This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Joshua 1:8

Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. 3 John 1:2

The Greek word translated “Prosper” is “Eudoo.” “To find help on your journey and to succeed in reaching your goals.”

For the LOVE of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 1 Timothy 6:10

And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before…12 Now the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys. 13 He also had seven sons and three daughters…15 In all the land were found no women so beautiful as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers. 16 After this Job lived one hundred and forty years, and saw his children and grandchildren for four generations. 17 So Job died, old and full of days. Job 42:10, 12-13, 15-17

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:25-34

This, the first of His signs (attesting miracles), Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and revealed His glory [displaying His deity and His great power openly], and His disciples believed [confidently] in Him [as the Messiah—they adhered to, trusted in, and relied on Him]. John 2:11 – AMPLIFIED

Lesson #11 – “The Words Of Your Mouth”

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer. Psalms 19:14

You are snared by the words of your mouth; You are taken by the words of your mouth. Proverbs 6:2

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 58:8-9

“Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’In tithes and offerings.9 You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation.10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it. 11 “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” Says the Lord of hosts; 12 “And all nations will call you blessed,For you will be a delightful land,” Says the Lord of hosts. Malachi 3:8-12

10The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:10

11And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Revelation 12:11

7For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7

7Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7

Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ Isaiah 41:10

“Watch your thoughts, they become words;

watch your words, they become actions;

watch your actions, they become habits;

watch your habits, they become character;

watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”

On average most people speak about sixteen thousand words a day. If you transcribed those words they would fill a three hundred-page book every week. At the end of a year, you would have an entire bookcase full of words. In a lifetime you would fill a library.

· How many of those words would really matter?

· How many of those words would make a difference?

· How many of those words speak life into your situations or speak death?

Proverbs 18:21 NIV

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Proverbs 18: 21 NLT

The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.

1 Peter 5:8 “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.”

Passage: 1 KINGS 17: 8-24

8 Then the Lord said to Elijah, 9 “Go and live in the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon. I have instructed a widow there to feed you.”

1. Believe that where the Lord leads, he Feeds.

2. Where he guides He provides.

10 So he went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the gates of the village, he saw a widow gathering sticks, and he asked her, “Would you please bring me a little water in a cup?” 11 As she was going to get it, he called to her, “Bring me a bite of bread, too.”

12 But she said, “I swear by the Lord your God that I don’t have a single piece of bread in the house. And I have only a handful of flour left in the jar and a little cooking oil in the bottom of the jug. I was just gathering a few sticks to cook this last meal, and then my son and I will die.”

Point #1

Your perspective influences your Words.

13 But Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid! Go ahead and do just what you’ve said, but make a little bread for me first. Then use what’s left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son. 14 For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the Lord sends rain and the crops grow again!”

Point #2

Your Words have the power to bring hope and life.

15 So she did as Elijah said, and she and Elijah and her family continued to eat for many days. 16 There was always enough flour and olive oil left in the containers, just as the Lord had promised through Elijah. 17 Some time later the woman’s son became sick. He grew worse and worse, and finally he died. 18 Then she said to Elijah, “O man of God, what have you done to me? Have you come here to point out my sins and kill my son?”

Point #3

Your words only go as far as your opinion of God.

19 But Elijah replied, “Give me your son.” And he took the child’s body from her arms, carried him up the stairs to the room where he was staying, and laid the body on his bed. 20 Then Elijah cried out to the Lord, “O Lord my God, why have you brought tragedy to this widow who has opened her home to me, causing her son to die?” 21 And he stretched himself out over the child three times and cried out to the Lord, “O Lord my God, please let this child’s life return to him.” 22 The Lord heard Elijah’s prayer, and the life of the child returned, and he revived! 23 Then Elijah brought him down from the upper room and gave him to his mother. “Look!” he said. “Your son is alive!” 24 Then the woman told Elijah, “Now I know for sure that you are a man of God, and that the Lord truly speaks through you.”

Point #4

Your Words are a testimony. Because Elijah allowed God to speak through him the widow experienced the life giving power of God.

• The words you say reflect your heart?

• God wants to heal broken hearts,

• Restore relationships,

• Renew hope and

• Bring Life to troubled past.

Hebrews 4:12 (NLT)

12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

James 3:5-6The Message (MSG)

3-5 A bit in the mouth of a horse controls the whole horse. A small rudder on a huge ship in the hands of a skilled captain sets a course in the face of the strongest winds. A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything—or destroy it! 5-6 It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell.

