Category: Food For Growth

³⁸ And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to Himself.” ~ Acts 2:38-39

The promise of Salvation and the promise of the Holy Spirit were for those in the time of Peter and for those of us who were a far off as well. God did not exclude anyone, not even us Gentiles (Acts 10:45). Because God poured out His Spirit on the day of Pentecost with signs and wonders and miracles, and the promise of prophecy and visions, and healing, we too can have signs and wonders and miracles and the promise of prophecy and visions and healing in our ministries as well. We are not inferior, for God is a respecter of no person. Meaning He does not differentiate between Jew and Gentile (Romans 10:11-13).

God bestows His riches on ALL who call on Him. The word translated as ‘riches’ does not necessarily mean financial wealth, though, in some cases, God does pour out an abundance of financial wealth on His servants according to His own will. This, however, is actually referring to His true riches, His signs, His wonders, His miracles, and His healing. God is a God of the miraculous. He’s a God of the impossible. A God that does not change. Therefore, if He did the miraculous in the past when His Spirit wasn’t poured out on all of mankind, how much more will He move in the miraculous now that His Spirit has been poured out on all of mankind and dwells in those who believe and follow? The Spirit of God still has power. The name of Jesus still has power and authority. He will reveal His Spiritual gifts to you if you fan the Spirit within you instead of quenching it.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Fan The Flame.

Back to Growth?

Back to Daily Bread?

Similar Content

²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. ²⁸ And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. ²⁹ Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? ³⁰ Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? ³¹ But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way. ~ 1 Corinthians 12:27-31

Paul says not to quench the Spirit and then tells us not to despise prophecies. There are currently entire denominations that not only despise the prophets and their prophecies of our day and age, but they build an entire platform and following by only making videos bashing and degrading them. Yet, Paul tells us not to despise prophecies and not to quench the Spirit. The only way to not quench the Spirit is to embrace the Spirit by stirring up your God-given Spiritual gifts.

The Gifts of the Spirit are built on our fruit. That doesn’t mean that they’re optional. They are mandatory. We have all been given a Spiritual Gift from God, and if we refuse to use it, we will be thrown out into outer darkness as well. This is because we are quenching the Spirit. We’re stifling and putting out the flame within us when we are called to stir it up and flame it. We’re called for more than just to exist. These gifts are to build us up, as well as to build up the Church. Therefore, when we refuse to use these Spiritual Gifts, then we quench the Spirit and therefore weaken ourselves as well as others around us.

Once we stir up the Spiritual Gifts already given to us, then we keep going. We keep seeking more. Why? Because there will never be a time when the LORD will run out of levels to elevate us to. The LORD gives out of His abundance. He is eternal. His ways are higher than our ways. His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. Therefore, God can never run out of new things to show us, teach us, and give us.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Never Be Satisfied.

Back to Growth?

Back to Daily Bread?

Similar Content

¹ But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way. ~ 1 Corinthians 12:31

God didn’t pour His Spirit on all flesh so that He could take it away again. God didn’t fill us with His Holy Spirit so that He could remove the gifts of the Spirit. No, God poured out His Spirit so that we might be filled with Him, including His power. Why? So that we wouldn’t be left alone. So that we wouldn’t be without defense or offense. So that the people of God might be able to fight back against the enemy.

The gifts of the Spirit didn’t end with the early Church. They didn’t magically disappear because they were no longer needed. They’re still here today, but we have to pray for them. We have to desire them. We have to seek them out. Paul urged us to pray for the greater gifts so that we might build each other up.

Don’t let doctrine created by man keep you from what God has in store for you. His purpose is for you to go from one degree of glory to the next. It’s not for you to be a sitting duck in this spiritual war. Pick up your spiritual gifts. Take hold of them. And seek for wisdom and understanding that you might be used mightly in the Kingdom of God.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Seek Your Gift.

Back to Growth?

Back to Daily Bread?

