Need Prayer? Call us now at 888-637-4545|team@marilynandsarah.org

Trust

I will Not be Moved

Today the Lord with Establish my heart, and I know that it will not be moved. 

Has your heart ever felt troubled or torn over difficult decisions? Perhaps you were so frustrated that you simply didn’t know which way to turn. The Word has some very special promises that will ease your heart and bring it peace whenever you find yourself in such a predicament. Meditate upon the following Scriptures:

Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues life…Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil. (Proverbs 4:23, 26-27)

He also brough me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. (Psalm 40:2)

Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established. (Proverbs 16:3)

The Lord will establish your thoughts, and by doing so He will give you direction and show you the paths that He desires you to follow. Commit your heart to diligently following His Word; don’t turn away from it, neither to the right nor to the left, and He will ESTABLISH your heart in His peace!

2025-09-24T09:27:26-06:00November 10th, 2025|

El Shaddai–The All-Sufficient One

When you first studied the name Elohim, you discovered that El displays God’s qualities of power and might. El Shaddai is also a compound name, and it first appears in Genesis 17.

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. 2 “And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.”  (Genesis 17:1-2).

Does “God Almighty” mean the same as “the God of might and power?” No, it does not. The name El Shaddai bears a different meaning entirely.  Basically, this name is derived from the word “field,” as in, “the fields produce abundance.” It is also translated as “breast,” or “the many-breasted One,” which signifies nourishment and productiveness. In this sense, God is shown as the One who is more than enough— “He who is all-sufficient.” When you see the name El Shaddai, God is saying, “I am more than enough to meet your needs in each situation.”

Throughout Abraham’s life, God promised to bless and multiply him. And the Bible says that Abraham’s blessings are also ours. As El Shaddai, God came to Abraham in the context of total impossibility. He came saying, “I’ll give you seed as numerous as the dust of the earth,” when Abraham was ninety-nine years old. And if that’s not impossible enough, Abraham’s wife was eighty-nine years old.

God shows His all-sufficiency by turning nature around and providing miracles that are contrary to natural events. Although God Himself set the course of nature in motion. He is more than capable of superseding all natural events. That’s what happened when He caused Abraham and Sarah to have a child.

Abraham’s son was named Isaac, and Isaac also knew God as El Shaddai. When Isaac’s own son, Jacob, left home to find a wife, Isaac spoke to him.

Then Isaac called Jacob and blessed him, and charged him, and charged him, and said to him; “You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan. 2 “Arise, go to Padan Aram, to the house of Bethel your mother’s father; and take yourself a wife from there of the daughters of Laban your mother’s brother. 3 “May God Almighty bless you, and make you fruitful and multiply you, that you may be an assembly of peoples; (Genesis 28:1-3)

Isaac was saying, “Jacob, may El Shaddai, the God who is all-sufficient, bless you and multiply you! He will work contrary to nature to overcome any difficult circumstances.”

Jacob left home with his father’s blessings and the birthright, but with nothing but his staff in his hand. In fact, he left behind an irate brother, whom he had cheated out of the birthright. The brother’s name was Esau and he was more than ready to kill Jacob. Jacob had been a” mother’s boy,” and he was entering a totally strange situation that didn’t look prosperous at all.

On the way to Padanaram, Jacob slept and dreamed of a ladder that angels were ascending and descending. God spoke to him, saying, “I’m giving this land to you and your seed, and I am going to protect you.”

Greatly encouraged, Jacob continued on his way. When he arrived, he fell in love with a beautiful girl named Rachel. But Rachel’s father, Laban, didn’t possess many beautiful qualities; he was tricky and mean. Jacob agreed to work seven years to pay for Rachel, but then Laban gave Jacob Leah, Rachel’s older sister, instead. Jacob then had to work another seven years in order to have Rachel as his wife, too.

Some people want everything right away; instant coffee, instant tea, and instant answers to prayer. But there’s more to it than instant everything. You have to hold fast to your confidence in order to obtain reward.

God inspired Jacob with a plan for prosperity. Jacob told Laban, “For my hire, I want all of the speckled, spotted, and striped animals that are born.” Laban thought, Great! There are hardly ever any of those.

However, when the strong animals were drinking water at the place where they usually mated, Jacob placed speckled, spotted, and striped stakes and mate. Then, when they conceived, they bore speckled, spotted, and striped animals. Those animals belonged to him. Laban then regretted the deal, because all of the best animals born that year were spotted, speckled, and striped! (See Genesis 30:31-43).

Jacob and his animal kept seeing those stakes. God set forth a vision to bring His Word to pass, and Jacob left as a very wealthy man. Why? Because the all-sufficient El Shaddai was in control. El Shaddai took hold of the natural things and turned them around into supernatural miracles. Jacob knew El Shaddai, as did his father Isaac and his grandfather Abraham.

Genesis 35 tells of a third vision that Jacob had.

Then God appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Padan Aram, and blessed him. 10 And God said to him, “your name is Jacob; your name shall not be called Jacob anymore, but Israel shall be your name.” So, He called his name Israel. 11 Also God said to him: “I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation a company of nations shall proceed from you, and kings shall come from your body. (Genesis 35:9-11)

Jacob had lived in the midst of strange circumstances and strange people, but God said, “Your situation doesn’t matter! I am what matters. Let Me turn your circumstances around and bless you!”

God brought Jacob out from Laban’s household as a wealthy man, reconciled him with his angry brother, Esau, and gave him many children, Jacob lived as a wealthy, blessed man to a ripe, old age, because he knew El Shaddai.

2025-09-24T09:02:49-06:00November 3rd, 2025|

Stand on the Word of God

Do you realize how important it is to spend time reading and meditating on the Word? When we surround ourselves with the favor of God’s Word, we can confidently step out in faith and change situations around us.  The wisdom of the Word in your spirit will give you favor, regardless of the circumstances which may confront you or the people whom you may meet.  Again, remember Psalm 5:12, “For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield.” You have an invisible shield of favor surrounding you.

Whenever you are in a state of doubt, fear, or anxiety, remind God of His promises: “But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head” (Psalm 3:3). Likewise, Hebrews 10:35 tells us to “not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.” Always lift your head high above all circumstances. You are wearing His glorious crown of divine favor.

Many times, we experience deep levels of grief and frustration, but if we hold fast to God’s promises, any situation can be altered! Hebrews 10:23 commands us to “hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”

David understood the awesome power of favor because in Psalm 30 he writes, “Lord, by Your favor You have made my mountain stand strong…” (v. 7). If God’s favor is powerful enough to hold you up, no matter how heavy the pressures may be which come against you! Always remember that He is “upholding all things by the word of His power” (Hebrews 1:3). If you are standing on His Word, you can count on Him to uphold all the things in your life and give you wide open doors of favor. Hallelujah!

