God Knows Your Name

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Ask, Daughters, Father, given, grace, Name, Receive, Son

Exodus 33:17

“And the Lord said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken; for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.”

It doesn’t matter how many children you may have you know each one by name.  Even if you have more than one child and you confuse the name of one child with the name of other, still you know each of your children by name.  Likewise, God knows each of us by name but unlike us He will never forget or get us confused with one another.

When God called Moses out of the burning bush He called Him by name because He knew Moses, Moses was His child.  And here God says to Moses “I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken; for thou has found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.” Simply because Moses found grace in God’s sight and God knew him by name God would show Moses His glory.

For the very same reasons God will do the things that we’ve asked Him to do because He has given us His grace and we are His children and He knows us by name.  Matthew 7:11 says “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?

The grace of God is Jesus Christ, it is because of His finished work that we are the sons and daughters of God, that He calls us by name and we call Him Father.  Therefore, whatever you ask for He will do it.

Enlarge Your Territory!

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believe, Enlarge, faith, make room, Receive, Stretch out, Take in

Isaiah 54:2-3
“Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations; spare not, lengthen thy cords and strengthen they states; For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left and they seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.”
I’ve often heard people pray for God to enlarge them in some way or other I’ve even prayed this prayer but as I read these scriptures it clearly tells us to enlarge the place of our tents which means  enlargement is up to us.  How far you want to go and how big you want to get is totally up to you.  If you enlarge your place God will fill it up.  The enlargement is your part the breaking forth is God’s part.
2 Kings 3:10-20 tells the account of Jehoshaphat, Jehroam and the king of Edom.  When they went out to battle against the king of Moab they found themselves in the wilderness with no water.  They went to Elisha for the word of the Lord and Elisha said to them “…Thus saith the Lord, make this valley full of ditches.  For thus saith the Lord, ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water that ye may drink, both ye and your cattle, and your beasts” (2 Kings 3:16-17).  They had to dig the ditches but God was the one who would fill them with water.  Peter had to launch out and let down his nets but God gave the draught (Luke 5:4).  It was totally up to Peter how many nets he wanted to use but the draught was already given.  The nets determined his capacity to receive.
You might be thinking “but if I do it won’t work.” God will never let you be ashamed.  Isaiah 54:4 says, “Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed; neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame…”  God is a good God and He will never, I said never let you be put to shame.  The devil wants you to believe that God is not good and that God will leave you hanging out on a limb but the devil is a liar.  God will never let you be ashamed.  God has already done His part now it’s up to you to do your part.  Enlarge and stretch out!  Make room to receive!

What Good Thing?

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believe, faith, Good, law, Receive, Rich Young Ruler, Righteous, works

Matt. 19:16

“And, behold, one came and said unto Him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?”

If it were possible for us to do one good thing to have eternal life we would never have it.  That is the point that Jesus was making to the rich young ruler.   All of our doing will never give us life because we could never do it all.  We would miss it in some point or other and if we offend in one point we are guilty of breaking the whole law.

If you’re trying to do good to get eternal life you’ll never obtain it but if you receive it as a gift you’ll have it.  Galatians 3:9 says, “So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.”  It is to those that believe that they have been justified by the works of Christ that receive the blessings of Abraham.  Notice verse 10 “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, Cursed is everyone that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.”  In other words, as long as you are trying to obtain the blessings of God through your works or through your efforts of attempting to do some good thing you are still under the curse.  It it to those that believe that they have been made righteous by the works of Christ that receive the blessings.

The only good thing you can do is receive what Jesus Christ has done for you.  When you do He comes in unto you and then and only then will all of the blessings of God be made manifest in your life.

If you are not seeing the blessings of God manifested in your life ask yourself am I receiving what Jesus has done or am I still trying to do some good thing?  Galatians 3:11 says “But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident; for, The just shall live by faith.”

It’s Good To Give Thanks!

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Appreciate, Bless, blessings, grace, Thanks, Thanksgiving, Turkey

Psalms 92:1-2

“It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most high; To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and they faithfulness every night.”

Thanksgiving is a time of giving thanks.  As you gather with your family and friends to give thanks remember it’s all about God.  Don’t focus on the negative things of the past but on the wonderful blessings of God.

Psalm 103:2 says “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.” Well, what are those benefits?  The psalmist goes on to say, “Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagles” (Ps. 103:3-5).  Wow! When we consider all these blessings we can’t help but give thanks.

