BE ENCOURAGED!
"The eyes of the blind shall be opened. The eyes of them that see shall not be dim. ••The ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. The ears of them that hear shall hearken. ••The tongue of the dumb shall sing. The tongue of the stammerers shall be ready to speak plainly. ••The lame man shall leap as a hart." (Isa. 32:3-4; 35:5-6)
BE ENCOURAGED!
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> Look Unto Jesus
"looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…" (Hebrews 12:2) What does it mean to look unto Jesus? Well, we can think of it like this: If you are drowning and somebody walks past you, you do not look at him. You look unto him. When you look unto him, you are turning to him and expecting him to rescue you. In the same manner, you look unto Jesus expecting Him to save, heal and protect you because you know His mighty power and sacrificial love for you. God’s Word says that we are to keep “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith”. That is how God wants us to live. So if you have a recurring migraine, keep looking unto Jesus. See Him taking that migraine upon His body on the cross and say, “Lord, I thank You that by Your stripes I am healed.” (Isaiah 53:5) As you keep looking unto Jesus, your healer, that migraine will have to bow to His finished work! If you have a financial lack in your life, just keep looking unto Jesus with confident expectation that He will provide for you and deliver you from your lack. “But Pastor Prince, is it really so simple? All I have to do is look unto Jesus and He will bless me financially?” Yes, it is that simple. The problem with us is that we tend to look unto ourselves. But we cannot save or deliver ourselves. Even the apostle Paul struggled when he depended on his self-effort. That is why he said, “For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.” (Romans 7:19) It was only when Paul looked away from himself and unto Jesus that he received his deliverance. (Romans 7:24–25) My friend, if you have been looking unto yourself, it is time to start looking unto Jesus. Look unto Him, the author and finisher of your faith. And soon, you will be looking at your healing and prosperity! ••Thought For The Day•• Look unto Jesus, and expect Him to save, heal and protect you because of His mighty power and sacrificial love for you. Joseph Prince > Merry Christmas!
"Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:10-11) St. Nicholas should be an inspiration to us all. He was a godly man whose reputation for giving to people caused him to be a revered example of what compassion and giving are all about. He was not a jolly, fat man who climbed down chimneys and he didn’t have flying reindeer! Stories of his life—a life full of Christian beliefs and values—are the real background for today’s mythical Santa Claus. So much of what Nicholas was—and what Santa Claus has become—has been distorted by Satan. What has been done to weaken and distort the testimony of this godly man is wrong. Born in Turkey in the third century, Nicholas was raised by Christian parents. From the time he was born in A.D. 280, they considered him a gift from God. They diligently taught him devotion to God and to be very generous to the poor. At 19, Nicholas was ordained a priest. His uncle, a bishop, prophesied that Nicholas would offer guidance and consolation to many people, and that he would eventually become a bishop, and live a life of enlightenment. All of this was fulfilled in Nicholas’ lifetime. Many accounts have been written of his dedicated life. It has been said that he would spend all night studying God’s Word to bring it to the people. He was known for helping the poor, for praying, fasting and standing steadfast in faith and goodness. The true story of St. Nicholas is a beautiful picture of the giving that Christmas is all about. The greatest gift of all is the gift of Jesus Christ to us from God the Father. Jesus is our hope, redemption and victory. He is our advocate with the Father, our blood-covenant friend who will never leave us nor forsake us. In Him we have the joy of living a heavenly life on earth. He is the meaning of Christmas. Christ mass means “anointing celebration.” It’s the celebration of “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power.” It’s the celebration of how the anointed Jesus “went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil” (Acts 10:38). I t’s the story of our triumphant Savior, Jesus the Christ, the Lord of lords and King of kings! Now, that’s a Merry Christmas. Kenneth Copeland "Your joy is my strength. A merry heart does good like a medicine." (Neh. 8:10; Pr. 17:22)
BE ENCOURAGED! You've often heard it said that Jesus is the reason for the Christmas season, but have you ever wondered what this really means? Jesus was the only baby born to die so that you might live—He was born to save you!
