Come Up Higher, Vol. 1 | Day 51

Day 51

James 5:16

 "....pray one for another, that ye may be healed."

We should care about each other. The sacrifice Jesus made on Calvary for our healing was for the healing of all humanity. Our desire should be healing for all. One way we can receive something is by sowing what we want to reap. If we participate in giving healing to someone else through prayer, encouragement or other means, it will come back to us.

Moses was always interceding for the Israelites to deliver them from destruction. He sowed many prayers into their lives, although they were frequently an unpleasant challenge to his leadership. It was because he prayed that plagues were stopped and they were healed of snake bites. Miriam, his sister, was healed of leprosy, (which she got as a result of talking against him) because he prayed. We can see how Moses reaped what he sowed. The Bible tells us that when he died at 120 years of age, his natural strength was not diminished nor was his eye sight dim.

While we should sow seeds of prayer and healing, we must also realize that the enemy of our souls can attempt to hinder our harvest. So, sowing into others' lives does not totally eliminate the need for us to have faith and take a stand for what belongs to us. As we trust God to heal others, let us trust Him to heal us also.

I will sow seeds of prayer and healing into others' lives. I will trust God for my healing also.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 1 | Day 50

Day 50

Deuteronomy 29:9 amplified version

 "Therefore keep the words of this covenant, and do them, that you may deal wisely and prosper in all that you do."

Prosperity is a part of our covenant with God. We see God, through His covenant with Abraham, blessing Abraham's natural seed, the nation of Israel. The covenant, which was expanded during Moses' time, contained an agreement between two parties - each party having an obligation to fulfill his part. As with any contract, both parties must fulfill their part of the agreement for it to work properly. Moses, before his departure, reminded the Israelites to keep their part of the covenant to enable God to bless them in fulfillment of His part of the covenant.

As new covenant believers in Jesus Christ, Galatians 3:29 says we are Abraham's seed spiritually and heirs according to the promise. This is the covenant God made with Abraham. As we keep the new covenant, which means doing our part, we can expect to possess the prosperity God has provided for us.

As we study the New Covenant, we see the evidence of God having no shadow of turning. With His people, under the Old Covenant and under the new, He delights in our prosperity. Keeping our·covenant is a way we enjoy what our Father wants for us. We do not have the old law, but the new commandment Jesus gave us encompasses the purpose of the old.

Jesus gave hints to obtaining what is ours. He declared that forsaking anything for the gospel's sake would bring a hundredfold return. He told us that if we are faithful over little, God would make us ruler over much. He said if the kingdom becomes a priority in our lives, we would have everything we need added to us.

The Holy Spirit shares with us some tips through the epistles. Through the letters written to the church, we learn that supporting the gospel causes God to supply all our need. Paul said in II Corinthians 9:6, amplified version, "[Remember] this: he who sows sparingly and grudgingly will also reap sparingly and grudgingly, and he who sows generously and that blessings may come to someone, will also reap generously and with blessings." This law of seed time and harvest is carried over from the Old Testament. Solomon taught this principle in Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. Paul went on to say that God provides seed to the sower. In other words, the giver will always be able to give, which means He will always have more than enough.

I will keep the covenant that I have with God and He will keep His covenant with me. I will prosper in all that I do. Prosperity will be manifested in my life.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 1 | Day 49

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Day 49

Psalm 111:10 amplified version

 "The reverent fear and worship of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and skill [the preceding and first essential, the pre-requisite and the alphabet of them]. A good understanding, wisdom and meaning have all those who do [the will of the Lord]. Their praise of Him endures for ever."

To reverently fear and worship God is the first step to having wisdom operate in us. We cannot begin to possess the wisdom that is ours without establishing the utmost respect for the Almighty above all others. This respect will cause us to exalt His Word as final author­ ity on every subject matter.

In addition to reverential fear of God, we can increase wisdom in our lives by the bold confession of our mouths. Confession brings possession. As Paul said in II Corinthians 4:13, we have the spirit of faith which causes us to speak what we believe. Solomon said in Proverbs 7:4, amplified version, "Say to skillful and godly wisdom, You are my sister, and regard understanding or insight as your inti­mate friend."

