Sunday, September 26, 2010

Perilous Times


Remember the scene from the movie Home Alone 2 when the kid is scared in Central Park and flags a taxi?  He says to the taxi driver, “It’s scary out there.”  The scary looking taxi driver turns around and says, “It ain’t all that great in here,” or something like that.

Well... this world we are living in is scary.  And whether you are looking at things on the domestic level (the economy... or politics... etc.) or on the international level (Al Qaeda... nuclear Iran... etc.) it is pretty scary no matter which way your turn.

That is why we find that the Apostle Paul’s words to Timothy, written centuries ago, are as current as the front page of tomorrow’s newspaper.

1BUT UNDERSTAND this, that in the last days will come (set in) perilous times of great stress and trouble [hard to deal with and hard to bear].
2For people will be lovers of self and [utterly] self-centered, lovers of money and aroused by an inordinate [greedy] desire for wealth, proud and arrogant and contemptuous boasters. They will be abusive (blasphemous, scoffing), disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane.
3[They will be] without natural [human] affection (callous and inhuman), relentless (admitting of no truce or appeasement); [they will be] slanderers (false accusers, troublemakers), intemperate and loose in morals and conduct, uncontrolled and fierce, haters of good.
4[They will be] treacherous [betrayers], rash, [and] inflated with self-conceit. [They will be] lovers of sensual pleasures and vain amusements more than and rather than lovers of God.
5For [although] they hold a form of piety (true religion), they deny and reject and are strangers to the power of it [their conduct belies the genuineness of their profession]. Avoid [all] such people [turn away from them].
6For among them are those who worm their way into homes and captivate silly and weak-natured and spiritually dwarfed women, loaded down with [the burden of their] sins [and easily] swayed and led away by various evil desires and seductive impulses.
7[These weak women will listen to anybody who will teach them]; they are forever inquiring and getting information, but are never able to arrive at a recognition and knowledge of the Truth.
2 Timothy 3:1-7 [AMP]


Perilous times will come in the last days... the days before Christ returns... the days we are living in.  The days that the bum with the sandwich board on the street are talking about.  Yeah... those days.

What Are “Perilous Times?”

The word “perilous” in the original Greek text is the word chalepoi which means fierce, perilous, hard to live in, troublesome, dangerous: harsh, fierce, full of troubles and dangers; times that are hard to bear.

It is not very surprising when we see such characteristics in the people of this world. After all... these people are servants of satan and follow his behavior patterns.

What is surprising, however, is when we see these characteristics popping up within the church.  We cover this phenomenon from a couple angles in our book, Spiritual Fruits or Religious Nuts: but let’s address matters from Jesus’s perspective in the following scripture:

24Another parable He set forth before them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.
25But while he was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed also darnel (weeds resembling wheat) among the wheat, and went on his way.
26So when the plants sprouted and formed grain, the darnel (weeds) appeared also.
27And the servants of the owner came to him and said, Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? Then how does it have darnel shoots in it?
28He replied to them, An enemy has done this. The servants said to him, Then do you want us to go and weed them out?
29But he said, No, lest in gathering the wild wheat (weeds resembling wheat), you root up the [true] wheat along with it.
30Let them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will say to the reapers, Gather the darnel first and bind it in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my granary.
Matthew 13:24-30 [AMP]


In the above scripture, Jesus tells us that the tares (a plant that looks like wheat) will be allowed to grow along side the wheat until the time of harvest. They may outwardly resemble Christians, but without any spiritual fruit.

On the day of judgment, when all men and women will stand before a righteous
God, we may be surprised to see some people who were prominent in the church being judged.
No doubt, they may be even more surprised about that. 

So let’s do some expository on Paul’s words to Timothy and the members of the
body of Christ, and let us attempt to understand our scripture text and discern exactly what types of behavior
Paul was referring to in these perilous times we are living in:

Men Shall Be Selfish (philautoi)


Do you love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself, or do you “look out for number one?”

And he replied, You must love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.
Luke 10:27 [AMP]

God’s very nature is to be gracious... to give.. to show mercy and
loving-kindness to you.  He wants us to do the same.

And therefore the Lord [earnestly] waits [expecting, looking, and longing] to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to you. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are all those who [earnestly] wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him [for His victory, His favor, His love, His peace, His joy, and His matchless, unbroken companionship]!
Isaiah 30:18 [AMP]

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

If we are to walk after the image of our Heavenly Father, we need to walk after His example of selfless giving, not “get all you can... can all you get... then, sit on the can.”

THEREFORE BE imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father].
Ephesians 5:1 [AMP]

Men Shall Be Covetous (philargooroi)


They will be lovers of money more than lovers of God or their brethren.

They would rather spend extravagantly than bring tithes into the house of God. They would rather be gluttons than donate food to the poor. They would rather watch television than hear the gospel.

Some of them will stand in a pulpit and squeeze money out of people who can’t afford it in order to meet their own agenda.  And while they will take, take, take... they never give any of their own away.

In either instance... these covetous people have made material things their god... and we all know that you can’t take it with you.

The world says to love things and use people. We need to love people, and use things to bring glory to our Father.

The members of the early church shared all that they had. Why don’t we?

Men Shall Be Boasters (alazones)


This word was originally used to describe a “quack” doctor who went from town to town, trying to sell “snake oil.”

The phony medicine pushed by these quacks promised to cure a wide range of illnesses. In reality, they did nothing to help people... but may make them sicker or even kill them!

Such individuals claim to have the answers, but they really do not. Their religion is just empty pretending.

Are you an empty pretender? Do you parade about, trying to pass yourself off as something you are not? Does God get the glory or do you pat yourself on the back?

Paul had much that he could have bragged about.

  • He was a Pharisees’ Pharisee.
  • He was an eloquent speaker.
  • God handpicked him.

