Fulfilling Your Destiny
Gloria Copeland
As thou [the Father] hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them [those who believe on me] into the world. John 17:18
“What’s God’s plan for my life?” We’ve all asked that question at some point in our lives. Christians everywhere are longing to answer God’s call. They’re eager to fulfill the divine purpose for which they were created. But they need direction in finding out what that plan is...
God never intended for us to be in the dark about His plan for our lives. He left us clear, written instructions concerning His will for us. What’s more, He gave us a pattern to follow so we could see how to carry out those instructions.
The pattern is Jesus. You’ve been sent forth into the world to continue His ministry. I know that sounds like a tall order, but it’s true. He said so Himself in John 17:18.
Once we realize Jesus is the pattern, we need to find out exactly what Jesus was sent to do: “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8).
Think about that. You’re called to finish what Jesus began: to destroy, undo and bring to naught the works of the devil on earth. That is the job God wants us to do.
“That’s a big job, Gloria! How on earth am I ever going to do that?”
The same way Jesus did. After all, He promised, “He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father” (John 14:12).
In short, the works, or ministry of Jesus was threefold: 1) He healed the sick, 2) He cast out demons, and 3) He preached the good news of the kingdom of God.
Now, I know it’s easy to do the preaching and not the other two works. But the gospel was never designed to be preached without proof that Jesus is alive today. Jesus didn’t just say, “The kingdom of God is here.” He demonstrated it. He proved the truth of what He was saying by operating in the supernatural power of God.
And He expects us to do the same. That’s God’s plan for your life!
God’s program is still the same. It didn’t change when Jesus went to sit at the right hand of the Father. He’s still expecting us to do the things He did and finish what He started. He is sitting at the right hand of God this very minute, waiting for us. He is waiting for us to rise up by the Spirit of God and make His enemies His footstool. So what are you waiting for?
Fulfill God’s plan in the earth. Fulfill your calling. Fulfill your destiny.
Scripture Reading: Matthew 8:16, 9:35
Possess Your Promised Land
Gloria Copeland
When ye are passed over Jordan into the land of Canaan; Then ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you...and dwell therein: for I have given you the land to possess it. Numbers 33:51-53
God has given you a Promised Land. It's a place flowing with milk and honey, where your every need can be met. A place where you can keep sin underfoot as you rule and reign with Christ. A place where no weapon formed against you will prosper. A place where you are seated with Christ in heavenly places, far above principalities and powers--far from oppression.
As you study the Word of God, you'll find that's an accurate description of the kind of victory you should be experiencing in Christ--not in the sweet by-and-by--but right here, right now.
You may say, "Yes, that sounds nice in theory, but I'm dealing with reality here. The rent is due, and all I see is sickness, oppression and fear. This doesn't look like much of a Promised Land to me."
Are you still letting the devil live there? He's not just going to pack up and go home, you know, just because God has promised you victory. You have to kick him out.
But don't let that scare you. God has given you the power to do it. Remember what Jesus said? He said, "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you" (Luke 10:19).
What's more, the devil is totally unarmed! Colossians 2:15 says, "[God] disarmed the principalities and powers ranged against us and made a bold display and public example of them, in triumphing over them in...[the cross]" (The Amplified Bible). You have absolutely no reason to cower before the devil. Jesus defeated and disarmed him through His death, burial and resurrection. The devil can't defeat you unless you let him. All he can do is make empty threats.
But beware! Empty threats can stop you cold if you believe them. So don't. Believe the Word of God instead. Use the Word and the Name of Jesus to drive the devil out of every last detail of your life.
Don't let him dwell in your territory. Force him to pack up and go home. Start possessing your Promised Land!
Scripture Reading: Mark 16:17-18; James 5:7-9
Friday, May 21, 2010
You Must Take the Test
Wisdom to Change
Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?-unless indeed you are disqualified. 2 Corinthians 13:5
The company I work for requires me to take several tests. One test in particular I remember taking is the Compliance test. This is done online and the great thing about it is if you don’t complete it in the same day, you’re able to pick up from where you left off at. Now, I don’t know anything about Compliance Rules and Regulations, but when I take the time to read and understand it, this helps me prepare for the questions coming up. Did you know there will always be a test to take in this life? When it gets hard we tend to want to give up and quit, but something within just won’t let us. This is where we leave the test module and pick back up on it later. Somehow we tell ourselves, we have to go through and complete our assignment. Guess what? Just like the test module, life’s tests are the same way. When you pause from the test, God has you pick right back up where you left off at.
