Spot On With The Word

God who has endorsed us has also equipped us. God has validated you, so you can be confident in your assignment. If a product is defective and it does not work, you will more than likely send it back to the manufacturer. They will typically either repair it or they will send you the money back. Their name and reputation are on the line. When Jesus enters our lives, He gives us an assignment, which is backed by Him. Our lives and assignment are backed by the name that is above every other name. His reputation is on the line. Hear that word “Outrank”. Jesus is warm and compassionate, He is our friend, and our savior and deliverer. While all of this is true and almost beyond our comprehension, He is also KING! He has been appointed heir of all things. He is highly exalted. When He speaks, He upholds everything by the power of His Word! If He says something is going to happen, it MUST! His name is on the line. Jesus says in Matthew, “All power is given unto me both in heaven and in earth!” Now, He has given us His authority and our assignments are to make disciples and teach all nations. Our assignment is not something we are to strive to accomplish in our flesh and through our own strength. If He endorses you, then He will equip you!

In Hebrews chapter one we are presented with an amazing visual. God says,” By His Son, in the beginning, He created the world for His Son, and it will all belong to His Son, in the end. We are told in the book of John that, “In the beginning was the Word (Jesus) and The Word was with God and the Word was God.” Jesus was always part of the triune God, prior to making His physical debut into the world. This Son perfectly mirrors God and is stamped with His nature. There are certain denominations that emphasize a Holy fear of God. There is a reverential fear that is appropriate. The reverence was never meant to be torment. God is not distant with you. God and Jesus are not playing bad cop/good cop. God is not tolerating you because of Jesus. Jesus said, “When you have seen me, you have seen The Father,” in other words, Jesus looks like God, and God looks like Jesus. Can you comprehend that? Is this a reality to you? Maybe you and God have been at odds with each other because you have had a skewed perception. God is not mean or punitive. God was in Christ reconciling Himself unto the world. He wants to be reconciled with you!

The Message Bible is a great translation for this series of messages. It says in Hebrews chapter one, that, “ The Son perfectly mirrors God and is stamped with His nature.” The name and the nature should by synonyms. After Jesus completed His sacrifice for our sins, He took His place High in the heavens right along side God, FAR ABOVE any angel in rank or in rule. Jesus has been given the name above all names. The prophets spoke to the people for God. Jesus enters the picture and He speaks AS God. He presently occupies the seat of power. No other past or present authority can compete with Him. With no occupancy, you have no rightful authority. The pharisees in scripture would often challenge Jesus, by quoting Moses and the prophets and the asking what He would say on a given subject. Nobody who has ever lived, is presently living or who will live in the future can compare or compete with our King, our Lord, and our Redeemer.

This teaching not only refreshes my knowledge of Him, it also reveals thing I previously did not know. When I discover Him, there is a greater opportunity for me to discover my authentic self, as well. When Peter said, “Thou art The Christ!” He said that when his name was Simon. This answer prompted Jesus to respond to Him by saying, “Blessed art thou Simon, for flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father which is in heaven, and now I am going to call you Peter!” When you come to know who He is, He will tell you who you are. You won’t have to look and search for your identity, because when the One who has all authority and all power and all dominion identifies you, then that is who you are, by grace and through faith. In Philippians chapter 2, we learned that God had highly exalted Him and given Him a name that is above every name. Hebrews tells us that God has anointed Him and made Him an heir of all things. So, God is now saying to the world, everything that He intends to communicate through His Son, Jesus. Present position is reflected in the authority of a name, not past pedigree. There are names we continue to respect, even when the person is out of public service, public eye, or even deceased. They only had authority when they occupied the position of power. Jesus has been given ALL power and ALL authority over ALL things. He outranks ALL the other Old testament prophets. He lives in us and has shared His name with us, and we have been made joint heirs with Jesus. Think about that the next time you feel that you are “under the circumstances!”

This is an inexhaustible subject to consider. In fact, the more you know, the more you realize you do not know. There will always be more to discover. We can never figure God out. He can never be understood. If we could dissect and analyze Him, then the creature would be as great as the creator. He does desire to be known. Everything that was broken in mankind, God through Jesus Christ reconciled to Himself. His desire is always toward us. Hebrews is the book of better things to come. It speaks of a better priesthood, a better covenant, and a better sacrifice. It is a written distinction between the bondage of the law and the freedom that is found by faith in Christ Jesus. Hebrews 1:1 says, “God who at different times and in different manners spoke at times through the prophets.” In Hebrews chapter 1: 2, the writer continues by telling us that, “God has spoken to us through His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things.” God said everything He needed to say through His Son Jesus. God said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Ye Him!” God validated Jesus. He is the anointed Word, made flesh. God has appointed Him. All authority has been given to Him. This is The God we serve!

The more you study this topic, the more you will be impressed by the power in the name of Jesus. You will be amazed at God’s power, His goodness, and His purpose. Everything He has made has a purpose. Nothing is random. Even you were made on purpose and for purpose. This is something for which we can all be thankful. His name is above every name. He outranks every name. He is superior n His authority. Jesus said all authority has been given unto me in heaven and in earth. God named Him and bestowed that power on Him. We have been given the privilege to call on that name. Paul says in Romans Chapter twelve, whosoever shall call on His name shall be saved. Even when you cannot always perceive that He is working, He is at work. Any time that you evoke the name of Jesus, He will respond to you. His nature will be released. There will be healing, provision. He is your way truth and life. He is your everlasting portion. Listen and hear how Jesus is revealed in The New Testament. You will find that there has never been a moment when Jesus was not the answer to man. He has always been an ever-present help in time of need.