Another thing that produces wisdom in us is humility. Proverbs 13:10 says wisdom comes to the well-advised as opposed to the proud. Proverbs 11:14 says that in the multitude of counselors there is safety. God has designed us to be interdependent. So, wisdom can flow to us from the insight of godly persons. Wisdom will come if we humble ourselves to receive it.

We can also gain wisdom by seeking God for it. James 1:5 lets us know we can ask for wisdom in specific cases where we need it. Jesus has been made wisdom to us, according to I Corinthians 1:30. His words bring wisdom to us. As we abide in Him, and He and His Word abide in us, we will experience more and more of His wisdom.

I reverently fear and worship God. He manifests His wisdom to me, as I trust and rely on Him. I declare that wisdom is mine. Jesus is mine and He is my wisdom.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 1 | Day 48

Day 48

I John 4:16

 "And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us.God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him."

The Bible shows us how we can activate the love of God in our lives. Love is a part of the fruit of our spirits, according to Galatians 5:22. Romans 5:5 lets us know that God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. Dwelling in love and dwelling in God is considered synonymous, according to I John 4:16. Therefore, experiencing or possessing the love that is obviously ours is a matter of getting closer to God and stirring up what is in us.

Drawing closer to God - getting more of Him in us and more of us in Him will automatically increase our functional love level. We can tell when we are drawing closer to God, because we will be walking in a higher level of obedience. (You cannot walk together with someone if you are going in opposite directions.) I John 2:5 says, "But whoso keepeth His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him." II John 6 says, "And this is love, that we walk after His commandments."

So, to increase the manifestation of love in our lives, we must pursue a closer walk with God. To pursue, one has to forsake. To press forward, one has to push away from. To get closer to God and get more of His love activated in us, we must resist loving the world. I John 2:15 says, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." When we see love for the world, or its contents or pleasures creeping up on us or attracting us, we must press toward God - thereby pushing away from the world.

Love is also stirred up by practicing love deeds. Love is not just a noun, it is a verb. I John 3:18 says, "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and truth." Hebrews 13:1, amplified version, says, "Let love for your fellow believers con­tinue and be a fixed practice with you -never let it fail."

Finally we must not tolerate, but resist fear. "There is no fear in love...He that feareth is not made perfect in love." (I John 4:18) We will keep love up and fear down as we cast out fear each time it approaches.

I have God's perfect love in me,and I cast away all fear. I dwell in God and, consequently, I dwell in love. I forsake the love of the world and the things that are in the world that the love of the Father may remain constant in me. I practice love. I love in deed and in truth.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 1 | Day 47

Day 47

Romans 15:4

 "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope."

God gave us His Word to comfort us and to build hope in us. We can receive comfort from the scriptures as we meditate the Word, while looking to God for illumination by His Spirit.

The scripture also said hope comes through patience. Romans 5:4 tells us that patience (cheerful endurance while remaining constant) brings experience and experience brings hope. So, if we are patient, we will end up with a victorious experience that will cause us to have hope for another victory. God told the Israelites to set up reminders of what He had done for them. They were instructed to tell the stories of God's powerful deliverance of His people to their children.

Experience brings hope. Experience comes from patience. Patience comes from a dedication to the Word of God and a relation­ship with God Himself.

By the Word of God, I will always have hope. I will meditate God's Word. I will practice God's Word because I love Him. I will operate in patience, which will cause me to have experiences that will bring me hope. I will always have hope.

From God's Word -   hope

Because of hope -     patience

Because of patience -   experience

Because of experience -    hope!

Come Up Higher, Vol.1 | Day 46

Day 46

John 15:11

 "These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full."

Jesus spoke words to His disciples that could cause His joy to be in them. Meditating and practicing the Word of God produces joy. In John 16:22, the Lord told his apostles that no one could take their joy from them. The kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost (Romans 14:17). It is great to know that the joy of the Lord is ours. We control it. Nobody determines when we can or cannot enjoy it. We stir it up when we decide to. It is our strength and we should refresh ourselves regularly by rejoicing in the Lord.

