I encountered a woman the other day who was suffering from neuropathy. Her feet were angled slightly inward and had lost much of their feeling. Her toes were bandaged covering sores trying to heal. She moved with a cane and leaned on it heavily when she walked.
Are you familiar with the phrase ‘walking wounded’? This refers to those who are injured but still upright and functional. My servant Jacob lived before this was a common phrase, but he was a prime example. After his encounter with me he walked with a limp the rest of his life. How many do you know who are in the same condition? What about yourself? Even if you walk normally you may have in a larger sense some weakness that you have to deal with as a constant reminder of your frailty. If you examine yourself and your fellow believers you will see this is quite common. Even Paul had a thorn in his flesh I declined to remove. I told him that my grace was sufficient for him and it is for you too.
Do you expect to hear from me often? Do you expect hearing from me to be a dramatic or even traumatic experience? I spoke to Moses as a man speaks to his friend. How do you converse with your friends? Isn’t this casual and easygoing, and nearly constant when you are in contact with them? I want you to have the same type of conversation with me that I had with Moses; that you have with your friends. Have I not called you friends rather than servants because of my willingness to reveal my heart to you? Come to me expecting to hear from me often and gently, and your abiding in me will be an ongoing conversation with me.
Reinhard Bonnke's U.S. crusades are beginning NOW! After doing crusades for many years in Africa, God has instructed Reinhard to do the same all across America. Many years ago, God told Reinhard, that "All Africa will be saved." Now God is telling him, "All America will be saved." Check out Orlando crusade details here.
Have you ever been on a diet? Have you ever had a lapse from your intentions on a diet? How do you handle this? One school of thought is to surrender and give in since you have already failed. Yet you are better off to keep your goal in mind and recover and more forward. This principle applies universally. Do you stumble in other areas of life? My word says that even though you stumble you should not fall. Even when you see weaknesses and shortcomings in your performance you should not give up. Acknowledge your weakness and your dependence on me and I will keep you from falling even when you stumble.
I teach you to love your enemies. Do you understand how radical this is? When you put this into practice are you content to avoid or tolerate them? It is not enough to refrain from open hostility, for no one will accept this as a definition of love. It takes discernment to know how to express love for your enemies, for in this situation the usual verbal affirmations would be awkward. Yet in every case love is more powerfully demonstrated in actions than in words. I want you to embrace this radical concept and think of ways you can demonstrate love for your enemies. What you cannot do on your own you can do as you abide in me.
You know that tithing is a Biblical principle so you give generously to your church. Do you direct your giving only toward those from whom you derive a direct spiritual benefit? There is another spiritual principle that is also taught in my word. Give to those who cannot repay you and you will have treasure in heaven. Some of the greatest needs for resources are among those who are not in a position to repay you. And so you give to missions work as well. If you know the value of generosity you will apply it in every aspect of your life and giving, and I will reward you with treasure here and in heaven.
I tell you to rejoice. Do you find this easier when things go well for you than when you face difficulties? Yet my commandment applies in both cases. Do not think of your rejoicing as a product of your circumstances. Neither is it a denial of reality. Rejoice as a deliberate action rather than letting your state of mind be a reaction to events surrounding you. This way you maintain liberty and victory within and avoid bitterness. Do you believe that all things work together for good for those who love and obey me? Your rejoicing regardless of your current circumstances is a testimony of your faith and an acknowledgment of my ultimate goodness.
We are re-taping in high definition video the 4 Keys to Hearing God’s Voice on Sept. 2 & 3 at Elim Bible Institute in Lima, NY (just south of Rochester). This will be the third time we have professionally recorded this world-changing course; it has been 7 years since we last did it.