SCRIPTURES ON FAVOR

The following Scriptures are intended to prove that God will produce favor in your life. Meditate upon these Scriptures and memorize them until they penetrate deep down into your spirit. If you plant them in your heart now, when you are in a time of need, they will be firmly rooted, and you will be able to stand upon them. I just love these verses, and I believe you will, too!

“You have granted me life and favor, and Your care has preserved my spirit.” (Job 10:12)

For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield. (Psalm 5:12)

For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. (Psalm 30:5)

Let them shout for joy and be glad, who favor my righteous cause; and let them say continually, “Let the Lord be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.” (Psalm 35:27)

By this I know that You favor me, because my enemy does not triumph over me. (Psalm 41:11 MEV)

For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, nor did their own arm save them; but it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, because You favored them. (Psalm 44:3)

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. (Psalm 84:11 NIV)

For You are the glory of their strength, and in Your favor our horn is exalted. (Psalm 89:17)

May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands. (Psalm 90:17 NIV)

Remember me, O Lord, with the favor You have toward Your people. Oh, visit me with Your salvation. That I may see the benefit of Your chosen ones, that I may rejoice in the gladness of Your nation, that I may glory with Your inheritance. (Psalm 106:4-5)

Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man. (Proverbs 3:3-4)

He who earnestly seeks good find favor, but trouble will come to him who seeks evil. (Proverbs 11:27)

A good man obtains favor from the Lord, but a man of wicked intentions He will condemn. (Proverbs 12:2)

Good understanding gains favor, but the way of the unfaithful is hard. (Proverbs 13:15)

Fools mock at sin, but among the upright there is favor. (Proverbs 14:9)

In the light of the king’s face is life, and his favor is like a cloud of the latter rain. (Proverbs 16:15)

He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord. (Proverbs 18:22)

A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold. (Proverbs 22:1)

“These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.” (Isaiah 66:2 NIV)

So, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:46-47)

For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. (Romans 14:18)

This excerpt was taken from Wide Open Doors. Wide Open Doors Book | Marilyn and Sarah

2025-09-17T10:49:59-06:00October 20th, 2025|

Jesus Our Refuge

Jesus Our Refuge

OP December, 1987

Can you remember a time when you were facing a situation that looked simply hopeless? Perhaps there was a battle with sin or a crisis that overwhelmed you, and you didn’t know where to turn. Anytime is a good time to remember that just as Joseph and Mary found refuge for Jesus in a stable, you can find refuge in Jesus for the peace, joy, and victory that you desire whenever “hopeless” or troublesome situations arise.

The Old Testament gives us a beautiful picture of all that Jesus is to us as our refuge in times of trouble. In Exodus 21:13 Moses made reference to “a place” where those who had accidentally killed someone could take refuge to avoid any negative consequences from the killing. Then in Numbers 35:6 the Lord told Moses to make arrangements for six cities of refuge. Anyone who had unintentionally killed someone could run to one of these cities and there receive protection from revenge-seeking relatives of the dead person.

Jesus is our refuge whether we have intentionally or unintentionally sinned against God or man. If we’ll repent and run to Jesus, He can reverse any curse that results from our sin. No matter how devastating our circumstances, we can find real peace and joy by fleeing to Jesus our refuge.

Did you notice that God provided the appointed place of refuge long before the Israelites ever entered the Promised Land? The same is true for our refuge Jesus: Revelation 13:8 says that He is the Lamb which was slain before the foundation of the world. God provided for our complete well-being before He laid the foundation of the world. Let’s run to Jesus when we sin; He was waiting for us long before we ever blew it!

According to Joshua 20:5 the Old Testament cities of refuge were to provide shelter from the avenger of blood. The devil is your avenger, and there is only one place to go for protection from the avenger. You may try to run to other people or flee here and there seeking help, but Jesus is your only place of permanent victory over the devil.

In Colossians 2:15 Paul says that Jesus … disarmed principalities and powers, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. Jesus undid the works of the devil; that’s why we can flee to Him and avoid the avenger.

Most of the cities of refuge were set on a hill so that they would be very visible. A light was kept burning at all times, which made the city accessible even at night.

This aspect of the cities reminds us that Jesus, in Matthew 5:14, said Christians are like a city set on a hill, and Christians are the light of the world. We need to be shining lights, plainly visible to anyone in need of shelter from the darkness that is in the world. Like the star that led the wise men to Jesus, we are the ones to point sinners to the true Light—Jesus Christ.

The roads to these cities of refuge were plainly marked. In Deuteronomy 19:3 Moses instructed the Israelites to … shall prepare roads for yourself … to each city. Tradition says that rocks were painted white, labeled miqlat, or “refuge” and placed along the route leading to the cities of refuge.

Likewise, Jesus is easy to find. Paul, in the first chapter of the book of Romans, says that even nature points the way of God. The way of salvation is clearly given in the Scriptures, and everyone can find refuge in Jesus.

Numbers 35:14 says that God graciously provided for three cities east of the Jordan River and three cities west of the Jordan River; thus, all the Israelites had easy access to a refuge near them.

Is Jesus easily accessible, or do you have to do ten push-ups, take a hot shower, and run around the block to get His attention? He’s accessible! You don’t have to look far to find Jesus; the Bible says, The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart … (Psalm 34:18), and The Lord is near to all who call upon Him … (Psalm 145:18).

Jesus is always accessibel. He’s really close. Romans 10:8 says “… The word is [Christ] near you in your mouth …” Jesus is as close as your mouth; call on Him as your refuge in times of need!

Let’s remember for whom these cities of refuge were built originally—they were built for murderers! Who is Jesus for –the “righteous”? No Jesus is for the sinner. If you sin, don’t cover it up—confess it. Don’t run from Jesus; run to Jesus! He can absolutely transform your worst circumstance.

The murderer was required to stay within the city of refuge. Numbers 35:26-27 says that if he walked out of the city gates, the avenger could kill him. The murderer’s only place of safety was within the city walls.

Our only place of safety is “in Christ”. Jesus said, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you” (John 15:7). We need to abide, abide, abide—and that means staying in the Word! When we quit abiding, the devil, the avenger, can bring every imaginable curse upon us. Our only protection from illness, fear, strife, and all the other deadly things in this life is to abide continuously in Jesus.

Look at Numbers 35:15 “These six cities shall be for refuge for the children of Israel, for the stranger, and for the sojourner among them…”. These cities were for Jews and gentiles—God’s chosen people and the strangers.

Jesus is for the “strangers” among us. Jesus loves them all. He wants to be a refuge for everyone.