Luke 15:7 says, "...joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance." One way to stir up joy in our hearts is to participate in saving sinners. If there is joy in Heaven over a sinner repenting, and we are citizens of Heaven, we should share in the joy of seeing the lost come to Christ.

I will participate in the saving of sinners. I will meditate and practice God's word. I will stir up the joy of God in me and be strong.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 1 | Day 45

Day45

Psalm 16:11 Amplified Version

 "You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of jay, at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore."

Joy is full and complete in God's presence. So, we see how God has provided a way for us to experience, or lay hold of, or stir up the joy that is already ours. "Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace..." (Hebrews 4:16 amplified version) With a simple act of our will, we can go directly into God's presence - access the throne. The psalmist said we enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Isaiah 61:3 tells us we can put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. There are things we can do, such as praise, thanksgiving and worship, to bring us into God's presence, where the fullness of joy is. However, as we grow closer to Him, we will find that we can instantly, and with great confidence, will to enter directly in His presence. Instead of coming in through praise and worship, we come in, and it causes us to praise and worship. There is no ritual to get in His presence - the veil has been torn from top to bottom, and we have immediate access by the blood of Jesus into the presence of the Almighty God. Joy is always  a decision away. If there is no unconfessed sin in our lives, nothing stands in our way.

Until we reach that point in our understanding, we can praise and give thanks to help us get there. Meanwhile, the things that enable us to reach the point of understanding immediate access are the very things that cause us to experience the joy of the Lord. Praise, thanks­giving and worship help us increase our awareness of who God is. As we engage in these activities, our understanding of Him will increase, and our relationship with Him will be enriched.

Proverbs 15:23 tells us a man has joy by giving the right answer. When we answer every challenge with the right words - words that are in line with God's word - the result will be joy. Proverbs 21:15 tells us joy comes to the just when justice is done. When we decide to do what is right and fair, it brings joy to us who love what is right.

I praise and worship God.I give thanks to Him.I give the right answer to my challenges. I do what is fair and right. I maintain the joy of the Lord in my life.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 1 | Day 44

Day 44

John 14:1, 27 Amplified version

 "Do not let your hearts be troubled (distressed, agitated)..." "Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid- stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled."

Jesus bequeathed His peace to His disciples, indicating that they had authority to maintain peace. He said, "Do not let..." That means the person being addressed has responsibility. We cannot have responsibility where we have no authority. So, it is exciting to know that we have control of our state of being by the authority of Jesus' words.

The centurion said to Jesus in Luke 7:8, amplified version, "For I also am a man daily subject to authority, with soldiers under me, and I say to one, Go, and he goes; and to another, Come, and he comes; and to my bond servant, Do this, and he does it." He was explaining why Jesus did not need to do anything more than speak a word to heal his servant. He understood that when one has authority, he exercises that authority with words. Jesus equated this understanding of authority to great faith. We must use our mouths to appropriate and maintain the peace of God. By faith we speak and control our state of being. "Heart! You may not be troubled!" "Peace! Be still!" "Trouble! Go! Calm! Come!" Whatever is applicable or appropriate, we must lift up our voices and fulfill our responsibility of maintaining peace.

"Do not fret or have anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything by prayer and petition [definite requests] with thanksgiving continue to make your wants known to God. And God's peace..... which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds.." (Philippians 4:6,7 amplified version) I Peter 5:6,7 indicates that we are to, in humility, cast all our cares (anxieties, worries, concerns) on God permanently. We must realize that the power of God takes up where we can go no further. There is a human responsibility and a God responsibility. When we are told to maintain peace, and natural circumstances dictate that this is impossible, we must realize that God must take over. We give Him the cares, and we maintain the peace. He invites us to leave the difficulties to Him. We must not struggle with what we cannot change. God has offered to participate with every intimate and minute detail of our lives. Let us let Him do it! Let us face it - a problem to us is not a problem to God.

I will cast my cares on the Lord and use my authority to maintain peace.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 1 | Day 43

Day 43

Psalm 119:165 Amplified Version

 "Great peace have they who love your law..."