The name of Jesus outranks every other name. In the Old Testament Jesus is concealed and in The New Testament He is revealed. His character and nature become more prominent as we see His life lived out in the flesh. Noah, Moses, David, and many others found Jesus In the Old Testament. They experienced His grace, His truth, and His mercy. They experienced His nature and His character. He was there all the time; He was just more concealed. That is good news for us because even in our present-day experience while He may feel far away, His presence is always there. We just need to look for Him. The Bible says that, “ To those who look for Him, to them shall He appear.” Listen as Pastor Scott shows you how He appears in Genesis through Revelation. Jesus has always been there. He is there right now. He is as close as the mention of His name. Cry out to Jesus. He will not disappoint you. He is waiting for you to call His name.

This teaching is so rich! Romans 10:12, says, “the same Lord over all shows mercy unto all!” He can bring healing and deliverance to whomever will call upon His name. There is no difference between Jew or Greek, He sees neither male nor female. The name is synonymous with the nature. The name of Jesus means,” Jehovah is salvation.” He lives up to His name! If you want to know His nature, get to know His name. Many who had an encounter with God had a name change. When we study The Old Testament, we see Christ concealed. In the New Testament, we see Christ revealed. David speaks about mercy, grace, and truth. Even if you do not see the name of Jesus on the pages of The Old Testament, you will see His nature revealed. When you call upon the name of Jesus, His nature will be released into your situation or circumstance. Are you facing something where you feel that you are “under the circumstances?” Jesus is Lord over it all. He has given you the permission and right to use His name as a “power of attorney.” Oh, what a love that would sacrifice everything for you and me. There is no greater love. Call on His name today!

God has given Jesus a name that is above any other name. He possesses the highest-ranking name in the universe. The name of Jesus outranks the name of my problem. He will have the final word and that is GOOD NEWS! The Lord, who is overall, will show the same compassion to everyone. Whosoever shall call upon the name of The Lord shall be saved. No name, sin or disfunction outranks Him! He carries His authority in His name. Jacob in The Old Testament had been given a name by his father. His name literally means “a trickster or deceiver.” When Jacob wrestled with the angel and refused to let go until the angel blessed Him, his name was changed to Israel. Israel means “A Prince who has prevailed.” The New Testament tells us that if any man be in Christ, He is a new creation. Old things are passed away and all things have become new! Before you knew Christ, you may have identified yourself, or others may have identified you, by your greatest sin or failure. Once you came to know Him as Savior and Deliverer an exchange in the supernatural took place. You are now the recipient of His name. You are a Christian. The One who is the final authority name has called you and He defines you. He says that you are joint heirs with Christ Jesus. You are a son of The Most High God. You are a daughter of The Most High God. It does not matter what people say or even how you feel. You belong to Him and He belongs to you.

We continue this week with our lesson on the name of Jesus and the power that there is in His name. He was named by God and His name carries with it a Seniority that no other name possesses either in heaven, in the earth or below the earth. We discover this in the book of Philippians the second chapter. In Romans chapter ten and verses twelve and thirteen we read, “ For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich unto all who call upon Him. For whosever shall call upon the name of The Lord shall be saved.” It does not matter who you are or where you are from. When you call upon His name, everything that His rank encompasses steps into the scene. You cannot separate the power of His name from who He is! Remember! The right to name something comes from the one who has the right to take dominion. Adam was given the authority to name everything. God The Father, named Jesus and told Mary what she could call Him. There is a huge difference. God has ultimate dominion. Calling on His name will release Him into every and any situation or circumstance. All through scripture, the name carries the nature. The Hebrew name Yeshua (Jesus) literally means “The Lord is Salvation.” It is where we get our name Joshua. He was called Savior because He was going to live up to that name in every circumstance. Whenever you call on the name of Jesus, He brings His nature and His authority over every situation! This is the good news of the Gospel! YOU ARE NOT ALONE! He is a participant with you as you face whatever happens in your life! You will be an overcomer because He has already overcome!

Once we understand what it means to call on the highest-ranking name in the universe and honestly believe that we have access to Him by that name, it will transform our entire paradigm for living. This is the good news of the gospel. In the book of Exodus there is the story of the burning bush. God speaks to Moses through a burning bush and instructs him to go to Pharaoh and tell him to, “ Let my people go!” Moses asks God an incredibly significant question. “Who shall I say sent me?” He is going to a ruler to demand the release of millions of people. Moses’s question is legitimate. He wants to know on whose authority he will be speaking. What right does Moses have to demand anything from the highest-ranking authority. He was no equal. BUT GOD WAS MORE THAN PHAROAH’S EQUAL! MOSES WAS NOT SPEAKING ON HIS OWN AUTHORITY, RATHER HE WAS SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE AUTHORITY OVER THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE. In the King James version God answers and says, “Tell them, I AM THAT I AM.” The closest translation means,” I will be what they need me to be, when they need me to be it.” In other scriptures Jesus identifies Himself by saying, “ I am The Light of the world.” “ I am The Bread of Life.” “ I am Living Water.” “ I am THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE” God said,” I AM THAT I AM!” In the desert God was the fire and the cloud. Whatever you need Him to be, that is what He will be. When you call on the name of Jesus, He steps into your situation. Call on Him today. He is waiting for you to ask Him to reveal to you His presence and His power!

When Adam was given dominion, he was also given the responsibility to name creation. Whatever he called it, that is what it was. The highest authority is given the right to name something. This is the reason that the authority of Jesus can never be questioned. God exalted Him and named Him above every other name. The name of Jesus outranks every other name. Do you remember how the angel of the Lord visited the virgin Mary? He tells her that she would give birth and have a son. He told her that she would call his name Jesus. The angel never gave Mary the right to name Jesus. He was named by God. Mary never had authority over Jesus. His heavenly Father named Him and told her what to call Him. This is so beautiful and critical to us that we understand the gift that God gave Jesus and that He in turn gave us when He gave us permission to use His name over the heartaches and crises of our lives. Whatever you may be facing when you call on the name of Jesus, you have literally invited the power of God into your circumstances. When God shows up, He will then show out. You can count on it!

