The Daily Word

If you do something in the Name of Jesus, make sure you do it in excellence, striving toward mastery.
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1 Corinthians 9:24-25 – Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
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I have found it a common thing to encounter people who try to impress you with how much they know about everything. And yet when the pressure is on, when it is really time to stand up and be counted for something worthwhile, you soon discover they are a “jack-of-all-trades, but master of none.” That means they know just enough about a plethora of things to get into trouble if they really encounter a problem in that area, and be embarrassed if they encounter someone who is truly knowledgeable in it.

The admonition of our Text for Today would be sound advice for all people, but especially believers to accept and heed. Should a person strive for mastery? Absolutely! The choice of that arena, however, is between that person and the Lord Who gave them talents, abilities, and gifts they can use for His glory. Think about this; anyone can sing, but how many do it in excellence? I know many people who can play some guitar chords, but few who play guitar with excellence. Most people can speak, and while I have heard multitudes of people speak publically, there are only a few who do so excellently.

To achieve mastery, excellence at ANYTHING requires study, attention to accuracy and detail, and practice, MUCH practice. And that includes in the things of God. Being “called” does not make one excellent. The “called” person MUST be diligent in study, accuracy, detail, and practice in order to achieve mastery at that to which they are “called.” Consider a master craftsman, stage performer, athlete, doctor, or attorney. How much diligent practice did it take to get them to the mastery level of their life. Now my Christian friend, my fellow intercessor, my fellow five-fold minister, my fellow church musician, my fellow soul winner; how much diligent practice do you apply to that to which the Lord has called you? Remember, you are called to “mastery.” You CAN make it. WILL you?

Manna for Today – 1 Corinthians 9:16-27; Psalm 25:12-14; 1 John 2:20-27

Like weeping and laughing, there is a time to shout, and a time to refrain from shouting.
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Psalm 35:27 – Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.
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You can do the wrong thing at any time, and it’s just wrong. You can do the right thing at the wrong time, and it’s confusion. But you can to the right thing at the right time, and it’s good; even glorious. To shout when the Lord has said to be silent is disobedience; it’s the wrong thing. To shout about good news when an enemy is lurking at your door to attack you may not be wisdom. But to shout when the Lord says to shout; that is a glorious thing.

By its very nature, a shout is an audibly loud exclamation. It could be a phrase, a word, or merely a sound, but it is an audibly loud exclamation. In the days of Joshua, warriors would shout before and after the victory, and during the battle, often at the command of their leader. Throughout mankind’s history, people have shouted, or cried out, for help when in trouble. We see that as a recurring theme in Judges through God’s pattern of moving from Gilgal to Bochim, from the place where God is the center of all focus to the place where people cried out to God in their troubles. Thank God for His great mercies! Shouts of joy and of victory are commonly recorded in Scriptures, but it seems that timing could be critical. Consider, for example, the children of Israel outside Jericho.

They were under God’s command to shout, but ONLY at a particular time, ONLY after fulfilled obedience to a divine directive, ONLY at the provided signal, and BEFORE the physical battle was engaged. The command was clear; march around Jericho once daily for six days, and on the seventh, march around it seven times, all in silence, and in a defined order. Once that was done in obedience, the priests would signal the shout with the blowing of their ram’s horns. And the falling walls signaled the beginning of the physical battle. In the spirit the victory was already won. But between the blowing of the ram’s horns and the falling walls, there was the SHOUT.

Manna for Today – Psalm 32:11; Psalm 132:9; Isaiah 12:6; Joshua 6

Do you ever feel like simply shouting?
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Psalm 47:1 – O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.
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What has happened to the shout in church? I remember as a lad in the Baptist church; people shouted. I’ve heard, though it has become rare, people shout in Pentecostal churches. I have read church historical accounts of people shouting in the Methodist and Moravian churches of days gone by. What has happened to the shout in church? Our Text for Today and our Manna for Today offer just a few of the many Biblical references to God’s command to the His people to “shout!” It is both Old and New Testament. What has happened to the shout in the church? Has it become so tamed that we no longer have a shout, but only a loud song at best? Has the shout become to timid that it has become a mere rumor of past days?

When a person is rushing to destruction, a whisper allows them to hurry to their death. It takes a shout to awaken them to the impending doom. If someone in a burning house only whispers for help, only ashes are recovered. It takes a shout to attract attention from the rescuers. When joyous people speak low and whisper, the sound is no different from the gossip. It takes a shout to get out of the darkness. When soldiers are silent in the battle charge, the battle drowns them out. It takes a shout to keep the soldiers moving forward, together, in victory.

