LIVE THE ‘MUCH MORE’ LIFE

By Joseph Prince – Posted March 7, 2017

Romans 5:17

For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ…

When God created man, He did not intend for man to grow old, become weak and powerless, suffer diseases and die—first the physical death, then the second or eternal death.

God never meant for man to go through all these and for death to reign. But because of one man’s offense—that man being Adam—death reigns.

The ultimate death is the second or eternal death in the lake of fire. Before this death is physical death. Before physical death, you have diseases and illnesses. Not all diseases and illnesses lead to death, but they are manifestations of death. One step before diseases and illnesses is tiredness, weakness and powerlessness, which are signs and symptoms of death. Now, all these are forms of death. As you can see, death reigns!

Are you resigned to the fact that death can strike whoever, whenever and wherever it wishes? Are you allowing death to reign in your life and in the lives of your loved ones? Or are you allowing God’s Word to tell you the truth about death?

“For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more…” Thank God for the “much more”! What Jesus, the last Adam, did is much more and far greater than what the first Adam did. We are those who have received the “abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness”. Therefore, our “much more” is that we will reign in life through Jesus Christ!

God considers death an enemy. He came to destroy death and give us eternal life. And the more we walk in the grace of God and His righteousness, the more we will reign in life. The more we believe in His grace or undeserved favor, and the more we know that we have been made righteous by His blood and not our good behavior, the more we will reign over all forms of death!

Thought For The Day

The more we believe in His grace, the more we will reign over all forms of death!

The Power of Prayer 

By Joel Osteen – Posted March 7, 2017

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”
James 5:16, ESV

TODAY'S WORD:

All throughout the Bible, you can see just how powerful and life-changing prayer is. The best news about prayer is that the same power you read about in the Bible is available to you right now! 

God intended prayer to change lives. He intended for you to call on Him and join your heart to Him in a powerful union. Through your prayers, you can tap into God's incredible, inexhaustible power in your life, and be a great encouragement and blessing to those who need prayer around you. James says that prayer can heal and restore people. Prayer makes a difference. Prayer affects change. Today, meditate on the power of prayer and put your faith into action. Stand in agreement with God and His Word and watch what He will do on your behalf!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

God, thank You for giving me Your infinite power when I come before You in prayer. I will stand and pray. I will stay in faith and keep pressing forward knowing that You are at work in every area of my life in Jesus' name. Amen.

Worship with Your Whole Heart

By Joyce Meyer - Posted March 07, 2017

I will cry to God Most High, Who performs on my behalf and rewards me [Who brings to pass His purposes for me and surely completes them]! 
—Psalm 57:2 

Great worship leaders know to come into the presence of God with their entire being, prepared to give thanks and praise (see Deuteronomy 10:12). They don't just roll out of bed, throw water on their face, and run a comb through their hair before church. They know that the anointing comes from a sincere pursuit of loving God with their whole heart. 

Likewise, as you approach God in the morning, come to Him with a heart full of worship, expressing your awe of Him for His faithfulness toward you. He promises that He will never forsake you, but will be with you all day long (see Joshua 1:5). 

Examine Yourself

By DR. David Jeremiah – Posted March 7, 2017

Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves…
2 Corinthians 13:5

Recommended Reading: Psalm 37:1-11

According to seventeenth-century British clergyman Joseph Hall, there are three reasons we aren’t as thankful as we should be: envy, pride, and covetousness. Envy, said Hall, is looking more at someone else’s blessings than at our own. Pride is looking more at ourselves than at our blessings. And covetousness is looking more at what we wish we had than at what we actually have.¹

When church members, coworkers, schoolmates, or family members become jealous of each other, it eats away at the foundation of a loving relationship. This spirit can only be replaced when we recognize it for what it is—the sin of coveting. We want something possessed by another person—time, money, popularity, success, or whatever it is.

When it exists, covetous jealousy is a sin to be confessed. Loving compassion is an attitude to be embraced. As we examine ourselves, we recognize where sin exists. Only then can we confess it and replace it with a thankful heart.

The cure for the sin of envy and jealousy is to find our contentment in God.
Jerry Bridges

 Read-Thru-the-Bible: Joshua 8 - 10