Philippians 4:8

8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Proverbs 13:3

Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.

Proverbs 15:4

The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.

Proverbs 15:1

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Proverbs 12:18

“Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”

Ephesians 4:29

29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

Psalm 19:14

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

1) Who You Are in Christ.

2) What You Have In Christ Jesus.

3) Know - You Are Saved To be A Difference Maker!

“…and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.” Mark 4:19

“that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:9-10

“Jesus Christ Is Lord!”

“…Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?” 27 The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” 28 “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!” 29 The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road. 31 “By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. 32 A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side. 33 “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. 34 Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. 35 The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’ 36 “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked. 37 The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.” Luke 10:25-37 NLT

“In Christ,” “In whom,” and “In Him,”

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17

#1. You have the life of God – the Holy Spirit working in you.

And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever— 17 The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart), because it does not see Him or know and recognize Him. But you know and recognize Him, for He lives with you [constantly] and will be in you. John 14:16-17 Amplified Classic Edition

#2. You have nature of God working in you.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

“ But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.” 1 John 2:20

“…But we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 2:16

#3. You have the ability of God – the anointing to draw on – working in you.

1 Peter 3:15, "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear..."

Pastor Appreciate Day message by Tommy Moore, Superintendent of the West Florida District Council of the Assemblies of God.

#1. Each Day Confess That Jesus Christ Is The Lord Of Your Life.

#2. Speak Aloud And Confess With Your Mouth The Promises In God’s Word.

“…For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Matthew 12:34

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. ROMANS 12:2

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. Mark 16:15-16

#3. Recognize That God Works Through Your Lips.

FORGIVENESS

AVAILABLE

IMPOSSIBLE

TURN

HEAVEN

#4. As You Speak God’s Word Aloud, The Holy Spirit Begins to Work.

And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” 19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen. Mark 16:17-20

#5. Treat the Word of God with the same reverence you would show Jesus if He were present in the natural.

Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ Isaiah 41:10

“…Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well.” Luke 8:50

“Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:32

And the Lord appeared to him the same night and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants for My servant Abraham’s sake.” Genesis 26:24

For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15

7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7

18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18

For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:5-6

Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. John 16:7-11 NKJV

that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:9-10

And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds. 19 Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed. Acts 19:18-20

that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:9-10

"The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God." Romans 8:16

“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. Matthew 10:32-33

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:8-9

“I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins. Isaiah 43:25

For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” Jeremiah 31:34

As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. Psalms 103:12

I am excited about this series of messages. I love to talk about and encourage people to exercise faith in God.

It’s because learning to exercise faith in God has changed my life! Faith in God has changed Kathy’s life. It has changed the lives of our three girls and their husbands.

We choose to live our lives believing God’s WORD!

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

Why is it impossible to please God without faith? Because God is not pleased when he cannot manifest Himself in your life. God wants to have a relationship with you, meet your needs, and work though you to bless others.

Faith is the CONNECTION by which salvation is transferred from heaven to you! Faith is the CONNECTION by which healing, financial help and everything God has, is transferred from heaven to you.

A key verse when studying the topic of faith is Hebrews 11:1:

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 NKJV

Now faith means that we are confident of what we hope for, convinced of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 Moffatt’s Translation

Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]. Hebrews 11:1 AMP Classic Edition

There are several different dimensions of faith:

#1. A Natural Human Faith. Everyone, Those Who Follow Christ and Those Who Don’t, Have A Natural Human Faith.

By faith you are trusting that the chair you are sitting in will support you and not fall apart and spill you on the floor.

You have faith that you're the engine of your car will start when you turn the ignition key.

Most have faith the sun is going to rise tomorrow morning.

#2. “Saving Faith” or “Faith To Follow Jesus Christ” – This faith comes from believing in your heart that God raised Christ from the dead and confessing with your mouth that Jesus Christ is your Lord. Romans 10:9-10

#3. Supernatural Mountain Moving Faith

Jesus said: “…whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” Mark 11:23-24 NKJV

Faith is the CONNECTOR between God and man. For example: you hope for finances to meet your obligations, but faith in God gives the assurance that you will have the money when you need it.

You hope for physical strength, to do the work that you have to do. Faith in God says: “The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalms 27:1

Sometimes we hope for God’s help in life, but Romans 8:31 says: “What shall we say to these things, if God be for us…”

Faith says about itself everything that the Word of God says, for faith in God is simply faith in God’s Word!