Despite all of this, Paul counted his credentials as worthless as the feces one flushes down the toilet.  Nothing could possibly compare to the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed One)
Philippians 3:8 [AMP]


Men Shall Be Proud (huperəphanoi)


The Greek word means “to show oneself above.” These persons not only think too highly of themselves, they despise others. We see an example of this spirit in Luke, chapter 18:

The Pharisee took his stand ostentatiously and began to pray thus before and with himself: God, I thank You that I am not like the rest of men--extortioners (robbers), swindlers [unrighteous in heart and life], adulterers--or even like this tax collector here.
Luke 18:11 [AMP]

Have you ever bristled upon encountering a drunkard, a homeless person, or perhaps a prostitute on a street corner? Remember it is only God’s grace that you are not out there.

And the King will reply to them, Truly I tell you, in so far as you did it for one of the least [in the estimation of men] of these My brethren, you did it for Me.
Matthew 25:40 [AMP]


This type of attitude is illustrated in the following selection from our Psalms from the Pen of the Ready Writer volume 1:

Standing on the corner
Under pale moonlight
a little lady stands there
sordid merchandise

Just an hour later
in the shadows dark
another pint of vodka
numbs her wounded heart

Do you not see her?
How can you pass her by?
Where is your compassion?
Can you not hear her cry?

Walking through the front door
of our Sunday church
The little lady comes in
wants to stop the hurt

Laying on the sidewalk
ushers threw her out
‘How dare you show your face here?’
‘Thank you, please stay out!’

How could this happen?
How could it go this way?
What would you do if God
treated you the same way?

He calls us to love and forgive
to heal the wounded sin-sick souls
the church is a holy hospital...
(not a social club)

Standing on the corner
on her way to hell
a little lady stands there
merchandise to sell

What a sad occurrence
What a tragedy...
One question you should ask yourself

What if it was me?

Do you not see her?
How can you pass her by?
Where is your compassion?
Can you not hear her cry?

How could this happen?
How could it go this way?
What would you do if God
treated you the same way?

Men Shall Be Blasphemers (blasphəmoi)


These people speak evil, slanderous, or abusive words against God and/or men.

They are quick with criticism and put-downs.

Some comedians on television joke about growing up in church while reviling God and all that He stands for.

Although you may never have taken God’s name in vain, maybe your behavior has given God’s enemies an occasion to blaspheme. (see 2 Samuel 12 and Romans 2:24).

Any sin in the camp may affect the entire church (see Joshua 7; Joshua 22:20; and 1 Corinthians 10:6).

To quote R.W. Schambach:  “Get rid of your sin before your sin gets rid of you.”

There is even a free downloadable album on that very same topic located here.

Men Shall Be Disobedient to Parents

If you have unsaved parents, keeping your room clean and your chores up to date will win them to Christ a lot faster than nagging them about church or slipping gospel tracts into their sandwiches.

Do you honor your mother and father?

Mouse-over these scriptures:

  • Exodus 20:12
  • Deuteronomy 5:16
  • Matthew 15:4-6
  • Ephesians 6:2


Men Shall Be Unthankful (acharistoi)


These ungrateful ones take and take, but never stop to say “thank you.” You should “Count your many blessings... see what God has done.” This brings glory to God and gives you strength in times of trial. David praised God for delivering him from the jaws of the lion and the bear. This, in turn, gave him the confidence and spiritual fortitude to defeat Goliath (1 Samuel 17:36).

Men Shall Be Unholy (anosioi)


They offend all that is holy, not satisfied with simply practicing their wickedness but desiring to drag others into their lifestyles.

Men Shall Be Without Natural Affection (Astorgoi)


The Greek word is the opposite of “to cherish affectionately with family love.” Today, children shoot and kill without a twinge of remorse. Proverbs 12:10 describes these people perfectly... even their “tender mercies” are cruel.

Men Shall Be Trucebreakers (aspondoi)


A trucebreaker cannot agree to or refuses to enter a covenant. They are dishonest and not trustworthy. They reject salvation, since this is a covenant relationship between man and God (see Acts 3:25).

Men Shall Be False Accusers (Diaboloi)


If you speak Spanish, you will recognize the Greek word as meaning, “the Devil.” Satan is a slanderer and a false accuser (see Revelation 12:10). If you accuse your brother or sister in gossip conversation, you are sitting in the devil’s seat.

Men Shall Be Incontinent (akrateis)



This does not refer to a weak bladder, but a lack of spiritual or moral self-control.

A wise man once told me that the purpose of a lock was simply to keep honest men honest.  A dishonest man will break into a locked car or building and will steal.

In Galatians 5:23, self-control (”temperance” in the KJV) is a fruit of the Spirit. If you truly are Christ’s and are filled with His Spirit, then you will not be one such person.

Men Shall Be Fierce (anəmeroi)


These men are “brutal” or “savage.” Like wild beasts, they pounce upon their prey and mercilessly rip it to shreds.

Many people will walk past someone in the sanctuary and mercilessly rip him or her to shreds with their tongue. These people are savage... fierce.

Men Shall Be Despisers Of Those That Are Good (aphilagathoi)


They are opposed to goodness and those who stand for right. They campaign for animal rights but seek to kill unborn children. They bring homosexuals and lesbians into schools, yet protest the idea of the Bible in school.

Men Shall Be Traitors (prodotai)


This is treacherous behavior. Be diligent to lift one another up in prayer. Don’t betray your family in Christ. Stand in the gap for them lest the enemy hinder them.

Men Shall Be Heady


Are you rash, reckless, or hasty? Do you wait on the Lord, doing things decently and in order, or do you disregard leadership and do things your way?

Men Shall Be Highminded (teutphəmenoi)


The Greek word literally means, “conceited.” Are you proud, or lifted up with pride? Do you become blinded with pride?

