He endured the Cross. Just like a runner focuses on the finish line, like a builder forges ahead to view the completed project, and an author anticipates the last written page of a book, Jesus was looking forward to “the joy” of finishing. I’m sure that as Jesus hung on the Cross, He looked out across eons of time and saw the faces of people who would be saved because of what He was doing. He saw you, He saw me — but what else did He see that motivated Him to stay faithful to the end?

The word “joy” in Greek has a definite article, which means this wasn’t just joy in general, but it was a specific joy. What was it? The verse goes on to describe that joyous “finish line” that Jesus set His face like flint toward: “…who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Jesus had His eyes of faith fixed on the empty throne at the right hand of the Father that was reserved for Him once His victory was complete. Upon that throne, all enemies would be His footstool, and He would commence the next part of His high priestly ministry to intercede for everyone who would ever come to Him in time of need (see Hebrews 4:16).

Jesus had His eyes, His heart, His mind — His whole being — fixed on that highly exalted place. That was the joy set before Him. When sin and hell were defeated and Jesus was resurrected, that was the seat of authority He ascended into Heaven to occupy. And ever since that time, from that highly exalted position, Jesus has been serving as Lord of the Church and as the High Priest and Intercessor for every believer.

What is the goal in front of you that keeps you motivated to move ahead even when things are difficult? If you have no goal, it’s likely you’ll give up. That’s why it is so important to know exactly where you are headed, what will happen when you get there, and what kind of victory you’ll experience when you attain that long-awaited position. Just as Jesus needed a joyous outcome to be set before Him, I guarantee that you need one too.

• What are you building with your life?
• What keeps you motivated to stay on track?
• What will it look like when you finish it?
• What are you “writing” with your faith?
• What will the final chapter of your life look like because you’ve done what Jesus has asked you to do?
• What is the specific joy that is set before you?

Sometimes when you are working hard to do what God has asked you to do, it can seem overwhelming, but progress is gained one step at a time. The increments of forward movement might seem tiny, but no matter how big or small the steps, you can know that you are inevitably progressing toward the goal that God has set for your life.

When I was a young man, God showed me the purpose of my life, and that purpose has been in front of me ever since. In times of hardship, I’ve kept my eyes focused on that goal, because fulfilling that divine purpose is what my life is all about. Sometimes it seemed like all I could do was take baby steps — yet each step has been a step in the right direction. That’s the way I’ve lived my entire life focused and moving in the direction of the purpose God has revealed to me.

If you get your eyes off the goal and start focusing on how small your steps are along the way, it is probable that you’ll get discouraged and give up before you arrive. So today I want to encourage you to lift your eyes and look beyond to the joy, the victory, and the fulfillment of what God has planned for your life. Even Jesus needed a goal to help Him stay focused as He underwent intense suffering and hung on that Cross.

So today I exhort you to make a fresh consecration before the Lord to submit to His will for your life. Then exercise your authority in Jesus’ name and resist the devil (see James 4:7)! And as you move forward in obedience to the Lord’s voice, keep your eyes of faith fixed on the prize Jesus has set before you. That is what will sustain your determination to stay in place and stay on track until you can finally shout that you’ve reached your God-ordained goal!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, I thank You for the example of faithful endurance Jesus displayed when He suffered the pain and the shame of the Cross for me. Jesus kept His eyes fixed on the joy set before Him, knowing He would occupy His seat at the right hand of the Father reserved for Him once His victory was complete. When You raised Jesus from the dead, Father, You raised me up also to be seated in Him. Lord Jesus, I worship You, and I fasten a steady gaze on You so that I will finish my course with joy to the glory of God!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that I am focused on the goal of completing God’s plan for my life. I realize that I am not my own, but I belong to God. Therefore, I draw upon the mighty strength that is available to me in Christ — and by the help of His Spirit within me, I move daily with unwavering devotion in the direction toward the prize of fulfilling my divine purpose as God has revealed it to me.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. What has God set before you as the main project or goal for your life?
2. If you don’t know the purpose for your life, have you ever asked God to show it to you? According to James 1:5 (see February 17 and 18), God will answer this very important question for you if you’ve met His conditions.
3. Can you describe what a life with purpose would look like to you? How would it change the way you are living if you knew exactly what God’s purpose is for your life?

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
— Hebrews 12:2

We’ve looked at the word “endured” in Hebrews 12:2 and have seen what it meant for Jesus to endure the Cross for you and me. But Jesus didn’t just endure it — He actually despised the shame of it. Today I want us to look at the words “despise” and “shame” in the original Greek language so that we can better understand exactly how Jesus felt when He was physically hanging on that Cross.