Have we been living far beneath our God given potential because we never understood or applied the powerful name of Jesus? Is it possible that the very name of Jesus, when spoken with heartfelt belief can heal the sick and move mountains? Scripture teaches us that this is exactly true. God exalted Him and named Him above every other name and then Jesus turned and gave us the permission to use His authority to transact Kingdom business in the earth. This is important because the ability and the authority to name something is one of the blessings and privileges of dominion. When God created Adam, he created him in His image and then gave him dominion over all the earth. He gave Adam the right to name the creatures of the earth. Creation did not get a vote. Adam decided. We understand that the power to name is given to the one who has the greater authority. This is critical. Do not let anyone give something a name in your life that is contrary to what God has called it. Do not submit to the authority of anyone else who negatively defines you or your life experience. Do not even do it to yourself. It is easy to do when you are hurt or agitated. You empower what you name. Be careful what you declare is unattainable, impossible, or unforgiveable. Be careful who you say is unlovable. Some circumstances that you declare are destructive were meant to develop you. David said, “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.” In the beginning, he names it,” The valley of the shadow of death.” When he came out of the other side of the valley, it was named the “valley of fear no evil.” He came through it and out the other side of it. No human on earth can dispute the power in the name of Jesus because they will never be able to dispute the power of THE ONE who named Him.

Philippians Chapter 2 vs. 9, tells us that God has highly exalted Jesus and named Him. Not only did He name Jesus, but God gave Him a name that is above every other name. Jesus has supreme authority. The writer goes on to say, “At the name of Jesus, every knee will bow. Those that are in heaven, those on the earth and those under the earth.” There is no other name that is more powerful. What could we accomplish if we really believed in the power of The Name of Jesus? In scripture Jesus tells His disciples that they would go out in His name, lay hands on the sick and they would recover. We would have the ability to speak to mountains and they would be removed and cast into the sea. It has nothing to do with us. It has everything to do with the power that is in The Name of Jesus. His name is superior in all things. It will do no good unless we use the name and activate the power over the situation or circumstances. We go to doctors for a diagnosis. Jesus can not only diagnose the problems accurately in your life, but HE IS THE SOLUTION. All through the day, NAME HIS NAME when the other names seek to overwhelm you. When you introduce His name into the crisis, the atmosphere must change.

There are aspects and facets of God’s nature at you may never have known before. It is God’s desire to be known. He cannot be understood, but He can be known by us. Our God does not require explanation. All you will need is an experience with Him. The person with an experience with God, will never be at the mercy of the individual with an argument. There will be occasions where the anointed Word of God will literally seem to jump off the pages with Divine revelation. Such is the case in the book of Philippians the second chapter. The Apostle Paul says in verse nine,” God has highly exalted Him and given Him a name which is above every name.” You can draw strength from that. Each of us are walking through challenges in our lives, particularly at this present moment. Every one of those challenges has a name. We can rejoice that no matter how difficult a situation that name represents; Jesus has been given a name that is above that name. The word “above” literally means “seniority or rank”. It is given to a high ranking official. The name of Jesus outranks every other name. That is good news. If you were in the military, you would understand that a grunt from a general outweighs a soliloquy from a sergeant. This is because of the bars and the stripes that the general has earned. When he speaks, he has greater authority. The Bible declares in the book of Ecclesiastes that, “The word of the king has power and who can question it?” Today, if you are facing a problem, a sickness, or a challenge, I would encourage you to name it. Whatever name it has, you can then call on the name of Jesus. His name outranks any other name in heaven, on the earth or below it.

We have been considering the activation of truth in our lives. It really does not matter what you believe if it is not translated into a living reality. It also will not help you, if you can believe for someone else, but not for yourself. There are some who can pray and believe God for others, but they are unable to activate faith for themselves. An activated truth brings visible, tangible results. We should see fruit. We should see results in this life. We should see the goodness of God manifested today! Scripture tells us that, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life!” Once you have recognized, received, cooperated, and wrestled with truth, the last step is you must learn to rest in the truth. The visible proof that you are believing in something is the act of resting. This is an outward proof of an internal confidence. You must learn to labor into rest. You may not always see the results immediately of a promise for which you are believing. Rest in The Lord. Rest in His Word to you. As you do this, you will experience more of the goodness of God and the fulfillment of His truth in your life.

Most people do not listen to what you say as much as they watch what you do. Our faith is something that must be something bigger than the pages of a book. It must be demonstrated by our choices. Faith without activation through cooperation manifests nothing. It is of no use. For our faith to be strong we must be not only hearers of The Word of God, but doers as well. If faith is not activated, there will be no fruit of what you say you believe in your life. God’s promises are to be revealed in our present not just for our future. We must recognize truth, receive it, and cooperate with it. The fourth step is that you may have to wrestle with it. You may be standing on a specific promise from God and time seems to stand still and nothing is moving in the direction of that promise. This is when we must learn to stand, irrespective of what we see with our natural eyes. God’s timing is not ours. His ways are not ours. Wrestling with The Truth is tough. We are the most vulnerable when we have not yet seen the manifestation of a promise in our lives. What would happen if you grabbed hold of every truth in God’s Word and you refused to let go? Do not be frustrated during your season of wrestling. God responds to the intensity of your desire!