Men Shall Be Lovers of Pleasure More Than Lovers of God (philədonoi mallon ə philotheoi)


The Greek phrase refers to those who would rather seek their own pleasure than God’s will and purpose. Does evening service interfere with your game? Does prayer meeting interfere with your television watching?

That is not to imply that there is no pleasure in serving God. King David said that he was glad when they said unto him, “let us go into the house of the Lord.” Are you glad about serving God, or do you see your “religious duty” as a ball and chain?

Men Shall Have A Form of Godliness, But Deny the Power Thereof


You may have an outline or a semblance of piety towards God, but your actions show that you have an estrangement with the power (or, Dunamis... dynamite dynamic Holy Ghost power) of God.

You talk a good talk but you don’t walk the right walk. You may sing and shout. Your tearstains may be on the altar. However, are you able to walk holy before the Lord?

Turn Away From Such Men (and Women)


Some of the most charismatic people in our society (politicians, entertainers and false religious leaders) fall into one or more of the categories that Paul describes.

If any of this applies to you, turn away from sin, submit yourself to God and resist the devil, then satan will flee from you (James 4:7). Submit yourself to the cleansing of God’s holy word (John 15:3).

Protect Your Family


In verse 6, Paul tells us that such people sneak (insinuate themselves) into the house / family / property / wealth / goods of others like an insect crawling through a crack in the wall.

Be vigilant to protect your family from those who would lead them away from the path of righteousness.

Are You A WIMP?


These people capture or make captive weak-willed individuals. In verse 6, the KJV reads, “silly women.” However, the context of the Greek suggests that this is not strictly a reference to women, but may also refer to what we would call a “wimp.”

If a man is not fulfilling his role as head of his family, he may be a “weak willed little woman” (see Ephesians 5:33 and 1 Timothy 5:8).

Of course, this verse also applies to women who fail to maintain God’s standards of virtue (i.e., Proverbs 31:10-31 and Titus 2:3-5).

Paul says that these “wimps” are loaded with the consciousness of many sins (failure to hit the mark, committing bad actions or evil deeds; possibly through an error of understanding). They are “Prisoners of War” to satan
and his army of demons.

These people would rather fry their brains on lust-filled soap operas than feed themselves God’s word (see 1 Corinthians 3:2).

They would rather gossip on the telephone than talk about the goodness of Jesus
(see 1 Peter 4:11).

These people are setting themselves up to be “led captive” by the people of these perilous days. Do you want to be satan’s prisoner of war... or do you want to be free?

What Impulses Motivate You?

At the end of verse 6, Paul describes these people as being led away (literally, moved by forces and impulses affecting the mind) with many types of lusts, desire, craving, longing, and desire for that which is forbidden. Harlequin Romance Novels, “Swimsuit Editions” and R-rated movies create such impulses.

Is Your Bible Study Fruitful?

In verse 7, we see these “wimps” constantly increasing their knowledge, yet they are never able to come to the precise and correct knowledge of things that are ethical and divine (the truth of the gospel). They are implacable by virtue of their own ability and resources, their state of mind, and/or their customs.

The seven most dangerous words for church leaders is, “We’ve never done it that way before.” Don’t reject God’s moving because it clashes with tradition. Don’t resist change because you are not willing to accept the truth. Don’t hear sermons Sunday after Sunday without it getting out of your head and into your heart.

Many people have their own agenda for attending church. Some go for social or political reasons. Some go to find a husband or wife. Some go to have their good deeds outweigh their sins. The scriptures describe exactly what benefit they get out of their “religiosity” or “churchianity...”

1THEREFORE, WHILE the promise of entering His rest still holds and is offered [today], let us be afraid [to distrust it], lest any of you should think he has come too late and has come short of [reaching] it.
2For indeed we have had the glad tidings [Gospel of God] proclaimed to us just as truly as they [the Israelites of old did when the good news of deliverance from bondage came to them]; but the message they heard did not benefit them, because it was not mixed with faith (with the leaning of the entire personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness) by those who heard it; neither were they united in faith with the ones [Joshua and Caleb] who heard (did believe).
3For we who have believed (adhered to and trusted in and relied on God) do enter that rest, in accordance with His declaration that those [who did not believe] should not enter when He said, As I swore in My wrath, They shall not enter My rest; and this He said although [His] works had been completed and prepared [and waiting for all who would believe] from the foundation of the world.
Hebrews 4:1-3 [AMP]



Be steadfast in prayer and Bible study if you wish to survive these perilous times.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Resources for Casting Your Cares

The phrase “Cast Your Cares” (in its multitude of alternative forms) continues to be heavily searched on Google, Bing and other services.

We have noticed that people looking to cast their cares are reviewing our blogs and podcasts on that subject more than any other topic.  And with the economy, terror, and other problems in this life... it is no wonder.

To make it easier for those seeking scriptural relief, we have published a topical listing of all of our blogs (including those on casting your cares) at http://link2power.org.

To save you a mouse click, we figured we would also provide that listing here.  You can scroll down the page to see our eighteen blogs on casting your cares.

Before visiting our blogs, here are two helpful scriptures:

Psalm 55:22-23 (AMP) says:

“Cast your burden on the Lord [releasing the weight of it] and He will sustain you; He will never allow the [consistently] righteous to be moved (made to slip, fall, or fail). But You, O God, will bring down the wicked into the pit of destruction; men of blood and treachery shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in, lean on, and confidently rely on You.”

1st Peter 5:7 (AMP) says:

“Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.”

Of course, there is our Cast Your Cares Upon the Lord podcast at the PowerPodcast site as well as iTunes.

