Daily Bread Archives

August 16, 2020August 15, 2020

The One Who Overcomes

¹ So Moses continued to speak these words to all Israel. ²And he said to them, “I am 120 years old today. I am no longer able to go out and come in. The Lord has said to me, ‘You shall not go over this Jordan.’ ³The Lord your God himself will go over before you. He will destroy these nations before you, so that you shall dispossess them, and Joshua will go over at your head, as the Lord has spoken. ⁴And the Lord will do to them as he did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, and to their land, when he destroyed them. ⁵And the Lord will give them over to you, and you shall do to them according to the whole commandment that I have commanded you. ⁶Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” ~ Deuteronomy 31:1-6

Ever notice how even though the enemy was given into their hands, they still had to fight? They still had to show up. Even though they had the battle in their hands and God, Himself was going before them; they still had to fight. They still had to give it their all. Why do we, as Christians, feel as though we shouldn’t have to fight? We feel like we should just overcome without having to fight for it because Jesus said He overcame, so we’ll overcome… but that’s not how it works. If we’re in a spiritual war, then why would we think we don’t have to fight? Does the enemy in a physical war just give up because we say we’ll overcome them? No, of course not. The enemy fights to the death if necessary. So why don’t we think our spiritual enemies wouldn’t do the same?

Now if we do fight, we have to remember the rule to overcoming, to not be afraid. See, fear is like having a double agent whom you tell every one of your weaknesses to, and they inform the enemy. Now, you’re going to be easily overtaken. Why? Because not only has the double agent turned on you, but the enemy now also knows your weaknesses.

That’s how we’ve been fighting our battles, with fear. Fear is not our friend. Fear is a liar. But most importantly, fear is our enemy. It’s the one enemy who easily manipulates us into inviting him in and staying. He’s the one enemy you don’t fight, why because we’ve become accustomed to him. We say things like “oh, I worry because I care” or “you know we’re a worrying family.” In fact, we have taught our children how to invite fear in, so he doesn’t even need to manipulate them into letting him come in. We do this with superstitions.

If you don’t do exactly what you’re supposed to do, something bad will happen to you, so that that adult can keep their full control. For instance, we tell our children or grandchildren, “chicken merry, hawk near” or “if you going swimming on Sunday, you’ll drown” or “if you see an owl outside your house, that’s bad luck” or “if your outside too late at night (especially doing something you aren’t supposed to) a duppy will get you”… see fear doesn’t even chain us up, we do. Then once we’re chained, we chain up the next generation, then the next one, and the next one. Until our entire family is chained up and under a generational curse.

We place ourselves in chains. We place ourselves in cells. So why don’t we take the same key we used to lock ourselves in, and unlock the lock? Because we have become accustomed to that cell. Because we don’t know how to fight. First, you have to get rid of those superstitions. Why? Because that’s all they are, are superstitions. Lies of the enemy we have told ourselves and the generations after us. We have to change the way we think. If we do one thing wrong, God is not going to smite us from the Heavens and watch as we are overcome and destroyed. But instead, He creates a way out, so that we can escape before we are overcome. So that we can find our way back to Him.

God isn’t a God who wants to see us fail. He isn’t a God that He wants to hurt us. He is a God who wants to protect us. Who wants to keep us. So why would He send all of these bad things to happen to us, for no good reason? So in order to overcome fear, you have to learn who God is. He’s like a mother bear when her cubs are in danger because they put themselves in danger, she doesn’t just watch and say I told you so. She runs to their rescue and will fight to the death to save them. Now if a bear can do that, why wouldn’t our Heavenly Father, who formed each and every one of us, do that and more? So first, learn who God truly is. Then retrain your brain. Then unlock those chains and that cell door. Then overcome anything else that dares to stand in your way.

Peace. Love. Go forth and Fight.

Back to Hope?

Back to Daily Bread?

Search

“²¹But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. ²²And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. ²³The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph’s charge, because the Lord was with him. And whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed.” ~ Genesis 39:21-23

Even when we’re in prison, God is with us. Even when we’re at the lowest of lowest, and we allow God to be with us, He will be there. In fact, He’ll do more than just be there; He’ll show you your destiny, your plan, your call if you let Him.

See everywhere Joseph went, he was in charge. In Potiphar’s house, in the prison, Joseph was in charge. His destiny, or call, was to be in charge of all of Egypt second only to Pharaoh. Even though he was in charge in the prison he still had the prison keeper before him, even though he was in charge at Potiphar’s house, he still had Potiphar before him. Everything Joseph did, or went through, mirrored his future.