Discover nuggets in God's Word and see how every detail of Jesus' birth points to His purpose and ability to save you. Be encouraged and strengthened to live life with confidence, peace and joy as you see why Jesus is the best when it comes to saving you from whatever you need saving from! 5 Minute Video Link: http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?feature=plcp&v=SDyNLO8Fln0&index=51&list=UUJRSBsjLPipnu8y03qa2_Iw&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DSDyNLO8Fln0%26list%3DUUJRSBsjLPipnu8y03qa2_Iw%26index%3D51%26feature%3Dplcp Joseph Prince > The Bridge Between Two Worlds
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.... But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.... And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us." (John 1:1, 12, 14) Everyone knows what a great place heaven is. It has everything—wealth so immense that the streets are made of gold, health so abundant that sickness can’t exist there, joy so plentiful it forever extinguishes all sorrow. Christians everywhere dream of going there when they die. But just imagine for a moment how wonderful it would be if you could have access to heaven right now. Think what it would be like if God would build a bridge between the realm of heaven and earth so that those boundless heavenly supplies could flow down to meet the needs in your life today. It’s a glorious thought, isn’t it? But do you know what’s even more glorious? The bridge has been built! Most people can’t even believe such a thing is possible! That’s because, in their minds, the world of the spirit where heaven exists isn’t quite real. So they can’t understand how the “reality” of this physical world of matter and the “unreality” of the spiritual world could ever be connected. I used to think that way too. But some years ago, when God began to teach me about these things, He set me straight and renewed my mind. He told me that the spectrum of reality includes both the spiritual world and the material world. He also informed me that, contrary to popular belief, the spiritual world is not only just as real as this physical world, but it is more real! You see, 2,000 years ago, in the city of Bethlehem, an angel exploded with joy announcing the good news: “Peace on earth. Good will toward men” (Luke 2:14). Jesus was born! The Word that brought life to Adam had come again as a way for you to have eternal life. Heaven and earth connected again...the bridge for your salvation was built...the separation that had existed since Adam chose to disobey God was over. Because of that, today, you can have all your needs met in abundance. Every need...in your spirit, in your soul and in your body. That means your spiritual needs, your social needs, your mental needs, your physical needs, your health needs. Jesus is born. You have been given the Savior! You have been given the Anointed One and His Anointing. Invite Him into your heart today...and walk across the bridge between two worlds. Kenneth Copeland > Only Jesus Is Altogether Lovely
‘When anyone offers a grain offering to the Lord, his offering shall be of fine flour… (Leviticus 2:) I love the symbolism of Jesus as fine flour. Fine, even flour comes from wheat that has been pounded and beaten again and again, and sifted several times. Doesn’t that remind you of Jesus’ sufferings and sacrifice for you? And like fine flour, there is nothing coarse about the person of Jesus. Everything about Him is in even proportions. Every word that He spoke when He was in this world, every thought of His, every action of His, was so fine! When He was kind, He was not soft. When He was assertive, He was not overbearing. He is steel and velvet, meekness and majesty. Like a perfect diamond, every which way you turn Him, you see flawlessness, beauty and brilliance. There is no one altogether lovely like Jesus! What about Bible greats like Moses and Abraham, or Peter, John and Paul? Moses, whom the Bible says was more humble than any man on the face of the earth (Numbers 12:3), was once so furious with his people that he struck a rock twice, something he was not supposed to do. (Numbers 20:1–12) His temper got the better of him on that occasion. Abraham, whom Christians regard as a man of faith (Hebrews 11:8–10), lied about his wife being his sister when a king coveted her. He endangered her life just to save his own skin. (Genesis 20:1–18) Peter, who was deeply zealous for Jesus, denied Him three times. (Matthew 26:33–34) John, the beloved disciple who leaned on Jesus’ bosom, was all ready to call down fire from heaven to destroy the inhabitants of Samaria who had rejected Jesus. (Luke 9:52–54) What about Paul, the apostle of grace, who blazed the missionary trail which future missionaries would follow? Even Paul went to Jerusalem when he was told not to by the Holy Spirit through some disciples and the prophet Agabus. (Acts 21:4, 10–11) Beloved, the best of us can miss the mark. The only one who is faultless, flawless and altogether lovely is Jesus. And because He never misses the mark, you can look to Him. He will never disappoint you! ••Thought For The Day•• Look to Jesus who never misses the mark. He will never disappoint you! Joseph Prince "You wish above ALL things that I may prosper, and be in health, even as my soul prospers." (3 John 2)