The last comparison I want to make is probably the key one: the murderer was completely delivered. Numbers 35:28 tells us that when the High Priest of the city died, the murderer could go completely free without fear of any retaliation.

You and I have a great High Priest Who has died, making us completely free from the avenger’s power. We can go any place without fear, because Jesus is always with us; He has promised never to leave us or forsake us.

One time I was traveling into a communist country and someone asked me, “Aren’t you afraid to go to a communist country?”

No, frankly, I’m not. Jesus is more powerful than communism, and when I go into a communist country, Jesus goes with me. He died to set me free from fear and from the power of sin and Satan. I’m free, and so are you! In addition, our great High Priest rose from the dead, and Hebrews 7:25 declares “… He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”

The six cities of refuge met the needs of the whole nation of Israel. Jesus our refuge is sufficient to meet the needs of the entire Bod of Christ. Don’t look to people to meet your needs; at best they can only lead you to Jesus to His Word. Seek refuge in the One Who is the fulfillment of the six cities of refuge:

  1. Kedesh means “holy.” When we run to Jesus, He takes our sin and gives us His holiness.
  2. Shechem means “shoulder.” The Bible says that the government shall be upon His shoulder (Isaiah 9:6). Jesus knows how to govern our affairs. We can trust Him to administer justice on our behalf in all our relationships.
  3. Hebron means “fellowship.” Jesus is available, day and night, to hear our prayers and share our concerns. If we ever feel lonely, we can call on Him; Jesus will never snub us or turn us away.
  4. Bezer means “a fortified place.” The Lord is a stronghold to us. When all the world looks as though it’s caving in, hold onto Jesus; He’s a rock and an anchor.
  5. Ramoth means “exaltation.” When we run to Jesus, He lifts us up with Him far above all the powers of darkness. He will never let us down.
  6. Golan means “joy.” Jesus says that He wants our joy to be full. Regardless of what we’ve done or where we’ve been, Jesus will turn our sadness into joy if we will seek refuge in Him.

Jesus is our eternal refuge. Today, and every day, let’s seek to abide in Him and in His Word. When pressures or circumstances try to overwhelm us, Jesus is more than sufficient to meet our needs. Let’s run to Him, abide in Him, and experience the best week ever!

This classic teaching is an excerpt taken from Outpouring Magazine, The Voice of Marilyn Hickey Ministries, December 1987

 

2025-09-10T10:43:05-06:00October 13th, 2025|

Ask Marilyn

HEARING FROM GOD

AND KNOWING HIS WILL

Q: I’m not sure if I’m hearing God’s voice or someone else’s. What does God’s voice sound like?

A: We all struggle with the question: “Is this the voice of God?” John 10 offers us a wonderful promise: The Lord’s sheep know His voice, and the voice of a stranger they will not follow. The voice of God can come to us in different ways.  In the Old Testament the voice of God is described as still, small voice (1 Kings 19:11-12).  Most often God’s voice sounds very much like our own thoughts.  But these thoughts do not originate from the mind; they come from deep within our own spirit.

Believers have been promised that as we continue to walk with God, He will guide us with His eye upon us and lead us in the way that we should go (Psalm 32:8). And according to Galatians 5:16, we can know that we are being led by the Holy Spirit if we are walking in the Spirit; and walking in the Spirit means to act on God’s Word, no matter what “sense-knowledge” tells us.  I believe that our flesh seeks after signs—something we can see or feel.  Check out the leadings you have by asking yourself, “Is this my flesh wanting a sign, or is this God’s Word directing my spirit?” If you follow the Word, you will never be disappointed.

Q: Several people have told me that God has a special call on my life. Please help me find out what God’s will is for my life.

A: I want to share with you three steps that have helped me discern the will of God for my life: (1) the desire must line up with the Word; (2) you should have an inner witness of your leading—the Holy Spirit bears witness with God’s Word in your spirit which brings you peace; and (3) circumstances should like up accordingly. At times there may be a waiting period.  The desire may be scriptural; you may have an inner witness; but circumstances may take some time before coming together.  When this happens, it’s important to be patient.  It is never wise to try to make things come together on your own. God will bring to completion what He’s begun (Proverbs 3:5-6).

You can trust God for your future.  As you learn to rely more on Him and less on your own “feelings,” you will find a peace that truly passes all understanding.  Be very careful about accepting any “Word from the Lord” from others.  Remember, all “words” must line up with the Word, your own inner witness, and the circumstances.  Anytime we depend on someone else’s understanding of God’s will for our lives, we are putting ourselves in a place of danger.

Q: What do people mean when they talk about revelation knowledge?

A: God is continually giving us deeper revelation knowledge (insight) into His Word. However, the key to revelation knowledge is that it must always line up with and be tested according to the known Word of God—the Bible.  Revealed knowledge often opens up God’s Word to us in a fresh way—not adding to the Word nor taking away from it, but revealing it to us in a deeper way: “But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit.  For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God” (1 Corinthians 2:10 NKJV).

Jesus very clearly indicated to us that the Holy Spirit would be our teacher and teach us things by revelation (see John 14). I believe the apostle Paul was referring to revelation knowledge when he wrote about the revelation of mystery (Romans 16:25) and when he instructed the Corinthians in the use of spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 14:26). Paul also prayed that God would give the Church revelation in the knowledge of Him (Ephesians 1:17).

Nevertheless, Paul also warned that if anyone, including an angel from heaven, came with a revelation other than the gospel which was brought to the world by Jesus, then we would know that revelation was not from God. So then any “revealed knowledge” beyond God’s Word as found in the Bible is not of God.  Nearly every cult has an additional source of written authority besides the Bible. These extra-Biblical scriptures are not from God.

Q: I think that God has called me to full-time ministry. Do you have a witness of my call? Where should I begin ministering?

A: There is nothing that delights my heart more than to see a believer called into full-time ministry. If you are truly called, it will be the number-one, consuming desire of your life and God will begin to open the doors for you. I cannot tell another person whether or not they are called, because God wants you to be certain in your own heart. It never hurts to “knock on doors” in order to find opportunities to minister.  Be wise and discreet as you watch God open doors for you.

Also, I believe Bible school is a wise step in preparing for ministry.  Second Timothy 2:15 tells us to, Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed…” I recommend my Bible college as a possibility for your training.  We offer an Associate of

Arts degree in Christian Education, Counseling, Pastoral Ministry, Youth Ministry, Missions, and General Ministry.  The General Ministry Program is available either on-campus or through independent study by correspondence.

Q: I am struggling trying to keep the vision of my ministry. Have you ever been discouraged about serving God?

A:  My heart has been deeply touched as I’ve traveled around the country and have met many individuals in the five-fold ministry asking similar questions. I do know how it feels to be discouraged, and at times I wondered whether I was really in God’s will for my life and my ministry.

