Small Beginnings

Zechariah 4:10 – “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin…”

The new year always brings with it new hopes, new excitement, new expectations, and new beginnings. In this verse, Zechariah is instructing the people of Israel regarding the building of the Temple. He said not to despise the small beginnings.

Six years ago, I took my first Charis Bible College course. The Lord rejoices to see the work begin… This past fall we opened the doors of the Charis Bible College, Cherry Hill, NJ. I did hundreds of small things that has now become a big thing. Though it wasn’t easy at times, I did not “despise the small beginnings”. There were so many things that I had to learn, so many skills I had to develop to become a Director, but every step was worth it. Why? Thousands of people are going to be able to attend Charis Bible College in NJ over the next decade. I’m in awe of God’s goodness.

What small step is the Lord asking you to take this year that will be the beginning of something absolutely awesome. What small thing is He asking you to do? Are you nervous? That’s okay, He’s with you every step of the way. Verse 7 says, it’s “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts”. Every big thing in life starts with a small thing. Let 2023 be your year of small beginnings.

The Word Was Made Flesh

John 1:14 “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the father, full of grace and truth”

As we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ today, we have so much to be thankful for and we have so much to celebrate. Christ is born! The Word was made flesh! In this scripture, “Word” is capitalized because it’s a person, Jesus Himself.

Have you ever thought about that? Every day, as you spend time in the Word of God, you are spending time with Jesus Himself. That’s awesome.

In the very beginning, before the fall of man in the garden, God already had a plan. He always has an answer before we have a problem. It was prophesied that Jesus would be born and that He would literally crush the devil’s head (Genesis 3:15). The Word is still becoming “flesh” today. When we speak the Word over situations in our lives, the supernatural affects our natural. The Word is still the most powerful weapon we have to crush every attempt of the enemy.

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory…”. What a Savior. What a friend we have in Jesus. Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones.

Your Place Called Here

1 John 4:17 “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world”

Don’t you love those maps at the mall or the park that say in big letters “You are Here”? They help us to know where we are so we can get where we’re going. If you look up the word “here” in the dictionary, it means “present in a place”.

The Apostle John used the word “herein” in 1 John 4:17 to describe where we are right now. Where? “As He is, so are we in this world”. Right here, right now. It’s our place called here. It’s our present identity in Christ. As He is, so are we. Is Jesus sick? No. Is Jesus poor? No. Is Jesus depressed? No. Sickness, poverty and all forms of darkness were nailed to the cross in the body of Jesus. This verse makes it very clear that this is not for when we get to heaven, it’s for while we are here in this world. This is our place called here. All that Jesus is, so are we in this world. So, the next time the enemy shows up with some negative thing, what will be the first thing that comes out of our mouth? “Is Jesus _____? No. Then neither am I, because as He is, so am I in this world.”

To Be Sure

Hebrews 10:22 “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water”

So, you’re having a conversation with someone, and they say something significant. You stop, think about it, then say “just to be sure…”, then repeat back what they said. You just want to be absolutely certain you heard correctly. Sound familiar?

Did you know that God wants us “to be sure” that what He promised, He will perform in our lives? In Hebrews 10:22 it says that we can have “full assurance of faith“. In other words, to have full as-SURE-ance! Paul said “all the promises of God in Him are yes, and amen” (2 Cor. 1:20). There is never a “maybe” or “if” regarding His promises.

How can we be “sure”? How can we have “full assurance of faith”? Hebrews 10:22 also says “let us draw near”. Close fellowship with God and His word is the key to having full assurance of faith. When we fellowship with God and spend time poring over His word, faith flows at floodtide in our lives. The less attention we give the word, the more doubt and unbelief creeps in. Do you want “to be sure”? Do you want to have full assurance of faith? Then draw near to God today and fellowship with Him and His word.

The Honeymooners

Romans 5:8-9 – “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.”

One of my favorite TV shows growing up was The Honeymooners starring Jackie Gleason as Ralph Kramden, and his wife Alice, portraying an outspoken working-class married couple living in Brooklyn struggling to get by. Joined by his best friend Ed Norton, Ralph constantly found himself in situations caused by his absurd choices and judgmental ways. Though it aired in 1955-56, reruns are still popular today.

Another popular saying is “the honeymoon is over”, ever heard that one? It means that the “in love” stage has passed in a marriage and reality has finally set in. How sad. Even sadder is that’s how some people refer to their relationship with God. They were all excited in the beginning, but things have slowly gone downhill from there.

