Andrew Wommack’s daily devotional June 1, 2017 - Alive Unto God

Topic: Alive Unto God [Thursday June 1, 2017]

Matthew 17:2 "And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light."

Matthew 17:1-8, Mark 9:1-8, Luke 9:28-36

It is interesting to compare Jesus' transfiguration with that of Moses'. Jesus' face shone as the sun and His garment was as white as the light. This certainly exceeded what Moses experienced, and yet Jesus' face did not continue to shine when He came down off of the mountain as Moses' face did. Moses' face reflected the glory of God, but Jesus was the glory of God (Jn. 1:14; Heb. 1:3). Moses put a veil over his face to conceal the glory of God (Ex. 34:29-35) so that the people would not be afraid to come near him.

Jesus' body was His veil that concealed His true glory within. During His transfiguration, He pulled back the veil of His flesh, and we simply caught a glimpse of His glory that he had with the Father before the world was (Jn. 17:5). At Jesus' death, the veil of His body was "rent in two" giving us direct access to the glory of God (Heb. 10:19-20).

We need to be conformed to the death of Christ. That is, reckoning ourselves dead to sin and all its effects upon us in the same way that Christ is dead to sin and all its effects upon Him. Many people focus on the death to sin and omit, or at least put secondarily, being alive unto God. It is assumed that if we will just die to sin, then life with Christ comes automatically.

That's no more so than physical death automatically producing physical resurrection. God doesn't need dead people. He needs people who have risen from the dead spiritually. People who know who they are "In Christ." The victorious New Testament believer is not just living for the Lord, but the risen Christ is actually living through him. There are over a hundred scriptural references to the indwelling presence of the Lord in the life of a believer. Look into the Word, and see what God has to say about you.

Our Daily Bread Devotional, June 1, 2017 - Everything We Need

Topic: Everything We Need [Thursday June 1, 2017]

Read: 2 Peter 1:1–11, Bible in a Year: 2 Chronicles 15–16; John 12:27–50

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 2 Peter 1:3

I often feel completely inadequate for the tasks I face. Whether it’s teaching Sunday school, advising a friend, or writing articles for this publication, the challenge often seems to be larger than my ability. Like Peter, I have a lot to learn.

The New Testament reveals Peter’s shortcomings as he tried to follow the Lord. While walking on water to Jesus, Peter began to sink (Matt. 14:25–31). When Jesus was arrested, Peter swore he didn’t know Him (Mark 14:66–72). But Peter’s encounter with the risen Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit changed his life.

Thank You, Father, for giving me everything I need to serve You and encourage others today.
Peter came to understand that God’s “divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness” (2 Peter 1:3). An amazing statement from a man who had many flaws!

“[God] has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires” (v. 4).

Our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ is the source of the wisdom, patience, and power we need to honor God, help others, and meet the challenges of today. Through Him, we can overcome our hesitations and feelings of inadequacy.

Dunamis’ Daily Devotional June 1, 2017 by Pastor Paul Enenche - The Mountain-Moving God

Topic: The Mountain-Moving God [Thursday June 1, 2017]

Scripture: Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it. Zechariah 4:7.

Thought For The Day: Mountains are movable and surmountable.

One of the greatest obstacles of destiny before a child of God is a mountain. Physically, a person cannot move forward in life when confronted with a mountain. When a person is confronted with a spiritual mountain, his destiny is stagnated. Mountains limit destinies.

Now, what are Mountains?

Mountains are age-long strongholds; they are strongholds that have lasted for a very long time around a person.

In the physical, we see mountains as established strongholds that have been in place for generations. In all probability, they may have existed for many generations before being noticed or its effects felt.

In the spiritual, mountains can be likened to generational spells, curses, issues and setbacks that have lasted for generations.

You may be facing ancestral or generational spells and curses which have limited your destiny; you may be struggling in life, trying all you can to succeed, yet have no result to show for it. This is a typical manifestation of the mountain.

Beloved, the good news is, there is a mountain-moving God. Mountains are movable and surmountable by the power of God. Therefore, connect with God who has the power to move any mountain of life.