I want to encourage you not to give up hope. Please continue to press on to victory—it will come eventually as you trust in God’s ability to deliver you from your circumstances.

God’s Word promises that “…lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the ” (Matthew 28:20). Above all: “…do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.  For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised” (Hebrews 10:35 – 36 NAS)

Q: I’m resting now from near burnout from church duties, outside women’s organizations, my family responsibilities, etc. My quiet times during this time were not what they should be, but now I find myself having regular, quality quiet time but feeling a lack of fulfillment. I don’t seem to have any vision, and the Lord seems to be silent.  Do you have any suggestions or scriptures?

A: The answer to your burnout problem and present lack of fulfillment is found in John 15:1-2: “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”

In every life there are seasons of bearing fruit, pruning, growing, and bearing more fruit. Certainly, in the times of “fruit bearing,” where there is evidence of what our life is producing, we have a sense of fulfillment because we can “see” what we have done.

However, there are necessary times when God puts us in a “dormant” state so that we can abide in Him and He in us: “…As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me” (John 15:4 NKJV). I believe you may be experiencing an “abiding time” in your life.  God is giving you a season of rest, consolidation, and a chance to re-energize.  Enjoy it! Receive this time as God’s wisdom for this season in your life.

If the Lord is silent, then you can be certain that you are in His will! The Holy Spirit gets “noisy” within us when we begin to walk outside of God’s will.

Q:  There is a man who loves to argue in the Sunday school class my husband and I teach. It doesn’t matter what the subject is or how we approach it; he is very vocal in his criticism of our understanding of the Bible and our presentation. No one else complains.  The pastor has talked with him, but he continues to cause problems.  What should we do?”

A:  You and your husband are being harassed by the devil, and you are being much too nice to him! Satan knows your potential and your heart for God, and he is doing everything he can to stop you. Take your God-given authority and power over Satan in Jesus’ name, and command him to stop in his activity against you and your class.

After seeking God’s guidance and wisdom, you need to go to this man and confront him in love but in firmness.  You also need to forgive him and put the matter under the blood of Jesus; BUT this kind of disturbance needs to be stopped.  This man is in rebellion by not coming under the leader’s authority, whether it be you as a teacher, or the pastor. Satan will use him to bring dissension in the Body.

Brief comments and discussion that both build and enforce the teaching should always be welcome, IF time and circumstance permit; but negative and derogatory remarks are absolutely out of order: Follow the Biblical pattern in Matthew 18:15-20 in a spirit of meekness, and trust the Lord to resolve this problem.

You also have ministering spirits—angels—who are sent to perform the Word of God as you speak it from your lips.  They will aid you in carrying out your authority based on God’s Word.

Q:  I know that God has a calling on my life either to preach or to teach so I quit my job because I didn’t want anything to hold me back. Some doors have been opened, but I really need more financial support. Would it be all right for me to work part-time at a secular job?

A:  Yes, you can be called to the ministry and still work at a secular job. There are many faithful men and women in the ministry today who are holding down full-or-part-time jobs in order to support themselves. And in the Bible we find that it was the apostle Paul’s custom to provide for his needs by working with his own hands (see 2 Thessalonians 3:8).

Q:  Marilyn, I just don’t understand how someone can be truly close to God, like David in the Bible, and still sin so terribly.

A:  Being close to God does not make one exempt from sin. Saul, David, and Solomon certainly had the hand of God upon them, but as humans they were still given to temptation and sin. Like each of us, these great men had a choice—each day brought new opportunities either to be defeated or to be victorious.  These Old Testament men did not have the New Testament covenant rights that we now have, which include understanding our authority and power through God’s Word.

Because all humans have a sin nature, there is no person on earth who is exempt from temptation and sin.  We have seen that in the Body of Christ when great men and women of God have been tempted and, in a time of weakness, have fallen.  You have experienced this type of temptation and succumbed to sin, and so have I. Being in a leadership position often makes a person even more vulnerable because Satan has assigned demon spirits to tempt leaders and try to cause them to fall.  That is why it is important for all of us to stay close to God through His Word, prayer, and fellowship with one another.

And always remember the good news that “…The things which are impossible with men are possible with God” (Luke 18:27 NKJV). The word possible refers to “miracle-working power.” The miracle-working power of God’s grace can keep you in His righteousness.

2025-08-06T12:46:14-06:00September 29th, 2025|

Seeing Jesus in Rosh Hashanah (The Feast of Trumpets)

The Feast of Trumpets (also known as Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year) starts on September 22 this year. In the Old Testament (Leviticus 23:25), it was in preparation for the Feast of Atonement and announced the voice of God and His might in warfare, gatherings, and coronations. When the feast was eaten, the people knew that were eating victory, that nothing was impossible with God, and that they could be free from anything.

During this time in history, the ram’s horn was very important, serving as a representation of Jesus’s victory in our lives. Every feast began with the blowing of the shofar (a trumpet made from the ram’s horn), then the people would feast on who God was, giving them a revelation of their true Messiah. The first time we see the horn of a ram mentioned in Scripture was when Abraham was about to offer Isaac as a sacrifice to the Lord, but God provided a ram instead, sparing Isaac’s life (see Genesis 22:13).

Several hundred years later, the Israelites blew the trumpets as they conquered Jericho. They marched once around the city for seven days, then on the seventh day they marched seven times—each time they marched around, the priests blew their trumpets. This blowing of the trumpets gave the people confidence that they were going to win because God would make them victorious.

Seen throughout the Bible close to 20 times, the blowing of the trumpets had several different meanings and announcements to the people:

  • Trumpets were blown before going into battle, claiming victory (Numbers 10:9).
  • In the year of Jubilee, the trumpets were blown to kick off the celebration (Leviticus 25).
  • The trumpets were blown for a calling to repentance, and repentance led to victory (Leviticus 23).
  • Trumpets were blown when someone became king (2 Samuel 15:10; 2 Kings 9:13; 11:14, 2 Chronicles 23:13).
  • Isaiah 27:12-13 reveals the prophecy of the coming of Jesus through the blowing of trumpets. This meant that Jesus would raise the believers from the dead and take them to heaven to be with Him eternally.
  • The harvest resurrection will start with the sound of a trumpet (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).

The greatest Feast of Trumpets will be when Jesus comes back, and we are all caught up to be with Him in heaven. Just as the trumpets were blown for the coronation of a king, the trumpets will again sound when the King of Kings comes to reign victoriously forever!

