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Post by Unmerited on Apr 27, 2023 5:46:42 GMT -8
The Covenant–Maker April 27
God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. Genesis 1:5
God is revealed, from the beginning, as a covenant–making and covenant–keeping God. Jeremiah referred to God’s activity at creation as acts of covenant (Jer. 33:20), speaking of God’s “covenant with the day” and “covenant with the night.” Through this, God’s unchangeable character is shown to us each day as surely as the sun rises and sets. Jeremiah then goes on to say that God could no more break His covenant of redemption with His people than He could violate His covenant with nature (v. 21).
God has also made a covenant with all who will believe in, confess, and accept His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. This covenant was sealed with the blood of Calvary’s cross. All that God has promised to do for us, He will fulfill.
Jeremiah later wrote that the Lord’s mercies are new every day, and His faithfulness is great to us (Lam. 3:22, 23). Praise the Lord today that He keeps His covenant. Just as we are sure that the sun will rise, we are equally as sure of His faithfulness toward us!
Jack W. Hayford and Sam Middlebrook, Living the Spirit Filled Life
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Post by Unmerited on Apr 28, 2023 7:42:37 GMT -8
In Atmosphere of Faith April 28
If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes. Mark 9:23
In this passage Jesus tells us that “believing” is the condition for answered prayer for a healing. The father of the demon–possessed boy answered in tears, “I believe,” then added, “Help my unbelief!” Since faith is a gift, we may pray for it as this father did. Note how quickly God’s grace answered!
Jesus rebuked the disciples because they could not cast out the mute spirit, calling them “faithless” (v. 19). In Matthew’s account of this incident, Jesus said that if one has faith as a mustard seed he can move a mountain (Matt. 17:20).
But there is another lesson to be learned: where an atmosphere of unbelief makes it difficult to believe, we should seek a different setting. Even Jesus’ ability to work miracles was reduced where unbelief prevailed (Matt. 13:58). As we go through the day, let us not diminish Jesus’ ability to work in us. Prayer and praise provide an atmosphere of faith in God and welcome His presence in our lives.
Jack W. Hayford and Sam Middlebrook, Living the Spirit Filled Life
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Post by Unmerited on Apr 29, 2023 3:50:39 GMT -8
Attitude of Heart April 29
I do not delight in the blood of bulls. Isaiah 1:11
The Bible declares that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin (Heb. 9:22). Jesus confirmed this truth with His death on the cross. How, then, do we understand God’s admonition to Isaiah?
Even the most sacred acts become meaningless when we thoughtlessly perform them while living in open disobedience to God’s will. In Isaiah’s day, the sacrifices and feasts had come to be only outward forms, devoid of true devotion and righteous living. The ultimate issue in sacrifice is the attitude of the heart. Right relationship, not mere ceremony, is the goal of God’s covenant–making activity.
Nothing will ever diminish the completeness of Christ’s atoning sacrifice, but we can grieve the Holy Spirit by meaningless conformity to form without genuine worship and enlightened service.
Today, let us make sure our heart–attitude is right before the Father as we cry out with the psalmist, “You do not desire sacrifice… [but] the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart” (Ps. 51:16, 17).
Jack W. Hayford and Sam Middlebrook, Living the Spirit Filled Life
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Post by Unmerited on Apr 30, 2023 5:49:32 GMT -8
Our Peacemaker - April 30
… to reconcile all things to Himself,… having made peace through the blood of His cross. Colossians 1:20
Christ Jesus is the matchless peacemaker. Through His death, He reconciled to the Father all of creation, especially a humanity alienated from God by sin. Jesus was able to accomplish this reconciliation because “in Him all the fullness” dwelled (v. 19). He was fully God and fully human. He could die for mankind because as a man He had no sins of His own; He could die for all of creation because as the Creator He had a higher value than creation. Thereby He was able to provide the means for all of creation to be reconciled to God.