Romans 5:8-9 says the opposite. It says that our relationship with God is “much more” now than when it first began. In fact, our relationship with God is increasing every day in knowledge, intimacy, and clarity as we grow in grace. Like any other relationship, the more time spent enjoying God’s presence, the stronger and deeper our relationship becomes. With God, you’re on a perpetual honeymoon that goes on for eternity. Enjoy!

At the Table, Not Under the Table

Matthew 15:27 “She replied, ‘that’s true Lord but even dogs are allowed to eat the scraps that fall beneath their master’s table’” ( NLT)

Our dog Benny loved when my mother would come to visit. He was guaranteed lots of crumbs, scraps, and a few secret hand offs under the table when he sat at her feet at meals. He loved her as much as I did!

In Matthew 15, Jesus comes across a woman from Canaan that begs Him to heal her daughter miserably tormented by a demonic spirit. His response, nothing. She continued to cry out. His disciples’ response, send her away, she’s annoying! His response, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” She continued to cry out and knelt before Him begging for help. His response, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” What? Her response, “That’s true Lord but even dogs are allowed to eat the scraps that fall beneath their master’s table”. What? What? Jesus’ response, “O woman, your faith is great! Let it be done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour. This same scenario would probably not play out the same way in today’s society.

Unfortunately, there are so many believers that still see themselves as “dogs” waiting for a “crumb” from Jesus. Just a little healing. Just a little touch from God. Just enough to get by. No! You’re not UNDER the table, you’re seated with Christ AT the table. You are accepted in the beloved (Eph. 1:6). You are a child of God and joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17). Rise up and receive!

Gentlemen, This is a Football

Matthew 16:18 “and you are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”

Do you want to go to the next level in every area of your life? Here’s a simple principle to follow…get back to the basics. Many times, we think it’s the complex and complicated things that we need. In the 1960’s there was a Hall of Fame coach named Vince Lombardi who led the Green Bay Packers, a professional football team based in Wisconsin. At the start of training camp in 1961, after closing their previous season with a loss in the championship game to the Philadelphia Eagles, he stood before his players and said, “Gentlemen, this is a football“. What he was implying was, we’re going to get back to basics, we’re going to get back to blocking, tackling, and catching the football. The result…they proceeded to win six championships over the next seven years. That’s powerful.

There’s something here we need to see. In Matthew 16:18, Jesus said “Upon this rock I will build my church…“ It is imperative that every believer build a strong foundation in the basic principles of the Word of God if we are going to prevail in life. I recommend that people start with studying every scripture in the New Testament that includes “In Him” or “In Whom” or “By Him”, etc. These will help us know our identity in Christ and who we are in our born-again spirit. Why? So the gates of hell will not prevail against us! Whether we’ve been a Christian for several decades or several days, we need to say to ourselves every morning, “[Your name], this is a Bible”!

Your Place Called There

1 Kings 17:4 “You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there."

As you enter the amazing campus of Andrew Wommack Ministries and the Charis Bible College in Woodland Park, CO, there is a sign along the driveway that says, “Welcome to your place called there”. My wife Natalie and I just had to snap a photo near this sign because of its tremendous significance. Because I was obedient to God in attending Charis Bible College, we now have a extension school in Cherry Hill, NJ with over 35 students in attendance.

In 1 Kings 17, in the midst of a devastating famine, God had prepared a place for the prophet Elijah and supernaturally supplied him with food and water. It was a place called "there". The word “there” means “in that place or at that location”. God has already provided a place called “there” for every one of us, with everything we would ever need and more. It's just a matter of getting to where “there” is.

How? Obedience. 1 Kings 17:2-3 says, “And the word of the LORD came to him: ‘Depart from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan.” Walking in obedience always starts with not just the Word of God, but a Word from God. God always gives wisdom, that gives you a strategy, that leads to your victory.

Elijah still had a choice to follow the word of the Lord, or not. What if Elijah didn't go “there”? He would have died in the famine with everyone else even though provision was available over “there”. Folks we need to get "there" in our thinking and in our obedience.

Faith accesses what grace has already made available, but we play a big part in our own victories. What you need today is already available, it's close by, it already exists. Listen for a Word from God and He will show you where “there” is. And remember, He always has others in mind that He wants to bless through you in “your place called there”.

Come Away and Rest Awhile

Mark 6:31 “come away ......and rest awhile”

Burnout is something that all of us face in one form or another in life. Burnout can look like: 1) overwhelming tiredness over what needs to be done or what is looming ahead, 2) frustration at the constant needs, demands, and expectations of others, 3) lack of vision of what the future holds, 4) depression, agitation, anger, stress, and anxiousness, 5) physical illness and lack of care for yourself, and 6) judgement and offense towards those you feel are demanding of your time, energy and efforts.

