2 Corinthians 4:1-6 – “Therefore, since we have this ministry, just as God has shown us mercy, we do not become discouraged.  ² But we have rejected shameful hidden deeds, not behaving with deceptiveness or distorting the word of God, but by open proclamation of the truth we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience before God. ³ But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing, ⁴ among whom the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe so they would not see the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God. ⁵ For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake. ⁶ For God, who said “Let light shine out of darkness,” is the one who shined in our hearts to give us the light of the glorious knowledge of God in the face of Christ.”

As I read, prayed, and mused on the Word, two things gripped my consciousness—the darkness of the hour and the light of God’s grace, a contrast easily witnessed today.

In 2 Corinthians 4:4, Paul spoke of people blinded by the devil.  That blindness blocks faith from their hearts.   It puts a veil on them and imprisons their minds and, thereby, their hearts.  The darkness of the darkness is very dark.  He reveals that the gospel is like a giant spotlight that illuminates the door to freedom.

In 2 Corinthians 4:7-12, he unwraps a truth often overlooked in today’s church.   Dying to self-releases the life of Jesus to others.   His life can only flow to and through us as we are emptied of self.   His life brings life!

We sometimes fail to see our purpose and potential because we look at life and problems wrongly.   2 Corinthians 4:17-18 is the proper view; we are to view our slight, short-lived troubles in light of eternity.   We must look beyond the visible into the invisible.   We must look beyond what we see and feel into His Promises.  We must avoid backward thinking (2 Corinthians 5:12) and become doorkeepers for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:5).

This view of Christ and life produces a life that exudes purity, spiritual insight, patience, kindness, holiness, and Agape love.   That translates to ministry to others, enabling us to teach Truth, exhibit God’s power, and use our weapons of warfare effectively.   A sword in one hand and a shield in the other (offense and defense).    The key to persistence is reflected in verse 10, “We may suffer, yet in every season, we are ALWAYS found rejoicing.”

As we become wholly His and He becomes LORD, not just Savior, we exhibit or demonstrate a life.  That in itself is a sermon.  In 2 Corinthians 8:7, we begin to exhibit “unstoppable faith in powerful preaching, in revelation knowledge, in your passionate devotion, and in sharing the love we have shown to you.  So, make sure that you also excel in grace-filled generosity.”

To be complete, we must come to the place where all we are and have belongs to Him!  We have received His extravagant grace; it is impossible to have that grace self-contained or keep it from flowing out to others.

2 Corinthians 4:5 is a key: “We don’t preach ourselves, but rather the Lordship of Jesus Christ…”   Only as He becomes Lord can we know the fullness of Salvation.   If we are immersed in Jesus, we have life living in us.  That Life is unstoppable!  That Life is the doorway out of the darkness.  That Life is our mission and commission.

If it is “in” us, it will flow out from us.   The extent to which it is “in” us will be revealed by the extent to which it flows out from us. God has no secret service followers.   If it is “in” us, it will flow out of us.   So, let it flow, let it flow, and let it flow!  The victory is “in” you!   Today would be a great day to let it flow from you. As it flows out of you, even more flows into you!

We have the pathway to true freedom now!   Have a fantastic day, and keep looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith!

I Corinthians 5:6 – “Boasting over your tolerance of sin is inappropriate. Don’t you understand that even a small compromise with sin permeates the entire fellowship, just as a little leaven permeates a batch of dough?”

As I prayed, read, and pondered the Word, the Holy Spirit challenged me deeply.   I quickly discovered that His focus was purity, not ritualistic acts but true heart purity.

In the Church in Corinth, there was a particular scandal that Paul addressed in chapter 5. It was a sexual sin.   That is an issue but not the issue the Holy Spirit was nudging me to consider.   They were engaged in a mindset that is prevalent today.     The demand to be non-offensive and tolerant falsely thinking that is the heart of God.   God is incredibly patient, long-suffering, and tolerant but also Holy.

