Walking In Boldness

"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 NKJV

There will undoubtedly be times in life when you will feel pressure (internal or otherwise) to cower, comply, or avoid conflict. Most of us are conflict averse. Moreover, many of us have an underlying, hidden but often paralyzing fear of success, where we choose to play it safe rather than step out on faith and walk in the authority that God has given us.

None of that is God.

2 Timothy 1:7 says that God did not give us a spirit of FEAR, but of POWER. Romans 8:37 calls us more than conquerors. Philippians 4:13 confirms that we can do all things through Christ.

To walk with God, we will have to learn to walk in boldness.

God has things planned for you. He wants you to succeed. But accomplishing His purpose for you will require you to walk in a different spirit (Numbers 14:24).

Walk in boldness today.

God bless,
J.W.

Each According To His Ability (Part 4)

While each of us is given our own gifts, talents, and abilities, there are some abilities that God gives to all of us. Those include: (a) the ability to move mountains (Matthew 17:20) and (b) the power to loose and bind (Matthew 16:19)

One ability that we often miss or ignore, however, particularly in Christian circles, is found in Deuteronomy 8:18.

God says He has given us the power to get wealth. And while He gives some of us more of this ability than others (Matthew 25:15), He's given all of us this ability in some way, shape, or form.

That said, most Christians wait on God to do miracles in their lives, particularly when it comes to their finances. We often take a Red Sea approach, assuming that God will step in and create miracles out of thin air.

But Deuteronomy 8:18 says that God has given us the power to get wealth. That means we must be active participants in our wealth accumulation.

Yes, God parted the Red Sea, but the Israelites had to participate in their escape from Egypt. Moses had to be obedient and confront Pharaoh. The Israelites had to be obedient and follow Moses to the wilderness. And ultimately, Moses had to raise his staff in obedience to God's Word for the sea to part. The Israelites, led by Moses, were active participants in their deliverance.

The same is true when Jesus fed the five thousand in Matthew 14:13-21. God provided the increase but the boy and the disciples provided the raw materials.

In short, God wants to give us increase but he's waiting on us to act.

Make no mistake, this is not a prosperity, name-it-and-claim-it message. The Bible does NOT teach that everybody is called to be rich. Rich Christians are NOT better nor more faithful than less well-to-do Christians. Again, God gives each according to our ability (Matthew 25:14-30). Some of us are called to be rich and have more resources. Some of us are called to have less. The Bible even says that the poor will always be among us (John 12:8).

We all have a responsibility to manage what we have well.

What the Bible DOES teach is that God will supply all of our need (Philippians 4:19). The Bible DOES teach that we are to be the head, not the tail (Deuteronomy 28:13). That applies whether we're rich or poor. And while wealth looks different for everybody, God unequivocally says that He's given all of us the power to produce it in some way.

The question is, how are you using that power today?

God bless,
J.W

Power Source

"...I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst." ~ John 6:35

Have you ever been out and about and notice your cell phone running out of battery power? You then scramble around trying to find a source to which you can connect and restore your phone to its optimal state. If you're like me, you may have worn your cell phone out so much that you're constantly looking for a plug or outlet wherever you go.

The same thing can happen to us spiritually.

We're so busy nowadays that we often run out of fuel and go searching for replenishment, i.e. some power source that will fill us back up. For some, they run to drugs. For others, it’s alcohol. For some, it’s people (spouses, boyfriends, girlfriends, friends with benefits, etc.). For others, it's things (materialism, clothes, cars, houses, jewelry, etc.).

But you can never meet a spiritual need with a physical source. Physical connections address physical needs, but will never address a spiritual issue.

The fact is, we all have a God-sized hole in our heart that can only be filled by the One for whom it was made. Dr. Dhanus Daniels says that our hearts are a throne, not a couch. We can't have multiple people or things on the thrones of our heart. There’s only room for one. And we were built to be forever connected to the Ultimate Power Source.

So, who (or what) do you have on the throne of your heart? Is there something you run to instead of running to God? If so, I guarantee you, it'll leave you eternally empty. Connect to the Ultimate Power Source and be forever filled.

God bless,
J.W.

Why Bad Things Happen To Good People (Part 8)

As we close out this series on "Why Bad Things Happen To Good People," let's recap what we've discussed.

In short, we’ve seen that bad things happen to good people because:

1. God desires a relationship with us (Part 1), and therefore, He’s given us free will (Part 2). 
2. Free will necessarily limits God's power here on earth (Part 3).
3. He's transferred at least some of His power to us, as earthly images, or copies, of Him (Part 3). 
4. We are in a battle between good and evil (Part 5 and Part 7).
5. God has called us to be His eyes, ears, hands, feet, etc. in that battle (Part 4). 
6. People mismanage the power and influence that God has given us (Part 6)

Hopefully, this series has transformed your view of why evil exists in the world, and God’s role, or lack thereof, in it. Despite what you've heard, it's not that God allows bad things to happen. Rather, we live in a fallen world - one that's turned away from Him - and because of free will, God allows us to experience the natural consequence of our fallenness.