I learned an important lesson as an 18-year-old when I moved from Tallahassee to North Georgia to attend Emmanuel College. My first couple of weeks in College I had roommate problems. My first roommate was a basketball player who introduced himself to me as the Marco Polo of College basketball – told me that Emmanuel was the 7th college he had attended. He only lasted a week. I returned from a class and he and all of his belongings were gone. Along with a few of my things. My second roommate was a “Rockin-Roller” who wanted to play guitar all night long. I would wake up at 2 a.m. and he would have two or three other guys in our small dorm room “jam-‘in away.”

And I was terribly homesick. I would call home and tell my parents I didn’t like North Georgia, I was coming home… and mom would say: “Son, come on home!” And dad would say: “Don’t you dare come home. Losers never win and winners never quit! You better not come home and you better make good grades!”

Now, I didn’t know a lot about faith in God, but the one verse I knew was Phil. 4:13… I began to exercise my faith: “Lord, you see I am not happy, but Phil. 4:13 says: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” So by faith I receive a good roommate, and my dad says I can’t come home and I have to make good grades, so I thank you for helping me to like it here!” My 3rd week in school, I met a guy named Greg from Roanoke, VA and Greg told me he wasn’t getting along with his roommate. So I asked Greg if he was a party animal or if he liked to sleep at night (he said sleep), and Greg and I talked our roommates into moving in with each other, and Greg and I became roommates and good friends.

I continued to pray: Phil 4:13… “Thank you Lord that today I am meeting new friends. By faith. I am going to enjoy Emmanuel College and the community here.”

I quit sitting in my dorm room feeling sorry for myself, and griping about how much I didn’t want to be there. And by faith I got up and went out and made friends and made myself happy.

If I had gone according to my feelings, I would have stayed in bed all day and I wouldn’t have gone to class, and I wouldn’t have gotten active in the college community. But I acted on the Word of God that says: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

I started getting out of bed at 6:30 a.m. and going to have breakfast in the cafeteria. And instead of sitting by myself, I would look for tables that had an empty seat and ask folks if I could sit with them. Then I introduced myself and asked what their name was and started making friends.

My flesh wanted to be selfish and gnarly in the morning. I didn’t want to have to make conversation with people I didn’t know. But I kept standing on Phil. 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

I joined one of the College Choirs and received an invitation to join a small 12-person ensemble that traveled across the country singing and representing the College. At the very first practice, I found myself paired up, and singing to a beautiful brunette from North Carolina. Who I later married!

The next year I was voted the President of the Sophomore class. Then my Junior and Sr. years I was voted the president of the SGA of the School of Christian Ministries.

John Wesley once said that the devil has given the Church a substitute for faith; one that looks and sounds so much like faith that few people can tell the difference. The substitute he called “Mental Ascent.” Many people read God’s Word and agree that it is true, but they are agreeing only with their minds. And that is not what gets the job done. You have to believe with your heart and speak your conviction with your mouth.

“…if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:9-10

Mental Ascent says, “I know God’s Word is true. I know God has promised healing, but for some reason I can’t get it; I don’t understand it.”

But faith in God says, “If God’s Word says it is so, then its so. It is mine. I have it now. I have it even though I can’t see it.”

But Teryl, the thing I have been praying about hasn’t come to pass yet.” “Well if you already had it, you wouldn’t have to believe God for it.”

24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. Mark 11:23-24 NKJV

Receiving comes after believing. Jesus says: “You have to believe you have it before you can receive it.”

Another pastor once called and said “I want to ask you a question:” “Are you a ‘Name It And Claim It’ Preacher?” “Are you a ‘Blab It And Grab It’ Preacher?” I was quiet for a minute and said: “No, I am A Believe It And Receive It’ Preacher.” “Faith is not a trick we perform with our lips, but faith in God is a spoken expression of the conviction of our hearts.”

Too many of us have a Thomas kind of faith instead of an Abraham kind of faith. Thomas said: “I am not going to believe unless I see,” but Abraham “staggered not at the promises of God…but was strong in faith.”

Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”

So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”

26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”

28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:24-29

Thomas had a hard time believing that Jesus was alive. Thomas saw the nails driven into Jesus hands and the sword piercing his side. He saw Jesus hanging suspended between heaven and hell and he heard Jesus cry out “it is finished.” He saw Jesus die on the Cross. Perhaps the saw the body of Jesus taken off the Cross and wrapped in a burial shroud.