Remember this: Mountains are movable and surmountable.

Kenneth Copeland’s daily devotional June 1, 2017 - The Great Escape

Topic: The Great Escape [Thursday June 1, 2017]

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. - Proverbs 3:5-6

Once you start stepping out in faith and walking in the spirit, the devil will see to it that you have ample opportunity to fall flat on your spiritual face. He’ll try to get you into some jams where there appears to be no way out.

But take it from me as one who’s been there, if you’ll look to God and trust His wisdom instead of your own, He’ll always show you a way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13). Not only that, but He’ll do it in such a way that He’ll get the glory and you’ll have the last laugh on the devil.

I remember one particular Wednesday night in Wichita Falls, Texas, where I was faced with just such a situation. I was preaching on the reality of the righteousness of God, and the anointing was really strong. Just as my message reached its climactic moment, a woman in the audience suddenly burst forth in tongues. I told her to stop three times, but she only continued to grow louder. By the time she hushed, the anointing had gone and the message was forgotten. So I looked at that woman sternly and began to correct her for being out of order.

Then a man sitting next to her spoke up and said, “Brother Copeland, she is stone deaf. She can’t hear a word you’re saying.”

DCLM Daily Manna June 1, 2017 by Pastor Kumuyi – Escape God‘s Fire

Topic: Escape God‘s Fire [Thursday June 1, 2017]

Text: Isaiah 30:27-33

Key Verse: "For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it" (Isaiah 30:33).

There is the story of a frustrated individual in a neighborhood, who wanted to take his life by burning himself. On an appointed day, the poor fellow set a bonfire which he intended to jump into when the burning was at its peak. With the inferno on, he went to sit down under the shade of a tree nearby. As the fire was perceived to have got to its climax, the old man moved near with the plan of jumping into it to get burnt up at once. The nearer he went to the fire the more unbearable the heat was to him. For this reason, he retreated. He made several frantic efforts again but the scorching heat of the fire would not allow him to get near.

Billy Graham’s daily devotional June 1, 2017 - Where Is Your Hope?

Topic: Where Is Your Hope? [Thursday June 1, 2017]

This certain hope of being saved is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls, connecting us with God himself . . . — Hebrews 6:19 (TLB)

What are you placing your hope in for the future? Your country’s government, educational system, some plan or organization? My hope is in a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ, who sits at the right hand of God. I have hope and know that I’m going to heaven. And, right here and now in this present life, I have God’s presence to help me.

Suppose we had no Bible. Suppose there were no cross, no salvation, no empty tomb. Suppose we had nothing to hang on except, “Do your best, try to patch it up, do what you can.” Oh, but we have a hope. There is a plan of redemption, a plan for the future. The New Testament is an exciting Book to read, it is so full of hope and expectancy. And God is interested in you!

Winning Wisdom: Emotional Worship 2

Topic: Emotional Worship 2 [Thursday, 1st June 2017]

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4:24

Scriptures say in Psalm 16:11 that "...in the presence of God, there is fullness of joy..." That is, in God's presence, where a gathering is held in His name, there is an expression of joy. Joy is an emotion. But it is not with the shouting and jumping that is called joy. Joy is a state of mind, and it is expressed in diverse ways. But we've tagged shouting and jumping to the only expression of joy in church. And then, we assume that when we do those, then God will show up in the gathering.

When we gather, it is a coming together of people who carry the presence of God. This gathering is not restricted to a church meeting. It can be anywhere and it can also be the most casuals of gathering. But as long as it is with two people who call upon the name of Jesus, He is present there. Scriptures talk about the Angel of His presence, in Isaiah 63:9, saving the Israelites. It is not  referring to an angel, but God's Spirit. And scriptures made this clear in Isaiah 63:10, when it says "...and they grieve the Holy Spirit.."

