The Are No Atheists in Foxholes

Romans 1:19 - “that which may be known of God is manifest in them: for God has shown it to them”

You may have hear the phrase there are no atheists in foxholes. It means that in times of extreme stress or times of war everyone believes in God. A foxhole is a hole dug in the ground as shelter against enemy fire. This famous phrase was first used in WWI and has been used for many years in times of conflict.

What the Apostle Paul is saying in Romans 1:19 is that somehow, instinctively on the inside of every person there is a knowledge that God not only exists but is real. And because of God’s amazing grace, He is there to deliver and protect even those who haven’t acknowledged Him yet. I’m amazed that in 1 Kings 18:38 when the fire fell it didn’t fall on the 850 prophets of Baal, but the fire only fell on the burnt sacrifice. That’s the grace of God. God even protects people who reject Him because His mercy doesn’t give us what we deserve. God is good all the time, He has protected you and your loved ones even when you didn’t deserve it. So, even in a foxhole God is protecting because He’s not willing that any should perish but come to the knowledge of the truth. And, because of that, that only makes us love Him more and more. He draws people by His loving kindness which none of us can earn or deserve.

"Prayer" Conditioning

Psalm 39:3 NIV “My heart grew hot within me. While I meditated the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue”

I’ll tell you what, it’s been a hot summer so far, some real scorchers! I don’t know about you, but I can’t imagine life without air conditioning. I thank God for it. But here’s a twist for you, according to Psalm 39:3, “prayer” conditioning “warms” the heart. This is one of my favorite scriptures because it speaks of how the Holy Spirit speaks to us as we meditate on God’s Word.

Many people think that praying is all about us talking. Yes, that’s part of it. But it’s also about meditating on God’s Word, letting it get “hot” within you. That’s when God speaks to your heart, and something happens on the inside of your spirit. It’s special and powerful. That’s “prayer conditioning”. It doesn’t cool the heart; it warms the heart. It’s a conversation between you and the Holy Spirit in your heart without uttering a word. I encourage you to take some time every day to meditate on God’s Word. Let it warm your heart, let the fire of God’s Word burn within you. Then “speak with your tongue”. Speak out what the Holy Spirit has shared with you. Keep your “prayer conditioning” running all the time and all year long!

The Prayer That Can Never Be Fully Answered

Ephesians 3:18-19 “That you may be able to grasp how wide and how long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge….”

Trying to wrap your head around God’s love for you is like using a thimble to measure the oceans. You can’t. Think of it like this, when you look out into the night sky, what you see is only a portion of the billions of stars in the universe. You have not seen, far more than you’ve seen. That’s the way it is with God’s love for you.

Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:18-19 simply can’t be fully answered. Yes, during your Christian walk, you most likely have experienced amazing glimpses into God’s love for you. There’s nothing like it! Salvation alone is a magnificent expression of God’s love for you. But there is still so much more to experience. The more you have a revelation of God’s grace, the more you will experience His love. And the more you experience His love, the more you will see His grace. It’s a beautiful, never-ending journey. Enjoy!

Get Up and Make Your Own Bed

Acts 9:34 NASB translation - “Peter said to him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you, get up and make your own bed”. And immediately he got up”

I can’t get enough of this scripture, it’s amazing and truly insightful. I just love what Peter said to Aeneas, “Jesus Christ heals you now get up and make your own bed”. Think about it, Aeneas was paralyzed for eight years. That meant that his bed had become his world, he never left that bed never went anywhere, and never could do anything. And now suddenly Peter comes along and says something powerful, “Jesus Christ heals you”.

Now, we know that Jesus is the Healer, but Peter makes it clear where the power to heal is, in the name of Jesus! But then he tells Aeneas to do something. There was an action associated with his miraculous healing…to roll up his mat. Why? Because he’s been made whole, he’s not going back to that old life, AND from now on, he can make his own bed.

