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Salvation: Riches & Treasures – Part 1

Recently, during quiet time with The Lord, He reminded me that one person’s release to step out of what feels like a box is another person’s promotion. He revealed to me that remaining connected with former roles that we have outgrown is actually a form of compromise and no longer fitting.

So, what new fit does God have for us right now?

I discovered His clues lie in our immediate heart’s desires, our divine assignments and in our frustrations (or perceived limitations) of not stepping into them. 

I discovered that Holy Spirit will reveal His clues to more of this mystery as we earnestly seek Him and pray through our pressing issues and questions.

He is God of our salvation, the God of our breakthrough.

He will honor our authentic reach for Him.

His Word assures us that He will make His way of peace known to us in our time of trouble (Is 33:2).

Luke 1:77-79 NLT offer us a strategy and an assurance by saying, “You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins. Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.”

Yes, God will shine His light on our issues to set us free.

2 Corinthians 7:10 NLT reminds us, “For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation…”

So, oftentimes, the freedom of new life awaits us on the other side of our confession of unwitting compromise, which was true for me.

Psalm 149:4 AMP tells us, “For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation.”

Another clue to greater freedom is to consider what we have faithfully sown that God is now taking to the next level.

What can feel like a limitation is often a precursor to an invitation from The Lord to expand us in many ways.

To enrich us. 

2 Corinthians 9:11 TPT says, “You will be abundantly enriched in every way as you give generously on every occasion, for when we take your gifts to those in need, it causes many to give thanks to God.”

By His Spirit, The Lord makes us rich in every way so we can continue to co-labor with Him to expand His Kingdom, which includes blessing others.

God has riches stored up for us as treasure that He desires to release to us as we are able to receive (Da 12:3).

So, what may feel like an old confinement is really a heightened prompting toward a new beginning of expansion for the glory of God.

Knowing this, are there any hindrances that need to go so we can shift into this new place? Any doors to compromise that we need to close? Any idols we need to lay at His altar? 

Even mindsets that may seem wise may not be God’s way, especially if they’re rooted in fear, not love and faith. 

Have you been able to see beyond where you’ve been?

Have you asked The Lord to reveal His vision to you for 2021?

What role(s) has God paved the way through you for others to step into?

To be sure, God will work out His salvation in our lives by His grace as we step through new thresholds (Philippians 2:12). 

New life awaits us and will lead us into God’s best riches (blessings) and treasures (stored up blessings) for us.

In other words, He will provide an escape from the place of confinement and deliver us safely into the place of new growth that’s right in front of us. He will also provide new relationships to help us forward, as well as replacements for the role(s) from which we depart.

We need only to receive God’s rescue and courageously follow His lead.

So, may we release every limitation to Him and accept His invitations.

May we be an awakened bride over one that doesn’t bring it (Matt 25:1-13).

May we be up for the task(s).

Paul reminds us in Philippians 3:13 TPT by saying, “I don’t depend on my own strength to accomplish this; however, I do have one compelling focus: I forget all of the past as I fasten my heart to the future instead.”

God further assures us through Paul that we can do all things through Christ, who gives us strength (Philippians 4:13). 

So, pray with me if you will…

Heavenly Father, 

Thank You for Your mercy that forgives our compromises and Your grace that propels us forward. I invite You to shine Your light on any and every compromise in my life and bring the conviction that leads me to repentance. Enable me to receive every invitation You have for me in this season and beyond.

In Jesus’ Mighty Name,

Amen.  

And now, may “Our hero, come and rescue us! O God of the breakthrough, for the glory of your name, come and help us! Forgive and restore us; heal us and cover us in your love” (Ps 79:9 TPT).

To God be the glory!

This video-devo was graciously re-posted by the Salem Web Network, which includes iBelieve.com.

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Revelation Light

“God is pure light” (1 Jn 1:5).

The Spirit of Revelation, which is The Holy Spirit (Ep 1:17).

This Spirit of Revelation lives in us and is “the illuminator of men” (Vine’s). 

The revealing of Himself and His will to us as “The Light of Truth,” which sets us free (Jn 1:9). 

John 1:4 TPT tells us that “His light is life for all humanity.” 

Luke 2:32 TPT tells us He is “the Revelation Light for all people everywhere!”

Psalm 119:130 CSB tells us that “The revelation of your words brings light and gives understanding to the inexperienced.”

Revelation is “the illuminating power of the Scriptures; and of the judgments and commandments of God” to guide us (Vine’s; Ps 119:105, Is 51:4).

