Get Ready!

Get Ready!

Get Ready!
To be Overtaken and Overcome by the Blessings of God! By Frances Hunter

INTRODUCTION
Christians are blessed! We are blessed today as much as at any time since Adam and Eve walked with God in the garden. How can we say that, when there are troubles throughout the world, disasters in our nation, and personal challenges every day at home or on the ob! We can be blessed every single day o" our lives because God has provided His own supernatural power and peace and provision "or every one o" His children. #ometimes we "orget how much God has done "or us. #ometimes we are struggling so hard in the natural that we are not really praising God and thanking Him "or who He is and all the blessings that are ours. God intended "or us to be blessed right "rom the very start! He has never taken away any one o" the wonder"ul blessings that He planned "or us. $n the %ld &estament, when Adam sinned, and when others sinned, God still loved them and still wanted to bless them. He gave them a plan that through blood sacri"ice they could repent and be "orgiven and blessed. &he sacri"icial blood o" animals pointed to the per"ect blood o" 'esus, which provides everything we need. Every blessing God ever promised is still ours! $n these pages, $ want you to show you ust what God has said about your blessings! $n searching through the (ible "or all o" God)s blessing promises, $ do not know when $ have ever been as e*cited over any sub ect in my entire li"e. $" you are

not hanging onto the ceiling by the "inal pages o" this book, $)ll be surprised! $ want this to be a spiritual "east "or you! $ want you to grow so spiritually "at on the Word o" God that your spirit and your soul will be able to take care o" any situation that comes along. $ believe with all my heart and soul that the more you read and hear the word o" God, the more you are going to be aware o" what God really has "or you in His "abulous promises throughout the (ible. +ou will be convinced that His blessings really are "or you, and your "aith will bring those blessings right into your li"e. ,rances Hunter

I Am Blessed, How Are YOU

How many times have you greeted someone, -How are you!. How many times have you gotten a response that made you sorry you asked the /uestion! #ometimes, $ have ust wanted to reach out and pray "or that poor downhearted soul and command a spirit o" oy to overtake them! $ received a wonder"ul perspective "rom a church in 0allas, &e*as. &he very "irst time $ walked into that church, a lady $ had never met came over to me, put her arms around me and proclaimed, -$ am blessed1 how are you!. 2ever in any church has anything ever made a greater impression on me than greeters who were welcoming people in such an incredible way, with a big hug while saying, -$ am blessed1 how are you!. $t really changed the way Charles and $ began greeting people. 2ow instead o" asking them how they are and hoping "or a positive response, we are so "ull o" the consciousness o" God)s blessings that we say, like that wonder"ul lady, -We are blessed! How are you!. We as Christians have more reasons to say -We are blessed. than any people on the "ace o" the earth! %ur God is not ust a Creative ,orce1 He is a ,ather who, even more than the best earthly "ather, wants to heap blessing upon blessing all over us! 3salm 4!56478 is one o" the most beauti"ul passages o" blessings in the (ible because it covers so many o" our basic needs in this li"e.

Bless the Lord, 0 my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, 0 my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with loving indness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things so that your youth is renewed li e the eagle!s" What does every single human being need most! ,orgiveness. God "orgives every one o" our sins, great or small. 2e*t, it says that God heals all o" our diseases1 that means every type, no matter how serious. Whatever may come against us, God redeems our li"e "rom destruction. We are blessed with love "rom a good God. We are blessed with over"lowing kindness and mercy whenever we need it. We are so blessed with good "ood that most o" us need to stop eating too much o" it. God is generous to us in every way. 9et me show you how and why you are blessed. 3salm 46475 says, Blessed is the man who wal s not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the #ath of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night" He shall be li e a tree #lanted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall #ros#er" &hink o" how blessed a tree is when it)s planted by a stream o" water. $t never has to worry about any o" its needs being met! $t will bear "ruit year a"ter year. (ecause o" the abundance o" "resh water

taking all the nutrients it needs to every branch, it won)t get sick or dry up and wither and die. &hat is how God has promised to bless every one o" us : with a healthy, prosperous and "ruit"ul li"e! 0o you know why you are blessed! +ou are blessed because your delight is in the law o" the 9ord ;you put God "irst in your li"e< and because you meditate in the law o" the 9ord ;God)s word< day and night. +our commitment to live rightly be"ore God opens the doors "or you to go to the word o" God and discover and claim all o" God)s wonder"ul promises to you. $ heard a story o" a young man whose distant relative died and le"t him an incredible inheritance because there were no other heirs. &he young man was unaware o" any o" this inheritance and lived in poverty "or many years, until he was located. Can you imagine the oy o" this man in "inding out that all o" his needs would be met "or the rest o" his li"e! &hat is the oy we, as believers, are supposed to e*perience right now, every single day. 3salm 4 in the Ampli"ied really e*plains what the blessing o" God means6 BL$%%$& 'Ha##y, fortunate, #ros#erous, and enviable( is the man who wal s and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly )following their advice, their #lans and #ur#oses*, nor stands )submissive and inactive* in the #ath where sinners wal , nor sits down )to rela+ and rest* where the scornful )and the moc ers* gather" But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law 'the #rece#ts, the instructions, the teachings of ,od( he habitually

meditates '#onders and studies( by day and by night" And he shall be li e a tree firmly #lanted )and tended* by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall #ros#er )and come to maturity*" &o be blessed means that you are happy. +ou are "ortunate : the right doors open "or you. 3eople who don)t understand God)s "avor on you might think that you are -lucky. because good things keep happening to you. +ou are prosperous, and you are enviable. (lessings surround you because you have chosen not to "ollow the advice o" the ungodly, or live the li"estyle o" sinners, or cater to companions who sco"" at righteousness. What a great salvation tool 7 to have people ask you why you are so blessed, and you get to tell them all that God has done "or you and how they can be saved and e*perience the blessings o" God in their li"e.

T"e Bless#n$ %salm

All o" us need to be reminded occasionally ust how much we are blessed. $ cannot think o" any more beauti"ul blessing scripture than the =5rd 3salm. &his one is so special, and so important in my li"e, because the night that God revealed Himsel" to me "or the "irst time, $ had thought $ was being really spiritual when $ opened my (ible and read the "irst verse o" the =5rd 3salm. $ was scheduled "or surgery and had dusted o"" my (ible and taken it to the hospital. $ opened it,

and that was all $ read 7 ust one verse 7 and then closed my (ible. &hat is the night that God chose to reveal Himsel" personally to me, and $ have never, ever been the same again! As we read each o" these beauti"ul blessings, $ want you apply every blessing to yoursel" and speak a blessing con"ession. -he Lord is my she#herd; . shall not want" We do not ever have to want "or anything. &he 9ord is likened to a shepherd, which means He has made himsel" absolutely responsible to provide everything we need "or our entire li"e. He ma es me to lie down in green #astures; He leads me beside the still waters" He restores my soul; Every once in a while, God gets my attention and He says, -$ want you to lie down in the green pastures. +ou have been rushing around too much.. >est is one o" God)s blessings. #till waters represent a /uiet place. While we are normally right in the middle o" the stream o" God)s power and action, $ praise the 9ord that He also leads us beside the still waters where we can rest and recuperate. >est can restore the soul. He leads me in the #aths of righteousness for His name!s sa e" We don)t have to be con"used when we come to a temptation or test1 all we have to do is allow the #hepherd to lead us. /ea, though . wal through the valley of the shadow of death, . will fear no evil; for /ou are with me;

$ have been told by doctors not once but several times in my li"e that $ was going to die. God)s word prevailed in every instance. At ?=, $ am still e*cited about every single day o" being able to do more "or 'esus. (ut when $ "aced those reports, God took me through the valley o" the shadow o" death and proved that He was with me. When you are conscious o" God)s presence, you cannot be a"raid! /our rod and /our staff, they comfort me" &he shepherd uses his rod to drive o"" wild, devouring beasts and his sta"" to gently guide his sheep along the right path. @sing the word o" God is like a shepherd using his weapon to drive away the enemy. God)s word com"orted me and energiAed my "aith to drive o"" those devouring attacks on my body. /ou #re#are a table before me in the #resence of my enemies; We won)t have any enemies in heaven. We are in the earth, where enemies can attack us. God said He will deliver us "rom every kind o" enemy to our spirit, soul or body, plus He will provide a ban/uet o" blessings right in "ront o" those enemies! /ou anoint my head with oil; A chosen one was anointed with oil. We are God7chosen. 0y cu# runs over" We are blessed because God doesn)t ust give us enough to barely get along in this li"e1 He gives us more than enough, so we can be a blessing to others. %urely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life;

And . will dwell in the house of the Lord forever" &he Ampli"ied (ible states so beauti"ully what this (lessing 3salm provides that $ want you to read it all the way through out loud. (e"ore each verse, say -$ am blessed because.... -he Lord is my %he#herd )to feed, guide, and shield me*, . shall not lac " He ma es me lie down in )fresh, tender* green #astures; He leads me beside the still and restful waters" He refreshes and restores my life 'my self(; He leads me in the #aths of righteousness )u#rightness and right standing with Him 7 not for my earning it, but* for His name!s sa e" /es, though . wal through the )dee#, sunless* valley of the shadow of death, . will fear or dread no evil, for /ou are with me; /our rod )to #rotect* and /our staff )to guide*, they comfort me" /ou #re#are a table before me in the #resence of my enemies" /ou anoint my head with oil; my )brimming* cu# runs over" %urely 'or( only goodness, mercy, and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and through the length of days the house of the Lord )and His #resence* shall be my dwelling #lace" Glory to God! What other -religion. in the entire world can proclaim, as we do, every word o" blessing in those verses! $ have never understood how precious, lost souls can believe that a little "at idol or a cow or a monkey can bless them. %ur God is a blessing God, and He is willing and more than able to bless us!

I Am Blessed Because I Am For$#&en! 3salm 4!565 in the Ampli"ied states that we are blessed because God """forgives )every one
o"B all your iniquities" God is a "orgiving ,ather. $n verse 4= it says, As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. &here is only one thing that God can "orget. ..and that is your sins. 3salm 5=64, = says, Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered" Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not im#ute iniquity, and in whose s#irit there is no deceit" God doesn)t keep a record o" our sins or our "ailures. $n &he 9iving (ible, 3salm 5= e*presses the blessing o" being "orgiven and really brings that blessing to a personal level6 What ha##iness for those whose guilt has been forgiven! What 1oys when sins are covered over! What relief for those who have confessed their sins and ,od has cleared their record" Have you ever e*perienced guilt! Guilt absolutely blocks your "aith, because when you "eel God always sees that ugly sin you committed, you "eel ashamed, and you don)t think you are worthy "or Him to do anything "or you. (ut when you go to God)s word, you "ind out that the very moment you repented, God cleared your record! $saiah 464C can really liberate you, because it says, though your sins are li e scarlet, they shall be

as white as snow" God will never hold any sin against you, no matter what it was. What ha##iness, what 1oy, what relief to learn that in God)s eyes you are not guilty!

Int#mately and O&erw"elm#n$ly Blessed

&here is a psalm which never "ails to minister to the innermost part o" my being. 3salm 45?6474! describes the passionate love God has "or every single man, woman or child who belongs to Him6 2 Lord, /ou have searched me and nown me" /ou now my sitting down and my rising u#; /ou understand my thought afar oft /ou com#rehend my #ath and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways" 3or there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, 0 Lord, /ou now it altogether" /ou have hedged me behind and before, and laid /our hand u#on me" %uch nowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, . cannot attain it" Where can . go from /our %#irit4 2r where can . flee from /our #resence4 .f . ascend into heaven, /ou are there; if . ma e my bed in hell, behold, /ou are there" .f . ta e the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost #arts of the sea, even there /our hand shall lead me, and /our right hand shall hold me" +ou are blessed because God has laid His hand upon you. $n (ible times, when a "ather or a priest laid their hands on someone, that was a signi"icant, li"elong blessing conveyed to that person. God has laid His own hand upon you to bless you.