There are always things to do. There is always more that could be done. More that should be done. The question comes up, Are these things we’ve laid on ourselves from the heart of God or our own devised plans or demands of others? Wayne Cordeiro, author of Leading on Empty, says that “people’s needs are great and their expectations are endless. You can’t base your life on the expectations of others”. He said, “It is good to wean ourselves off the need to be needed.”

In Mark 6 it says “come away...and rest awhile”. I like that because we need to actually get away from some things to truly rest. Remember, God doesn’t give us a vision for our lives that will end in burnout, hurt or destroy relationships, or cause stress or illness. Our visions and lifestyle are to be birthed out of our relationship with the Father, therefore they are sustained by that same relationship. Even in our thoughts, it’s good to “come away...and rest awhile”. His grace is always available to keep us refreshed, renewed, and refilled!

So, how about you? Whether it’s for a minute, a day, a week, or a month…when the activity of this world starts to crowd your mind and your life…stop…come away…breathe...rest awhile…then head back refreshed.

Don't Look!

Romans 4:19 “And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about a hundred years old, neither the deadness of Sarah’s womb”

When someone says to you, “Hey, don’t look!” or “What we are about to show you could be very graphic“, it’s not easy NOT to look. But that’s exactly what Abraham did, he refused to focus on the natural reasons he couldn’t physically produce a child.

I want to encourage you today to be like Abraham, who was convinced God was able to do what He had promised. Even though Abraham was about a hundred years old, he believed God’s promise that He would make him a “father of many nations”. This is a huge key to receiving supernatural manifestations of God’s promises. He didn’t focus on his own body, he focused on God’s promise. Don’t look at the symptoms in your body or the bad report from the doctor. But instead, fix your eyes on Jesus and consider only what God’s Word says. Then add your YES and AMEN.

Scandalous Grace

John 8:10-11 "When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more."

Have you ever heard the song, Call it Grace by Unspoken? Let's take a look at the lyrics...

It's the light that pierces through you

To the darkest hidden place

It knows your deepest secrets

But it never looks away

It's the gentle hand that pulls you

From the judgment of the crowd

When you stand before them guilty

And you got no way out

Some may call it foolish and impossible

But for every heart it rescues, it's a miracle

It's nothing less than scandalous

This love that took our place

Just call it what it is, call it grace

Call it grace

It's the breath that's breathing new life

Into what we thought was dead

It's the favor that takes orphans

Placing crowns upon their heads

It's the hope for our tomorrows

The rock on which we stand

It's a strong and mighty fortress

Even Hell can't stand against

Amazing, unshaken, this is grace, this is grace

Unchanging, unfailing, this is grace, this is grace

The word scandal means - loss or damage to reputation caused by violation of morality. It also means disgrace, or in other words anti-grace. In John 8:10-11 Jesus gives the cure for scandal, missteps and mistakes.

For the woman caught in adultery, first He gives her the gift of "no condemnation", which then empowers her to "go and sin no more". That same grace is available to you today, no matter what you've done. Here's what you need to do...receive the gift of "no condemnation", and go and sin no more. It's that simple. It's scandalous grace.

Let Go of the Rope

Matthew 11:30 - "…My Yoke is Easy and My Burden is Light" 

The Oxford English Dictionary says that the phrase "tug of war" originally meant "the decisive contest; the real struggle or tussle; a severe contest for supremacy". Did you know that this contest dates back to the 8th century BC?  That there are formal rules for this game, including the regulation size of the rope, weight requirements and not being able to lower your elbow below your knee?  Interesting, eh?  

Many of us live our lives just like a game of tug of war, struggling to hold onto something, no matter how much energy and effort it takes.  At one point in my life, I was fighting for my "right to be right", and I saw a mental picture of myself digging my heels in the sand trying to forcefully pull everything I wanted over a line.  I became tired and worn out, and the Lord said to me, "Let go of the rope, don't worry, you won't lose".  In other words, "Let Me be in control, not you".  I finally let go and God began to move in my life in ways I could never accomplish on my own. 

Today, if you are struggling in an area of your life, a relationship, a job situation, an important decision…let go of the rope!  Let the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth lead, guide and direct you.  Give up your right to be right and listen to what He is saying.  

It’s your choice…go through life engaged in "the decisive contest; the real struggle or tussle; a severe contest for supremacy", OR yoked together with the One who knows all things, loves you, and has your best interest in mind.  Here’s a hint…let go of the rope.

Where Are the Bulldogs?