His eyes and ears told him that Jesus was dead. But Thomas was using head knowledge instead of heart faith.

Now look at Romans Ch. 4 – it talks about the faith of Abraham:

(as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; Romans 4:17

Verse 17 - Paul says our God “Gives life to the dead, and calls those things which do not exist as though they do exist. This is what God did in Genesis 17:5 when He changed Abram’s name to Abraham. Abram means “High Father, or Exalted Father,” and the name Abraham means “Father Of A Multitude.” The Lord changed Abram’s name to Abraham one year before the birth of Isaac, thus confessing that Abraham was the father of a multitude before it happened in the physical.

18 who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” Romans 4:18

Verse 18 - There was no hope in the natural for Abraham or for his wife, Sarah, to conceive a child. But contrary to hope in hope they believed God.

19 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. Romans 4:19

Verse 19 - The Greek word that is here translated as “consider” is “KATANOEO,” and it simply means, “to observe fully.”

Abraham did not think carefully and meditate about his age and Sarah’s age, and the impact that would have on God’s promise. He did not take those things into account. He did think carefully on and meditate-on God’s promise.

Abram was seventy-five years old when the Lord first promised him that he would have a child and that all the nations of the earth would be blessed through him (Genesis 12:1-4). He was ninety-nine years old in this instance that Paul cited, and Sarah was ninety years old (Genesis 17:17).

But he refused to consider his own body. He refused to meditate on the impossibility of what God promised.

Faith is a direct result of what you think on. If you think on God’s Word, faith comes 10:17). If you think on other things, unbelief and fear comes.

“For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” Romans 8:6

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17

“He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.” Romans 4:20-21

Verse 20 – One of the ways Abraham strengthened his faith was by giving glory to God. He invested time praising God.

Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants

You have ordained strength,

Because of Your enemies,

That You may silence the enemy and the avenger. Psalms 8:2 (Mt. 21:16)

Over the years at times I have struggled to believe God – the reason is because the devil would put pressure on me… and I would find myself reasoning with my brain and trying to figure things out with my understanding, rather than trusting God’s Word.

When we sent Terri off to College, we had enough money to pay her first Semester Tuition and room and board, but that was all. I fussed and fumed and felt sorry for myself and even got angry with God that I faced financial pressure.

Kathy’s dad was a generous man, but told us it wasn’t his responsibility to pay for his grandkids college education. My dad sent us a couple of hundred dollars each month that helped.

Finally I quit trying to figure things out with my mind and started trusting God with my heart. Kathy and I believed the Holy Spirit was saying it was the will of God for our kids to attend Emmanuel College, so we began standing on Phil 4:19… And you know what? When we needed money for the second semester we had it.

The next year Kathryn entered college, so we had two kids enrolled at College at the same time. And we fought fear that we wouldn’t be able to pay the bills. We kept focusing on Phil. 4:19…All I can tell you is that when the tuition and fees were due, we had the money to pay! We called

not those things that were…

Faith is the connector by which salvation comes into your life!

Faith is the connector by which healing comes into your life!

Faith is the connector by which you can be baptized in the Holy Spirit!

Faith is the connector by which financial prosperity is brought into your life.

Faith is the connector by which God’s highest and best comes into your life!

Inspirational message from the legendary Florida State football coach!

From Sunday, March 29, 2015

I believe that God has a specific plan for every person. And God wants us to know His plan.

17Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Ephesians 5:17

The Lord wants you to know what His will is for your life. But you won’t find out God’s will by accident - you have to seek His will, by asking, seeking, and knocking in prayer, and by seeking first His Kingdom and his righteousness.

For the last several weeks we’ve talked about the importance of you being a living sacrifice - wholly acceptable unto God. We’ve also talked about the importance of renewing our minds with the Word of God.

If you will do these two things it will help you to find and follow God’s purpose for your life. King David said:

 Trust in the Lord, and do good;

      Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.

4      Delight yourself also in the Lord,

      And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

5      Commit your way to the Lord,

      Trust also in Him,

      And He shall bring it to pass. Psalm 37:3-5

Note: “Delight yourself also in the Lord,

      And He shall give you the desires of your heart.” v.4

This means when we align ourselves with the Lord, He puts his desires in our heart. Now some people misinterpret this passage to mean that God will give them whatever they want: A million Dollar House, A Lamborghini sports car, a particular job, a promotion, or what ever. But this verse is not a free pass to get your hands on everything your flesh craves.