2025-08-06T12:37:12-06:00September 22nd, 2025|

Bury Your Unbelief

I have a special scripture God gave me. So put your hand on your heart because I want you to listen Okay. And this is, Mark 11:23 “Whosoever shall say to this mountain, be thou removed and cast into the sea and shall not doubt in his heart, but believe the things that he saith shall come to pass, he shall have whatsoever he saith.” So now I want you to put your hands up because you’re going to speak to your mountains. Why? Because you’re going to get what’s on the other side, right? Okay. Say Father in the name of Jesus, I speak to this mountain that is obstructing me from what I need to have. I thank you Father, that today, today I get what’s on the other side. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

I like this about God. He always wants to give you dramatic changes that are good. So put your hand on your heart. Say I’m getting a dramatic change that is good.

I want you to look at five areas of your life.  You know, there’s some things I have wanted and wanted to see God do, but I have doubts. It has you, looking at it like, I never had a doubt in my life. I have, I don’t believe you.

I think we both had doubts. And so what do we do? And I’m really dealing with five of the basic doubts that can come your way and want to do with them. So number one is David had a wife who was a jerk. You know, Michael got upset with him because she saw him dancing before the Lord. That’s really bad news. And she despised him in her heart because she thought he wasn’t sophisticated enough so he never went with her again. He divorced her. And folks, sometimes I looked at this, you have to divorce your unbelief. You know, there are some things that you think, well yeah, God can do it, but I don’t know if he’ll do it for me. And so you have to say, okay, can God do all things? Can I believe God in these challenging times? You say, no, I can’t.

Now we’re going to pray. Okay, ready? Say Father, I believe according to the Bible, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. And so it’s important for us to separate ourselves from those unbelief’s. Now you say, how do you do that? And it’s a shame that she didn’t divorce herself from her unbelief because she never had any children. So, unbelief keeps you in a negative place. And what was it? It was criticism. Did you ever criticize anybody? But criticizing others and how they did it, what they didn’t do, or how they dressed or how they treated their children or how they don’t handle their money right.

Don’t criticize because it does something to you. It caused her to lose her opportunity for a child. Really, and that’s big time. Bury your criticism of others. Who are you mad at today? Who are you criticizing today? I’m not going to ask you to raise your hand. Just put your hand on your heart and pray and say, Father, that criticism I have of that person, whether it’s right or wrong, I am burying. I’m leaving it here, and I’m not picking it up and taking it home. I’m not called to criticize. I’m called to change. Amen.

Okay. Now I want to talk about another D, and this is death because sometimes death can be a real hard thing for us. So here David has a son and Bathsheba and the child dies and David is fasting during this time. You know, everyone has had disappointments in prayer.

Well, you’ve had disappointments in circumstances. You get disappointed at God sometime and if you say you haven’t, you’re a liar. Cause I’ve been disappointed at God sometimes I thought he should do it faster and just do it. He hasn’t even done it yet. You know what I’m saying? And David had a son and you know, the son was very sick and David fasted and prayed. Now he could have taken a lot of condemnation on himself because this baby was born out of wedlock but he didn’t, he fasted and prayed and says, maybe the lord will bring him back. I don’t want him to die. I don’t want him to die.  David stood that I want this child to live.  And there are some things I have wanted I didn’t get.

And so then do you give up on God and wave God goodbye? No way. What did he do? He’s fasting and praying and it doesn’t happen. And he said, I can’t bring him back to life, but someday I can go to him. He can’t come back to me, but I can go to him. Do you look for the positive part of what God can do? I find sometimes we carry grief because we don’t like the way God did it. We wanted him to do such and such and it didn’t happen. So that can be a dangerous thing. I’m going to share some family things. When my father died and my father was hard to live with, he had mental problems. My mother didn’t have a picnic with him and you know, he got all right and then he died and my mother went into grief and she was grieving all the time, all the time.

And I thought, why are you doing this? One day I called her and I felt like God gave me an answer.  I called her one day and I said, mother, do you believe that Jesus carried your grief and sorrow? The Bible says it. Yes. She said, I believe it. I said, then why are you carrying the grief of your husband? Because if Jesus carried it for you, what are you doing carrying it? And she cried and prayed, and that was the end of it. You can carry grief. But does the Bible say he carried your griefs?  Are you going to carry this? Because grief can break you down. It can wound you to no end. We know that. I looked at this and I thought David was smart.  He can’t come to me, but I can go to him. He chose the path of what God could do in this situation and he could do a great miracle. Now, grief, let’s just talk about it. People say to me, well, grief is good for you. Well, it might be good for a little while, but when people carry it and carry it, they quit going to church, quit reading their Bible because they’re mad at God and grieved at God. That’s dangerous.  Grief can be dangerous. We have to bury our grief and trust God’s word.

Now I’ve had disappointments. Oh God, I wanted this door to open and it didn’t open. Where are you? You know, but you’re going to have to leave some of these things with God and trust God. Everybody say it, trust God, and my mother was a different person after that and she lived very well until she died.

Now the third thing is disease. You know the leper.  I’m wild in faith, you know I always will be. It says a man with leprosy came and knelt before Jesus. Lord, if you’re willing, you can make me clean. Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. I am willing. He said, be clean. Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. Does God want you to be whole? Yes. Now he was cleansed of leprosy. Jesus said, I’m willing.  I think you have to stand on this, I am willing, and I may take a while, but I think wholeness here is bigger. Jesus said be clean. I’m willing. Be clean. Immediately he was cleansed of the leprosy.  That’s wonderful.  But I think also leprosy chewed off their fingers, their toes, parts of their body. Jesus restored what he had lost. I think he got some new fingers and some new toes. I bet he really looked good. Maybe he hadn’t had a nose, but I think wholeness can be more than just getting rid of it. It can be getting hold of what you lost. Do you like that? You turn down what God can give you. And what about timing? I don’t understand God’s timing. I wish he’d get faster and some things are fast.  You need to bury your unbelief that God is not willing to heal and just not give up. So let’s do it. Father, I bury unbelief. I thank you Father, that I am free from disappointment. You called me here. You have a purpose. I’m not looking down. I’m looking up.

Okay, the next one is disaster. Everybody say disaster and that’s kind of what we think we’re in right now is a disaster. Shall we fall apart? Have a nervous breakdown? I don’t think so. Suddenly. Now when we look at this, this is Paul and Barnabas in a prison, and what are they doing at midnight?

Where is God? I can’t believe he deserted us. We’re so good. We preach the gospel. Then we get in trouble and he looks the other way. Watch your behavior in disaster and help others when they are in disaster. You have to bury your unbelief. And what did they begin to do? They began to praise God. Wow. And immediately, all the doors and everyone’s chains were loosed. You realize I wasn’t just their chains that were loosed. It was everybody. Your faith affects everybody. And what I see in my life is faith pleases God. If I want to whine and murmur around it, it doesn’t please God. But if I want to believe and people think I’m crazy and relatives doing man neighbors, Hey, it’s very important that I please God, very important. And sometimes it takes a long time on some things, and some things you don’t understand, but you trust God. Anyway, so bury your unbelief that God cannot bring your freedom.