Genesis 32:26 - "And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me." 

Did you know that bulldogs are trained to control unruly cattle (bulls) and large game such as boars?  They have very powerful jaw muscles that help them to lock down on their target.  They have an amazing will and determination, it's nearly impossible to get them to release their grip, no matter what the circumstance.  How?  They are created with a facial structure that helps them to continue to breathe while locking down. 

Where are the "bulldogs" in the church?  I honestly believe that too many people give up way too easily on the promises of God.  We need to strengthen the "jaw muscles" that God has given us to lock down our target and breathe! 

We need to take hold of a scripture, lock down a promise, make it present tense, and claim it as our own, right now.  Then...here's the important part...we can't let go, we need to hold on and breathe (go about our daily lives).  This is called faith.  God has given us the promises, but WE choose to have the determination and the will to see them come to pass in our lives.  

Do YOU have the "bulldog" determination?  Are you willing to make the promises of God present tense?  How long are you willing to "lock down"?  As long as it takes?  We are created to lock down and breathe.  To walk by faith, and keep walking until we see it.  

Jacob told the angel, "I will not let go until you bless me!"  You have the same DNA as Jacob, you are that bulldog, you won't let go, you won't give up, you will not stop until you are blessed.  Put your name on that promise that is the answer to your situation, and don't let go!

Breaking Point

Mark 2:22 "And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the wine would burst the wineskins, and the wine and the skins would both be lost. New wine calls for new wineskins." (New Living Translation)

Something happened to me in many years ago that changed my life forever...I came to my breaking point. I had been living by the Old Testament (all about what I do) and New Testament (all about what Jesus did) at the same time. I was putting old wine into new wineskins. I was constantly frustrated. Something had to give..."New wine calls for new wineskins".

Then it happened, I turned in my old wineskin of self-effort and sin consciousness for the pure, unforced rhythms of God's goodness and grace. A life where the Word is more real than my senses. A life of faith in the finished work of the cross.

Consider these words, "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me-watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matthew 11:28-30 The Message). After all, “No one puts new wine into old wineskins”.

Hot, Hotter, Hottest

Daniel 3:19 – “Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury and his face became distorted and full of rage, he commanded the furnace be heated seven times hotter.”

In Daniel 3, the king decreed that when the music played, every man should bow down and worship a golden image.  Word got back to the king that there were three young men that refused to bow down.  He was furious and commanded that these men be brought before him.  He literally gets up in God’s face and says, “Who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?” 

They flat out said to him, “we are not careful to answer you”.  Hallelujah, three guys with a spiritual backbone, with the lion’s roar of faith on the inside.  They were not your normal every day guys.  Daniel 3:12 says, “there were certain Jews”, they were extraordinary, and they believed in an extraordinary God.   They told the king that if he threw them in the fire, God would deliver them, and if he didn’t throw them in, they still wouldn’t bow down and worship or serve his idols. 

Side note: religion has misinterpreted the words “but if not” in verse 18 to insinuate that God was not able or willing to deliver them.  If that be so then the verse would read, “if you throw us in the fire and God doesn’t deliver us, we still won’t worship your gods”.  That’s true, they would be dead.  Common sense. 

Their consequence?  They were thrown into the fiery furnace, seven times hotter than usual.  Have you ever felt that way?  Like, as they say, “going from the frying pan to the fire”?  Then what happened?  Jesus showed up!  When the king looked into the furnace, he said, “Hey!  Didn’t we throw three men in the fire?  Who’s that fourth man, He looks like the Son of God!”  That’s what’s going to happen in your fiery situation, Jesus is going to show up.

Three things about the three Jews…

1.    Verse 16 - They were bold and confident, they didn’t try to be politically correct. 

2.    Verse 17 – They declared, not only is God able, but God will do what He said He would do.

3.    Verse 18 – They went all the way with God, and God responded to their faith, He showed up and showed off!

Is it getting hot?  Are you in a fiery situation?  Don’t worry, the FOURTH MAN is about to show up!

The Cure for Frustration

Galatians 2:21 “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness comes by the law then Christ died in vain”

Frustrate: prevent (a plan or attempted action) from progressing, or succeeding, or being fulfilled, to thwart, defeat, foil, block, stop, put a stop, circumvent, disappoint, nullify.

While taking a walk in Colorado a couple of years ago, the wind was so strong it was almost pushing me backward. A walk that would normally take me an hour took a whole lot longer. I pressed forward, but the wind pressed back, opposing me every step of the way. That’s what it’s like when we frustrate the grace of God.