God’s heart and mind, even His face is revealed to us when He releases revelation to us as His “children of light.” (1 Jn 1:2, Lk 16:8). 

So, revelation comes through divine intervention, an encounter with God (Lk 4:4 TPT).

Revelation “designates God’s own self-disclosure or manifesting of himself, or things concerning himself and the world; the word itself, oral or written…by inner, immediate illumination of…hearts and minds by God…God is always the initiator and author of revelation” (Tyndale Bible Dictionary).

In Galatians 1:12 TPT Paul says, “No one taught me this revelation, for it was given to me directly by the unveiling of Jesus the Anointed One.”

Revelation is the great communication mode by which “something is presented to the mind directly” (Vine’s). It by-passes human reason, thinking and ability to position us as a receiver and a doer, according to God’s will for victorious living.

Revelation guides us into God’s best as “the will of God for the conduct of His children” (Vine’s).

God’s treasure of revelation enables us to have a closer walk with Jesus, applying wisdom to where we’ve been and where He’s bringing us. He gifts us with new knowledge and insight—removing past burdens with divine understanding, as well as the burden to try to figure the present out on our own—while strengthening us for the journey ahead. In this way, God frees us so we can continue on, guided by His heart of love as revealed truth.

Revelation light is also God’s strategic weapon against forces of darkness. The Spirit of Revelation uncovers darkness, brings truth to light and knowledge to wisdom as He wills.

Luke 12:2 AMPC tells us that “Nothing is [so closely] covered up that it will not be revealed, or hidden that it will not be known.”

We need only to see as God sees. 

In this supernatural way of seeing and understanding, revelation can be a secret weapon to help keep us on top of the enemy and advance us (Da 2:22, Ps 139:12). 

Especially as He makes us trusted gatekeepers (Ps 24:7), drenched in His mercy and doing relationship like 1 John 1:7 TPT, which offers us a strategy that says, “…if we keep living in the pure light that surrounds him, we share unbroken fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, continually cleanses us from all sin.”

Revelation brings peace, even in the midst of chaos, because His Presence is powerful light that extinguishes darkness. Even in our minds, God can settle our wonderings about issues that try to loom through releasing revelation-understanding to us. In this way, He helps us walk in His clarity and powerful peace (Ps 55:22, 1 Pe 5:7). 

Paul tells us in Philippians 3:14-15 TPT that he ran “straight for the divine invitation of reaching the heavenly goal and gaining the victory-prize through the anointing of Jesus. So, let all who are fully mature have this same passion, and if anyone is not yet gripped by these desires, God will reveal it to them.”

Paul knew that revelation, as a spark of light, ignites us for victory and sets us in motion, aligned with God’s will and faithfully headed forward with Him and toward Him simultaneously.

God’s gracious gift of revelation also encourages us with clues along His timeline for us.

At will, God can reveal glimpses of our future to us: moments of experience and divine assignments in advance to set our minds on a right course and ready us (Ep 3:20).

At “the cross, Jesus supremely revealed God’s self-giving love” (Hayford Bible Handbook).

“God’s disclosure of Himself to mankind, including His nature, His moral standards, and His plan of salvation” is divine revelation (Hayford Bible Handbook).

Jesus as the mystery hidden and the secret kept can be received and experienced (Ro 16:25). He desires to share Himself and His mysteries with you for your own welfare and that of your family, your work and your nation. 

Do you know Him like this?

In Proverbs 1:23 TPT God asks us, “Don’t you know that I’m ready to pour out my spirit of wisdom upon you and bring to you the revelation of my words that will make your heart wise?”

1 John 1:9 TPT says that “…if we freely admit our sins when his light uncovers them, he will be faithful to forgive us every time…”

So, are you ready to come into more of His light and receive divine insight? 

If so, pray this prayer with me:

Lord Jesus,

I praise Your Holy Name. I desire to receive Your revelations. I repent of my sins and invite You into my heart as Lord and Savior. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and release Your revelations to me. Bring me into Your marvelous light and drench me in your mercy (1 Pe 2:9-10). Enable me to receive revelations of Your secrets for Your glory.

Amen. 

And now, “I pray that the Father of glory, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, would impart to you the riches of the Spirit of wisdom and the Spirit of revelation to know him through your deepening intimacy with him” (Ep 1:17 TPT).

In Jesus’ Mighty Name.

To God be the glory.

Amen.

This video-devo was graciously re-posted by the Salem Web Network, which includes iBelieve.com.

