Does this world seem like a desert–parched and offering little shade? Thank God, we have an oasis, when our minds on Christ are stayed.
It’s there, we find “living water,” through God’s Holy Spirit and His Word. Why struggle, as if in a desert, when the “rain” of God has occurred?
It’s said that very little water can cause desert seeds to flourish. Likewise, you can be revived–just one word from God can nourish.
Troubles can bombard our minds through circumstances or daily news, so turn to the life-giving Word of God, the blessed oasis that’s yours to use.
P. A. Oltrogge
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee; because he trusteth in Thee.” Isaiah 26:3 KJV
“Jesus answered and said to her, ‘If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.’” John 4:10 NASB
“Your promise revives me; it comforts me in all my troubles.” Psalm 119:50 NLT
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NKJV
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
How often we speak only of what we see, instead of the “good outcome” that we really mean.
“The mouth of the upright will deliver them” isn’t merely a Proverb that sounds good…
Jesus gave instruction on speaking to the “mountain,” so He surely was advocating that we should.
P. A. Oltrogge
“Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations), before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, so shall thy seed be.” Romans 4:16-18 KJV
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” Hebrews 11:1-3 KJV
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7
“But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, ‘I believed, therefore I spoke,’ we also believe, therefore also we speak.” 2 Corinthians 4:13
“…but the mouth of the upright will deliver them.” Proverbs 12:6 (Proverbs 10:11; Proverbs 12:14; Proverbs 12:18; Proverbs 13:3; Proverbs 15:4; Proverbs 18:20-21; Proverbs 21:23 and others)
“And Jesus answering saith unto them, ‘Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass, he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.’” Mark 11:22-24 KJV
“And Jesus said to the centurion, ‘Go your way; let it be done to you as you have believed.’ And the servant was healed that very hour.” Matthew 8:13 (from the account in Matthew 8:5-13)
Jesus said, “Have faith in God….” as the following scripture from Isaiah also speaks of the surety of God and His Word:
“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth, and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; so shall My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:10-11
More on this at http://www.cappsministries.com with books, such as “Changing the Seen and Shaping the Unseen” or the booklet, “Calling Things That are Not.”
For a daily schedule of speakers at the Southwest Believers’ Convention, go to: http://www.kcm.org/swbc
“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” 1 John 5:4 KJV
“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17 KJV
May all God’s children persevere, continuing in His Word…. God bless!
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 (NKJV)
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” John 1:12 (KJV)
“Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God….” 1 John 3:1 (KJV)
“So Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Have faith in God.’” Mark 11:22
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105 (KJV)
You can view this week’s encouraging messages from Fort Worth, Texas, Kenneth Copeland Ministries, at www,govictory.com or the Victory Channel is also on DIRECTV, Channel 366, DISH, Channel 265, Apple TV 4th Generation, Amazon fireTV, and ROKU.
After the rain, the sun will come out… Of the Lord’s faithfulness, we must not doubt.
Rain is most often a life-giving thing… May the “rains” of life be faith-strengthening.
P. A. Oltrogge
“Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:21-23 RSV
“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from the hand of the enemy….” Psalm 107:1-2
“Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness.” Psalm 107:8-9
“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” James 1:2-3 NASB
“Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart….” Luke 18:1
Jesus said: “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.” …from Matthew 7:24-29
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” John 13:34
Did you learn to love (as I’ve loved you) in your daily walk; Or was it not really genuine, but, instead, merely talk?
That’s an outline of a question Jesus will ask one day In separating His sheep and removing the goats away.
If you took care of others, even “one of the least of these,” He’ll say you did it to Him, and will have found that to please.
Kindnesses done for others in His Name, with sincerity of heart, Are implied to be noted by Jesus, as if on a heavenly chart.
The righteous will ask, “When did we do these things for You?” While the unrighteous will insist that they did them, too.
Faith in Jesus saves us through His service, highest of all; But we serve Him, out of love…it’s our heavenly call.
“Works” left undone or devoid of Him won’t carry any weight; Make Jesus your Savior and Shepherd before finding it’s too late.
P. A. Oltrogge
“All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’
“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You? And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
“Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you game Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’
“Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You? Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Matthew 25:32-46
Photo by Karen Roe/Flickr See archived post for direct link.
