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DAILY DEVOTIONAL | May 9th

📖 “Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” -Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 New King James Version 

 

Two is always better than one. We are so much stronger when we work together. No man or woman was meant to be an island to themselves. Together we can accomplish more. The hand cannot say to the foot, “I don’t need you.” We all need each other. Establishing relationships is always an advantage, especially when two believers come together. The Bible even tells us that “if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My Name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:19-20). Let’s endeavor to stay unified and establish godly relationships. Good things happen when we do. 

#unity #devotional #inspiration #twoisbetterthanone 

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DAILY DEVOTIONAL | May 8th

📖 “And those who believe shall use my authority to cast out demons, and they shall speak new languages. They will be able even to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them; and they will be able to place their hands on the sick and heal them.” -Mark 16:17-18 TLB 

 

The General Orders of a Sentry are important rules that guide those on guard duty in the United States Armed Forces. Commonly known as the "11 General Orders," these directives contain every possible scenario a sentry might encounter on duty and how to ensure their safety and that of others. All of the "11 General Orders" are very important and have great natural and spiritual value. However, let’s look at a few that will help every believer better understand their duties as a “soldier in God’s army.” 

· To take charge of this post and all government property in view 

· To walk my post in a military manner, keeping always on the alert and observing everything that takes place within sight or hearing 

· To be especially watchful at night and, during the time for challenging, to challenge all persons on or near my post, and to allow no one to pass without proper authority. 

These specific orders give a service member command authority to act on behalf of the Commanding Officer, regardless of their rank. The Right to Command becomes their responsibility as if they were the Commanding Officer on duty. The relevance of this example contains within it a very powerful biblical truth. It demonstrates what Christ did through the cross in authorizing the New Testament Believer the “Right To Command” in His absence, under His authority, against all enemies--both foreign and domestic. These rights extend to all enemies--seen or unseen, natural or supernatural. 

Jesus uses the phrase in Mark 16:15-18, “In my name,” which infers, “by Jesus’ authority.” Any believer who has faith and truly believes Jesus’ word will be empowered to do the things which he refers to in the word of God. The Good News for you is to realize that Christ has given you the right to walk in authority in this life. However, in order to appropriate this divine provision, you must know who you are in Christ; you must know what belongs to you in Christ, and you must know what you have been equipped to do. So, don’t complain about what you have allowed to take advantage of you because YOU have been duly authorized, in Christ, to use His authority here on the earth. God said to Moses in Exodus 14:15, “Wherefore criest thou unto me? Speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward.” In other words, USE YOUR AUTHORITY! You have been given the right to command! 

#spiritualauthority #devotional #vcccharlotte #army #soldier

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DAILY DEVOTIONAL | May 7th

📖 “Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands.” -I Samuel 17:45-47 King James Version 

When David faced Goliath, He did not brag about his skills with a slingshot. He did not talk about his experience with the shepherd’s staff. He did not refer to any earthly weapons. David leaned on God’s ability and not his own. David was coming in the Name of the Lord of hosts, not his own. He was not fighting to make a name for himself, he was fighting so that the earth would know that there is a God in Israel. David knew that the battle was not his but the Lord’s. We could learn a thing or two from David. When the devil attacks, we cannot rely on our intellect or our resources. We must fight with the resources of Heaven. We must fight spiritual battles with spiritual weapons. We fight with the Word of God, the Name of Jesus, and with the whole armor of God. We fight from a place of victory. We fight knowing that the battle is the Lord’s. When we fight the way David fought, we can expect to win the way that he won. The battle is not ours; the battle is the Lord’s. 
 
#spiritualwarfare #devotional #vcccharlotte #davidandgoliath 

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DAILY DEVOTIONAL | May 6th

📖 “A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men." -Proverbs 18:16 King James Version

God has blessed all of us with gifts and talents. The development of those gifts and talents will determine whom we stand before in life. When an evil spirit was tormenting Saul, one of his men spoke up and recommended David because of his ability to play the harp. From that time on, when Saul was tormented, David would play for Saul, and Saul would experience relief from that oppression. What if David had not practiced playing the harp? What if he was just an okay harp player? He was recommended because he was skillful at what he did. We must become masters at our crafts. We must continue to develop and get better and better. Our quality of life will improve as we do. 