Healing, health, and wholeness allows you to move forward and live a productive, vibrant, purposeful life. That’s what Jesus did for you; HE changes everything in one moment. Peter never even touched Aeneas, he just said “Jesus Christ heals you”. So, no matter what you’ve been through, no matter how long it’s been, today is your day to arise and get up because Jesus Christ heals you!

You Rest, He Works

Psalm 127:2 “For He gives (blessings) to His beloved even in his sleep.“ (Amplified Bible)

I have GREAT news for you. While you sleep (rest) God works on your behalf, praise God! As you may have noticed, I see everything through the eyes of “grace”. So, when we finally purchased an automatic swimming pool cleaner a month ago, after I plugged it in and watched it work, I said to myself, “Now this is a perfect example of God’s grace!”. While I was in the house resting, the pool cleaner was in the pool working. No more long hours manually vacuuming the pool for me, hallelujah! Why did I wait so long to get one of these!?

That’s what God does for you. In Psalm 127:2, it says “HE gives (blessings) to His beloved even in his sleep”. You are His beloved! In other words, you are His be-loved. As you allow yourself to BE loved by Him, and receive His love for you, things begin to happen effortlessly. While you rest, He works. While you sleep tonight, He’s arranging the right people to come into your life and He’s removing the wrong people, He’s opening doors for you and He’s closing other doors because He loves you. When you wake up tomorrow, wake up expectant of all the good things waiting just for you. Enjoy!

Lord, Let Me Be Your Mobile Office

Ephesians 3:20 - “Now unto Him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think, according to the power that works in us”

You’ve heard of a mobile home, mobile restaurants, mobile pet grooming, mobile banking, and even a blood mobile. How about a “mobile office”? God wants YOU to be His mobile office. Wherever you go, He wants you to be ready to be a blessing. He wants you to be well equipped on the inside with the tools you need to minister to whoever He brings across your path. Pastor Kenneth Hagin and his wife prayed every day, “Lord, make me a blessing to others today”. Pastor Greg Mohr also prays this every day.

When you hear people quote, Ephesians 3:20, often they stop after the word “think”. But there’s an especially important comma after the word think. The key to Him doing “exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think” is “according to the power that works IN US”. God wants to flow through you to others. You don’t need to ask Him for more power, to pour out His Spirit on you, to move His hand. He’s already given you everything you need in your born-again spirit. Everything. You just need to release His power that’s already working in you and start using it. A better way to pray is “Lord, show me who I am, show me what I have, and show me how to release it wherever I go”. You might also want to add, “Lord, let me be Your mobile office!”

The King's Speech

2 Corinthians 4:13 “We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, therefore have I spoken, we also believe and therefore we speak”

In the movie, The King’s Speech, England’s Prince Albert ascends to the throne as King George VI with a very unusual attribute…he has a speech impediment. Knowing that the country needs her husband to be able to communicate effectively, his wife Elizabeth hires an Australian actor and speech therapist to teach the King to speak with confidence.

In 2 Corinthians 4:13 Paul says that we have “the same spirit of faith”. It’s interesting how Paul goes on to describe what “faith” is in this verse - “we believe and therefore we speak, according to that which is written”. Written where? Written in the Word of God. Faith is simply believing and speaking! We have the same spirit of faith that God has when He spoke the worlds into existence (Mark 11:22). YOU have the true King’s speech. Believe and speak the Word of God today with confidence.

Your Mountains Melt Like Butter

Psalm 97:5 “The mountains melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.”

How do you like your butter? Refrigerated or unrefrigerated? In our house, we love unrefrigerated butter, fresh from the butter dish in our cupboard. The knife just slides right through and spreads perfectly across toast. For all you refrigerated butter fans, you must chop away at the butter and then somehow spread the slivers across your food. Am I right about that?

For those of you who have been reading the Weekly E-Messages for any length of time, you know that I see everything through the eyes of Grace vs. Law. Hence…the softened butter is Grace, and the hardened butter is the Law. The Law is like a mountain, immovable and unyielding. Grace is Jesus, and Psalm 97:5 says that “mountains melt like wax in the presence of the Lord”. It’s easy. It’s effortless.