Open Heavens 1 June 2017: Thursday daily devotional by Pastor E. A. Adeboye-Be refilled

Open Heavens 1 June 2017: Thursday daily devotional by Pastor E. A. Adeboye-Be refilled

BE REFILLED – Thursday June 1^st 2017

Memorise: And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess, but be filled with the Spirit. Ephesians 5:18

Read: Ephesians 5:17-19 (King James Version)

¹⁷ Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

¹⁸ And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

¹⁹ Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

BISHOP (DR) CHRIS E. KWAKPOVWE Daily Devotional May 31 2017 - DELAY ANTIDOTE: SHE FIXED HER HEART!

BISHOP (DR) CHRIS E. KWAKPOVWE Daily Devotional May 31 2017 - DELAY ANTIDOTE: SHE FIXED HER HEART!
( PSALM: 108:1-13).

“Praise the Lord. Dear Dr. Chris, I don’t know where to start from but God is truly faithful. According to Romans 8:28, all things work together for good to them that love God. In ODM of one of the days in September 2016, the teaching of the day captured my situation. You said that God allows some negative things to happen to us, because He has great positive things in His master plan for us. Set backs are permitted to set us up. Sometimes, pain is permitted to purify and promote us and delays sometimes are permitted to enable all Satanic correspondence against us to be disgraced.

My promotion was delayed for 6 years, but I never doubted who God was in my life and what He could do, irrespective of the year. My heart was fixed unto God. Every year I participated in the 21-day prayer and fasting program, I sowed into ODM no matter how little and gave my first fruit offerings. I told God that I wanted my testimony to be published in ODM for the world to read and glorify our God Jehovah as I always read other testimonies and praise our living God.

Dr Mike Okonkwo Daily Devotional May 31 2017 -SALVATION IS FOR “WHOSOEVER”

Dr Mike Okonkwo Daily Devotional May 31 2017 -SALVATION IS FOR “WHOSOEVER”

”For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
John 3:16 (KJV)

When God looked at the helplessness of man and decided to intervene, He did not intervene for a select few. While God has made us free moral agents, able and capable to take decisions, He also gave man the freedom to make that decision.

Look at that scripture again, it is not for a specific person or group of people, the only qualification to receiving the love of God is to accept the sacrifice of Jesus. However, because man has got used to doing things, this salvation, so free, has become difficult for man to accept. Man wants to do something so he can be justified, but God is saying, I have done it all, come to the table and eat. That is what we all struggle about.

Joyce Meyer's daily devotional May 31 2017 – The Log in My Eye

Topic: The Log in My Eye [Wednesday May 31, 2017]

You hypocrite, first get the beam of timber out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the tiny particle out of your brother’s eye. — Matthew 7:5

Loving people unconditionally is the greatest gift we can give them (and ourselves). I have learned that one of the secrets to my own personal peace is to let people be who God made them to be, rather than try to make people be who I would like them to be. I do my best to enjoy their strengths and be merciful toward their weaknesses because I have plenty of my own. I don’t need to try to take the speck out of someone else’s eye while I have a telephone pole in my own.

David Abioye's Daily Devotional May 31, 2017 – Your Mouth, Your Life

Topic: Your Mouth, Your Life [Wednesday May 31, 2017]

Your life is at the mercy of your mouth.

Your mouth is the rudder of your life.

Your mouth organizes and directs your life.

Life opens in the direction of your mouth.

Winning Wisdom: Emotional Worship 1

Topic: Emotional Worship 1 [Wednesday, 31st May 2017]

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4:24

When we come into a christian meeting or gathering, we expect that the presence of the Lord will be amongst us. There is this sense of anticipation that 'the Lord will show up in our midst tonight.' So with that, we try to tune our 'spiritual antenna' so that we can be aware of when the Lord shows up. Most times, we look forward to the music minister singing some heart-touching, emotion-steering songs during the course of leading the congregation in worship, then we will say 'the Lord is here, wow! Glory!'

Unfortunately, this is common place in most Christian meetings. People now want to feel God with their emotions and so, they "worship" God with their emotions. Another example is when the minister preaching or teaching God's Word starts steering up our emotions with wonderful combinations of eloquence and rhymes, and we all go wide, shouting, then it dawns on us that 'God has come into the meeting'. Emotional stuffs I must say.

