WHAT AM I EXPECTING

I Kings 17:12- And she said, as the Lord God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse:  and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it and die.  Read 12-16  

When the widow woman met up with Elijah, she had given up any hope for the life of her son and herself.  She was certain that she was going to cook her last supper and die.  But God sent the man of God, Elijah, her way to change her perspective.  When she acted upon His Word, the little bit she had increased to more than enough! 

In hard times, or in times of uncertainty, it is difficult to walk in expectation of good things when everything bad is happening.  It is easy to be pessimistic, and it is a fight to be optimistic.  As Christians, we cannot hope for the best and expect the worst.  this is not biblical at all!  We must remember this: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.”  See what you are going through as a test of your faith in God’s Word.  Have you ever wonder about what God is expecting of you?  Surely He does not want you to lay down and die, to run, to give up, or to pack your bags and walk away!  Our Father wants us to expect Him to move in a way that we will be convinced—Surely the Lord has done this thing! 

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spiritualinspiration:

“For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock” (Psalm 27:5, NIV)

What a wonderful promise found in this scripture that when you seek God, when you serve Him with your whole heart, He will hide you in His shelter. You can be so connected to Father God that you are untouchable and invisible to the enemy! You are hidden in Him! That means no matter what is happening around you, you will have strength, confidence and rest greater than ever before knowing that you are safe in Him.

Challenges may come your way, but you won’t be worried about them. You know that, ultimately, things are going to work out for your good. You know that no weapon formed against you shall prosper. People may be talking, trying to make you look bad, but you don’t even give it a second thought. You know that your future is too bright to be distracted. You know they don’t control your destiny. You just keep on being your best, walking in integrity, meditating on the Word, worshiping throughout the day, and stay hidden in Him!

Amen! We should all find our strength in Lord. The words of this devotional is right on point. We can only survive as Christians if we rest in God.

God is good all the time and all the time God is good!

- photo taken by Jr Dawkins

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How Faith Grows

Heb. 11:6- But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is the Rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.

For many faith has been defined in so many ways, they still don’t have a grasp on what the proper definition of faith is.  Moreover, unfortunately, they may not understand how to use it, or how it works, or how it increases.  To add to one’s problem I will not seek to do.  The best theological definition of faith to me is, “To be fully persuaded by the Word of God.”  What is my reasoning behind this?  Simple.  To be fully persuaded is to be confident in what God has said.  The action of faith is believing; therefore, you must be convinced of what has been said by God in order to act upon it!  Saying you have faith without showing your works by your faith means you don’t have faith at all.  Are you convinced by God’s Word?  Are you walking, talking, and thinking like you have what you have asked for even though you do not see it?

Seeking God is studying, meditating on, obeying, trusting in, relying on, and resting solely upon His Word.  When we do these things—our faith will increase.  Though it may start as a mustard seed, it will grow into our most powerful attribute (Matt. 13:31-32).  Faith without works is dead (James 2:17-26).  How do I know my faith is growing? You may say.  Faith comes by hearing (Rom. 10:17).  And when you hear God’s Word be fully persuaded of everything it says, and then believe it!  My friend, do you realize without faith it is impossible to please Him?  Focus on His Word, and your faith will grow!

http://www.mtolivehop.org/help-us-grow

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God bless! Thank you all for following our devotionals. We hope they have been a blessing to you.

We are bidding to own a building of our own in Jersey City, NJ. (Pictured in this post)

At this time we are asking if you can help us meet our goal of $30,000! This is difference in the amount needed to make a down payment on the building loan. 

To read more about us and our mission visit our web site http://www.mtolivehop.org

You can make a donation directly from our website. http://www.mtolivehop.org/help-us-grow  every dollar counts!

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THE HEART

Prov. 4:23- Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life

The heart is the core of our being.  What affects the heart affects the whole man.  The seeing and taking of the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil is secondary, when compared to Adam and Eve hearing a stranger’s voice and breaking God’s command.  It was what Eve heard that did the damage to her heart.  What they heard moved their hearts against God.  Like Adam and Eve, when we cease to guard our hearts, we become like a country without walls (a defense; Prov. 25:28).         

Have you ever noticed that the words “he, her, ear, and “hear” are in the word heart?  God made our hearts and He has given us ears to hear His Word, so that His Word will keep our hearts!  The woman in the Bible who had the issue of blood—had another problem:  she also had a wounded heart.  She was financially broke, she had exhausted all her options, and was getting no better but worse.  But she heard that the Word was in town.  Her encounter with the Word of God changed her heart forever!  Is your heart burden down with the cares of this life?  Are you tired of being sick and tired?  The Word of God will give your heart strength!  And once the Word strengthens you, diligently guard your heart.  Rather than issues, let rivers of living waters flow from your heart! 