In Galatians 2:21, Paul said, “I do not frustrate the grace of God”. Do you know we can actually hinder and stop God’s grace from working in our lives? How? He tells us in the same verse, by thinking that our righteousness comes by self-effort, by trying harder to do right, by trying to come up with all the answers, by trying to earn our way. These works frustrate the grace of God. They stop the progress and circumvent what God wants to do in our lives through His free gift.

Romans 5:21 says that “grace reigns through righteousness”. Grace reigns in our lives when we know and believe that we are made righteous through the blood of Jesus. An endless supply of God’s unmerited favor flows in our lives when we simply receive our righteous standing and add nothing to it by our own works. Every time you face a challenge, let God’s grace bring you through. Let the grace of God work through you to work it all out. Be like Paul and boldly declare, “I do not frustrate the grace of God”!

It's Worth the Wait

Acts 1:4-5 - "And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

Jesus didn't recommend or suggest that the disciples not depart from Jerusalem until the "Promise of the Father" had come, He commanded them. After His resurrection, they had spent many amazing days together, He taught them kingdom principles, and He knew the disciples were eager to share the good news all over the world. But He commanded them not to get started until they had been clothed with the Spirit's power (Luke 24:49).

In 1 Corinthians it says that He gave this command to about 500 people, yet in Acts 1:15 it says there were only 120 men and women in the upper room filled with the Holy Spirit. What happened to the other 380? Perhaps they didn't want to wait. They wanted to get started doing the work of the ministry…without the power of the Holy Spirit!

When God calls us to do something, we need to make sure that we don't get so excited about the task, that we move out ahead of Him. Moving out in our own power and timing will actually interfere with what He wants to do in our lives, and interrupt the process. Our decisions greatly affect the lives of those around us, and the people that God has called us to reach. Slow down! Don't worry, you'll know when the Holy Spirit says to move, and He will empower you for the task at hand. It's worth the wait.

The Original Wonder Bread

John 6:51 “I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever. And the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world”

What makes Wonder Bread such a “wonder”? Though it’s been around since 1921, it was one of the first nationwide “pre-sliced” breads to hit the market in 1930. The logo was inspired by the colorful scene of hundreds of balloons at the International Balloon Race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Though I enjoyed rolling up Wonder Bread in a ball and eating it plain as a kid, there is another “wonder bread” that has since fully captured my attention.

In John 6:51 Jesus said “I am the living bread which came from heaven, if any man eat this bread he shall live forever“. The words life, living, and live that appear in this verse come from the Greek word ZOE, which means the God kind of life. The bread of life that Jesus is referring to is His body that was broken, nailed to the cross, then raised to new life for you and me. Every time you celebrate (really celebrate) communion, you are releasing the God kind of life into every part of your body. The more you celebrate, the more life is released, and the stronger, healthier, and youthful you become. The body of Jesus, the bread of life, IS the original and only true wonder bread.

Me me me me

John 6:35 “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger, he that believeth on Me shall never thirst”

Have you ever heard someone warm up their voice to sing? It might sound like this, “Me me me me”. Or they do drills with their tongue, or breathing exercises, or they drink tea, and suck on throat lozenges. But “me me me me” is still the tried-and-true way to do it.

Did you notice that in John 6:35-40, Jesus said the word “me”, 10 times? Wow. I would say HE wants to be the “Me” in my life, so it’s not all about me. He wants to be my only Source. My only Source of peace, fulfillment, health, blessing, increase, career, in relationships, and everything good. If Jesus is my only Source, He promises I will never hunger and thirst for a thing. My response, “Thank you Jesus, it’s all about You You You You!”

Father Knows Best

Matthew 6:7-8 “When you pray, do not keep babbling like pagans…..for your father knows what you have need of before you ask”

Fathers Knows Best was an American sitcom about the lives of the Andersons, a middle-class family living in a town called Springfield. The show started on radio in 1949 then moved to television until 1960. The mom, Margaret was portrayed as a voice of reason, while the father, Jim was the one who offered sage advice in response to his children's problems. Here's something that’s even better…Matthew 6:8 says that our Father knows what we have need of even before we ask.

But how do you see your Father God? Do you see Him as an angry man who’s always ticked off, always has a frown on His face, always pointing out something wrong with you? Or do you see your Father God as a good, good Father, a loving Dad, a Father who reaches into His “pocket” every time you need something? If you see Him as a giving, loving, generous Father, then you will be able to trust Him and believe that He always knows what’s best for you. You will be able to believe that He always has your best interest in mind. He knows what you have need of before you even ask, AND gave you everything you need through His Son Jesus. He’s a good, good Father.