&here is no place you can go that you can "lee "rom the presence o" God. Even i" you had wings to "ly to the "arthest shore o" the "arthest sea, you could not get away "rom God)s watch"ul eye over you. His right hand will always be stretched out to you, to lead you, to draw you, to pull you into the sweetness o" His presence. He will never let you get away "rom Him. &here is something else that is precious in that scripture. God knows you so intimately and is so personally involved in your li"e that not only does He know where you are and what you)re doing, and where you are going to be tomorrow, but He understands you. He knows your innermost thoughts, your deepest concerns. He knows your hurts, your con"usion, your goals and your victories. 3eople pay "ortunes to psychiatrists who really know nothing at all, compared to God)s understanding o" you. &he di""erence is, along with His per"ect understanding, God loves you! What an incredible blessing "or each o" us to be able to say6 -&he Creator o" the universe knows me personally.. -God understands me, even my innermost thoughts.. -God knows where $)ve been and where $)m going.. -God has laid His hand upon me.. -God never lets me out o" His sight.. -God always holds out His hand to lead me.. -God)s right hand holds me..

>ead the same verses in the 9iving (ible out loud, because this is your personal blessing "rom God6 2 Lord, /ou have e+amined my heart and now everything about me" /ou now when . sit or stand" When far away, you now my every thought" /ou chart the #ath ahead of me and tell me where to sto# and rest" $very moment you now where . am" /ou now what . am going to say before . even say it" /ou both #recede and follow me, and #lace your hand of blessing on my head" -his is too glorious, too wonderful to believe! . can never be lost to your %#irit! . can never get away from my ,od! .f . go u# to heaven, you are there; if . go down to the #lace of the dead, you are there" .f . ride the morning winds to the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, your strength will su##ort me" As $ am writing this, $ am sitting here thinking about how blessed $ am, and $ am so overwhelmed with the incredible love o" God that $ can hardly stand it! $ am blessed! +ou are blessed! What relationship, what "ellowship can compare to what is o""ered to us by our loving heavenly ,ather! We are blessed!

Blessed '#t" (tren$t" )or Battle

3salm 4DD is a warring psalm. 9i"e isn)t always calm. &o every believer there comes times o" battle, whether it is "rom the enemy or sudden upheavals in our lives. God is all we need. He blesses us in those times with special power and strength.

Blessed be the Lord my 5oc , Who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle 7 my loving indness and my fortress, my high tower and my deliverer, my shield and the 2ne in whom . ta e refuge" &hank the 9ord "or his promises "or trying times6 God is our immovable rock. God gives us strength and skill in battle. God is our "ortress. God is our tower o" strength. God is our sa"ety. God is our deliverer. &he 9ord God stands be"ore us as a shield. $n =!!8, Charles and $ were in the midst o" planning "or a glorious Healing E*plosion which God had told us many years be"ore would take place in the Astrodome. We never had so many things come against us at once in our entire li"e. At one point we were both in the hospital, "lat on our backs. Even though we led doctors and nurses to 'esus and prayed "or healing "or lots o" people, we wanted to get back home and back in the o""ice. (ut instead o" going home, we both were moved into a rehabilitation hospital to regain our strength. We could have called the Healing E*plosion o"" and said, -Well, we)re ust getting old, and $ guess God can)t use us anymore1 let someone else do it.. (ut God has shown us over and over that He is much bigger than our needs! We ust had to press in and stand on the word o" God. When we don)t have the strength, the word o" God promises that He is our tower o" strength! He is our immovable rock! He is our deliverer!

We were both on the stage at that phenomenal Astrodome Healing E*plosion, along with all our "amily, guest ministries "rom all over the world, and an auditorium "illed with believers who swarmed out to lay hands on the sick like bees swarm to honey. God had given us a prophetic word, and when we needed help "rom heaven, He provided all the power we needed to stand "irm until the mani"estation o" our victory! Eiracles took place! 9ives were changed! Einistries were birthed! 3salm 4C647=, 5475= is another blessing "or strength and power6 . will love /ou, O Lord, my strength" -he Lord is my roc and my fortress and my deliverer, 0y ,od, my strength, in whom . will trust; 0y shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold" 3or who is ,od, e+ce#t the Lord4 And who is a roc , e+ce#t our ,od4 .t is ,od who arms me with strength, and ma es my way #erfect"6 3roclaim your blessing!

%ra#se and *a$n#)y God )or H#s Incred#+le ,o&e

&he blessings o" God touch every part o" our li"e and every need we could possibly have. Every blessing is simply an e*pression o" His love. As we saw in 3salm 45?, there is the intimate, gentle, cherishing love o" God that makes us know we are valuable to Him. We read in 3salms and $saiah about the complete "orgiveness and wiping away o" all o" our sins that shows His compassion. &hen, "or those really challenging times in our li"e, there is

the authoritative, power"ul, protective love which makes us ready "or battle. %ur hearts should be over"lowing with praise "or such immeasurable love and kindness and provision. 3salm 4D8 is an e*ample o" an attitude o" heart"elt thanksgiving and gratitude. $n the Ampli"ied, it says, . will e+tol /ou, my ,od, O 7ing; and . will bless /our name forever and ever )with grateful, affectionate #raise*" $very day )with its new reasons* will . bless /ou )affectionately and gratefully #raise /ou*; yes, . will #raise /our name forever and ever" 0id you ever send someone a gi"t 7 a relative or a "riend or someone in need : and they never bothered to respond! 0id you keep wondering i" they received their package, or i" they appreciated what you had sent! Would you agree that a lack o" response could rob you o" some o" the oy you had in blessing them, or even make you "eel reluctant to bless them anymore! %n the other hand, did you ever do something nice "or someone and they responded with such a sincere e*pression o" gratitude that you couldn)t wait to bless them again! $ believe that God)s nature is so generous and so giving that He would do absolutely anything in His power to bless someone who recogniAes what He has done and is thank"ul. &here are new reasons every day to praise God! 3salm 4D8, in the Ampli"ied, continues to speak o" the kind and merci"ul nature o" our loving God. 9et

each verse prompt a real con"ession o" thanksgiving! C -he Lord is gracious and full of com#assion, slow to anger and abounding in mercy and loving8 indness" 3raise God because He is not mad at us! 9 -he Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His wor s )the entirety of things created*" #ometimes $ ust meditate on the "act that God is a good God and how blessed we are that He is so willing to cover us with un"ailing tenderness and mercy. 4D -he Lord u#holds all those Fo" His own* who are falling and raises u# all those who are bowed down" What a oy that when we are weak, God reaches out to help us and li"ts us up out o" our "ailures. 48 -he eyes of all wait for /ou )loo ing, watching, and e+#ecting* and /ou give them their food in due season" 3raise God that we have plenty to eat and do not have to go hungry. 4G /ou o#en /our hand and satisfy every living thing with favor" God is not tight7"isted1 He is generous! What a oy that He e*tends special "avor not ust to us but to all our household, and He desires to "ill the entire world with his blessings. 4H -he Lord is )rigidly* righteous in all His ways and gracious and merciful in all His wor s" We can trust and depend on a God who is per"ectly righteous. We can be con"ident that He will never lie or disappoint us. 4C -he Lord is near to all who call u#on Him, to all who call u#on Him sincerely and in truth" We

are never alone! God never "ails to hear us when we call on Him! 4? He will fulfill the desires of those who reverently and worshi#fully fear Him; He also will hear their cry and will save them" God is "aith"ul to bless us when we worship Him. $n the (eatitudes, 'esus said, :Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled6 ;Eatthew 86G<. %ne o" the promises o" God is that He will "ul"ill the hunger and thirst that you have "or Him and His righteousness. &hat is e*actly what God is going to do to you through this book. +ou are going to grow in "aith, you are going to grow in your knowledge o" the nature o" God, and +ou are going to grow in gratitude and praise to Him "or all o" His blessings. 3salm 4DG64, in the 9iving (ible, says6 ;raise the Lord! /es, really #raise him! . will #raise him as long as . live, yes, even with my dying breath" 9et that be your li"elong con"ession! $t continues, But ha##y is the man who has the ,od of <acob as his hel#er, whose ho#e is in the Lord his ,od""" He is the ,od who ee#s every #romise, and gives 1ustice to the #oor and o##ressed, and food to the hungry" He frees the #risoners and o#ens the eyes of the blind; he lifts the burdens from those bent down beneath their loads" 3or the Lord loves good men" He #rotects the immigrants, and cares for the or#hans and widows" But he turns to#sy8turvy the #lans of the wic ed"

Blessed '#t" (-#r#tual Bless#n$s

God made us with a body, a soul and a spirit. &he previous pages concentrate on many o" the blessings He has provided "or our body and our soul, which is our thinking, our attitudes and our emotions. (ut we are spiritual beings, as well. %nce 'esus ascended into heaven, and the apostles were "illed with the Holy #pirit, a whole new dimension o" spiritual awakening took place. We are spiritually blessed beyond anything Adam or $saiah or 0avid could ever have imagined. &he book o" Ephesians is what $ o"ten re"er to as the wild book o" the (ible. &he promises in Ephesians are really earth shaking and almost beyond the scope o" the human mind to understand. Ephesians 465 says, He has blessed us with every s#iritual blessing in the heavenly #laces in =hrist" $n the 9iving (ible, it says, How we #raise ,od, the 3ather of our Lord <esus =hrist, who has blessed us with every blessing in heaven because we belong to =hrist" $ love the Ampli"ied, which points out the ministry o" the Holy #pirit, saying, Who has blessed us in =hrist with every s#iritual 'Holy %#irit given( blessing in the heavenly realm! When $ began to think about those words and what they promise, $ couldn)t wait to get every single one o" those Holy #pirit blessings! Ierses D7C in the 9iving (ible are beauti"ul and li"e changing6 Long ago, even before he made the world, ,od chose us to be his very own, through what =hrist would do for us1 he decided then to ma e us holy in

his eyes, without a single fault 7 we who stand before him covered with his love" His unchanging #lan has always been to ado#t us into his own family by sending <esus =hrist to die for us. And he did this because he wanted to! >ow all #raise to God for his wonderful indness to us and his favor that he has #oured out u#on us, because we belong to his dearly loved %on" %o overflowing is his indness towards us that he too away all our sins through the blood of his %on, by whom we are saved; and he has showered down u#on us the richness of his grace 7 for how well he understands us and nows what is best for us at all times" $t has always been amaAing to me that God chose to make us "aultless and holy by taking His sinless #on and trans"erring all o" our sins onto Him, and then taking all o" 'esus) virtue and trans"erring it to us. $" you cannot visualiAe that in your head, picture two little test tubes, or two vials like you would see in a chemistry laboratory. %ne represents 'esus and the other represents you. %ne vial is absolutely pure and sinless. &he other is murky and contaminated with all your sins. God took the sinless vial, which is Christ, and He dumped all o" your nasty sins right into that vial. &hen He "illed you with the spotless purity o" Christ. How we should always praise and glori"y Him "or such kindness and mercy. %ne thing $ love to do is make every promise in Ephesians personal, because it is so power"ul. As we digest theses verses, put your name in every

phrase and see what it does to you when you read your blessing out loud! Long ago, even before he made the world, ,od chose '#ut your name( to be his very own, through what =hrist would do for 'your name(; he decided then to ma e 'your name( holy in his eyes, without a single fault" . 'your name( stand before ,od covered with His love" 'ust stop there "or a moment and let the #pirit o" God make that a living reality inside o" you. $" that were the only blessing in the entire (ible, it would be enough to praise God throughout all eternity! $t is almost beyond the capabilities o" my "inite mind to understand that God in His love and His grace and His mercy was willing to choose me, and to make me holy in His eyes without a single "ault. &oday $ stand be"ore Him covered with His love. +ou are chosen1 you are holy in His eyes without a single "ault1 you are standing be"ore Him covered with His love. 0oesn)t this knowledge thrill you beyond the ability to e*press it in words! Ierse 8 says, His unchanging #lan has always been to ado#t us into his own family by sending <esus =hrist to die for us. And he did this because he wanted to! 'ust think, God let 'esus die "or us because He wanted to. 2ot because He had to, but because He wanted to.

