http://www.whwc.org/index.htmlDevotionalenstephenrobles@whwc.orgCopyright 2008 Stephen Robles2010-10-04T09:23:03-04:00 hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 Mon, 14 Jul 2008 09:58:55 -0400stephenrobles@whwc.orgNone2010-10-04T09:23:03-04:00http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/a7fb35c13c40d08edea0d700ab00bb11-119.html#unique-entry-id-119http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/a7fb35c13c40d08edea0d700ab00bb11-119.html#unique-entry-id-119Shielded From the Fire!

Ephesians 6:10-16 "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one."

No soldier puts on just part of his armor; nor does he put it on in the midst of fighting, or when the battle is over. That's like putting sun block on our skin after you've been in the sun for hours. It's too late by then! A soldier must put his armor on before he goes out to meet his enemy. In the same way we need to put on the "full" armor of God. The first thing that we do every morning should be put on our armor.

Our next piece of armor that we must put on is our shield of faith. In ancient warfare, soldiers often used flaming darts as their weapon of choice. The heads of the darts were wrapped with flax or hemp fiber that was soaked in pitch, and set ablaze before being launched against the enemy. The soldiers’ protective shields were made of wood that could be easily set on fire. To extinguish the fiery darts, their shields were covered with a layer of hide. These shields were large enough to protect the entire body. When the darts sailed towards them, the shield was penetrated but the fire would be quenched.

When you are living a godly life and actually doing something for God, you must be prepared for the enemy to attack. Instead of cowering in fear, or feeling defeated and discouraged, we need to pick up our shield of faith.

Hebrews 11:1 says, "What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see."

And this is the secret to walking this journey on earth and living sold out and victorious. We have faith in our God the Father, knowing that no matter what the enemy throws at us we are protected and strong in His might!

When we hold up our shield of faith, which covers us completely, the fiery arrows are stopped. They are quenched and hellfire itself cannot burn us! I believe we can walk right through the hellfire without being consumed! We won't even have the smell of smoke remaining on our clothes.

Remember the story of King Nebuchadnezzar? He commanded all in the land to bow down to the golden image he had set up? The decree went out that anyone who didn't bow down when the music was played would be immediately thrown into a blazing furnace.

Nebuchadnezzar, being informed by his royal astrologers, heard that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego would not bow as he ordered. Satan and his army of demons are always at work constructing new ways to get us to worship or honor things other than the true God. We may not have a statue in our home that we bow down to, but anything that we give a lot of affection, time, and money to instead of God is an idol. When the attack comes and we give into fear, doubt, worry, anger, lust, etc, we have just bowed down to these things rather than worshipping God.

When Nebuchadnezzar heard that the three Hebrew young men wouldn't bow, the Bible says he became furious with rage. Remember when we are standing for God it makes Satan furious with rage as well! He hates it when he sees us trusting and abiding in God. That's when our enemy picks up his bow and loads it with a fiery dart to cripple and destroy us. He wants to knock us off of our stance and let go of our shield. He really gets bent out of shape, but that's just too bad because "Greater is He who is in me than he that is in the world!"

The young Israelites were brought before the King who asked them, in Daniel 3:14,

"Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up?" The king then offered them one more chance to bow down so they could escape death. They replied to the king:

"O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if He does not, we want you to know, O king that we will not serve your gods or worship the image you have set up."

When faced with the fire the three Hebrew children stood their ground by faith! Now King Nebuchadnezzar was really fit to be tied. He ordered the furnace to be heated up seven times hotter than before. The prisoners were bound up and thrown right in the middle of the flames. It was so hot that the soldiers who threw them in were killed! Remember our shield of faith keeps us so protected that the same fire in life that would consume others won't even touch us!

We know the end of this awesome story of faith and God's deliverance. The king looked into the furnace and saw the three unharmed! But that's not all that he saw! In verse 25, the king could hardly believe his eyes:

“He said, ‘Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods!’”

The Bible says the fire didn't harm their bodies or burn their clothing. Not even a single hair on their heads was singed. They didn't even have the smell of the fire on them! Nebuchadnezzar brought them out, gave praise to God and promoted them in the province of Babylon.

They walked through the fire with their shield of faith! When we hold up our shield of faith in the midst of the fire, Jesus Himself stands with us! Not only is Satan rendered powerless to bind us, but we also come out whole with no smell of smoke. So, let's take up our shield of faith and we can endure or accomplish anything set before us!

Hebrews 10:35, "Therefore do not cast away your confidence (faith), which has great reward."

John 14:12, "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in Me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these because I go to the Father."]]>stephenrobles@whwc.orgNone2010-09-27T09:47:23-04:00http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/1b66dd5b2b532f980e45bedffbbc502b-118.html#unique-entry-id-118http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/1b66dd5b2b532f980e45bedffbbc502b-118.html#unique-entry-id-118Puttin' on our Gospel Shoes!

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the whole armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the Gospel of peace." (Ephesians 6:10-15)

So far we have picked up our belt of truth and our breastplate of righteousness. Now, let's put on our shoes. Different occasions call for a different pair of shoes from my closet. If I am going out for a jog in the neighborhood, I wouldn't choose my flip-flops. They are comfortable for walking casually through the mall or on the beach, but not for jogging! If I tried to run in my flip-flops, I would be inviting injury because there would be no support as I pounded the pavement. I would have to run slowly or I might trip and fall, not to mention scraping my toes against the asphalt as my flimsy shoes fly off of my feet!

In the same way, we wouldn't wear our bedroom slippers to go to a job interview! We must dress appropriately for the situation, or the task at hand, in order to be successful.

It's imperative in taking our stand against the enemy to have the right shoes on. The Amplified version of Ephesians 6:15 says it this way:

"And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace.”

The Roman military boot was called the "caligal." It was one of their most important pieces of equipment. These rugged military boots were designed for extended periods of walking and marching. They were sturdy, tough boots that could handle any rough terrain. Our shoes of armor are the toughest and the sturdiest! They cause us to stand against the enemy. We can walk through any rough terrain. No mountain is too big or any valley too wide! Glory to God!

Our shoes of armor are shoes of readiness because of the Gospel of peace. Satan is always striving to steal our peace and fill us full of fear, anxiety and worry. When he manages to be successful, our focus is no longer on the people around us in need of that peace. Our focus is also taken off of the victorious battle that we fight against the kingdom of darkness. He knows we would be disabled from bringing the peace of God to others when we are not living in the peace of God ourselves.

I love the verses in Phil. 4:4-7 and in 1 Peter 5:7:

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."

We possess the best news the world could ever hear. We know the Good News, the Gospel of peace. It should always be in our heart and on our lips. When the way of salvation through Jesus alone is fully woven into the fiber of our being, then we are able to proclaim it and explain it to others. We are able to share in any season or situation. We are also fully able to walk and stand sure-footed, steady and ready for any evil attack!

The thought of being ready reminds me of the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1-13. The ten virgins knew there was going to be a wedding. Five of the virgins were wise and five were foolish. There was excitement and anticipation in the air. They took their lamps out to meet the bridegroom. The foolish virgins took their lamps but didn't bring any oil to burn in them. The wise virgins, however, brought oil in jars along with their lamps. At midnight the cry was heard; 'Here's the bridegroom, come out to meet him!'

The ten virgins woke up and quickly began to trim their lamps. This was the moment they had spent so much time and effort to be ready for. The foolish virgins only had part of what they needed so they asked the wise virgins for some of their oil. The wise virgins replied to the foolish, "No, there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves."

It was a happy ending for the wise virgins but a very sad ending for the foolish. When the bridegroom came, the prepared virgins were welcomed into the wedding banquet. The ill equipped virgins, upon returning from buying oil, faced a shut door. They cried out and begged to come in, but were not allowed entry. Verse 13 says:

"Therefore keep watch (stay ready), because you do not know the day or the hour."

This parable shows how we must live for God every day. We must stay ready, always looking in anticipation for the return of Jesus to get His church, the bride. We stay ready by being full of the word, full of the Spirit of God, and living a pure and faithful life. If we are in a state of readiness it doesn't matter when He comes. Thus, we have nothing to worry about. We don't have to try to gather all we need at the last minute because then we miss the opportunity we have been given.

In the same way, we don't know exactly what each day will bring. The enemy's schemes are always at work to defeat the Christian and discredit God's word. But if we are in a state of readiness that comes from the Gospel of peace, then we won’t be caught off guard when evil comes against us. We won't be unprepared when we need to share the Good News with others. We won't be standing on shaky ground and slip. But while we wait for the Bridegroom, we must put on the full armor of God. We stand steady and firm when we put on our Gospel shoes!

Isa. 52:7 "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation."

1 Col. 15:58: "Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you.”

1 Col. 16:13: "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.”]]>stephenrobles@whwc.orgNone2010-09-20T09:31:34-04:00http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/f913892e19b267f2261252f80439069c-117.html#unique-entry-id-117http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/f913892e19b267f2261252f80439069c-117.html#unique-entry-id-117The Breastplate of Righteousness

Ephesians 6:10-14: "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the evil day comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place....."

For the last few weeks we've been discussing the divine weaponry that God has provided in order for us to stand firm in any storm of life. The next piece of armor we must pick up and put on is the breastplate of righteousness.

The breastplate, for a soldier, has a very important purpose, to protect the most vital organs of the body. Our spiritual breastplate is like a bullet-proof (or flaming arrow - proof!) vest that protects our heart. What did we obtain when we accepted Jesus in our hearts? Yes, the obvious answer is salvation; but just as important is our new position of righteousness! We are now people in "right standing" with God. God is righteous and sinless. Our sin separated us from a holy God that cannot fellowship with sin and darkness. The Bible says:

Romans 3:23: "...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”

When Jesus died on the cross, He took the complete punishment for our sins, and we were totally forgiven. Our sins were literally placed on Jesus, the perfect, sinless Lamb of God. He then rose from the dead defeating Satan, sin and death.

When we accept what Jesus did for us, we receive a complete cleansing and we are transformed into a brand new creation! It's as if we never even sinned! The righteousness of God was given freely as a gift. When God looks at us, He no longer sees our sins, but he sees the blood of His son. God sees us as righteous! We are no longer separated from Him!

II Cor. 5:21: "For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sins, so that we could be made right with God through Christ."

Righteousness is the condition of our heart which sets the direction of our life. When we put on our breastplate of righteousness we are boldly standing in the position Jesus provided. The breastplate also protects us from sin creeping back into our hearts. The righteous one will always know the word and keep it in their hearts.

Psalm 119:11 says, "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you"

When we are fighting Satan's kingdom, we are not fighting against flesh and blood, but we are fighting against his control over people. He has them bound by sin and under his power; just as we once were.

Satan would love for us to neglect to wear our breastplate of righteousness. If he can snare us with a sin, he knows we can't help others to be free!

Jude 1:23 says, "Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. There are still others to whom you need to show mercy, but be careful that you aren't contaminated by their sins."

Hebrews 12:1 "...let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles us."

We must keep God's word filling our hearts and guiding our thoughts to steer clear from sin; especially those particular sins that once held us captive. We must be conscience of where we are weak and not put ourselves in a position to give into that old temptation. We have our armor but we must put it on and stand!

Remember that God gave us His righteousness as a precious and powerful gift. If it's a gift, then we can't earn it. If we can't earn it, then we can't obtain it in our own strength any more than we could resist sin in our own strength! But it is not our strength; it’s God's strength!

If we have the breastplate of righteousness in place, then we can go out into a world full of sin and still live a righteous, holy lifestyle. When Satan shoots the flaming arrows to attack with a trial, tribulation or temptation, our breastplate protects our hearts, deflecting every one! We can't be defeated with our armor in place and God on our side!

Proverbs 13:6 "Righteousness guards the man of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner."

Ephesians 4:24 "And to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."]]>stephenrobles@whwc.orgNone2010-09-13T09:21:24-04:00http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/202c93f8b3386a77c422684bb878bf68-116.html#unique-entry-id-116http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/202c93f8b3386a77c422684bb878bf68-116.html#unique-entry-id-116The Belt of Truth

Ephesians 6:13-14 "Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist..."

We have real weapons that have been given to us, but we must have an understanding of them and how to use them.

II Cor. 10:4 "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds."

Many Christians, sadly, don't realize the weapons at their disposal or how to use them. They don't realize that they are walking through life day to day without being suited up with their armor. They are not prepared for the tough times or when the enemy attacks.

I read a story that had been told of a mental hospital that many years ago came up with an unusual test to determine whether patients were ready to go back into the world. The doctors brought the patient, who was eligible for release, into a room where a water faucet was left running until the sink was overflowing and pouring out all over the floor. The patient was handed a mop and told to clean up the mess. If the patient had enough sense to turn the faucet off before mopping up the water, they would be released. But if the patient started mopping while the sink continued to overflow then they were kept for further treatment. Those patients who failed the test were not ready to handle life's situations or understand how to use certain tools at their disposal like a water faucet or a mop.