Similar Content

³⁰ Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; ³¹ but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. ~ Isaiah 40:30-31

The LORD called us to be like the eagles, but why? What’s so special about an eagle? Apparently, an eagle has amazingly good eyesight, which allows it to spot prey from a long distance away. In the same way, a praying Christian who stays in tune with the LORD will have amazing spiritual eyesight. They will see or sense danger, deceit, or the enemy when everyone else is shouting that there is peace and safety. The Christian will have extraordinary insight into the things of God and will recognize His voice.

The length of an eagle’s wingspan will depend on its environment. Now this is interesting because it can contrast with the Christian life. The wingspan of an eagle can be compared to the mountain-moving faith of the Christian. Because the environment in which the eagle lives will determine its wingspan. Eagles living in forested areas will have a shorter wingspan than those eagles living in wide open areas.

Likewise, a Christian living in a dead, legalistic, spirit of religion type of environment who say that healing is only if Jesus wills, so everyone won’t receive a healing, or that miracles and signs and wonders ceased when the last apostle died, will never expand his/her faith like one who thrives in an environment where miracles are welcomed, and sign and wonders are expected. It all depends on your environment and how wide your wingspan of faith will grow.

The LORD called us for greater and better things. Therefore, don’t remain on the ground, never reaching your full potential. Instead, seek the LORD earnestly, and He will mount you up with wings like eagles. And you will soar to new heights. For we are to go from glory to glory, never remaining in the same spot (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Soar Like Eagles.

Back to Growth?

Back to Daily Bread?

Similar Content

¹² And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and He overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. ¹³ He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.” ¹⁴ And the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. ¹⁵ But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant, ¹⁶ and they said to Him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise’?” ¹⁷ And leaving them, He went out of the city to Bethany and lodged there. ~ Matthew 21:12-17

Jesus entered the temple and became filled with righteous anger. He understood what was happening in the present and what happened in the past and made a connection so that we could understand why He was so upset and why He called the temple a “Den of Robbers.” If it was just about selling, then why didn’t He just use the same terminology He did earlier, recorded in the book of John? Why didn’t He just use that same wording and call it a house of trade? Because that’s not what He was talking about. Jesus was talking about going through another way than through Him. The people there understood this. We can tell by their response to Jesus driving out the money changers.

After He drove out the money changers, the blind and lame came into the Temple to Him, and He healed them. You see the connection? Jesus said in John 10 that He was the door to the sheepfold. Everybody that tries to enter in through a different way is a thief and a robber. When He comes into the temple and sees all that’s taking place, He drives out the buyer and seller, flips money-changers’ tables and seats of pigeon sellers, and then says that they’ve made the house of the LORD which is supposed to be a house of prayer, a den of robbers. When they hear this, they come into the Temple to Jesus in order to receive a healing. They understood what Jesus was getting at. They understood the point He was making. Jesus is the only way to salvation and healing. He is the supplier of all of our needs.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Go To Jesus For All Things.

Back to Growth?

Back to Daily Bread?

Similar Content

¹⁶ Then a wise woman called from the city, “Listen! Listen! Tell Joab, ‘Come here, that I may speak to you.’” ¹⁷ And he came near her, and the woman said, “Are you Joab?” He answered, “I am.” Then she said to him, “Listen to the words of your servant.” And he answered, “I am listening.” ¹⁸ Then she said, “They used to say in former times, ‘Let them but ask counsel at Abel,’ and so they settled a matter. ¹⁹ I am one of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why will you swallow up the heritage of the Lord?” ²⁰ Joab answered, “Far be it from me, far be it, that I should swallow up or destroy! ²¹ That is not true. But a man of the hill country of Ephraim, called Sheba the son of Bichri, has lifted up his hand against King David. Give up him alone, and I will withdraw from the city.” And the woman said to Joab, “Behold, his head shall be thrown to you over the wall.” ²² Then the woman went to all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri and threw it out to Joab. So he blew the trumpet, and they dispersed from the city, every man to his home. And Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king. ~ 2 Samuel 20:16-22

Mothers, you ought to live peaceable lives, and you ought to teach your family to live peaceable lives. Lead by example. I didn’t say not to protect. I said, don’t go stirring up trouble; avoid it at all costs. See what the wise woman said in verse 19, I am one of those who are peaceable.