Do you want every promise God has for you in His Word to become a reality? Then you must cooperate with your faith to bring it to pass. You will first have to discern truth and then receive it. Next you will have to cooperate with what you say you believe. Many people believe that exercize is good for the body. It will not do them any good personally however, unless they engage with that belief by exercizing. The Bible teaches us that faith without works is dead. You don't have to work to earn salvation, but in order to activate the priciples of the truth and promises of God, you must participate by acting on them. If you believe in the principle of forgiveness, then you will have to choose to put forgiveness into practice in your life. The walk of faith was never to be only cognative in nature. It was to be an experience that results in a manifestation. Sometimes it may feel that you are being asked to walk on water. Faith will require that you step out of your comfort zone and into the arena where the supernatural can occur. God honors faith. It is an action word. He will meet you there.

We are continuing to consider why we do not always see in our life experiences the truth that we profess to believe. Faith comes by hearing, but it is an action word. We must be active in our faith. To see the manifestation of the promises of God in our lives, we must be active participants. We must cooperate with the process. Are we doing what we need to do so that our spiritual walk with the Lord is more than just a cognitive belief system? An inactive faith is like an automobile with no ignition. The first step is recognition. It is imperative that we learn to recognize and discern the voice of truth when we hear it. God gives both the seeing eye and the hearing ear. These are gifts from God. The more you engage the more they are developed. The second step goes beyond recognition to reception. In John chapter 1, scripture tells us that “ Jesus came unto His own but His own received Him not. But to as many as received Him, to them He gave the power to become the sons of God.” Reception is the seed for power. You receive the power to become. Jesus can not do anything beyond an individual’s ability to receive Him. Reception of Him determines what you can receive from Him. Do you have a hard time receiving? It is not based on your worth. It has everything to do with His worth. God loves and desires you. Do not eliminate yourself from the blessing.

Pastor Scott begins our second season with a series on what it means to have a healthy soul. In 3rd John the second verse, the scripture says, “Beloved, I wish above all things that you prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.” The word prosper has little to do with finance in this verse. It literally means to be healthy and without limitation. It means to be without need. It is important to differentiate the parts of our being. We are created in the image of God. He is a triune being. He is God the Father. He is God the Son and He is God the Holy Spirit. He is three in One. We are created in His likeness and in His image, so it stands to reason that we would be three in one. We are a spirit; we have a soul and we live in a body. It is our spirit that interacts with God when we are born again. That transaction can take place in a minute because of a decision. Our soul, however, is in the process of being saved. Psalm 23 says, “ He restores my soul.” Deliverance is past, present, and future. My spirit is instantly saved, my soul is being saved and my body will ultimately be saved. Deliverance is a continual process. It is not one event. Your soul is made up of your mind, will and emotions. This series will deal with what it means to think healthy thoughts which will result in making healthy choices and decisions. That is the will of God for each of us.

We can believe the Bible and The Word of God as it is preached, but we do not always see the results of that truth experientially. Is there something that we can do to activate this truth in our lives? The Word of God needs to be more than just something that is a part of our belief system. This series will deal with the practical measures and steps that we can take to move from head knowledge to results. How do we activate The Word? This is more important now than ever before because we are being constantly bombarded with incoming data. The ability to hear and recognize truth is more critical than it has ever been before. Scripture teaches us that faith comes by hearing and hearing by The Word of God. How do we activate faith in our lives, so that we are not just hearers of The Word, rather we become doers of The Word? There was a time in scripture when God spoke, but some thought it was thunder. Others heard His voice. This means that you must be tuned into His frequency. This requires relationship with Him. Jesus said,” My sheep hear my voice and another’s voice they will not follow.” Discerning the voice of God is something we can do, and we must do. Pastor Scott digs deeply into this life changing truth. You do not want to miss a day! God bless you!

You can be a different person due to your faith in Christ but never use your faith make a difference. All throughout the New Testament, we see Jesus making a difference in the environment. For instance, Jesus didn’t sermonize at the wedding, when His mother told Him that they had run out of wine.  She asked Him to do something about it, and He did. There was a need and she asked Him to meet it. Likewise, our assignment is to make a difference in the world. Jesus instructs us to go, teach, and make disciples. Do it on your job, at home, and in business without preaching a word. We are salt and light not sermon outlines. Faith without works is dead. We have to put our faith in practice. We were never meant to stay hidden behind church steeples and stained glass windows. Choose to be a witness and not just tell witnessing. We are salt and light. When we show up, there should be a difference for the better in people’s lives.

The day that you accept Christ, you become a new creation. You become different. As you grow up in Him and put into practice the principles, you are not just worshiping the teacher, but you are practicing His teachings. Now, you are no longer just different, you are equipped to make a difference. Jesus didn’t tell the disciples go tell others about Him, rather, He commissioned them to preach the good news of the gospel and make disciples, telling them of the things He had taught them. Upon being born again, God recreated you into a new species of being. As believers, when we implement His words on a daily basis, then we become difference makers. We become the light and the salt wherever we go. We change the atmosphere. Our prayer should not be just that we become saved, but that we walk in our salvation experience. We want to be transformed into His image. It is a supernatural, spiritual metamorphosis. Don’t settle for just being different. Earnestly strive to grow to be a difference maker. How does your presence influence others?  We are not saved to just be full scripture and data. People who spend time with us should recognize that we have spent time with Jesus.

Psalms 118 vs, 24. This is the day that The Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it. Memorize this verse! Before you woke up this morning, God had ordered this day. You did not make this day. God did. Your choices did not make this day. Your enemies did not make this day. If you are living this day, it is because God ordained it to be so. God is the creator of every moment in time and space. As human beings, it is natural for us to want to avoid loss. Nobody wants to lose relationships, time, money, possessions or anything else we may deem valuable. While loss is not comfortable, we can lose some things and still discover that we can be okay. We can lose money but find that God will still provide. We can lose friends and it will hurt, but we can discover new friends. You may lose a job or position and find yourself redirected into something else that you never knew that you would enjoy. The one thing that you cannot afford to lose is time. You cannot go back in time. Don’t waste it on resources that are not that important. Time is currency. God is a very present Being. Scripture teaches us that He is a very PRESENT help in time of trouble. Aren’t you glad that we don’t serve a futuristic God or the God who did something long ago and is no longer around? Don’t wait until the day is over. Rejoice in the God of your salvation. He is still a saving, healing and delivering God. Take a praise break right now!