A New B#rt" Cert#)#cate

Ierse 8 in the Ampli"ied says, 3or He foreordained us 'destined us, #lanned in love for

us( to be ado#ted )revealed* as His own children through <esus =hrist, in accordance with the #ur#ose of His will 7 because it #leased Him and was His ind intent" Whenever $ think about anybody adopting somebody, or $ think about us being adopted into the "amily o" God, $ probably understand it as well as anybody does, because o" what happened in my marriage to Charles. When $ married Charles, $ had a si*teen7year7old daughter. &he "irst thing that Charles said to me was, -$ want to adopt 'oan.. $ said, -Well, you will have to ask 'oan,. because $ "elt the decision had to rest with her. %ne o" the most e*citing things that ever happened in 'oan)s li"e was when Charles Hunter said to her, -$ want to adopt you.. He did not have to adopt her, but he said, -$ want to adopt you.. 'oan came to Houston about a month a"ter Charles and $ were married, because she wanted to "inish her term o" school in Eiami where we lived at that time. #he then arrived in Houston1 and Charles wanted so badly "or 'oan to be his own daughter that we immediately made an appointment with a udge in the Courthouse downtown. (e"ore 'oan ever got to see or meet anybody in the Houston area, we stood be"ore a udge, and her name was changed to 'oan Hunter. Even though that happened "orty years ago, $ still cannot share that story without remembering the love that Charles "elt. He said, -$ do not want 'oan ever to be known as anybody e*cept my very own..

$n the state o" &e*as, you have to be a resident "or si* months be"ore an adoption can go through1 and at the end o" si* months, we went to Court again. &he Court had investigated us and decided that Charles was a proper "ather "or 'oan, so the adoption was granted. %nce adopted into Charles) "amily, by &e*as law, she has every right and every privilege and every honor o" being Charles) daughter1 and everything that belongs to Charles Hunter also belongs to 'oan. $n &e*as, once they "inaliAe the adoption, the original birth certi"icate, which shows the name o" 'oan)s natural "ather, is buried. $t is under lock and key, and the only person who can ever get that certi"icate out is 'oan, hersel". Even $ cannot get her original birth certi"icate. Her legal birth certi"icate shows6 Eother : ,rances Hunter1 ,ather : Charles Hunter. $ think that is really incredible, because $ did not even know Charles when 'oan was born1 but her birth certi"icate has as her natural "ather, Charles Edward Hunter. Charles is now 'oan)s "ather. Everything he has belongs to 'oan, because he chose to make her his very own. He did not have to1 he chose because he wanted to. 2ow you can understand the love o" God when He chose to adopt you. God did not have to choose me, and God did not have to choose you. God chose us because He wanted to. However, there was another condition to the adoption process o" God adopting each o" us 7 He had to allow 'esus to die, so that precious blood would make the adoption complete. 2verflowing in his indness towards us that he too away all our

sins through the blood of his %on, by whom we are saved '$#hesians ?: @(" 0id you ever try to total up all the things that have ever been sin in your li"e, and then consider the "act that God took them all away. $ would never want to try and list everything that He has "orgiven me "or 7 the list would be so long it would be depressing. How can we possibly understand the "ullness o" such love and such kindness toward us, that God removed all o" our sins through the blood o" his own #on, so we could be His. &he blood o" 'esus wrote us a new (irth Certi"icate.

("owers o) Bless#n$s &he "irst chapter o" Ephesians has such revelation o" the love o" God "or us that it is beyond
one)s ability to describe. What con"idence we can have in such a ,ather. God never intended to be distant and impersonal. His desire was intimacy with his "amily. ,rom the very beginning, knowing man would be unable to live a sinless li"e, He planned "or the blood o" 'esus to make that intimate "ellowship once again possible. Ierse C says, And he has showered down u#on us the richness of his grace 7 for how well he understands us and nows what is best for us at all times" Grace can be likened to God)s kindness, good will, or "avor. $sn)t it wonder"ul to have the good will o" God to help you through every situation in your li"e!

God doesn)t measure out his grace with a teaspoon. Ephesians says that He showers upon us the richness o" his grace. >ich means plenty, doesn)t it! When God showers down his grace upon you, you are completely saturated! As a child walking home "rom school, sometimes the sky, which in the morning was bright and sunny, would darken with clouds in the a"ternoon. &hen the thunder would roll, and there $ would be, caught without my raincoat or umbrella. $ would arrive home drenched to the bone 7 socks shoes, everything! &he showers o" grace that God pours upon us are intended to soak us! His grace will li"t you above the things o" this world. Ierse C continues, 3or how well he understands us and nows what is best for us at all times" $sn)t it e*citing to know how well God understands you! $sn)t this a beauti"ul picture o" someone who really cares deeply about you! %nly someone who is genuinely interested in and who is capable o" understanding every single "acet o" your li"e, can know e*actly what is best "or you. Haven)t you wondered at times, in this situation or that situation, what would be the best thing "or you! And then you dilly7dallied back and "orth trying to make up your mind. $ am blessed, and you are blessed, because God knows what is the very best o" all options "or everything that concerns us. All we have got to do is walk with Him moment by moment, and the best will become reality. &he apostle 3aul had to be totally in the Holy #pirit when he wrote to the Ephesians, because no

human mind could have e*pressed so "ully the heart o" God towards his children. 0id you ever wonder what God)s reason was "or sending Christ! We know that the blood o" 'esus was shed to provide "orgiveness o" our sins. We know God wanted to adopt us into His "amily because o" His great love "or us. (ut that wasn)t the end o" God)s plan! Ierses ? and 4! tell us even more6 ,od has told us his secret reason for sending =hrist, a #lan he decided on in mercy long ago; and this was his #ur#ose: that when the time is ri#e he will gather us all together from wherever we are 7 in heaven or on earth 7 to be with him in =hrist, forever" 2o more night or day! 2o more time pressures to worry about! 2o cares! What a oy to look "orward to 7 the privilege o" being with Him in heaven "or eternity! Ierse 44 says, 0oreover, because of what =hrist has done we have become gifts to ,od that he delights in, for as #art of God)s sovereign #lan we were chosen from the beginning to be his, and all things ha##en 1ust as he decided long ago" $ will have to be honest with you. $ cannot think o" anything about me that God might want as a gi"t. +et, His word says that, because o" what Christ has done, ,rances Hunter has become a gi"t to God that He delights in. 3ut your name in there! #ince God)s word says that you became a gi"t to God, this is a wonder"ul promise you can claim. $" that promise doesn)t blow your mind, ust look at what verse 4C says ;&9(<6

. #ray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can see something of the future he has called you to share" . want you to realiAe that God has been made rich because we who are =hrist!s have been given to him! &his is a blessing o" God that is totally beyond my comprehension. (ut, you don)t have to understand it1 ust accept it. God has been made rich because you belong to Christ and you have been given to Him. When $ "irst considered that verse, all $ could think o" was, -God, how could +ou be made rich because o" me!. What incredible love that, when we were living in sin, God missed us so much, and He wanted us so much, that once we accepted 'esus and were adopted into God)s "amily, He "elt that He became rich. $ "eel that it is we who became rich. (ut God says that He became rich! Even though we are not capable o" understanding such mercy, we can oy"ully accept it! Glory to God "or His spiritual blessings. Adoption into the "amily o" God with all rights and privileges is ust the beginning. #howers o" grace which make us gi"ts to God is almost beyond comprehension. &he depth o" God)s understanding "or each o" us and His desire to work out "or us his very best plan are "ar beyond human ability. %ur entrance into God)s "amily making the Creator o" the entire universe rich : all $ can do is thank and praise God "or all He has considered and prepared "or each one o" us. Ra#sed U- From (-#r#tual Deat"

%nce in a while we tend to "orget what we were be"ore we met 'esus. 2ot everyone has the same background, but we all have been sinners o" one kind or another. $ do not believe that, in God)s eyes, one sin is worse than another. While some people are wicked in the world)s eyes through drinking, drugs and carousing around, others are e/ually wicked in God)s eyes because o" their critical attitude, their inability to tell the truth, or many other -little Christian sins.. &he (ible says that we all started out the same 7 separated "rom God by our sin"ul nature. Ephesians =6D7G in the 9iving (ible says, But ,od is so rich in mercy; he loved us so much that even though we were s#iritually dead and doomed by our sins, he gave us bac our lives again when he raised =hrist from the dead 7 only by his undeserved favor have we ever been saved 7 and lifted us u# from the grave into glory along with =hrist where we sit with him in the heavenly realms 7 all because of what =hrist <esus did" &he Ampli"ied says that we were dead )slain* by )our own* shortcomings and tres#asses" +ou see, sin is sin, whether we regard it as murder, lying, or shortcomings : any "ailure to live a li"e o" godly per"ection. We can never "orget where we came "rom because, no matter how saintly we thought we were, until we were covered by the blood o" 'esus, we were dead in our sin. &here was not hope "or us. And then, to think that God saw us in our spiritually dead state, and the moment we were saved, He li"ted us right up to sit alongside o" Him and 'esus! Even though we are in this world,

we are not o" this world. We sit in the heavenly realm day by day. Whoever thought li"e could be this "abulous!

H#s %ower '#t"#n You &here are so many glorious blessing promises o" God that we could ust go "or days and
days on a spiritual "east and "orget all about physical "ood, couldn)t we! &hese spiritual blessings are so e*citing that $ want you to meditate on them over and over, because they really will e*plode in your spirit when you get to truly understand what God has done "or you. Ephesians 564H7=4 is so e*citing that the "irst time $ ever read this passage, $ wrote -W%W. alongside o" it. &hat is how $ "elt then1 and today this is still a -W%W. scripture "or me. %ne o" the "irst things that God said to me through His Holy Word was that He wanted to live in and through me. $ o"ten wondered how God could want to live in and through such an imper"ect vessel as $ am, but His word says so, and $ believe it because He said it. &he 9iving (ible says6 And . #ray that =hrist will be more and more at home in your hearts, living within you as you trust in him" Colossians 46=H re"ers to =hrist in you, the ho#e of glory" 'esus is in you. +ou don)t have to struggle. &he 9ord lives in you" 0ay your roots go down dee# into the soil of ,od!s marvelous love; and may you be able to feel and understand, as all God)s children should, how long, how wide, how dee#, and how high his love really is; and to e+#erience this love for yourselves, though it is so great that you will never see the end of it or fully now or understand it"

#ay this amaAing blessing! -$ am blessed because God)s presence is not ust with me : He is present within me! $ am blessed because my spiritual roots are growing right down into the soil o" God)s marvelous love. $ am blessed that God)s love "or me is so great it can)t be measured. $ am blessed that $ will never see the end o" God)s love "or me!. Ephesians 564? gives us the incredible promise6 And so at last you will be filled u# with ,od himself" 3ut your name right into that promise. And so at last, ;your name< will be filled u# with ,od himself" &he "irst time $ put my name in that scripture, $ "ound it impossible to comprehend that the God who created the universe, the God who hung the stars in place, the God who was and is all in all, promised ,rances Hunter that one day $ would be "illed up all the way to the top with God Himsel"! Who would dare to ask "or such a thing! (ut it was God)s own idea. +ou don)t have to understand why, or how. God has a desire to "ill each one o" us up and He will one day do it! >ow glory be to God who by his mighty #ower at wor within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to as or even dream of 7 in finitely beyond our highest #rayers, desires, thoughts or ho#es" 0ay he be given glory forever and ever through endless ages because of his master #lan of salvation for the church through <esus =hrist" W%W! $ cannot imagine the "ull implications o" this promise. God)s presence within you means