Despair is a horrible thing. And I think about Absalom’s sister, she was raped by her half-brother. I’m sure you would want to kill them. Somebody hurting your sister, your half-sister or hurting your family. That’s a horrible, horrible thing. And you can live in bitterness, you can live in it. And this is a very serious thing.

And probably some of you know mine, I don’t know, you’ve been here a long time, but what are we going to do? Are we going to hold on to bitterness? Are we going to hold on to despair? You know, I don’t believe we can hold on to bitterness.

It’s just something that latches itself onto you and suddenly you realize, Oh yes, I am bitter about that. And you can be free. Why hold onto it. Bitterness hurts you.  If you live in that bitterness, wow, you’re going to hurt yourself and you think you’re hurting them. But the one you are hurting the most is yourself.

You know, folks, there comes a point when it can be buried and you don’t have it.  I want you to pray now. Say, Father, I want to give up bitterness. I want to give up despair because I don’t want to have bitterness destroy me. Because if you don’t bury it, how can I tell you this? It can bury you. I don’t want to be buried. Amen. hat keeps us in despair. Say, Father, I don’t want to be bitter. I don’t want to think I deserve to be bitter. I want to be free. I am repenting of any bitterness I’ve held toward anyone and I believe that you are doing things in me. I’m going to leave here in freedom in Jesus’ name. Amen. God, we thank you that we’re not going to carry bitterness out of here and what is it comes to your mind.

I’ve already repented. I’ve forgiven. I’m not under that. Okay. Put your hand on your heart. Say, Father, I want to repent of any bitterness I have carried toward anyone. I thank you that who the Son sets free is free Indeed. I am free from all bitterness in Jesus’ name and I stay free because I remember, I chose to forgive to bury that unforgiveness. Amen.

Now, the last one fits everybody. Bury thoughts that tell you God does not care about your future. I think that’s one of the worst things of all. Well, look with what’s happening in the world, he doesn’t care about my future or look at where I have failed. He doesn’t have a future for me. God has good future for us and we need not to go there with that. And I think with all the news that we see, we can really think negative, can’t we? I’m not going to think negative.  And I don’t think we can ever give up on our children and on our circumstances.

We believe that God will take care of our future and that it isn’t over till we win.

2025-07-24T06:16:52-06:00September 8th, 2025|

Endure to Receive the Promise

What is the purpose of endurance? You endure to receive the promise that God has made to you.

Abraham went through many trials and tribulations. When God told him his descendants would be as the stars of the sky and the sand of the sea, there were no heirs to fulfill the promise. Abraham had no idea how the promise would be fulfilled but he was confident that somehow God would perform what He had promised.

God told Abraham and Sarah that they would have a child. They were perplexed and puzzled. Abraham and Sarah had long passed their prime—physically and naturally there was no way for Sarah to have a child.

But Abraham and Sarah endured until one day, Isaac, the son of promise, was born. He was their tangible proof that God could be trusted, that His Word was true.  Today Abraham’s seed is as the stars of the heavens and the sand of the sea! Abraham reigns today because he trusted that God’s promise to him was true. Hebrews 6:15 “…after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.”

2025-07-24T06:03:44-06:00September 1st, 2025|

Ask Marilyn

GOD AND THE BIBLE 

Q: Why should I read the whole Bible?

A : The Bible is God’s primary method of communicating with His creation, mankind. It is His revealed Word and will to man.  Through reading and studying the Bible, you can meet, get to know, and establish a one-on-one relationship with the one true God, your Creator.  As such, the Bible can be your best friend.

Its two major divisions, the Old Testament and the New Testament, both point to Jesus as the Redeemer of the human race.  The Old Testament prepared the way for Jesus, and the New Testament prepares a people to receive Him.

That’s why it’s so important for you to read every book in the Bible—you can behold Jesus in every book of the Bible! Each book reveals to you Jesus and His love for you. When you read the whole Bible, you will recognize the unity of the Bible, and can apply its truths to every area of your life.

Q: How do you know God wrote the Bible?

A: The Bible claims God as its author, and a knowledge of the Word makes this apparent. There are 66 books in the Bible—written by more than 30 different persons over a period of thousands of years, and yet there is a consistent theme running from Genesis to Revelation.  The Bible describes the fall of man, his utter sinfulness, and God’s redemptive plan through the blood sacrifice of His Son. If the scriptures were not written by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the mortal men who penned them surely would not present man as totally depraved and in need of salvation.

Man’s “religion” always teaches access to God through human effort, but the Bible clearly states that mankind is dead in trespasses and sin. Dead men can’t work their way to God; they can only accept God’s provision of a new life in Christ Jesus.

Each of the prophets declared that it was the Word of the Lord that came to them; and with the exception of end-time prophecy, all prophecy has been fulfilled to the letter—even as God said it would be (2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:20, 21).

Q: Is the Bible really God’s infallible Word?

A: Yes, the Bible is God’s infallible Word. Even though there are scriptures which, when read, may seem “inconsistent,” one must know the whole counsel of God’s Word to see there is no contradiction.

Q: What is the difference between the Old Testament and the New Testament?

A: The purpose of the Old Testament is to show us man’s creation, his sin (fall), and to show us God’s preparation for a Redeemer to come Who would make salvation available to all men. This Redeemer (Jesus) came through the Jewish nation; thus, the Old Testament is the story of their history—good and bad.

In the New Testament we have the manifestation of the Redeemer and His manifestation through His people (those who receive Him).  We also see the culmination of God’s plan of redemption in the book of Revelation.

Q: Which version of the Bible do you believe is the most accurate?

A: From the time that God confused language at the tower of Babel until now, the human race has been trying to communicate through the imperfect vehicle of foreign languages. The Bible was written in Hebrews, Aramaic, and Greek.  Because different words can be translated in a variety of ways, we have different Bible versions, which essentially are different translations.

Modern translations are taken from the original Greek and Hebrew; but even so, there is still a problem in that one word can have various shades and meanings and thereby can be translated differently.  So, each person who translates a work must do it on the basis of the context in which the word is written in order to determine the original meaning.  Different scholars have different opinions on how these words should be translated; thus, we have a variety of translations, and all of these translations depend upon the text from which that particular language was translated.

The NEW AMERICAN STANDARD VERSION and the NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION are considered by many Bible scholars to be the most accurate English translation available today.  However, my personal preference is still the KING JAMES VERSION.

Q: What does it mean to walk with God every day? How can I walk with Him every day?