…also called Kinnereth, Lake of Gennesaret, and Sea of or Lake Tiberias
I’ve not ever visited the Holy Land of Israel or viewed Galilee’s beautiful sea, but I can visualize the prominence of its waters in Jesus’ life and ministry.
Peter, Andrew, James, and John made their living there–then suddenly were called to follow the Messiah, after which they experienced some miraculous catches hauled.
Near to its shores, five thousand men, and women and children, were divinely fed through a little boy’s blessed lunch of just two fish and only five loaves of bread.
After leaving Nazareth, Jesus settled in Capernaum, which lies beside its waters; and Mary, of Magdala, a seaside town, became one of God’s beloved daughters.
We know that Jesus walked on its waves; and Peter did, too, to some degree. Another time, the disciples called on Jesus to save them when it became a raging sea.
Jesus told His disciples to cross over it at times in following His Father’s direction. And from a mountain above it, He shared The Beatitudes–a major spiritual reflection.
You may not have seen the Sea of Galilee, that Jesus and the disciples traveled along; but you can experience the Spirit’s “living water,” which is God’s gift to make us strong.
P. A. Oltrogge
Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.’” But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. John 7:37-39
Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. John 16:7 KJV
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth. Acts 1:8 and all of Acts 2
When Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. And all the circumcised believers who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out upon the Gentiles also. Acts 10:44-45
So I say to you, ask and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him! Luke 11:9-13
Excellent books on the Holy Spirit: “Baptism in the Holy Spirit” and “How You Can Be Led by the Spirit of God” (book or CD) by Kenneth E. Hagin at http://www.rhema.org under Bookstore.
Also: “The Holy Spirit is a Genius” by Mark Hankins at http://www.markhankins.org and other of his books on the Holy Spirit (and other topics).
When it looks to you, at times, like there’s simply no way out, let thanking God, the Father, be your sure and chosen route.
When it seems that pressing problems have no known solution, let thanking the Lord turn any worries into a grace revolution.
Paul and Silas were imprisoned but raised their praises high– then found they were delivered, with praise their only cry.
When the way seems very foggy and you’re tempted to despair, just know, though you can’t yet see it, the victory is there.
A great principle of the Bible is to walk by faith and not by sight– so thank God for His presence when it’s dark and you need His light.
Like a pilot relies on instruments through weather good or bad– let thankfulness be the “instrument” with which your life is clad.
P. A. Oltrogge
Acts 16:23-40: “But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains were unfastened.” (25-26)
“But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Colossians 3:14-17 NKJV
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV and Hebrews 11:1
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:57
God had parted the night clouds and, there, ever so bright, was a beautiful, full moon seen through my bedroom window one night.
It was actually almost morning when it came into view. It made me think of how God’s power and love also break through.
There are “clouds” or “deep waters” in life that can often overwhelm, unless we look to Jesus Christ as being at our life’s “helm.”
So think of your life’s “sailship” as strong through any “night,” for He’s on board to part deep waters and is your ever-guiding Light.
P. A. Oltrogge
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you… For I am the !ord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior….” Isaiah 43:2, 3 NKJV
“Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.’” John 8:12 NKJV
You’re going to be all right.. God can heal things overnight.
Let’s continue to observe the Covenant meal… another way that the Lord can heal.
If medical becomes the way to go, then, thereby, healing can also flow…
Put your hand in the Lord’s as you walk this course… His power is the greatest healing force.
P. A. Oltrogge
The above was written for a family member who had been taking daily communion and ultimately went in for surgery, which was successful and was less extensive than thought.
“He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4
I want to recommend a most encouraging true account told in the book, Healed Overnight by Amy Keesee Freudiger. You can read of her book when you visit Amy’s website at http://www.HealedOvernight.com
Father… Thank you for your merciful grace to your children in every situation… in our individual lives and over our families, over our own and every nation.
By grace, anyone can receive the wonderful assurance from you of eternal life through Jesus Christ and grace for this life, too.
By grace, through faith, we receive, as well, of your promised peace. From anxious thoughts and from our sins, you’ve given us release.
Where sin has abounded, there abounds your grace to us much more. Because of the depth of your love, unmerited blessings for us are in store.
P. A. Oltrogge
“But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.
“Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.
“Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
The Porch of the Lord 