God)s power is within you! 3ut your name in that scripture6 >ow glory be to God, who by his mighty #ower at wor within 'your name( is able to do far more than 'your name( would ever dare to as or even dream of" God is able to do through each and every one o" us more than our highest prayers, desires, thoughts or hopes! We are limited in our natural sel"1 our own natural abilities are insu""icient to do much good "or the 9ord. (ut God chose us to do great and mighty things. He provides supernatural power working through us, so that He can accomplish, through his very own children, "ar more than our limited desires and hopes and abilities could ever accomplish. &here was a little boy brought to our service who was so severely crippled with cerebral palsy that he had never walked in his li"e. &here was absolutely nothing that Charles or ,rances Hunter could do "or that little boy. (ut $ held him in my arms and asked the power o" God to go through me into his body to heal him and make him totally well. $ have to be honest with you. &he day $ held 'e""ie in my arms in 9ouisville, Jentucky, $ knew it would have to be God, because this was "ar beyond what $ could have dared to dream o". When $ asked God to send His power through me into this child)s body, $ put him down on his "eet and said, -'e""ie, run in 'esus) name!. 'e""ie)s legs began to move, and he ran all the way to the end o" the church as "ast as he could. 2ot only did he receive the power to run, but he also began to grow normally, and

even his shoe siAe increased 5 siAes in the ne*t year! Glory to God! &he book o" Colossians is one o" the most e*citing books in the (ible, because many o" the truths : the real nitty7gritty secrets : o" Christian living are provided "or us, so that we can apply those truths to our lives. Colossians 46?74! is a passage that is an insight"ul prayer "or believers. $n the 9iving (ible, it says6 %o ever since we first heard about you we have e#t on #raying and as ing ,od to hel# you understand what he wants you to do; as ing him to ma e you wise about s#iritual things; and as ing that the way you live will always #lease the Lord and honor him, so that you will always be doing good, ind things for others, while all the time you are learning to now ,od better and better" 0o you believe God is able to answer that prayer "or you! $ do! $" you are willing to soak up His word and apply what you learn to your li"e, say this6 -$ am blessed because God helps me understand what He wants me to do. -$ am blessed because God makes me wise about spiritual things. -$ am blessed because my heart)s desire is to please and honor the 9ord. -$ am blessed because God gives me opportunities to bless others. -$ am blessed because $ am learning to know God better and better..

At %eace '#t" God

3eople in the world who are not Christians are trying constantly to appease whatever god they believe in. &hey are taught that they are like worms in the dirt, and their god is out to get them, unless they do things to make him, or it, happy. &hey go through ritual a"ter ritual, but they never arrive at true peace. Colossians 46=!7=5 in the 9iving (ible is especially clear on the per"ect peace that 'esus) shed blood provides "or us6 .t was through what his #on did that ,od cleared a #ath for everything to come to him 7 all things in heaven and on earth 7 for =hrist!s death on the cross has made #eace with ,od for all by his blood" -his includes you who were once so far away from ,od" $sn)t it incredible to think that, in spite o" all our "umbling around and messing up over and over in our lives, God Himsel" cleared a path "or everything, "or everyone, to come to Him! We, who once ran "rom God, now have peace with God. /ou were his enemies and hated him and were se#arated from him by your evil thoughts and actions, yet now he has brought you bac as his friends" He has done this through the death on the cross of his own human body, and now as a result =hrist has brought you into the very #resence of ,od, and you are standing there before him with nothing left against you 7 nothing left that he could even chide you for; this is the wonderful news that came to each of you and is now s#reading all over the world"

'ust picture in your mind that, because o" 'esus o""ering his own human body, regardless o" what you have done, He has brought you into the very presence o" God, and you are standing there with nothing le"t against you that He could even chide you "or. 2o one likes to get chided, do they! Even when we deserve it, and we think we are going to get reprimanded, we shrink down and want to disappear, don)t we! $sn)t it a relie" to know that, no matter what, God holds absolutely nothing against you and He)s not going to scold you! &here is a condition, however. All o" God)s blessings have conditions, and this one is a strict but e*citing one. Ierse =5 says, -he only condition is that you fully believe the -ruth, standing in it steadfast and firm, strong in the Lord, convinced of the ,ood 2ews that 'esus died for you, and never shifting from trusting him to save you" &he secret o" becoming a "riend o" God, standing in His presence, una"raid o" punishment, is that you "ully believe His word, that you remain stead"ast in your "aith in Him, and that you don)t shi"t or vary "rom your commitment to Him. #and shi"ts. +ou have seen it blown in the wind and completely disappear. 'esus said that a Christian is to be "ounded so "irmly in the word o" God that he never shi"ts1 he builds his li"e on the rock o" God)s word and does not waver. 3aul then says, And ., ;aul, have the 1oy of telling it to others" +ou are blessed because you have the oy o" sharing this Good 2ews o" 'esus.

+our peace with God enables you to share that peace with those who have no peace.

(ecrets )or No *ore (tru$$l#n$

#o o"ten, $ have been surprised to "ind out that many people who have walked the Christian road "or years and years have struggled "or victory. &hey have never discovered the very simple secret to a success"ul Christian li"e : that Christ lives in you, not around you, not up in heaven, but actually lives in and through you, as He does His work today in a body called Charles, ,rances, Eary, 'ames, 'oan and you" Colossians 46=G, =H ;&9(< says, He has e#t this secret for centuries and generations #ast, but now at last it has #leased him to tell it to those who love him and live for him, and the riches and glory of his #lan are for you ,entiles too" And this is the secret: that =hrist in your hearts is your only ho#e of glory" &he 2ew Jing 'ames says, """=hrist in you, the ho#e of glory" &he secret o" being born again is to know that you know that you know that 'esus Christ is living in you. &he minute that you are totally and completely aware and sold on the "act that 'esus lives in you, then you are going to be blessed, blessed, blessed, because you will believe that He can also work through you" Ierse =C and =? tell what we are to do with this wondrous knowledge that Christ lives in us, and how we can do it. &he 9iving (ible says, #o everywhere we go we tal about =hrist to all who

will listen, warning them and teaching them as well as we now how" We want to be able to #resent each one to ,od, #erfect because of what =hrist has done for each of them" -his is my wor , and . can do it only because =hrist!s mighty energy is at wor within me" &his mighty energy will work to give supernatural re"reshing to your body when you are using your body to glori"y Christ. Wherever Charles and $ go, we talk about Christ to everybody who will listen, and we can do it only because o" the marvelous energy o" 'esus working within us. Eany times, we have come close to being totally e*hausted, but then we are blessed when we minister to someone, and the mighty energy o" 'esus "lows through us again. &he mighty energy o" 'esus works in you physically, and it works in you spiritually. His energy is in you to help you live the Christian li"e without struggling, up one day and down the ne*t, sinning one day, repenting the ne*t. He lives in you so that the li"e you live will be a witness to everyone all around you who doesn)t know Christ yet. His mighty energy working within you is what will cause people to listen to the Gospel message you are sharing with them. Colossians =6G, in the 9iving (ible, tells us another secret "or our daily walk with Him6 And now 1ust as you trusted =hrist to save you, trust him, too, for each day)s #roblems; live in vital union with him" Let your roots grow down into him and draw u# nourishment from him" #ee that you go on growing in the Lord, and become strong and

vigorous in the truth you were taught" Let your lives overflow with 1oy and than sgiving for all he has done" &he (ible speaks o" plants and roots many times. $t is so simple to understand what a plant needs in order to grow strong and productive6 good soil, pure water, and absence o" weeds which would draw away its strength. 'esus said that He is living water. He is the vine, and we are the branches. $" we are in vital union with him, we don)t struggle1 we ust receive His strength "lowing into us. $" our roots grow into the rich soil o" His word, we draw up the spiritual nutrition that we need "or each day)s problems. Weeds are the cares o" the world. $" we live in vital union with Him, the cares o" the world don)t overwhelm us. Ierse H ended with6 Let your lives overflow with 1oy and than sgiving for all he has done" &his is one o" the most power"ul secrets to a li"e o" victory. Have you ever noticed that the Christians you want most to be around are those who have a spirit o" oy and thanksgiving! $ believe every Christian should be over"lowing with oy. $n reading through these pages and proclaiming all the blessing promises, your heart and your mouth should literally be bursting with oy and thanksgiving. A victorious Christian li"e does not mean a li"e without problems. (ut, what a di""erence it makes when you have the answer be"ore you have the problems! When $ was in school, $ made tremendous grades in math. $ never cared how many problems

there were on the math test because $ always had the answer. However, when the test was in history, $ didn)t do as well, because history was not one o" my best sub ects, and $ did not always have the answers in history. $ heard someone once say, -'esus is the answer1 what is your problem!. +ou are not in such deep trouble i" you have the answer be"ore you ever get the problem. 3roblems come. (ut they will not get you down as long as you remember that you really have the answer. Another secret to a solid, oy"ul Christian li"e is avoiding the con"usion o" others who do not get their answers "rom the word o" God. Colossians =6C ;&9(< says, &on!t let others s#oil your faith and 1oy with their #hiloso#hies, their wrong and shallow answers built on men!s thoughts and ideas, instead of on what =hrist has said" $n the beginning stages o" my Christian li"e, there were many who said, -%h, $ was that enthused when $ "irst got saved, but you will get over it.. &hey did not understand what happened to me. When $ got saved, $ knew that $ knew $ was a new creature in Christ. Eany people thought the tremendous enthusiasm $ had when $ met 'esus would pass away be"ore long or wear o"". (ut, $ "all more deeply in love with Him every year, and $ am "ar more enthusiastic today than when $ accepted Christ as my #avior. &oday $ know much more than $ did yesterday. 2o wonder $ love Him so much more today. 3eople told me $ was too happy. #omeone actually said to me, -+ou can)t be a real Christian,

and it can)t be genuine, because you are too happy.. However, the more $ got into the word o" God, the more $ discovered to be happy about! &here is oy, oy, oy and there are blessings, blessings, and more blessings in the Christian li"e. %ver and over, 'esus mentions the "act that He wants our cup o" oy to over"low. As a matter o" "act, the word 1oy appears in the (ible one hundred si*ty7"our times! 0on)t let anyone rob you.

F#lled '#t" God

God wants us to really get hold o" the "act that when we are born again, something beyond human e*planation happens. $t)s all God, and it)s all about us. Colossians =64!, in the 9iving (ible, says, #o you have everything when you have =hrist, and you are filled with ,od through your union with =hrist" He is the highest 5uler, with authority over every other #ower" 0o you truly believe that you have everything when you have Christ! $" you really believe the (ible is true, how could you help but stay on a mountain top with this type o" in"ormation, which is given to you directly by God Himsel". $" you ever took a course on logic, you would go right through the ceiling when you grasp the "ullness o" this passage. ,irst, Christ is in you. &hen, you are "illed with God. He is the highest >uler, with authority over every other power. &hus, you are "illed with authority over every other power. Glory to God! &he devil can)t touch you. &he devil can)t make you sin. &he devil can)t

control your li"e. Christ, the highest >uler over every other power lives in you, abides in you, and God "ills you. All the devil can do is run, run, run away "rom you. 3hilippians 46G is a glorious promise that every one o" us should ust shout praise and thanks to God "or putting it in the (ible6 Being confident of this very thing, that He who began a good wor in you will com#lete it until the day of <esus =hrist" &he Ampli"ied adds6 7 right u# to the time of His return 7 develo#ing fthat good wor * and #erfecting it and bringing it to full com#letion" Are we not blessed to have such reassurance that God knows we are going to need His help right up until His plan "or us is "inished. He is not going to let us go out and "lounder in the world again. He is absolutely committed to us, to help us grow until His work in us is completed or until 'esus returns, and then we will be per"ected. 3hilippians =645 goes right along with God)s promise to complete His work in you. 3or it is ,od who wor s in you both to will and to do for His good #leasure" 3raise God that He knows we can)t really obey Him without the -want to,. and He even helps us by putting the -want to. inside us! 3hilippians D6G is another blessing promise that will absolutely save a lot o" people "rom an early grave, i" they will apply what the word o" God says. Be an+ious for nothing, but in everything by #rayer and su##lication, with than sgiving, let your requests be made nown to ,od; and the #eace of

,od, which sur#asses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through =hrist <esus" &he number one health problem today is an*iety. #tress. Worry. 3eople develop heart problems, digestive problems, immune problems, cancer, arthritis, and we could go on and on, because o" stress. &he 9iving (ible says, &on!t worry about anything"""#ray"""and than him for his answers" $ wonder how many people would be living physically healthy lives today i" they took this prescription daily be"ore they worried themselves into ulcers or high blood pressure or many other problems. 0on)t worry. 3ray. &hank Him now. 3hilippians D645 says, . can do all things through =hrist who strengthens me" &he Ampli"ied says, . have strength for all things in =hrist Who em#owers me 7 . am ready for anything and equal to anything""" &here have been many times when $ "elt so tired that $ thought $ could not possibly go on any longer. &here have been many times when Charles) and my schedule was so grueling that $ "elt, in the natural, there was no way $ could stay on my "eet "or another service. +et, the minute we stood up in "ront o" a congregation, the anointing o" God "ell, and there was no doubt whatsoever that we could do everything God asked us to do. Why! (ecause o" the help o" Christ who gives us the strength and power we need "or the task be"ore us. God never asks you to do more than He will give you the strength and the power to do.