As believers, we need to know all the divine weaponry and armor that we have been given to overcome any situation or attack of the enemy. The first piece of armor we will look at is the belt of truth.

A Roman soldier’s armor consisted of a girdle or a belt that held his tunic tight in place so he could be free to move. It also provided a good place to hang his sword. The belt of truth holds everything together making all the armor of the soldier more effective; thus the belt of truth does for the Christian. The word of God is what our belt of truth is constructed of. Our belt is made of indestructible material!

Truth is the basis of all we are and do. It points us in the right direction and puts us on the right path. Truth is the opposite of a lie. The truth is honest, open, transparent and strong! It can stand the test of time, and you can always rely on it! Knowing the truth brings freedom and points us clearly in the right direction. A journey, guided by truth, leads to peace, clarity, wisdom, and with the final destination being life.

Jesus said in John 14:6,

"I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

John 1:17 "For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ."

Jesus is the Truth and we as Christians (like Christ) are to be walking, talking demonstrations of the truth!

On the other hand, a lie is always trying to hide or divert from the truth. A lie will try to hide the truth behind a clever veil of deception or facade. The lie is a sneaky, deceptive detour sign to get one off of the road of truth. The lie is never trustworthy. It never protects or gives peace in the long run. A lie leads down the wrong path and into a ditch that eventually leads to death. The Bible says in John 8:44 that Satan is "a liar, and the father of all lies."

The father of lies has an army of demons all with specific assignments and duties. Satan himself may not be picking you off, but his foot soldiers and cohorts make sure the flaming arrows and darts are directed at God's prized creation, man. The attacks of the enemy injure and take captive, and set up strongholds in the unarmed Christians' and unbelievers' lives.

That's why the apostle Paul said more than once in the verses in Ephesians: "put on the full armor of God" and "put on the whole armor". Without every piece of armor in place we are not ready to face a real world and a real devil. We are vulnerable like sitting ducks. The Bible says the devil is like a roaring lion, walking about seeking whom he may devour. He looks for the weak and vulnerable first for they are the easy prey. He then goes to doing what he does best; stealing, killing and destroying.

Satan comes to weave his lies with a small amount of truth that he can conceal it or twist it. He deceives with false doctrine, false gods and religions, secular humanism and the list goes on and on. He is a master at posing questions of doubt of God's truth and faithfulness, just as he did in the Garden of Eden. Then when a poor soul is totally confused with heart and mind divided, the flaming arrow assault begins; temptations of the flesh and mind, marriage and family problems, career and financial crisis. He will throw sickness, disease and death in the mix. He has no new strategies. All of the same old tricks continue to defeat weak and unprepared Christians.

Psalm 86:11 "Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name."

But if we have our belt of truth securely buckled, we cannot be deceived and lead astray. We can extinguish the flaming arrows while still in the drawn bow of the enemy!! No matter what comes our way we have the truth, even if something bad does happen, to keep us on the right path. We won't waiver or get sidelined. The truth of God's word is our strong foundation. Putting on our belt of truth means not only knowing the truth; but we must live the truth as well. It's what makes us honest, transparent, knowledgeable and sincere in our faith.

Let us never forget that the Spirit of Truth has been sent and given to us as a gift and a helper, the precious Holy Spirit! We must daily recognize and activate Him and His working in our lives. This is what Jesus said of the Holy Spirit in John 16:13,

"But when He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth.

The Holy Spirit is our gauge, guide and teacher into all truth. He is our truth filter you could say; like an oil filter in a car. Whatever harmful substance would try to get through and damage the motor or cause it to not function at its best, is caught in the filter and rendered powerless to cause harm. Thank you Holy Spirit that you do that for our minds and spirits!


The belt of truth not only holds all the other parts of our armor together but it works in us to form character and build integrity. With it we are empowered to live a lifestyle that reflects God's word! It's actually a growing relationship with the Truth Himself, Jesus!

Psalm 51:6 "Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.”

Proverbs 23:23 "Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline and understanding."

John 4:24 "God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."]]>stephenrobles@whwc.orgNone2010-09-07T15:27:30-04:00http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/e8db3251dd6cba98f4e6f72939ac7df8-115.html#unique-entry-id-115http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/e8db3251dd6cba98f4e6f72939ac7df8-115.html#unique-entry-id-115Ephesians 6:10-14 "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand."

Last week we talked about how people, when the enemy is seen or heard, sit or lay down from fear and intimidation. They have no strength or confidence in God to stand. Our victory for today relies on whether we are strong or weak! Our strength, or the lack of it, can also determine our destiny! It is so important to stand our ground by being firm in our faith. Remember our wrestling is not with people, but it's with wicked spiritual powers and rulers of darkness. Our battle is in the spirit, not the flesh. When we lay down spiritually, we can yell, scream and beat the air, but nothing will change. However, there is good news. We fight the good fight of faith with spiritual weapons. God has given us His word, the name of Jesus and a mighty suit of armor.

II Cor. 10:4 says, "The weapons we fight with are not weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds."

Notice in Ephesians 6:10 that the apostle Paul begins by saying, "Finally, be strong in the Lord..." With our own strength we cannot fight the enemy and overcome in this life. In our own ability we would not have the strength to stand. If the Apostle Paul's sentence would have stopped there we might feel hopeless. It almost sounds as if he’s saying, "Be happy," when they may not feel happy or "be at peace," when feelings are raging. However, the rest of the verse speaks of faith that makes us strong because our God is mighty and powerful! We can say, "I am strong in the Lord and in His mighty power!”

In the following verses Paul tells us not only to be strong, but how to stay strong. Notice he said, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to "Put on the whole armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes." A couple of verses later he says this again,"Therefore put on the full armor of God..." There seems to be an emphasis on "the whole armor" and "after you have done everything, to stand". Obviously it's possible to walk around without all of our armor! We must do everything we are instructed to do and use our weapons properly in order to stand firm in our faith!

So many Christians may be wondering how the enemy gets so many pot shots in to knock them down flat. Is it possible they have only part of their armor on? We may have one, two or maybe even three pieces of our spiritual armor on, but the ones we neglect leave us vulnerable to attack. The enemy is always looking for weak spots. The Bible says he walks about seeking whom he may devour.

What do natural lions do when hunting prey? They look for an animal that is weak, injured, not aware of imminent danger or separated from the others in the herd. That's the scheme of the enemy. He is walking about, to and fro, looking for those without all their armor on and their defenses down.

We need to understand what our weapons are and how to use them. We may have our helmet of salvation on, but neglect to pray. We may be picking up our sword of the Spirit, but get stung with a fiery dart because we left our shield of faith at home! All the armor and weaponry have been given to us, but our armor will be ineffective if it is only collecting dust!

Ephesians 6:14-18 "Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist , with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions, with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints."

Come back next week as we pick up the "the belt of truth" and put it on!
I Peter 5:8-9 "Be self controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings."]]>stephenrobles@whwc.orgNone2010-08-30T09:16:09-04:00http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/ea42ca3b1204cea59eb8f093f6372d6a-114.html#unique-entry-id-114http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/ea42ca3b1204cea59eb8f093f6372d6a-114.html#unique-entry-id-114Acts 4:25-26 “You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant our father David (Psalm 2:2): ‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against His Anointed One.’”

This verse is speaking to us for the very day we live in, even though it was written thousands of years ago! These verses of scripture come to mind as we viewed the leaders of the world making their speeches to the United Nations. There are leaders and nations who spew hatred and threats from their mouths for our God, His people, and what we stand for. They also hate the nation of Israel. They desire to destroy the apple of His eye.

The enemy and people who are ungodly are taking their stand. How much more should we be taking our stand in this evil day we live in? God said in Isaiah 7:9:

"If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all."

We can not be intimidated when ungodly people rage and plot against God or what we stand for. We mustn't be intimidated or relax our stance of faith whether it's a nation rising against our nation, or an ungodly person who opposes us.

Peter and John quoted this scripture from Psalms after they had been arrested, questioned, and released from prison for preaching in the name of Jesus, healing and performing miracles in that name. Around five thousand men had believed after hearing that message they preached. The leaders, who wanted to extinguish any talk of Jesus, commanded them to stop speaking in this name. After threats of punishment, Peter and John were released.

Peter and John continued to stand strong in their faith and didn't waiver. They not only continued to minister in the name of Jesus, but they prayed to God to enable them with even more boldness to speak His word! They asked God to stretch forth His hand through them to do signs and wonders. When the enemy comes against us, let it spur us to stand firm like Peter and John.

We are strong to stand because God Himself and His mighty power dwells in us! Remember what He said in Isaiah, that if we don't stand firm in our faith, we will not stand. When we are not standing, there are only two other options: sitting down or lying down!

There are times when an attack comes to our minds, physical bodies, family, or finances. We choose whether we will lie down and let the enemy run over us or whether we will stand firm in our faith! The word says that the devil is "like" a roaring lion. He wants us to think he is dangerous. He wants us to think he has conquered us by paralyzing us with the fear of his roar. But all he can do is roar if we take our stance of faith.

James 4:7 “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

Don't let the "roar" cause you to buckle under, it's a smokescreen because his power has been stripped. Remember God's word and rely on His Holy Spirit to stand!

Cor. 1:21-22 “Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”

We have a guarantee of victory in every situation and any attack. The only power Satan and his cohorts have over us is what we let him have. When we stand in the authority of God and use the tools He has provided for us, the enemy's schemes are destroyed and rendered powerless!

The big question is: how exactly do we stand firm in our faith? We take our stand by putting on all of our armor.

Ephesians 6:10-18 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all of this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.”]]>stephenrobles@whwc.orgNone2010-08-23T09:18:26-04:00http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/5141c79619268a10845b0d465633d5f3-113.html#unique-entry-id-113http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/5141c79619268a10845b0d465633d5f3-113.html#unique-entry-id-1132 Chronicles 31:20-21 says, “This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah, doing what was good and right and faithful before the LORD his God. In everything that he undertook in the service of God’s temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered.”

If we want to have success, then we must work and serve with all of our hearts. On the contrary, if you want a half-baked or failed result, then be idle or half-hearted. To have a prosperous endeavor, such as a business, getting a college degree, maintaining a healthy marriage, or raising godly, happy, balanced kids, we have to be diligent. Things such as these don’t just fall off of trees like ripe cherries! I think we would all agree that we have to put our whole heart into them to make them work as God designed them.

We are diligent in our pursuit for a better education and persistent in our career goals. It is beneficial and good to have a zeal for these things, but our zeal for God should never be less than our zeal for these desires. So it is the same with serving God: we can’t just leave it on auto-pilot!

Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for man...”

It’s not always “smarts” or talent, but it’s having “heart” that causes us to succeed in life. What makes a business man or business woman successful? Is it their degree? Having that degree certainly helps, but I believe that it is because they put their whole heart into it. How much more should we put our hearts into serving God and his people?

Like I mentioned earlier, it is not always all about how smart you are or how talented you are. You may be thinking, “ I have this weakness or that shortcoming, I feel limited.” Remember, where we have weakness or lack ability, we have the Holy Spirit who helps us with our infirmities and weaknesses! Do you think the Holy Spirit hooks up alongside and works with the one who is idle or half- hearted? I believe He certainly wants to, but His hands would be tied to work. He loves to see those who are active in their faith and going for it with all they have.

Who makes the best witnesses? The one who speaks the most eloquently? No! Those who simply trust the Holy Spirit for help are the ones who speak out of love and compassion for the lost.

Who makes the best choir member or musician? Is it the most talented? Someone who hits every note perfectly? Now I do know that you can be very talented and anointed at the same time, but I don’t believe they are anointed and successful because they are talented. It’s because of their heart towards God; willing to serve Him with all their heart.

Who makes the best children‘s worker, staff member, usher, Life Connect leader, drama team member, ministry of helps or teacher? (Did I cover most everyone?) Is it the most experienced or good looking? No! It’s believers who give of their love, time and talent with all their heart, serving the Lord.

Here’s some awesome scriptures for those of you who love to serve God and His house:

1 Chronicles 22:19: “Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the LORD your God. Begin to build the sanctuary of the LORD God, so that you may bring the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD and the sacred articles belonging to God into the temple that will be built for the Name of the LORD.”