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Sacrificial Love: John 3:16

God has been highlighting John 3:16 to me as a foundational scripture for such a time as this. 

As God continues to restore our foundations both individually and as a nation, I believe He is working this precept more deeply into our souls as a stabilizer. 

I believe we are about to experience abundant life more than ever.

Yes, I believe we are about to enter through big, open doors. 

Yes, doors (plural). 

I believe we are entering into a time with many opportunities to rejoice and shine like never before—For God’s Kingdom.

I believe the economy of the USA is about to experience an explosive re-launch in the highest way, as God continues to shine His light, re-seat His people and guide us (Da 2:21-22).

God’s Word tells us that He “…uncovers the deeps out of darkness and brings deep darkness to light. He makes nations great, and he destroys them; he enlarges nations, and leads them away” (Job 12:22-23 ESV).

The Lord also highlighted Job 12:22 to me for several days. These “deeps” in this verse are defined as “exceedingly mysterious,” which means “extraordinary” and “exceptional” (NAS Exhaustive Concordance, Dictionary.com). 

I believe The Lord is exposing the dark root of evil schemes while simultaneously revealing more of Himself, His wisdom and His ways to us that will help us rise and overcome hindrances. Where we have been previously stuck or delayed—individually and as a nation—we will be loosed to continue forward by the Light of Christ.

I believe that He will subdue darkness for a time, as He extends a special grace for John 3:16 to be realized exponentially.

For those who will receive, I believe He will bring us out of every pit into new life on levels that transcend what we can fully comprehend right now. 

I believe we can expect God to bring what we hold most dear in our hearts full circle, beginning now and extending into the years ahead. 

Some manifestations will take longer than others. But know that God is moving and will fulfill the Godly desires of our hearts as we honor Him in obedience.

Also, The Lord has revealed to my heart that He has extended His mercy seat to us for lost things to be recovered.

Lost souls are a given. 

But there’s more… I believe The Lord will bring some past relationships full circle to re-establish them in our lives as He has brought reform.

By His great love for us. 

You can ask Holy Spirit to reveal who these people are, as well as His timeline to you. 

He will reveal His secrets as He can trust you. 

Treasure His truth in your heart, and sync your thoughts and expectations with His Word above every other voice.

God’s Word will never return void, even if it seems like it’s impossible. Even if it unfolds in a way that we didn’t expect, His Word will accomplish what He sent it to do (Is 55:11).

Therefore, always believe!

I believe His Spirit of Revelation will open the eyes of our hearts to see deep personal treasures He has for our lives.

In regards to John 3:16, the salvation scripture many of us have memorized, The Lord had me pause and drill down into each Word.

John 3:16 AMPC says, “For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.”

Dividing this scripture, we see that:

God, our Creator and Divine Magistrate, who owns all things and sustains all things by His grace, settles us in accordance with His will and spoken Word so that we may experience Him (who is Love) as our deepest welfare, on earth and even into eternity. 

This is the same love with which He regards His Son, Jesus (Jn 3:35). The same love that He committed to offer and deliver His one and only perfect Lamb (Christ) to suffer, die and ascend to secure our full-circle salvation with Him (Ga 2:20). This is the same love that brought conviction to our souls to bring us to conversion. And it’s the same moral love that now lives in us as Holy Spirit fills us with good will toward God and others; even while others are still caught in a dark system that works against Christ  (1 Jn 3:16, 4:11; Ro 5:8). This is love that knows no bounds and can do what is impossible for us. God (as Love) persuades us to believe Him as He releases His faith in us and keeps His promises. 

He grows us in salvation, enabling us to experience “days of Heaven upon the earth” as our hearts commit to Him (De 11:21). He grows us in His character as He fulfills His purpose (nature) in us. 

He enables us to receive our full inheritance as His sons and daughters. He brings the pieces of our lives together to make a beautiful whole among His body of believers as we come to know Him. 

As His bride, He awakens us to have and to hold Him as our greatest heart’s desire. Better than Boaz, His constant love readies us to receive His covenant blessings, like Ruth, as we rest at His feet, agree with Him and co-labor with Him. He enables us to experience His life-sustaining power and authority that never wears out, even on earth, before it lifts us into eternity with Him. 

Friends, God assures us of His promises in 1 Peter 1:7 TPT, which says, “Your authentic faith will result in even more praise, glory, and honor when Jesus the Anointed One is revealed.” 