Even when we’re at our lowest, God still shows us our highest, but it’s up to us to look for it. Sometimes it’ll take a little time to find the best in the worst situations, so I beseech you, search hard and don’t lose hope.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Search.

Back to Growth?

Back to Daily Bread?

Look

“³⁵All his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted and said, ‘No, I shall go down to Sheol to my son, mourning.’ Thus his father wept for him.” ~ Genesis 37:35

We’re like Jacob. See, we only look at the evidence that the devil has brought before us and refuse to allow God to comfort us. We refuse to look at anything except the bloody coat the devil holds in front of us. We want to feel the pain, we don’t want relief. We constantly say that we don’t like the pain, we complain about the pain, but we refuse to do anything to fix the pain. We refuse to look at God and allow him to comfort us. Instead we demand to go to Sheol in mourning. Sometimes all we have to do is look away from the bloody coat so that we can get free of the mourning. So that we can move on, but we refuse.

Maybe part of us just doesn’t feel right moving on. Maybe part of us just feels like it’s the right thing to hold on to pain. Maybe part of us feels attached and connected to pain because it’s been there for so long. There’s a time for mourning, but at some point in time we have to look up and be comforted by God. Even though it’s hard, it’s the only thing we can do so that we can move forward. Because if we stand still while time moves, we’ll soon die. The only one that can set us free, is ourselves. We were given the key to let ourselves out of the cell of pain that we are in, we just have to know where to find the key we hid so long ago.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Look.

Back to Growth?

Back to Daily Bread?

The Silence

⁹Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if He calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. ~ 1 Samuel 3:9

How often do we sit in silence just waiting for God to speak? After a while we get distracted. Our minds wander. We fall asleep. We give up. Why? Because we live in a microwave mentality world. We believe everything should happen as we sit down. It should happen as soon as we come in so that we can quickly leave. We’re constantly on the move, but what would happen if we stayed still? If we came in and waited?

See, this was one of the skills of King David. He knew how to come in and how to go out. He knew how to enter the presence of God and how to leave the presence of God. Same with Samuel, he knew how to hear from God. He knew that God would answer according to His time, not Samuel’s time. He knew God was on God’s timeline. God’s perfect and just timeline. A timeline that’s never too early or too late, but always just on time.

But we live in a society that gives us everything that we want as soon as we ask. Imagine if the prophets were like that. Imagine if Daniel gave up after the second week of praying for an answer. Imagine if all the prophets gave up praying the way we do. We would have nothing. We would be without the promises and mercies of God.

What are you praying for that hasn’t been answered yet? What will happen if you give up hope? What will happen if you get up and stop praying? Who will be affected? Who will lose something? Without the faithful prayers of His people, and without the faithful listening of His people, God cannot work. There’s only one thing that can limit the power of God. Us. The ones who can’t hold on and wait. The ones who give up. Don’t give up, but be encouraged by Jacob who wrestled with God all night, and never let go. He refused to let go, even after his hip was placed out of socket because he wanted that blessing. He wanted the blessing of God. He wanted more than what he had. Do we want more of God than what we have?

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Listen through the Silence.

Back to Growth?

Back to Daily Bread?

Talk

^“1When the Philistines captured the ark of God, they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. ²Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it into the house of Dagon and set it up beside Dagon. ³And when the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the ark of the Lord. So they took Dagon and put him back in his place. ⁴But when they rose early on the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the ark of the Lord, and the head of Dagon and both his hands were lying cut off on the threshold. Only the trunk of Dagon was left to him. ⁵This is why the priests of Dagon and all who enter the house of Dagon do not tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.

⁶The hand of the Lord was heavy against the people of Ashdod, and he terrified and afflicted them with tumors, both Ashdod and its territory. ⁷And when the men of Ashdod saw how things were, they said, ‘The ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us, for his hand is hard against us and against Dagon our god.’ ⁸So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines and said, ‘What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?’ They answered, ‘Let the ark of the God of Israel be brought around to Gath.’ So they brought the ark of the God of Israel there.” ~ 1 Samuel 5:1-8

Notice how they saw that the God of Israel is greater than their god, they saw that the God of Israel is a greater God, yet the one thing they didn’t do is repent and beg forgiveness and try to serve the God of the Israelites. Isn’t that how we are in today’s world? We see that God is God. We see that there is none greater than Him. We know the truth, but instead of turning from our sinful ways and serving Him, we send Him away. We try to get rid of Him as soon as possible.