There’s no way of getting around it, you have to go through and take the test. These tests are designed to help you grow, take you to the next level and give you a greater measure of faith to trust God. When the children of Israel heard that God was going to deliver them from hard bondage which was a promise, they got excited. They felt as if they were going to leave right now, but to their surprise things started going wrong. When Moses went to Pharaoh and told him what God said, Pharaoh made it hard on the children of Israel. They could not believe it. How could God say one thing and all this is happening? Don’t you know any promise we stand on and take as our own, the enemy of our soul will fight to make sure we give up and quit. Listen, whenever God gives us a promise, rest assured there will be a problem BUT God has given us His provision.
Some of you reading this right now, God promised you something and it seems like it’s just not coming to pass. Not so, says the Lord. Recognize the signs of the EBS -Enemy being Stupid. He’s always setting off alarms to make you think it’s an emergency or you're doing something wrong. Stay focus and take the test. This test that you’re taking is not hard. The answers have already been given to you. I’m going to let you in on a little secret. This test you’re taking is an open book test. Also the Teacher is willing to give you the answers to all the questions, if you’ll ask. And no, this is not cheating. He's excited to give you the answers. So don’t try and figure it out on your on.
Relax, take your time and rest in Him whom all blessings flow. If your test is scheduled soon or sometime later, remember to start preparing now. The Teacher that's assigned to help is willing to give you the answers and it's an open book test.
Have a Beautiful Day
Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?-unless indeed you are disqualified. 2 Corinthians 13:5
The company I work for requires me to take several tests. One test in particular I remember taking is the Compliance test. This is done online and the great thing about it is if you don’t complete it in the same day, you’re able to pick up from where you left off at. Now, I don’t know anything about Compliance Rules and Regulations, but when I take the time to read and understand it, this helps me prepare for the questions coming up. Did you know there will always be a test to take in this life? When it gets hard we tend to want to give up and quit, but something within just won’t let us. This is where we leave the test module and pick back up on it later. Somehow we tell ourselves, we have to go through and complete our assignment. Guess what? Just like the test module, life’s tests are the same way. When you pause from the test, God has you pick right back up where you left off at.
There’s no way of getting around it, you have to go through and take the test. These tests are designed to help you grow, take you to the next level and give you a greater measure of faith to trust God. When the children of Israel heard that God was going to deliver them from hard bondage which was a promise, they got excited. They felt as if they were going to leave right now, but to their surprise things started going wrong. When Moses went to Pharaoh and told him what God said, Pharaoh made it hard on the children of Israel. They could not believe it. How could God say one thing and all this is happening? Don’t you know any promise we stand on and take as our own, the enemy of our soul will fight to make sure we give up and quit. Listen, whenever God gives us a promise, rest assured there will be a problem BUT God has given us His provision.
Some of you reading this right now, God promised you something and it seems like it’s just not coming to pass. Not so, says the Lord. Recognize the signs of the EBS -Enemy being Stupid. He’s always setting off alarms to make you think it’s an emergency or you're doing something wrong. Stay focus and take the test. This test that you’re taking is not hard. The answers have already been given to you. I’m going to let you in on a little secret. This test you’re taking is an open book test. Also the Teacher is willing to give you the answers to all the questions, if you’ll ask. And no, this is not cheating. He's excited to give you the answers. So don’t try and figure it out on your on.
Relax, take your time and rest in Him whom all blessings flow. If your test is scheduled soon or sometime later, remember to start preparing now. The Teacher that's assigned to help is willing to give you the answers and it's an open book test.
Have a Beautiful Day
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Wisdom To Change
Lordship Is a Continuous Walk
We begin our Christian life by acknowledging that Jesus is Lord. We must continue to walk under His Lordship for the rest of our lives. Lordship is not having a one-time experience with God, but developing a lifetime walk with God. The more we know Him, the more we submit to Him. (Colossians 2:6)
Personal Application
1. Are there areas in your life that you have not yet submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ?
2. Are your relationships under His Lordship?
3. Are your finances under His Lordship?
4. Is your time submitted to His Lordship?
Have a Beautiful Day
We begin our Christian life by acknowledging that Jesus is Lord. We must continue to walk under His Lordship for the rest of our lives. Lordship is not having a one-time experience with God, but developing a lifetime walk with God. The more we know Him, the more we submit to Him. (Colossians 2:6)
Personal Application
1. Are there areas in your life that you have not yet submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ?
2. Are your relationships under His Lordship?
3. Are your finances under His Lordship?
4. Is your time submitted to His Lordship?
Have a Beautiful Day
Do You Love Him?