We have "seen" that there are great benefits God has given us. These benefits are received by faith. We also follow God's instruc­ tions, which is His strategy for us to obtain and walk in what He has provided. Some instructions are already written in God's Word. We will receive other specific intstructions as God leads us by the Holy Spirit. Let us begin to examine how we possess what God has pro­ vided for us. Our first subject is peace.

Peace, we see, comes to those who love God's Word. A person's love for something can be seen by his dedication to it. Something that is loved is not ignored. When we love something, we pay attention to it. Our behavior and conversation demonstrate our love for it. As we receive God's peace by faith, we realize that we are also receiving a love for His Word.

Proverbs 3:2 indicates that paying attention to God's Word will produce peace. Isaiah 26:3 tells us that the one who keeps His mind on God will enjoy perfect peace. How can one keep his mind on God without being mindful of His Word?

"There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked." (Isaiah 48:22) Psalm 85:10 says righteousness and peace have kissed each other. We must live uprightly to walk in peace. A wicked life and peace do not match. I John 3:21 says, "Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God." When we know we are not doing what is right, our own spirit will condemn us. Thus, we lose our confidence in our relationship with God, and that makes it impossible for us to enjoy peace.

So, we must love God's Word in  order to possess  God's peace. If we get out ofline, He has provided a way for us to get back in line. I John 1:9 says if we confess our sins, He will forgive and cleanse us. So, even if we fail, we have no excuse for living without peace.

I love God's Word. I walk in obedience to God's Word, and I experience God's peace continually.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 1 | Day 42

Day 42

Psalm 34:7 amplified version

"The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him  - who revere and worship Him with awe; and each of them He deliv­ers."

God protects those who reverence Him. In the 91st Psalm, the Word says He will cover us (those who dwell in His secret place) with His feathers. Psalm 125:2 says, "As the mountains are about Jerusalem, so the Lord is around about His people from henceforth even for ever."

Jesus told His disciples in Luke 10:19 that they had authority over all the power of the enemy and nothing would hurt them in anyway. When He was leaving the earth, He told them he would be with them consistently until the end of the age. We are never on our own. God is with us, the angels are assigned to minister for us (Hebrews 1:14), and we also have God-given weapons with which to defend and protect ourselves. So, there are different ways divine protection is accomplished. Hebrews 13:6, amplified version, says, "So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper, I will not be seized with alarm - I will  not fear or dread or be terrified. What can man do to me?"

Psalm 46:1 says God is our refuge (protection from danger or dis­ tress), and He is positively present and ready to help in times of trouble. Proverbs 29:25, amplified version, says: "....whoever leans on, trusts and puts his confidence in the Lord is safe and set on high." We have divine protection. It is ours. It is given to us.

I am divinely protected. Angels are assigned to protect me. God is my refuge  -  my protection from danger or distress.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 1 | Day 41

Day 41

Luke 24:49b; Acts 1:8a amplified version

 ': ..but remain in the city [Jerusalem] until you are clothed with power from on high." "But you shall receive power- ability, efficiency and might - when the Holy Spirit has come upon you..."

Jesus promised supernatural power to those who represent Him after His departure from earth. He explained to His disciples, before a cloud received Him out of their sight, that this power would be theirs after the Holy Spirit came upon them. This experience was not limited to the 11 apostles or the 120 who received the Holy Spirit in the Upper Room (Acts 2:1-4), but to as many as God would call (Acts 2:39). In John 14:12, Jesus promised to all believers divine power to perform His works. So, we know that power to carry out the work of the ministry (each member of Jesus' Body having a part in His ministry) is available to all believers.

How can we adequately represent Jesus without having the power to do His works? It is the works of Jesus that give proof of His resurrection to those who are lost, or to heathen worshipers who have gods of their own. The demonstration of the power of God that the unbelievers see causes their ears to open to the gospel. History has proven that more unbelievers ha':'e received the gospel when it was accompanied by a demonstration, than when it was not. (I am referring to unbelievers who knew nothing about the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob or had no Christian heritage.)

Even in reaching those who have a Christian heritage but have not received Christ as Savior, the supernatural power of God works to draw them. The message they hear is anointed and breaks through the natural mind, revealing truth to their hearts. Paul said in I Corinthians 2:4, "My speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:"

I am endued with power from Heaven. The Holy Spirit is in me and operates through me. I do the works of Jesus.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 1 | Day 40

Day40

Exodus 15:26

" ...for I am the Lord that healeth thee."