You see, we can't ascertain if God is in our midst by such trivial and ephemeral thing like emotions. They that worship MUST WORSHIP in SPIRIT and TRUTH, not by emotions. Jesus said that where two or three are gathered IN MY NAME, there I am in the midst of them (Matthew 18:20). As long there is a gathering in His name, He is there, whether they feel like it or not. This is very important for us to note, so that we can be blessed by the presence of God. Don't look out for anything that steers up the emotions to ascertain if God is in the meeting. As long as the gathering is in His name, He is there.

Billy Graham’s daily devotional May 31, 2017 - Need for Inner Change

Topic: Need for Inner Change [Wednesday May 31, 2017]

Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. — 2 Corinthians 5:17

The world says that all we need to do is be decent, respectable, and reasonable. True, that is all one needs to do to be a member of the Great Society, but to be a member of the Kingdom of God, there must be an inner change. A Communist in Hyde Park, London, pointed to a tramp and said, “Communism will put a new suit on that man.” A Christian standing nearby said, “Yes, but Christ will put a new man in that suit!”

Dunamis’ Daily Devotional May 31, 2017 by Pastor Paul Enenche - Hard Work; The Door To The High Places Of Life

Topic: Hard Work; The Door To The High Places Of Life [Wednesday May 31, 2017]

Scripture: Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men – Proverbs 22:29

Thought For The Day: Hard work is the cure for hard life.

It has been observed that a major decadence of our generation is laziness and idleness. Many people want to get everything very fast without working for it. As a result, they embark on short-cuts that eventually cut their lives and destinies short. No one wants to embrace the discipline of hard work. That is why many people are suffering today.

Two people may grow up together but end up differently in life because of their level of diligence. I once heard the story of a notable female Managing Director of a commercial bank in Nigeria who has a twin sister. At a tender age, while this lady laboured to take her place up in life, her twin sister faded off into obscurity through indolence. It was said that while the lady was dutifully engaged in tasking house chores at a tender age, her twin sister was either sleeping or lazing about. Today, this lady has taken her place at the top of her career through hard work but nothing is known about the sister.

Beloved, hard work is the door to the high places of life. Hard work is the cure for hard life.

Remember this: Hard work is the cure for hard life.

Kenneth Copeland’s daily devotional May 31, 2017 - Live in Power

Topic: Live in Power [Wednesday May 31, 2017]

Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. - Romans 6:4

As a believer, you actually have residing in you the same new life God gave Jesus when He raised Him from the dead. The old sinner you once were has died. You’ve become a new creation on the inside.

You are full of the resurrection life of God!

But sin, disobedience and living a selfish, carnal life will keep that resurrection life from flowing out. Sin will separate you from the power of God, even though you’re born again. Resurrection life will lay dormant in you if you walk in sin.

You can’t overcome sin by trying to stop sinning, however. You overcome it by walking after the new life God has put within you, by spending time in the Word and in prayer. As you do that, the Spirit of God will strengthen you and enable you to put that sin under your feet.

Remember, though, the Holy Spirit will not subdue those old fleshly habits of yours on His own. He’ll wait on you to take the initiative. Then He will strengthen you to follow through with your decision. He will teach you how to walk in the new life that is on the inside of you.

Andrew Wommack’s daily devotional May 31, 2017 - His Purpose Revealed

Topic: His Purpose Revealed [Wednesday May 31, 2017]

Matthew 16:21, "From that time forth began Jesus to show unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day."

Matthew 16:20-28

Despite the abundant and clear prophecies about His death and resurrection, Jesus' disciples didn't understand or remember Jesus' words until after His resurrection (Lk. 24:5-9). Luke records twice that Jesus' sayings about His resurrection were hidden from the disciples. It is interesting to note, however, that the chief priests and Pharisees remembered Jesus' prophecies about His resurrection (Mt. 27:63) when His disciples didn't.