When war came to her city, she did not call the men to arms; she sought peace without firing a single shot. What am I talking about?

I’m saying there will be times when trials arise in the home, and it’s how you respond to those trials that will determine the outcome. Mrs. Graham (the wife of Evangelist Billy Graham) said, “A true mother is primarily and essentially a trainer.” Children learn from what they see. And a peacemaker isn’t born; they are taught. It is the peacemakers that will be called children of God (Matthew 5:9).

My wife works in IT, and sometimes she gets emails or some type of correspondence that riles her and makes her blood boil. Her policy is, do not respond right away, give it time, and write your response if you want, but don’t send it. It’s better to reply the next day. If time is of the essence to email, then have someone vet it for you. Children will have their disagreements and find ways to help them solve their disputes. Train them to learn to find solutions for their own problems, and they will be problem-solvers when they are adults.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Raise Peacemakers.

Back to Growth?

Back to Daily Bread?

Similar Content

¹³ For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. ~ Psalms 139:13

I once heard someone say that if we want to change the way we see the unborn, we have to change the way we talk about and define mothers. For the average person, a mother is someone who has given birth to a child or adopted a child, but from the moment of conception, women become mothers. The woman is protecting, providing for, and essentially growing a baby inside of their own body. What is more motherly than that?

All pregnant women aren’t soon-to-be mothers; they are expectant mothers. The role of a mother starts from conception because from that moment on, a mother’s attitude, emotions, diet, and even her spiritual journey will directly affect and impact her unborn child because they are directly connected. And that connection can never truly be broken.

So, to every mother out there, strive to do what’s best for your child from the moment of conception to your last breath. If God is forming your child in your womb from conception, then every action you make after conception directly affects that unborn baby. A mother is a role that can’t be left void and empty. Always be someone who protects, provides, and grows their child in a way that is right before the eyes of the LORD. And fathers, always be someone that holds up the mother.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Be A Mother.

Back to Growth?

Back to Daily Bread?

Similar Content

¹⁶ Then a wise woman called from the city, “Listen! Listen! Tell Joab, ‘Come here, that I may speak to you.’” ¹⁷ And he came near her, and the woman said, “Are you Joab?” He answered, “I am.” Then she said to him, “Listen to the words of your servant.” And he answered, “I am listening.” ¹⁸ Then she said, “They used to say in former times, ‘Let them but ask counsel at Abel,’ and so they settled a matter. ¹⁹ I am one of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why will you swallow up the heritage of the Lord?” ²⁰ Joab answered, “Far be it from me, far be it, that I should swallow up or destroy! ²¹ That is not true. But a man of the hill country of Ephraim, called Sheba the son of Bichri, has lifted up his hand against King David. Give up him alone, and I will withdraw from the city.” And the woman said to Joab, “Behold, his head shall be thrown to you over the wall.” ²² Then the woman went to all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri and threw it out to Joab. So he blew the trumpet, and they dispersed from the city, every man to his home. And Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king. ~ 2 Samuel 20:16-22

I want you to notice how the Scripture describes the city. “You seek to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel.” This city wasn’t just any city; it was considered a mother in Israel. That changed all the rules of the game. The people of Israel looked to this mother city for wisdom, advice, and leadership. This is where they went to inquire. As soon as danger raised its vicious head, this mother in this mother city sprang into action. The Mama Bear was released.

The woman in the story is not named; she is merely called a wise woman. One of the attributes of a wise woman is to avert danger, especially critical danger, as what was about to happen to Abel.