Wisdom to Change
If you love Me, keep My commandments. John 14:15
Do we have a heart that says, Lord, I love You? Lord, I want my life to be an example of Your love. I want to love, like you love me Lord. This love that you have bestowed upon me must be given so that others my know Your Love. My desire is to live totally committed to You. A life that’s willing to obey your Word, keep your commandments and serve You with all my might, with all my soul and all with my heart. Lord, I love you so much I’m willing to surrender my all to you.
In the Word of God, Jesus said if you love me, keep my commandments (John 14:15). If you keep My commandments, you will abide in His love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love (John 15:10). For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome (1 John 5:3). There’s a running theme here, IF WE LOVE GOD…we will keep His commandments. As a child growing up, we loved our parents very much that we chose not to do anything to displease or dishonor them. The love we showed our parents helped us make quality decisions concerning what’s right and what’s wrong. These decisions either helped us to obey our parents or we paid the consequences for our actions that lead to a sore bottom and also displeased them. This is the same with God, if we love Him like we say we do, we will obey His commandments and our life will be an example of His love towards others. If we love God, there should be no sin in our lives. This love that we have for Him will cause us to live a pure and holy life.
Do you understand what I’m saying? If we love God, truly love God, we will keep, obey and do what His commandments tell us. Love the Lord your God with a heart that will never ever bring shame or dishonor to His name. Keep the Lord’s commandments and do them in order to bring glory to His name for this is how we show our love to Him. Remember, if you truly love the Father, you will truly keep His commandments.
Have a Beautiful Day
If you love Me, keep My commandments. John 14:15
Do we have a heart that says, Lord, I love You? Lord, I want my life to be an example of Your love. I want to love, like you love me Lord. This love that you have bestowed upon me must be given so that others my know Your Love. My desire is to live totally committed to You. A life that’s willing to obey your Word, keep your commandments and serve You with all my might, with all my soul and all with my heart. Lord, I love you so much I’m willing to surrender my all to you.
In the Word of God, Jesus said if you love me, keep my commandments (John 14:15). If you keep My commandments, you will abide in His love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love (John 15:10). For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome (1 John 5:3). There’s a running theme here, IF WE LOVE GOD…we will keep His commandments. As a child growing up, we loved our parents very much that we chose not to do anything to displease or dishonor them. The love we showed our parents helped us make quality decisions concerning what’s right and what’s wrong. These decisions either helped us to obey our parents or we paid the consequences for our actions that lead to a sore bottom and also displeased them. This is the same with God, if we love Him like we say we do, we will obey His commandments and our life will be an example of His love towards others. If we love God, there should be no sin in our lives. This love that we have for Him will cause us to live a pure and holy life.
Do you understand what I’m saying? If we love God, truly love God, we will keep, obey and do what His commandments tell us. Love the Lord your God with a heart that will never ever bring shame or dishonor to His name. Keep the Lord’s commandments and do them in order to bring glory to His name for this is how we show our love to Him. Remember, if you truly love the Father, you will truly keep His commandments.
Have a Beautiful Day
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Are You Clean?
Wisdom to Change
Are You Clean?
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your Presence and do not take your Holy Spirit from me.
Psalm 51:10-11
Could you use a nice hot bath to wash away all the stress, worries and doubts? How about immersed under water to get rid of all impurities? What about a total purification of spirit, soul and body? Well, I’ll be honest with you, I need it all. I need the Father to wash me thoroughly from my iniquities and cleanse me from all my sins. I need the Father to create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me. I need the Father to purge and purify me so I can be clean, before His presence. I need the cleansing power of the Blood of Jesus so that I may live a righteous life before Him.
How many of us ask the Father to cleanse us on a daily basis from our sins? Be honest! When was the last time you said Lord, forgive me for sinning against you? Or Lord, I’m sorry for all the negative things I said in your Holy presence. The only way that our sins can be forgiven is when we ask the Father to forgive us. No man can forgive us of our sins. God is the only one that can forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Do you need to repent for not submitting to authority; having a gossiping tongue or not spending time with Him? Do you need to repent for a negative attitude; not living according to His Word or for thinking evil and wicked thoughts? Listen, don’t get it twisted; there are many of God’s children that have ill thoughts against another sister or brother. We need to make repentance a lifestyle in order to live a life that’s pleasing to the Father.