There is a difference in a shout and a song. The Scriptures commands us to offer both. A song is to be melodious, harmonious, set to music, and when done well, should be pleasing to one’s ear. On the other hand, a shout needs no music, tune, or harmony, and when done well may, in fact, disturb some of the hearers. At a sporting event we sing the National Anthem to begin, but when the home team scores, especially a winning score, the crowd erupts with shouting. Has the church lost its shout. Are there so few “winning moments” in our churches and services that the shout has become invalid? God forbid! We still serve a triumphant God Who is worthy of the shout. So, dear friend, take a big breath and . . .

Manna for Today – Joshua 6:5; Psalm 35:27; Zechariah 9:9

Can you see it? It is truly song inspiring!
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Matthew 5:16 – Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
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Can you see it!? Can you see what the Lord has done and is doing? If you can, you’ve got some idea of what He will yet do. Only, it’s going to be greater than the former things. In our church, one of the praise songs we sing from time to time gives a quick and lively testimony to the works of the Lord in our lives. The words say, “Look what the Lord has done . . . He healed my body, He touched my mind; He save me just in time.” It then declares that I shall praise Him Who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Now that is a great testimony, but there is so much more. I can testify to being born again, healed, delivered, and abundantly provisioned. I can testify to the work of the anointing(s) of the Lord in my life as Holy Spirit has made Himself manifest on and through them. I can testify to the mighty baptism in Holy Ghost and the power that comes with that great work. All those things have happened to me personally. But there is so much more that, as I have looked (both simply observing and watching with great expectancy. I have seen all that has happened to me happen to others simply by observing. And when I have watched with great expectancy, sometimes through me, and sometimes through the life and ministry of another, I have seen truly awesome things.

I have witnessed people healed of polio, paralysis of the lower limbs, cripples walk unassisted, blind eyes opened, deaf ears unstopped, demons being cast out and lives set free, minds, intellects, and emotions healed and restored to normal, and on two occasions, the dead raised. Now do you remember that Jesus said that if we believed, we would do all these works that He did? He also said we would do greater, and greater I have seen. In Jesus’ earthly ministry, He could see no man born again or filled with Holy Ghost. That has been our domain of work, and oh praise the Lord, I have seen it, and continue to see it; souls saved and lives transformed by Holy Ghost power. Look what the Lord has done!

Manna for Today – Psalm 1; Ephesians 2:10; John 14:12-14; Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8; John 14:12-14

Grace is my song of slavery to freedom.
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Ephesians 2:8-9 – For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.
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The name of this old hymn is, I am sure readily recognized. The author originally penned six verses, with a seventh being added by an unknown author some years later. The writer, John Newton, has been a slave trader before he was born again, but ultimately became a strong man of God working with William Wilberforce against the evils of slavery. Those who knew Newton believed his writing of this hymn, particularly verse one, to be to a degree referring to his conversion and redemption from the slave trade. Regardless, it is a strong word from the Lord for anyone who will receive it.

Oh how precious the grace of God. It is that gift of God that makes up that which is lacking in us, putting us into that realm of joint-heirship in which our faith works like the Lord’s faith. And a thorough study of the Word speaks clearly to the truth that grace comes to us “through” faith. And the imagery of that should be one of the most compelling forces toward one being an active part of the body of Christ. The Scriptures declare that when Zion (the church) travails, children are born into the kingdom. In short, for a child of God to be born into the kingdom (born again) there was first a conception, and through the faith of God in the heart of a conceiving believer, and through the act of intercession, children of God are born (born again).

Oh how grateful I am for that great grace, that grace that is greater than sin, that grace that, where sin abounds, abounds much more, that grace that enables me, that grace that becomes the delivery system for so many of the glorious anointings of the Lord into my life, that great grace that enables me to be a worker in the kingdom of God, daily working toward the building of the kingdom and seeing the laying of the headstone, shouting “grace, grace unto it.” Shout “grace,” my friend; shout “grace!”

