LOOK TO THE WORD, NOT NATURAL FACTS

By Joseph Prince – Posted June 21, 2017

Numbers 21:9

So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.

“Pastor Prince, I know that God is my healer. But why is this sickness and pain still in my body?” If you have been looking at your sickness and pain all this while, stop looking at yourself and start looking at Jesus. Did He or did He not take upon Himself your sickness and pain?

God’s Word declares, “Surely our sicknesses he hath borne, and our pains—he hath carried them…” (Isaiah 53:4, YLT) Since Jesus has already taken your sickness and pain at the cross, then He cannot “untake” them. Even if you find it hard to believe that Jesus has paid for your healing, especially when the pain is unbearable, the truth is that it is still paid for. It is a finished work!

God is not saying that your sickness does not exist, nor is He asking you to pretend that it is not there. He is asking you to look away from the sickness, painful as it may be, and look to the truth that it has already been judged at the cross in the body of His Son.

Once, while still in the wilderness, the children of Israel were bitten by deadly desert serpents. The serpents were real. The bites were painful and deadly. So God told Moses to point the people to the bronze serpent put on a pole—a picture of the cross. (John 3:14) Bronze signifies judgment. In other words, the serpent—their problem—was already judged at the cross.

Those who kept their eyes on the bronze serpent lived. Those who focused on their wounds died. So stop looking at your sickness. Instead, look to the cross and see your sickness already judged in the body of Jesus. Surely He has borne your sicknesses and carried your pains! That is the truth of God’s Word. And His Word supersedes natural facts.

My friend, you let natural facts rule or establish God’s truths over your problem by what you choose to focus on. So decide today not to focus on the facts concerning your problem. Instead, establish the truth of God’s Word and Christ’s finished work over your problem—and live!

Thought For The Day

The truth of God’s Word supersedes natural facts.

Keep Your Peace

By Joyce Meyer - Posted June 21, 2017

And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ’s] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always].
—Colossians 3:15

When you do feel you need to say no, you don’t have to give a reason why. So often people want us to justify our decisions, and we really don’t need to do that. I try to be led by God’s Spirit—or another way of saying it is I try to be led by my heart—and sometimes I don’t even fully understand why I don’t feel something isn’t right for me. 

But I have learned if I do feel that way, I am not going to go against my own conscience in order to have everyone be happy with me. I often say, “I just don’t have peace about it,” or “I don’t feel right about it,” or even a plain old “I don’t want to” is sufficient.

There is nothing wrong with giving a reason if you have one, but I think we go overboard trying to explain ourselves sometimes. Follow your heart and keep your peace. Say no when you need to and yes when you should.

Lord, make me more sensitive to the peace that comes when You are ruling in my heart. May I be quick to follow Your peace and leading in everything I do. Amen.

He Will Finish

By Joel Osteen – Posted June 21, 2017

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:

"Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
(Philippians 1:6, NIV)

TODAY'S WORD:

Are you believing for something that seems like it’s taking longer than you hoped? Maybe you’ve been praying for a loved one. Maybe you’ve believed for a situation to change for years. Don’t get discouraged. God is going to finish what He started! He is a faithful God, and He has something unmatched, unparalleled coming your way—favor, breakthroughs, restoration like you haven’t seen before! 

God has been good to all of us in the past, but I believe we’re coming into a time where we will see greater anointing, greater power and greater victories! The key is that we have to stay in agreement with God. We should get up every morning and say, “Father, thank You for Your unprecedented favor. Thank You for the immeasurable, unlimited, surpassing greatness of Your power.” If you keep standing in faith, I believe you’re going to come into more of those days where you stand in utter amazement and say, “Wow, God! I’ve never seen anything like this before!” 

Remember, scripture says, “Is there anything too hard for the Lord?” No, nothing is impossible when we put our faith and trust in Him. Keep standing today, keep believing, keep hoping because God has something astounding in store for your future!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Heavenly Father, today I set my heart and mind on You. I choose to trust that You are working behind the scenes on my behalf. I stand strong on Your Word today knowing that victory is on the way in Jesus’ name. Amen!

Three Floors of Heaven

By DR. David Jeremiah – Posted June 21, 2017

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts….
Ecclesiastes 3:11

Recommended Reading: Ecclesiastes 3:9-13

A newspaper ran a real estate article about a three-story, 2,800 square feet, 1.2 million-dollar home on the Gulf Coast near Corpus Christi, Texas. The pictures were fabulous. The master suite on the top floor contained a private covered porch. Downstairs, the kitchen was perfectly designed. Every window had stunning views, and every room was filled with the newest conveniences. This house, announced the headline, was simply “Three Floors of Heaven.”

It’s not surprising for a reporter to describe a house in such terms because God has placed heaven in our hearts. According to Ecclesiastes 3:11, God has given us an intuitive desire for heaven. Everyone either wants to go to heaven one day, or they are trying to create heaven right now. Our society has long sought heaven on earth—a utopia. This desire is reflected in our houses and possessions. But nothing can compare with the home God is preparing for His people.

 We all want a pleasant environment. But don’t try harder than you should to create heaven on earth. Jesus is preparing a place for you right now. Serve Him faithfully as He leads you, and await the glories to be revealed.

A tent or a cottage, why should I care? / They’re building a palace for me over there.
Harriet E. Buell, in the hymn “A Child of the King”