We refuse to give up the gods that we have grown accustomed to, even though we know they will lead us to death. We hold fast to these inferior false gods, even though we know that they cannot give us life. We cling to this feel-good, live how you want, everything you do is justified ideology, even though we cannot defend it. Even though we know our argument makes no sense. Even though we know our foundation has crack after crack, we still cling to it because we want to live the way that we want to live.

We refuse to learn/accept the truth by refusing to have a conversation about it, because we know that what we believe and the way we want to live is not okay. It isn’t right. And when we feel under attack, we throw up verses like ‘only God can judge me’ or ‘ye who is without sin.’ But what we fail to realize is that by doing this we are not only killing ourselves, but anyone who listens or looks up to us. We forget that on Judgment Day there are no more chances for forgiveness. On Judgment Day there is no redemption. On Judgment Day, that’s it. However, you chose to live your life will be set in stone. No matter if you believe or not, it doesn’t matter, because just as Dagon fell before God Almighty and was judged, so will all of us.

I urge each and every one of us to go out and seek the truth. Not the “truth” that tickles our ears. Not the “truth” that allows us to sin. Not the “truth” that feeds our flesh and crushes our spirit. But the actual full, Jesus stamp of approval TRUTH. This can only be achieved by conversation. This can only be achieved by submission. This can only be achieved by having a relationship with The Holy Spirit. Because without the absolute truth, you are now teaching others (even if you don’t realize it) and condoning others’ sins. By doing this, you have now just added their sin onto you. The Scripture says that “if I say to a wicked man you shall surely die and you don’t warn him or speak out to change his ways, then that wicked man will die for his sin and I will hold you accountable for his blood.” We can’t hide the truth in order to spare feelings to someone who doesn’t want to live the life of a Christ Follower. We cannot hide the truth from ourselves because we don’t want to live the life of a Christ Follower.

Sin tastes good in the beginning, but its end is a burning pain like no other. Eternity is forever, once you enter it, there is no going back. Once you take your last breath, there is no do-over. Don’t wait for God to judge you, let man judge you while you still have time to change, for iron sharpens iron.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Talk.

Back to Growth?

Back to Daily Bread?

Remember

²¹The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” ²²Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” ~ Matthew 27:21-22

2000 years ago, Jesus took the place of Barabbas, a notorious murderer, but who did Barabbas really represent? Jesus an innocent man, pure of heart and blessed by God, took the place of a rebellious murderer, us. Barabbas represents us. We were the rebellious murderer Jesus took the place for. We were the ones released from our prison of sin, forgiven of our debt, and set free in eternity.

Just like us, Barabbas didn’t deserve to be set free. Just like us Barabbas deserved his punishment, but thank God that Jesus has taken our place. Thank you, Jesus, for taking my yoke upon your shoulders. Thank you, Jesus, for taking my place on the cross. Thank you, Jesus, for shedding Your Holy and Precious blood so that we may be cleansed of all unrighteousness. We overlook Jesus taking the place of Barabbas because we don’t realize that Barabbas stood 2000 years representing us. We don’t realize the pain and suffering He went through for us. We don’t realize how much we don’t deserve to be free. We don’t realize the weight that was lifted off of us and put on Him.

Today as you remember the price that Jesus paid for us all, give Him the recognition He deserves. When you teach your children why we celebrate this day, don’t change the story. Don’t sugar coat it. As children, my sister and I were shown the Passion of The Christ, and every year we watch it as a family on this day to remember just what Jesus did for all of us. It wasn’t a few scratches and scrapes that He received. He was beaten until He was unrecognizable. He had to carry His cross to Golgotha (Calvary). He was spit upon and cursed. He was stripped naked. He was mocked and abused. A crown of thorns was pushed down onto His head. He was nailed to a tree. And He died. There is no easy way of saying this, and any less devolves just what He went through. Today I urge you all to take the time to truly remember what Jesus did for us and give Him the praise and the glory that He truly deserves.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Remember.

Back to Growth?

Back to Daily Bread?

Make Your Covenant

^“18So early in the morning Jacob took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it. ¹⁹He called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of the city was Luz at the first. ²⁰Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, ²¹so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God, ²²and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God’s house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.’” ~ Genesis 28:18-22

Have you noticed that they didn’t refer to God as their God, but as the God of their fathers? God didn’t become their God until they made a covenant with Him. It wasn’t until they were grafted into the blessing. This is how it works for us as well. We are not a part of the blessing or promise until we are grafted in. Until we make that covenant with God for ourselves, He is only the God of our fathers. But once we accept His gift, once we make our covenant, He becomes our God and we become His people. Until this happens, we are only watchers on the outside looking in.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Make Your Covenant.