God declared that He was the Physician of His people. A physician prescribes different types of treatment for his patients, depending on their individual needs. God, as our Physician, has provided different means for us to receive healing. We must be sensitive to His Spirit to know what our current prescription is. If we let Him, Our Father will take excellent care of us.

We should know where our faith is and be led by the Holy Spirit as to how our healing should come. We must never stop to question that healing belongs to us. God has provided many methods through which we can receive supernatural healing. Healing can come by the laying on of hands, anointing with oil and the prayer of faith, Holy Communion, the prayer of agreement, speaking the Word, the gifts of the Spirit, or by other means.

God has also blessed us with doctors who assist with natural healing. We can use them, but we must never put our full confidence in them. If we use a doctor, we must see him as an instrument, but recognize God as our source. By doing so, we can see the hand of God work along with the doctor to speed up recovery. God can cause him to go beyond his known abilities. He can baffle the students of medical science as things occur that they do not expect or understand. II Chronicles 7:14 says, "If my people...turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from Heaven...and will heal their land." Sometimes there are hindrances to our healing. That is why being led by the Spirit of God and walking in obedience to the whole Word of God is important.

III John 2 lets us know that God wants us to go beyond healing and live in health. So, our goal should line up with that. However, if we need healing, we can allow the Holy Spirit to lead us as to how we should receive in each case. In every case, we should offer thanks­giving in advance for the healing that has been provided for us.

I thank God I am healed, healthy and perfectly whole. I will walk in obedience to God's Word and be led by His Spirit God will lead me to the means by which I can see healing and health maintained in my body.

Come Up Higher, Vol.1 | Day 39

Day 39

I Peter 2:24 Amplified version

"He personally bore our sins in His own body to the tree [as to an altar and offered Himself on it], that we might die (cease to exist) to sin and live to righteousness,by His wounds you have been healed."

 We would not dare think of sin as acceptable after Calvary. Jesus shed His blood to pay for our sin. We are crucified with Him and consider ourselves dead to sin. We endeavor to live above sin out of respect for the sacrifice of Our Savior.

The same sacrifice that was made for sin was made for sickness. By the same wounds that were received for our transgressions, we are healed. Our tolerance for sickness and disease should be zero. We recognize that we are faced with temptation and have a constant struggle to walk free of sin, but we fight because of who we are. For the same reason, we should be no less motivated to resist attacks of sickness and disease.

I hate sin.I hate sickness. I respect the sacrifice Jesus made for me at Calvary. I resist sin. I resist sickness and disease.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 1 | Day 38

Day 38

Exodus 15:26 Amplified Version

 "For I am the Lord who heals you."

When God introduced Himself as Jehovah-Rapha to the children of Israel, He expressed His will for them. He told them He was the Lord their healer, or physician. What physician would want anything else for his patients than healing and health? Genesis 1:31, amplified version, said, "And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good - suitable, pleasant - and He approved it completely..."

God was satisfied with His creation, because it was perfect. He was satisfied, because that is what He wanted. Then came sin and God had to add a new role. He is not only creator, He is repairman - a Healer.

In Revelation 21:4, the Bible tells us that when Satan, sin and all wicked people are removed from the earth, there will be no more death, sorrow, crying or pain. Everything will be restored to normal. So, it is evident that Satan and sin have brought sickness and disease into the earth realm. God is not the author of sickness, so it is His desire to see his people delivered and protected from this curse. He expressed this as His will in Exodus 23:25, Deuteronomy 7:15, and in other verses.

Since it is clear that Our Father wants His people well, we should want the same and work to that end, using every means available. This applies to our personal lives, as well as our ministry to others. Keep in mind that we do not only want to be healed, but also main­ tain health, which entails avoiding things that cause illness.

I will do my part to maintain health in my body. God is my physician. He will heal me when I need healing and help me stay well.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 1 | Day 37

Day 37

II Corinthians 9:8 Amplified version

 "And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need, be self-sufficient - possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation."