Psalm 69:9: “… for zeal for your house consumes me…”

Did you know that when we all love and serve God, and His house, with all of our hearts we make a place welcomed and prepared for the presence of God! Gory! I got so excited when I read this scripture! Remember that the Ark of the Covenant is the symbol of the presence of God being in their midst. Actually, in those times, it was the literal presence of God. Let the zeal for His house consume us! I am reminded of a recent example of this. So many nights for the last few weeks, large groups of people have gathered in our new sanctuary to clean and get ready for the first service. They are so faithful , diligent, and excited! Their zeal and love for God and His house is so evident and so precious! They are preparing and anticipating the presence of God!

Jesus never acted lukewarm when he was on the Earth fulfilling God’s plan for Him. He never let anything else take precedence in His heart, but his pleasure was to do the will of His Father. He sweat droplets of blood and suffered physical and mental agony as He carried the burden to bring us salvation. Thank you so much Jesus. There was no half-hearted effort there. Should I give Him any less in return? Let’s serve Him with all our hearts and we will know His success and His presence!

Matt. 12:50: “For whoever does the will of My Father is My brother and sister and mother.”

2 Chron. 26:5: “He (King Uzziah) sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. As long as he sought the LORD, God gave him success.”]]>stephenrobles@whwc.orgNone2010-08-16T09:36:18-04:00http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/4793d2cce9f01e5128bd8d94c9eb0dc4-112.html#unique-entry-id-112http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/4793d2cce9f01e5128bd8d94c9eb0dc4-112.html#unique-entry-id-1121 Tim. 4:15-16 “Be diligent in these matters, give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them because if you do, you will save both yourselves and your hearers.”

The apostle Paul was encouraging Timothy in his calling as a young minister. In the verses prior to these verses, Paul tells Timothy not to let anyone look down on him because he was young or inexperienced. Paul exhorted him on all the ways to be successful. He told him the importance of being a Godly example in his speech, his love walk, and his life. He encouraged him to continue to use the gift God gave him and not neglect it. Paul said that if Timothy was diligent in all these areas that it would keep himself, as well as others, on track.

Diligence in living our lives in front of others is an important thing for us to learn. That is the first way that living a diligent life brings us blessings: it keeps us doing the right thing and then we are able to influence those around us for the good.

There are many factors in life that cause us to be successful, or not so successful in life. One factor that brings blessings is diligence. Here’s the definition:

Diligent- characterized by steady, earnest, and energetic efforts.
marked by persevering painstaking effort.
Synonym: busy, productive

It’s the opposite of being idle, lazy, slack or neglectful. This can apply to our being busy for God, our families, school or our jobs.

Eccl. 10:18 says, “If a man is lazy, the rafters sag; if his hands are idle the house leaks.”

If things are not going right over and over again then maybe we should check the condition of our roof! Is the diligence factor operating in our life?

The diligence factor brings other blessings into our lives. We have already discussed that diligence in the things of God keeps our lives on the right path. However, there’s more!

The diligent person’s plans become successful realities! Do you have a dream? Maybe you have a dream you have desired to see come to pass for years. Some of you may be focusing on short term or long term goals in your spiritual life or on the job.

Prov. 21:5: “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.”

When I was a child, I spent a lot of time at my Grandma Smith’s house. My Grandma had a lot of sayings that have stuck with me and I seem to carry on her traditions that way (including her recipe for macaroni and cheese which my kids and I love). One of her most common sayings was, “Haste makes waste.” I always thought that was good advice. I understood her to mean that if you try to rush around and do a quick job of something you end up making more mistakes along the way. If we just slow down, do things calmly and carefully, things turn out a whole lot better. I still believe that was a good interpretation, but when I read this verse in Proverbs, I realized that the meaning goes even a little deeper.

A diligent person’s plans lead to profit or success, not just because he does everything slowly and methodically. His plans come to pass because he is diligent in all his ways to plan for a successful outcome. He doesn’t live his entire life by the seat of his pants or just “in the moment.” He prays and seeks God for wisdom and direction, weighs all the choices before him, and educates himself of all the consequences of each action. Then he moves purposely, aggressively and consistently toward his goal.

The person who does things in haste is unwise because they don’t stop to pray or even get godly council from others. He doesn’t spend time planning, organizing or weighing. It’s like a “Qué sera, sera” way of living. They will never be as successful as they could be.

We know so many great people who we desire to see succeed, but the diligence factor has to be working in their lives first. Still there are many of us who have been working toward our dreams and have not seen them come to pass yet; don’t give up! Keep on being diligent and you will see!

Prov. 20:4, “A sluggard does not plow in season; so at harvest time , he looks but finds nothing.”

A diligent person has a promise that his dreams and desires, which line up with God’s word, will eventually come to pass.

Prov.13:4 “The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.”

It’s connected to the principle of sowing and reaping. Galatians 6:7: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that will he also reap.” That’s not just talking about money!

There are other passages that tell of how the diligent will get the blessings, promotions, and material blessings as well.

Proverbs 12:24: “Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in slave labor.”

Proverbs: 10:4: “Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.”

Let’s keep putting the diligence factor to work in our lives and see what God will do. Can you bear just one more scripture? Great, here’s a good one to close out today:

Galatians 6:9: “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
]]>stephenrobles@whwc.orgNone2010-08-10T14:08:58-04:00http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/aa087e812e5a687ee19e0aefd2c34c39-111.html#unique-entry-id-111http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/aa087e812e5a687ee19e0aefd2c34c39-111.html#unique-entry-id-111Proverbs 20:6 “Many a man claims to have unfailing love, but a faithful
man who can find?”

It’s one thing to say that we love our spouse. It is another thing to show that love. It is music to my ears when my husband tells me he loves me, but if he failed to be faithful or show me with his actions, then I would doubt his sincerity. I have to say that I am a blessed woman because I have the most wonderful husband that affirms his love to me daily in all he does.

Our love for God is so similar. It’s easy to give lip service. Even words that are from the heart are just that, words. However, the true test of our love for Him is found in our faithfulness in living for Him. He has blessed us and entrusted us with all the riches of His kingdom, so it is important that we are found productive and faithful.

On the third occasion that Jesus appeared to His disciples after He was raised from the dead, he asked Peter a question. In John 21:15-17 Jesus asked:

“Simon son of John, do you truly love Me more than these?”
“Yes Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed My lambs.”
Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love Me?”
He answered and said, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of My sheep.”
The third time He said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love Me?” He said, “Lord you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed My sheep.”

I think the message is loud and clear. We say we love God. He says, show Me you love Me by obeying what I ask you to do.

I looked up the definition of faithful in the Merriam-Webster’s dictionary:

Faithful- worthy of trust, reliable-consistent with truth-devoted.
There are also four words that can be used interchangeably with the word faithful:

1. Loyal- steadfast in affection or allegiance, a firm resistance to any
temptation to desert or betray
2. Steadfast- implies as steady and unwavering course in love, allegiance
or conviction
3. Resolute- implies firm determination to adhere (stick) to a cause or
purpose
4. Conscientious- firm in adherence to promises or a duty

Here is one more way to define faithful: True to the facts, to a standard, or to an original!

Our Father is the original and we are to be a copy of the original! All these words can be used to describe our God and our life as well. Of course, God is the only one who is perfect in every way, but because of our love for Him, we strive to be like Him in order to please Him.

1 Cor. 4:1-2 says; “Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards (trustees) of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.”

God has given freely to us such an awesome salvation that includes everything we will ever need right now and on into eternity. Therefore, we are entrusted to keep and walk in the things of the kingdom. What a responsibility and a privilege!

What are some of the things that God expects of all of us? (It’s really not that we have to do these things: we get to do them!) Well, as believers, we are to pray and worship Him on a daily basis, live a pure life, and share His love and word with a dying world. It is also important to walk in the Spirit and to walk in love with one another. We should always be looking for a way to serve others; believers and nonbelievers as well.

We are stewards and trustees of His kingdom on this earth. It’s so easy to draw back and let things get in the way or distract us from walking faithfully and pleasing Him every day.

What has God asked you and me to do this year, last month or even today? Let’s be found faithful!

1Peter 4:10: “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administrating God’s grace in it’s various forms.”]]>stephenrobles@whwc.orgNone2010-08-02T09:32:31-04:00http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/7a1a2e67efbd792b8389f9e65eeb103f-110.html#unique-entry-id-110http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/7a1a2e67efbd792b8389f9e65eeb103f-110.html#unique-entry-id-1101 Peter 2:4-5 “As you come to Him, the Living Stone--rejected by man but chosen by God and precious to Him--you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

Did you know that we are living stones? When we came to Jesus, the Living Stone, He became our foundation. Our foundation is strong and sure through the word of God and the blood of Jesus! We were made to glorify Him with our lives and with our bodies. As believers, we are His literal dwelling place. He is not only building us as individuals, but He is building and connecting us together to be a holy, royal priesthood. His purpose for us is to be separated unto Himself for His plan, purpose and pleasure!

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you.”

It is important that we keep this truth in the forefront of our mind, so that our hearts will be guarded as we constantly realize and acknowledge that we are containers of God’s presence. This spurs us to be careful of what we let our eyes look at, what our ears hear, as well as our actions and words. God is a holy God who dwells in those who love Him. He desires for us to be holy as He is holy. To live as stones that are alive ,is to live according to the word of God and for it to become the very fiber of our being.

2 Tim. 2:15-19 “Do your best to present yourselves to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. Avoid Godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. This teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some. Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows who are His” and “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”

What confirms that we belong to God? What is the sign that we are living stones, built firm and solid on an unshakeable foundation? When we are speaking the word with our mouths and acting accordingly, we are demonstrating that we are full of the word of God.

If we mindlessly speak doubt, negativity, superstition, secular and liberal worldly things and even old wives tales, the Bible says, it is godless chatter. Anything that does not agree with the written word of God should not be a part of our belief system or come from our lips.

It is such a tragedy when something terrible happens to someone. At times, well- meaning, very ignorant Christians, inform the victims that God is teaching them a lesson. Sometimes, they go as far as to say, “God has brought this and that upon you because you have some sin in your life,” or that “God is taking you through this valley so He can build up your faith and teach you a spiritual lesson.” A prominent preacher was heard saying this on television this very week.

We have dear Christian friends who recently had a beautiful baby boy who was born with a birth defect. They were told by some that it was the parent’s fault that their son was born this way! Can you imagine! People don’t know the scriptures. The Bible says it is the thief, the devil, who comes to steal, kill and destroy; he is the author of sickness, infirmity and disease! Folks want to blame tragedy on God and destroy the faith of some. We know that “every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of Lights in whom there is no variableness or shadow of turning.”

If we don’t know the word, then whatever is in our hearts will come out as godless chatter which doesn’t build the spiritual house; it only tears it down.

Jesus is the Living Stone! Hallelujah! You too are living stones as you build your spiritual house on Him and His word, which stands forever!

1Peter 2:6 For in the Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in Him will never be put to shame!”]]>stephenrobles@whwc.orgNone2010-07-19T09:21:58-04:00http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/9a004de53e0a0aa2eaf3ec6c3e0c5909-109.html#unique-entry-id-109http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/9a004de53e0a0aa2eaf3ec6c3e0c5909-109.html#unique-entry-id-109Our church has a couple of teams that play in a community softball league. It’s a great time of fun and fellowship for the church. Our guys get out there and give it all they‘ve got. Those of us who come out to support our teams, sit in the stands and eat (way too many) boiled peanuts, french fries, and candy. We basically yell and cheer until we hardly have a voice left!

The team members in the outfield have to stay very alert to see where the batter will hit the ball. To do this, they watch how the batter stands or at what angle he is holding the bat. Outfielders must watch closely so they can be prepared to catch the ball and get the batter out.

The players aren’t the only ones who have to be watchful and alert.
We spectators are easily distracted by our nachos and cheese or talking to the person next to us. Suddenly, someone shouts, “Heads up!” When we hear those words we know that there is a wild ball flying over the fence and that we need to take cover.

I was thinking about this in relation to prayer. In the word of God, there are so many verses of scripture that say, ‘Heads up’ church! God’s plan is unfolding on the earth in these last days and we cannot afford to have a weak or inconsistent prayer life. If the flow of prayer is strong in our life, we will be strong no matter what comes our way.

1 Thess. 5:17 says to “...pray without ceasing.”

Notice what the word says in Colossians 4:2 (NKJV) “Continue earnestly in prayer being vigilant in it with thanksgiving…”

Another translation reads, “Devote your selves to prayer, being watchful and thankful…” (NIV)

The word “continue” means we are to keep it up by being consistent in our prayer life; devoted to spending time in God’s presence. Devotion to praying for His will to be done on earth is priority. If we continue earnestly in prayer, then we can be prepared for what’s to come and even change things completely. Church, we should never underestimate the power of a praying believer!

James 5:16 says, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much (makes tremendous power available, dynamic in it’s working).

In the verse we read earlier, it speaks of being watchful and vigilant in prayer. We must constantly be on the alert because we have an adversary.