Back to Growth?

Back to Daily Bread?

Walk In The Light

“⁷But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the Blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” ~ 1 John 1:7

During this week we celebrate the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We honor Him for this Holy week, but do we honor Him the other 51 weeks of the year? We tend to make excuses on why we don’t have to live the way we ought, and when someone tries to correct us we are very quick to shout, “Ye who cast the first stone,” or “only God can judge me.” We love to say Jesus died for our sins, but we never really take it much farther.

This week I encourage you to go beyond just words, I encourage you to take action. I encourage you to hold true to what Jesus came to Earth, died, and rose again for. Don’t be like those who praised Him one day and crucified Him the next. But be like those who praised Him one day and praised Him the next and then praised Him for the rest of their life, even going as far as to praise Him with their lives even to death. Don’t allow this what Jesus did 2,000 years be counted as nothing. Walk in the light, as He is in the light, so that His death and resurrection still means something to us today and isn’t just a meaningless tradition we celebrate once a year.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Walk In The Light.

Back to Praise?

Back to Daily Bread?

Got off Again?

^“¹⁰He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. ¹¹For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; ¹²as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. ¹³As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.” ~ Psalms 103:10-13

Our sins and our iniquities called for swift and just judgment, but praise the LORD for He indeed is good. He does not repay us as our sins deserve or deal with us as our iniquities demand. But in love, and with grace and compassion, wrapped up in a whole lot of patience does He forgive our rebellious ways, because of the blood of Jesus shed on the Cross. Every time we fail or get tripped up, God is not waiting with some big stick to give us a good whack with. But He is watching in hopes to see a true turning away from sin.

Just like we want to give our children good things, He wants to bless His children even more. Don’t be fooled by the religious spirit that tells us that God is like an old ogre just waiting to smite the next sinner. No, He sent His only begotten son to die on Calvary that we don’t have to suffer. Think about the cost of our salvation. How Jesus was beaten beyond recognition. How He suffered shame, and humiliation in our stead. How He hung on the Cross, enduring pain and more insults to buy our pardon. Now, does that sound like someone who hates us, or is trying to get us? No, it does not.

The problem is, we look at things from a temporal viewpoint, but God is seeing eternity and is working all things to the good for an eternal reward. Things that seem important to us now will not even matter in eternity. Remember no eye has seen, no hear has heard, neither can we imagine what God has in store for us in eternity. Let us not second guess God, but endure, and run the race marked out for us. Accept the bad with the good, the reward will be worth it all. Paul said these light afflictions cannot compare with what God had in store for us.

Father open our eyes to see the eternal and help us not to focus on the temporal. Help us not to get bogged down with things that are quickly passing. But rather, LORD, help us keep eternity in perspective that we might see Jesus when come to get Your children. In Jesus name, Amen.

Back to Encouragement?

Back to Daily Bread?

Healing For All?

⁴⁹And when those who were around him saw what would follow, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” ⁵⁰And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. ⁵¹But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him. ~ Luke 22:49-51

Is healing for Christians alone? Do you have to be saved to be healed? Do you have to have a personal relationship with Jesus to receive your healing? I believe that anyone can be healed as long as they have faith that they will be healed.

See Jesus saw this soldier who came to arrest him in order to lead him to his death. In order to have him brutally beaten and whipped, yet Jesus still touched his ear and healed him. I believe that healing is for anyone who’s heart is willing. For a willing heart is soft to the things of God and is impressionable for FAITH to find it’s way in.

See, sometimes salvation comes before the healing. But sometimes the healing comes before the salvation. Healing is for anyone who is willing to be healed. But just because you are healed does not mean you will be saved. See salvation will keep you from returning to that disease. Some will say that a disease isn’t a spirit that comes back. The only problem is that a disease is a spirit that comes back. Even science tells us that a disease and a virus need a host in order to survive.

There are spirits that cause diseases, that cause disabilities, that cause pain. How do we know, because Jesus casted out many evil spirits that caused men to be mute, blind, lame, etc. But what good is knowing this? The spirit will return to the house it once was in and if it finds it empty it will fill it again. And that healing is overpowered by that spirit because you are without salvation. Healing is for everyone who is willing to be healed. But healing will turn only to short relief if the house has been swept clean and left empty.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Receive Your Healing and Fill Your House.

Back to Encouragement?

Back to Daily Bread?