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Post by Unmerited on May 12, 2023 4:19:17 GMT -8
Abundant Blessing—Part 1 May 12
Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. Luke 6:38
Jesus opened up for us a whole new way of giving. He gave Himself totally to and for the needs of people. We no longer need to pay or sacrifice our way into God’s mercy, for Jesus Christ has paid our debt before God and His cross is a completed work in our eternal interest.
Our giving, then, is no longer a debt that we owe, but a seed that we sow! The life and power source are in Him. Ours is simply to act on the potential God has placed in us by His power and grace.
Note that when Jesus said, “Give,” He also said, “and it will be given to you.” Giving and receiving belong together. As we give we put ourselves in a position to reach out and receive a harvest.
A principle of planting and reaping is that the amount of fruit that results from sowing is disproportionate to the measure of the seed put into the ground. Therefore Jesus said that the harvest will be “good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over.”
Jack W. Hayford and Sam Middlebrook, Living the Spirit Filled Life
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Post by Unmerited on May 13, 2023 4:12:31 GMT -8
Abundant Blessing—Part 2 May 13
With the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you. Luke 6:38
Speaking to people familiar with farms and farmers, Jesus can talk to His audience about principles of harvest. He reminds them that the more seed you plant, the more grain you receive back, not just that a prat of seed brings a pint of wheat. A principle of planting and reaping is that the result is disproportionate to the cause. No matter how much you give, you will always receive more in return. Jesus said, “pressed down, and running over.”
Another lesson of the harvest is that the product received may differ in form greatly from the seed that is sown. We should, then, remain sensitive at all times to the different ways in which God may deliver our harvest. The harvest may come to us as an idea, an opportunity, an invitation, or a previously unknown or unidentified association.
Watch expectantly for the ways in which God may choose to deliver the harvest to you in His “due season.” For you, it may be today!
Jack W. Hayford and Sam Middlebrook, Living the Spirit Filled Life
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Post by Unmerited on May 14, 2023 4:26:16 GMT -8
Jesus’ Name - May 14
Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk. Acts 3:6
In this first recorded miracle performed by the disciples in the Book of Acts, we are given a key for use by all believers in exercising faith’s authority When bringing healing to the lame man, Peter employs the full name and title of our Lord: Jesus Christ [Messiah] of Nazareth.
“Jesus” was a common name in first–century Jewish culture and continues to be used in many places today But the declaration of His full name and title, a noteworthy practice in Acts, seems a good and practical lesson for us (see Acts 2:22; 4:10). In our confession of faith and as a proclamation of power, speak His deity and lordship as the Christ, the Messiah. Use His precious, personal name as Jesus the Savior.
Call upon Him as Lord Jesus, or Jesus Christ, or Jesus of Nazareth, there being no legal or ritual demand intended in this point. But just as we pray in Jesus’ name (John 16:24), so we exercise all authority by the privilege of power He has granted us in His name (Matt. 28:18; John 14:13, 14).
Jack W. Hayford and Sam Middlebrook, Living the Spirit Filled Life
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Post by Unmerited on May 15, 2023 4:35:54 GMT -8
Great Grace - May 15
And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. Acts 4:33
Most believers know the common definition of the beautiful word “grace” as “the unmerited favor of God.” This is wonderfully true and clearly relates to our salvation apart from the works or energy of our flesh (Eph. 2:7–9).
But “grace” as used in this text and texts such as Luke 2:40 and Acts 11:23, also refers to “operations of the power of God.” Just as God in mercy saves us by His grace, so also that grace is manifested in great dynamic where the Holy Spirit is at work in power.
Zechariah 4:7 provides an Old Testament illustration of this truth. The prophet instructed Zerubbabel to speak “grace” to the mountain—the hindrance he faced in the trying task of rebuilding God’s temple. Speaking “grace” to obstacles we face is an action of faith, drawing on the operation of God’s great power. We only speak: the work is entirely His—by His gracious power and for His great glory.
As we speak God’s grace in the face of our mountainous impossibilities, we can see “great power” and “great grace” manifest in our behalf today.
Jack W. Hayford and Sam Middlebrook, Living the Spirit Filled Life
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Post by Unmerited on May 16, 2023 4:27:30 GMT -8
Spoken Confession - May 16
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. Romans 10:9
Here is a foundational lesson in the importance and power of speaking out one’s faith. This principle is established at the very beginning of our life in Christ. Just as salvation (God’s righteous working in our behalf) is appropriated by heart belief and spoken confession, so His continual working in our lives is advanced by the same means.
God allows, encourages, even requires our active participation in all His gracious dealings with us. He does not force us as slaves to move against our will. He does call to us as sons and daughters in His family to accept our role and responsibility
So having begun our life in Christ in the spirit of saving faith, let us grow now in active faith—believing in God’s mighty power for all our needs, speaking with our lips what our hearts receive and believe of the many promises in His Word.
Let us accept God’s promises for all our needs by endowing them with our confessed belief, just as when we were saved.