So, lets fasten our “faith and hope in God alone” (1 Pe 1:21 TPT). And “live each day with holy awe and reverence,” remembering that “the precious blood of Christ…was sacrificed for us” (1 Pe 1:19). From of a heart of love that never ends.

In Jesus’ Mighty Name. 

Amen.

This video-devo was graciously re-posted by the Salem Web Network, which includes iBelieve.com.

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Victory Strategy: Be Ready – Part 2

The Lord’s renewed eagles, His transformed ones are to be ready—which means to arise with a disposition of willingness and eagerness—for long-awaited promises to be fulfilled.

God is opening our eyes to see more life in our commitment of faith as He moves us forward in greater peace.

Luke 7:50 TPT tells us that “…Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith in me has given you life. Now you may leave and walk in the ways of peace.”

The Lord has impressed my heart that, because of breakthroughs in our commitment of faith, blessings that were once locked and bound will now be unlocked and loosed.

Those who were once bound in chains can now abound in hope, made stronger in their commitment of faith forward (Ro 15:13).

It’s time to see our holy fire re-ignite from a place of resting in The God of peace during this Isaiah 61 time, which is “The Year of The Lord’s Favor.”

Romans 16:24 TPT says, “May the grace and favor of our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, continually rest upon you all.”

Especially for those who have been through character-building, it’s time to yield to “a harvest of righteousness and peace” (He 12:11 TPT).

God’s harvest blessings will come into maturity through us as a result of devoting dedicated time with Him, receiving His revelations, then working from a place of peaceful assurance—with no hindrance of anxiety—because we will know God more as trustworthy (Ga 5:22, 1 Jn 4:18). 

In this place of resting in God, He reveals more of Himself, releasing divine purpose and deeply moving us with His wisdom, understanding, strategy, knowledge and reverence (Is 11:2 ESV).

Revelation and peace work together for us to also know His ways more, to establish confidence in our walk and to bring heaven to earth. They offer us understanding of Him as what was, what is and what is to come. 

Have you experienced the sweet Presence of God like this lately?

Like Ruth laying at the feet of Boaz, after laboring, before her divine purpose was fulfilled?

Resting with God is where we see His perspective clearly. It’s where our lives make sense in regards to how He has brought and is bringing all the pieces of our journey together for His glory. It’s where we find significance. God will enable us to experience this deeper turning point, where His revelatory truths alleviate our fears and bring new life of peace and passion. A place of sweet restoration, where we feel more secure at home and “well provided for” (Ru 3:1; De 33:12).

It’s where God breaks through for us, for Kingdom’s sake (Ro 14:17).

For destiny (fulfilled promises).

Keeping our minds stayed upon The Lord, by His grace, is how we find peace.

Romans 8:6 TPT tells us, “For the mind-set of the flesh is death, but the mind-set controlled by the Spirit finds life and peace.”

While resting at the feet of Jesus, our minds sync with His, so our feet can put changes in motion alongside Him. When we know Him at His feet, we experience Him fitting our feet with His peace as He reveals His plan to prosper us to bless others.

Resting in peace at Love’s (God’s) feet makes us ready.

Ephesians 6:15 ESV says, “and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.”

Being established in His peace is how we get to courageous.

In John 14:27 TPT, Jesus says, “I leave the gift of peace with you—my peace. Not the kind of fragile peace given by the world, but my perfect peace. Don’t yield to fear or be troubled in your hearts—instead, be courageous!”

Constantly using our faith is how we live, rest and remain rooted in our faith (of His love). 

Ephesians 3:17 TPT tells us that “…by constantly using your faith, the life of Christ will be released deep inside you, and the resting place of his love will become the very source and root of your life.”

It’s time to be ready to go the distance and influence the earth anew, by His Spirit.

So, friends, pray with me if you will…

Lord, “illuminate the path that leads to the way of peace” (Lk 1:79). “…I’ll listen carefully for your voice and wait to hear whatever you say. Let me hear your promise of peace—the message every one of your godly lovers longs to hear. Don’t let us in our ignorance turn back from following you” (Ps 85:8 TPT).

In Jesus’ Mighty Name.

Amen.

“Now may God, the inspiration and fountain of hope, fill you to overflowing with uncontainable joy and perfect peace as you trust in him…” (Ro 15:13 TPT)! “Let your heart be always guided by the peace of the Anointed One, who called you to peace as part of his one body. And always be thankful” (Co 3:15 TPT).

“Finally, beloved friends…Live continually in peace, and God, the source of love and peace, will mingle with you” (2 Co 13:11 TPT).

Even in your long-awaited opportunities.