Our God is not subject to change. As He was the God of prosperity in the Old Testament, we see that He is the God of prosperity in the New Testament. Poverty was a curse - therefore not from God - then, or now. God is against poverty and lack. He is not against poor people or those in lack. He loves them but is not happy with their circumstances. II Corinthians 9:8 shows us what God wants to do for us. He not only wants to meet our needs, but He also wants to enable us to meet the needs of others as His Body in the earth. II Corinthians 8:9 points out that Jesus became poor so we could become rich. Although Jesus was not lacking in anything, He left Heaven where there were far more riches than there are on earth, and became poor in relation to what He left behind. He denied Himself so we could be blessed.

The greeting of John to Gaius in Ill John 2 expresses what God wishes for all of us - total prosperity in the body, soul and spirit, as well as materially. Jesus came that we might have an abundant life (John 10:10). Abundance indicates more than enough.

The earth is the Lord's (Psalm 24:1), and the silver and gold are His (Haggai 2:8). This is Our Father's world. God wants us, who are conformed to the image of Christ, to take dominion in the earth - to subdue it. We are to be the light of the world, the salt of the earth. To do the best we can, we need to prosper - to have access to funds and materials that will help us accomplish our task. The wealth of this world, or a good portion of it, is in the wrong hands. However, the scripture says, "...the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just" (Proverbs 13:22) and "...but to the sinner He giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God,"(Ecclesiastes 2:26). We should be aggressive about prosperity for the right reasons.

I accept the fact that the wealth of the world is not designated for the sinner. It belongs to God's people. I am God's and I receive my portion of the wealth in this world for God's purposes. God's purpose for prosperity for me is that I should have more than enough for my own needs and be able to contribute to supplying the needs of others.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 1 | Day 36

Day 36

Genesis 1:29

 "And God said, Behold I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat."

Our Daddy is the God of prosperity and abundance. Our Father gave two people every herb and every fruit that was upon the face of the earth. Wouldn't you say that was more than enough? There is still more than enough for every man on planet earth. Many starve or live in poverty due to sin, idolatry and ignorance. However, God has pro­ vided for all humanity.

God told Noah, when he emerged from the ark with his family and all the animals he transported, that he could have all the herbs, as well as any meat he desired. There were only eight persons on board the ark. I would say they had more than enough.

God told Abram, later called Abraham, to leave his kindred and follow Him. He promised to bless him and make him a blessing. Genesis 13:2 says, "And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold." How did he get so prosperous? Abraham's servant told the family of Isaac's bride-to-be that the Lord was responsible for Abraham's wealth (Genesis 24:35).

God told Moses He would take His people out of slavery and send them to a land of prosperity, "flowing with milk and honey." He said in Exodus 3:21-22, amplified version, "And I will give this people favor and respect in the sight of the Egyptians; and it shall be that when you go, you shall not go empty-handed. But every woman shall [insistently] solicit of her neighbor, and of her that may be resid­ ing at her house, jewels and articles of silver and gold, and garments, which you shall put on your sons and daughters; and you shall strip the Egyptians [of belongings due to you]." We can see that God is a God of abundance and prosperity. Throughout the Old Testament, we see wealth and abundance as a sign of God's blessing upon His people, while poverty was described as a part of the curse that came upon the disobedient. God blessed Abraham, Isaac and Jacob with wealth. He is the one who made Solomon the richest man on earth. The psalmist, David, said in Psalm 35:27 that God has pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.

Malachi 3:6 says, "For I am the Lord, I change not,..." The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is as much the God of prosperity today as He was in days of old, and He is our God!

My Father is the God of prosperity and abundance. I am my Father's child. Since my Father is rich, I am rich. I am prosperous, and I have abundance.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 1 | Day 35

Day 35

Exodus 36:1 Amplified version

 "Bezalel and Aholiab and every wise-hearted man in whom the Lord has put wisdom and understanding to know how to do all the work for the service of the sanctuary, shall work according to all that the Lord has commanded."

