Scriptures for America

John 14:16-17 (King James Version)

16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

Everyone faces difficulties that require us to deal with things that disrupt our peace of mind and cause us to be troubled within our spirit.

Our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ, directed the Holy Spirit to come to serve as our comforter when he ascended to be with the Heavenly Father. Nothing comforts one so much as strong faith and knowledge of the truth.

The Holy Spirit cannot be seen or experienced by those who are not redeemed and born-again.  He communicates exclusively with the believer, providing revealed knowledge of the truth, establishing our faith, and carefully guiding us step-by-step in our daily responsibilities. He gives insight and understanding when we are overwhelmed with uncertainty.

The Holy Spirit was sent to abide with us and to be in us.  If you have been born-again in obedience to Acts 2:38, which says that we should; “Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins, and you shall receive the Holy Spirit”, you can be assured that God knows what you’re going through.

He will comfort you with knowledge and wisdom.  He will lead you into pure and perfect truth, and guide you through the areas of difficulty within your life. His word will be established as a rock-solid foundation for your faith.  He will give you insight concerning the solution of your problems.

Simply approach the Heavenly Father in prayer, tell Him of your need, request the strength and guidance of the Holy Spirit, and you will find comfort and peace that will sustain you and bring you to victory. Bathe yourself in His Spirit and trust him.

Prayer:

My Heavenly Father and My God, I come to you in the name of Jesus Christ my Lord and Redeemer. I am troubled in my Spirit. My body is weary.  My mind is confused. I ask you to bring comfort to me and guide me through this time in my life, by your Holy Spirit.  Reveal your truth and strengthen my faith.  I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer.  Amen.

Mark 6:4-6 (New American Standard Bible)

4 And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his home town and among his own relatives and in his own household.” 5 And He could do no miracle there except that He laid His hands upon a few sick people and healed them. 6 And He wondered at their unbelief.

Who among us has not been grieved by the rejection of those we love because of our testimony for Jesus and our knowledge of Kingdom truth.  Every believer is concerned about the spiritual welfare of their family and friends.

Once we have entered into new birth in the Lord Jesus Christ and gain revelation knowledge about our heritage and who we are in the covenant of God, we become overwhelmed with excitement.  We want everyone close to us to find the same joy and peace that we have found.

We quickly discover that no matter how our life is changed for the best, those who are closest to us are the hardest to reach with the wonderful good news that we have experienced. “Why won’t they listen to us?”  We ask.

Jesus made it very clear in the above Scripture.  It is hardest for those anointed of God to reach their family and friends because of their familiarity with the other.  We should be neither surprised nor discouraged because of their unbelief.

Nearly every person who tries to minister to those close to them find it difficult, if not impossible. Strangers will readily accept your message as friends and family rejects it.

Your most effective impact will come to them as you live your life as an example of what you speak.  Do not be despondent.  Remember that the fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (James 5:16)  Pray continuously for them.  Trust God to send a messenger of truth that they will receive. God will make a way to answer your prayer.

Prayer:

Dear Lord God, I have tried so hard to reach those that I love with your wonderful covenant of promise.  They don’t want to hear it.  They ridicule me for what I believe.  Help me to remember that they reviled Jesus and I should not be surprised when they reject me.  Help me to control my feelings and keep a sweet spirit toward them. Send another messenger with your wonderful truth that they might be saved.  I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer, and our soon coming King.  Amen.

Matthew 5:10-12 New American Standard Bible)

11 “Blessed are you when men cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me. 12 “Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Often, we, the sons of God are too easily offended. The slightest insult or insignificant attack against us produces discouragement. Light persecution causes many to forsake the Lord. Many feel defeated and overwhelmed at the slightest opposition.

This is exactly what the devil wants to happen.  Those who respond negatively in the face of difficulty fall right into Satan’s plan. Perhaps you have been told by some well-meaning Christian that those who serve the Lord never have any problems. That is a lie.

All true believers are at war against the powers of Satan and his workers of evil. Every war has those who delight in the destruction of their enemy. The devil is delighted when one throws up their hands and quit because of pressure brought against them.

Jesus warned us of these tactics, and told us to rejoice and be glad when they come upon us. We should count it a privilege to be maligned for the cause of Christ. Only those who are really effective against the enemy are attacked.

Satan never disturbs those who are slumbering and indifferent to his evil ways.We should feel honored to be counted worthy to suffer with Christ. The reward is worth the cost, many times over.

When you feel the heat of battle, lift up your voice in praise unto the Lord, plant yourself firmly on the rock, Jesus Christ, and wield your sword with vigor.  Yours is the victory.

Remember that those who are tested in the fires of warfare will reap great reward.