%ro&#s#on )or Us to Rece#&e Our Bless#n$s

$sn)t it incredible that when God provided "or our salvation, He also planned "or all the spiritual gi"ts and power that we would need "or the rest o" our lives! +ou and $ have so many blessings that we really need to keep the word o" God be"ore us, so that we don)t miss out on anything. &he devil takes advantage o" spiritual ignorance. We have to know and claim our blessing promises, and then we have to resist the devil, because his worst nightmare is a Holy #pirit7"illed Christian who knows who they are in Christ 'esus and who knows how to apply all the authority and power available through 'esus living in them. $ Corinthians 46H says, %o that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord <esus =hrist" God has provided all we need to not "all short or lacking o" anything we need to live victoriously until 'esus returns. &he 9iving (ible says, >ow you have every grace and blessing; every s#iritual gift and #ower for doing His will are yours during this time of waiting for the return of our Lord 'esus =hrist" 0oing the will o" God is what releases the blessings in our li"e. 'ust think what love He has bestowed on us, "or God has provided every spiritual gi"t and power so that we can do His will, and so we will not "ail to receive everything He has "or us. &here is a divine grace which operates in your soul by the Holy #pirit. &hat divine grace is

like a little antenna in your soul, constantly receiving signals through the Holy #pirit, to /uicken and alert you and keep you "ully capable o" obeying God. 2ot ust a little power is promised, but ever7 present spiritual power and every spiritual gi"t that you need are yours. ,or everything God plans to give you, and "or everything He will ever ask you to do, He has already made provision "or you to succeed and not "ail.

.sca-#n$ Tem-tat#on/s %ower

Have you ever had something happen to you and you think, -%h! $ am the only one in the world who ever gets plagued like this1 $ am the only Christian in the world who ever has wrong desires in my heart. Why can)t $ /uit having those desires!. Eany others have "aced e*actly the same problems that you are "acing. Christians are not immune "rom temptations. (ut no temptation is irresistible. +ou have a choice, and you can choose to trust God to provide the way o" escape "or you. $n some cases, He gives you power within yoursel" "rom the Holy #pirit. $n other cases, He may actually tell you to get away "rom the in"luence that is hounding you, to simply run in the other direction and close the door behind you. &he key is, you have to want to be "ree o" that problem. &hen God can help you, and He promised that He would do it. $ Corinthians 4!645 says, >o tem#tation has overta en you e+ce#t such as is common to man; but ,od is faithful, who will not allow you to be tem#ted beyond what you are able, but with the

tem#tation will also ma e the way of esca#e, that you maybe able to bear it" &he Ampli"ied e*plains more speci"ically that when you go through a temptation, He will )always* also #rovide the way out 7 the means of esca#e to a landing #lace 7 that you may be ca#able and strong and #owerful #atiently to bear u# under it" &o bear u# under it does not mean to -put up with it.. &o bear u# in this conte*t means to -not give in.. When you are plagued with a wrong thought or desire, God is "aith"ul to help you to resist the power o" that desire, i" you run to Him and not from Him. +ou are blessed because you can trust God to keep the temptation "rom becoming so strong within you that you cannot stand up against it. >emember who lives inside o" you. Christ lives in you. $t is not 'esus who is tempted1 it is your "lesh. +our "lesh has to do what you tell it to, in 'esus) name. +ou have the ability to command your thoughts to line up with the word o" God that you "eed on and put into your heart. &hat is why it is so important to soak up the word o" God, because the word has power "or you to overcome every type o" situation you will ever encounter. God is "aith"ul. He knows what you need to overcome in order to grow stronger spiritually. He will show you what to do to escape temptation)s power. +ou can rela*. = Corinthians 864H says, -herefore, if anyone is in =hrist, he is a new creation; old things have #assed away; behold, all things have become new"

When you receive 'esus as your 9ord and #avior, you are immediately a brand new person in God)s eyes. $t doesn)t take si* months or "ive years, or even until the day you are baptiAed. +ou are trans"ormed instantly. +our dead spirit is made alive. &he blood o" Christ has washed you clean. 'esus has begun to make His abode in your heart. &he Ampli"ied says, -herefore if any #erson is 'ingrafted( in =hrist, the 0essiah, he is 'a new creature altogether,( a new creation; the old '#revious moral and s#iritual condition( has #assed away" Behold, the fresh and new has come! 0id you ever see a tree that has had a little twig gra"ted into it! &hat little twig is "itted into a slit in the trunk o" a strong, adult tree. As time passes, the twig grows into a little limb, and then into a branch, and you cannot tell that it was ever gra"ted into the older tree : it has become a part o" it. We have been gra"ted into Christ, the Eessiah. %h, praise the 9ord. &hat)s how we are a new creation. We have been gra"ted into the 9ord 'esus Christ, and as we grow into Him and become a part o" Him, the day will come when no one will remember that we were ever not a part o" Him. &hose old plaguing thoughts, those wrong"ul desires, will pass away. We are gra"ted into one who is stronger than we are, and He is "aith"ul to provide all we need so that all things become new. $nstead o" irritation and "rustration, there will be peace1 instead o" hate, there will be love1 instead o" misery, there will be oy1 instead o" impatience, there will be patience and understanding. While we are overcoming the negative "orces o" our "lesh, we

are growing in the positive "orces o" the nature o" Christ in us.

T"at Old (#n)ul Nature #s Dead

When you accept the &ruth, the &ruth sets you "ree. +our li"e is a new creation. %ld things are passed away. &his miracle happens to your dead, sin"ul spirit immediately when you accept 'esus and turn your li"e over to Him. (ut your "lesh is a di""erent matter. +our "lesh, over the course o" time, grew accustomed to that old sin"ul nature, and this is why soaking yoursel" in the word o" God 7 reading, hearing, and speaking : is vital to retraining the "lesh and getting total "reedom in that area. $ 3eter =64G says, ;+ou are< """free, yet not using liberty as a cloa for vice, but as bondservants of God. $n those days, there were thousands o" laws put upon the 'ews. &he &en Commandments were God)s original laws, but the 3harisees interpreted the 9aw in such a way that there were so many restrictions and re/uirements and conse/uences that it was impossible "or anyone to keep all o" them. 3eter had to guide them with sound advice and let them know that, although they were "ree "rom the worrisome burden o" all those laws, they were not "ree to continue in sin. #ome people really get con"used when they are born again. &hey think, -%h, $ am saved now, $ can ust keep on sinning.. 2o! God has "orgiven the sin"ul nature, and covered you with the blood o" 'esus. (ut that does not mean you are "ree to do

wrong. As we stressed earlier, you are "ree "rom bondage, and you are "ree "rom the power o" sin over you. &he (ible says that in the end times, even the elect ;those who are saved< are going to be deceived and succumb to the enticement o" #atan. &he same spirit which made you "ree, also keeps you "rom wanting to do wrong. We do not have to bow down to our old, sin"ul nature and do what #atan wants us to. When the devil comes around and reminds you o" some o" the things that you used to do, and he makes it so enticing, you do not have to bow to #atan. +ou do not have to bow to that old sin"ul nature ever again. $n Galatians 864 K 45, 3aul realiAed the people needed to know they were "ree "rom the bondage o" the 9aw, but to be care"ul to not use that liberty as an e*cuse to start sinning again. $t says, %tand fast therefore in the liberty by which =hrist has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yo e of bondage" 3or you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an o##ortunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another" $" you obey 'esus by loving God "irst and then loving your neighbor as you love yoursel", you are not going to sin against anyone. $" you serve one another in love, you are not going to want to do anything to hurt them. +ou want to be a blessing to them. $" you are having trouble with your "lesh, speak the authority o" God)s word over it. +our "lesh will obey the word o" God when you speak it and mean it.

Call#n$ and %romot#on

= Corinthians 86=!7=4 tells why God has made us new creatures and why He is willing to help us to overcome all o" the old li"e as we begin our new li"e in Him. >ow then, we are ambassadors for =hrist, as though ,od were #leading through us6 we im#lore you on Christ)s behalf, be reconciled to God. 3or He made Him who new no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of ,od in Him" God)s plan "or us is "ar beyond what we could think or imagine. 2ot only does He want our lives to become brand new, "ruit"ul and prosperous, but He has an important assignment "or us. He needs ambassadors. What a promotion 7 "rom sinner to ambassador! An ambassador is a representative. A @nited #tates ambassador represents the @nited #tates o" America wherever they go throughout the world. &hey are chosen care"ully, because what they say and how they conduct themselves could mean blessing or disaster "or our nation. +ou and $ are representatives o" 'esus Christ. We are ambassadors "or Him to the world. $t is important that we deal with our "lesh, overcome those "ormer temptations, and learn to trust and obey the 9ord "or every detail o" our lives so that we represent 'esus with honor wherever we go. &he "irst impression someone has o" us is what will remain with them. &he lost person will udge Christians by the way we conduct ourselves.

9et)s be conscientious o" our promotion. &hank God that He is con"ident in you enough to make you an ambassador "or 'esus. +ou are blessed to be able to represent 'esus honorably wherever you go, to whomever you meet.

T"e Rewards Are Yours

%ne o" the most beauti"ul o" all the blessing scriptures is Eatthew G655. 'esus) "ollowers had many concerns ust like our own concerns. &he 9ord answered them, But see first the ingdom of ,od and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" What does it mean to seek the kingdom o" God! Are we to go around wandering aimlessly, hoping we will run into the kingdom o" God somewhere! &he Ampli"ied (ible gives a little more interpretation that helps us to understand what 'esus said. But see for 'aim at and strive after( first of all His ingdom, and His righteousness )His way of doing and being right*, and then all these things ta en together will be given you besides" We will success"ully seek and "ind the kingdom o" God i" we obey His Word. $ keep going back to the necessity o" spending times o" spiritual "easting on the word o" God, because the more o" His word that you put into your heart, the easier your Christian li"e will become, and the better ambassador you will be "or Him.