1Peter 5:8: “Be self controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

If we stay consistent and watchful in prayer, we can thwart the plan of the enemy and stop him dead in his tracks! Staying in prayer also keeps our spirits sensitive to the Holy Spirit and in tune to His voice. If we stay devoted and vigilant, we will hear the “Heads up” from our Father. We will know by the Spirit to watch out in a situation or get guidance to what we should do.

We can also be led by the Spirit of God to know exactly what to pray for. The Holy Spirit partners with us providing great power, praying out the perfect will of God. We can see and know plainly the vision that He has for us daily, for the upcoming year, and beyond. Heads up everyone!

Habakkuk 2:1-3: “I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart, and watch to see what He will say to me and what I will answer when I am corrected.”

Then the LORD answered me and said: “Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” ]]>stephenrobles@whwc.orgNone2010-07-13T09:14:33-04:00http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/add0c7bcc2ba6bba342427a10c5a2c2c-108.html#unique-entry-id-108http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/add0c7bcc2ba6bba342427a10c5a2c2c-108.html#unique-entry-id-108Proverbs 30:5 “Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.”

Matthew 4:4 “Jesus answered, ‘It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

When we know what God says, then we can be confident to say it too! The enemy doesn’t want you to be in agreement with God’s words, and he certainly doesn’t want you to speak them out loud! There are some who say they believe the Word, but the words they speak are just the opposite: doubt and unbelief!

The enemy of God and all of his cohorts like to place doubts in our minds and hearts. Satan knows that if we believe what God says, and we say it because we believe it in our heart, his works become defeated and powerless.

It was his first trick with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. His strategy is the same today. See how Satan questions God’s authority, truthfulness and intentions in Genesis 3:3.

“Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’”

The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat from the trees in the garden, but God did say, “You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.”

“You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

We are no threat to the kingdom of darkness if we don’t know the word, stand on it and speak it out. Notice how the serpent questioned Eve to see if she really knew what God had said? This is the point at which many are snared already because they don’t really know what the scriptures say! When she remembered just what God had said, then he knew he had to use another angle. So the crafty serpent tried to twist the truth. He basically was saying to Eve, “Ok, maybe he did say that, but He really didn’t mean it. He is just trying to trick you and keep you from what is yours. God doesn’t want you to be as wise as Him so go ahead and take a bite.” In other words, “Don’t trust in what God says, trust in your own logic and feelings. Besides, you know what you need better than God does.”

Satan still uses the same lies today. When we don’t take God at His Word, it’s as if we are saying to God; “I can handle this by myself. I don’t completely trust You and Your word.” When someone lives this way, every promise in God’s word will easily be stolen away!

That’s why it is so important to know what God says about healing, provision, and salvation. When all we have heard are other folks opinions or slants of what they believe God’s word says, then we are relying on second -hand information. Second hand information is never as good as first hand! Man is always prone to error. That’s why it is so important to read and study the word of God first hand for ourselves. God is never prone to error! We can rely on the Holy Spirit to teach us and show us truth as we read the Bible. We can take Him at His word. He and His word are flawless!

So many pray the sinner’s prayer and go to church, but when asked are they sure they are on their way to heaven, they hesitate. They have a fear of death because they are not confident in their salvation. This should never be. Some are not sure if it’s God’s will to heal everyone so they have no confidence to receive the healing that belongs to every child of God. Those who struggle financially year after year don’t realize that God has provided better for them. They settle for the lie that this is just their lot in life, to never get out of the hole that just gets deeper.

It’s just like the Garden of Eden, “Did God really say…?” When we hear these words in our minds or from those around us who doubt, we can boldly say -- “Yes He did! Yes, God said I am saved, healed and blessed according to His written and spoken word! I am His child so all these things belong to me!”

It is always good to find two or three scriptures that apply to your situation. Learn these scriptures, speak them out loud,and stand firm upon them! When you say what you believe in your heart, you’re putting your faith into action. Any mountain will move for you! I have heard this saying for years: “Say it ‘till you see it,” and I believe it!

I have also heard the faith critics call people who talk this way the “blab it and grab it group” or the “hyper-faith crowd.” Well, that’s sure better than being the “doubt it and do without it bunch!” Amen? I can bet that these poor folks let the enemy take whatever he wants from them.

Not me! Obviously, Jesus thought it was an important thing to believe the Truth and then speak it out. He thought it was an important step in our walk of faith to say what we believe. Did Jesus really say that? Yes He did, and I am standing on His words!

Matthew 17:20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Mathew 21:21 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea, and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask in prayer.’”]]>stephenrobles@whwc.orgNone2010-07-12T10:22:13-04:00http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/102970fd8482bbff191f1bee26bcfc6c-107.html#unique-entry-id-107http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/102970fd8482bbff191f1bee26bcfc6c-107.html#unique-entry-id-107Jeremiah 17:5-8 (NLT) This is what the Lord says: “Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the Lord. They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future. They will live in the barren wilderness, in an uninhabited salty land.”

“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.”

Some seasons in life seem to breeze joyously by, while others challenge your faith. You must never trust in the arm of the flesh, in your own strength or intellect, or in any other human being. When you do, your heart becomes cold and insensitive to the Lord, to His Word, His voice and His promptings. Your spiritual growth is literally stunted like a little scrubby shrub in the desert.

You should be able to look back at the end of each year and see growth and change in your knowledge, attitude, faith level and your prayer life. The fruit of the Spirit should be more evident than ever. In other words, in every area, you are moving forward. You should be more able to hear and distinguish the voice and the leadings of the Holy Spirit in your everyday life.

If you don’t see growth, your life will be in a desert -like condition that is barren, no hope for the future, lonely and salty. You will not know in whom your help comes from. This saltiness will keep you in a state of being thirsty and parched. You are never quite satisfied and you feel weak and defeated. You will find yourself being led by your emotions, head logic and sense knowledge.

The real secret to be blessed (happy and prosperous) is to put your complete trust in the Lord, to totally rely on Him. If the roots of your faith are in Him, you won’t be consumed when the heat is on, no matter what fiery trial you face! You won’t be a scrubby little shrub but you will be like a big strong tree planted along the riverbank with roots that go deep.

Think about the giant redwood trees. They are large, strong and gorgeous. But the real secret to their beauty and strength is their root system underneath the ground. Their roots spread out towards nourishment (their life source), and they intermingle and connect with the roots around them.
This forms a network of strength and source of life. The secret is to get rooted and grounded in God’s Word and get to know our Heavenly Father. Knowing Him and His Word is our source of life. Prayer keeps us connected to Him. Remember that prayer is not just a phrase repeated over and over, but it is talking to the Lord and allowing Him to speak to you. The precious Holy Spirit was given to us to help us pray, to lead and guide us into all truth.

If you stay rooted and grounded in God’s Word, your leaves will stay green and fresh no matter what season you are in. Even better yet, the Word says you will continue to produce fruit no matter the circumstance! God’s blessings will abound and your prayers are always answered even when others around you are in confusion. The Word and the Holy Spirit will never leave you out in the cold. Think about this, if your leaves are green that means they are full of life. Where there is life, there is growth and where there is growth, there is always change. God’s change will always be for the good!

Psalms 1:1-3 (NLT) “Oh the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked or stand around with sinners, or join with the mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating in it both day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither and they prosper in all they do.”

So rejoice in whatever season you are in. Seasons come and seasons go but God never changes. The Bible says He is the same yesterday, today and forever! God’s Word declares that if you stay rooted and grounded in Him, you will prosper, grow and flourish in all you do!]]>stephenrobles@whwc.orgNone2010-07-05T23:30:32-04:00http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/f6447fee821823990cf0f03ea6c3e6ce-106.html#unique-entry-id-106http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/f6447fee821823990cf0f03ea6c3e6ce-106.html#unique-entry-id-106“If My people which are called by My name, will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
- 2 Chronicles 7:14

It is such an awesome thing when God says of us, “My people.” Since we have been born again and washed by the blood of Jesus, we belong to Him. We are His possession and He is our Father!

With this awesome privilege comes a great calling. This calling is so great because we are called by His Name! We have been personally chosen and appointed by the name that holds the highest honor, authority, character, holiness and renown in the entire universe! There is no other name that is higher, and He has called us. One part of this calling is the call to pray.

Our Heavenly Father has put out the call, but it is up to us to respond to it. He promised to hear us, forgive us and heal our land. Notice, the first word of the verse above is the word “If.”

If we respond to the call to pray, things will change in our lives and in the lives of our families and friends. If we respond to this call, we can bring change in our churches, our state, our government, our nation and even beyond our borders. If we truly believe that prayer changes things then how can we neglect this call?

James 5:16 says, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much (makes tremendous power available, dynamic in it’s working).”

This kind of prayer described in James is not, “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep…”. It is not a prayer prayed every now and then. The prayer of a righteous man or woman is full of passion and power. It is a consistent force that is effective!

We need the spirit of prayer to come upon us as the body of Christ. Here at Winter Haven Worship Center I believe that is just what is happening! The people of our church are coming alive and getting fired up. We are pressing into prayer and seeing results. Glory to God! Let’s stay fervent in prayer, seeking his face, and together we will see the power of God! We will see what God is longing for, the precious fruit of the earth. And that good will triumph over evil in the end.

Proverbs 15:29 “The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.”

Proverbs 15:8 “…but the prayer of the upright is His delight.”

When we respond to the call of prayer as the early Christians did in the book of Acts, we will see the move of God’s Spirit. In the 14th verse of the first chapter it says, “They all joined together constantly in prayer..”. The Holy Spirit anointed the disciples to preach and thousands were born again and many were healed. There were many signs, wonders and miracles performed in their midst as they…“devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” Acts 2:42. The disciples were even set free from prison with the help of angels because of the prayers of the church.

We have the key to revival. We have the key to the power of God and for every break through if we respond to the call to pray!

Do you have a testimony of answered prayer? You can be a blessing and encouragement to others by clicking on the comments button below and sharing what God has done for you!
]]>stephenrobles@whwc.orgNone2010-06-28T11:42:25-04:00http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/3e58db10513bd1bd3902372810029fdd-105.html#unique-entry-id-105http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/3e58db10513bd1bd3902372810029fdd-105.html#unique-entry-id-105Love One Another

John 13:34-35 says, “A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

This is one of the greatest testimonies to the world that God is real, when they see the genuine love of God that we have for others, especially for those in the body of Christ. It is important that this love is demonstrated not just to those in our local church or denomination, but to all believers. We need to show love to one another in word and in deed, just as Jesus did for us.

I John 3:16 “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.

Of course most of us won’t have to literally lay down our lives for another, even though I believe it includes that; but it means to put the needs of others before my own, to prefer one another. Sometimes it will be a sacrifice on our part, but we are to be there for one another.

This verse says we know what the love of God is because of the example we see in Jesus. In the same way we are to follow this example to draw others to Christ.

How we love as the body of Christ, through our words and actions, reflects directly back to our heavenly Father. Whatever impression we give to the world, is the impression they have of God. Do people see us quarrelling, criticizing or judging another believer? Do people see coldness or apathy? Do they hear a lot of legalism instead of grace and freedom? If they do they can only assume that’s what God’s love is like. We can turn people on to God, or turn them off.

Over in Galatians 6:10 it says, “Therefore as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

We are exhorted to make use of every opportunity we have to build up or encourage someone else, especially those of the household of faith; it builds up the kingdom of God and draws the lost to Christ. You see, the lost are observing us. Yes, it seems that they are just waiting or hoping to see us fall so they can say, “See, I told you none of that Christianity stuff is real.” I tend to believe that most of the lost are hungry, dissatisfied and long for something that’s real. I think deep down inside many of the lost are watching us and hoping to see that it works because they are searching for answers. If they don’t see love at work among the believers, why would they desire to have what we have?

If we, as the body of Christ, can demonstrate unity and love to all of our own first, it’s like the litmus test for the world that God’s love is real and that he loves them so much.

We have all heard comments through the years from people who make excuses not to attend church. They may say something like, “I gave up on religion or church because all those people are just a bunch of hypocrites!” or “Those people act so ‘holier than thou’ and I feel they look down on me.”

I am so thankful to God that He surrounded me with Christians, who just oozed with His love when I was first born again. I am not saying they were perfect, but they loved me into the kingdom. Their love also helped me to continue to grow and mature in the Lord.

When I first gave my heart to the Lord Jesus I was a little rough around the edges (just like most of you were!). The whole Christian lifestyle was foreign to me. I was only 18 years old and in many ways still talked and acted like the world. I dressed like the world because it’s all I ever knew. Now some things in my life fell off right away; but others were pruned away as I grew. But all the while, even at the start, I had such a love and a passion for God. I had such a hunger to please him and to obey Him. Those precious folks taught me through word and deed. They didn’t judge me or avoid me because I wasn’t like them. They didn’t try to be the Holy Spirit in my life but introduced me to Him and He cleaned me up. They just loved me, plain and simple.