We need to understand that sometimes, even a “small compromise”  is dangerous to our spiritual health.   In 1 Corinthians 6:9, Paul gives a sobering warning. “Surely you must know that people who practice evil cannot possess God’s kingdom realm. Stop being deceived!” He then gives an extensive list of unacceptable lifestyles and says, “These will not inherit God’s kingdom realm.”

I Corinthians 6:15 is an eye-opener about our union with Jesus.   If we grasp this reality, the sins of the flesh become so repulsive we will run from them. “Don’t you know that your bodies belong to Christ as Hid body parts?”   As His body parts, therefore, think of what we do if we engage in immortality as believers.   We are His body parts.   What an insult to Him to take His body parts into an illicit encounter.

That situation is just one area of consideration.   The message was that even a small compromise with sin was detrimental.  We are One with Him.   We are His body parts on earth; therefore, rather than trying to be overly tolerant, we must present purity of heart, mind, body, soul, and spirit.

1 Corinthians 7:17 – “But one who joins himself to the Lord is mingled into one spirit with Him.”  Jesus will never endorse, justify, excuse, or tolerate sin.   He forgives it.   He died for it.   He conquered it, but sin is never part of the kingdom realm.

If we are going to live victoriously, walk powerfully, and win others, we must be transformed and like Him.    The world does not need excessive tolerance; it needs Jesus!    Jesus is always pure!   If we detested sin, like we do things we don’t like or prefer in the natural, we would become more like Him and impact the world for Him.

He is pure, and His purity will not cohabit with impurity. Small compromises are deadly. It is not legalism and performance, but pure hearts are the goal.  In purity, we discover His power! In compromise, we shame Him.

Have a great day in Jesus, and set your heart on seeking purity in all things and at all times!

Ezekiel 33:12-16 –  “And you, son of man, say to your people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him when he transgresses, and as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall by it when he turns from his wickedness, and the righteous shall not be able to live by his righteousness when he sins. ¹³ Though I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, yet if he trusts in his righteousness and does injustice, none of his righteous deeds shall be remembered, but in his injustice that he has done he shall die. ¹⁴ Again, though I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ yet if he turns from his sin and does what is just and right, ¹⁵ if the wicked restores the pledge, gives back what he has taken by robbery, and walks in the statutes of life, not doing injustice, he shall surely live; he shall not die. ¹⁶ None of the sins that he has committed shall be remembered against him. He has done what is just and right; he shall surely live.”

Let me say at the outset that I do not consider religion anathema, but the modern understanding and demonstration frequently is.  However, religion without righteousness is a shell, not a life.  

I urge you to remember that you are the apple of God’s eye, and He is watching over you, looking for an opportunity to bless you. Watch for it.   The door is open!

As I prayed, read, and reasoned in the Word, the Holy Spirit challenged and warned me sternly.  We are told that silence is golden.  However, sometimes silence is complicity and, in a measure, partnering with evil. May that never be our condition.

Ezekiel 33 and 34 are incredibly powerful and needed in today’s world and church.   History is filled with examples of when God’s people sat silent while evil prevailed, allowing many to perish. God does not take that lightly.

Let me briefly walk through what I heard in my inner man. The Lord drew me to the reality of Responsibility.   The watchmen are commanded to sound the alarm whenever and wherever they see danger.   Dangers can arise from many sources and endanger lives. It can be natural or spiritual.  God will hold us accountable if we don’t sound the alarm and point to the truth. (Ezekiel 33:6)

In Ezekiel 33:11, we see the unveiling of God’s heart.   God takes no pleasure in anyone’s death, even the wicked.   False Hope arises when we trust our religiousness.   It is not being religious that pleases God but being righteous (Ezekiel 33:13).   God desires true repentance (vv.14-16).

In Ezekiel 33:18-19 we are shown the truth of religion vs. righteousness. God is moved by repentance, and as we obey, He deposits His righteousness in us.