#talents #gifted #devotional #vcccharlotte 

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DAILY DEVOTIONAL | May 5th

📖 “Adonai, God, said, “It isn’t good that the person should be alone. I will make for him a companion suitable for helping him.” -Genesis 2:18 Complete Jewish Bible

It isn’t good for us to be alone. We were created to have fellowship with others. We were created to have relationships and friendships and to interact with each other. The Bible tells us that “iron sharpens iron; so, a man sharpens the countenance of his friend (Proverbs 27:17).” God uses our relationships to improve us and others. It is our interactions that allow us to become better individuals. Our interactions with others can open doors. It can cause us to become wiser and better in our respective fields. Having relationships can cause us to have experiences that we would otherwise not have if we were alone. Of course, we understand we can’t be friends with everyone, but we can engage in friendships that will contribute to our overall well-being. As God said, it is not good that a person should be alone.

#ironsharpensiron #devotional #vcccharlotte #relationshipgoals

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DAILY DEVOTIONAL | May 4th

📖 “For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.” -Mark 11:23 King James Version 

Whoever said, “Stick and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me,” did not have a clear understanding of the power of words. Although words are invisible, the spiritual power that they contain has divine ability that can produce an affect that is far greater than the wounds of a stick or stone. The Bible reveals that the earth was created through the power of faith-filled words (Hebrews11:3). Everything that God did in Genesis was connected to the words in which He spoke. The phrase, “and God said,” is repeated more than nine times in the first chapter of Genesis, which shows the pattern of how God works. 

In Genesis 2:19, the Bible says, “After God created the animals, He brought them to Adam to see what Adam would name them.” God gave Adam “on the job training” in using his authority in speaking God’s Word. God’s design was that Adam exercise authority over the earth through his words. That is why when satan came in the form of a serpent, it required that Adam do more than just look at him to know that there was something operating from the serpent that was not normal. Adam had to exercise his God-given authority, which was backed by Heaven with the “God-words” coming from his mouth. He had the same authority that Christ used when He said, “Get thee behind me satan for it is written…” (Matthew 4:4).

One of the marvelous truths that we are privileged to operate in is that God’s Word in our mouths is still backed by Heaven. Jesus walked in this same pattern. His authority was released through using words. The people he healed, the demons that were cast out, the miracles that were performed were all done by words. He taught us that we can have what we say, if we follow His instruction (Mark 11:23). The authority that we possess today can only be released through our words. So, what is in your mouth? What is coming out of it? What results are you experiencing in your life because of what you have or have not said? 

#sticksandstones #devotional #spiritualauthority #devotional

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DAILY DEVOTIONAL | May 3rd

📖 “But Noah was a pleasure to the Lord. Here is the story of Noah: He was the only truly righteous man living on the earth at that time. He tried always to conduct his affairs according to God’s will. And he had three sons—Shem, Ham, and Japheth." -Genesis 6:8-10 The Living Bible 

This is what every believer should desire, to be a pleasure to the Lord. We know that God takes pleasure in our prosperity (Psalm 35:27), but we should also desire that He takes pleasure in our lives. Our desire should be that we live a life that is well-pleasing to God. We should not only be people of righteous living, but we should always conduct our affairs according to God’s will. One way that we do that is by doing what the Word of God tells us because God’s Word IS His will towards us. The Bible tells us that Noah walked with God. When we walk with God, eventually we get to a place where all we desire is to be a pleasure to the Lord. Our lives should always bring glory to Him. 
 
#devotional #glorytoGod #righteousness #vcccharlotte 

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DAILY DEVOTIONAL | May 2nd

📖 “For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.” -Mark 13:34 (KJV) 

One of the keys to success in any job or career field is to have the proper knowledge base for the specific job. In many places of employment, companies use what is called, “desktop procedures,” which is an instruction manual containing detailed information that describes the nuts and bolts of the job and will assist the employee in performing their daily tasks. The Bible is the believers’ desktop manual. It will equip you to know how to exercise your authority for success in life. 