What had happened was Sheba, the son of Bichri, saw his opportunity to seize power while the kingdom was right at the end of the civil war led by King David’s now-dead son, Absalom. Sheba blew the trumpet in an attempt to try to rally the previous rebellious troops against King David and make himself ruler. But King David nipped that in the bud right away by sending Joab, the general of his army, to take care of business.

Sheba took refuge in a city named Abel of Beth-maacah. The city was a walled city with locked gates. So, Joab prepared to tear down the wall to get Sheba. But a wise woman, a mother in Israel, stood up to the mighty Joab, and with great wisdom, she averted the great and pending danger.

Mothers, that is your job as a mama bear to avert danger from your family. I would probably be a lot better off financially if I had heeded my wife’s subtle warnings. Husbands, even though you are the head of the wife, please understand that she isn’t there to just serve you and your needs. She is also used by God, filled with wisdom, understanding, and instinct in order to serve the Kingdom of God and her family. When you have a wise wife or mother, listen to their wise judgments. Peace. Love. Go Forth and Be A Wise Mama Bear.

Back to Growth?

Back to Daily Bread?

Similar Content

²⁸ When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” ²⁹ And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to Him. ~ John 11:28-29

Lazarus had been dead in the tomb for four days when Jesus finally showed up. When Mary and Martha heard Jesus was on His way, only Martha got up and ran to Him, but Mary remained morning in the house. After speaking to Jesus, Martha returned to get Mary. That’s when Mary got up and went to Jesus.

See, Martha was grieving her brother as well, but she could handle it. She could deal with it. She still had faith in Jesus regardless, but Mary was struggling. She only got up because Jesus called her. Sometimes, we have to be Martha. Situations and circumstances happen that will attack our faith, but if we remain strong, we must help our brother or sister.

Martha knew where her hope was. She knew in whom she trusted. So, after speaking to Jesus and being renewed, or at the very least comforted by the Comforter Himself, she left her safe place and went to get her sister so that she could also get to a place of safety.

This is our job as Christians. We’re to hold on to Jesus, but we’re also to go help our brother or sister and lead them back to Christ when they stray. This is why we’re the body of Christ. We are to help our brothers and sisters fight when they can’t fight anymore. We’re to help encourage, lead them back to the Master, and help them find green pasture. We’re never to leave our brother and sister behind without trying to help them.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Call Mary to The Teacher.

Back to Growth?

Back to Daily Bread?

Similar Content

²¹ I have not sent these prophets, yet they run around claiming to speak for me. I have given them no message, yet they go on prophesying. ²² If they had stood before me and listened to me, they would have spoken my words, and they would have turned my people from their evil ways and deeds. ~ Jeremiah 23:21-22^NLT

Not too long ago, I was having a conversation with someone who said, “After all, we weren’t created to judge. The Bible tells us not to judge.” I responded, “That’s debatable.” Her posture then straightened, and she got noticeably annoyed as she said, “Well, I wasn’t created to judge.” This is the average Christian today. We’ve been brainwashed from childhood that making a judgment on whether something is right or wrong is not only wrong to do, but it’s hateful. Why?

Because the enemy knows that if we correct people and show the Truth, Light will begin to penetrate the darkness. More people will be saved. The more righteousness will be done on the earth and the less souls he will be able to claim. To judge simply means to deem either right or wrong, and the most important part for a disciple of Jesus is that it’s not our own opinions; it’s God’s. God has had His Word written for us so that we don’t have to guess what’s right or wrong. So that we didn’t have to guess whether we were living in sin or for Him. God’s Judgment gets rid of the guessing. He’s laid it all out for us in Scripture. So that we might live and not die.

If we want to live in eternity with God, then we have to live on this earth for Him. We have to judge between what’s right and what’s wrong. What’s good and what’s evil. What’s true and what’s false. How can there be Light in the darkness if the Light is forbidden from judging between the Light and the darkness? The Light in this world will continue to dwindle unless men and women of God stand up for righteousness and begin to righteously judge with love and compassion.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Judge Between Light and Dark.

Back to Growth?

Back to Daily Bread?

Similar Content