Moreover, I hope this series has opened your eyes to the great power you have to stop bad things from happening. God has called us to be change agents here on earth. We have power to stop bad things from happening - through our faith, through our prayers, and through our actions. God holds the Body of Christ responsible for what it does or does not do here on earth.

Are you doing your part? Are you upholding your end? If not, it’s time to step up and get to it!

God bless,
J.W.

Why Bad Things Happen To Good People (Part 3)

So far, we've established that God cares (Part 1) and that He's given us free will (Part 2).

Today, let's talk about God's power.

In Christian circles, you often hear that God is all-powerful. That's true. God is the author and source of all power in the earth. But because of the concept of free will, God has voluntarily limited His power here on earth.

Don't believe me? Check out the following scriptures.

"And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth" (Genesis 1:26-28).

“Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven" (Matthew 18:18). 

"What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds?... faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead" (James 2:14, 16). 

In each of these scriptures, we see that God has given power on earth to man. God has offered us His help but we must be participatory in the process. As we saw in the last post, God knocks - that is, he offers us the opportunity to take advantage of his assistance, but we must open the door and invite Him in (Revelation 3:20).

We certainly worship an all-knowing, all-powerful, all-encompassing God. But His overwhelming love for us and desire to have relationship necessitates a limiting of His power here on earth. Otherwise, we wouldn't truly have free will and would never suffer the consequences for our often selfish and unwise actions. That doesn't mean that God doesn't have all power to do His will on earth. It does mean, however, that we don't necessarily have access to that power automatically. We need to invite him in.

More to come. Stay tuned.

God bless,
J.W.

God is Sufficient (Part 2)

"For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power." - Colossians 2:9-10

Colossians 2:9-10 tells us that God is the head of principality and power – in other words, He’s omnipotent. There’s no one greater than Him.

But somehow, there’s often a disconnect between how we live our life and this depiction of our Heavenly Father. We often feel like we are small, when Colossians 2:9-10 tells us that God is BIG.

So, what’s the key to unlocking God’s fullness in our lives? Colossians 2:9 says that the fullness dwells in Him. Thus, in order to be complete in God and experience the great things He has for us, we’ve got to dwell in Him too.

To find out what it means to dwell in God, stay tuned.

God bless,
J.W.

Strength in Weakness

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9

So many of us lament and wallow in our failures and weaknesses. We think because something may not have gone our way, that makes us a failure.

But the Bible says that God's power is made perfect in our weakness. Therefore, our failures are simply springboards for success.

Stop looking at failure as a bad thing and see it for what it is - the propeller to your success.

God bless,
J.W.

The Spirit

"So he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty." ~ Zechariah 4:6

As believers, we are called to walk not by our own might or power, but by the Spirit of the Lord.

Whose power are you walking by today?

God bless,
J.W.

The Power of Prayer

"Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, 'Thus says the LORD God of Israel, 'because you have prayed to Me against Sennacherib king of Assyria, this is the word which the LORD has spoken concerning him: 'The virgin, the daughter of Zion, has despised you, laughed you to scorn...'" ! Isaiah 37:21-22

In this passage of scripture, you don't have to know who Sennacherib king of Assyria is, what he's done, or how it relates to Isaiah (although I encourage you to read it).

Just know that because Isaiah prayed, change happened.

The power of prayer is strong. Try it and see for yourself.

God bless,
J.W.

The Power of the Tongue

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” ~ Proverbs 18:21

I’ve never understood why people curse. It makes no sense to me.

If life and death truly lie in the power of the tongue, why would someone want to “curse”? It’s literally like putting a “curse” or a “spell” on someone else. Too creepy for me.

The Bible says that out of the same mouth we both bless and curse (James 3:10). The choice is yours. Why not try blessing those with whom you converse today?

God bless,
J.W.

All-Powerful

Many times in life, we doubt ourselves.

We think we’re not good enough…

smart enough…

articulate enough…

strong enough…

fast enough…

But the good thing is that, when you’re a Christian, it’s not about your abilities, i.e. what you think you can do.

No, it’s about the fact that you have an almighty, all-powerful Savior who has promised to always be there and never leave your side.

“Can’t” isn’t in His vocabulary and He can do everything but fail.

God bless,
J.W.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." ~ Philippians 4:13

Jesus Walks (Part VI)

It is often said that between Good Friday and Easter Sunday, Jesus went to Hell and “snatched the keys of the bottomless pit” from Satan – meaning that sin no longer holds power over us.

No matter what you’ve done or how many times you’ve messed up, Jesus’ love for you can overcome it all.

All you have to do is accept the gift He has freely given you.

Will you accept it today?

God bless,
J.W.

“I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.” ~ Revelation 1:18

Love Series - Part 3

“[Love] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails… And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” ~ 1 Corinthians 13:7-8, 13

Faith and hope are pretty powerful forces.

They were two of the driving forces behind elected the most powerful person in the world last November.

According to the bible, faith the size of a mustard seed has the power to move mountains.

But the greatest force in the world, according to the Bible, is love.

It can drive out demons.

It can save souls.

It can restore lives.

God bless,
J.W.