I realize now that I need to practice the same love and patience with new Christians and with the ones who have been a Christian for many years. People will always be people. They are going to challenge your love walk, but remember our example, Jesus.

I John 4:20: “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.”]]>stephenrobles@whwc.orgNone2010-06-21T11:19:47-04:00http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/fa6a3debc3ac38eeb0b9701af47b0f96-104.html#unique-entry-id-104http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/fa6a3debc3ac38eeb0b9701af47b0f96-104.html#unique-entry-id-104The Love Test

Ephesians 4:2 says, “ Be completely humble and gentle, bearing with one another in love.”

It’s so easy to love people who love us back. It’s easy to be kind to those who are friendly and generous. These kinds of relationships with people make us feel good inside. We want to give to these people and do things for them automatically. We receive richness back into our lives as we give into theirs. These kinds of relationships with family and friends are true blessings from God. They encourage us and build us up; but this love comes naturally and easily.

Love doesn’t seem to come so easily when someone is difficult to get along with or unkind. This is where the challenge comes. This is the true test of love, to love the unlovable; to have the ability to love unconditionally like our heavenly Father does.

I Corinthians 13:4-7 describes what true love is and how it behaves, “Love suffers long and is kind, love does not envy, love does not parade itself, is not puffed up, does not behave rudely, does not seek it’s own, is not provoked, thinks no evil, does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

There are times we will come across people who just make us uncomfortable. They may be very sick or needy. They may not look or smell nice. Love looks beyond these outward things and loves the person. We must show them love and kindness. That’s agape, or the God kind of love. So many will never see the love of God unless it comes through us.

It’s also very challenging when someone’s behavior is “unlovely” or they mistreat us. Our human nature wants to retaliate and set them straight. Deep down on the inside of us we want an “eye for and eye and tooth for a tooth!” But what does the Bible say? The word says in Romans 5:5 that “…God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit…”

The moment we think of how to respond to a difficult person we have a choice to act out of our old human nature or act from our new born again nature that is full of the love of God. Our opening verse reminds us to be gentle and humble and “bear with” one another. We might say it this way, to put up with one another and just be nice! Because of the love of God, we must love one another at all times, not just when it’s easy. We are encouraged to love to the point that we forgive sins and faults.

I Peter 4:8 says, “Above all love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins.”

Proverbs 10:12 closely mirrors this when it says, “Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all wrongs.”

There will always be someone who tests our love walk, whether it’s a family member, church member or co-worker. There will be times the bank teller at the drive thru window seems to take forever to help the customer ahead of us, and it’s all we can do to have self control. We will all most likely have the opportunity to let a fellow motorist know how we feel about their driving capabilities! At these moments we can draw on the love of God that is on the inside of us and pass the test!

There is a bonus question to this love test that if we get it right then we can pass this test with flying colors, “How far do we really have to take this love walk?” Is it enough to love the people who are in need or that are hard to get along with?’ What about the haters? People that hate because of our faith, race, skin color or economic status.

Jesus knew there would be haters. He experienced hate first hand because the religious leaders hated Him. Jesus saw prejudice and hate in the society of His day between different people groups. He also knew people would hate you and me. That’s why He told us in John 15:18,

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first.”

So here’s the answer to the bonus question found in Luke 6:35-36,

“But Love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be the sons of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.”

Father, thank you for loving me when I was unlovable; for saving me when I was ungrateful and wicked. Help me to love like you love, in Jesus name, amen.

kimconnor@whwc.org]]>stephenrobles@whwc.orgNone2010-06-14T14:59:08-04:00http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/fad45cdbe94345ed99f2776cb12e8b7e-103.html#unique-entry-id-103http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/fad45cdbe94345ed99f2776cb12e8b7e-103.html#unique-entry-id-103He answered: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:27)

As Jesus spoke these words, an expert in the law wanting to justify himself, asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29)

Jesus replied in verses 30-36. “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite , when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was, and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?”

The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

There are so many people who are hurting or in need. They are like the man left for dead. They have been beaten up by the cruelty of the world. The enemy has stolen from them and nearly destroyed them, leaving them on the side of the road with no hope. Sadly, the priest and the Levite, who knew the right thing to do, who had the ability to help, didn’t reach out. It is almost unthinkable that they could pass by a bleeding and dying man, even one of their own countrymen, and do nothing.

Notice, though, what this passage says about the Samaritan as he traveled: “and he came where the man was.” The Samaritan had an agenda to carry out and a course he was taking, but he took time to stop and go to where the man was. Also, it is interesting that the Samaritan was a stranger from another place, who was despised by the Jews. The priest and the Levite were of the same country and religion, but they didn’t care. Yet, it was the Samaritan who helped the hurting man. He didn’t care what country he was from. He didn’t even consider whether the man could pay him back for his kindness. He put the love of God in action by helping a neighbor in need.

All the hurting, dying and lost people are not going to come to us. They won’t all conveniently show up to church so we can reach out to them! We have to go where they are!

Then the word says that the Samaritan saw him and took pity on him. This word pity means compassion. Too many times we simply feel sorry for people, but that certainly doesn’t help them.

Compassion is motivated by love. It takes the next step beyond sympathy and does something to help change the situation. It takes action and gets involved.

It’s human nature to ask ourselves a question similar to the expert of the law, “Who is my neighbor?’ when we pass by someone who is hurting. We may have thoughts like, “Is this really my responsibility?” or “Do I really have time to stop?”

Of course one individual can’t carry the load of all, but as we go about our day, the Holy Spirit will lead us and show us who to minister to. He will be faithful to show us what to do. Our job is to be sensitive to His voice and be obedient. Just our encouraging word or kind act, could make the difference between life and death for another. It could be the difference between despair and joy for someone.

It may cost us our time, our resources or even our money, but isn’t that why God has blessed us with these things? Our cost is small compared to the value of a neighbor encouraged or rescued from the enemy’s grip. I wonder if these acts of compassion are what make up all the jewels in our crown we will receive in heaven? So we are compelled by the love of God and the command of Jesus, “Go and do likewise.”

I John 3:17-18: “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity (compassion) on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”

kimconnor@whwc.org]]>stephenrobles@whwc.orgNone2010-06-07T09:12:05-04:00http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/79d53232e8978374b98dfad3483a55f3-102.html#unique-entry-id-102http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/79d53232e8978374b98dfad3483a55f3-102.html#unique-entry-id-102First Things First

Matthew 6:33 say, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

When it comes to doing things in the proper order, there are times I bend the rules a bit. You see, sometimes I would rather have dessert before dinner and sometimes, I have dessert before dinner! But when it comes to assembling something like a bike, for instance, I don’t have a choice in the matter. It’s important that I complete step one before I complete step two if I want a bike that I can ride when I’m finished! It’s the same with our lives. To be truly successful, we have to get our priorities in the right order.

There are so many things we desire and seek after in this life. Not all of those things are wrong or sinful. We seek after a loving, committed relationship with another, higher education and a career so we can be financially secure. The truth is that our Heavenly Father wants us to have all of these things and more.

III John 2 says, “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.”

God desires that we prosper in all things, and He has made the way for us to do so if we will just seek him first and foremost. We so easily get our eyes on our goals and the desires of life and take our eyes off of Him. It’s all about relationship with the Father, who is the source of our blessings, rather than the blessings themselves. If we put Him first, He has promised to take care of us:

Psalm 34:10 reads, “…those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.”

Our God is so good to us! If we seek the Lord above anything else, there will be nothing that we lack! Seeking Him first will affect our loved ones as well:

I Chron. 28:8 says, ”…be careful to seek out all the commandments of the Lord your God that you may possess this good land and leave it as an inheritance for your children after you forever.”

When you choose to put God first, it will bless you now but it will also leave a legacy of blessing, spiritually and materially, for your children, your grandchildren and your great-grandchildren!

Psalm 63:1: “Oh God you are my God. Early I will seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh longs for you in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water.”

kimconnor@whwc.org]]>stephenrobles@whwc.orgNone2010-05-31T22:38:19-04:00http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/6daf0bcadb2842a019784e0a6a43da69-101.html#unique-entry-id-101http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/6daf0bcadb2842a019784e0a6a43da69-101.html#unique-entry-id-101Col. 3:1-3 says, “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on the things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”

Did you know that if you are born again that you are now dead? That’s right, dead to your old man. You are dead to the old nature with all its sinful ways and desires. On the other hand, your spirit man is now alive unto God! Here’s even more good news. If your old man has died, you life is now hidden with Christ in God! You have been delivered and made secure in Him.

Eph. 2:5-6 tells us…“even when we were dead in trespasses, (He) made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,..”

If we are hidden with Christ that means we are also seated with Him! Glory to God! To have this awesome privilege should motivate us to live in a way that is pleasing to Him.

I had a lady tell me once how she was feeling so sad now that she had decided to follow the Lord. I thought that was a strange thing to say so I asked her what she meant by that. She replied, “Well I am sad because I know all the things that I am used to enjoying I have to give up. I know that the old me has to die, and I am grieving over my death.”

It was like she was feeling pain from being separated from sin and her old life. She knew that living for God was the right thing to do, but she really wasn’t ready to die to her old nature. Her statement had taken me by surprise and caused me to question if she was really ready to give her entire life over to God. She still loved her old nature.

We should have a funeral for the old man; but this funeral is not full of sadness and grieving, but full of joy and celebration! When we are delivered out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light, our

earthly and sinful desires are replaced by the desire to live a pure and holy life that is pleasing to God.

This doesn’t mean we are instantly perfect when we are born again though. God, through His word and by His Holy Spirit, begins pruning out habits, desires and wrong thinking. He lovingly reveals to us the things that are not pleasing to Him. We continue to change, grow and mature until we get to heaven. When He reveals to us a part of our old nature that has not been pruned, we have to put it to death.

Notice that Colossians says in the third chapter “to keep seeking and to set your mind on the things above.” Remember that we are new creatures in Christ because our spirit is born again, not our mind. Our mind is to be renewed day by day and washed by the water of the word. In other words, we have to set our mind on the word of God in order to keep the old man under. We are brand new creatures in Christ. The old things have passed away and all things have become new.

If the “old things” keep showing up in our life more than the new, then we should check the setting of our mind! If I am in my home and it is really hot, even though I know I have a great air conditioning system, I check to see if the settings are correct. If it is set on 80 degrees, I know I am going to change the setting right away so I can cool off! In the same way, we keep our minds set with the word of God.

If we are hidden with Christ in God we are raised up and seated with Him in heavenly places. We are in a place of deliverance and security. Deliverance belongs to us not only from sin, but from all the plans of the enemy!

Psalm 32:7 says, “You are my hiding place. You shall preserve me from trouble: you shall compass about me with songs of deliverance.”]]>stephenrobles@whwc.orgNone2010-05-24T08:53:49-04:00http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/181e9111bde3ce80858537361be15c86-100.html#unique-entry-id-100http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/181e9111bde3ce80858537361be15c86-100.html#unique-entry-id-100If you don’t want to be a “burn-out” case, then get to the secret place!

Remember when you were a kid and you played hide and seek? You searched for the best hiding place, where you knew you wouldn’t be found, and stayed quiet as a mouse. Or maybe you and your buddies had a secret hideout where you would meet? Our Heavenly Father has a quiet hiding place and a secret hideout for us to meet with Him!

Psalm 91:1 says, “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”

It’s not enough to go to church, attend a bible study or prayer group. These are things we should be doing on a regular basis; but nothing can take the place of spending time in the secret place with Him. This quiet, secret place is where we can really get to know Father God. It is in this place that we worship Him, talk to Him and He speaks to us. In this secret place He changes us by His glory, refills us and strengthens us for each day.

You give out, and then you give out some more, right? You give out for ministry, for your family and friends, and for your job. If you keep giving without replacing what was used up, you will be empty and dry. If you’re not careful, you will be a full-blown burn-out20case! You may be thinking, “I’m there right now!”

In Mark chapter 6 Jesus sent the disciples two by two on a ministry tour. The disciples went out telling everyone they met to repent of their sins and turn to God. They cast out many demons and healed many sick people, anointing them with olive oil. All they took was a walking stick and the clothes on their backs. Their transportation was their own two feet; food and lodging came from the kindness of those they met along the way. I can imagine they were very excited about all the wonderful things that happened; but I can also imagine they were very exhausted and hungry.

When the disciples returned from their journey, they told Jesus all they had done and taught. (They reported right back into the presence of Jesus after their labors.) Then Jesus said to them in verse 31, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and His apostles didn’t even have time to eat. Jesus recognized they needed some time to recuperate from their hard work.