God, who put wisdom in Bezalel and Aholiab, is the source of wisdom, and He dwells in us. I Corinthians 1:30 tells us that Jesus was made unto us wisdom. Solomon said in Proverbs 8:11 that wisdom is better than rubies and nothing we desire can compare with it. Thank God we serve the Lord who is not only the possessor of wisdom, but the GIVER of wisdom. Proverbs 4:5 tells us to get wisdom. That lets us know it is available to all who desire it.

The wisdom of God is identified by James. In the third chapter of James, verse 17 describes the wisdom of God as pure, peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.

Jesus told his disciples He would give them wisdom that all of their enemies combined would not be able to stand against or refute. Not only does God give us wisdom, but He gives us His wisdom which nobody can withstand. In Jesus' life on earth, we saw a demonstration of that. The cleverest of His enemies were put to silence. We also saw a demonstration of this in the life of Stephen, the first Christian martyr we have record of. In Acts 6:10, the Bible said the religious leaders could not stand up against the wisdom or spirit by which he spoke. Thank God we are connected to the source of all wisdom.

I have the source of all wisdom living in me. Jesus Christ is made wisdom to me. I have and walk in the wisdom of God.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 1 | Day 34

Day 34

 

Romans 5:5 NIV

 ''And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit."

Love is such a powerful force that it is great to know, on the authority of God's Word, that we have it in our spirits. The Word tells us that love does not fail.

Galatians 5:22 informs us that love is a part of the fruit of our spirit. It is most comforting to know that love has been given to us by God, since without it we would be a mess. We are not talking about human love, but the God kind of love.

Our faith works by love. Since we need love to succeed as God's people, I am most grateful that God revealed to us that He has given us His love by the Holy Spirit. Thank God we do not have to strug­gle to get this important characteristic, this important force. It has been given to us. All we need to do is to agree with God by verbally declaring that we have the love of God and practice it by faith. I am pleased to know that love is part of the fruit, which can be developed from our spirit.

I am full of the love of God. God's love permeates my being. I live by the love of God that He has put in my spirit

Come Up Higher, Vol. 1 | Day 33

Day 33

Psalm 71:5 Amplified Version

 "For You are my hope; 0 lord God, You are my trust from my youth and the source of my confidence."

We have hope or expectation, because we have God. He is our hope. When we do not see anything in the natural realm to keep us motivated, we know we have a God who can move any mountain, supply any need, alter any circumstance or destroy any barrier. He can heal any sickness, calm any storm, relieve any burden or restore anything that has been lost. He is our hope, not only because He can do these things, but because He has done them already. He said he would do for us what needs to be done.

Psalm 146:5 says, "Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God." The psalmist had a reason to declare that the person whose hope is in the Lord is happy. A person is happy about something if it will definitely bring positive results. Therefore, we can conclude that hope in the Lord brings positive results.

In Ephesians, Paul described the Gentiles who were without Christ as those who had no hope. Their lack of hope was related to their being without Christ. Consequently, then, having Christ means having hope. Paul told the Thessalonians that God had given us good hope. Peter exhorted the saints to be always ready to give an answer to every inquirer who wanted to know why we have the hope we have in us.

It is obvious that to have God means to have hope. There is a good reason to hope when the one who created the universe and all the elements contained therein is Our Father and we know He loves us.

I have God. Therefore, I have hope. That hope brings positive results.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 1 | Day 32

Day32

Luke 2:10 NIV

 "But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people."

Jesus brought joy to the earth. He represents joy. Elizabeth told Mary the babe in her womb leaped for joy when she arrived and greeted her. Mary was pregnant with Jesus and Elizabeth was preg­nant with John the Baptist. John, not even born yet, leaped for joy in the presence of the Messiah, whose body was just being formed in Mary's womb. To have Jesus is to have joy. The Bible says in the presence of the Lord is fullness of joy.

The joy we have as believers is inexpressible, triumphant, heav­ enly. It comes as a result of believing in Jesus, the Anointed One (I Peter 1:8). According to Jude 24, God is able to keep us from falling and present us before His glorious presence with exceeding joy. God and joy just go together. We have God, so we have joy.

God is my God. Jesus is my Lord. The Holy Spirit is my Comforter. Therefore joy is mine. I never have a shortage of joy. I have inex­ pressible, triumphant, heavenly joy.