Listen to our podcast:


Our blogs in the Casting Your Cares category are:

  1. Cast Your Cares - Part 1
  2. Cast Your Cares - Part 2
  3. Judypie: Cast Your Care
  4. Strength in Difficult Times
  5. Spiritual Strength
  6. Suicide Ain’t Painless
  7. Having Done All... Stand
  8. Perfect Peace
  9. In The Time of Trouble
  10. No Condemnation
  11. Hope, the Anchor of the Soul
  12. Worry
  13. In the Midst of the Storm
  14. Psalm Eight
  15. How Much Do You Really Trust God?
  16. Perfect Peace
  17. Joy and Gladness
  18. Being Rejected

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Get Your Praise On and Get it Right

by Reverend M. Sylvia Ball

12What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me? [How can I repay Him for all His bountiful dealings?]
13I will lift up the cup of salvation and deliverance and call on the name of the Lord.
14I will pay my vows to the Lord, yes, in the presence of all His people.
Psalm 116:12-14 [AMP]

Spiritual Warfare

Yesterday I had one of those days.  Not a bad day, an incredibly good day.  The bad day was the day before when the enemy did a sneak attack.

Warfare is never wanted but in this case, it was unwanted and unexpected.  So, after a couple of sleepless nights I decided to practice what I preach and teach.

I made a conscious choice to catch the negative thoughts and exchange them for a word of thanksgiving and praise. Now, this was not easy to do; it had to be intentional.

Over time, however, something amazing happened.  I experienced an incredible peace, calmness and joy deep down in my soul.

From Stressed to Blessed

I can’t tell you when I made the shift from feeling stressed to feeling blessed.  All I know is that it happened.  And when I realized that my stress was gone, somehow a simple “thank you Lord” seemed so inadequate.

What about you? Have you experienced a time when you were so completely overwhelmed with the goodness of God that you found it hard to articulate your thanks?  Intuitively, we recognize that God wants us to maintain an attitude of gratitude.

It is good to praise the LORD
       and make music to your name, O Most High,
Psalm 92:1 [NIV]

In Psalm 50:14, Asaph reminds us:

Sacrifice thank offerings to God,
       fulfill your vows to the Most High,
Psalm 50:14 [NIV]

The Apostle Paul reminds us in Thessalonians 5:18 to maintain a constant state of thankfulness.   We are to give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 

Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will].
Thessalonians 5:18 [AMP]

In Romans 8:28, he reminds us that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.
Romans 8:28 [AMP]

When we experience emotions that encompass wonder, love and gratitude beyond words, maybe GOD is not so much looking for our words, but our actions.

In Psalm 116:12-14, the Psalmist, recalls the goodness of the Lord, searching out personal ways to show his gratitude. He asked; Lord, how can I praise you in a way that articulates my thanksgiving and most importantly, please you?  He wants to get it right. 

If you, like me, are wondering how to go beyond the WORDS of thanksgiving, if you want to get your praise on and get it right, the text shares three things for us to consider.

Think on God’s Goodness

The Psalmist says in verse 13, I will lift up the cup of salvation.  In Biblical times, the cup was symbolic of a person’s lot or fate in life.  Whatever God allowed to happen; whatever situation they found themselves in, they would think about it in light of God’s wonderful salvation.

Taking time to thank God for his goodness is a discipline that many of us find difficult to cultivate and maintain.  We are such busy Christians.  Wearing various hats and operating in different roles.  We are spouses, parents, care-takers, ministry leaders, employees, community service workers, students.  The list goes on and on and many of us wear our busyness as badge of honor.  We rush home, to work and to church, often arriving late, unable to resist sharing just how busy we are for the Lord. 

God did not call us to busyness, but he does call us to a time of meditation, a time of reflection.  “Be still, and know that I am God,” (Psalm 46:10a NIV).  This is a paradigm shift, from focusing on what we have done for God; it’s about what God has done for us.  Take time to think about God’s goodness.  Block out today’s “to-do” list, tomorrow’s challenges and yesterday’s successes and failures and spend time thinking about God’s goodness, this great salvation.
  • Think about the fact that we needed to be saved.
    • Just as a murderer needs a lawyer...
    • Just as a drowning person needs a lifeguard...
    • Just as a sick person needs a doctor...
    • We were sinners and we needed to be saved.
  • Think about the fact that God “worked our salvation with his own arm (see Isaiah 59:16).
  • Think about the fact that we are redeemed with the blood Jesus, adopted into His family.
  • Think about God’s saving and sustaining grace.
  • Think about the fact that we were chosen by Him.  We are “picked-people.”
  • Think about how our salvation is secure and we are sealed, in Him.
  • Think about how God consistently delivers, protects and shields.
What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for me? (Psalm 8:5 NIV).  This is how we can begin to get our praise on, simply thinking on the goodness of the Lord. 

After a time of thinking on the goodness of the Lord, the psalmist tells us that the natural outflow of our thinking will be calling on the name of the Lord. An involuntary utterance unto the Lord will flow out of us.  That is pure praise, not prompted by a praise leader or fixed rote praises to the Lord. Psalm 116:13b …call on the name of the LORD.

Call Him by Name

We know the Lord as Creator, Judge and Savior, but there are other names for God that we come to know only through life’s experiences or trials, sickness desires and needs. It is in these crises that God reveals Himself in ways unique to our situation.

When GOD called Moses and Moses said; who shall I say sent me? Moses wasn’t asking GOD “what should we call You?”  He asked “who are You, God?”

GOD responded saying “I AM Who I AM.”  In other words, “Moses, I will be continuously present for you, provide what you need, no matter what the situation.”

Abraham came to know Him as Jehovah Jireh my provider, GOD told him to sacrifice his son; Abraham was going to go through with it until GOD provided a substitute.

Think about your most recent trial, through the situation, GOD showed Himself in a unique ways.  When you think on His goodness to you in a personal ways, then He becomes a personal God and you can call Him by name and make it personal.