Moving on to verses 32-33, the word says that Jesus and the disciples left by boat for a quiet place where they could be alone. But many people recognized them and saw them leaving, and people from many towns ran ahead along the shore and got there ahead of them.

NEWSFLASH…..life keeps happening and it keeps coming at you fast; no matter whether you are weary or up for the task! It’s like a merry-go-round that doesn’t stop; you have to get off of it to take a break! There will always be a distraction to hinder you from going to the secret place.

I once read somewhere that, “You’ll never find the time to spend with the Lord, you have to make it.” How true that is.

Your Heavenly Father knows your frame and knows all that is going on in your life. He knows you can only go so far without coming into His presence and getting alone with Him. But if you make that time, it will be the difference between being a “burn-out” case or living a victorious in life.

Matthew 6:6 says, “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”

kimconnor@whwc.org]]>stephenrobles@whwc.orgNone2010-05-17T09:21:46-04:00http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/8480381ce5a12d4ca205a37dd41e0a5c-99.html#unique-entry-id-99http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/8480381ce5a12d4ca205a37dd41e0a5c-99.html#unique-entry-id-99A Key To Prayer, Peace and Deliverance!

I heard Bro. Kenneth Hagin say many times that if we would just balance the scales of asking God for things in prayer with praise we would see more answers to prayer. I must say that I agree with him. I have not only experienced this first hand but there are so many scriptures about thanksgiving coupled with prayer. This makes giving thanks and praising God ahead of time, before the answer manifests, an important key in prayer.

I Thess. 5:16-18 says, “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

I Timothy 2:1 lines up with that: “I urge, then, first of all that requests, intercessions and thanksgiving be made for everyone….”

Here’s a third witness over in Col. 4:2 : “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”

These are New Testament instructions. However, even in the Old Covenant, we see that before the Israelites would go into battle, they sent the praise team out ahead of them! The singers and those on instruments went out before the army because they knew that praising their God first brought them victory in those battles. I think we have to really hand it to those praisers because they didn’t go out to battle with a sword or shield, but with a shout and song of praise! This showed their complete trust and faith in the great I AM! If that was the Old Testament and we are living in the New, founded on better promises, then how much more should we make giving thanks and praise a part of our everyday life?

When we face the enemy head on, what are we armed with? Praise and thanksgiving, or fear, doubt and worry? Are we pacing the floor and speaking defeat, or do we lift up our hand and declare with our mouth the greatness of our God? What are our weapons? They are praying the word in the name of Jesus sealed up with praise and thanks!

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (of this world, worldly, carnal or fleshly) but mighty in God to the pulling down of strongholds...”

The word of God also promises that if we couple prayer with thanksgiving, we can walk in the peace of God and our hearts and minds will be guarded and kept strong.

Phil. 4:6: “Do not be anxious about anything, but by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Have you ever noticed that worry and fear seem to be magnified at midnight when we are laying in bed trying to sleep? Our mind is going like a freight train and scenarios of the worst possible outcomes swirl about in our heads. Many turn to food to ease their nerves. I have to admit, I have done that as well. I think to myself, “ a big bowl of cereal or a big slice of cake would make me feel much better and help me fall asleep.”

There is a better solution. Instead of turning to a midnight snack, try a midnight praise and thanksgiving session! That’s what Paul and Silas did when they were chained up in a prison cell. We’ve all heard the story, but it’s one of my favorite.

Over in Acts 16:21, Paul and Silas were arrested for preaching the gospel. They were then beaten and thrown into the darkest, most secure part of the prison with their feet bound in shackles. They had a really bad day, to say the least, and they had every reason to feel ungrateful and feel like a victim. They could have said “God, why did you let this happen to us? How could things get any worse? I guess God has abandoned us and we will probably just rot in this stinking prison.” But that is not what they did. Instead they had a midnight praise session!

In Acts 16:25 it says: “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God and the prisoners heard them.”

They obviously were not praising under their breaths, but out loud where everyone could hear. The power of God came on the scene and the prison was shaken by an earthquake. The prisoners were all released and the guard got right with God that night!

Giving thanks and praise is not only a key to prayer and peace but it’s also a key for deliverance!

kimconnor@whwc.org]]>stephenrobles@whwc.orgNone2010-05-10T09:02:44-04:00http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/ac2340633721bb6fcb6e5a9287693cf0-98.html#unique-entry-id-98http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/ac2340633721bb6fcb6e5a9287693cf0-98.html#unique-entry-id-98Hold fast! You are closer than you think to your answer! We have all heard it said that it seems “darkest before the dawn” or “When you’re at the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on!” I believe there’s a lot of truth in both those sayings.

Is there something that you’re believing God for? Are you praying and standing on the word of God for your breakthrough? Then hold fast to your faith! Hebrews 10:23 says, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope, without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”

Think about the story of Jairus in Mark chapter 5. He was a leader in the local synagogue who came to Jesus in a heart-wrenching crisis. Jairus pressed through the crowd and pleaded with Jesus saying, “My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.”

He went into the presence of Jesus and not only made a request but a very strong confession of faith, “and she will live.” Glory! Jesus and Jairus started towards Jairus’ house. On the way, Jesus stopped to heal a woman with an issue of blood. I wonder what was running through Jairus’ mind at this point? His thoughts may have been something like this: Jesus, my request is much more urgent! If you stop to heal everyone along the way, then my daughter could die!” He may have been tempted to get anxious and worry; doubts began to creep in. In the same way, when we don’t see our answer manifested right away, we begin to waiver.

As Jesus was saying to the woman, “Daughter, your faith has made you well….” a messenger, bearing an evil report, arrived from Jairus’ house. The messenger said to Jairus, “Your daughter is dead. Why bother the teacher any further?”

This report was the complete opposite of Jairus’ confession of faith. It sounded like an announcement of defeat. His prayers seemed of no effect. He could have given up right there, as many of us would; but he took hold of the next words of Jesus, “Do not be afraid, only believe”.

Notice that even when death appeared to have won at Jairus’ house, Jesus said to all those who gathered, “Why make all this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping.” Jesus then put out all the unbelievers and evil reporters. When He went into the room where the girl lay, He took only the girl’s parents and His faith partners, Peter, James and John.

If you are determined to hold fast to your faith, then you can’t hang out with the doubters! You must hook yourself up with those who are in agreement. In verse


41, Jesus took the child by the hand and said to her, “talitha cumin,” which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” Immediately the girl arose up and walked.

You may feel like Jairus; that what you are praying and believing for has not manifested yet. It even appears dead with no signs of life. You may be tempted to waiver because things are not happening in the time frame you expected.

Notice what else it says in Hebrews 3:6 “…but Christ as a Son over His own house, WHOSE HOUSE WE ARE, IF WE HOLD FAST the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope FIRM TO THE END!”

Tie a knot of faith to the end of your rope and hold fast. Bring your petition before Him and hold fast to your confession. Don’t give up now! You are closer than you think to your answer!]]>stephenrobles@whwc.orgNone2010-05-03T13:26:04-04:00http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/2914493b20829fa562919db7543e626c-97.html#unique-entry-id-97http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/2914493b20829fa562919db7543e626c-97.html#unique-entry-id-97Luke 12: 18-21 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I’ll say to myself, ‘You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.’”

“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded of you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’”

“This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich towards God.”

When we don’t put God first in our lives and in our finances, we reason within ourselves our own plan for prosperity. Without our priorities in order, our foundation will be like sinking sand. Ordering our priorities properly is the difference between certain riches and uncertain riches.

Such is the man that Jesus describes in this story. I don’t believe that Jesus was inferring that this man shouldn’t have blessings and be successful financially. The point He was driving at was that this man spent all his time and energy to fill his life with material wealth without making sure his heart stayed right with God. Another observation could be noted that he trusted in his own plan and in riches themselves rather than God. Remember that the word says it is the love of money, not money itself, that is the root of all evil.

Psalm 39:6 says, “Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro. He bustles about, but only in vain; he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will get it.”

The man in this story who acquired so much wealth didn’t honor the Lord with his increase. Wealth gained God’s way is true prosperity. Here is a great way to fill up your barns and storehouses:

Proverbs 3: 9-10: “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.”

I have heard this saying for many years and I believe it to be true, “God doesn’t mind you having things as long as the things don’t have you!” Is our pursuit in life more about getting ahead and getting richer or being rich towards God?

I often do a heart check to keep my priorities in order. I don’t check my heart because I am one of the mega rich of the world, because I am not. You don’t have to be a millionaire to get caught up in attaining wealth and moving up to the next level of success. I believe people of any level of economic status have to guard their hearts and minds to stay rich towards God. We all have to keep our focus on the true and certain riches. We should remind ourselves of this next verse each time we are tempted to be anxious about staying prosperous in uncertain times:

1 Timothy 6:7 says, “For we brought nothing into this world, and we take nothing out of it.”

I have decided not to get bent out of shape about the things of this earth, which are temporary and will turn to dust. I know that if I seek first His kingdom and His righteousness then all these things with be added unto me (Matthew 6:33). I walk in such peace that true and lasting riches come from walking close with my Father.

Proverbs 8:18: “With Me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity.”

kimconnor@whwc.org]]>stephenrobles@whwc.orgNone2010-04-26T11:56:51-04:00http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/30fb4ebe98e31a29e284888afa9b88d2-96.html#unique-entry-id-96http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/30fb4ebe98e31a29e284888afa9b88d2-96.html#unique-entry-id-96Psalm 62:8: Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge.

The times in which we live could be considered the most exciting times in the history of mankind. We can see and hear with our own eyes and ears Biblical prophecy coming to pass.

There are wars and rumors of wars, nation rising against nation. Natural disasters are increasing all over the world. Famine, sickness and disease are at epidemic proportions with new strains of viruses and bacteria challenge the medical world. We see the timeline of events unfolding as we observe the nation of Israel and throughout the Middle East. These signs are just to name a few, but Jesus said they would come. He called them birth pangs.

When we start looking at all that is going on in the world how could this be exciting? Well, to the lost soul it is an utter nightmare, but to the believer it is just confirmation that we should continue to look up because our redemption draws nigh. The exciting part is that it all means that the rapture of the church and the second coming of the Lord are at hand.

We must guard ourselves from worrying and living in fear of the times. We have to trust God to protect us and care for our needs. We have to purpose in our hearts to trust Him now as we did in less challenging times. We have to continue to take God at His word like the apostle Paul said in Phil. 4:9:

“But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

It is so easy to lose our grip of faith when we hear all the reports of the plots of terrorist groups to carry out their evil plans. Fear tries to set up residence in us as the cost of living goes up daily. We can easily be flooded with thoughts such as, “Will I be able to pay my mortgage and buy enough groceries this month? Will I be able to afford gas for my car so I can get to work? If I lose my job, how will I take care of my family?

Listen to what Jesus said about worry in Luke 12:22-26 “Then Jesus said to His disciples: ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap; they have no storeroom or barn, yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than the birds! Who of your by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?’”

We need to trust Him at all times. Worry never changes things for the good. We need to remind ourselves that God’s word works just as well in the hard times as it does in the easier times. Faith in God’s promises, instead of worrying, is what puts the power and provision of God into action for us. We can live each day with God’s peace that passes all understanding! Remember that we walk by faith and not by sight. Every morning we can make our declaration that our God is Jehovah Jireh! He’s our provider!

2 Thess. 3:16 : “Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way.”
]]>stephenrobles@whwc.orgNone2010-04-20T13:22:42-04:00http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/3eeeb16a266a8597ea2cca23c1b465ff-95.html#unique-entry-id-95http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/3eeeb16a266a8597ea2cca23c1b465ff-95.html#unique-entry-id-95The Voice of the Shepherd

John 10:3-4 "The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out. When He has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice."

John 10:14 "I am the good shepherd, and know My sheep, and am known by mine."

In Palestine, several flocks would graze together during the day, but as night approached, each shepherd called his own sheep and led them into their own sheepfold at night. Jesus is our great Shepherd who has brought us out and brought us into His sheepfold. Just like this verse says, once He has brought us close to Him, He goes ahead of us and we follow Him because we know His voice. Just like natural sheep and shepherds, we spend so much time with the great shepherd that we know His voice in the midst of many voices. When we hear His voice we follow Him and only Him; a stranger's voice, we won't follow. Not only do we know Him, but it says He knows us! He knows us individually by name!

There is provision and protection in the sheepfold. There is safety and security in recognizing His voice. We need to be always listening so that we won't go astray or do without anything we need. If we walk a little too far to the right or to the left of the right path, He will gently call or nudge us to keep us on course.