Ezekiel 34 addresses the silent church and God’s view of silence in the face of danger and trusting flesh pursuing greed and pleasure.  The sleeping church runs from controversy and thinks that by not addressing the dangers of public violations of God’s Word and precepts, it is safe. Wrong!

In Ezekiel 34:2, God addresses pastors who are in it for themselves and are not true shepherds. In verse 4, we see the exposure, danger, damage, and failure of that approach. We also see God’s attitude, and the passage reconfirms our purpose.

Ezekiel 34:11, 16 informs us of God’s Last Days move.  God is about to dethrone the self-serving who pastors the flock themselves.  Ezekiel 34:18 exposes hearts focused on name, fame, and fortune.   Ezekiel 34:19 identifies the needed ministry.   Verses 25-26 reveal what God is about to do.

Those who pursue God with fully surrendered hearts have this promise. “I will cut a Covenant of Peace with them and cause harmful beasts (natural & spiritual) to cease from the land so that they may live securely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. 26 I will make them and the places all around My hill a blessing. And I will cause showers to come down in their season; they will be showers of blessing.”   

Regarding showers of blessing, I sense a two-fold message.  The shower of God will be showers of blessing, and those upon whom He pours His blessing will become blessings.

God is drawing His faithful into action. No more silence! We have the Word, the Call, the Authority, and the Power, so it is time to use it and begin enforcing the Victory of Calvary.

If we are silent, souls are destroyed. If we warn of danger, lives are spared.   God’s blessings enable us to be blessings. If we horde the blessings, we will become spiritual paupers in the palace. Our genuine love for Jesus is demonstrated in our love for people and His Word.

What is our love quotient?

Today is a day of victory!

1 Corinthians 4:20 –“For the Kingdom of God IS NOT in the word, but in power.”

Several thoughts gripped my heart as I read, prayed, and mused on the Word of God today.    One was a reminder that our ability is not the product of our efforts.    They are gifts from God.  (1 Corinthians 4:7)   Like athletes, we have to hone and sharpen them, but they did originate in us.   They belong to God.   God will not bless self-proclaimed success or ability, only humility and submission.

Second, it is not what we know but who we know and belong to that manifests the Kingdom.

1 Corinthians 4:20 – “For the Kingdom of God IS NOT in the word, but in power.”

If there is no manifested power of God accompanying the declaration, it is like rain on a tin roof.    It is fluff.   God confirms His Word with signs following.   The church and the world need less oratory and more manifested power of God.  The Acts Church did not turn the world upside down with their eloquence but with the power of God.

The call of God for 2025 and beyond is Power in the Spirit.   Whenever I talk to God about power, He talks to me about purity.   My failures cannot be accepted or justified.   I am in an attitude of repentance, and my heart cries for mercy, restoration, and power.   I know my call, my commission, and my purpose.   My cry is, Lord, create a clean heart and right spirit in me, and make me an ambassador of heaven in this world. 

All things are ours in Jesus.   Never settle for second best, but seek God’s best.  He has given it to you, receive it, embrace it, and allow it to be manifested in you!

Have a victorious day in Jesus; remember, you are more than a conqueror in Him!

Job 31:4 – “Does not he see my ways and number all my steps?”

In Job 31, we have the final appeal of Job the man.   In Job 31, he made a declaration that seemed out of place.  Job 31:1 –“I made a vow with my eyes that I would never look after a virgin.”  In Job 31:4, he declared that God saw his ways and counted his steps.   God sees all, knows all, and records all. 

That revelation troubles some, and lest I paint a picture of God as the harsh overlord watching for missteps to punish, let’s continue.  Elihu, the fourth man, made the correct observation that age alone is not the prerequisite for wisdom and that our ears test words like our palates taste food.

After Elihu’s diatribe, God spoke and asked probing, penetrating questions, and even humorous of Job.  In Job 38:33 – “Do you know the laws of the heavens?  Or do you make the ordinances for the earth?”