If you were sick; you might call Him HEALER.

If you prayed and He answered quickly, you can call Him “YOU who HEARS PRAYERS.

If you were in some form of bondage and He brought you out, call Him LORD MY Deliverer.

Maybe your life was void and in your seeking He provided in a unique way, call Him the Lord that satisfies.

Maybe you went through a dark and lonely time and He manifested Himself in a special ways.  You can call Him THE LORD my LIGHT and the God Who is there!

Just like our natural parents love to hear us call them mommy and daddy, our God delights in hearing us call Him by the name that is personal to us.  After all, it is acknowledgement that we recognize Who brought us out. 

Maybe you are going through a trial right now.  Why not get your praise on right now.  After all He is a faithful God and this is not your first, nor will it be your last trial.  What has He been to you in past situations?  Think on the goodness of your God and you just may hear yourself calling Him, a firm rock, your hiding place, your very great reward or Prince of peace.  Do you want to get your praise on?

Think on the goodness of the Lord, call Him by name and then serve Him.  

The Psalmist says I will fulfill my vow in the presence of all His people.  Have you noticed that everything the Psalmist says is personal?  How can “I” repay the Lord, “I” will life up the cup of salvation, “I” will call on the name of the Lord and “I” will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all His people. 

The fact that he owed the Lord for everything that God had done for him, personally, the solution is personal.  Yes, he is going to fulfill his vow in the presence of the people, but he does not say that he’s going to talk to the people about his service.  Think about it this way; when we come to the house of the Lord, for worship or service, we bring a contribution.  Sometimes, our presence in the worship experience can bless someone else.

Our presence is an affirmation of our faith, so we don’t say to everyone, “I’m here because of my faith in God, and our presence speaks for us.” 

It’s Personal

When I went through my trial last week, it was all personal.  My struggle, my tears, my prayers and my praise!   And, so it is for you, getting your praise on is personal.  That old adage, actions speak louder than words, is true. Words are not always required to give praise and thanksgiving to the Lord, but action is.

What are some ways to service the Lord?  Privately meet the need of hurting person, give without announcing to anyone.  Speaking words that edify and build up; admonishing someone in private and keeping it private.  Sincerely forgiving and praying for those who hurt you. When we pay our vow to the Lord we do the things that God requires of us, we perform our reasonable service!  We present our bodies as a living sacrifice and what we do, not what we say, becomes a sweet smelling fragrance in the nostrils of our God!

You see, praise and thanksgiving flows from our knowledge of God.  HE does not love us like a punitive judge or arbitrary moody dictator.  His love is based on His own unchanging nature.  We may change, but He never does and it for this reason that we are thankful; it is for this reason that we want to praise Him.  So, you were wondering just how to get your praise on.  Know this; you don’t need a praise team, a worship leader or a public gathering.  Simply take up your cup, for it overflows with such a great salvation.  

Call the Lord by name, for He has done great things in your life, and fulfill you vow.  Give service to the Lord, not to impress the people in church, but to simply show your love for God. 

Go ahead, get your praise on!


Rev. M. Sylvia BallFor more than 15 years, the eloquent and vibrant Sylvia Ball has been serving the Lord Jesus Christ through preaching and teaching.

Sylvia is deeply committed to rightly dividing the word of God so that men, women and children will come to know Christ personally, and in doing so, each will be encouraged to walk in their God given purpose.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Remembering 9/11


Despite the political and religious contentions that sprung up during this year’s commemoration of the September 11, 2001 attacks, many have given their thoughts and prayers toward those who suffered the loss of loved ones, and those suffering from injury and sickness during humanitarian and rescue operations during that fateful day.

Judypie provides the following meditations for this week:



It was September 11, 2001, when the White House was evacuated -- people were fleeing to the nearest exits in mass exodus as stated by one of the White House employees. America was under attack!

Let us not grow weary and complacent -- there are people who want to destroy our nation. Rise up, O church of the Living God and pray...supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.

FIRST OF all, then, I admonish and urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be offered on behalf of all men, For kings and all who are in positions of authority or high responsibility, that [outwardly] we may pass a quiet and undisturbed life [and inwardly] a peaceable one in all godliness and reverence and seriousness in every way.
1 Timothy 2:1-2 [AMP]

Heavenly Father, thank You for the United States of America, which was founded upon religious freedom and Your Word. Thank You for the founding fathers, Lord, who looked to You for guidance to develop the kind of government that would be pleasing to You. Our president and his advisers need Your wisdom to safeguard freedom. By wisdom You laid the earth’s foundations, and by understanding You set the heavens in place. I pray that these leaders will turn their ears to wisdom and apply their hearts to understanding. May the light of Your word run swiftly and prevail throughout the USA, and Your love burn brightly in this land. Give us a rebirth of freedom, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Making your ear attentive to skillful and godly Wisdom and inclining and directing your heart and mind to understanding [applying all your powers to the quest for it]
Proverbs 2:2 [AMP]

The Lord by skillful and godly Wisdom has founded the earth; by understanding He has established the heavens.
Proverbs 3:19 [AMP]

Now Stephen, full of grace (divine blessing and favor) and power (strength and ability) worked great wonders and signs (miracles) among the people.
Acts 6:8 [AMP]

But the Word of the Lord [concerning the attainment through Christ of salvation in the kingdom of God] continued to grow and spread.
Acts 12:24 [AMP]

And so the Word of the Lord [concerning eternal salvation through Christ] scattered and spread throughout the whole region.
Acts 13:49 [AMP]

Thus the Word of the Lord [concerning the attainment through Christ of eternal salvation in the kingdom of God] grew and spread and intensified, prevailing mightily.
Acts 19:20 [AMP]


The Apostle Paul said that he had fought a good fight. The fight you are in is the good fight of faith. When you were born again, you were given a prayer armor, and now you are an enforcer of the triumphant victory Jesus won at Calvary.

