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
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
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
Lord, Make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred–let me sow love, where there is injury–pardon, where there is doubt–faith, where there is despair–hope, where there is darkness–light, and where there is sadness–joy.
Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive– it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi
…Some versions of this prayer add “where there is friction, union, and where there is error, truth.” You may want to add those thoughts in praying the prayer, as well.
I was driving down the road today with my sunroof open, tunes cranked, and the wind blowing my hair. Then, all of a sudden, something came over me, and I missed my mom. Now, the truth of the matter is I always think about my mom and I miss her in some way each day. But this, this was different…this was coming from that deep yearning to have her in the seat next to me to have one more conversation, to sing together, to just be together. I wanted to share all that is going on in life and hear her advice about it all. I wanted one more day to tell her what has happened over the last nineteen years since she has been gone. To have one more laugh over the silly things and to be able to cry over the moments of heartache. To be able to dream together and to mourn the things hoped for that had to die. It will be nineteen years this autumn that my mom has been gone; and, like I said, I always think of her. But then there are these moments that the grief is thick and washes over me. So I feel it, I cry for what I have lost, and I wait. I wait for the day we are reunited and I know even in these moments I am not alone. All of this to say if you have lost someone, something you are not alone. Helen Keller said, “We bereaved are not alone. We belong to the largest company in all the world–the company of those who have known suffering.”
Forgive the long post, but I thought maybe someone else needed to hear this. Grief comes and goes in waves, and even nineteen years later, it can still sneak up on me and wrap around my heart. And that is okay. So if you are grieving something, someone please know you are not alone and this is not the end! ♥️
“…for He (Jesus) Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5
“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4
If you’ve been discouraged for a spell, then say, “It is well.” Or if anxious and problems seem to swell, say, “It is well.” For Christ is the Victor, and He’s passed that on to you. Your words have power to see you through. And cast all care upon your Lord. Give thanks for the answers that He’ll afford.
When you’re doubtful with fears you need to quell, then say, “It is well.” Or if dismayed ’cause bad news came to tell, say, “It is well.” Remember the Shunammite woman, great confidence had she. Elisha came to pray for her son, and God gave her the victory. We may not have always seen such great things, But we still look to our God from whom all hope springs.
And we’re growing in faith about each word, ‘Til opposing circumstances have heard– Giving angels God’s Word on which to move, For God desires His promises to prove. Yes, we’re saying, “It will be well.” Yes, it IS well!
Reference: the story of the Shunammite woman in II Kings 4; and after verse 20, when her son died–yet she said:
“…it shall be well.” verse 23
“…it is well.” verse 26
and her son was raised up. verses 33-37
P. A. Oltrogge
An inspiring true miracle of today where God Himself, by the Holy Spirit, said, “It is well…” in the second feature of the article.
The following scriptures remind about the importance of speaking in faith, (often in the midst of a “storm”). Our words of faith, especially through scriptural promises, and prayer can make a difference in a situation. And Jesus said to speak unto the mountain.
” For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you,whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” Mark 11:23-24 NKJV
“With the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied; he will be satisfied with the product of his lips. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Proverbs 18:20, 21
“He who guards his mouth and his tongue, guards his soul from troubles.” Proverbs 21:23
“Are they (angels) not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” Hebrews 1:14
“…the mouth of the upright will deliver them.” Proverbs 12:6
“A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his words….” Proverbs 12:14
“…but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” Proverbs 12:18
“The one who guards his mouth preserves his life….” Proverbs 13:3
“My son, give attention to My words; Incline your ear to My sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.” Proverbs 4:20-22 NKJV
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.” Hebrews 11:1-3
“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
“Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7
“Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart.” Luke 18:1
“I will lift up my eyes to the hills– From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2
Lord, you are the source of my help on any given day. You made the heavens and the earth–On you, my hope will stay.
I will look even to the hills–On their horizon, I’ll always see, through the eye of faith, my Savior, heading down with help for me.
P. A. Oltrogge
“He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in From this time forth, and even forevermore.” Psalm 121:3-8 NKJV
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” words of Jesus in John 14:27 NKJV
The Porch of the Lord 