Pastor Troy v. Ingram

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What Do You Hear?

Mark 4:23- If any man have ears to hear, let him hear

“Seeing is believing,” is the saying of old.  Most of mankind heavily depends upon their eyes.  Of all the senses, the eyes are the faculty of choice.  Whenever man places so much emphasis on one thing, God uses another!  This is why God passes by the eyes, and requires that we hear His Word to believe in Him.  Our faith will never grow if we depend upon our eyes.  “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Rom. 10:17).  Now we understand why many unbelievers have read the Word of God with their eyes, but were not moved to repentance.  The way to salvation begins with hearing.  “…To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear His voice harden not your hearts (Heb. 4:7).  God commands that His people hear His Word, believe it, and walk therein, regardless of what the eyes might see.    

Often times we look for changes in us and are discouraged when we do not “see” them.  Yet the problem lies not in what we see, but in what we hear!  Why are we looking for changes, when we “Walk by faith”?  The law of walking by faith is based on obeying and believing even if the eyes cannot see.  “Now faith is the substance is things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1).  If we act upon what we hear then we will not only see the results, but more importantly know a change has taken place.  An unbeliever will see no need for an inner change, until he hears the gospel that convicts him of his sinfulness.  Believers did not come to Christ because  of seeing Him, they came to Jesus upon hearing the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ.  If you are in desperate need of change, do you have ears?  Then begin to hear what God has to say to you!       

www.mtolivehop.org/help-us-grow

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God bless! Thank you all for following our devotionals. We hope they have been a blessing to you.

We are bidding to own a building of our own in Jersey City, NJ. (Pictured in this post)

At this time we are asking if you can help us meet our goal of $30,000! This is difference in the amount needed to make a down payment on the building loan. 

To read more about us and our mission visit our web site http://www.mtolivehop.org

You can make a donation directly from our website. http://www.mtolivehop.org/help-us-grow  every dollar counts!

Please re-post to your blog and/or re-tweet

Hard of Hearing

Our hearing is the most vital sense that the human body possesses.  It is through the hearing that God communicates his Word.  Our heart then stores what we have heard, for the heart is the treasure chest of our life. Because of sin, man’s heart became dark and hardened. In Jeremiah 17:9, the LORD said that the heart is desperately wicked:  who can know it?  The phrase “desperately wicked” means exceedingly perverse and severely corrupt, and mortally sick. If the story stopped here, there would be no hope for mankind. Why? A corrupt heart cannot receive the things of God.  Since the Word of God is life to the hearer, without it, man would remain in a state of death.  Listen to what the Lord told the prophet Isaiah concerning the rebellious nation of Israel. He said: Go and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes; and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed (Isaiah 6:9-10).

 Man, in the natural, is in such a state of powerlessness and unable to receive the things of God, but thank God that grace can enter through Jesus Christ.  Man needed a new heart. God in his infinite wisdom and foreknowledge gave man a way out through belief in his Son, Jesus Christ.  In John 3:7, Jesus said that we must be born again, born of the Sprit of God. It is this spiritual rebirth that ushers us into God’s grace and gives us a new identity in Christ Jesus. II Corinthians 5:17, says, it “If any man be in Christ (born again); he is a new creature, old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new.” This means that we get a new heart. A heart that is clean and pure, untainted and open to hear the words of the Lord so that we can live an abundant life, a life that is pleasing unto God. Do you now see how important it is to have ears to hear and a heart to understand? 

Brother Mark Johnson

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The Last Call

I Corinthians 15: 51-52- Behold, I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible and we shall all be changed 

What will you be doing when the Lord returns?  The twinkling of an eye is often confused with the blink of an eye. However, science says that there is a distinct difference between the blinking of an eye and the twinkling of an eye.  When an eye twinkles, it is considered instantaneous.  What does that mean for you and I?  When the Lord calls us, there will not be anytime to repent from what we are doing. Will He find us with envy inside your heart towards our brother or sister in Christ? Will he find us stricken with fear and unbelief?  Or will He find you and I contemplating turning back toward the world, backsliding, lukewarm? Will we be seeking the kingdom or our own pursuits?  

In Matthew 24:42-44, Jesus said; watch therefore, for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. Therefore, be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh. We are commanded to be prepared for the return of our Lord.  Saints, we need to repent (change), NOW! and restore our relationship with God.  Let’s examine ourselves against the Word of God; walk in the Spirit, and remain in reading the Word, prayer, and fasting.  When a believer turns back to their first love, he or she will see a revival never before experienced in their history.  For the Lord is not slack concerning his promises, as some men count slackness, but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (II Peter 3:9)

Brother Mark Johnson

www.mtolivehop.org

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