Many years ago a man approached me and said: “Psalms 37:4 says that if I will delight myself in the Lord that He will give me the desire of my heart. I want you to pray that a certain woman will become my wife.” I asked him who this woman was, and when he told me her name, I said: “Now hold on a minute. This woman is married to another man and I know her husband, he is a good man.” This fellow told me that her husband was not a good husband to her, and God was sending him to rescue her out of a bad marriage, and be a good husband to her.

I said: “My friend, I am afraid you are deceived. God doesn’t want you to be a third party - breaking up their marriage. God isn’t into divorce. Sometimes divorce takes place and God is merciful and will help every divorced person to put their life back together again, but divorce isn’t God’s highest and best for people. In the book of Malachi God says: “I hate divorce.” Its because divorce hurts people! I am not going to pray that God will use you to break up their marriage. I’m going to pray that God will help that man to love his wife like Christ loves the church, and I’m going to pray that they fall back in love with one another. And that God will make their marriage like heaven on earth. And that she will forget all about you!”

He didn’t like what I told him, but he had misinterpreted Psalms 37:4.

God gives us the desires of our heart, as we seek the Lord with our whole heart. What happens is that as we love Jesus with all of our heart, God changes the desire of our hearts – so we desire good and godly things.

After I became a follower of Jesus Christ, the desires of my heart changed. I didn’t want to smoke pot anymore. I didn’t want to attend parties where wild and crazy things were going on. The ungodly things that I was doing before I gave my life to Jesus didn’t appeal to me anymore.

In verse 4, the Hebrew word that is translated “delight,” literally means, “to be soft or pliable.” It’s speaking about having a sensitive heart towards the Lord.

#1. Pray: “Jesus, may I have a soft and pliable heart toward You.” “May I be sensitive to You!”

A. To delight in the Lord means to be sensitive to the things God likes. It means to commit your life to him. To put Him first in your life. If you put Jesus first and delight yourself in the Lord, He will order the desires of your heart.

B. But that is a big “if.” Some Christians don’t want to be a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. They don’t want to renew their minds by reading God’s Word.

C. We all have to deal with stubbornness and selfishness inside us… We all have to deal with our carnal nature. And we live in a sinful world, and we battle thoughts and emotions that can lead us astray.

D. I’m not saying that you have to be perfect in order to be committed to God, but you have to desire to live more for God that you do for yourself.

#2. We All Need To Pray: “Jesus, help me overcome selfishness. Give me the desire to live for You, instead of just living for myself!”

A. When you try to live for God - which is what it means to delight yourself in the Lord, I think He puts His desires in your heart. It’s pretty simple.

#3. One Of The Ways God Leads Us Is By The Sanctified, Holy, Jesus-Honoring Desires Of Our Heart!

A. When the board here at our church, first called me and asked if I would be a candidate to pastor this congregation, I didn’t have a desire to pastor Evangel. And as far as I know, I was delighted myself in the Lord. Five months went by and one evening the Holy Spirit nudged my heart and impressed on me that he was calling me to pastor this great congregation.

B. And from that moment, God began to change the desire of my heart. Emotionally, it was very hard to resign the church we had helped to birth and serve for 14 years. We invested our time talent and treasure, our blood, sweat, and tears in that congregation. But the desire to continue pastoring that congregation was leaving us. In our hearts we started to become excited about pastoring Evangel.

In Psalms 37, David outlines 3 steps in delighting yourself in the Lord.

Trust in the Lord, and do good;

      Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.

4      Delight yourself also in the Lord,

      And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

5      Commit your way to the Lord,

      Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. Psalm 37:3-5

1. TRUST IN THE LORD. When you trust in the Lord, you are putting your faith in His promises. There are over 7,000 promises in God’s Word. You should read your Bible with a highlighter, and when a promise, a commandment, or a principle, speaks to you – underline it. Ask how does this apply to my life? And pray it back to God.

2. DO GOOD – When you live like God’s Word says to live, you aren’t going to be lying, cheating, stealing and sleeping around… gonna do good.