Because sin takes life, life is required to repay sing debts. Jesus Christ gave His life in blood to satisfy all of mankind’s sin debts and to restore covenant peace between God and man. “For [Jesus] Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation” (Eph. 2:14). Let us live in that peace, with the Prince of Peace as our sovereign (Is. 9:6) and His rule of love as our law (James 2:8).
Jack W. Hayford and Sam Middlebrook, Living the Spirit Filled Life
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Post by Unmerited on May 1, 2023 5:20:05 GMT -8
Seed and Harvest - May 1
While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease. Genesis 8:22
The first thing Noah did after the Flood was to build an altar and make a sacrifice to the Lord. God was pleased with Noah and made promises to the human family through the faith of Noah. One of the promises given at this time was the Law of Seedtime and Harvest: “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest… shall not cease.”
When God created the first living thing, He gave it the ability to grow and multiply. How? Through the principle of seed and harvest. Your life began by this principle, and since your birth your life has operated by this same principle. Harvest springs from the good or bad seeds you have sown, whether or not you were consciously aware of your seed–planting.
The principle continues today. To overcome life’s problems, reach your potential in life, see your life become fruitful, multiplied, replenished (that is, in health, finance, spiritual renewal, family—your entire being), determine to follow God’s law of seedtime and harvest.
Sow the seed of His promise in the soil of your need!
Jack W. Hayford and Sam Middlebrook, Living the Spirit Filled Life
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Post by Unmerited on May 2, 2023 4:59:38 GMT -8
A New Name - May 2
No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. Genesis 17:5
The Bible throughout its pages teaches us the importance of the words we speak. In this text God changes Abram’s name to Abraham and promises Abraham that he will become the father of many nations. “Abram” means “High Father” or “Patriarch.” “Abraham” means “Father of a Multitude.” Thus, God was arranging that every time Abraham heard or spoke his own name, he would be reminded of God’s promise.
By the change of his name, God was promising to Abraham that the focus of his life was not to be on himself or on his position, not even on what God would make him to be. No, now the goal of Abraham’s life was to be others, how God would use him to touch countless others with the life and blessing of God.
The principle is clear: Let God’s words, which designate His will and promise for your life, become as fixed in your mind and as governing of your speech as God’s changing the name of Abraham was in shaping his concept of himself.
Do not “name” yourself anything less than God does!
Jack W. Hayford and Sam Middlebrook, Living the Spirit Filled Life
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Post by Unmerited on May 3, 2023 4:12:00 GMT -8
Patience and Faith - May 3
Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it. Numbers 13:30
Caleb saw the same giants and walled cities as the other spies, but the ten spies brought back a “bad report” of unbelief. Caleb, however, declared a conviction, a confession, before all Israel: “We are well able to overcome it.” He along with the others had carefully surveyed the land; he had seen, so his faith was not blind. Faith does not deny the reality of the difficulty; rather, it declares the power of God in the face of the problem.
Though his faith–filled report was rejected by the majority, Caleb stood his ground in faith, but still moved in partnership and support alongside those whose unbelief delayed his own experience. He demonstrated a remarkable combination of faith and patience. Caleb’s eventual possession of the land at a later date indicates that even though delays come, the declaration of faith will ultimately bring victory to the believer.
Let patience and faith work together to see you through the struggle and into the fulfillment of the promise.
Jack W. Hayford and Sam Middlebrook, Living the Spirit Filled Life
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Post by Unmerited on May 4, 2023 4:55:46 GMT -8
Speak in Faith - May 4
You shall not shout… until the day I say to you, “Shout!” Then you shall shout. Joshua 6:10
Here Joshua commands Israel to maintain total silence as they walk around the city of Jericho. The memory that Israel’s forty–year sojourn in the wilderness was a result of the people’s murmuring in unbelief was doubtless in Joshua’s mind. Also, the spies had returned with a majority report motivated by what man sees without Holy Spirit–given vision. Their lack of belief that they could take the land had sealed their fate in the desert.