Our souls are comprised of three major components - the mind, the will and the emotions. Another way to say it is, our intellect, our feelings and our decision-making process. It is an active choice to rejoice. Psalms 118 vs 24 declares, ‘This is the day that The Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it.” We are consciously telling our situation that we refuse to wait to see the outcome before we choose to rejoice and be glad. We will not wait until we feel like it or until it makes sense. If we wait until we feel like it, then our emotions are driving our decisions. Have you ever reviewed your life in your rear view mirror and recognized after the fact that were based on a feeling at the moment? We were never meant to be people void of emotions. We are not automatons. Just don’t let your emotions drive your “bus.” You may not feel the same way in twenty-four hours. The last thing you want to do is to become a hostage to a choice you made out of an emotional response. I may not feel like rejoicing. It may not make sense to be glad in this day, but I am going to do it anyway, because I choose to be lead by my spirit. Let your choices be determined not by what you have done, rather by what God has done for you. Wherever you are today, take a breath. Live in the moment. Make a difference! There is something about praising, thanksgiving and rejoicing that gets the attention of God!

Psalms 118 vs 24 declares,” This is the day that the lord has made we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Previously in Spot On segments, we discussed what our part is in the Christian walk. What can we do to cause God’s word to be activated and accelerated in our lives? God has the biggest part obviously, but we also have a part to play. In the aforementioned verse we see this in action. This is the day that God made. He made it. Our part is too rejoice and be glad in it. We must make the choice to do our part. WE WILL REJOICE! If God is faithful to give us another twenty-four hours to live then shouldn’t we be faithful to have praise be our response? We can choose to complain about everything that is wrong in this day or we can choose to rejoice! Sometimes when the pressure is turned up, we think that praise will be what we do when there is relief. The Psalmist didn’t say we will rejoice and be glad AFTER it, or at the end of it. He said we will rejoice and be glad IN it! Things may not be going in your life the way that you hoped it would go or thought it would go. The trajectory of your life can change if you choose to rejoice regardless of your circumstances. We can rejoice, simply because it is the day that God made. In the midst of whatever is occurring in your life, find time to take a praise break! If I am in the day, I am still alive and breathing. Let everything that hath breath PRAISE THE LORD!!!

Do you remember the Bible story of Jonah and the whale? God tells Jonah to go to Nineveh and he rebels. He gets on a ship headed in the opposite direction. A terrible storm arises and the crew determines it is because of Jonah, so they throw him overboard and the storm stops. Are you in some storms because you are travelling with some relationships that are in rebellion to God? If you have an assignment and you allow someone who is running from God to become attached to you, there may be storms that you have to fight (consequences) that were not meant for you. You may have to tell some of them to get off your boat. You may be losing your mind because someone who is attached to you is robbing you of your peace, joy or even your sanity. Don’t let people who carry storms with them crash your boat! Don’t be afraid to tell people who are running from God that they can run with you at the same time! You can still love them, but they need to get off your boat!

Have you considered which relationships in your life feed you? Do they feed your problems or your potential? Are they reminding you of your mistakes or believing with you for your miracles? Are they keeping you trapped in your identity of yesterday or releasing you into your future blessing? It is your responsibility to observe, identify and then practice appropriate self care. People will come as far into your life experience as you choose to allow them. Many friends may have access to the living room of your house, but certainly not your bedroom. The same level of discretion should apply to your personal and spiritual relationships. Everyone is not welcome everywhere. If you invite an adversary into the power center of your life, they will feed your weakness and drain your faith. When you feed what inspires you, then the noise of your past becomes faint. When you feed on the promises of God for your life, your problems won’t scream as loudly. When you feed faith, futility withers. I choose to put myself in the right environment, with the right people. I choose to deny equal access to anyone or anything that does not feed my faith. What will you choose?

A wise person knows how to accurately identify who deserves access into his or her life. Everyone should not have equal access to what is most precious to you. They may not handle what you value with the same amount of respect. When you discern this, distancing yourself is responsible self care. An adversary will feed your weakness. It may be an individual or a situation that feeds your anger or your restlessness, for example. It can be identified as anything that does not feed the best in you. It will always be up to you to create the appropriate boundary. Whatever you feed will become stronger. Whatever you feed lives, and conversely whatever you starve will die. Romans 13 tells us that, “We are to put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh.” In other words, DON’T FEED THE ANIMAL! If you have issues with anger, uncontrolled temper or compulsive behaviors and you keep indulging them, in time they will overtake you. Anything that feeds your weaknesses you must avoid! In the well known story of Sampson and Delilah, scripture never speaks of her seductive beauty at all. The only thing we know about her is that she breathed life into Sampson’s weakness. Don’t allow anything close to you, which can potentially sabotage your well being or the call of God on your life!

The relationships that you forge in this life are critical to your success or your failure. Both God and Satan influence people. Some are vessels used to bless others and some are used as emissaries of destruction. There is a difference between being suspicions and being discerning. Scripture teaches us that bad company can corrupt good morals. You can have the best of intentions, but if you are surrounded by people who do not want the best for you or do not want to allow you to see yourself growing and prospering, it can cause you to be defeated. The sooner you recognize what the objectives or agendas are, you will be able to still love, while determining the degree of safe access. You must be aware so that the toxic behavior of others does not pollute your good intentions. It is good to give people the benefit of the doubt, but don’t be naive. When you love people, you will be vulnerable. You will at some point be hurt. There is no getting around it. You can however, spare yourself unnecessary hurt, by taking charge of your atmosphere. Negative people can corrupt your good ideas and intentions. Let’s be a part of building others up and not tearing them down.