…To him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

James 4:17

3. “Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.” NLT - FEED ON HIS FAITHFULNESS – One of the best things you can do is to talk and think and meditate on the faithfulness of God in your life. Every one of us deserves death and hell. We deserve eternity separated from God. But God demonstrates His love toward us in this, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. I don’t deserve God’s love, grace and forgiveness. Rom. 5:8 “But God demonstrates His love towards us in this…

4. COMMIT YOUR WAY UNTO THE LORD. That not only means to talk to God about your plans…but also to cast your cares on the Lord.

“Commit your way to the Lord [roll and repose each care of your load on Him]” Psalms 37:5 Amplified Bible

A. This is very important. When you go through life carrying all of your problems – those problems/burdens will become the focus of your heart. Remember the Law of Focus – what you focus on will determine your destiny… If problems are the focus of your heart, then you will go nowhere fast. You won’t be able to identify the sanctified and holy desires that God places inside you when you delight in Him.

B. Many years ago, God placed a desire – a dream into Pastor Robert Barriger’s heart to start an Orphanage in Lima, Peru. Robert would think about it, but then he would talk himself out of it – by saying: “I don’t have the money… I don’t have the resources…” But one day he mentioned to a group of American pastors that he would like to build an Orphanage for the street children of Lima, Peru. And to his astonishment, a congregation in Baton Rouge, LA sent him a check for $50,000 to purchase a campus for an Orphanage. This acreage already had buildings on it. Another congregation purchased furniture , beds, and furnishings to care for 30 children. And a congregation in California sent a lady to live in Peru who was volunteered as a Nurse, and they gave the money to hire the Social Workers the Peruvian Government required for Orphanages. What started as a Jesus-honoring desire in Robert’s heart, became a reality!

I want you to ask yourself, “What are the sanctified, Jesus honoring desires of my heart?” “Am I doing what God wants me to do?”

Forget about money for a moment. Act like you are worth a billion dollars and money is not an issue. Forget what your friends and relatives are saying. Forget about your past failures - Forget about all that stuff. If there were no restrictions on you, what would you do?

I think a lot of people have let life beat their dreams out of them. They have been disappointed so many times; they don’t want to risk being disappointed again. Other people feel like dreaming is for children so they put all their dreams on the shelf in order to pursue what this world offers.

When it comes to figuring out the desires of our heart - A lot of us would rather have an angel appear to us - or a Burning bush speak to us and tell us what to do. But usually, hearing from God is a simple as putting God first in your life, and seeking him with your whole heart, and then following the desires of your heart. Again you have to check those desires against the Word of God. The desire to rob a bank doesn’t come from God... However, if over time, the desire of your heart increases the more you seek God and the more you pray, you need to follow it.

Nobody ever lies on their deathbed and says, “Oh, I wish I had lived in a bigger house.” Or, “I wish I had driven a nicer car.” The regrets people have at the end of their lives involve relationships. “I wish I had been a better father or mother.” “I wish I had done this or that - it’s usually about relationship’s.” God is in the people business. Whatever God’s purposes for your life, it’s probably going to relate to helping and changing people.

The number one way you learn to follow God’s will is simply by putting him first and following the desires of your heart. As you delight yourself in the Lord, he will change the desires of your heart to align with his purpose.

You may be thinking, “But what if I step out in faith and fail? But what if you succeed?

I have a buddy who was stuck in a job with no future. He had a wife and two kids and a mortgage and he drove a delivery truck. But he loved God and delighted himself in the Lord… he also loved history, and had an amazing ability to recall sports trivia. He has a photographic memory and could tell you what the batting average was for an obscure professional baseball player from the 1920’s.

He loved the Lord and used to dream of starting a Sports Memorabilia Business. But no one believed he could be successful. He went to his bank and they refused to give him a loan to get started. So he used credit cards and began buying baseball uniforms and footballs and baseball bats from the 1920’s and 30s. Then he began selling the stuff sometimes for a 100% profit. He discovered some of the biggest collectors of Sports Memorabilia were professional athletes who had more money than they knew what to do with.

He called me several times to come over a swing baseball bats once used by Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb. Today, he is known as one of the best Sports Memorabilia historians in the country. Sotheby’s – the big auction house often flies him to their actions to verify whether or not a uniform or piece of equipment is authentic. He is successful beyond his wildest dreams. And he did three things: 1) He delighted himself in the Lord; 2) He dared to dream about the desire of his heart, and 3) He stepped out of the boat and pursued his dream and God-given desire.