One of the great truths of the Bible is that Jesus died for our sins, not for His own. Jesus was totally sinless. This is one of the major differences between Christianity and the religions of the world. No other religious leader has ever claimed to be sinless, therefore no other religious leader is even in the same class with Jesus. Also, no other religious leader has ever given his life in sacrifice to atone for the sins of others. It wouldn't have done any good if one had. Since the religious leaders were sinners themselves, their lives weren't worth any more than any other sinner. But, since Jesus was the sinless Son of God, His life was worth more than all of humanity throughout the ages.

Our Daily Bread Devotional, May 31, 2017 - The Beauty of Brokenness

Topic: The Beauty of Brokenness [Wednesday May 31, 2017]

Read: Psalm 51, Bible in a Year: 2 Chronicles 13–14; John 12:1–26

My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit. Psalm 51:17

Kintsugi is a centuries-old Japanese art of mending broken pottery. Gold dust mixed with resin is used to reattach broken pieces or fill in cracks, resulting in a striking bond. Instead of trying to hide the repair, the art makes something beautiful out of brokenness.

The Bible tells us that God also values our brokenness, when we are genuinely sorry for a sin we have committed. After David engaged in adultery with Bathsheba and plotted the death of her husband, the prophet Nathan confronted him, and he repented. David’s prayer afterwards gives us insight into what God desires when we have sinned: “You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise” (Ps. 51:16–17).

DCLM Daily Manna May 31, 2017 by Pastor Kumuyi – A Looming Judgement

Topic: A Looming Judgement [Wednesday May 31, 2017]

Text: Amos 5:16-27

Key Verse: "Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light" (Amos 5:18).

The judgment of God upon sinners is imminent. It is going to be a day of catastrophe and calamity, gloom and misery, desolation and astonishment and indeed, a day of a lamentation and confusion. It is a day that no sinner would wish to pass through. This day of outpouring of God’s fury, indignation and wrath upon the world is referred to as the day of the Lord in the Scripture.

The day of the Lord as depicted in the text will be the time when the Lord will make the day dark, dismal, and gloomy upon all impenitent sinners and backsliders. A sinner who escapes one calamity will be pursued and overtaken by another. The people of Israel copied the crimes and iniquities of their forefathers by going into idolatry. God frowns at hypocrisy as well as the pretence of piety. God could not be bribed with music or offerings. For the sin and impenitence of Israel, the nation will grieve. Weeping will be heard throughout the land.

Their situation will go from bad to worse. The day of the Lord will be for the nation, a day without a ray of hope. Their hypocritical offerings and melodious songs were rejected by God. For this reason, they would go into slavery in exile. Moreover, they would lose their pride and glory as they would go into captivity. To escape the fiery indignation of God on the judgment day, sinners need to repent of their evil ways, come to Christ through repentance, while backsliders should make their ways right with God. The Lord wants to see a river of righteous living flowing all over the land. Even so, He desires that His saints will "hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end".

Open Heavens 31 May 2017: Wednesday daily devotional by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – whose will?

Open Heavens 31 May 2017: Wednesday daily devotional by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – whose will?

WHOSE WILL? – Wednesday May 31^st 2017

Memorise: Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10

Read: Matthew 6:9-13 (King James Version)

⁹ After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

¹⁰ Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

¹¹ Give us this day our daily bread.

 ¹² And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

 ¹³ And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Joel and Victoria Osteen’s daily devotional May 30, 2017 – Stored Up Blessings

Today’s Scripture: "Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men!" - (Psalm 31:19, NKJV)

Topic: Stored Up Blessings [Tuesday May 30, 2017]

Scripture talks about how God has blessings stored up for those that honor Him. Think about that. God has contracts, houses, ideas, good breaks that already have your name on them! They’ve been stored up for you. The question is, how do you see them released? Number one: by honoring God and keeping Him first place. Then number two: by making room for them in your thinking. You’ve got to believe that something big is in your future. You’ve got to declare His promises over your life. You have to see with your eyes of faith what God can do.