Manna for Today – Romans 4:15; Romans 5:16; Romans 11:6; 1 Corinthians 10:30; Ephesians 2:5; Genesis 6:8; Genesis 39:4; Exodus 33:12-17; Hebrews 4:16

His Name is all the reason I need to sing.
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Philippians 2:10-11 – That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
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The song writer penned, “. . . there’s just something about that Name.” And oh how true those words are. The longer I live the stronger they become to me on a daily basis. My Heavenly Father gave all power in heaven and in earth to the Lord Jesus, and then He turned around upon His departure to be seated on the right hand of the Father and dispensed all that power to you and me. He gave us the power of attorney to use His Name to accomplish any work He would do in the earth. And the glorious truth of it is this; in His Name, you and I can do even greater works than Jesus did while He was in the earth. Yes, that’s right; EVEN GREATER WORKS! I know, the religious mind has a great deal of difficulty grasping that truth, but truth it is, nonetheless.

The truth is that there is no other name given under heaven whereby men may be saved; not Moon, not Buddha, not Muhammad, not Allah, not Confucius; NOT ANY OTHER NAME! ONLY the Name of Jesus. In that wonderful Name of Jesus, men are saved, healed, delivered, abundantly provisioned, and filled with Holy Ghost. In that matchless Name of Jesus demons are cast out, and through that Name the child of God can stand fearless in this world so filled with destruction for the believer. And when a believer speaks that Name, all the attention of heaven with its present power and resources rises to hear the voice of that speaker and the words of faith that follow that Name.

The authority of that Name is unmatched by any other name in heaven, in earth, or under the earth. At the mention of that Name every knee should bow, of beings in heaven, in earth, or under the earth. The smart knee bows willingly at NOW. The ignorant, rebellious, and arrogant knee will wait until later to be forced to bow. Better now than later. There is indeed “SOMETHING” about that Name.

Manna for Today – Romans 14:11; Matthew 18:20; John 14:12-14; John 15:16; John 16:23-26

The song goes on . . .
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2 Corinthians 1:20 – For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
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The word “Amen” is one used much by many people, many perhaps not even believers. Many people grew up hearing that term used all over the congregation in support of the sermon preached and as the closing word to prayers prayed. I am still amazed today at how many Christians still do not know the true and powerful meaning of this awesome word. To some it is a token word of encouragement to the person speaking in the church, to others it is the closing of a prayer simply saying, “the end.” To still others, it is simply a phrase of agreement to something someone has spoken. The true meaning and power of “Amen” escapes them.

But, my friend, it is a powerful statement. Yes, it does indeed mean that the hearer agrees with what the speaker has said. And yes, it does indeed indicate a concluding point of faith released in prayer. The meaning of “Amen” is, clearly stated, “SO BE IT!” I both say and write often the words, “If God said it, that settles it.” For me, that is a resounding “Amen” to anything God says. Now God does not my agreement for what He says to be truth. But there are many things in life that I need that will not come to me without my agreement with the Lord and the exercise of my faith in Him. When I say “Amen,” I am not saying to the minister to be cheered on for what he has said, nor am I saying at the end of my prayer, “that’s all for now.” The word “Amen” coming from my mouth indicates agreement in faith and a point of establishment. It is saying, “I accept the Word of God as a clear and undeniable truth and promise in my life, and because I have said it, that promise has become an established truth in my life; IT IS DONE!”

I love the old Gospel tune that largely consists of the repeating of that one word, “Amen.” It is not vain repetition to sing it as such. Rather it is a glowing testimony of the great truth of what the Lord has said. So sing with me, “A-a-a-men, a-a-a-men, a-a-men, amen, amen!” Now rejoice and sing it again.

Manna for Today – Isaiah 45:11; Isaiah 55:6-13; Romans 3:4

Still yet I sing!
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Matthew 6:26 – Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
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Again today I find myself rejoicing in the great love and supply of the Father God for His people, and if I may be so bold, especially for me. Consider our Text for Today. Oh how powerful, how beautiful, and how wondrously telling of our Father’s love for us. We live day to day, and it is likely that many of those days pass without us giving a single thought to the “fowls of the air.” After all, they are so common-place. Birds are everywhere. We see individual birds, great flocks in migration, beautiful formations of geese, and the elegant and yet powerful birds of prey in the skies above us. And yet it is most unlikely that we give any real consideration to what we are seeing. After all, they are only birds. Jesus did not suffer and die to redeem birds from sin, birds are not healed by His stripes, and the chastisement of their peace is NOT upon Jesus. Those arenas of the love of God are exclusively ours. Yet He feeds the birds. He has numbered the very hairs of the heads of those for whom Jesus died, yet He notices when a bird falls from the sky.