What is the point?  God knows all, sees all, and is Lord over all.  We have nothing to fear.   The God who created everything, even man, is watching over His creations.   God’s immense and extravagant love for man causes Him to observe All our ways.  He never takes His eyes off us, which can be either powerfully comforting or horribly frightening.

In 2 Corinthians 10, we discover that He has enabled us with unearthly weapons to fight against unearthly and earthly enemies.  In 2 Corinthians 10:4, we discover that we can conquer rebellious strongholds.  Are there any non-rebellious strongholds?

We cast down imaginations.   That does not mean imagination is evil, but it must be rejected if it exalts anything above Christ and is not harmonious with the gospel.

Satan is a master deceiver and convinces some to accept a gospel not taught in the Word.  A manmade gospel that feeds the flesh and promotes a life without restraint.

Remember, God knows everything.  Nothing escapes His consciousness.   If we are seeking Him, submitted to Him, and one with Him, that is incredibly comforting.   It banishes destructive fear.  If God knows and loves us, we can have perfect peace, and no weapon can prevail against us.  We walk in peace and power fully provided for in all things and at all times.

Remember, God never slumbers or sleeps, and His eyes are always upon us for good!   Rejoice and be glad!

Psalm 16:7-9 – “I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. ⁸ I have set the Lord always before me;  because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.  ⁹ Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.”

What will we discover today that will enrich our lives and give us greater peace in His presence?   As I was reading God’s Word this morning, praying, musing, and pondering the richness of His Word, a thought flooded my heart and mind – Living with the Consciousness of God’s Presence!  

I can almost hear someone say, “We always do that!”  But do we? The Legacy Standard Bible’s translation of Psalm 16:7-9 is refreshing.  “I will bless Yahweh who has counseled me; Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night.  ⁸ I have set Yahweh continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.  ⁹ Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will dwell securely.”

You cannot receive the counsel of the Lord without an awareness of His presence.   I refer to Psalm 1 and receive incredible strength, hope, and encouragement of living a life wholly consumed with Him and His Word.

Several things stand out to me in Psalm 16:7-9.  The decision to bless, worship, praise, and give thanks to God was a conscious personal decision.  It was not waiting until the Spirit moved us; it was a decision to do it now!  In that state of living in the conscious presence of God, we find that God instructs us in the night.

Does God instruct us in the night?  Yes, when we are asleep, it is one of the best times for the Holy Spirit to download information to us.  It is the time when He has access to our unencumbered and uncluttered minds, hearts, and spirits.   As we are asleep, like Solomon, God desires to communicate with our innermost being and does so in many ways, including dreams or night visions.

Out of that place of living with a consciousness of God’s presence, we receive strength, courage, hope, faith, fearlessness, and the ability to stand.  Knowing that God is there or where we are is incredibly comforting or disturbing.  The difference is in our attitudes and actions.  If we are hiding from Him and living a life controlled by fleshly desires, it is disconcerting that He is there, sees, and knows.  But, alas, He does whether we are conscious of His presence or not.

It is incredibly comforting that He is with us, always present, if we follow Him wholeheartedly.  We have peace knowing that He is there.  We have confidence knowing He is there, as we know Him and His Power.  We have Hope because we know He does not, cannot, and will not lie or fail.

Galatians informs us that the Blessings of Abraham, obtained by faith, belong to the believers.  If I am living with a consciousness of God’s presence, I rejoice in His Promises and Blessings.  I begin to know who I am, and as I know who I am in Him, I can become who He says I am!  Who are you?  Seriously, Who Are You?  Why not be Who God Says You Are?

Today would be a fantastic day to set our hearts to keep our minds and hearts filled with the consciousness of God’s presence.  That is not a troubling but a comforting thought!  He Is There!   Hallelujah!  He is Here!  You are more than you have become.  You have a world to impact for God and the provision to do just that.  You have the continual presence of the LORD; believe it, embrace it, and embrace it.

Have a wonderful day, and always allow the awareness of God, the Living God’s Presence, to fill your heart and mind!