SCOURGED FOR YOUR WHOLENESS

By Joseph Prince – Posted May 16, 2017

Isaiah 53:5

…and by His striped we are healed.

Under Roman law in Bible times, a criminal was either scourged for a lesser crime and then set free, or crucified straightaway if guilty of a greater crime. But Jesus was both scourged and crucified. Pontius Pilate had hoped that after scourging Jesus and presenting His bloodied body to the people, they would be satisfied and willing to let Him go. But the people were not and demanded His crucifixion instead.

Don’t think for a moment that the people had power to inflict such suffering on Jesus. It was all part of God’s plan and the scourging was necessary for only by His stripes are we healed.

The Roman whip used for scourging was made of leather straps embedded with glass, bone and metal hooks. With just one strike, the instrument would have been wrapped around Jesus’ body, causing the glass, bones and hooks to cut deep into His flesh. And as the whip was pulled back, the hooks would have stripped His flesh off, exposing muscle and bone. Indeed, the psalmist says, “They pierced My hands and My feet; I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me,” (Psalm 22:16–17) and “The plowers plowed on My back; they made their furrows long”. (Psalm 129:3)

Although 39 was the maximum number of times one could be whipped according to Jewish law, I believe that Jesus was whipped more times than that because the Romans, who were not likely to regard Jewish law, carried out the scourging.

Whichever the case, His back would have been reduced to a mass of bloody, mutilated flesh. That day, Jesus’ blood flowed freely from His body for your deliverance from every kind of disease and physical affliction. God allowed every one of those stripes to fall on His Son’s body so that your body need not be scourged with diseases.

My friend, if you are sick or suffering from some physical condition, know that Jesus took the scourging as full payment for you to be free of that condition. He bore those stripes so that, today, there is no sickness, no disease left for you to bear. By His stripes you have been healed!

Thought For The Day

Jesus bore the terrible scourging to purchase for you deliverance from every kind of disease.

Take Your Life Back

By Joel Osteen – Posted May 16, 2017

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:

…take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ
2 Corinthians 10:5, NIV

TODAY'S WORD:

Everyone has days when they feel like life is out of control. Oftentimes, this happens when we allow our circumstances to dictate our thoughts and attitudes. You might say, “Well, Joel, the economy is wreaking havoc on my business,” or “This relationship is just too far gone.” But I say, today is the day to take your life back! 

You take your life back by choosing to take your thoughts back. Even though we live in this natural realm, as believers, we are not limited by this natural realm. We can tap into God’s power by making every thought line up with the Word of God. We don’t have to let circumstances control us. Instead, meditate on His Word and let His truth set you free! 

Today, as you take captive every thought and boldly declare His promises over your life, you are setting yourself up for victory. You are positioning yourself to partake of His blessing. You are taking your life back and positioning yourself to embrace the abundant life He has prepared for you!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Heavenly Father, thank You for empowering me to live in victory today. I choose to take my life back by taking captive every thought and submitting it to You. Help me live a life that is pleasing to You, Jesus, today and every day in Jesus’ name, Amen.

 Love Not the World

By Joyce Meyer - Posted May 16, 2017

Do not love or cherish the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. 
—1 John 2:15 

Many today are far too attached to the things of this world. Our society is filled to the brim with commerce—there are stores on almost every corner. And everyone is busy making money so they can buy more things. God wants His children to be blessed with nice things, but the Bible tells us not to love them excessively. It is important to keep things in their proper place. 

If you use what you have to bless others, God will see to it that you have everything you need and more. So your goal should be to enjoy the things God gives you and to share with others. This shows your love for the Father.

Getting Rid of That Bitter Taste

By DR. David Jeremiah – Posted May 16, 2017

For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness.
Acts 8:23

Recommended Reading: Ephesians 4:25-32

Tired of bitter coffee? Coffee faddists have rediscovered an old method for providing a smooth and velvety taste to your morning brew. Here’s the secret: Mix a beaten egg into the grounds, boil the mixture, and let it steep for about ten minutes before pouring in a cup of cold water. The egg and grounds settle on the bottom, and the resulting coffee is smooth as silk—or so they say.

What’s the secret ingredient to removing a bitter taste from our personalities? We’re living in an age of abuse, in which we never know when we’ll be ridiculed, criticized, robbed, cheated, betrayed, offended, or in some way harmed by others. Some injuries are slight, others are severe, but they can all leave real bitterness.

Left untreated, bitterness poisons us. The secret ingredient for removing bitterness is the love of God, and there’s an effective recipe for us in Ephesians 4:32. If you’re struggling with an angry or bitter spirit, memorize this verse, think about it day and night, and pray it into your life: “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”

Love alone makes heavy burdens light … love makes bitter things tasteful and sweet.
Thomas a Kempis