What’s your mountain today? Is it a mountain of debt? Is it a mountain of pain? Is it a mountain of confusion? Allow the presence of God and the power of His Word to melt every mountain you are facing like wax. His presence and His Word are the answer to every worried or anxious thought you have. Enjoy His mountain-melting presence today!

New Testament Grammar 101

Romans 6:14 “For sin shall not have dominion over you for you are not under the law but under grace”

Let me introduce you to New Testament Grammar 101. First item, righteousness is a noun (a person place or thing), not a verb (action). You don’t have to earn it, deserve it, or work for it. Jesus made you righteous. 1 Corinthians 1:30 says, “You are in Christ Jesus who is made unto you righteousness“. What is righteousness? Right standing with God. Period.

Second item, in the New Testament, sin is mostly translated as a noun, not a verb. Romans 6:14 says, “Sin shall not have dominion over you for you are not under the law but under grace”. Hallelujah! Sin, the curse, and all its affects from the fall of man shall not have dominion over you. What affects? Sickness, poverty, divorce, death, recession and on and on. None of these shall have dominion over you. Period.

Use Your Inside Voice

Matthew 10:27 (Amplified Bible) - “What I say to you (privately) tell in the light (publicly) and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim from the (housetops) to many people”

As parents, many times we’ve softly told our over-excited kids, “Use your inside voice”. In other words, they were talking too loud in an inside setting. It’s a not too subtle request to speak more quietly. The inside voice, according to Matthew 10:27 means that God speaks to our hearts, in our born again spirit, and tells us things in secret. He whispers things in our ear. That’s so important to our walk with the Lord. He has so much He wants to tell us and share with us every day. But it doesn’t stop there. The real power comes when we speak those things out publicly and “proclaim them from the housetops to many people”.

Psalm 19:14 says something extremely powerful, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight”. Meditating on and proclaiming what God speaks to our hearts (our inside voice) is what brings supernatural results and manifestations in our lives. We must allow God’s Word to “marinate” in our hearts, then when we speak them out, they carry weight and power. God created the worlds with His Word and He’s created us with that same authority and power. So “use your inside voice” and proclaim publicly what God is speaking to you privately, and you’ll see things happen that will astound you!

Torn Wide Open

Hebrews 10: 20 “By a new and living way, which He has consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say His flesh”

Did you know that the moment Jesus died on the cross the veil in the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom? This veil was a four-inch thick, heavy curtain that prevented anyone from entering the “Holy of Holies” but the high priest, and that only once a year. It separated God’s people from the most intimate place in the temple, the most holy place.

But when Jesus said, It is finished, and died on the cross, everything changed. The veil was torn wide open for all to enter God’s presence every minute of every day of the year. This tells us how much He loves us and wants to be with us. He did this for us so there would be nothing standing between us. Never again will there be a “veil” or a closed door when it comes to our access to God. His loving arms beckon us to draw close and enjoy His friendship without any guilt, condemnation, or fear. So, go ahead, spend some time in His company today…He truly loves to be with you.

Ain't No Mountain High Enough

Ephesians 2:13-14 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation“

There aren’t too many people who can resist singing along to Marvin Gaye’s 1967 hit single, Ain’t No Mountain High Enough…

If you need me, call me,
No matter where you are
No matter how far,
Don't worry, baby
Just call my name, I'll be there in a hurry
You don't have to worry
'Cause baby, there ain't no mountain high enough
Ain't no valley low enough,
Ain't no river wide enough
To keep me from getting to you, baby

In Ephesians 2:13 it says that at one time, before we were born again, we were far off. When you see the word “far” in the Bible in relation to Christ, it’s not talking about distance, it’s talking about the condition of our heart. It also says that “but now are made near by the blood of Christ”. Verse 14 goes on to say, “For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation”.