Prayer:

Almighty God, I want to be a strong and faithful warrior in your Kingdom. I admit that I have felt like a failure when others have opposed my testimony for Jesus.  It seems that the more than I talk about you or share your Word, their resentment increases. Help me to endure their attack and to bring glory to your Name.  Teach me how to be strong in my faith and to use your word with skill.  I want to walk in joy and gladness in the face of adversity.  I pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

November 17, 2008

In tonight’s broadcast Pastor Peters tells a war story told in the Bible. It is a good war story, and like all good war stories the good guys are outnumbered, overwhelmed and about to be destroyed. Then they discover something, something that had been around a long time. They had never seen it as a weapon, a secret weapon. They employed and deployed it. It is a great story about to be repeated in America and Pastor Peters provides the weapon in this broadcast.

Isaiah 64:8-9 (New American Standard Bible)

8 But now, O LORD, Thou art our Father, We are the clay, and Thou our potter And all of us are the work of Thy hand.  9 Do not be angry beyond measure, O LORD, Neither remember iniquity forever; Behold, look now, all of us are Thy people.

The house of Israel has been dull and hard of hearing. For generations God has been waiting for his people to recognize their sin and repent of their iniquities.

After a long silence from Almighty God, when Israel had been ignored and rejected, we find Isaiah the prophet pleading with God and acknowledging that Israel has come to the point where she can listen to his voice and yield herself to his hand.

The great majority of the house of Israel has done the same in this generation.  We have forsaken the Lord, entered into the fullness of our iniquities, and refuse to hear his voice warning us to repent of our sin.

Finally, God is beginning to speak to his people in a powerful way, once again. We have an opportunity to repent, yield ourselves to the hand of God, and turn from our iniquities.

Let us repent and present ourselves to the hand of the Potter, who forms the vessel of his choosing out of the clay within his hand. It’s time to trust Him to form us for his glory.

God will do beautiful and mighty things with those who yield themselves to his will and allow him to form them for his own purpose. When we finally come to the place that we have realized our hopeless condition, it is easy to say unto the Lord:  “Here am I, do with me as you will.”

Repentance and a yielded spirit unto the Lord, always produce good and positive things.  He will take your unhappy life, reshape it for his purpose, and energize it with new life and joy.  Will you let Him have his way in your life today?

Prayer:

Dear heavenly Father, I come to you with repentant heart.  I know that I have ignored your Holy Spirit’s conviction.  I have been determined to do my own thing, to have my own way.  I have ignored you and rejected your call to service.  Forgive me I pray.  I am unhappy and miserable.  My life is empty and hollow.  I know that You are the only one that can help me.  I yield myself to become clay in your hands that you might shape me and use me for your Glory.  I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer.  Amen.

Most homes in America are in disarray; their members are miserable and unhappy. Many excuses and reasons are given by those in the household as to the cause. Such expressions are seldom valid.

Most marriages suffer because of refusal to abide by God’s directives concerning order in family relationships. The following Scriptures give perfect instruction concerning family life, and individual responsibility of each member.

You will find genuine joy, peace and stability, if you follow God’s directives set forth in the following Scripture. Each family member should read and live by it.

Eph 5:21-33: 6:1-4 (New American Standard Bible)

21 and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.

22 Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. 24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her; 26 that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she should be holy and blameless. 28 So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; 29 for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, 30 because we are members of His body. 31 For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh. 32 This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let each individual among you also love his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see to it that she respect her husband.

Ephesians 6:1-4

6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), 3 that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth. 4 And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger; but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, help me to lay my selfish will aside. I want to live by your instructions and follow your order for family life. Forgive me for the error of my way, and help me to learn both responsibility and submission as you direct. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. Amen.

Eph 4:31-32 (new American Standard Bible)

31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

Bitterness is one of the most difficult things that we deal with in life…

What one of us has not been wounded by the insensitive actions of others? Sometimes such action is deliberate and other times it is by accident. The hurt is the same regardless of the motive.

Such experiences can cause us to harbor ill feelings and bitterness toward those who abuse us.  Like a cancerous cell, they eat away at our peace of mind, and even our health.

Remember that bitterness, anger and unforgiveness usually injures only one person. You!

The easiest way to conquer such emotions is to remember the great sacrifice that Jesus Christ paid for your own forgiveness. Remembering the forgiveness of our own personal debt, which we could not pay, becomes a great aid in forgiving others.

How can we refuse to forgive others, when we have been forgiven of so much? Rather, let us go our way in peace, rejoicing in the grace and mercy of God.

Great joy, peace and satisfaction fill the heart to those who have learned the secret of extending blessing and kindness to those who have despitefully used them.

Do yourself a favor. Extend forgiveness and receive wonderful blessing.

Prayer:

Dear God, I come to you in the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord. I must admit that I am miserable and bitter. I feel like I cannot help myself. I have been deeply wounded, and unfairly treated. I do recognize that I am hurting myself more than my offender. I choose to forget it and forgive them. Give me the help and strength that I need to do it. I do remember your grace and mercy to me. Give me the wisdom and ability that I need to extend my forgiveness to those who have hurt me. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Deut 11:18-19 (new American Standard Bible)

8 “You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. 19 And you shall teach them to your sons, talking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when you rise up.