A: “To walk with God” means to live your life in harmony with Christ’s life in you. This comes about through prayer and Bible study.  Speak to God in prayer, and let Him speak to you through the Bible.

Q: How do we know Jesus is God?

A: The Bible, which is the final authority for every Christian, says in John 1:1, 14 NKJV, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us…” Philippians 2:6, 7 NKJV “Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.” These verses refer to Jesus Christ.  They tell us that Jesus is God Who became man and lived here on earth.

If Jesus is not God, then we, of all people—that is to say Christians—are the most to be pitied.  If Jesus is not God, then we have no hope for eternal life because a mere man could not ascend into heaven and sit at the Father’s right hand as the Scriptures record.

I would encourage you to ask the Holy Spirit to open up your eyes to the fact that Jesus Christ is true God and true man.  Come before Him in prayer and ask Him to reveal Himself to you in a personal way.  If you are honestly seeking for the truth, then I know that He will do this for you.

Q: Marilyn, please explain the Trinity. If Jesus is God and the Holy Spirit is God and God the Father is God, how can Jesus sit at the right hand of Himself?

A: The concept of the Trinity (three-in-one and one-in-three) is ultimately a mystery to our human, finite minds! I can only tell you what I understand about it as I read through the Bible. Ultimately the truth about the Godhead must be accepted by faith so long as we are in these human bodies.

Although the word “trinity” is never mentioned in the Bible, its existence is clearly spoken of in Matthew 28:19 and 2 Corinthians 13:14.  God is one (Deuteronomy 6:4), yet made up of three distinct persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Just as a family is one unit made up of several family members, so the Godhead is one unit with three members.  Each person of the Trinity has a specific role, differing from the other two; and yet together, they make up a single unit with a single purpose, carrying out a perfect and complete plan.

The Heavenly Father is the architect or planner of the Trinity; Jesus is the contractor or the One Who carries out the plan; and the Holy Spirit is the laborer or the One Who gives life to the plan.  Let’s look at the creation record.  The Father planned it, Jesus did it, and the Holy Spirit gave it life.  These three distinct roles, or ministries, of the Trinity can be seen in the creation of man and the birth and resurrection of Jesus in the flesh. (See Genesis 1:2; 1:26; and John 1:2).

The Old Testament scriptures which refer to God as one God, literally mean that He is a unit, not that He is only one individual.  When you see this relationship, you can understand that Jesus the Son can sit at the right-hand of the Father.

Q: Please explain for me, Marilyn, what is the grace of God?

A: “Grace” comes from the Hebrew word chanan which means “to stoop in kindness to an inferior.” The grace of God conveys that same idea in that we receive unmerited, unearned, undeserved favor from God. God’s gifts are based on His undying mercies not on some kind of reward system for our works.  God’s kindness is not only present in Him in great measure but is manifest to us in abundance.

One of the best ways to remember what grace means is in an acrostic made of each letter in the word GRACE— “God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.”  Without Christ’s sacrifice none of us could receive God’s grace.

Take the gift of grace today; and as you receive from Him that grace, give it away also that you may be ever abounding in His never-ending grace (Romans 5:15-21).

Q: What is the meaning of the “fear of the Lord?”

A: The word fear comes from a Hebrew root word which means “to reverence, trust, and stand in awe.” So, this word is talking about the deep reverence and awe we should have for God. It is in this same trust, awe, and reverence that we should worship, love and honor God.

2025-06-26T11:02:13-06:00June 23rd, 2025|

I Am the Way

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)

This is the sixth “I Am” statement Jesus makes in the Gospel of John and it’s our theme verse for the month of August. There are a few things I want to point out:

  • Jesus is the only way to the Father.
  • Jesus is the truth which reveals the Father.
  • Jesus if the life that brings regeneration (rebirth) to man.

As the way, the truth, and the life, Jesus was the embodiment of three basic Jewish concepts:

  1. The Jews knew about the way.

In Deuteronomy 31:29, Moses warned the Israelites about straying from the way after his death:

“For I know that after my death you will become utterly corrupt, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you. And evil will befall you in the latter days, because you will do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger through the work of your hands.”

David asked to learn the way in Psalm 27:11:

Teach me Your way, O Lord,

And lead me in a smooth path.

Isaiah spoke about God leading us in the way:

Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying,

“This is the way, walk in it,”

Whenever you turn to the right hand

Or whenever you turn to the left. (Isaiah 30:21)

A few chapters later, Isaiah prophesied a return to the way:

A highway shall be there, and a road,

And it shall be called the Highway of Holiness.

The unclean shall not pass over it,

But it shall be for others.

Whoever walks the road, although a fool,

Shall not go astray. (Isaiah 35:8)

Jesus didn’t explain the way, He said, “I am the way.” Jesus didn’t give directions, He said, “I am the direction.” Jesus didn’t point His people there, He said “I will take you there.”

  1. The Old Covenant taught the truth.

David professed to having walked in truth:

For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes,

And I have walked in Your truth. (Psalm 26:3)

David vowed to walk in God’s truth:

Teach me Your way, O Lord;

I will walk in Your truth. (Psalm 86:11)

The author of Psalm 119 chose truth:

I have chosen the way of truth. (v. 30)

A man can teach truth, but not walk in it. Jesus said, “I am the truth.” All moral perfection is found in Jesus, the truth.

  1. The Scriptures emphasized life.

Moses commanded Israel to choose life in Deuteronomy 30:19:

“I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.”

David trusted God to show him the road to life:

You will show me the path of life;

In Your presence is fullness of joy;

At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psalm 16:11)

Solomon said correction and instruction give life:

For the commandment is a lamp,

And the law a light;

Reproofs of instruction are the way of life. (Proverbs 6:23)

Jesus isn’t just a path to life, He said, “I am the life.” Remember that Jesus demonstrated the sixth “I Am” statement in the healing of the nobleman’s son in John 4:46-53. The nobleman believed the truth in Christ, went on his way, and his son received life (vv. 50-51).

Jesus will do the same for us. He’ll be the truth and all we need. He’ll be the way and make a way for us. He’ll give us the life we need to please Him.

Today’s blog post is from Marilyn’s master class, John: The Gospel for Real Life. For more information, please visit https://www.mentoredbymarilyn.org/

2025-06-04T13:49:10-06:00June 16th, 2025|

The Pearl of Great Price

If you’re like most of us, you’ve probably been taught that the pearl of great price mentioned in Matthew 13:45 is Jesus Himself.  (And certainly, Jesus is more than worthy of every high and noble name that our tongues could ever utter).

The Holy Spirit opened my eyes to the fuller and deeper meaning of this great passage…

In Matthew 13:45, where it says the merchant man went forth seeking a pearl, and when he found the pearl of great price, he sold all that he had to get the pearl; Jesus is the merchant man who came from heaven.  He was a connoisseur—because merchant here has to do with connoisseur—or one who looked for the very best.