Everyday we need to ask the Father to forgive us from all unrighteousness. Forgive us of sins we commit knowingly or unknowingly. We need to have a pure heart towards others so they may see Christ in us. There’s a lost and dying world and the only righteous person they may see is YOU! From this day forward, ask for His forgiveness daily, ask Him to cleanse us from all sin, so that are lives may be a reflection of His love.
Have a Beautiful Day
Are You Clean?
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your Presence and do not take your Holy Spirit from me.
Psalm 51:10-11
Could you use a nice hot bath to wash away all the stress, worries and doubts? How about immersed under water to get rid of all impurities? What about a total purification of spirit, soul and body? Well, I’ll be honest with you, I need it all. I need the Father to wash me thoroughly from my iniquities and cleanse me from all my sins. I need the Father to create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me. I need the Father to purge and purify me so I can be clean, before His presence. I need the cleansing power of the Blood of Jesus so that I may live a righteous life before Him.
How many of us ask the Father to cleanse us on a daily basis from our sins? Be honest! When was the last time you said Lord, forgive me for sinning against you? Or Lord, I’m sorry for all the negative things I said in your Holy presence. The only way that our sins can be forgiven is when we ask the Father to forgive us. No man can forgive us of our sins. God is the only one that can forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Do you need to repent for not submitting to authority; having a gossiping tongue or not spending time with Him? Do you need to repent for a negative attitude; not living according to His Word or for thinking evil and wicked thoughts? Listen, don’t get it twisted; there are many of God’s children that have ill thoughts against another sister or brother. We need to make repentance a lifestyle in order to live a life that’s pleasing to the Father.
Everyday we need to ask the Father to forgive us from all unrighteousness. Forgive us of sins we commit knowingly or unknowingly. We need to have a pure heart towards others so they may see Christ in us. There’s a lost and dying world and the only righteous person they may see is YOU! From this day forward, ask for His forgiveness daily, ask Him to cleanse us from all sin, so that are lives may be a reflection of His love.
Have a Beautiful Day
Monday, May 17, 2010
Marvelous Monday
Walk in the Light You Have
Gloria Copeland
But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them.
2 Timothy 3:14
If you're born again and have the Word of God in your heart, you can live in victory. You may not have all the answers. There may be a great many spiritual things you don't understand. But it's not those things that are most likely to destroy you. It's the things you know to do--but don't--that usually make you fall.
Just think about walking at night down a dark, unfamiliar path in the middle of a jungle. The guide up ahead has a flashlight to keep you on the right path. But then, you just decide to wander off into the darkness by yourself. What do you think will happen to you? You'll probably stumble and fall. Very likely, you'll get hurt.
That's exactly the same thing that can happen in your walk with the Lord. He knows what's ahead and He shines just enough light for you to take one step at a time. You have to continue walking in that light in order to get where you're going.
You may not know why He's leading you a certain way. You may not understand all the things involved. But God will make up for your ignorance by the Holy Spirit. He'll see to it that you have victory if you continue in what you know.
It's good to keep studying. It's good to keep learning. But, remember, it's not the great revelation you haven't yet had that will cause you the most trouble. It's failing to walk in the ones God has already given you. So be faithful in those things. Continue in them day after day after day. You'll make it through just fine!
Scripture Reading: 2 Peter 1:2-11
Gloria Copeland
But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them.
2 Timothy 3:14
If you're born again and have the Word of God in your heart, you can live in victory. You may not have all the answers. There may be a great many spiritual things you don't understand. But it's not those things that are most likely to destroy you. It's the things you know to do--but don't--that usually make you fall.
Just think about walking at night down a dark, unfamiliar path in the middle of a jungle. The guide up ahead has a flashlight to keep you on the right path. But then, you just decide to wander off into the darkness by yourself. What do you think will happen to you? You'll probably stumble and fall. Very likely, you'll get hurt.
That's exactly the same thing that can happen in your walk with the Lord. He knows what's ahead and He shines just enough light for you to take one step at a time. You have to continue walking in that light in order to get where you're going.
You may not know why He's leading you a certain way. You may not understand all the things involved. But God will make up for your ignorance by the Holy Spirit. He'll see to it that you have victory if you continue in what you know.
It's good to keep studying. It's good to keep learning. But, remember, it's not the great revelation you haven't yet had that will cause you the most trouble. It's failing to walk in the ones God has already given you. So be faithful in those things. Continue in them day after day after day. You'll make it through just fine!
Scripture Reading: 2 Peter 1:2-11
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