When you give thanks for what God has done for you, you are giving thanks for those things that you have yet to see.  Whatever God says is done in the now and He doesn’t alter the thing that is gone out of his mouth (Ps. 89:34).  While you are giving thanks give thanks for those things that are yet seen.   Being thankful releases more grace in your life.  Think about this, when you do something for someone and they show their appreciation by saying thank you, it causes you to want to bless them again.

Therefore, as you give thanks to God for His blessings this season don’t forget to say thank you to those that God has used to be a blessing in your life.  “Oh give thanks unto the Lord for He is good and His mercy endureth forever” (Psalm 107:1).

All Things Restored!

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bread, joy, Live, oil, peace, praise, reqrets, Restoration, restore, wheat, wine

Joel 2:24

“And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil.”

The prophet Joel was telling Israel that God would send rain, the former rain, and the latter rain all in the first month and because of this rain there would be a great harvest (Joel 2:23-24).  Jesus Christ is the former and latter rain.

It is because of Jesus that our floors are full of wheat or bread.  The bread of life that came down from heaven; and that we have experienced the out pour and overflow of wine and oil, the Holy Spirit (Joel 2:28).

Joel 2:25 says, “I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.”   It is because of Jesus that whatever you’ve lost or whatever has been stolen is being restored unto you.  All of the increase that you should have had if you had never lost anything is restored unto you plus present increase.  Increase past and present, former and latter is being restored unto you.  You no longer have to regret your past saying “if only I hadn’t done this or if only I hadn’t done that” because all of what you lost is restored to you.

Therefore, Joel 2:26 says, “And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you; and my people shall never be ashamed.”   Because of Jesus the only thing left for you to do is Eat, Praise, Live!

Don’t Frustrate Grace!

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blessings, free, frustrate, grace, healing, health, prosperity

Galatians 2:21

“I do not frustrate the grace of God; for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”

Whenever I find myself being frustrated about something, I know that it is because I have allowed myself to move from grace to works.  God’s grace is what He freely gives to us regardless of whether or not we deserve it.  And since He freely gives it we can never earn it.

Therefore, we become frustrated when we try to earn what is freely given.  In all our efforts of trying to obtain the blessing of God through our works, we still come up empty handed because we’re not receiving what God is giving.  Paul tells the church in Galatians that they were foolish and bewitched (Gal. 3:1).  It’s foolish to think you can work for what someone is giving to you for free.  The devil is always trying to deceive God’s people into thinking that God is not that good.  To believe that God wants you to work for His blessings makes God out to be harsh and unkind.  God knows that we would never be able to reach His requirements that’s why it would be harsh and unkind.  But thank God that Jesus has meant all the requirements necessary for us to receive the blessings of God.  Jesus has redeemed us from the curse of the law and release us to the blessings of Abraham (Gal. 3:13-14).

Therefore, stop frustrating the grace of God that’s flowing in your life by trying to earn what has been freely given.  You’re efforts can’t bring prosperity, nor can they bring good health.  Your efforts will only hinder those things from flowing in your life.  Don’t be deceived it’s not by works but  by the faith of the Son of God that we are prosperous, healed, and blessed.

Time To Party!

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law, Party, praise, righteousness, Thanks, thanksgivng

Esther 9:22

“As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day; that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.”

After God had given Israel victory over their enemies, they threw a party.  God had turned their sorrow into joy their mourning into a good day He had given them a divine turnaround.

Esther 9:19 says “…they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.” The key word is they rested.  They rested in the victory that was given to them by rejoicing and having a good time.

Jesus has given us the victory over all our enemies, He has given us a divine turnaround.  He has given us beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness that we might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord that He might be glorified (Isa. 61:3). 

Looking back on the things that held you captive will only rob you of your joy.  It was the law that held us captive and whenever we look back to the law for our righteousness it robs us of our joy.  In the days of Nehemiah the people were rejoicing until the law was read then they began to weep and mourn (Neh. 8:9).

Don’t let the enemy stop you from throwing a praise party by reminding you of what you’ve done or haven’t done.  We’re not blessed because of what we’ve done, we’re blessed because of what Jesus has done for us.  So come on let’s party!

God’s Grace Abounds Towards You!