Jack W. Hayford and Sam Middlebrook, Living the Spirit Filled Life
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Post by Unmerited on May 17, 2023 4:29:34 GMT -8
God’s Timetable - May 17
And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Gal. 6:9
God has a timetable for every seed we plant, but His timetable is not always our timetable. Sometimes the “due season” means a quick return. Sometimes it means a process or a slow return that may take years—even a lifetime.
But we can count on three things. First, God will cause a harvest to come from the seeds we plant. Second, God is never early or late. He is always right on time with our best interests at heart. Third, our harvest will have the same nature as the seeds we have sown: good seeds bring good harvests; bad seeds bring bad harvests.
What are we to do during the growing time of our seeds? Refuse to become discouraged because God has promised an abundant harvest. Determine to keep faith alive and active by allowing the hope planted in our hearts by the Spirit to flourish. Give and keep on giving, because we know this: His harvest is guaranteed.
Jack W. Hayford and Sam Middlebrook, Living the Spirit Filled Life
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Post by Unmerited on May 18, 2023 4:35:07 GMT -8
The Lord’s Table - May 18
For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.
1 Corinthians 11:26
Just as water baptism outwardly declares an inward experience of salvation through the blood of the Lord Jesus, so each observance of the Lord’s Table is a powerful occasion for faith’s confession. In this ordinance, the Christian confesses before all heaven not only that he has believed, but also that he has not forgotten. “In remembrance” involves more than just memory; the word suggests an “active calling to mind.”
The word “for” in v. 26 introduces the reason for the repetition of the Supper. It is an acted sermon for it proclaims the Lord’s death. The outward act of faith, as the bread and cup are taken, is an ongoing confession. Each occasion of partaking is an opportunity to say, proclaim, or confess again: “I herewith lay hold of all the benefits of Christ’s full redemption for my life—forgiveness, wholeness, strength, health, sufficiency.”
The Lord’s Supper is not simply a ritual remembrance, but a powerful proclamation by which we actively call to memory and appropriate today all that Jesus provided and promised through His cross.
Jack W. Hayford and Sam Middlebrook, Living the Spirit Filled Life
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Post by Unmerited on May 19, 2023 4:42:25 GMT -8
Jesus Is Lord - May 19
At the name of Jesus every knee should bow,… every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:10, 11
Bible scholars note that the word “confess” means “to acknowledge openly and joyfully, to celebrate and give praise.” Here we are all called to follow God the Father’s exaltation of His Son by fully recognizing and joyfully admitting that Jesus Christ is the Lord of our lives and the Lord of our situation.
All humans, angels, and demon spirits will ultimately bow the knee to Jesus, rendering to Him complete and final homage. That confession of every tongue will one day be heard by every ear as the ultimate and complete rule of Jesus is recognized.
But until that day, our confession of Jesus Christ as Lord invites and receives His presence and power over all evil whenever we face it now. As we admit our own helplessness, as we confess our utter dependence, and as we declare His lordship—in faith—His rule enters those settings and circumstances today.
Jack W. Hayford and Sam Middlebrook, Living the Spirit Filled Life
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Post by Unmerited on May 20, 2023 4:56:36 GMT -8
Believe and Receive May 20
Whoever says to this mountain, “Be removed and be cast into the sea,” and does not doubt in his heart, but believes… he will have whatever he says. Mark 11:23
Here Jesus makes a strong contrast between doubting and believing. The two produce opposite results. When we believe that God exists and that He loves us and wants to meet our needs, then our believing brings trust into our heart.
On the other hand, doubt can be just as real as faith. The reverse of faith, doubt tells us that God does not exist or that He is unloving and uncaring about our needs. Doubt gives rise to fear, which brings torment, not peace. Doubt and fear then cut us off from the flow of life and blessing which God desires to send our way.
In contrast, faith is openness and receptivity toward God and all His benefits. Expectancy opens our life to God and puts us in a position to receive salvation, joy, health, financial supply, or peace of mind—all the things that doubt wants to steal from us.
Believe and receive everything good your heart longs for, and more!
Jack W. Hayford and Sam Middlebrook, Living the Spirit Filled Life
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Post by Unmerited on May 21, 2023 6:27:03 GMT -8
Embracing and Promise - May 21
Having seen [the promises] afar off [they] were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. Hebrews 11:13
Hebrews 11 records glorious victories of faith’s champions yet here speaks of those who died “not having received the promises.” Still, they died in faith just as they had lived in faith.
The key to understanding this admirable group is that when given a promise by God, they became fully persuaded that the promise was true. Thus they embraced (literally “greeted”) that promise in their hearts. They also confessed (admitted and acknowledged) that the focus of their lives was beyond anything they could see in this world, that they were strangers and pilgrims here.
Thus, while each of these persons did receive many victories through faith, the text says that they did not receive everything that was promised. But whether or not they received what they asked and hoped for did not change their behavior nor their steadfast trust in God.
For us as well, faith’s worship and walk do not depend on answered or unanswered prayers. Our confession of the lordship of Jesus in our lives is to be consistent—a daily celebration, with deep gratitude.