The word “despised” is a translation of the Greek word kataphroneo, which is a compound of the words kata and phroneo. On their own, the word kata means down, and the word phroneo means to think. However, when these two words are compounded, the new word means to look down upon, think poorly of, despise, abhor, detest, disdain, or loathe. This carries the ideas of contempt, aversion, or something so repulsive that one is almost unable to stomach the idea of it. It is something that is simply repelling, revolting, and disgusting. Thus, the Greek word kataphroneo used in Hebrews 12:2 emphatically lets us know that Jesus looked down upon the Cross with repugnance. He literally “despised” it.

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The word “shame” is the Greek word aischune, which describes something that is base, ugly, revolting, and grotesque. By using this word, the writer of Hebrews was telling us that Jesus’ experience on the Cross as He hung naked and broken in full view of the world was disgraceful, deplorable, despicable, and reprehensible. Paintings and sculptures of the Crucifixion always portray Jesus with a towel wrapped around His waist, but this was simply not the case. Romans were not so kind as to cover the male anatomy — Jesus was stripped of all clothing and hung naked before the jeering crowd. For a Jew who respected the human body as something made in the holy image of God and who abhorred the naked idols of paganism, this indignity was utterly repugnant and embarrassing.

Imagine if you were beaten to a pulp and then hung physically naked in front of your friends, family, coworkers, and acquaintances. How would you feel? According to the Greek word aischune used in Hebrews 12:2, the Lord Jesus felt a deep sense of “shame” and “embarrassment” in that horrific moment.

Jesus paid the price for sin, for sickness and disease, for mental suffering, and for shame. Just as Jesus endured the scourging to procure our physical healing (see Isaiah 53:5), He literally took our shame upon Himself to pay the price for any humiliation that would ever try to poison our lives. As my wife Denise writes in her book, Redeemed From Shame:

Oh, how God wants us to experience His great love for us every moment of our lives! Because of His suffering on the Cross, He paid the ultimate price for us to experience His loving presence. This is possible not by any work of righteousness that we have done, but by trusting in what He has done.

So don’t listen to the lies of the devil about your past. Don’t let him convince you to give up. Instead, seek God’s face, and listen to the loving words of truth from God’s Spirit that are there for you. Jesus’ flesh was not ripped apart in vain. It was for your deliverance and freedom to become the person God planned for you to be!

Jesus took all your shame and fear so you wouldn’t have to be tormented by its wicked hold. In exchange, He freely offered you His glory and healing power. All you have to do is receive by faith what He has already given you. You are free from the bondage of shame in Him. Now it’s time to live free in Jesus’ Name!1

Have you ever felt publicly humiliated? Have you ever been ashamed because of something you’ve been through or because of something someone said? Have you felt the discomfort, pain, and even torture of embarrassment and humiliation?

If you’ve experienced these feelings, take comfort in the fact that Jesus felt them too. He took those emotions upon Himself as part of His sacrificial work on the Cross so that you and I could be set free. We don’t have to be encumbered with feelings of shame for the rest of our lives. He literally took our shame so we could be free from it!

Regardless of what has happened in your past that might have made you feel embarrassed or ridiculed, know that Jesus took your shame upon Himself and set you free. Your freedom from shame and humiliation was included in His work on the Cross, and you never have to be tormented with those hellish thoughts again — because of Jesus!

1 Denise Renner, Redeemed From Shame (Tulsa, OK: Harrison House, 2004), p.

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, how can I ever begin to thank You for Your great plan of Redemption? Jesus not only became sin for me, He also bore for me the humiliation and pain of it in ways far deeper than anything I could ever imagine. I am overcome with gratitude to know that Jesus endured such unspeakable horror so I could know Your perfect love and be set me free from the torment of fear and shame. Holy Spirit, teach me how to walk in the reality of this freedom and love so that I will cause others to know the power made available through Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that never again will I allow myself to wallow in self-pity because of the pain I feel, the loss I’ve endured, or the abuse I’ve experienced. Jesus knows exactly how it feels to be humiliated and shamefully treated in the most degrading ways. Because Jesus is personally acquainted with such pain and such mental and emotional anguish, He is able to fully sympathize with all my feelings. Therefore, with confidence I come boldly before His throne of grace to receive His help in just the way I need it most!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. Shame is a horrible spiritual force that causes a person to be embarrassed of who they are. Have you ever felt this negative power? Did you know that Jesus paid for your shame as a part of His redemptive work on the Cross?
2. If you walked free of shame and embarrassment and never returned to it, how would that freedom affect your life? What would life be like if you never had to deal with those negative emotions?
3. Now that you know that Christ paid the price for your shame, can you think of anyone you need to share this message with so he or she, too, can be freed from the power of shame?