When you seek God)s righteousness, that is learning His way o" doing things, He is going to be pleased1 and when parents are pleased, they reward their children, don)t they! God is no di""erent in his attitude towards His children than an earthly parent, e*cept that He is "aultless and much more compassionate and merci"ul than any o" us could ever be. $ believe He is always looking "or ways to reward His children, because He loves us so much. When $ "irst became a Christian, $ started ministering right away, and God kept me busy. $ started a home "ellowship, wrote a book, and soon had speaking dates all over the place because $ wanted to tell everyone on the planet about 'esus. $ was so totally committed to the 9ord, and $ was so sold out, that $ "elt God had really called me to remain single and to be an evangelist and to travel all over the world. &hen $ met Charles Hunter. Charles and $ were brought together by the Holy #pirit, and we both knew it beyond a shadow o" a doubt. (ut $ did not understand at all how God could possibly give me a husband. &he "irst scripture God put in my heart was Eatthew G655. He said, -(ecause you have sought "irst Ey kingdom and Ey righteousness, all these things, including Charles, are going to be added unto you.. God not only gave me the most wonder"ul, e*citing and loving husband in the entire world, but gave us a ministry together that was beyond our wildest dreams. (ecause both Charles and $ were completely sold out to God, He multiplied our power and e""ectiveness in ministering to people all

over the world. He gave me more than $ could have asked or hoped "or. 0o you want a husband! 3ut God "irst in your li"e. 0o you want a promotion in your ob! 3ut God "irst in your li"e. 0o you want "riends! #eek the kingdom o" God and His righteousness. God will meet all o" your needs on any level, because He can)t wait to reward his children "or learning His way o" doing things and then putting it into action. Everybody has "inancial responsibilities. #ometimes they can seem to get overwhelming, and that is when we really need to learn how God can bless us. When $ was born again, the "irst place that God -got me. was my pocketbook, because He told me that the devil had controlled my money long enough and now He wanted it. $ had not been taught the word o" God on giving, and $ did not understand the principles o" God at all. $ gave because $ wanted to and because $ wanted to be obedient to Him. $ had "allen so in love with God that $ did not want anything "or mysel". $ wanted everything "or Him. $ gave and gave and gave. Giving was an e*pression o" love and praise "or all God had done "or me. @nknowingly, $ tapped into one o" the greatest truths in the (ible. God gave back to me so generously that $ had to turn around and give it back to Him, and then He gave back to me, in accordance with His word. We have had a running battle all o" the years $ have been a Christian, and $ have never been able to out7give Him! $n 9uke G65C 'esus says, :,ive, and it will be given to you: good measure, #ressed down, sha en together, and running over will be #ut into your

bosom" 3or with the same measure that you use, it will be measured bac to you"6 God returns to us using the same measure that we use to give to Him. $" we are generous, then He, by His word, has to be generous with us. &his not only applies to money1 it applies to your whole sel". $" you give yoursel" to God, then He, by His word, has to give Himsel" back to you. He gives you His nature, His presence, His power, plus His bounty, with the measure that you give yoursel" to Him. $ "eel that $ certainly have the best end o" that trade. How about you! Claim your reward now. &here is a tremendous reward "or giving yoursel" : your time, your will, your trust, your obedience 7 to God. God doesn)t ust look at your checkbook1 He is touched by all o" your giving in any way, when it is "rom your heart and soul. 'esus says in Eatthew 4?6=?, :And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for 0y name!s sa e, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life"6 2otice that it says -or. and not -and. between each o" the things that are given up, or made to be less in importance than God in your li"e. &he scripture doesn)t say everyone needs to give up all o" these things1 it ust means you have to be willing to. Eany people think the hundred"old is ust re"erring to money. $ have personally heard many testimonies o" the hundred"old return o" a love o""ering coming back in the "orm o" money. (ut there could also be a hundred"old return in many

other ways that God will determine with His divine wisdom. Also, notice, the promise is "or everyone, not ust a "ew here and there. God cherishes your desire to put Him above all others, and He is going to be "aith"ul to reward you. $ believe He has angels on assignment going here and there to do amaAing things on your behal".

T"e Bless#n$ o) Aut"or#ty

'esus said to the disciples in 9uke 4 !64?, :Behold, . give you the authority to tram#le on ser#ents and scor#ions, and over all the #ower of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you"6 What does the enemy do! 'esus said that :the thief does not come e+ce#t to steal, and to ill, and to destroy6 ;'ohn 4!64!<. %nce you are aware o" the authority that 'esus has given to you, and you e*ercise that authority in His 2ame, no longer does the enemy have any power over you. He can)t steal "rom you1 he can)t kill you1 he can)t destroy you. &ell the devil who you are in Christ. 3ut your authority into action.

%ros-er#ty o) t"e (oul

&he Word o" God is the only thing that can "eed your soul. 3hysical "ood won)t do a thing "or your soul. Eoney won)t do a thing "or your soul. +ou can be busy with all kinds o" activities : singing in the choir, praying with others, going out witnessing

7 and these activities, as good as they are, will not "eed your soul. 2othing replaces getting into the Word o" God. >omans 4!64H says, 3aith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of ,od" &he more you get to know God)s Word, and the more you say God)s Word aloud and con"ess your blessings in Him, the more "aith you are going to have. 'ohn H65H75C says, 2n the last day, that great day of the feast, <esus stood and cried out, saying, :.f anyone thirsts, let him come to 0e and drin " He who believes in 0e, as the %cri#ture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water"6 $ want you to notice something in the Ampli"ied. $t says, >ow on the final and most im#ortant day of the feast, <esus stood forth and He cried in a loud voice, :.f any man is thirsty, let him come to 0e and drin !6 Eost people think o" 'esus as being a /uiet, so"t7spoken man. He was both gentle and compassionate. (ut there were times when he made a loud noise with strong authority, so that people would pay attention. 'esus saw throngs o" spiritually thirsty people at that "east who didn)t know they could receive everything they needed i" they would ust turn to the %ne who o""ered living water. 'esus loved them. He cried out, calling them, yearning "or them to pay attention and believe on Him, to trust Him and to rely on Him. 'esus said that rivers, ever "resh springs o" living water, are going to "low through those who are thirsty and will believe on Him. &hat doesn)t mean ust a drop or two, or a little in the beginning and no more ever again, but a constant "low o"

living water which is the li"e o" God in man. #tay thirsty! 0on)t go through a desert in your li"e and "orget that rivers o" living water are available "or you to draw "rom. ,east on the word o" God and those springs o" water will keep you re"reshed and able to go through every circumstance with a "lood o" supernatural power. 'esus loved the people who were wandering about as i" they were in a daAe, looking "or something, they knew not what. He likened them to sheep without a shepherd. He wanted so much to become their shepherd that His heart ached with longing. 'ohn C64= says, -hen <esus s#o e to them again, saying, :. am the light of the world" He who follows 0e shall not wal in dar ness, but have the light of life"6 Have you ever "elt you were stumbling around in the darkness! +ou don)t have to anymore. 'esus will light your way be"ore you. +ou don)t have to do it on your own. He will guide you with living light. %ne year, Charles and $ used this scripture on our Christmas cards, because it gives such a hope"ul promise to the world. 'esus is ready and anticipating "looding the entire world with His glorious light. Claim His light and walk in it now.

Blessed to +e 0esus/ D#sc#-le

0o you know it is a blessing to live as 'esus instructed! 'ohn C65475= says, -hen <esus said to those <ews who believed Him, :.f you abide in 0y

word, you are 0y disci#les indeed" And you shall now the truth, and the truth shall ma e you free"6 &he 9iving (ible says, :/ou are truly my disci#les if you live as . tell you to"""6 What an honor to be 'esus) disciple! He makes no distinction between 'ohn, 3eter, and 'ames, ,rances, Charles, &om, and /ou" He only makes a distinction between those who are truly His disciples, and those who are not. &he condition is what 'esus emphasiAed6 Abide in 0y word; live as . tell you to" When we do those things, the truth will set us "ree "rom every single doubt, every single "ear, every type o" bondage, and every temptation to sin. $ love verse 5G in the Ampli"ied6 %o if the %on liberates you 7 ma es you free men 7 then you are really and unquestionably free" $t is only when you know the truth about 'esus and obey Him that you are completely, totally and positively and un/uestionably "ree. When the truth sets you completely "ree, you are also "ree "rom death! 'esus said in 'ohn C684, :0ost assuredly, . say to you, if anyone ee#s 0y word he shall never see death"6 &his is the greatest hope o" the Christian li"e. &his is the hope that everyone on this planet needs to hear! &he Ampli"ied is absolutely beauti"ul in stating this promise6 . assure you, most solemnly . tell you, if any one observes 0y teaching 7 lives in accordance with 0y message, ee#s 0y word 7 he will by no means ever see and e+#erience death" Every believer is a three part being : you are a spirit, you have a soul, you live in a body. &he real

you is your spirit and your soul. 'esus is speaking o" the real you, which will never die. What a completely satis"ying promise. What "ear does death hold when we know that all it takes is obedience to have eternal li"e! 3raise God "or our "uture! We are blessed because we will never die. We are blessed because when our body is no longer need"ul, we will leap out o" it, and our spirit and soul will be immediately with 'esus. 3raise God "or eternal li"e!

%er)ect %eace
%ne o" the most beauti"ul blessings that is so need"ul and so power"ul in the modern day world with all o" its pressures is in 'ohn 4D6=H. 'esus said, :;eace . leave with you, 0y #eace . give to you; not as the world gives do . give to you" Let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid"6 $ remember learning, as a student in school, the words o" 3atrick Henry who said, -Gentlemen may cry, 3eace, 3eace 7 but there is no peace.. $n other words, people, even world leaders, will say there is going to be peace6 3eace between nations. 3eace in our homes. 3eace in our schools. Een can only make human promises. Human promises "ail, because not all humans agree. (ut 'esus gives to every single believer His peace, not the "alse peace that anyone or anything in the world may o""er. 3er"ect peace o" mind and heart is a precious treasure. We can live without "rustration and "ear. We can live without worry about tomorrow.

&he Ampli"ied translates this verse so beauti"ully6 ;eace . leave with you; 0y )own* #eace . now give and bequeath to you" >ot as the world gives do . give to you" &o not let your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid 7 sto# allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not #ermit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled" = &imothy 46H says, 3or ,od has not given us the s#irit of fear, but of #ower and of love and of a sound mind" ,ear and stress and worry will cause a sound mind to become unsound. &he body will also become a""ected and weaken the immune system that God gave us. #top allowing those negative "orces o" "ear and agitation and an*iety to rob you. >ight now, accept the blessing that 'esus be/ueathed to you! When someone mentions you in a will and be/ueaths something to you, that means what they le"t to you is yours permanently. $t belongs to you. 2othing can take it away unless you willingly give it up. +ou own peace because 'esus gave it to you permanently. $ 3eter 86H says, =asting all your care u#on Him, for He cares for you" $n the Ampli"ied, it says, =asting the whole of your care 7 all your an+ieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all 7 on Him; for He cares for you affectionately, and cares about you watchfully" God)s word is so good. How could we ever get enough o" it! 'ust think about the magnitude o" this promise. 'esus wants all your worries! 2ot ust some o" them, A99 o" them, once and "or all. #ince

He wants them, they do not belong to you any longer. He cares about you watch"ully. &hat means He has His eyes on you every minute. 'esus is always thinking about you, watching all that concerns you1 and He doesn)t want you to bear any burdens. $sn)t that almost incomprehensible to the mind! With all the millions o" other people He has to think about, the God o" all Creation, the great $ AE, is always thinking about each one o" us in spite o" His busy schedule. He cares not only about our spirit but our body and our soul. Why would we want to grieve Him by worrying! 3raise God "or your peace.

Anyt"#n$ .lse You 'ant

God thinks o" everything. As i" He didn)t already "ill up our blessing containers to over"lowing, 'esus adds one more that covers anything that could possibly have been le"t out! $n 'ohn 4868, H, 'esus says :. am the vine, you are the branches" He who abides in 0e, and . in him, bears much fruit; for without 0e you can do nothing" .f you abide in 0e, and 0y words abide in you, you will as what you desire, and it shall be done for you"6 +ou may re/uest anything and it will be granted, when you abide in Him. What an honor and privilege it is to abide in 'esus! How blessed we are, o" all people, to be invited to abide in our 9ord and to have Him abide in us.