What season are you in, and can you discern the season that you are in, at the present moment? Life is made of times, levels, and seasons. We understand this in the natural. There is a time to be born and a time to die. There is a time to be an infant child, adolescent, adult, and mature adult. Each age carries with it the expectations of appropriate behavior. Knowing your season will eliminate so much frustration in your life. There are three discernable seasons in growth. This is true in the natural and the spiritual worlds. Likewise, it true in business, and any other kind of relationship. You will either be in the season of learning, earning, or returning. The first season is learning. It is all about discovery. Discovering what you want to become. Is a large part of this moment in time. What makes you better as a person? Conversely, what diminishes you? In whose presence do I find yourself excelling? What you want can be more easily discovered by determining what you do not want. This is called the process of elimination. An overabundance of choices can cause anxiety. First, try making a list of what you do not want. Learning is a season to be mastered. Solomon says in the book of Proverbs that in all we seek to acquire, we should seek understanding above all else! Self-awareness is critical to living a successful life. Ask questions of yourself. What do you want? Learn everything that you can in the learning season. You are much less likely to feel behind or lacking when it is time to move into the next season. This is will set you up for success. God wants that for you. Jesus came so that you would have a life that is abundant.

We can receive a blessing from people who were sent to oppose us personally, or those who are in opposition to our progress. David knew this. He told us in Psalms 23, that The Lord had prepared a table before him, in the presence of his enemies. We will rise or fall at the level of our associations. We are not against people. We love them. True Christians are a forgiving people who extend grace and mercy, because they have been the recipients of so much from God. While this is true, we should not equate grace extended in forgiveness, with grace for relationship. It is good to recognize the need to extend forgiveness as beneficial to ourselves. Simultaneously, we must discern whether the relationship is beneficial for us going forward. Pay attention if any those in your circle are fine when they hear that you are failing in any way. If they are comfortable around others who speak negatively about you, it should be a red flag. We do not need to give everyone equal access. An adversary will resent your desire to be better. Your champions will want you to become the best version of yourself. They will not be threatened by your growth. Make sure that your inner circle is comfortable with your future and not perpetually reminding you of your past.

It is a false belief that once you have a relationship with Christ, there will be smooth sailing all the way. Jesus Himself said,” In this word you will have trouble.” It is the intention of the devil to devour. Wisdom is the ability to recognize among others the differences in people, situations, conversations, inflections, expressions, outcomes, and particularly relationships. We need to stop being gullible. Loving everyone does not mean we give them equal access to every area of our lives. An adversary is anyone or anything that will attack our assignment. Anyone that distracts me has the potential to destroy me. We cannot afford to live in a state of delusion, to play with the false. Anything that attacks our assignment must be confronted and dealt with. Each of us have been uniquely created with a particular purpose in mind. If we are not diligent to guard that purpose, the distractions will keep us from reaching our God given potential. We are to have no contact with anything or anyone that trivializes our faith or convictions. If someone in my life has the capability of getting me off course, I must distance myself from that person. I must choose the people and situations that will enable me to be the best version of myself and refuse those that continually pull me away from God’s perfect will. Choose carefully who you let close to you. Why? Because you are worthy!

Can we learn from adversaries? Can we receive a reward for adversaries? The answer is, “Yes!” God will throw a party for us in the presence of our enemies. Their very presence indicates a clue that reward is on the way. They are indications that you have outgrown where you are. Sometimes it takes a giant to press us out of our comfort zone. It is not enough to hear truth; you have got to be able to put it into practice. That may require resistance. According to Matthew chapter 7, there were two men who were both builders of houses. The difference is that the “fool” built his house upon the sand and the “wise” built his house upon the rock. Jesus warned his disciples. He instructed them to beware of men. They will turn on you. He didn’t just warn them about the devil, he warned about certain people. You can build your relationships on solid people or people with no substance. Some will work with you as you strive to reach your destiny and others will actively work against you. Everyone will not be eager to see you succeed. We must learn to recognize those who are for or against us. You don’t have to be fearful, because you can choose to believe that God will cause everything to ultimately work for your good. That being the case, it doesn’t benefit you when you refuse to acknowledge the reality of an adversary in your life. People who were sent to destroy me, can be used to develop me. Adversaries don’t have to be a sign of destruction; they can indicate that promotion is on the way. Paul tells us to fight the good fight the faith. Sometimes you must put on the full armor of God and fight with wisdom, revelation, and confidence. Don’t let who or what was meant for your destruction have the last word!

Most adversarial situations do not self-correct. It is up to us to take a stand. Casting down thoughts that are in opposition to what God thinks or says about us will always be our responsibility. We get to choose which thoughts we will endorse and upon which ones we will meditate. Likewise, it will be our responsibility to determine everyone’s specific entry point for intimacy in our lives. For example, close family members should have different access than acquaintances. We must be careful to recognize adversarial relationships and be discerning about the access we give them. We are always to be Christlike in our attitude, however, we must use wisdom. Pretending that someone is not our adversary when it has become evident that they are, is both delusional and dangerous. Teachers or mentors are for instruction. They are coaches. They celebrate and correct. Friends are for comfort. Good friends may resist giving you advice. We need all these relationships to serve their purpose. An enemy is for reward. David tells us in Psalm 23, that The Lord prepared a table for him in the presence of his enemies. Even our enemies have an ultimate purpose. If you always avoid the enemy, you will also miss the table. If it weren’t for Goliath, David would have remained a shepherd boy. Avoiding an enemy is not the same as dealing with one. Jesus recognized an enemy. He knew that there were adversaries to His life and to His ministry. When an adversary presents, it could mean that God knows that you have what it takes to ascend to the next level. Enemies are for promotion. By the grace of God, you have got what it takes to go to the next level!