God’s authority is more than a historical authority; it is a contemporary, right now authority that belongs to you when you accept Christ--effective immediately! You can exercise your authority right NOW--during a recession, negative medical report, and challenging and uncertain times. You can BOLDLY decree what God has said about your situation. You are actively exercising your authority when you know God’s Word, then apply it by speaking to every “life situation” that arises against you. 

The popular phrase used in recent years, “What would Jesus do?” is just like a file that can be used daily from God’s desktop manual—the Bible. Be just like Jesus. He would never allow any circumstance, situation or condition to dominate, harass or intimidate Him--and neither should you! 

#devotional #vcccharlotte #wwjd #motivation 

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DAILY DEVOTIONAL | May 1st

📖 “Do you see a man diligent and skillful in his business? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men." -Proverbs 22:29 Amplified Classic

The majority of successful people are hard workers. They work 10-12 hours a day. They go to bed late and get up early. They study. They read. They are obsessed with improvement. For many of them, that is why they are so well known. They stand before great men because they have paid the price for greatness. The admission fee to stand before great people is to pay the price for greatness. There are few exceptions. The good thing is that we determine who we stand in front of. If we lack work ethic and determination and are unwilling to work diligently on our calling and giftings, we will always stand before obscure men. We determine who we stand before based on our level of diligence. Greatness or obscurity? The choice is yours. 
 
#diligence #Godfirst #businessman #businesswoman #devotional 

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DAILY DEVOTIONAL | April 30th

📖 “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” -Hosea 4:6 King James Version 

“What you don’t know can hurt you!” This old familiar phrase has profound spiritual meaning. The Bible reveals this point in the book of Hosea 4:6 when it states, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” Countless multitudes of men and women suffer spiritual defeat, chronic bad health, and financial problems, etc., because of a failure to understand what is contained within God’s Word. It really makes us ignorant of our rights and privileges, thus leaving us at the mercy of the world’s system. One of the saddest parts of this experience is that many of these people are believers--the beloved children of God. 

Jesus intended that believers walk in the light of understanding concerning the authority we have been given. In Mark 4:35-41, the Bible reveals the story of Jesus and His disciples on a ship during a very bad storm. Jesus was asleep on a pillow in the back of the ship during the storm. He had already announced in verse 35, “Let us pass over unto the other side.” The disciples forgot all about what Jesus said to them when the storm arose. They began to fear, panic, and think about the worse outcome. Instead of remembering, in faith, what Jesus had already said, they awoke Him from His sleep to solve a problem they were already equipped to solve. Their lack of belief and failure to understand that the authority to speak to the storm resided within them caused them to be remembered as “those with little faith.” 

Today, some believers still walk in fear and panic, waiting for Jesus to “awake” and handle their situation. We must remember His Word and have confidence that we have already been equipped and empowered to use His authority. He often remains silent during our storms because He desires that we use the authority that is in our hands to make our storms cease. Whatever storm is confronting you today, just relax and use your authority, knowing that Jesus has given you the authority to rebuke the storms that have been raging against your life. 

#speaktothestorm #nofear #JesusChrist #devotional 

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DAILY DEVOTIONAL | April 29th

📖 “Let no one despise or think less of you because of your youth, but be an example (pattern) for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity." -I Timothy 4:12 Amplified Bible Classic Edition

As believers, we are to be examples to the world. We are to be the moral compass to the world. Unfortunately, many believers haven’t sold out to God, and there are things in their lives that are displeasing to Him. As believers, we must be willing to be examples to other believers. We must demonstrate how a believer is supposed to talk and how to act when it comes to walking in love, faith, and purity. Christians can be at various stages in their lives, but it is up to us to be examples of what holiness and consecration look like. Holiness isn’t a long skirt and no makeup; it is a life that is sold out to God. Let’s be aware of our actions. You never know how your lifestyle is having an impact on other people. 

#moralcompass #devotional #vcccharlotte #Christianwalk 

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DAILY DEVOTIONAL | April 28th

📖 “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." -Matthew 28:18-20 KJV

Jesus said in Matthew 28:18, “…All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” The word “power” in Matthew 28, simply means authority. Authority is defined as, “the right to command; to take charge; to command; to enforce rule. Jesus stripped satan of the power he stole from man when He became “The Captain of our salvation” through His death, burial, and resurrection. With this selfless sacrifice, Jesus defeated the power of the devil, restored lost man to his God-ordained place, and reclaimed the authority that Adam lost. Praise God…hallelujah! 