We live in dangerous and difficult times. Circumstances are constantly changing. Our freedoms are being stolen from us every day. Our Liberty, to read and worship is constantly being encroached upon.

There is one way that we can be sure that the Scriptures are never stolen from us and our children. What’s stored within our hearts through memory can never be taken from us. It becomes a solid foundation to build our life upon.

When problems come rushing in and difficulties beyond our ability overwhelm us, the Word of God is a stabilizing factor. It not only gives us guidance and direction, but cements our faith in God’s ability to sustain and keep us.

This modern age of high technology cannot possibly take the place of storing the Word of God within our hearts and diligently teaching it to our children.

His Word never changes. It is solid as a rock and always true. God will do what he declares himself to do. You can depend upon Him. When everything else fails, He will guide you through the maze of confusion and discouragement that the enemy tries to place upon you.

The greatest heritage you can give your children is to teach them the Word of God. Help them memorize some Scripture every day.

The Scriptures will develop your own faith and provide your children with the most important tool, they will ever find. Be a living example, teach them well.

Prayer:

Dear heavenly Father, I know that we live in perilous times. Our enemies are trying to separate us from you and to brainwash our children with all kinds of false doctrines. Help me to store your Word within my heart and mind. Give me the skill and the determination to teach my children and all those that I love, the truth of your Word. Strengthen my faith, and help me to be an example to others. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Deut 11:18-20 (New American Standard Bible)

18 “You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. 19 And you shall teach them to your sons, talking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when you rise up.

Christians are always seeking ways to become close to God in intimate fellowship. Hundreds of books have been written upon the subject. Many sermons have been preached about growing close to the Lord…

There’s no mystery about such relationship with the heavenly Father. All we need to do is to read his Word. He has plainly described the secret of walking uprightly in his righteousness and very intimately in his fellowship. It’s a simple truth. So simple that most miss God’s recipe for living an overcoming life.

God gave very direct and explicit instruction to the children of Israel. We are to impress his Word upon our mind and in our hearts. It must saturate us, so that we can remember it in the moment of fear and stress and meditate upon it in the quiet moments. It should be so predominant, that we continually dwell in its powerful truth.

We are to instill His word in our children. We are to teach the ways of Almighty God, His laws and statutes, to every child. All within our household are to learn of Him. God’s word is to become the foundational structure for all that we and our children accomplish in our daily life. All that we do should be based upon His righteous standards.

We must read His word, dwell upon it in thought and meditation, digest it for spiritual nourishment and respond to the knowledge and wisdom that it provides. His word is to become so predominate in our life that we can remember his ways and walk in his righteousness, every moment.

His Word became flesh and dwelt among us. He is the bread and the water of life. Our joy and peace is established through the covenant of His word. His word is the sustaining strength to all who will abide in “new birth” through Jesus Christ, according to Acts 2:38.  His word is the ever flowing stream of eternal life. Read it and to be blessed.

Prayer:

Oh Lord, my God. I must confess that I do not spend much time establishing your Word in my mind and Spirit. My responsibilities in life overwhelm me. I have neglected to read and pray as I should. Forgive me, oh God. Cleanse me from all my unrighteousness. Help me to discipline myself to constantly read and pray. I want to become saturated with your truth and sustained by your word. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen

Mark 11:22-25 (New American Standard Bible)

22 And Jesus answered saying to them, “Have faith in God. 23 “Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it shall be granted him. 24 “Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they shall be granted you.

The disciples had just marveled as they were walking down the road and came to the fig tree that Jesus had cursed the day before. As they expressed their amazement, Jesus answered; that they should not be amazed, that in effect, this was a very small thing that he had done.

His declaration that we could cast mountains into the sea if we have faith in God is hard for us to comprehend. But it is true. The limitation of our imagination as to what God will do for us, or the power that we have through faith, is the only thing that keeps the supernatural miracles of God from becoming a regular experience in life.

Everyone has some kind of a mountain that they need to climb or overcome. The term mountain in Scripture can represent almost any difficulty or problem that is greater than our ability. Discouraging situations or relationships can become huge mountains that confront us. Jesus was trying to demonstrate to his disciples, the awesome power of true faith and the authority that accompanies it.

When we begin to believe that the things impossible can become possible, and we activate our belief with faith, through prayer and declaration in the name of Jesus Christ, the supernatural power of God will turn those things that are impossible into reality.

There is no limit to the power that is released when we express our faith without fear or doubt. God is always present to minister to the needs of his children. We need to learn to quit fearing the things that confront us and start believing and acting in faith. God will certify his power and remove the mountains before us. Nothing is impossible with God for those who genuinely believe. Never be afraid to speak that which you need.

Prayer:

Almighty God in heaven, I’m facing things far beyond my ability to handle. It seems like a great mountain looms before me. My circumstances are overwhelming. My abilities are so limited. I do believe your Word, and I know that nothing is impossible with you. Teach me to live more perfectly by faith and not to be intimidated by the forces around me. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.