Sheep need protection from the elements. They also need to be moved from place to place to ensure there is good grazing land and a good water supply. If one sheep stumbles and gets an injured foot, the shepherd is right there to help. The shepherd is also keenly aware of the enemy. He knows that there are coyotes and wild dogs that would like to devour the sheep. The shepherd also guards his sheep from thieves that would come to steal or frighten the sheep in order to scatter them.

A person who is injured or weak is easy prey for the enemy. The devil is like a roaring lion, walking about seeking whom he may devour. Also, the young babies have to be kept tight within the fold for protection. Our shepherd knows that if we get isolated or driven off course by falling into sin or be preyed upon by the sinfulness of others, that we can be devoured. Sometimes it is not a matter of sin, but a matter of making right choices. We need the voice of the great Shepherd to lead us to the green pastures!

Psalm 23:1-2 “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside the quiet waters, He restores my soul.”

The scattered and lost sheep are never forgotten because the Shepherd goes out after them to rescue and restore them. There are no throw away sheep! He loves them all unconditionally and desires all the sheep to come back into the fold. Even when one sheep has strayed too far to hear the Shepherd's voice, He leaves the ninety-nine in order to bring the one lost one home. How great is God's love for you and me!

We can trust the voice of our Shepherd:

John 10:27-30 "My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all. No one can snatch them out of My Father's hand. I and the Father are one."

John 12:49-50 "For I did not speak of My own accord, but the Father who sent Me commanded Me what to say and how to say it. I know that His commands lead to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told Me to say."

We must stay close and listen for the Shepherd's voice. Everything he says is straight from the Father to us. He has called us out of darkness and into His marvelous light and leads us forward. The word says He goes on ahead of us in order to lead us. We never have to "miss it" if we will learn the Shepherd's voice and follow it. The Holy Spirit is speaking and He dwells in you. Listen and be led to green pastures and quiet waters!

Revelation 3:20 "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with Him and he with Me."

kimconnor@whwc.org]]>stephenrobles@whwc.orgNone2010-04-14T09:46:40-04:00http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/0e7e3c0ee25045b0388ae8f51097bed8-94.html#unique-entry-id-94http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/0e7e3c0ee25045b0388ae8f51097bed8-94.html#unique-entry-id-94Getting Tuned In

Acts 13:1-3 “Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." Then, having fasted and prayed and laid hands on them, they sent them away.”

A word from Heaven. A thing we so desire; a word straight from the mouth of God. We want to know all the answers to the mysteries of life: What specific calling do I have from God, who is the right person to marry, what job offer should I take or what home should I buy? Others may need a word from heaven to give them the answer to mending a broken marriage or wisdom in a business dealings or finances. How do we get these words from heaven and can we expect to hear them? Are there ways that God speaks to us today? The answer to both of these questions is a resounding yes!

God is Spirit and worshippers must worship Him in spirit and truth. John 4:24. God is a Spirit, and He made us spirit beings that have a mind and live in a body. God communicates with us spirit to spirit. That's why we must be in tune with our spirit man so that we can be directly in tune with the Spirit of God. He made us in His image, as spirit beings, so that we could commune and have relationship. God wants fellowship with us. Where there is relationship and fellowship there has to be communication.

Communication is key to all relationships. It seems easy for people to understand that a husband and wife, parents and children or employer and employee need to have 2-way communication in order to have a successful relationship. But many have a difficult time seeing how our relationship with God is the same way. Sure, we understand that we talk to God; listing to Him all of our needs, and voicing to Him all of our concerns. After we have sent off our message to Heaven we simply get up from our place of prayer. Our expectation of communication is waiting to see if the answer to our prayers manifest or not. This reminds me of when I call a company on the phone and all I do is press one prompt after anther only to get another computerized voice to lead me to the next prompt. All the while hoping to actually hear the voice of a live person on the other end! If we get tuned in to the Holy Spirit, we will not only get our prayers answered, but we will hear His voice along the way! We can have a relationship with God that is personal by tuning in to Him. In order to tune in to Him it is important to not jump up so quickly from His presence; but rather spend some time waiting, worshipping and listening in His presence.

The believers in our beginning verse had the key to hearing God's voice. Notice the scripture said that "as they ministered and fasted, the Holy Spirit said..." They received a revelation of the divine will of God or a direct revelation!

It was the custom of the New Testament believers to meet in each others homes often for teaching of the word, sharing meals and fellowship. They also set aside certain days of the week to go to the house of God to pray, worship, give thanks and fasting. They set regular times aside each week to seek God or minister to Him! Wow, what a concept! So many think of hearing God's voice to be such an unattainable mystery! Of course we should never take it for granted, but we should always expect to hear from the Spirit of God all along the way of our daily lives. This can only happen if we will set aside time on a regular basis to minister to the Lord. In your own life, as you minister to the Lord, the Holy Spirit will talk to you and I! This is how we train our spirits to hear his voice. This is how we get in tune with Him, through times of prayer, worship and getting into His word.

Once you spend a lot of time around a person, such as a spouse or best friend, you know what they believe as well as their likes and dislikes. You learn the sound of their voice, their gestures and facial expressions. We can even hear someone's unique footsteps coming down the hall and we know who it is before they arrive! If we spend enough time with someone, we will get "tuned in" to them. We get “tuned in” to hear God's voice as we get to know Him more intimately.

How did this word of the Lord come to these men of God? More than likely, in this particular instance, the Holy Spirit probably flowed through one of the men there in a gift of prophecy. We cannot always choose what avenue God will speak to us, but I am confident that if we will take time to get close to Him and minister to Him, He will communicate with us. Jesus, after His death and resurrection, said that He had to go away but that He wouldn't leave us alone. Jesus sent the Spirit of God to dwell in us to guide us in all of the affairs of life and reveal what it true and right.

John 14:16-17 "And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever - the Spirit of Truth."

John 16:17 "But when He, the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all truth."

There are so many ways God speaks to His sons and daughters:

1. Through His written word: 2 Tim. 3:16 “All scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correction and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” If we are truly hearing from God it will always agree with His word and we know we are in tune with God. If something doesn't line up with His word, throw it out!

2. The Spirit of God speaks directly to our hearts: spirit to spirit. Where the written word is, logos, we hear God's voice; we also can hear the spoken words of the Spirit or the Rhema word. 1 Cor. 2:10-16, Rom. 8:14

3. Through the gifts of the Spirit: the gift of prophecy, tongues and interpretation, gift of knowledge or wisdom. 1 Cor. 12:7-8, 1Cor. 14:1-5

4. Through dreams, visions or through angelic visitation. In Acts 9:10-20 Peter, who was in prayer on the rooftop, saw a vision and heard God's voice. The apostle Paul had a dream that a man from Macedonia was asking him to come and minister to them there found in Acts 16:9. The apostle Paul tells of his encounter with an angel in Acts 27:23.

5. Audible voice. God has used this method to communicate with men and women throughout the ages, though it is not the most common way. Some examples would be Moses throughout the book of Exodus and Saul, who later became known as the apostle Paul, as he traveled on the road to Damascus, Acts 22:6-10.

As we get tuned in to the Holy Spirit by ministering to Him, we not only live a life in close relationship; but will hear His voice to receive revelation, direction, understanding and encouragement!

John 10:27 "My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me."

kimconnor@whwc.org]]>stephenrobles@whwc.orgNone2010-03-29T11:18:57-04:00http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/8b051881c4547cff9544d5844ea29d88-93.html#unique-entry-id-93http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/8b051881c4547cff9544d5844ea29d88-93.html#unique-entry-id-93Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”

It doesn't matter what you are believing God for right now. No matter what it is, there is a promise in God's word that you can stand on. Now if you can't find a scripture that applies to your case, then you might want to check up on what you are asking God to do! If anything goes against His word, your believing will be fruitless. But if it lines up with His word, then you can take God at His word and we know that the answer already belongs to you.

This faith, as described above in Hebrews 11:1, is believing we have received it with our heart of faith before it ever manifests in sight! But what about the time in between you believe it's yours and the time you actually see it happen? What are we to do during this waiting period? It is Patience my friend, patience.

Hebrews 6:12-15 “We do not want you to become lazy, but emulate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

Where God made His promise to Abraham, since there was no greater for Him to swear by, He swore by Himself, saying, "I will surely bless you and give you many descendants." And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.”

This verse is saying, to receive all the promises, we need to follow faithful Abraham, as an example of faith and patience. There are many awesome times when we receive an answer from heaven right away. I can tell you of testimony after testimony of fevers cooling instantly or pain leaving a body. There are so many wonderful times when there is a need for wisdom or financial help and God is right there to provide. God always responds to faith, not need. He always responds to the faith of His sons and daughters!

But what happens if you are believing for something that hasn't happened yet? We must stay in a state of expectancy while we wait patiently!

Abraham, who we are to emulate, had to do just that: wait. God had promised him a son out of whom would come an immeasurable amount of descendants, and because of him all nations would be blessed. Wow, that was quite a promise!

Gen. 26:4 "I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because Abraham obeyed Me and kept My requirements, My commands, My decrees and My laws."

Gen. 32:12 "I will surely make you prosper and will make your descendants like the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted."

Yes, Abraham pleased God with his faith, but only after waiting patiently did he receive the answer; that precious son of promise.

Abraham and Sarah were already way past child bearing age. It would have been a miracle in itself had they conceived a child right away. Sarah didn't give birth to a son until years later.

Through all the years of waiting, Abraham had many opportunities to doubt God was going to come through on His promise. But he did not waiver in believing that God would keep His word. Did you ever think about how it is possible that Abraham could have started out believing wholeheartedly, but in the next five or ten years give in to doubt? Isn't it possible, as he was just as human as we, that he had thoughts like, "It's not happening, I knew this sounded far fetched and too good to be true" or "What's taking God so long, maybe He's changed His mind and Sarah's right - I'm just a crazy old man!" It's possible, but Abraham never let go. He patiently waited until the promise came. He patiently persevered year after year. He never stopped expecting while He was waiting. Abraham was full of expectancy that God would do what He said He would do.

Do we give up too easily? I wonder how many promises conceived by faith were aborted before their birth? What can abort the promise before it's born? We must never let ourselves entertain doubt and unbelief. We must watch our confession! Never speak out anything that doesn't agree with the promise. Never stop thanking God and praising Him with our mouth!
Faith may become sight immediately, or it may be weeks, months or even years. If we will grab our promise by faith and live in expectancy with patience, we will obtain it!

Romans 8:25 "But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."

Faith is being active while we wait. What did our first verse say? "We don't want you to become lazy..." Waiting doesn't mean we sit down and do nothing. We must keep praising God in the meantime. We must continue to labor diligently in the assignment He has given us at the moment. When we are faithful in the small things, He will make us ruler over much. We must choose not to whine, groan, complain, be negative, or mumble. Oh boy, I think that's one of the most difficult things for us fleshly creatures. We can't be lead by what we see around us or listen to the storm raging. We can't agree with the doubters.

Faith is stepping out of the boat just like Peter. Patient expectancy would have gotten him all the way to Jesus! I do believe that!

As soon as you receive something by faith and say such-n-such is mine, congratulations - you have stepped out of the boat! Your answer already belongs to you. As you hold on to your faith and take steps forward there may be wind and waves trying to get you to let go of the promise. There are people who are still in the boat trying to tell you that you're crazy and that this is impossible. Even your own mind will try to betray you with thoughts of fear and doubt, but keep your eyes on the promise. Keep your eyes on Jesus!

Keep waiting patiently in the quiet times as well. Maybe there's not a raging tempest at the moment. Maybe the slow tick-tock of the clock makes the wait seem forever. Sometimes, the day to day faithfulness is the hardest at times. Still, never stop believing. Patiently expect. Through faith and patience we inherit what has been promised!

Hebrews 10:36-38 “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God you will receive what He has promised. For in just a very little while, "He who is coming will come and will not delay. But My righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back I will not be pleased with him."

kimconnor@whwc.org]]>stephenrobles@whwc.orgNone2010-03-22T13:32:51-04:00http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/9947d1c110ecff2de9d1c310bc30e0e0-92.html#unique-entry-id-92http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/9947d1c110ecff2de9d1c310bc30e0e0-92.html#unique-entry-id-92"He must become greater; I must become less." John 3:30

These are the words of John the Baptist. He could have been a name dropper. After all, he was a relative of Jesus. He was a cousin of the Son of God. Soon, Jesus would become a household name because of the miracles He performed, His teachings, and His acts of love and compassion. John the Baptist could have built a big ministry, gaining the fame and adoration of many. Instead, he pointed to Christ:

Luke 3:15-16 “The people were waiting expectantly and were wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ. John answered them all, ‘I baptize you with water. But One more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.’”