With these lessons of history in mind, Joshua’s directive to keep silent teaches a precaution. When facing great challenges, do not permit your tongue to speak unbelieving words. Keep demoralizing speech from your lips. Words can bind up or set free, hence the order of silence. Later they would see the salvation of the Lord following their shout of triumph (Josh. 6:20).
We cannot help what we see and hear, but our refusal to speak doubt and fear will keep our hearts more inclined to what God can do, rather than to what we cannot do (Prov. 30:32).
Jack W. Hayford and Sam Middlebrook, Living the Spirit Filled Life
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Post by Unmerited on May 5, 2023 7:43:45 GMT -8
Giving - May 5
Nor will I offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God with that which costs me nothing. 2 Samuel 24:24
Araunah tried to give King David land, oxen, and other items for sacrifices, but David resisted on paying Araunah, saying that he could not present to God an offering that cost him nothing.
The heart of faith is that unless you experience some sacrifice, you have not truly given. Until your giving costs you something, something that represents a portion of your very life, then it is not a living gift and will not yield a good harvest. Thus, our giving to God should have these three qualities:
First, it should be our best. Because God has given His best to us, we want to give our best to Him.
Second, we should give to God first. The first thought in our minds after we have received something should be, “How can I give a portion of this harvest to the work of the Lord?”
Third, our giving should be generous, flowing freely and abundantly from our heart. Jesus said, “Freely you have received, freely give” (Matt. 10:8).
Jack W. Hayford and Sam Middlebrook, Living the Spirit Filled Life
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Post by Unmerited on May 6, 2023 3:56:28 GMT -8
Sow in Faith - May 6
The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the Lord. 1 Kings 17:16
This episode (1 Kin. 17:8–16) teaches us to invite God to work by His unlimited power within our limited circumstances and resources. Two important principles are illustrated here:
First, we must give something out of our need. That is the kind of giving that involves our faith. This woman had a need for herself and her family, but she gave to sustain the life of God’s prophet Elijah. Then God multiplied her giving back to her.
Second, the widow gave first, before seeking to meet her own needs. Her giving resulted in the miracle supply of God flowing back into her life. For perhaps as long as three years God multiplied her seed sown.
When we give out of our need and to help others first, we place ourselves in the flow of how God has made life to work for us and not against us. We have sown in our faith, and we reap the harvest of the faithfulness of God.
Sow! Give God something to multiply.
Jack W. Hayford and Sam Middlebrook, Living the Spirit Filled Life
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Post by Unmerited on May 7, 2023 4:40:24 GMT -8
Expect to Receive - May 7
“What shall we do about the hundred talents which I have given to the troops of Israel?” And the man of God answered, “The Lord is able to give you much more than this.” 2 Chronicles 25:9
In human economy, the law of supply and demand regulates the price paid for goods and services. In times of oversupply, prices fall; in times of shortage, prices rise. Our economy fluctuates with the times and seasons.
God’s economy, however, has no shortages. God’s supply always exceeds our need. He does not want His people to lack, but rather, to “have an abundance for every good work” (2 Cor. 9:8). Do we think that if we give something to God, we will have less? No! We can never outgive God. No matter what we give to Him, He will multiply it back to us in an amount greater than we gave.
Our ability to receive, however, is not automatic. Expecting to receive, like freedom to give, is an act of our faith. The farmer learns that both planting the seed and receiving the harvest are acts of faith.
Is there something you need to give? Then let it go in faith. Is there something you need to receive? Then embrace it in faith.
For seedtime and harvest are in God’s hands.
Jack W. Hayford and Sam Middlebrook, Living the Spirit Filled Life
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Post by Unmerited on May 8, 2023 7:12:42 GMT -8
Speak in Faith - May 8
These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. Matthew 15:8
Jesus here quotes from Isaiah 29:13 in charging the religious leaders of His day with setting aside God’s Word by their traditions. Jesus dismisses their worship because their hearts were not aligned with their lips. Living faith—true worship—requires that the mouth and the heart be together in a unity that prevents any tinge of hypocrisy.