It is not wise to live your life pretending that you will never be faced with adversaries. There is a very real strategy in the heavenlies for your success, as well as a very real strategy that is meant for your failure. The good news is that because of Christ, we have overcome. There is nothing that can come against us that will not ultimately work for us, because as scripture teaches us in Romans 8:28, “All things work together for good to them that love God and walk according to His purpose. We must still be sober and vigilant. 2nd Corinthians 10:4, says,” The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but they are mighty through God, for the pulling down of strongholds.” The next verse explains what the strongholds are. It says,” Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. And bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. The first stronghold or adversary to our progress are the imaginations of our minds. Any thought that contradicts God’s thoughts toward us must be rejected. God says in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you says The Lord, not plans to harm you but to prosper you, to give you hope and a future.” Have you let internal thoughts override the thoughts of God toward you? Today, go to war with stinkin’ thinkin’! Don’t let the adversary win! The enemy’s objective is destruction. His strategy is distraction, and his tactic is delusion! We cannot afford to be ignorant of his devices. In the original Latin, the word delusion means, “to play around with the false.” We must quit playing around with thoughts that are inconsistent with the thoughts of God! We were created in His image and as Proverbs tells us, “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.”

This is a difficult subject. We try so hard to avoid hardship and resistance. They aren’t pleasant. If we are not careful, though resistance can be sent to fortify us. 1st Peter 5:8 it says,” Be sober and vigilant because your adversary the devil walks about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” God has no adversary because God has no equal. He has no worthy opponent. The writer indicates that we indeed do have an adversary, and this requires that we be both sober and vigilant. This is an important truth to recognize, so that we are not ignorant and therefore vulnerable. There is an old saying, “What you don’t know won’t hurt you.” That couldn’t be further from the truth. What you don’t know can hurt or destroy you. In the Old Testament God says, “My people perish for their lack of knowledge.” You can die because of what you don’t know! Ignorance is not bliss. Scripture encourages us to walk with full awareness of what is happening around us. The encouraging truth is that the roaring lion is not the one to be afraid of. He roars only to frighten and intimidate. The lion to be afraid of is the one who is quiet and ready to pounce. Satan may roar, but our God is The Lion of Judah. When He fights for us, it is game over for the devil!

It is the heart of God for each believer that we enter into the fullness of all the blessings that Jesus died for us to have. We lose the victim mentality when our thoughts, emotions and choices stem from an internal compass based on the Word of God and relationship with Him. We can have a healthy soul. We can live an abundant life. True prosperity will only be obtained with a soul that is healthy. Every circumstance doesn't qualify as a crisis. We can discern the world around us with an appropriate perspective.

Full prosperity or health happens first in your mind. Our decisions and choices should originate with our destiny in consideration. Practical indicators of a healthy mind include an internal compass, appropriate responses to situations and circumstances and the ability to relate to a variety of people and personalities. If you can only get along with people just like you, how will you ever be able to minister to those that are different? Jesus didn't just hang around religious people. The Bible says that He was a friend of sinners. If you have an internal compass that defines who you are, then you will not gain your identity from external places or other people. Be careful that you don't isolate yourself and thereby limit your sphere of influence.

God wants us to be content to live in peace. That is what Jesus died to give us. Some are unfortunately addicted to chaos. They don't seem to be happy unless there is a crisis of sorts. Every situation or circumstance isn't catastrophic. God desires that we be redeemed in our spirit man and restored in our emotions. He wants us to be whole. One of the indications of health and wholeness is the ability to discern the difference between a heart attack and a hangnail. While that may be humorous, it bears consideration. Next time your reactions seem out of bounds, you may need to adjust your perspective. The peace of God is yours for the asking and the receiving! Be at rest!

In the third book of John chapter two, We are told that God wants us to prosper and be in health, even as our soul prospers. In the 23rd Psalm, David says that God restores my soul. Clearly it is a process. It is important that we have an internal compass that is directed by The Holy Spirit. He is the One who keeps us centered. We were never meant to make decisions from an emotionally wounded and needy place. People do not define us. Only God can truly do that. We were meant to respond to the situations in life from a realistic perspective. Everything in life is not a crisis of epic proportions. When we are wounded, we lose perspective. God desires that we become whole in our bodies, minds, souls and spirits. This is the abundant life that Jesus died to give us. It starts in our mind, will and emotions.

This week we are continuing with Pastor Scott's series on How to have a healthy soul. We have come to understand that your soul is comprised of your mind, will and emotions. It is critical to evaluate your thoughts. Where the mind goes, the emotions are sure to follow. We were never meant to make long term choices from a purely emotional place. Emotions are fickle. We can be up one minute and down the next. Our perspective is critical. Take time to become still before God. Consult Him. This series is critical to our well being, probably now more than ever. Stop and consider what you feed your mind. Get in God's word. Find out what He thinks is best. Prosperity is health.

Your environment matters. The law of environment matters. It states that WHERE you are is just as important is WHO you are. WHERE you are matters. God gave many instructions in scripture that were geographical. ‘I want you to leave here....and go there’. There are far too many examples to mention. In one example, He told Jeremiah to go down to the potter ‘s house, because He was going to show him a lesson that Jeremiah could only learn THERE. Jesus was the Son of God, but there were some places that He was unable to work miracles because of their unbelief. WHO He was never changed, but even He was limited by WHERE He was. Environment matters. It is important that you make sure that you are not only doing what God has called you to do, and working WITH God in all He is doing in you, but that you are WHERE you are supposed to be. Recognize the strengths and the weaknesses of your environment. If you intend to wrestle with a shark, it is best that you do it on dry land. This ferocious creature is powerless outside of his natural environment. Don’t let circumstances pull you out of an environment where you excel. Protect your environment by what you see and what you hear. Protect it by who you choose to engage in conversation. If God has given you an instruction to GO, THERE...then He is only authorizing blessing in your...THERE. Find the place where you were designed to flourish and when you have found it, you must protect it!