Joyce Meyer's daily devotional May 30 2017 – True Strength

Topic: True Strength [Tuesday May 30, 2017]

Sing to God, sing praises to His name, cast up a highway for Him Who rides through the deserts—His name is the Lord—be in high spirits and glory before Him! A father of the fatherless and a judge and protector of the widows is God in His holy habitation. God places the solitary in families and gives the desolate a home in which to dwell… — Psalm 68:4-6

The world is filled with single mothers whose husbands walked out on them and refuse to support their children financially. Men who merely walk away need to remember that strength does not walk away, but it works through situations and takes responsibility.

David Abioye's Daily Devotional May 30, 2017 – How To Maintain Relevance

Topic: How to Maintain Relevance [Tuesday May 30, 2017]

Standing firm and fast at your God ordained duty post is the only way to maintain your relevance.

Refuse to be attracted to what is popular.

Stay at your appointed place if you don’t want to suffer disappointment in life.

If you don’t want to loose your defence, stay in your place.

Your safety, defence and security is in your place.

Winning Wisdom: God-dependent

Topic: God-dependent [Tuesday, 30th May 2017]

For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Philippians 2:13

We always want to do too much by ourselves, especially when it comes to the issues concerning God. But, we must appreciate the fact that, no matter how much of effort we put in, we cannot get the job done by ourselves. It is a good thing to believe in our abilities and the quality embedded in them, but, as long as it is our ability, we will always come up short, unless our ability is resting on the supply of the grace - enablement - of God.

Apostle Paul, said something everyone of us must come to appreciate. "Not that we are fit (qualified and sufficient in ability) of ourselves to form personal judgments or to claim or count anything as coming from us, but our power and ability and sufficiency are from God" (2 Corinthians 3:5 AMP). This scripture highlights the fact that our power, abilities and sufficiency comes from God. It is God that is working in you, giving you the desire and power to do what pleases him (Philippians 2:13). Glory to God!

Billy Graham’s daily devotional May 30, 2017 - Salvation Is Free

Topic: Salvation Is Free [Tuesday May 30, 2017]

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. — Romans 3:24

Salvation is free! God puts no price tag on the Gift of gifts—it’s free! Preachers are not salesmen, for they have nothing to sell. They are bearers of Good News—the good tidings that “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3). Money can’t buy it. Man’s righteousness can’t earn it. Social prestige can’t help you acquire it. Morality can’t purchase it. It is, as Isaiah said, “without money and without price.”

God is not a bargaining God. You cannot barter with Him. You must do business with Him on His own terms. He holds in His omnipotent hand the priceless, precious, eternal gift of salvation, and He bids you to take it without money and without price. The best things in life are free, are they not? The air we breathe is not sold by the cubic foot. The water which flows crystal clear from the mountain stream is free for the taking. Love is free, faith is free, hope is free.

Prayer for the day: Even though my salvation was obtained only through the costliest sacrifice ever made, You freely gave it to me. Lord, I praise You for this gift so lovingly given.

Andrew Wommack’s daily devotional May 30, 2017 - Recognize The Real Enemy

Topic: Recognize The Real Enemy [Tuesday May 30, 2017]

Mark 8:33, "But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men."

MARK 8:30-33

Jesus was not implying that Peter and Satan were one-and-the-same, but was referring to the fact that Satan had inspired Peter's statement. This type of metaphor was used elsewhere in scripture such as when God spoke to the serpent in the garden of Eden (Gen. 3:15) as though addressing Satan. The serpent was merely the vehicle of communication Satan used to tempt Adam and Eve, while Peter was the vehicle Satan used to tempt Jesus. Ephesians 6:12 reveals that our warfare isn't with people, but against the spiritual powers who inspire and use people. Jesus recognized that Peter's reaction to His prophecy about His death was motivated by His enemy, Satan, so He went right to the source.

Every Christian is at war. There is a perpetual struggle against Satan and his kingdom from which there are no "leaves" or "discharges." Our enemy goes about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Pet. 5:8). Those who resist the devil will see him flee (Jas. 4:7).