Perfect in Weakness

2 Cor.12:8-10 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me,  "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
We don't want to admit to being weak but we are! Only by God's power are we strong.
Romans 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Unity in the Body of Christ

The Holy Spirit of our God inspires Paul to write:
Eph.4:1-8 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says, "When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men."
Eph.4:11-16 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather,speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
To this we are called, in one body His bride, to be betrothed to our coming bridegroom. Be careful where you put your heart, for our God is a jealous God. We are to love people but not spare the lost from the healing that comes from God's word, where they will find the way of repentance and therefore glorify God's name.
Lord, I pray for You to lead us in the right way to love with the knowledge of Your word. Let us give Your words to glorify Your name in all the world. For Your words lead to conviction and repentance, of which the whole world needs. Amen

Week 7 Charles Stanley's Intercession for America/The Finanacial Crisis

Deut.8:18 You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
I am afraid that this verse may be our sinner's way of thinking. Deut.8 :17 Beware lest you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.'
Lord, protect us from this evil way of thinking. All things come from You, the Creator, let us always bow before Your majesty. Amen

Returning to God

The book of Joel: Joel means the Lord is God. This book is about sin, judgment, fasting, prayer and repentance.
The final "day of the Lord" will be when He comes in all His glory and holiness to judge both the repentant sinner as well as the unrepentant sinner. The consequence of sin is separation from God.
Joel 1:14 Consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly. Gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD.
God wants His people to turn from sin and follow Him. He does not want to bring disaster on His people.
Joel 2:12-13 Yet even now," declares the LORD, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments." Return to the LORD your God,
for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.
We need God's mercy.
Joel 2:26 "You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God,
Romans 10:11-13 For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame." For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame.
Joel 2:30-32 And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the LORD has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the LORD calls.
Acts 2:16-21 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: "'And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;  the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.
And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.'
We must not take sin lightly.Sin will destroy you! Flee from it!
1 Cor.6:9-11 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
1 Cor.6:19-20 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price.So glorify God in your body.

Are We Loving Sinners Right Into Hell?

In today's society, it not politically correct to comment on one's sins. When man's law goes against God's law, we are to follow God's law. We who know the consequence of sin by reading and studying God's word will be held accountable for our actions in not telling someone that they are being unrepentant.
Heb.10:26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
John 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
John 4:24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Rev.14:12 Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.
We can not judge others but God's word can.
1 John 1:8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1 Cor.6:11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Heb. 9:27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,
Ez.18:30-32 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord GOD; so turn, and live."
Romans1:24-25 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
Please love your brother enough to show him God's word, whether unrepentant sinner or sinner saved by grace, we are all going to be judged by a holy God.
Acts 17:31-32 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead."
Thank You Lord for Jesus!

The Handwriting on the Wall

King Nebuchadnezzar's son Belshazzar has a great feast:
Daniel 5:2-4 Belshazzar, when he tasted the wine, commanded that the vessels of gold and of silver that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem be brought, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them. Then they brought in the golden vessels that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. They drank wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.
Daniel 5:5-8 Immediately the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace, opposite the lampstand. And the king saw the hand as it wrote.  Then the king’s color changed, and his thoughts alarmed him; his limbs gave way, and his knees knocked together. The king called loudly to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers. The king declared to the wise men of Babylon, "Whoever reads this writing, and shows me its interpretation, shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around his neck and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom." Then all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or make known to the king the interpretation.
The queen tells of Daniel:
Daniel 5:11-12 There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods. In the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods were found in him, and King Nebuchadnezzar, your father—your father the king— made him chief of the magician, enchanters, Chaldeans, and astrologers,  because an excellent spirit, knowledge, and understanding to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation."
Daniel interprets:
Daniel 5:22-23 And you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this, but you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven. And the vessels of his house have been brought in before you, and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know, but the God in whose hand is your breath, and whose are all your ways, you have not honored.
Daniel 5:24-28 Then from his presence the hand was sent, and this writing was inscribed. And this is the writing that was inscribed: Mene, Mene, Tekel, and Parsin. This is the interpretation of the matter: Mene, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end; Tekel, you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting; Peres, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians."

Week 6 Charles Stanley Intercession/God's Intervention to Turn the Tide

2 Chr.7:12-15 12 Then the LORD appeared to Solomon in the night and said to him: "I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a house of sacrifice. 13 When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, 14 if my people who are called by my name 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.
15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place.



O Blessed Lord, how I pray this for our nation, that You would forgive our sin and heal our land. But, I fear You will not because of the wickedness of unrepentance. Holy God, You have captivated us with Your mercy and love, but we seem to think You will just let us continue in our sin with no consequence to us. Your word says different! Lord, as I look around, people in Your name, are telling those who are unrepentant sinners not a word about staying in their sin and it's cost. If you do quote Your scripture about sin, you will be told you are judging others. Lord, how can this be? I ask,for the sake of the lost, that You open eyes and hearts to the truth of Your word and it's saving power. I am begging in Jesus name. Amen