It has always been God’s plan that His appointed heir should have the authority to command and enforce rule in the earth. Although Adam failed to use his authority against the devil, Jesus succeeded. And because of what Jesus did on the cross, believers now have the divine legal right to take charge and command the works of the enemy to cease and desist in their operations against our dominion in the earth. The Good News for every believer today is in knowing that Christ has not left us at the mercy of life’s circumstances and situations. We’ve been given authority to command and conquer, in Jesus’ name, Amen! 

#authority #vcccharlotte #JesusChrist #devotional 

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DAILY DEVOTIONAL | April 27th

📖 ““In a similar way, urge the younger men to be self-restrained and to behave prudently [taking life seriously]." -Titus 2:6 Amplified Bible Classic Edition

Life must be taken seriously. You only get one opportunity in this life, and then you spend eternity somewhere else. We will stand before God for what we did here on earth. We will have to give an account for what we did with the talents, gifts, and abilities that God blessed us with. We shouldn’t waste the time that we have left, and we cannot be so caught up in the things of this world that we forget to pursue the things that God has placed in our hearts. We must be about our Father’s business. We have destiny to fulfill and goals that need to be accomplished. Let's be sober about the times we are living in. We must make our Father proud! 
 
#soberlife #followGod #vcccharlotte #devotional 

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DAILY DEVOTIONAL | April 26th

📖 “It was because of his faith that Enoch was promoted to the eternal world without experiencing death. He disappeared from this world because God promoted him, and before that happened his reputation was that “he pleased God”. And without faith it is impossible to please him. The man who approaches God must have faith in two things, first that God exists and secondly that it is worth a man’s while to try to find God.” -Hebrews 11:5-6 JB Phillips New Testament 

It should be the desire of every believer to please our Heavenly Father. God is pleased when we walk by faith and according to “His Word.” God is pleased when we believe His Word above the circumstances. He is pleased when we speak what the Word of God says instead of our circumstances. God was displeased with the Israelites in the wilderness because of their constant complaining. They would not trust in God and put their faith in His integrity. Their doubt of God's faithfulness would cause the original generation to lose their lives and the next generation to receive their “promised land”. When we walk by faith, it not only pleases God, but it also brings God on the scene. When God comes on the scene, things change, and circumstances begin to get in line with His Word. When we approach God, we must remember two things: first that God exists and secondly it is always worth our while to seek Him out. He is a rewarder of those who do.

#trustGod #faith #devotional #vcccharlotte 

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DAILY DEVOTIONAL | April 25th

📖 “Jesus answered him, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that unless a person is born again (anew, from above), he cannot ever see (know, be acquainted with, and experience) the kingdom of God." -John 3:3 Amplified Bible Classic Edition

If one wants to be a bonafide child of God, that person must be born again. They simply must ask Jesus Christ to come into their heart and confess Him as Lord (Romans 10:9-10). It is quite simple. Works will not get you born-again. You can never work your way to Heaven. You can never earn your salvation; but you can simply receive what has already been done. Jesus has already paid the price for sin. That is Good News. Our works do not produce righteousness. Righteousness produces good works. If you haven’t done so already, receive Jesus Christ on today. You cannot ever see the kingdom of God until you do. 

#salvation #devotional #vcccharlotte #childofgod 

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DAILY DEVOTIONAL | April 24th

📖 "[Prompted] by faith Noah, being forewarned by God concerning events of which as yet there was no visible sign, took heed and diligently and reverently constructed and prepared an ark for the deliverance of his own family. By this [his faith which relied on God] he passed judgment and sentence on the world’s unbelief and became an heir and possessor of righteousness (that relation of being right into which God puts the person who has faith)." -Hebrews 11:7 Amplified Bible Classic Edition

The building of the ark was a significant example of faith. Noah took the time and effort to build something that he had no physical evidence of. There was no proof that there would be a flood. There was no evidence that humanity would be destroyed the way that it ultimately would be. Noah had to not only build the ark, but he had to place the animals on the ark. He had to trust God. Noah had to believe that everything that God said would happen exactly the way He said it would. We must walk in the same type of faith. We must prepare for things that we don’t see in the natural realm. We must have corresponding actions with our faith. Noah’s actions corresponded with his believing, and it saved both his family and humanity. When we believe what God tells us, it causes us to move. When we act on what we believe, we can expect manifestations to take place. God always comes through for the people who act on His Word.

