Words of Life

John 6:63 says: It is the spirit that gives life, the flesh is of no avail; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. (RSV) The Greek word for "life" is zoe. Zoe can be defined as the "God-kind of life." This is not some ordinary existence. This is the type of life that is full of action and compassion. This is seen in the person who understands and acts on the knowledge that words can contain either life or death. The words of Yeshua (Jesus) contain life. They still do. They have loss none of their power since they were uttered from the lips of the Master. When we speak the same words of life they can contain the same power.

Yeshua instructed His disciples in Matthew 10: And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every infirmity.... And preach as you go, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying, give without pay. (RSV) What the body of Christ needs today is men and women that understand the power of words just like the early disciples. Do you think that Yeshua was instructing them to use natural means to heal the sick, raise the dead, and cast out every infirmity? No! He was instructing them to use the power of words to accomplish the task. The "church" doesn't need another building or program. It needs people who will accept the Great Commission with the power of words.

Words can put you over, or they can defeat you. Words will dictate your tomorrow. If you don't like where you are today, consider your words that brought you to today. What do your words contain? Do they contain life or death? Create your future of success by speaking words of life today.

Keep At It

You have heard the old saying: "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again." There is more Biblical truth in this saying than one might expect. Mark 5 tells us about the woman who had an issue of blood for twelve years. She had spent all her money on doctors and treatment. All her efforts had failed. She was just as sick as she ever was. However, when she heard Yeshua (Jesus) was coming to town, she made the following confession: "For she kept saying, If I only touch the hem of His tallit (prayer shawl), I shall be restored to health." Notice that she had been continually saying the confession to herself. Don't bother confessing to others who don't understand faith. You will become frustrated and discouraged. Others may laugh at your confession of the Word of God over your life. Let them; you can't control them. They may call you crazy, or laugh at you. They laughed at Yeshua when He went to heal the girl and said she was only sleeping. They laughed at Him and He put them out of the room. You don't want unbelievers around you when you are standing on faith. You need to be around those who can support your confession.

As important as confession is, you must add corresponding actions. The woman was not healed just from her confession; she was healed because she had faith in action. She pressed through the crowd. She risked public humiliation. She risked being injured. However, her faith had legs. She was on the move and she pressed through and touched Yeshua's tallit. Just like she said, when she touched it, she was healed instantly. Her confession became reality. Do you think she doubted? Of course not; if she had doubted, she would never had the required action to see it through.

Is there something you need God to do in your life? Find a Scriptural promise and begin to confess it continually. Put corresponding action with the confession. Keep at it and don't quit. The only thing that can stop you is you. The devil can't stop you. He is powerless against a man or woman who knows and confesses the Word of God with action. Talk your faith and walk your faith. Keep at it. Your miracle will come.

Getting a Rhema Word

There are several Greek words in the New Testament that are translated as "word" in our English Bibles. One is rhema. Rhema means "that which is spoken, which uttered in speech or writing." Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary explains the difference between logos (another Greek word translated "word") and rhema: "The significance of rhema (as distinct from logos) is exemplified in the injunction to take 'the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,' Eph. 6:17; here the reference is not to the whole Bible as such, but to the individual scripture which the Spirit brings to our remembrance for use in a time of need...." The rhema word is alive. It has been spoken to your inner person. It has power in your life. Sometimes it is a specific Scripture and other times it may be a Biblical principle. It is something that can be used in a spiritual battle with darkness.

I was looking at one of my Bibles I used during the time period of 2005-2006 when I preached number of revivals across the USA. I found the following rhema words that I had recorded and I wanted to share them with you. They may speak to you and become a rhema word to you.

1. January, 2006 "What you talk, you walk."
2. December 1, 2006 (right after the birth of my son Seth) "If the Word says its done, IT'S DONE!"
3. December 5, 2006 "Nothing is impossible with God. Nothing is impossible to us." To accomplish this, (a) our faith links us to God; (b) we have the Name that gives us the authority; and (c) we use the Word as the source of power (word of His power) to accomplish the impossible."
4. June 28, 2005 "You live today, what you said yesterday."
5. May 31, 2005 "If Satan can deceive you, he can defeat you. Stay in the Word!
6. April 30, 2005 "You can possess what you confess when it it is the Word you profess!"

These words were very powerful when spoken to me. You might want to consider getting a journal and recording rhema words that are spoken to you. They are a source of faith and a reminder that God still speaks to His children.

Overcoming Fear

In our day, there is much to be afraid of. There is economic instability. Many are out of work. Real estate values have plummeted. Inflation is around the corner. Gas prices are almost $3.00 a gallon. Plus, there is the uncertainty of living in a fallen world. Just this past weekend a senseless act of gun violence took the lives of six people and wounded many more. How can we overcome the fear that comes knocking at our door with facts, i.e. reasons to be afraid? The opposite of fear is faith. Faith is believing what God says about the situation and fear is believing what evil says about the situation. It again comes down to our choice. Who or what are we going to believe about the situation?

This is not about denying reality. I do not deny sickness, disease, poverty, lack and violence. However, I do believe in a higher reality. Jeremiah 17:5-6 say: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his arm, and whose heart turns away from YHVH (LORD). For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, and not see when good comes, and shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, a salt land that is not inhabited." These verses describe the person who looks to man to solve all the problems and be the protector. He looks to others to meet his needs. The Word says you are cursed, because you have not trusted in God. Verses 7-8 say: "Blessed is the man who trusts in YHVH, and whose trust is YHVH. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and does not see when heat comes. And his leaf shall be green, and in the year of drought he is not anxious, nor does he cease from yielding fruit.