BE ENCOURAGED! > Done As You Have Believed
Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour. (Matthew 8:13) What are you expecting God to do for you today? Do you believe that God will respond according to your expectation? When Jairus, distraught at the sickness that was claiming his daughter’s life, fell at Jesus’ feet, he entreated Jesus to personally come to his house to lay His hands on his daughter so that she would be healed. (Mark 5:23) But do you know that Jesus can heal at a distance? He didn’t need to go to Jairus’ house to heal his daughter. Still, Jesus went and didn’t even chide Jairus for his little faith. He met Jairus’ expectation — his little daughter was raised from the dead that day. (Mark 5:41–42) Why do I say that Jairus had little faith? Because there was a Roman centurion who came to Jesus about his servant suffering at home. He recognized the power Jesus had and asked only that Jesus “speak a word, and my servant will be healed”. (Matthew 8:8) Jesus told him, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” True to the centurion’s expectation, his servant was healed that same hour. My friend, there is no particular level your faith must reach before God gives you what you are asking for. Your faith does not initiate God’s giving. He has already given to you all things that pertain to life and godliness. (2 Peter 1:3) His blessings are pressing on you already! Regardless of the level of faith you are at, He will respond. Jairus needed Jesus to go to his house to lay His hands on his daughter, and Jesus did. The centurion only needed Jesus to speak a word for his servant to be healed, and Jesus did. He met both their expectations. My friend, don’t fix your eyes on how much or how little faith you have. Fix your eyes on the One who loves you, who has already given you what you need. When you come to Him, simply believe that He is waiting to meet your expectation. He will say to you, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” ••Thought For The Day•• Regardless of the level of faith you are at, God will respond and meet your need. Joseph Princ > Fact vs. Truth
"Have faith in God." (Mark 11:22) Jesus commanded us to operate in the same God kind of faith He has. He also told us that anyone who did it would have the same results. After all, it’s His faith that’s in us. He put it there. That being the case, how do we deal with the fact that so many Christians are being defeated by sickness, poverty and every other kind of problem? By understanding that those defeats are “fact,” but they are not “truth.” You see, facts can be changed. Truth can’t. Truth supersedes fact. Spiritual law supersedes natural, physical law. The law of gravity, for example, is a fact. But there is a higher law than the law of gravity. Those in the aeronautical industry know it as the law of lift. If you do certain things—make an airplane, build the wing right and engine powerful enough and so on—you’ll be able to put the law of lift into motion and make an airplane fly. How does that happen? Does gravity cease to be a fact? No. The law of lift simply supersedes it. In the same way, sickness and disease are facts. But those facts can be superseded by the truth in Isaiah 53:5, “With his [Jesus’] stripes we are healed.” It’s a truth that can never be changed. What’s more, if you’ll apply that truth, it will overcome sickness every time! Truth applied changes facts. Applying it. That’s the key. You can put on your finest traveling clothes, pack your luggage and go sit down in a perfectly good airplane...but you won’t get 6 inches off the ground unless somebody turns on the engines and begins to put the law of lift into motion. What we need to do is apply our faith just like Jesus did. We need to learn to supersede our natural circumstances by activating the supernatural law of faith. So apply the truth to your facts today. Speak Isaiah 53:5 to your body. Speak Philippians 4:19 to your needs. Speak Isaiah 54:13 over your children. And watch the truth change the facts. Kenneth Copeland |
Shield of Faith Blog
AuthorBorn in South Carolina, Heather is happily married, and has three standard poodles and one shih tzu. Having travelled to over 14 countries, she has a great appreciation for living in the USA. She has a calling on her life to tell others about her healing and what Jesus has done for her. She is alive and well because of Him. Archives
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