As unusual and bold of a character as John was, he used these qualities to proclaim the good news and to prepare the way for Jesus. He knew the focus must be turned to the Savior in order for mankind to be saved. He purposely chose to decrease attention on himself and increase the focus on Jesus of Nazareth.

In the same way, we must live by the same principle; He must increase and we must decrease. Firstly, we realize and acknowledge the position of prominence and authority that Jesus holds.

Phil. 2:9 "Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name."

Col. 1:18-19 "And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in Him..."

Eph. 1:22 "And God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way."

Secondly, we realize we are not our own anymore, but we were bought with a price: the precious blood of Jesus! We are now just aliens in a foreign land whose true residence is in heaven. Our brief time on this earth is about carrying out God's will and not our own. By fulfilling God's will on earth,we don't only receive abundant joy and provision here, but we receive the greatest reward when we cross over to the other side! Eternal life with God!

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wants to follow in My footsteps he must give up all rights to himself, take up his cross and follow me. For the man who wants to save his life will lose it; but the man who loses his life for My sake will find it. For what good is it for a man to gain the whole world at the price of his real life? What could a man offer to buy back that life once he has lost it?” Matthew 16:24-26.

We have to come to a point of total commitment where we echo the words of Jesus when He prayed to the Father in Luke 22:42 "...yet not My will, but Yours be done."

Thirdly, we have to realize that the picture is so much bigger and greater than ourselves. Have you ever seen folks wearing a t-shirt that proclaims “It's all about me?” I realize that the person wearing this shirt is just poking fun at themselves, but that's the slogan our human nature or our flesh would have us live by! It truly is our perspective if God is not increased, or made big in our lives. If God is not truly on the throne, then with a surety, self is on the throne! So, one good way to decrease ourselves is to live in a way that “It's all about others!” We should think more highly of others and look for ways to serve others, to help them, to bless and encourage them. Every act of kindness or meeting someone's need fulfills the greatest commandment to love one another. In showing love to one another is how the world will know we belong to Christ.

Romans 12: 10, 13-14, 16: “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Share with God's people. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.”

Phil. 2:3-4 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."

Eph. 4:2 “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”

Love is the key to living unselfishly. When we are unselfish, we are "selfless”; we are decreased. In I Corinthians 13, we see how love behaves. For the sake of time and space I will just mention a few ways that love shows up in our relationships with others. Love is patient, kind, never jealous, not boastful, proud, rude or selfish. It's not seeking its own or trying to get its own way. It's always thinking of the other person's feelings or needs first. Love doesn't get easily mad or offended and doesn't hold a grudge.

This love walk is a daily commitment! Every day we will all have an opportunity to walk in love. No matter how loving I feel today and how unselfish I have been, I have noticed that I have to consciously and purposely walk in love; because people are people! But, the more God increases and the more we decrease, the more love is manifested. The more we pray and get in the word, the more God is increased! Love is the way to victory. The Bible does say: now these three remain: faith, hope and love; but the greatest of these is love! 1 Cor. 4:13

There are rewards when we decrease! To our natural mind it doesn't make sense. The world's philosophy is "take what you can, can what you get and then sit on the can"! That is why tithing makes no sense to the unbeliever. We know when we give it is not taking from us but rather it increases the flow of blessings because God promised it so! Anything you give up for the kingdom's sake has a reward. He has promised if we put Him first, increasing Him, He will take care of all of our needs.

"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:33

Just like John the Baptist, the focus must leave us. Our lives should point others to Jesus. We will receive provision and fullness of joy on earth and reward in heaven! Glory! He must increase, we must decrease.

kimconnor@whwc.org]]>stephenrobles@whwc.orgNone2010-03-17T09:39:43-04:00http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/a62f9a2ac76afea748c9f73e9a59b14f-91.html#unique-entry-id-91http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/a62f9a2ac76afea748c9f73e9a59b14f-91.html#unique-entry-id-91John 3:30 (NIV) "He must become greater; I must become less."

These are the words of John the Baptist. In the King James Version it reads, "He must increase, but I must decrease." John the Baptist was not only connected to Jesus because he was His cousin, but he was called of God to be the forerunner of Jesus. He was called to proclaim that Jesus, the anticipated Messiah, is arriving on the scene soon, so get ready for Him!

Matthew 3:1-3 (NIV) "In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." This is who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight paths for Him."

John the Baptist drew attention. He stood out from others and started drawing a crowd out in the desert. He drew attention, not only because He was an unusual man, wearing camel's hair and eating locusts and honey, but because he spoke with boldness about a very controversial issue of the day. The long awaited Messiah was here and on His way. We are all sinners in need of a Savior. It's time to repent, be baptized, and follow after Him with all of your heart. The Spirit of the Lord was upon John. His life exemplified the love of God for man and radiated boldness.

The common man's heart was stirred and drawn to the message, but the religious leaders of the day were only stirred to anger and hatred by the words he spoke. They were so controlled and in bondage to religious spirits that they wouldn't receive the call to repent and follow Christ. It is the same today as we share the message of salvation and proclaim that Jesus is coming again soon,so we must all be ready. Some will accept the message into their hearts gladly, some will reject the message, and some will hate us and even attack us for it. But this doesn't change the fact that we must proclaim it.

John told the people that he was not the one, but that He was pointing to the One that was coming and to believe in Him. He said that he must decrease, the focus not being on himself, but rather on Jesus. Jesus must increase. Jesus must be the one we focus on. Salvation is only found in Him. Jesus said in John 12:32, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me."

The truth is that our God is the One great and true God who will be for all eternity. We, as His creation, will never cause Him to be greater than He is or increase Him in any way. His word and His kingdom that He has established will have no end.

Isaiah 9:7 "Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over His kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this."

Psalm 119:89 "Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens."

Daniel 7:27 "His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey Him."

God is increased to the world as we decrease. In other words, God is seen and magnified as we take the attention off of ourselves, placing the focus on Him and His goodness, love, righteousness, mercy, and grace. John the Baptist was a living testimony of Jesus; even to the point of testifying with his own death when he was beheaded in prison. John lived his testimony right out loud! He caused God to increase with the boldness of his words and his actions.

Sometimes, I feel the term "lifestyle evangelism" can be a little blind to us. Sometimes, to listen to some describe it, sounds more like, "It's not important to stand out too much and rock the boat because it will turn folks off.” Just live a pretty good life in front of people and make them 'wonder' what makes you different. Just make good moral choices, don't curse, cheat, etc. Is this really the way to live out loud?

Now don't get me wrong, I think John the Baptist, as well as the disciples of Christ, lived the right example of "lifestyle evangelism." Living, speaking, and acting in such a way to bring others to the saving knowledge of Christ (my own definition). I think that true lifestyle evangelism will affect others because they will not have to wonder what makes us different. They will not wonder if God really loves them or has a plan for them. They will not just have a testimony of good moral living. Good moral living is just a “gimme” to living as a Christian, but there are good moral people in the world who are not born again. I believe our testimony must be more than the moral choices we make before others. We must be different. We must speak the truth, the Good News, and live it with our actions. Time is short and I would image that people slip off into hell at a rate of thousands every minute. Political correctness or being afraid to rock the boat may cost someone their soul for eternity. Often the fear of being rejected by others intimidates and causes us to shrink back from sharing Christ unashamedly.

Lifestyle evangelism is motivated by love and is hallmarked by its boldness. We can no longer let the fear of man or the fear of rejection hold us back. We will not always win the popularity contest on earth, but far greater than that, we please our Father and lay up treasure in heaven that can never be taken from us. Living out loud is being led by the Spirit of God and used as a vessel to bring the Good News. Just like John the Baptist was called as a forerunner to the coming of the Lord, so are we called to proclaim Jesus now! Jesus is coming soon.

We have only one chance to get it right here on earth. “Just one life, will soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last.” We must declare with our lives just as John the Baptist did: "He must become greater; I must become less."

Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile."

Acts 4:29-30 "Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of Your holy servant Jesus."

kimconnor@whwc.org]]>stephenrobles@whwc.orgNone2010-03-09T17:10:18-05:00http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/973645fe8cc5f18a264af18a6de556bd-90.html#unique-entry-id-90http://www.whwc.org/Members/ALightMoment_files/973645fe8cc5f18a264af18a6de556bd-90.html#unique-entry-id-90It's All About Perspective

"To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." Revelation 3:21

In Christ we are overcomers! Actually the Word says in Romans 8:37:

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him which loved us."

If we are already more than a conqueror; then why don't we live like one?

Our attitude or perspective in life will ultimately make or break us. Many times it will even influence how long a trial will last in our lives. We don't live in a make believe world where nothing is hard and nothing goes wrong. We live in a real world with real challenges, pressures, and problems. Often Christians get disillusioned when a crisis comes their way because they think why did God let this happen?

The first thing I share with them is that bad never comes from God. The Bible says: "It is the thief who comes to steal, kill and destroy; but I have come that you may have life and have it more abundantly." John 10:10

The first step to being an overcomer is to understand who our enemy is: Satan. We also need to realize that God is for us and all about answers, deliverance, help, blessing, and abundance. We have to stop blaming Him for the bad stuff! The Bible also says that, "Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of lights in whom there is no variableness nor shadow of turning." James 1:17.

We need to get the right perspective! When Goliath came against the Israelites, the soldiers all thought, "He's so big we can never kill him." David looked at the same giant and thought, "He's so big I can't miss!"

It's just like the old adage that the glass is "half full" or "half empty". Those who see a glass half empty tend to view things from a negative perspective rather than a positive one. Negative thinkers lock arms with their buddies; doubt and unbelief! They hang out together all the time. This group of folks rarely find themselves on the victory side because of their perspective. If they get there at all they won’t stay long. Their mouth will always pull them backwards.

It's all about perspective. Are we approaching our life from a perspective of faith or of doubt, negativity, and fear? If our perspective is through the filter of God's word, then we will walk in victory as an overcomer!

We may think to ourselves," I am a born again believer. I am a faith person, or at least I started out that way."

See, what we believe shows up in what we say. What we believe is confirmed by what we do. The proof is surely in the pudding! Are we speaking what the word says or the problem and how big it is? Are we trusting in God each moment, every day for each breath; for every victory? Or do we feel like the Israelite soldiers who said this giant is just too big for us to overcome? They saw the reality and circumstance and chose to let it overwhelm them.

Our perspective can make the difference whether we are overwhelmed or overcoming.

Definition of overwhelmed: To submerge, to overcome by superior forces or number, to cover up or to crush.

Many reading this devotional today may feel overwhelmed by the economy, gas prices, or even their electric bill. Some may feel overwhelmed by problems in their marriage, raising their kids, or any number of numerous pressures that this world can bring. The challenges start looking so enormous that it is easy to be overcome, crushed or submerged beneath them. But, remember our first scripture, "To him that overcomes..."

We overcome when we are in Christ! We overcome when we take Him at His word and trust in Him. We overcome when we throw our heads back and hold our shoulders up high and say "Greater is he that is in me than He that is in the world!" It wouldn't hurt one bit for you to say this out loud to yourself right now: "The greater one lives in me therefore I cannot fail or be overwhelmed to the point of destruction because I am an overcomer in Christ Jesus my Lord!

The word of God says, "The just shall live by faith." Romans 1:17

We have to get into the word until the word gets into us! "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God." Romans 10:17

It's so important to get the word in our heart and on our lips. Speak it out! Shout it out! Sing it out! I love singing out the word! God gave it to me and then I sing it back to Him. Yep, right out loud. You'll sense faith rise up in your heart and the Presence of God sweetly fill the room wrapping you up like a blanket. Then faith drops in your heart to realize you're in His presence and in His Presence is every answer and fullness of joy. It's wonderful to know that God always has your back and you're never alone. You are never without help. You and I have divine supernatural help no matter what we face. Speaking, singing, and shouting the word is vital to the overcomer.

Revelation 12:11 "They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony."

Jim Cymbala, the author of Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire, has said, "The cross, as poignant as it is, is understandable from a human perspective: an innocent man was murdered by crooked politicians and religious leaders. But an empty tomb- what can you say? Only a supernatural God could accomplish that."

It's not enough to see through a human perspective. Actually, anyone can do that, born again or not. How do we become overcomers? Through our perspective of faith! Through trusting a supernatural God to accomplish what is impossible with man!

Jesus is our Savior, our Rock, our fortress, our healer, our provider, and our deliverer! When we begin to feel overwhelmed, run into His presence. Run and dive into the river of His word that washes us clean and establishes our faith. Worship, sing, and shout! Some of you may even do a little dance before the LORD! You will not be overwhelmed, but you will overcome because of your perspective of faith!

Psalm 61:1-2; "Hear my cry, O God, attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I."


kimconnor@whwc.org]]>