Let us compare the two people:

1. The man who trusts in man
a. He is in a dry desert with no water. If he stays here too long he will die.
b. He does not even see good when it comes. This person is so negative. Everything is falling apart to this person. He is difficult to be around.
c. He inhabits the wilderness in despair.

2. The man who trusts in YHVH
a. He is planted by the river. There is water. He is alive and refreshed. He has a bounce in his step. He is not afraid.
b. He does see heat when it comes. He is protected from the heat that could kill.
c. His leaf is green. He is alive and full of energy. He cannot be stopped. He is fully equipped for whatever task he undertakes.
d. He is not anxious. He can sleep at night. He is not afraid of tomorrow. He embraces each new day as an opportunity to be present with YHVH.
f. He continually yields fruit. He is productive. While others may be failing around him, he is a success.

So, which one looks good to you?

Divine Protection

Are you of the opinion that believers must suffer the same sorrows as those of the world? While it is true that some things happen to both believers and non-believers, e.g. death, aging, and sorrow at the loss of a loved one, does this mean that we are subject to the world's economy? If we as a nation are in a recession, do we have to be in one? The short answer is, "No." Exodus 9:4-6 says: But the LORD will make a distinction between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt, so that nothing shall die of all that belongs to the people of Israel. And the LORD set a time, saying, "Tomorrow the LORD will do this thing in the land. And on the morrow the LORD did this thing; all the cattle of the Egyptians died, but of the cattle of the people of Israel not one died. (RSV) Exodus 9: 25-26 says: The hail struck down everything that was in the field throughout all the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and the hail struck down every plant of the field, and shattered every tree of the field. Only in the land of Goshen, where the people of Israel were, there was no hail. (RSV) Finally, we see in Exodus 10: 22-23: So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days; they did not see one another, nor did any rise from his place for three days; but all the people of Israel had light where they dwelt. (RSV)

The above passages clearly demonstrate God's ability to protect His people from the effect of sin on those who disobey Him. This should be a great comfort to us that live in a struggling economy. Just because the world says things are bad, we don't have to accept that for ourselves. God is well able to protect and prosper His children. Let me go a step further. I think God wants to set His children apart in the midst of trouble so His Name will be glorified. A problem is His opportunity to show Himself strong on our behalf. However, we can stop Him.

We can stop Him by buying what the world is selling. It is selling gloom, despair, and excessive misery (from "Hee-Haw"). If that is your song, you would be like an Israelite that left the secure land of Goshen to spend a night with the dying cattle, hail, and in the dark. On the other hand, we can proclaim in faith God's provision for us. The righteous are not forsaken; their seed does not beg for bread. Stand firm on the Word of God. You can be a success even when the world says you can't. Take God's Word for it and not the world's.

You Need To Forget*

The title contains an asterisk (*). The reason is that while we need to forget somethings to be a success in in life, there are some things we should never forget. The Hebraic method of addressing the future is to act the way you do when you row a boat. When rowing, you face the direction you are coming from as you back into where you are headed. To the Hebrew, you should remember God's faithfulness in the past as you face the present and future. So, while we should remember God's past, we need to forget some our own.

Too often, what holds someone back from being all they are capable of being is that they remember their past failures. Those memories of trying and failing can cause one to become so negative about their future that they are defeated before they start. I John 4:4 says: "Greater is he (God) that is in you, than he that is in the world (Satan)." Do you believe this? Do you believe that the Greater One is inside you. Try standing in front of a mirror and proclaiming, "The Greater One is inside me!" If the Greater One is inside you, how can you fail? You can do all things through Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) who gives you strength! Notice that it is He who gives you the strength to succeed; however, it is you who has to work through to that place of success. You have inside you every thing you need to succeed in life. There is no lack on the inside. We need to forget our past failures and mistakes and focus on God's past faithfulness. That faithfulness is inside you. He will not let you down. Don't you let Him down.

Determine your dream. Make sure it is Scriptural. Then believe and act that you can accomplish it. Don't allow your past to hinder your present and destroy your future. The world awaits for men and women who are full of God and can't be stopped. Don't allow "you" to stop "you!." You can succeed.

Faith in the Present

In Hebrew thought, you don't know something until it shows in your actions. It is not enough to speak what you know, the knowledge must manifest itself in your life. That is the way faith is. Hebrews 11:1 begins: "Now faith is...." Faith is present tense. It is in the present moment. It is not a "hope so," it is a "know so." The word "is" in the Greek text of Hebrews 11:1 is in the present tense indicative mood and active voice. This means that the act of faith is occurring while the speaker is making the statement. The indicative mood means that it is a statement of fact. The active voice means that the subject is performing or causing the verbal action. The writer of Hebrews is telling us that faith is happening now and we are causing it to come about.

If we are going to be people of faith, it should be seen in our lives. We should demonstrate the power of faith in our walk. We should approach each day with an attitude of, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." Further, we should never allow ourselves to feel or act defeated. Our words and actions should demonstrate a present day faith. "If God be for us, who can be against us," should be our battle cry. We do not survive the day; we seize the day. Every day should be a testimony to the power of God in our lives!

How do you see today? Are you looking to just get by? Or, do you anticipate the great things that may occur because you walk in a present day faith? The choice is yours. Choose wisely.