Praise God! There’s no more separation between us and God. Like the song says, there ain’t no mountain high enough to keep Him from gettin’ to you. If you need Him, call His name. He’ll be there in whatever situation you might be facing. There is NO separation between you and God, between you and your answer, between you and your victory in Christ.

Can't Grow a Beard Overnight

Matthew 12:20 “A bruised reed He will not break, a smoking flax He will not quench”

How often have we expected new converts to produce fruit overnight? The moment they are saved we expect them to stop cussing and to choose their words carefully. We expect them to instantly stop smoking, drinking and running around, and read their Bible and pray an hour a day. It’s like a father who expects his son to grow a beard overnight. It’s impossible. It takes time. Then once he gets started, he will keep growing a beard for the rest of his life.

Our heavenly Father is so patient and loving in His expectations of us. Matthew 12:20 says that a bruised or an imperfect reed He will not break and He doesn’t throw away. Instead, through His grace, love and mercy He restores each “bruised reed” to its original purpose. To make the beautiful flute-like sound that it was created to make. It just takes time. Remember, we can’t expect to “grow a full beard overnight”. We start with “stubble” and then experience growth every day. He’s so faithful. His grace never ends. Let’s be patient with ourselves and those around us.

None Feeble, None Sick

Psalms 105:37 “He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble among their tribes”

What an amazing scripture! Think about it…the day after they celebrated the Passover meal, about two to three million Israelites walked out of Egypt and there was not a single weak or sick person among them, NOT ONE. So, no matter what age or condition they had, even if they were on the verge of death, after eating the Passover supper, they were healed, healthy and strong.

During a traditional Passover supper, one of the questions that is asked is so powerful to me, “Why is this night different from all other nights”. The same can be asked of holy communion. Why is it different than any other “meal”? Just by receiving the finished work on the cross that is symbolized through communion, something different happens that is unexplainable.

I submit to you that something happened to the Israelite’s bodies that night that they ate the Passover lamb, a type of Jesus the Lamb of God. Something happened that reversed all the effects of years of backbreaking labor and stress injuries, ligament strains, incapacitating work injuries, age-related conditions, and infections. Something happened that night that reversed it all and caused them to be supernaturally healthy AND supernaturally rich! None feeble, none sick, and none broke! The same thing is waiting for you by receiving the finished work on the cross through Jesus’ body and blood. Receive today!

Weak Things to Confound the Mighty

1 Corinthians 1:27 “God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty“

Time and time again we see how God defeated the enemies of the children of Israel not through a great military but through seemingly insignificant things. God used a sling and a stone to bring down Goliath. He used a hammer and a tent peg in the hands of a defenseless woman to take down Sisera a ruthless Canaanite who oppressed Israel for 20 years. He used the jawbone of a donkey in the hand of Samson to defeat a thousand Philistines.

In the same way one little communion wafer and a cup of juice, what seems so small, can utterly destroy diseases the world has no cure for. When a Gentile woman came to Jesus seeking healing for her demonized daughter, Jesus referred to healing as “the children’s bread”. In Matthew 15:27, the woman said “even a crumb” would be enough to heal her daughter. That’s awesome. That’s what grace is. God chooses little things to defeat a tumor, to defeat insurmountable debt, to bring your child off the street and back home. God uses the weakest little things to give you huge victories!

Grace if My Favorite Teacher

Titus 2:11-12 “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men…it teaches us”

Do you have a favorite teacher, coach, preacher? Is there one that stands out among the rest? I’ve had some amazing teachers over the years, but the most outstanding teacher I’ve had in my life is grace. Titus 2:11 says that grace has appeared to all men, or all mankind. Appeared speaks of a person and His name is Jesus.

Grace is our teacher. Grace teaches us how to parent our children. Grace teaches us how to love our spouse. Grace teaches us how to budget our money, learn new skills, solve problems, make important decisions, and every other imaginable thing we need to know in life. Grace has appeared to all mankind. Grace is here, right now, for you. You can’t earn it or deserve it. Like a student in a classroom, simply receive it.