&he Ampli"ied says, :A#art from 0e 7 cut off from vital union with 0e 7 you can do nothing"6 Are you vitally united to 'esus! $" you are, you will know what to ask and when to ask it. +ou will not have to try and try and try to get your re/uest accomplished by yoursel", because you will have His help in receiving the desires o" your heart. Have you noticed how there is always a condition to be met in attaining the blessing promises! 2bey, abide, ee# 0y word, do as . tell you" %ver and over, the word o" God tells you e*actly how to be blessed. +ou cannot do anything apart "rom Him, and you cannot really receive very much apart "rom Him. $n 'ohn 4G6=57=D, 'esus says, :And in that day you will as 0e nothing" Eost assuredly, . say to you, whatever you as the 3ather in 0y name He will give you" Bntil now you have as ed nothing in 0y name" As , and you will receive, that your 1oy may be full"6

T"e Bless#n$ o) t"e Co&enant

2ow is a good time to have a spiritual dessert right in the midst o" this spiritual "east o" blessings. 0id you ever sit down to a ban/uet table where the table is prepared with a nice tablecloth and "lowers and a beauti"ul place setting, and there are your salad and dessert right there in "ront o" you! +ou eat your salad while eying that dessert. +ou begin your meal, and as you are eating, you know that dessert is going to be delicious, and you want to taste it right in the middle o" your meal. $n the %ld

&estament book o" 0euteronomy, there is a beauti"ul and delicious dessert that $ want you to en oy right now in the midst o" this "east. Covenants are special agreements. &here are many degrees o" covenant, but in (ible days, when a covenant was made, a li"elong union took place between two persons, and it was sealed with the shedding o" blood. As a sign o" their eternal commitment to each other, each party making the covenant gave the other party a gi"t : something o" utmost value, their most priAed possession. 0euteronomy =C6474D is the Covenant (lessing. $t outlines the covenant gi"t that God has promised to all who are washed in the blood o" 'esus and who are obedient. >ow it shall come to #ass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which . command you today, that the Lord your ,od will set you high above all nations of the earth" And all these blessings shall come u#on you and overta e you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God6 Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country" Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, the #roduce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offs#ring of your floc s" Blessed shall be your bas et and your neading bowl" Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out" L-he Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they

shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways" -he Lord will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand, and He will bless you in the land which the Lord your ,od is giving you" -he Lord will establish you as a holy #eo#le to Himself, 1ust as He has sworn to you, if you ee# the commandments of the Lord your ,od and wal in His ways" -hen all #eo#les of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they shall be afraid of you" And the Lord will grant you #lenty of goods, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestoc , and in the #roduce of your ground, in the land of which the Lord swore to your fathers to give you" -he Lord will o#en to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the wor of your hand" /ou shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow" And the Lord will ma e you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your ,od, which . command you today, and are careful to observe them" %o you shall not turn aside from any of the words which . command you this day, to the right or the left, to go after other gods to serve them" 'ust praise God right now "or letting you know and letting every Christian know in such loving detail what the 9ord wants to give you as His symbol o" union with you. He wants to bless you so

much that people in the world will take notice and they will wonder how in the world you can be so blessed. &his is the incredible part...all He wants in return is your heart : your love. $" you love God, you want to obey Him. $n e*change "or ust your loving obedience, God wants you to be overtaken with every single portion o" this covenant blessing. &his is a lengthy blessing, but $ want you to go back to the beginning, start at the top and say every single part o" the blessing and make it personal "or yoursel". 3ut the words, -$ am blessed,. at the beginning o" each sentence. %r ust say -$. at the beginning o" each sentence. Eake this con"ession personal. >ead it many times1 say it every single day, until, when you are riding in the car, you can speak these words over yoursel"1 or when you)re taking a walk, or when you)re going through some challenge in your li"e, this blessing is so "amiliar to you that it rises up in your spirit and out your mouth without even thinking. &here is a world out there that does not understand the promises o" God and the blessings o" God. &hey will take notice o" you when you have une*plained miracles happen to you. &hey will wonder why you don)t break down under pressure or crash along with the economy. God wants your li"e o" obedience to be a testimony to His ability to bless you beyond your wildest dreams. %ne o" my "avorite blessings in that passage is, Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out" ,rom the moment $ got saved, $ began to travel. %nce we were married, Charles and $ were ministering somewhere away

"rom home much o" the time. %n one o" those occasions, we were driving our car and suddenly another car came speeding toward us, crossed over into our lane, and in the blink o" an eye, we realiAed we were going to be in a head on collision. We called out -'E#@#. and watched as that oncoming car drove right into our "ront end, right into our engine, and right up to the windshield, without ever having any impact. #omething like that cannot be e*plained in the natural1 it was a supernatural act o" God on our behal". God sent His angel to protect us so that we would be blessed coming and going. Claim that blessing "or your travels right now. 'ust think that God is going to bless all the work o" your hand. $" you keep His commands and walk in His ways, He is going to bless your household, your ob, your pro ects, your "ellowship with others, your church activities, your "amily time. Everything you put your hands to means anything you are involved in. God will be involved in it along with you, and He will bless it.

T"e Call
A beauti"ul two7part promise o" God begins in $ 3eter 464D748. $t says, As obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct" &his verse makes me bubble over with e*citement, love, oy, peace, every emotion you can think o". We do not have to obey God because He is up there in heaven looking down at us with one big

eye turned on us like a searchlight, ust waiting to catch us doing something wrong. 2o, God isn)t looking "or a reason to condemn us1 He is watching over us to help us to avoid pain"ul e*periences and pain"ul conse/uences. $t is a priceless privilege to obey Him because we are His very own children. He chose us. He loves us. $t is a oy to choose to obey him. &he second part o" this blessing promise is absolutely beyond our imagination. $t is the reason God asks us to walk holy in all our conduct. $ 3eter =6? K 44 says, But you are a chosen generation, a royal #riesthood, a holy nation, His own s#ecial #eo#le, that you may #roclaim the #raises of Him who called you out of dar ness into His marvelous light; 'so( Beloved, . beg you as so1ourners and #ilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul" Can you imagine anything that would make your heart sing more than to know that you have been chosen by Almighty God to be a royal priesthood, a holy and special people, sent into the world to lead the lost out o" darkness. &he 9iving (ible relays this so beauti"ully, $ want you to drink it into your soul6 But you are not li e that ;those who are hard hearted and disobedient< for you have been chosen by ,od himself 7 you are #riests of the 7ing, you are holy and #ure, you are God)s very own 7 all this so that you may show to others how ,od called you out of the dar ness into his wonderful light" &ear brothers, you are only visitors here" %ince your real home is in heaven . beg you to ee# away from the

evil #leasures of this world; they are not for you, for they fight against your very souls" Would you ever want to return to darkness now that you are in the light! 2ever, never, never! 2ot "or one second would anyone who truly began a new li"e washed in the blood o" 'esus, pure and holy be"ore God, ever want to return to the "ormer li"e o" slavery to sin. &he li"e we now live is glorious. We are God)s very own. We have a mission and a calling to reach the world with His love. We are not even citiAens o" this world any longer because our real home is in heaven. -Hallelu ah, ,ather, $ am blessed to be called into a holy li"e. $ am blessed with a glorious mission to those in darkness. $ am blessed to be a citiAen o" heaven..

Grow Into Your Bless#n$s

&hroughout God)s word, He makes it so clear what He wants to give you, and ust as clearly points out your part, the condition to be met. (ut, let me add something. We are all in a growing process. #ometimes when a person is ust born again, they take baby steps in their "aith. 0o you recall when your child took his or her "irst step! +ou were e*cited! +ou didn)t get upset when they "ell on their bottom. As they grew stronger, they "ell less. Each step o" maturity they took, all their li"e, caused your heart to swell with pride. +ou praised them, you hugged them, and you rewarded them. When they were truly conscientious but

occasionally "altered, you corrected them and "orgave them. +ou made stronger re/uirements o" them as they got older, so they would have a "ruit"ul li"e. +ou e*pected them to obey "or their own good, and because you loved them. Eany times throughout this book, God is described as a parent. Go back and read over and over again all o" the compassion, the understanding, the hopes and dreams and rewards He has "or you. He is not going to condemn you as you learn to walk with Him. He covers you with grace. He blots out your mistakes with love. He will hear you when you truly determine to put Him "irst, and He will reward you as you make progress. $ believe with all my heart that the progress you make and the blessings you will receive are going to be absolutely incredible, because you are going to "east on His word, and apply His word, and con"ess His word until your cup o" oy begins to over"low. +ou will be soaked with blessings to the "ull. +ou will have to run out and share your blessings with everyone you see. &hat is why God wants you to receive all o" His best. +ou are His disciple. +ou are a "ruit bearer and a blessing carrier. +ou are His ambassador. &here is a world out there that you are going to bless.

T"e Genes#s Bless#n$

God is a blessing God "rom Genesis to >evelation! 2o matter who you are, where you)ve been or what you)ve done, what you have read in

the pages o" this book will turn your li"e right side up i" you put it in your mouth and put it into practice. Genesis 4=6475 says, >ow the Lord had said to Abram: :,et out of your country, from your family and from your father!s house, to a land that . will show you" . will ma e you a great nation; . will bless you and ma e your name great; and you shall be a blessing" . will bless those who bless you, and . will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed"6 $ love the "aith that Abraham had, because he was willing to go where God indicated he should go, and he packed up and le"t, not having any idea where he was going. Have you done that! Are you willing to leave behind everything com"ortable and "amiliar in obedience to God! $ believe "or everyone who is willing to give up their home and all their "amiliar surroundings in order to obey the 9ord, God will reward them "ar above what they could ask or think. God didn)t limit Abraham)s blessing to ust him and #arah. He said that Abraham would be a blessing to many. God blesses us so that we can bless others. When you bless someone, God is going to give back, and you are going to be on the receiving end o" a great big blessing o" God. God then said He would bless everyone who blessed Abraham. God decided right then and there that i" this man, who was really then called Abram, was going to have "aith and obedience to go out into the unknown, willing to ust rely on God)s guidance, He was going to provide "or him,

multiply him, make him rich so that he could be a blessing to many others1 and He would even e*tend His blessing to everybody who did anything to bless Abraham and his "amily. &hat is an e*citing blessing because there is no end to it1 it ust keeps going and going. $" there is someone with you right now, $ want you to do something. $ want you to go hug them1 $ want you to give them a blessing right now. &he word o" God says that you are blessed, and then you are to bless others. $" no one is with you, you can pick up the phone or write a letter, or think o" someone in the neighborhood that has a need and go and bless them. +ou are blessed to be a blessing, and then that blessing is going to come right back to you. +ou are on the blessing end, and then you are on the receiving end. &hat is the blessing li"e. $ want you to remember that the blessing o" Abraham will even a""ect you in this day and time. God said whoever blessed Abraham ;who became the "ather o" the nation o" $srael< would be blessed. 3ray "or $srael and "or the move o" God throughout all o" the Holy 9and. #peak peace and blessing upon the descendants o" Abraham, and you will be blessed.

T"e Re&elat#on Bless#n$

&here is a uni/ue blessing in >evelation which is "ound nowhere else in the (ible. $t is very simply stated in >evelation 465.

Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this #ro#hecy, and ee# those things which are written in it; for the time is near" &here is a lot about the book o" >evelation that $ do not understand, but $ love to pick up my (ible and turn to >evelation when $ ust want to /uickly read something inspiring. #omehow $ always "eel the awesome power o" God and the glory o" God that is re"lected in this book. >evelation begins with the promise that whoever reads or hears this book is going to be blessed. $ have never "ailed to receive a special Holy Ghost surge o" God)s presence when $ read "rom >evelation. $ believe "aith is increased when you read >evelation. $ believe that i" the devil is on the attack, and you pick up the book o" >evelation and ust read a little bit o" it aloud to the devil, he will turn and run away "rom you as "ast as he can. $ believe this book contains more intimacy into the presence and promises o" God than any other book. 3art o" the blessing o" reading >evelation is that it paints vivid pictures o" what you can e*pect in the "uture. %ne o" my "avorite pictures is in >evelation =6H. :He who has an ear, let him hear what the %#irit says to the churches" -o him who overcomes . will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the ;aradise of ,od"6 All o" the redeemed are going to eat heavenly "ruit "rom the tree o" li"e in the midst o" 3aradise. We will not be in ured or a""ected in any way by the second death.

Ierse 4H says, :He who has an ear, let him hear what the %#irit says to the churches" -o him who overcomes . will give some of the hidden manna to eat" And . will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one nows e+ce#t him who receives it"6 &hat promise is so precious because 'esus is going to give individually, to every single one o" us a beauti"ully prepared white stone, with a brand new name written on it. We are going to be renamed by the 9ord himsel", ust like a newborn baby receives its name "rom its mama and daddy. &hat is a beauti"ul and special promise that $ am looking "orward to. >evelation 568 gives another intimate promise. :He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and . will not blot out his name from the Boo of Life; but . will confess his name before 0y 3ather and before His angels"6 We will be clothed in heavenly white garments. 'esus will not blot out our names "rom the (ook o" 9i"e. He will call out our names be"ore God and all the angels. 'ust visualiAe this incredible ceremony, where 'esus will personally honor each and every believer who has overcome the devil and has remained loyal to Christ. >evelation 564= speaks o" another personal gi"t o" God to every believer who stands be"ore His throne6 -He who overcomes, . will ma e him a #illar in the tem#le of 0y ,od, and he shall go out no more" . will write on him the name of 0y ,od and the name of the city of 0y ,od, the >ew

<erusalem, which comes down out of heaven from 0y ,od" And . will write on him 0y new name"6 $ don)t understand what being a pillar in the temple o" God means, but $ don)t have to understand1 $ ust know it will be some type o" glorious honor that God bestows on those who are over comers. ,or over =,!!! years, God has been anticipating this occasion where He bestows heavenly rewards on His children. $t is going to be "ar more glorious than we can imagine. &hank Him right now. -&hank +ou, ,ather "or your plans to bless me and honor me. &hank +ou "or the new name +ou are going to give me and that +ou are going to write +our very own name on me. $ am blessed "orever and "orever.. Ierse =4 promises still more6 :-o him who overcomes . will grant to sit with 0e on 0y throne, as . also overcame and sat down with 0y 3ather on His throne"6 We are going to be blessed beyond imagination. We will sit with 'esus on His throne, ust as 'esus was honored when He returned "rom His mission on earth, and was granted to sit down on His ,ather)s throne. Glory to God! $" you want to be really blessed, read all o" the book o" >evelation. +ou may not understand all o" it, but you will be blessed. Chapter =4 describes a new heaven and a new earth with all things made per"ect and no more death or sorrow. $t describes the heavenly city, the new 'erusalem, with 'esus, the lamb o" God, as its light. Chapter == describes the river o" li"e gushing out o" the throne o" God

and previews the glories o" heaven. &o think that God had each one o" us in mind when He prepared all o" this beauty and honor and eternal reward is beyond comprehension. Genesis is the beginning o" God)s promises, and they are so numerous throughout the word o" God that this blessing book only scratches the sur"ace. >evelation is the last book o" the (ible, but it is not the end o" God)s promises. &hey go on "or eternity.

T"e ,e$acy o) t"e R#$"teous

As you complete this book, $ don)t want you to stop as though it were "inished1 $ want you to turn right back to the beginning. Go back through every page you have read, and meditate on these blessing promises. #ay them over and over. When you read your (ible, highlight or underline the blessings o" God. Eany you will learn by heart1 and when some con"lict umps into your li"e out o" nowhere, your spirit man will rise to the occasion. +ou will be able to rela*. +ou will be con"ident. +ou will have peace. &he way you e*empli"y your "aith will a""ect everyone around you. +our overcoming li"e, overtaken with blessings, will set the e*ample "or many others. 3roverbs 4!6H says, -he memory of the righteous is blessed" $ used to think this meant the mind o" the righteous and how well we remember things like our grocery list. God will surely bless your natural memory and give /uickening to your mind. (ut this scripture is re"erring to the memory

you leave behind when you leave earth to go to heaven. $t is saying, when your children and grandchildren and "riends and associates during your li"etime on earth think about you 7 what they remember about you will be a blessing. +our memory 7 your legacy o" obedience and "aith and love "or God 7 will bless people long a"ter you are with 'esus. 3roverbs =!6H says, -he righteous man wal s in his integrity; His children are blessed after him" Eany o" us have a parent or grandparent, or a spiritual parent or mentor, whom we remember as a man or woman o" prayer, a servant o" God, someone with a humble spirit, a "orgiver, or a person o" great "aith. 2o matter what has been in your past, what you apply throughout this book will build your "uture. +ou can leave a legacy o" blessings which will in"luence many generations to come.

HE>E A>E #%EE GE2E>A9 #C>$3&@>E# &HA& W$99 HE93 +%@ (E %IE>&AJE2 A20 %IE>C%EE (+ &HE (9E##$2G# %, G%0
(ut He answered and said, -$t is written, MEan shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds "rom the mouth o" God.). 0atthew
C:C

And they overcame him by the blood o" the 9amb and by the word o" their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. 5evelation ?D:?? &he #pirit o" the 9ord is upon Ee, because He has anointed Ee to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Ee to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives and recovery o" sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, Lu e C:?E
..

,inally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are ust, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are o" good report, i" there is any virtue and i" there is anything praiseworthy N meditate on these things. ;hili##ians C:E Call to Ee, and $ will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know. <eremiah FF:F 9et no corrupt communication proceed out o" your mouth, but what is good "or necessary edi"ication, that it may impart grace to the hearers. $#hesians C:D9 #o the ransomed o" the 9ord shall return, and come to Oion with singing, with everlasting oy on their heads1 they shall obtain oy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall "lee away. .saiah G?:?? +ou will keep him in per"ect peace, whose mind is stayed on +ou, because he trusts in +ou. .saiah DH:F (ut those who wait on the 9ord shall renew their strength1 they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and

not be weary, they shall walk and not "aint.

.saiah C0:F?

God is my strength and power, and He makes my way per"ect. D %amuel DD:FF #o, dear brothers, you have no obligations whatever to your old sin"ul nature to do what it begs you to do.
5omans E:?D -LB

Come to Ee, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and $ will give you rest. &ake Ey yoke upon you and learn "rom Ee, "or $ am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will "ind rest "or your souls. 0atthew ??:DE,D9 0o not neglect the gi"t that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on o" the hands o" the presbytery. Eediate on these things1 give yoursel" entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. ? -imothy C:?C,?G 9et not your heart be troubled1 you believe in God, believe also in Ee. $n Ey ,ather)s house are many mansions6 i" it were not so, $ would have told you. $ go to prepare a place "or you. And i" $ go and

prepare a place "or you, $ will come again and receive you to Eysel"1 that where $ am, there you may be also. <ohn ?C:?8F -&his is the covenant that $ will make with them a"ter those days,. says the 9ord6 -$ will put Ey laws into their hearts, and in their minds $ will write them,. then He adds, -&heir sins and their lawless deeds $ will remember no more.. Hebrews
?0:?H,?@

(lessed be the God and ,ather o" our 9ord 'esus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ $#hesians ?:F (ut truly, as $ live, all the earth shall be "illed with the glory o" the 9ord.
>umbers ?C:D?

,or the weapons o" our war"are are not carnal but mighty in God "or pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that e*alts itsel" against the knowledge o" God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience o" Christ.
D =orinthians ?0:C,G

He did not waver at the promise o" God through unbelie", but was strengthened in "aith, giving glory to God, and being "ully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to per"orm. 5omans
C:D0,D?

$ will bring the blind by a way they did not know1 $ will lead them in paths they have not known. $ will make darkness light be"ore them, and crooked places straight. &hese things $ will do "or them, and not "orsake them. .saiah
CD:?H

&he steps o" a good man are ordered by the 9ord, and He delights in his way.
;salm F@:DF

And since we are his children, we will share his treasures "or all God gives to his #on 'esus is now ours too. (ut i" we are to share his glory, we must also share his su""ering. 5omans E:?@ -LB
:

$n everything you do, stay away "rom complaining and arguing, so that no one can speak a word o" blame against you. +ou are to live clean, innocent lives as children o" God in a dark world "ull o" people who are

crooked and stubborn. #hine out among them like beacon lights, holding out to them the Word o" 9i"e.
;hili##ians D:?C8?H -LB

He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength.
.saiah C0:D9

&he righteous cry out, and the 9ord hears, and delivers them out o" all their troubles.
;salm FC:?@

(eloved, let us love one another, "or love is o" God1 and everyone who loves is born o" God and knows God. ? <ohn C:@ Arise, shine1 "or your light has come! And the glory o" the 9ord is risen upon you.
.saiah H0:?

one God and ,ather o" all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
$#hesians C:H

He who earnestly seeks good "inds "avor, but trouble will come to him who seeks evil.
;roverbs ??:D@

-As "or Ee,. says the 9ord, -this is Ey covenant with them1 Ey #pirit who is upon you, and Ey words which $ have put in your mouth, shall not depart "rom your mouth, nor "rom the mouth o" your descendants, nor "rom the mouth o" your descendants) descendants,. says the 9ord, -"rom this time and "orevermore.. .saiah G9:D? $n you, O 9ord, $ put my trust1 let me never be put to shame. ;salm
@?:?

Jnowing this, that our old man was cruci"ied with Him, that the body o" sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves o" sin. ,or he who has died has been "reed "rom sin.
5omans H:H,@

but whoever drinks o" the water that $ shall give him will never thirst. (ut the water that $ shall give him will become in him a "ountain o" water springing up into everlasting li"e. <ohn C:?C $ can do all things through Christ who strengthens me ;hili##ians C:?F

A good man obtains "avor "rom the 9%>0, but a man o" wicked intentions He will condemn. ;roverbs ?D:D &here is no "ear in love1 but per"ect love casts out "ear, because "ear involves torment. (ut he who "ears has not been made per"ect in love. ? <ohn C:?E $ say then6 Walk in the #pirit, and you shall not "ul"ill the lust o" the "lesh.
,alatians G:?H

3ut on the whole armor o" God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles o" the devil. $#hesians G:?H All the days o" the a""licted are evil, but he who is o" a merry heart has a continual "east. ;roverbs
?G:?G

A "aith"ul man will abound with blessings, but he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished. ;roverbs
DE:D0

$ neither learned wisdom nor have knowledge o" the Holy %ne. ;roverbs
F0:F

because o" the truth which abides in us and will be with us "orever... D <ohn D:D
P . .

,or God has not given us a spirit o" "ear, but o" power and o" love and o" a sound mind. D -imothy ?:@ &hen you will understand the "ear o" the 9%>0, and "ind the knowledge o" God. ,or the 9%>0 gives wisdom1 "rom His mouth come knowledge and understanding1 He stores up sound wisdom "or the upright1 He is a shield to those who walk uprightly1 He guards the paths o" ustice, and preserves the way o" His saints. &hen you will understand righteousness and ustice, e/uity and every good path when wisdom enters your heart, and knowledge is pleasant to your soul
;roverbs D:G8?0

0o not "orget to entertain strangers, "or by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. Hebrews ?F:D He who calls you is "aith"ul, who also will do it. ? -hessalonians
G:DC

bearing with one another, and "orgiving one another, i" anyone has a complaint against another1 even as Christ "orgave you,

so you also must do.

F:?F

=olossians

9et this mind be in you which was also in Christ 'esus. ;hili##ians D:G