Jesus stripped Satan of all his armor, and gave you spiritual weapons of warfare. You cannot be defeated if you stand, and having done all to stand, continue standing. The Word is your Sword, and victory is yours. You are an overcomer by the blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony.

10In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides].
11Put on God’s whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil.
12For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.
13Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].
14Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God,
15And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace.
16Lift up over all the [covering] shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one].
17And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God.
18Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people).
Ephesians 6:10-18 [AMP]

Friday, September 10, 2010

Rather Than Burn Qu’ran...

By Joel C. Rosenberg (www.joelrosenberg.com)

(Washington, D.C., September 10, 2010) -- Rather than burn Qur'ans, Anne Graham Lotz (the daughter of Billy Graham) and I believe we should be mobilizing the Church to wake up, draw closer to the Lord, pray for all our neighbors -- including Muslims -- and share the gospel with courage and great joy to our family, friends and neighbors.

So Lord willing, next year on 9/11 -- the 10th anniversary of that terrible day -- we will hold a worldwide simulcast event called, “Wake Up Call.”

We will hold the event at a wonderful church in Boston. It will be broadcast into church sanctuaries and homes with strong Bible teaching and a call to action. Anne and I have been praying about this and planning it for several months. I have posted a link on my weblog with more information. Please be praying about it and please join us in this effort to call the Church to prayer and action as we draw closer to the return of Jesus Christ!

THE TWELFTH IMAM

Thanks to all of you who are asking about my new novel, The Twelfth Imam. It will release October 19th and I am scheduled to be on the 700 Club that morning. Next week, I actually begin writing the sequel. At the moment, I'm planning three novels in this series. Lord willing, we will release the national book tour schedule next week. You can pre-order your copy at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Christian Book Distributors, or at your favorite Christian or general market bookstore. Thanks for your encouragement and prayers.

To read more about the 9/11 event next year with Anne Graham Lotz, please go to the weblog -- http://flashtrafficblog.wordpress.com/



NEXT 9/11: "WAKE UP CALL," A WORLDWIDE BROADCAST TO THE CHURCH WITH ANNE GRAHAM LOTZ

Also: "The Twelfth Imam" book tour schedule to release next week.

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Meditations on Passing Life’s Tests

Pop Quiz

by Brotha DC

This past week was a very difficult one for your Brotha DC. There were many challenges that I had to face in my employment, in my personal relationships, in my health, and even in my walk with God.

Of course, such challenges are not necessarily a new or unexpected thing. Quite the contrary, we know that as Christians we are tested by the circumstances of life. Quite often, the enemy will throw things at us -- the Bible calls these “fiery darts” in one translation… “flaming missiles” in the Amplified translation.

Lift up over all the [covering] shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one].
Ephesians 6:16 [AMP]

These flaming missiles are weapons of mass destruction in the spiritual warfare that we all must face. The shield of faith is the weapon of choice as we read in the above scripture.

But, what happens when it feels as if your shield of faith it is failing? In the science fiction world of Star Trek, the space ships have something called shields.  These shields protect the ship from phasers, torpedoes, disruptors, and even hostile aliens attempting to beam aboard your ship without permission. Those shields however are not impenetrable.  Enough hostile fire can cause the shields to fail.  When that happens, one must either abandon ship or face certain doom.

As I had originally stated, I had faced quite a number of these challenges and yet I was determined to maintain my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. This evening, my friends and I gather together to study the fourth chapter of the book of Romans. This is a powerhouse passage on the subject of faith. It chronicles how Father Abraham pleased God through his faith. The reality is that none of us caned please God without the essential element of faith operating in our lives.

But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out].
Hebrews 11:6 [AMP]

What happens when it your faith is so severely challenged that you believe that it no longer exists?  What happens when you are bombarded so violently that your shields are at the point of collapse?  What happens when it seems that you no longer have faith?

That seemed to be the dilemma faced by a dear friend. He too was going through fiery trials. And while our shared experiences seem to evoke the popular saying that misery loves company, it was rather alarming to hear that my friend was struggling under a situation in which the heavens were like brass (see Deuteronomy 28:23).  He expressed an inability to communicate with God and felt as if perhaps God Himself was bombarding him.

The Spirit of God used this to remind me that my tests were just that... tests.  Pop quizzes.  And, they are open book tests.  When I begin to feel the way that my friend expressed, I rely upon my faith in the veracity of God’s holy word. 

I know that I am always quoting my friend Charlie Peacock... but he has a knack for putting things on paper... and then setting them to music... that has blessed me even when it seems that all hope is lost. Check out these lyrics from Charlie’s Coram Deo project:
Promises of mercy
Promises of love
Faithfully given to me
Every word from Your voice
Solid as a rock
None like the sand of the sea
I meditate on every word You’ve spoken
Great and precious promises never to be broken
Great and precious promises
All of them are true
Given in love by You...
Many are the promises that I rely upon when faced with one of life’s pop quizzes.  Read through the spiritual crib sheet below and allow your shield of faith grow... because faith comes by hearing the word of God:



For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.
Jeremiah 29:11 [AMP]


Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the Kingdom.
Luke 12:32 [AMP]


God is for you, He is not against you.  He is invested in seeing you succeed in the end.  He wants you to inherit the Kingdom.


Do not [earnestly] remember the former things; neither consider the things of old.
Isaiah 43:18 [AMP]

Instead of your [former] shame you shall have a twofold recompense; instead of dishonor and reproach [your people] shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double [what they had forfeited]; everlasting joy shall be theirs.
Isaiah 61:7 [AMP]


Past defeats are just that... things of the past.  Leave them there and move forward.