The song writer spoke it so artistically when penning the words, “His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.” He sees my comings and goings, my rising up and my lying down. Even when my faith seems small, He feeds, clothes, and houses me. If I sin and separate myself from His fellowship, He knows, and yet still uses Holy Ghost to convict and convince me to return. And regardless of how bad my transgression may appear to others, like the father of the prodigal son, He is waiting to restore me to right and complete fellowship, seeing me a great way off. Though I make my bed in hell, He is there. Whether I fall into trouble, or trouble tries to overtake me, my Father is there, watching, and ready to help. Oh what love our Father shows us each and every moment of every day. Be glad, my friend, that Father is watching. Be glad that He is near, even when you are far away. Be glad and rejoice for His great, undying, never-ending love. Remember those birds? You truly are BETTER THAN THEY!

Manna for Today – John 3:16-17; 1 John 4:19; Psalm 139

Today I find myself still singing.
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Hebrews 9:22 – And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
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When compared to the brilliant minds of this natural world, it may appear that I don’t know much. But when I truly know something, I KNOW it! And the following words from a Christian song of the late 20th century are not only words I remember, but a vital truth I believe, too; “Yes, I know; yes, I know; Jesus’ blood can make the vilest sinner clean.” I am so glad and eternally grateful for that cleansing in my life, and for that continued cleansing as I walk in His glorious light.

But there are many other things to which I can respond, “Yes, I know…” And the reason I can say, “Yes, I know” is two-fold. I have found it in the Word of God, AND I have experienced it in my life. Now here’s a point that needs to be clarified. I don’t have to have experienced it to believe it and respond, “Yes, I know” if it is in the Word of God, for if God said it, that settles it. BUT, having experienced it, I can make that declaration with the joy that comes from that experience and the hope that experience spawns in my heart for the next battle I may have to fight.

Does Jesus really love me (and you)? Yes, I know! Does Jesus heal? Yes, I know! Does Jesus deliver? Yes, I know! Does Jesus provide abundance? Yes, I know! Will Jesus save my family? Yes, I know! Will Jesus always be with me? Yes, I know! Can I live a life free from worry and anxiety? Yes, I know! Does Father hear and answer prayers? Yes, I know! Am I really the head and not the tail, above only and not beneath? Yes, I know! Can I live the life of an overcomer in Christ? Yes, I know! Will the Lord grant me favor in every arena of life if I just serve Him? Yes, I know! Will the Lord use me as His vessel if I just yield my life to Him? Yes, I know! Is it possible for me to be as wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove? Yes, I know! Can I be safe regardless of the dangers that might be around me? Yes, I know! Can I prosper even in a terribly troubled world economy? Yes, I know! Can I live victoriously above any and all sickness and disease? Yes, I know! If God’s Word says it, does that settle it? Yes, I know!

Manna for Today – 1 John 1:7-9; 1 Peter 2:24; Philippians 4:19; Isaiah 55:6-13

It is amazing how a little song can remind us of things so important.
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1 John 4:19 – We love him, because he first loved us.
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As a child, I learned a song still sung by many children in church today, now more than 55-years later. The lyrics of the song declare so sweetly when heard in the tender tones of a child’s voice, “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong; they are weak but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me; yes, Jesus loves me; yes, Jesus loves me. The Bible tells me so.” Those words are still sweetness to my ears now more than six decades old.

When the day has been long, Jesus loves me. This I know! When people just don’t seem to understand the good I’m trying to do for them, Jesus loves me. This I know! When symptoms of sickness try to lay hold on my body, Jesus loves me. This I know! When financial pressures come to bear against me, Jesus loves me. This I know! When those who hate God and reject out of hand His great love for them, Jesus loves me. This I know! When my heart aches for those I love to only come back to the love of God they once knew, Jesus loves me. This I know! When I hear of dear brothers or sisters in the Lord who have succumbed to some attack of the enemy, Jesus loves me. This I know! When my eyes fill with tears over the horrible and public failure of a fellow man or woman of God, Jesus loves me. This I know! When I hear of the torture and even death of men of God in foreign fields, Jesus loves me. This I know! When I hear of hungry children in impoverished nations of the world, Jesus loves me. This I know! When I receive reports of small children being pressed into slavery because of a parent’s debt, Jesus loves me. This I know! When tears run down my face in times of intercession, Jesus loves me. This I know! When I feel completely alone in dealing with situations that hurt many that I love, Jesus loves me. This I know!

And it is that knowing that keeps me going in the good times and the bad, that helps me rise when I feel weak and when I feel strong, that encourages my heart when depression seems to be crushing people all about me. And the good news for you is He loves you just as much as He does me. This I know!

Manna for Today – John 3:16-17; John 12-14; 1 John 5:3