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abounding grace, abounds, deliverance, favor, God, grace, help, Jesus, love, provision

2 Corinthians 9:8

“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.”

Nothing can stop God’s grace towards you, nothing.  God is able to cause His grace to continuously increase in your life so that no matter what crops up in your life His grace is there to provide.  In other words you will never be without His grace.

Here is what this really means to us.  It means that unemployment can’t stop His grace of provision; sickness can’t stop His grace of healing; depression can’t stop His grace of joy and tribulation and persecution can’t stop His grace of deliverance.  Nothing can stop His grace from flowing in your life.  Romans 8:35 says, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”  Paul goes on to say in verse 37 “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that love us.”  God commended His love toward us when He gave us His Son and God doesn’t give and take back. Even amidst all these things God’s grace abounds towards us.

Therefore, stop thinking that God doesn’t see, hear and know your situation.  He does and He is providing for you.  Throughout Israel’s journey in the wilderness God’s grace was abounding towards them.  Their clothes didn’t get old, their shoes didn’t wear out, and they had food to eat and water to drink right in the midst of the desert because God’s grace was abounding towards them. But they were too busy complaining instead of looking for God’s grace.

Take the time today to see how God’s grace is abounding toward you in your situation. If you are unemployed and believing for a job, don’t look at what you don’t have, look for God’s grace instead.  See how God’s grace is providing for you in the midst of your situation.  When you do you will see that you always having all sufficiency in all things are able to abound in every good work.

Jesus Christ, A Sure Foundation!

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Built, Firm Foundation, Foundation, health, Marriage, Steady, Sure, wealth

Luke 6:48

“He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation a rock; and when the flood arose, the stream best vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it; for it was founded upon a rock.”

Jesus is our sure foundation.  When everything else around you seems to be caving in Jesus will never fail.   Psalms 46:1-2 says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.  Selah”.  In the midst of all this you are able to stand because you are standing on a firm foundation.

One of webster’s definition of foundation is “a body or ground upon which something is built up or overlaid.”  Our foundation is the body of Jesus Christ.  Scripture tells us that when Jesus dismissed His Spirit that the veil of the temple was rent from top to bottom and the earth quaked and the rocks were rent (Matt. 27:51).  I believe it was to let us know that all other foundations have and will fail and that He, Jesus Christ is the only foundation that stands sure. 

No wise builder attempts to build a house without first making his foundation sure.  That’s why the scripture tells us that “except the Lord the build a house they labour in vain that build it…” (Psalms 127:1).   But watch this, because the Lord is your foundation, you can build upon Him and all hell can come against you, but your house will never fail.   You can build your marriage upon Him, your business, your wealth, your health and never have to fear about them failing because you have built your house upon the Rock, Christ Jesus. 

Therefore, in the midst of the worlds foundations failing don’t fear, you are safe and secure standing on a firm foundation.

Reapers!

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family, gather, lay hold, prosperity, Reapers, reaping, riches, take, wealth

Ruth 2:14

“And Boaz said unto her, at mealtime come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar.  And she sate beside the reapers: and he reached her parched corn, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left.

“Ruth being a Moabitess was not entitled to anything that Boaz had.  Like the Syrophenician woman who say to Jesus “Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their master’s table” (Matt. 15:27) Ruth was willing to take the scrapes the reapers left behind.  But because Ruth had made Naomi’s God her God, God granted her favor.

God’s favor placed Ruth in the right place at the right time and caused Boaz to take notice of her.  God’s favor caused her to be seated among the reapers!  No longer would she be one that begged for scrapes, she would be entitled to take in the harvest!God has favored us through the His Son Jesus Christ.  We have been grafted into the family of God and are entitled to take in the harvest! We are no longer are standing on the outside of Eden Jesus blood has put as back on the inside of Eden where all the goodness that God  intended for us to have is at our disposal.  Good health, prosperity, peace of mind are all ours for the taking.

Reapers are those that gather in, it’s up to you how much you want to take in but you must do the taking, you must do the gathering in.  Naomi and Ruth returned to Bethlehem because Naomi heard that there was bread and when they got there Ruth didn’t sit around waiting, she said, “Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace…” (Ruth 2:2).    If Ruth had never gotten up to go she never would have been in the right place at the right time.

God has given us His unmerited, unmeasurable favor, all things are ours through Jesus Christ.  Therefore, what are you waiting for?  Gather in as much as you want!