#doersoftheWord #trustGod #faith #vcccharlotte

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DAILY DEVOTIONAL | April 23rd

📖 “Alas, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! There is nothing too hard or too wonderful for You" —Jeremiah 32:17 Amplified Bible Classic Edition

Notice that Jeremiah starts off by talking about the handiwork of God. When one considers the universe and the stars and the planets, the sun and the moon, they cannot help but think about how powerful and awesome God is! When you look at the earth, nature and the animals or the complexity of the human body and the parts of the body and how they function or even the intricacy of the brain alone, it shows the genius of our God. When you consider all of this, your problems should look very trivial. You should have the same perspective of your problems that God has. Your problems are easy to God. Everything is. Nothing is too hard or too wonderful for Him. If God could create the universe, the animals, and the human body in six days, He can handle your situation. Let’s not insult God and think that our problems are insurmountable. We must keep the proper prospective when it comes to our God. Nothing is too difficult for Him.  

#nothingisimpossible #iamvictory #devotional #goodGod 

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DAILY DEVOTIONAL | April 22nd

📖 “There are those who speak rashly, like the piercing of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing." -Proverbs 12:18 Amplified Bible Classic Edition

Your words are powerful. You have the ability to speak life and the ability to speak death. When used properly, you can use your words to bring healing to your body. Your body will respond to your words. Everything will respond to your words. Jesus cursed a fig tree. He spoke to a fever. He spoke to a leper, and the leprosy left. He spoke to a dead man, and the man came back to life. Jesus said a tree will obey you. A mountain will obey you. Everything will respond to your words. If words can bring healing, words can also bring sickness. Words can cause life, but they can also cause death. Jesus cursed the fig tree, and it withered away. We must be responsible with our words, and we must learn to use our words so that they can bring life and health to our lives. The choice is ours. 
 
#wordshavepower #devotional #JesusChrist #vccharlotte 

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DAILY DEVOTIONAL | April 21st

📖 “Also [Jesus] told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not to turn coward (faint, lose heart, and give up).” -Luke 18:1 Amplified Bible Classic Edition 

When you are a person of prayer and the Word, it’s hard to give up. It becomes difficult to throw in the towel. When you are constantly in fellowship with the Father and resting in His promises, it becomes hard to faint and lose heart. Things become easier because you are resting in your Heavenly Father. You know that He cannot lie and that He will give you victory. Having done all to stand, continue to stand. Don’t ever give up. Don’t give up on God. Don’t give up on yourself, your dreams, or your family. God always causes us to triumph. You are more than a conqueror. You were built to outlast the devil. You win!  

#winner #nevergiveup #devotional #vcccharlotte

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DAILY DEVOTIONAL | April 20th

📖 “Elijah the Tishbite, of the temporary residents of Gilead, said to Ahab, As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, before Whom I stand, there shall not be dew or rain these years but according to My word." -I Kings 17:1 Amplified Bible Classic Edition

This was a bold statement. A man telling the king that there won't be any rain until he says so. Only a man who truly knows who He is can make a statement like that. Only an individual who knows his authority and God can make a statement like that. They would be fully convinced that God will back them up. Of course, we don’t just want to manipulate the weather just to prove a point, but we may be in a position where we must believe for it not to rain. We might have to speak to a storm like Jesus did. Storms, hurricanes, and even tornadoes are subject to our authority as believers. Things like that don’t just happen. We must know who we are and what belongs to us. We must meditate on the Scriptures dealing with authority. Lastly, we must practice our authority. Use it on little things at first, and over time your faith will grow. We can do outstanding things for the kingdom if we pursue and apply what we know. 
 
#trustGod #devotional #iamvictory #speaktothestorm 

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