What You Hear About Jesus Matters

Mark 5:27 “When she heard about Jesus, she came in the press behind and touched His garments”

Have you ever thought to yourself or heard someone say, If Jesus were right here and I could see Him and hear Him, I could receive my miracle. My opinion as to whether it’s possible for Jesus to appear to someone or audibly speak to them is not important. But what IS important is that Mark 5:27 doesn’t say that the woman that was healed from a blood disorder “heard” Jesus, it says that she “heard about” Jesus.

Do you know what that means? It means that we can have the same faith that this woman had just by hearing about Jesus…hearing the Word. “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God”, Romans 10:17. It means that when we hear the Word, we can immediately receive it and apply it to our own lives no matter how long we’ve suffered. No matter how many expensive treatments we’ve tried. What she heard caused her to press into Jesus and receive her breakthrough. Press in to the Word today. Press in to Jesus. Receive your breakthrough by the goodness and grace of God. What you hear about Jesus matters!

Focus on the Cross, Not the Sickness

Numbers 21:8 “Then the Lord said to Moses, make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live”

A lion tamer can teach us a whole lot about focus. What is his number one tool in the ring with a lion? A stool. The lion tamer uses the stool as a method of distraction. The lion, when faced with the legs of the stool, tries to focus on all four at once. Confused, and unable to focus, it stands there, frozen!

In Numbers 21:8 it says that the children of Israel were bitten by deadly fiery snakes in the wilderness. What was the remedy? What was the anecdote? What healed the people? FOCUS! FOCUS! FOCUS! The Lord told Moses to make a fiery serpent of bronze and set it on a pole, and when the people looked at it, they would live. This was a foreshadow of Jesus on the cross, Who took sickness upon His body and redeemed us from this curse. The same instructions the Lord gave Moses stand today. What we focus on is what we become. If we focus on the sickness, we stay distracted, frozen, confused, and sick. If we focus on the Healer, we are healed and live!

Qualified

Colossians 1:12 “Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance in the light”

Have you ever been disqualified from a contest, competition or sporting event? My wife was. She was in high school, yet she remembers it like it was yesterday! She used to compete in horse shows in barrel racing. In one show, she had the fastest time but was disqualified for reaching over and “ever-so-lightly” and “for no reason” touching the last barrel before she rounded her way to the finish line. In a split second, according to the rules of barrel racing, she was disqualified. Ouch.

No matter how disqualified we feel sometimes or how many times we’ve messed things up, we can thank our heavenly Father that HE has qualified us to receive all that He has promised us. HE qualified us to receive our inheritance of divine health, abundance, increase, strong relationships, long life, and so much more. To be qualified means that certain requirements have been satisfied to become eligible for certain benefits. Who satisfied the requirements for us to receive God’s promises? You? Me? Certainly not. It was Jesus. Jesus paid the ultimate price through His blood and satisfied the debt for OUR sin. He made it possible for us to stand before our Father, every moment of every day, as if we had never sinned. So, the next time the enemy whispers in your ear “disqualified”, boldly speak out of your mouth, “Thank you Father for qualifying me to receive every covenant blessing and promise you have for me!”

The Three Most Powerful Words in the Bible

John 19:30 “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost”

Most of us know what it’s like to owe money for a loan. Every month, the payment notice arrives like clockwork. Every month we chip away at the payments until we receive the final notice that says, “paid in full”. Greg Mohr says, “Most people when they go to God in prayer for something, go as a person who goes before a loan officer for an unsecured loan”. They tiptoe into His presence hoping for a little something to happen.

What they don’t realize is that every promise in God’s Word has already been provided for us at the cross. Jesus paid for it all AND He paid it in full! Praise God for the three most powerful words in the Bible spoken by Jesus just He died on the cross…IT IS FINISHED. He paid for our eternity, for our healing, for our deliverance, for our peace, and every other good thing. As you celebrate Resurrection Sunday this weekend, remember Jesus’ last words and all He did for us on the cross and shout…IT IS FINISHED!