Jack W. Hayford and Sam Middlebrook, Living the Spirit Filled Life
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Post by Unmerited on May 22, 2023 5:36:51 GMT -8
Words of Life - May 22
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14
This oft–quoted verse attests to the importance and desirability of our words and thoughts being consistent with God’s Word and will. The text literally says, “Let what I speak and what my heart murmurs to itself be a delight to You, God.” The truth of this text urges us to always speak the kind of words that confirm what we believe or think in our hearts about our Heavenly Father, His love, and His power.
To believe yet contradict our beliefs with careless words from our mouth is not acceptable in God’s sight. Such words not only become faithless and fruitless to us, but they can produce doubts in others—both believers and unbelievers. Rather, Acts 5:19, 20 give a command that is as true for us as it was for the apostles, “An angel of the Lord… said, ‘Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.’ ”
As we go about our daily activities today, let us speak the words of life that delight the Lord.
Jack W. Hayford and Sam Middlebrook, Living the Spirit Filled Life (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1992), 146.
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Post by Unmerited on May 23, 2023 4:43:47 GMT -8
Giving Everything - May 23
He and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken. Luke 5:9
Jesus taught about seed–sowing and the importance of planting in good soil (see Mark 4:1–20). Then, as if to illustrate His point, He told this group of discouraged and tired fishermen to launch out in faith for a miracle catch.
These men had just given Jesus the greatest possession that fishermen have—their boat. Here, Jesus stood and preached the gospel. In that moment, they served the greatest need Jesus had. Then Jesus immediately turned and multiplied that gift back to them in the most practical way, meeting the greatest need they had.
As commercial fishermen, they needed fish in order to make a living. As men, they also needed to see God at work in their lives. They needed to know that Jesus was who He claimed to be. They needed to know faith was in operation. Jesus met all of those needs!
When you give everything to the Lord, from the simplest of things to the greatest, the returns are incredible! And He will reveal Himself to you with all of His grace and power!
Jack W. Hayford and Sam Middlebrook, Living the Spirit Filled Life
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Post by Unmerited on May 24, 2023 8:37:51 GMT -8
Conditions to Faith—Part 1 May 24
Whoever… does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Mark 11:23
Many believers want “easy faith”: faith that works like a good luck charm whenever and wherever they want it. But the Bible teaches that faith will require something of us, and throughout Scripture, several conditions must be noted.
This text points out that we are not to doubt (Mark 11:22–24). Those who are double–minded will not receive anything (James 1:6–8). Further, Jesus goes on to say, “Whenever you stand praying, and you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you” (Mark 11:25).
The great hindrance to faith that brings miracle release is unforgiveness. Whether or not the attitude is justified by the circumstances, resentment, bitterness, jealousy, and envy are the obstacles to faith’s release. The mountain–moving hand of God must begin in our lives by moving the mountain of hard–heartedness out of our own hearts. To see action through faith, them must be forgiveness and love.
Jack W. Hayford and Sam Middlebrook, Living the Spirit Filled Life
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Post by Unmerited on May 25, 2023 6:39:05 GMT -8
Conditions to Faith—Part 2 May 25
Diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight. Exodus 15:26
God asks us to heed Him. We are to have a hearing ear so we will hear Him. God has always spoken to His people, and He will speak to you today, but you must cultivate a habit of listening for His voice. He speaks in many ways: through His Word, through His anointed servants, and through direct revelation in the inner man (Eph. 1:17, 18). He is seeking a people who will listen for His voice and not try to run and hide from Him (see Gen. 3:8).
God also asks us to “do what is right in His sight.” He is seeking people who will not only hear His words but will take them to heart and act on them. He calls us to be people who will obey His word and not be hearers only (James 1:22–25).
As we obey Him, His goodness is abundantly promised. It awaits those who “(sow) to the Spirit” (Gal. 6:7–9), hear the voice of the Lord, and do what He tells them to do.
Jack W. Hayford and Sam Middlebrook, Living the Spirit Filled Life (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1992), 149–150.
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Post by Unmerited on May 26, 2023 4:59:36 GMT -8
Conditions of Faith—Part 3 May 26
“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse… and try Me…” says the Lord, “If I will not open… the windows of heaven… pour out for you such blessing… and… rebuke the devourer for your sakes.” Malachi 3:10, 11
In this passage of Scripture, God actually invites people to try (prove) Him—to verify His trustworthiness with their giving. He has given us a “fool–proof” test of His faithfulness! But it first requires a step of faith on our part.
He says that by disobeying Him in the tithe, we rob Him of the privilege of pouring out great and overflowing blessings. He calls for renewed giving with these promises. First, there will be “food” or resources for God’s work (“in My house”).
Second, He says those who give will be placed m a position to receive great, overflowing blessings. Our obedience releases His faithfulness! You will experience the windows of heaven actually opening with blessings you will not be able to receive or contain!
Third, God says that He will “rebuke the devourer” for your sakes. He will cause every blessing that has your name written on it to be directed to you, and Satan himself cannot stop it.
Do not be afraid to try God with your giving; He is God and He will stand the test every time.
Jack W. Hayford and Sam Middlebrook, Living the Spirit Filled Life
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