Our apologies! We ran out of steem power and acquiring more wasn't simple. Thank you for visiting and please keep coming by! PK Wednesday, October 3, 2018 Breaking Barriers For years, it was believed that no one would ever run one mile in under four minutes. Many had tried, but everyone failed. Most believed that the human body could not be developed to break that barrier. Roger Bannister, however, was different. He didn't let that barrier stop him. He was so convinced it could be done that he continued to push the limits. On May 6, 1954, it happened. At the age of 25, Roger Bannister beat the clock and made history. He proved that the human body could withstand the pace and run one mile in under four minutes. Soon afterward, many others broke the same barrier many once believed impossible. Like the four minute mile, the sound barrier seemed like an impenetrable wall. When a pilot came close to the speed of sound, his airplane began to shake so violently he thought it would disintegrate. Then, on October 14, 1947, Chuck Yeager stepped into an X-1 and once again history was made. Although it was a rough ride up to the sound barrier, after it was broken he found a smooth and quiet ride on the other side. There has been a similar barrier erected against believers. It is a barrier designed to prevent believers from moving into the magnitude of strength and victory Jesus made available. These limitations can affect every area of a Christian's life. Dennis calls it the battle of containment. Satan erects barriers that are designed to stop us and keep us from advancing in life. One of these barriers is in the area of finances. Financial pressure is one of the major causes of strain in marriage, distress in families, and frustration in many of God's people. God's Word instructs us how to overcome pressure and break down the barriers of lack. Jesus made a powerful statement about the effect our priorities have on material success. "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:33 NKJV). Our first priority must be to seek God and His ways, and then we will be in position to see His power released. God always expects our priorities to be His priorities. Then, all of the things can be added to us. The things are not the problem. God wants us to have things. The point He is making is that proper order of our priorities must be maintained. Our second priority is to our personal self-worth. It is hard, if not impossible, to obtain and to maintain a breakthrough if we do not see ourselves worthy of what God has promised us. We must meditate on who we are in Christ to break limitations in our finances. Our third priority is to flourish in our family relationships. We cannot expect the blessing of God on our lives if we don't tend to our families. First Timothy 5:8 says, "But those who won't care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers" (NLT). We must maintain these priorities in order to increase in other areas of life. Matthew Chapter 6 King James Version (KJV) 6 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. 2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: 4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. 5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. 9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. 16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; 18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. 19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Thursday, October 4, 2018 Lacking Nothing As God led the children of Israel through the wilderness, He spoke to them in detail about the Promised Land. In Deuteronomy 8:9, He said, "A land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing" (NKJV). This land was a place where there would be abundance—lack would be conquered. God's plan for believers is revealed through His promises. He has promised us just what He promised the children of Israel—we will lack nothing! As Israel began the transition from life in the wilderness to the land promised to Abraham, God instructed Joshua regarding what he must do to prosper. "No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success" (Joshua 1:5-8 NKJV). God said be strong, be courageous, and observe all that is written. Their success was determined, not by God alone, but by their obedience to God's instructions. He said they must meditate in the Word and keep it in their mouth. Jesus made a powerful statement about the effect our priorities have on material success. "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:33 NKJV). Our first priority is seeking God and His ways, then He will release His power. When our priorities are His priorities then all of the things can be added to us. Remember, things are not the problem. We must keep our priorities straight. We must continue to say what the Word says about our present situation, our past, and our future. By doing so, we literally begin to activate the plan of God for our lives: increase and abundance! Through diligent application of the laws of God, we make our way prosperous. A prosperous life comes only after our total commitment and obedience to God. There can be no real success while living in disobedience. Our soul must prosper, and then we can prosper in all other areas. "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers" (3 John 2 NKJV). Before any other part of our lives can increase, our spiritual lives must prosper. By meditating in the Word and guarding our hearts, our inner lives will flourish. Prosperity flows from the inside out. Our ways must become God's ways and our thoughts like His thoughts. Book of 3 John King James Version (KJV) 1 The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth. 2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. 3 For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. 5 Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers; 6 Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well: 7 Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles. 8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth. 9 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. 10 Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church. 11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God. 12 Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true. 13 I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee: 14 But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name. Friday, October 5, 2018 The Counsel Of God Our first priority in life is to increase in our relationship with God. Our second priority is to our personal self-esteem. It is hard to obtain and to maintain a breakthrough if we do not see ourselves in the light of God's Word. Our third priority is to prosper in our family relationships. It is vitally important to maintain these priorities if other areas of our lives are to increase. God wants us to prosper in all things including the material realm. Psalm 1:1-3 reveals how we must view things in order to see barriers removed. "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper" (NKJV). The people we surround ourselves with reveal a great deal about us. Even though God may use us to minister to those who do not know how to live a victorious life, we must have relationships with those who make deposits in our lives. We need the supply of others who will stretch our capacity for increase. If we embrace the counsel of those who do not have a close relationship with God, we start down a path we really do not want to travel. The influence of those who live in unbelief or strife will have an effect on us. When we first realized we were called to the ministry, we became youth ministers at a powerful church in Southern California. We knew then we were called to travel like we do today, but we had to be faithful to do what was at hand. One day a well respected man in the church gave Dennis some fatherly advice. He said, "Dennis, we don't need any more preachers. What God needs is businessmen who will give great sums of money into the work of the kingdom." Dennis knew the man was right, we do need many who will give finances into the ministry, but he also knew that God had called him into ministry. The counsel was sincere, but it was sincerely wrong. Ungodly counsel does not necessarily come from ungodly people. This man loved Dennis and wanted him to be as successful as he was. From his point of view, to be a success Dennis needed to do what he had done. But had Dennis taken that counsel, he would have missed the mark. God could not have blessed his efforts because he would have been aiming at second best. We must embrace the counsel of those who have an intimate relationship with God. Their influence will have an encouraging and uplifting effect on us. Psalm 1 Psalm 1 King James Version (KJV) 1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.