To God be the glory.

This video-devo was graciously re-posted by the Salem Web Network, which includes iBelieve.com.

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Victory Strategy: Be Ready – Part 1

The Lord showed me several Words of knowledge on October 26 and then added the revelation-understanding over the next four days. (In case you didn’t know, every title He gives me for every devotion is a Word of knowledge or a Word of wisdom in itself. It’s what He desires to highlight each week.) 

So, let’s begin…

1 John 5:4 NLT tells us, “For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.”

We see here that victory comes by faith. And we know that faith comes by hearing the Word of God (Ro 10:17). 

Therefore, we must be committed in our faith as Paul describes in Romans 16:19, which says: 

“I’m so happy when I think of you, because everyone knows the testimony of your deep commitment of faith. So, I want you to become scholars of all that is good and beautiful and stay pure and innocent when it comes to evil” (Ro 16:19 TPT).

In this scripture, “A deep commitment of faith” can be translated as “obedience of faith.”

“Obedience” here can be translated as “submission to what is heard” in “response to someone speaking” (Strong’s #5218).

“Commitment” can be defined as responsibility and loyalty in terms of “devotion or dedication, e.g., to a cause, person or relationship” (Encarta). Think Jesus. It can also mean a “previously planned engagement” or an “arrangement or activity that cannot be avoided” (Encarta). Or “an agreement or pledge to do something in the future” (Webster’s). Think Ephesians 2:10 and obeying God’s instructions, so that the good works He “prepared in advance for us to do” will come “full circle” (Strong’s #4043). “Commitment” can also mean to be “emotionally impelled,” which is to be driven or propelled (Webster’s, Dictionary.com). Think driven by love for God and His people.

So, in summary, in order to have a victorious faith walk, we must “hear” from The Lord and obey His instructions from a heart of love for Him and others.

The next Word is “strategy,” which is God’s perfect counsel.

Depending on God, like Joshua did as he fought and won battles in the Promised Land, is living in submission to God. This is the most powerful position in which to be; because it honors God and builds our faith forward, bringing glory to Him in the victory by His grace. 

If God let us win our way, He would not receive the glory. And we would build our kingdom, not His, which would ultimately fail; because it would not be built on the Rock. 

Victory God’s way is a challenging opportunity through our promised land, where we are tested in our faith and obedience. God will only take us as far as our love walk will allow, lest we die in the process.

So, by grace, we are to grow in God’s strength of humility (meekness) and self-control to be unprovoked by enemy opposition. This is where the anointing of Christ prevails through us to win nations for Him.

Romans 16:26 TPT reveals that the mystery of the gospel “is understood through the prophecies of the Scripture and by the decree of the eternal God. And it is now heard openly by all the nations, igniting within them a deep commitment of faith.”

This leads to our next point: 

Be Ready.

We are to be ready to share the gospel as Holy Spirit leads.

1 Peter 3:15 TPT says to “give reverent honor in your hearts to the Anointed One and treat him as the holy Master of your lives. And if anyone asks about the hope living within you, always be ready to explain your faith.”

To “be” can mean “an arising” or “rising up,” in the true sense of the Word by Holy Spirit to bring Him glory (Strong’s #7012). The opposite of this would be a false uprising of negative emotions—a provoke intended to manipulate us to fight in the flesh so that the enemy can “steal” our anointing. 

The Word “ready” has several meanings, including preparedness; but the meaning I believe The Lord is highlighting here is to have “forwardness of mind,” which is to be willing and eager in disposition (Strong’s#4288).

It’s important to be aware that, when our emotions are stirred up in conflict—as in provoked by enemy forces, our motivation can shift from the kind of willingness and eagerness that facilitates forward motion. Enemy provoke can cause us to get stuck, because God does not empower the flesh to fight our way and produce carnality. Instead, since motives matter, our love for God and others are to be our motivating force to produce good fruit and win battles. 

So, let’s be committed to the good fight of faith in the Promised Land, where dreams are fulfilled. May we rise up ready—in willingness and eagerness—to be found faithfully-obedient. May we put our hand to the plow and not look back. May we move closer to God forward. He’s up ahead waiting for us to come near and receive His blessing. The way there is trusting and obeying Him. He has a wave of redemption and anointing for us that will bring in the blessing by His Spirit as we agree with Him. 

Friends, there’s a lot more to this story. So, join me next week for Part 2 of Victory Strategy: Be Ready.

This video-devo was graciously re-posted by the Salem Web Network, which includes iBelieve.com.