You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.
Psalm 128:2 [AMP]


Return to the stronghold [of security and prosperity], you prisoners of hope; even today do I declare that I will restore double your former prosperity to you.
Zechariah 9:12 [AMP]

The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26 [NIV]


You may not see it now... but God promises it will be yours.

All the days of the desponding and afflicted are made evil [by anxious thoughts and forebodings], but he who has a glad heart has a continual feast [regardless of circumstances].
Proverbs 15:15 [AMP]

Again... it all comes down to your attitude.  Are you going to have anxious thoughts?  Are you going to have evil forebodings?  Or, are you going to raise your shield of faith and rejoice that Jesus has worked it out and you will see it come to pass?

Show me a sign of [Your evident] goodwill and favor, that those who hate me may see it and be put to shame, because You, Lord, [will show Your approval of me when You] help and comfort me.
Psalm 86:17 [AMP]

King David in the Bible prayed the above prayer... and we know from the scriptures that God answered him big time!  Make this your prayer and expect to see God move through your circumstances. 

Rejoice not when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles or is overthrown, Lest the Lord see it and it be evil in His eyes and displease Him, and He turn away His wrath from him [to expend it upon you, the worse offender].
Proverbs 24:17-18 [AMP]

If someone did something to you, don’t sit around with an unforgiving attitude, praying that some calamity falls on him or her.  And if it does happen... don’t dance and laugh at their misfortune.  Pray the way that Jesus prayed: “Father, forgive them...”

Surely He has borne our griefs (sicknesses, weaknesses, and distresses) and carried our sorrows and pains [of punishment], yet we [ignorantly] considered Him stricken, smitten, and afflicted by God [as if with leprosy]. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole.
Isaiah 53:4-5 [AMP]

I shall not die but live, and shall declare the works and recount the illustrious acts of the Lord.
Psalm 118:17 [AMP]

If the enemy has attacked your health, stand on God’s promises for healing.

Behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and [physical and mental strength and ability] over all the power that the enemy [possesses]; and nothing shall in any way harm you.
Luke 10:19 [AMP]

But no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment you shall show to be in the wrong. This [peace, righteousness, security, triumph over opposition] is the heritage of the servants of the Lord [those in whom the ideal Servant of the Lord is reproduced]; this is the righteousness or the vindication which they obtain from Me [this is that which I impart to them as their justification], says the Lord.
Isaiah 54:17 [AMP]

Jesus has won the victory... so then why have a sour and dour attitude?  You have power... USE IT!  These are promises that are active and alive and full of power.  Put them to work!

And therefore the Lord [earnestly] waits [expecting, looking, and longing] to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to you. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are all those who [earnestly] wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him [for His victory, His favor, His love, His peace, His joy, and His matchless, unbroken companionship]!
Isaiah 30:18 [AMP]

That last scripture above puts the icing on the proverbial cake.  God is waiting to be gracious to you.  His will is to bless you.

Remember, life is a test.  We often find ourselves facing pop quizzes.  The key is that whether or not we pass is based largely on our attitude.

The children of Israel had an attitude check when they left slavery in Egypt for the promised land.


  • They saw God mightily deliver them from Pharaoh
  • They saw miracles along the way... including the parting of the Red Sea
  • They saw  the drowning of Pharaoh’s army
Yet, despite those and many other blessings, they rebelled after hearing a bad report about the land of promise.

As a result, the rebellious Israelites had to wander the wilderness for forty years and die in the desert... leaving the promised land to their offspring. That is why, thanks to Joyce Meyer, we find the following scripture so very important:

And you shall [earnestly] remember all the way which the Lord your God led you these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and to prove you, to know what was in your [mind and] heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.
Deuteronomy 8:2 [AMP]

God had the children of Israel spend forty years making what should have been an eleven day journey. Why? To humble them (in the face of their faithless rebellion) and to prove what is in their mind and heart -- to show whether or not they would keep the commandments of the Lord. Quite often, we spend a lot of time trying to get somewhere that others seem to reach without much time or effort. When we find our dreams deferred... it is important to do an attitude check and to see whether or not we are obeying God.

I recall a friend testifying in church years ago that he was glad that he was penniless because he would spend any money he might have had on liquor and loose women. But does that mean that Gods will is for us to be broke and penniless? No! God wants us to be blessed by having money, not to wind up with a hangover and a disease. Change your attitude and the blessings will follow.

Though the fig tree does not blossom and there is no fruit on the vines, [though] the product of the olive fails and the fields yield no food, though the flock is cut off from the fold and there are no cattle in the stalls, Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will exult in the [victorious] God of my salvation!
Habakkuk 3:17-18 [AMP]

This is the attitude of a victorious Christian.  Granted, you may not feel victorious with an empty fridge... an empty bank account... and an empty growling stomach.  Yet, if you have the right attitude, you will see the hand of God move as you seek His face.

I recall being a starving college student with no clue how I would afford a four-year degree.  For that matter, I couldn’t afford a decent meal.  I would spend hours walking around the neighborhoods surrounding the campus, looking for coins people dropped in the street.  I would spend hours collecting enough pennies to get a sandwich.  But during my greatest desperation, a mother from our church was inspired to cook for the young men in our dormitory.  A knock at the door and an unexpected blessing -- a hot home-cooked meal from a woman who surely has great treasure in heaven. 

As my spiritual father Dr. David Durham used to say, “When you run out... God runs in.”
It is all a matter of your attitude.

The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds' feet and will make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering, or responsibility]! For the Chief Musician; with my stringed instruments.
Habakkuk 3:19 [AMP]

Thanks again to Mama Joyce for bringing these scriptures to our attention.  Those who put their complete trust in God have a Mighty Warrior watching their back.