Praises and true faith emanate from lips that draw from the depths of the heart. When speaking in faith flows as a living principle, the words are not a ritual recitation of slogans; such recitation is only acting out a human tradition and, as Jesus indicates, is potentially hypocritical.
Just as we are called to genuine praise and worship, not as pretenders or ritual performers, so let our confessing of God’s promises be without hypocrisy. Let us speak what God’s Holy Spirit has truly birthed in our hearts, thereby causing us to speak faithfully with our lips.
Has God dropped a promise into your heart? Then speak it forth with the courage of convinced faith and watch Him who gave you the word fulfill it.
Jack W. Hayford and Sam Middlebrook, Living the Spirit Filled Life
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Post by Unmerited on May 9, 2023 4:05:40 GMT -8
Mountain–Moving Faith - May 9
I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it will move. Matthew 17:20
When you plant a seed, God changes the nature of that seed so that it becomes a plant, and the power of life surges into that tender, young plant to such a great extent that even a mountain of earth cannot stop it from pushing upward!
Jesus said that our faith in God is like a seed. When we put our faith into action, that is, when we release it to God, it takes on a totally new nature. It takes on the nature of a miracle in the making.
What is the mountain in your life? Loneliness? Loss of a job? Disease? A wounded relationship? Trouble in your home? Something else? Be encouraged! Jesus shows the way to see that mountain removed! God says you can apply your faith to see your daily needs met.
How? You sow the mustard–seed smallness of your faith into an action of love. Then, when your faith is planted and is growing, speak to your mountain and watch God set about its removal.
Jack W. Hayford and Sam Middlebrook, Living the Spirit Filled Life
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Post by Unmerited on May 10, 2023 6:13:21 GMT -8
Whatever You Ask - May 10
Have faith in God… whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. Mark 11:22, 24
From Jesus’ own lips we receive the most direct and practical instruction concerning our exercise of faith. Consider three points:
1. Faith is to be “in God.” Faith that speaks is first faith that seeks. The Almighty One is the source and ground of our faith and being. Faith only flows to Him because of the faithfulness that flows from Him.
2. Faith is not a trick performed with our lips, but a spoken confession that springs from the conviction of our hearts. Faith’s confession is not a formula for getting things from God, but Jesus does teach here that the faith in our hearts is to be spoken.
3. Jesus’ words “whatever things” apply this principle to every aspect of our lives. The only restrictions are that our faith be in God and in alignment with His will and Word, and that we believe and not doubt.
This “speaking to the mountain” is not a vain or superstitious exercise, or indulgence in humanistic mind–science, but instead becomes an applied release of God’s creative word of promise.
Jack W. Hayford and Sam Middlebrook, Living the Spirit Filled Life
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Post by Unmerited on May 11, 2023 6:45:25 GMT -8
Abundant Life - May 11
I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:10
God wants to give all of Himself to you, and, along with Himself, all that He represents and has. Inherent in God’s total self is true fullness—the real possibility of health for your total being (body, mind, emotions, relationships), of your material needs being met. Above all, His fullness includes eternal life.
Jesus said that He came to give life—not just ordinary existence, but life in fullness and abundance (3 John 2). On the other hand, the Enemy (Satan) comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. The line is clearly drawn. On one side is God with goodness, life, and plenty of all that is necessary for life (see Joel 2:26; 2 Pet. 1:3), and on the other side is the Enemy of our souls, who comes to rob us of God’s blessings, to oppress our bodies through disease and accidents, and to destroy everything that we hold dear.
You begin to experience this biblical fullness as you believe it is God’s highest desire for you. You increase in His fullness as you line up your highest desires with His desires for you.
Jack W. Hayford and Sam Middlebrook, Living the Spirit Filled Life
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