We continue with the series on how to have a healthy soul. We are a spirit; we have a soul and we are living in a body. Our salvation experience is progressive. The word prosper in this context means healthy. God wants us to live our best life. Jesus died that we would have an abundant life. He tells us that Himself. It is so important not to allow our minds to just wander into negative territory. What happens in our minds will show up in time. The Apostle Peter tells us in scripture to gird up the loins of our minds. We have control over the thoughts that we choose to dwell on and that we allow to take root and become a reality. We are also instructed to set our minds on things above. Things that have virtue. Things that are of a good report. If it is positive and life giving, then we are to dwell on those things. Our mind is the place where the enemy has access. We want to be healthy in our emotions. There are times when our emotions can rage like the waters of the ocean. That is when we need Jesus Himself to speak peace into our being. We do not want to make permanent decisions in temporary situations. Do not make long term decisions when you re in a place of neediness. When your need becomes your compass, you will steer your vessel anywhere that promises comfort. This can become a catastrophe. God does not want that for you!

We are talking about a prosperous soul. God wants you to be healthy in your body, mind, soul, and spirit. We will always have human needs, however He never intended us to be needy. There is a distinct difference. When you are needy, there is a good probability that your discernment will be cloudy. When this occurs, your choices will be negatively impacted. The soul includes the mind. Scripture tells us that we can have the mind of Christ. We can ask and expect His mind to be inside our thoughts. Colossians chapter 3 tells us that we are to “Set your minds on things above.” The salvation of our spirit is an act performed by God alone. The salvation of our soul is a process in which we exercise participation. Your spirit is made new instantly, but your soul is in the process. Your body will one day take on the incorruptible form. Until then, you continue to be a work in progress. Romans 12 says, “Be not conformed to this world but rather be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” If you are constantly in a position of need or lack, then we can easily develop a victim mentality. This may prompt you to make rash, short term, reactionary decisions. These are rarely in your best interest long term. If you are needy for companionship, you probably will not think about the long-term consequences. It is about numbing the pain of the moment. It is important that you understand the need for a healthy mind which will produce healthy thoughts and will result in the ability to see the healthy choices. God wants you whole in every area of your life. He does not want you fragmented!

We have been discussing what it means to have a healthy soul. We have been created in the image of God. We are a spirit . We have a soul and we live in a body. There are so many sincere Christians who have security in their salvation, but they are living a substandard life. This was never the plan of God for us. We were never to be forgiven and yet remain fragmented, bitter, angry, and broken by life. God wants us to live our best life. Jesus said, “I have come that you would have life and have it more abundantly.” He wants us to be healthy in our minds and in our thought life. He wants us to be healthy in our bodies. You can think your way into depression and in many instances, you can think your way out of it. What happens in your mind will happen in time. When you feel your mind wandering, gird up the loins of your mind. Set your mind on things above. Your mind is the place where the enemy has access. We want to be healthy in our mind will and emotions. Our health in this area is greatly affected by the focus of our attention. The noise around us can cause our souls to rage like the waters of the oceans. We do not want to make permanent decisions in temporary situations. Ask Jesus to be your “Peace speaker” today. Invite Him into your soul to calm you. Let Him be the peace that passes all understanding.

Pastor Scott begins our second season with a series on what it means to have a healthy soul. In 3rd John the second verse, the scripture says, “Beloved, I wish above all things that you prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.” The word prosper has little to do with finance in this verse. It literally means to be healthy and without limitation. It means to be without need. It is important to differentiate the parts of our being. We are created in the image of God. He is a triune being. He is God the Father. He is God the Son and He is God the Holy Spirit. He is three in One. We are created in His likeness and in His image, so it stands to reason that we would be three in one. We are a spirit; we have a soul and we live in a body. It is our spirit that interacts with God when we are born again. That transaction can take place in a minute because of a decision. Our soul, however, is in the process of being saved. Psalm 23 says, “ He restores my soul.” Deliverance is past, present, and future. My spirit is instantly saved, my soul is being saved and my body will ultimately be saved. Deliverance is a continual process. It is not one event. Your soul is made up of your mind, will and emotions. This series will deal with what it means to think healthy thoughts which will result in making healthy choices and decisions. That is the will of God for each of us.

Pastor Scott

God is not random. He has never been never will be, bound by circumstance. He does everything with purpose. When Jesus was born, they wrapped Him in swaddling clothes. It has been said that those rags were often used as burial cloths. Random? I don't think so. He was laid in a feeding trough for animals. He was called the " bread of life". Random? I don't think so. Jesus was never meant to be considered, He was meant to be consumed. From the moment He was born, He was being prepared for His death, burial and resurrection. He was born to be the very sustenance of life. Random? I don't think so!

Jesus, The Son of the Most High God, should have been born in a palace, wouldn't you think? So then, why wasn't He? Have you ever asked yourself that question? Could it be that it was because Gad was demonstrating His willingness to be identified with the outcast, the imperfect and the impoverished? God was willing to sit down in the middle of the messiness of humanity. Jesus was born in a stable. It was there that Majesty entered the mess of mankind, for the purpose of becoming THE solution. The shepherds needed instructions as to where to find Him. They never would have imagined that He would be found in a stable. God came to the unclean, where it was unclean. Your messy circumstances or dysfunctional life will never disqualify you from having a relationship with The Sovereign Lord. Open your arms and let Him have access to you. Jesus is as close as the mention of His name. He can handle your mess. He came to help you clean it up.