Now, let’s hear some meditations from Judypie:

God Hears the Prayers of His People

by Judypie

Hear my prayer, O God; listen to the words of my mouth. The moment I pray, You send an angel for my words, and Your answer is on its way to me. 


I purpose with the help of the Holy Spirit that I will always have an excellent spirit, and remain in right standing with You. 


May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. 


In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.




Hear my prayer, O God;
       listen to the words of my mouth.
Psalm 54:2 [NIV]


1 In the third year of the reign of King Cyrus of Persia, a message was made plain to Daniel, whose Babylonian name was Belteshazzar. The message was true. It dealt with a big war. He understood the message, the understanding coming by revelation:
2-3 "During those days, I, Daniel, went into mourning over Jerusalem for three weeks. I ate only plain and simple food, no seasoning or meat or wine. I neither bathed nor shaved until the three weeks were up.
4-6 "On the twenty-fourth day of the first month I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris. I looked up and to my surprise saw a man dressed in linen with a belt of pure gold around his waist. His body was hard and glistening, as if sculpted from a precious stone, his face radiant, his eyes bright and penetrating like torches, his arms and feet glistening like polished bronze, and his voice, deep and resonant, sounded like a huge choir of voices.
7-8 "I, Daniel, was the only one to see this. The men who were with me, although they didn't see it, were overcome with fear and ran off and hid, fearing the worst. Left alone after the appearance, abandoned by my friends, I went weak in the knees, the blood drained from my face.
9-10 "I heard his voice. At the sound of it I fainted, fell flat on the ground, face in the dirt. A hand touched me and pulled me to my hands and knees.
11 "'Daniel,' he said, 'man of quality, listen carefully to my message. And get up on your feet. Stand at attention. I've been sent to bring you news.'
     "When he had said this, I stood up, but I was still shaking.
12-14 "'Relax, Daniel,' he continued, 'don't be afraid. From the moment you decided to humble yourself to receive understanding, your prayer was heard, and I set out to come to you. But I was waylaid by the angel-prince of the kingdom of Persia and was delayed for a good three weeks. But then Michael, one of the chief angel-princes, intervened to help me. I left him there with the prince of the kingdom of Persia. And now I'm here to help you understand what will eventually happen to your people. The vision has to do with what's ahead.'
Daniel 10:1-14 [MESSAGE]

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my [firm, impenetrable] Rock and my Redeemer.
Psalm 19:14 [AMP]

Guide me in Your truth and faithfulness and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You do I wait all the day long.

Overcoming Doubt and Unbelief

by Judypie

Father, I believe Your Word, and ask You to remove any unbelief or doubt concerning the integrity of Your promises. In the name of Jesus, I renounce the world’s allurements that attempt to pull me into sin—they are ineffective in my life. Your Word is my standard and because I am a doer of Your Word, I will not be deceived. The fresh Manna of Your Word keeps me on target with Your plans, Lord. My steadfast confidence is in You, in Jesus’ name. Amen.


12[Therefore beware] brethren, take care, lest there be in any one of you a wicked, unbelieving heart [which refuses to cleave to, trust in, and rely on Him], leading y to turn away and desert or stand aloof from the living God.
13But instead warn (admonish, urge, and encourage) one another every day, as long as it is called Today, that none of you may be hardened [into settled rebellion] by the deceitfulness of sin [by the fraudulence, the stratagem, the trickery which the delusive glamor of his sin may play on him].
14For we [a]have become fellows with Christ (the Messiah) and share in all He has for us, if only we hold our first newborn confidence and original assured expectation [in virtue of which we are believers] firm and unshaken to the end.
15Then while it is [still] called Today, if you would hear His voice and when you hear it, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion [in the desert, when the people provoked and irritated and embittered God against them].
16For who were they who heard and yet were rebellious and provoked [Him]? Was it not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses?
17And with whom was He irritated and provoked and grieved for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose dismembered bodies were strewn and left in the desert?
18And to whom did He swear that they should not enter His rest, but to those who disobeyed [who had not listened to His word and who refused to be compliant or be persuaded]?
19So we see that they were not able to enter [into His rest], because of their unwillingness to adhere to and trust in and rely on God [unbelief had shut them out].
Hebrews 3:12-19 [AMP]

"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you."


Prayer of Affirmation

by Judypie

Father, I thank You for helping me as I enlarge the place of my tent and strengthen my stakes. In You there is hope for despair. In You there is stability for turmoil. In You there is prosperity for poverty. In You there is health and healing for sickness. In You there is peace for conflict, whether it is in a relationship, in my home, or in my land. In You, Lord Jesus, is well-being for every area of life! 


Hallelujah! Thank You Holy Spirit for divinely orchestrating every aspect of my life! Jesus is Lord over my spirit, soul and body, and over my relationships. Amen.


2  “Enlarge the place of your tent,
       stretch your tent curtains wide,
       do not hold back;
       lengthen your cords,
       strengthen your stakes.
3  For you will spread out to the right and to the left;
       your descendants will dispossess nations
       and settle in their desolate cities.
Isaiah 54:2-3 [NIV]

Guide me in Your truth and faithfulness and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You do I wait all the day long.

A Healing Prayer

by Judypie

Jesus was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.


Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered Him stricken by God, smitten by Him, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed. I receive divine healing for my spirit, soul and body in the name of Jesus. Amen.


 3 He was despised and rejected by men,
       a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
       Like one from whom men hide their faces
       he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
 4 Surely he took up our infirmities
       and carried our sorrows,
       yet we considered him stricken by God,
       smitten by him, and afflicted.
 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
       he was crushed for our iniquities;
       the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
       and by his wounds we are healed.
Isaiah 53:3-5 [NIV]

“I am the Lord that heals you”

“He sent His Word and healed them. And He saved them from the grave”
Psalm 107:20 (NLV)