Who is the pearl of great price?  It is every believer!  You are a pearl…I am a pearl.

As John 3:16 so beautifully states it, Jesus thought we were the best; so, He came and purchased the whole world in order to get us—the best.  He considered us the pearl of great price.

The pearl is a very unique gem.  It is not like the ruby, emerald, diamond, or topaz.  These are all formations of rock, but the pearl is a living stone.  It is made out of a living organism.

Peter said that Jesus was the Living Stone that was “rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious.”

He further states that every Christian is a living stone too: “You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house…” I Peter 2:5 (NKJ).

That’s what we are.  We’re pearls!  We’re precious in the sight of God, and He sent Jesus to this world to purchase the pearl of great price with His own blood on Calvary’s Cross.

You see, unlike the other precious stones, pearls come forth out of suffering.  Down in the depths of the sea, there on the ocean floor, an oyster gets a grain of sand inside.  It becomes a severe irritant to the oyster, so the oyster starts covering that irritant with layer after layer of a substance called nacre.  After a long period of suffering, the finished product is the pearl.

We became pearls in like manner.

God sent Jesus Who took the irritant of our sin and covered us with layer after layer of righteousness.  And just as pearls are made in the depths of the seas, so we were in the depths of sin.  But He came to where we are, sought us out, and took us.

Now, pearls are so precious that they are used in the crowns of kings.  We are too.  God took us and put us into the highest place He could put us.  He seated us in high places with Christ Jesus.  How valuable those pearls are.  They cost Jesus everything.

2025-05-15T12:22:25-06:00June 9th, 2025|

God Has a Way Out

God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Do you need a way out of temptation? I have good news for you—God has a way out designed specifically for you! First Corinthians 10:13 says three things about the temptations that may come your way: “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” First, it says that temptations are “common.” Temptations, though they may come in different forms, happen to everyone. Second, the faithfulness of God will cause you to prevail in every situation.  Third, God will provide a way out of the situation so that you will be able to successfully endure it.

Adversity and temptation come to steal the Word of God out of your heart so that it will not bear fruit in your life. The devil would love to get you on a detour so that you miss what God has for you.  He will try all kinds of things to rob you of God’s plan for your life. We all have people and circumstances that could get us off target with God and cause us to detour from His chosen path.  But God promises that when you are faced with a temptation, He will either help you through it or take you out of it. God will give you a way out! Many believers think they will escape adversity and temptation by the “skin of their teeth.” However, as Christians, you should not think of just barely getting by.  I want you to think triumph. I want you to think victory because that is what the Word of God says.

There are two ways to escape adversity—God’s way and man’s way.  The most common form of escape in today’s pleasure-oriented society is through entertainment. Christians and non-Christians alike spend countless hours of their lives watching TV, scrolling online, or some other form of entertainment.  By bombarding their minds with make-believe, they think they can escape their problems and pretend they don’t exist.  The world’s system says, “Don’t think! Let us amuse you.  Take your mind off your problems and watch TV!”

But Isaiah 1:18 says, “’Come now, and let us reason together; says the Lord.” God wants to speak to you and do something very supernatural in the time of your temptation.  You don’t have to yield to a man-made or self-made detour.

If ever a man needed a way of escape, it was Job.  Not only had he lost his wealth, health, and children, but he also had bad breath (see Job 19:17 NIV). His friends accused him of having sin in his life, and because of that sin, they said God had judged him. However, in the midst of his temptation, Job had a revelation of God like he had never had before. Out of that revelation came a double portion of blessing—God doubled everything he had lost and enriched his walk with Him.

God can bring you through your time of testing and temptation with great victory, too, if you’ll use His way out and not yours.

2025-05-14T14:31:30-06:00June 2nd, 2025|

The Conclusion of the Matter

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. Ecclesiastes 12:13

Ecclesiastes is a beautiful book. It starts with groaning, but it ends with joy. We can groan a lot, but if we can get hold of the joy of the Lord, it will be our strength for this life.

You say, “Where’s Jesus in this? Is Jesus in here, in the midst of all the vanity and groaning?” Oh yes! If you look at chapter 12, at the 11th verse, it says: “The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd.” A goad is a stick or a cattle-prod, something used to move you in the right direction. So the words of the Shepherd will give us direction, and they’ll hold us tight like a well-driven nail. We can hang our life on the Shepherd’s words. Notice the capital “S” for Shepherd. Jesus is the Good Shepherd referred to in this Scripture!

In Ecclesiastes, we see Solomon look for satisfaction in everything but God, but in the final chapter he comes back to the living God; he saw the Son, the Shepherd King, and it transformed his life. I believe when we get to Heaven, we can sit down with Solomon and he can tell you, “I tried everything and it was empty, but when I got hold of Jesus, I knew that was life and life abundant.”

Solomon’s final conclusion is that the whole of life is to fear God, to keep His commandments, and to live forever with Him. This is the chief thing in life and the only eternally rewarding thing. Don’t spend your life frivolously looking for a purpose. Find God’s purpose for your life!

2025-04-16T08:11:53-06:00May 26th, 2025|

Scriptures on Favor

The following Scriptures are intended to prove that God will produce favor in your life. Meditate upon these Scriptures and memorize them until they penetrate deep down into your spirit. If you plant them in your heart now, when you are in a time of need, they will be firmly rooted, and you will be able to stand upon them. I just love these verses, and I believe you will, too!

“You have granted me life and favor, and Your care has preserved my spirit.” (Job 10:12)

For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield. (Psalm 5:12)

For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. (Psalm 30:5)

Let them shout for joy and be glad, who favor my righteous cause; and let them say continually, “Let the Lord be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.” (Psalm 35:27)

By this I know that You favor me, because my enemy does not triumph over me. (Psalm 41:11 MEV)

For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, nor did their own arm save them; but it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, because You favored them. (Psalm 44:3)

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. (Psalm 84:11 NIV)

For You are the glory of their strength, and in Your favor our horn is exalted. (Psalm 89:17)

May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands. (Psalm 90:17 NIV)

Remember me, O Lord, with the favor You have toward Your people. Oh, visit me with Your salvation. That I may see the benefit of Your chosen ones, that I may rejoice in the gladness of Your nation, that I may glory with Your inheritance. (Psalm 106:4-5)

Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man. (Proverbs 3:3-4)

He who earnestly seeks good find favor, but trouble will come to him who seeks evil. (Proverbs 11:27)

A good man obtains favor from the Lord, but a man of wicked intentions He will condemn. (Proverbs 12:2)

Good understanding gains favor, but the way of the unfaithful is hard. (Proverbs 13:15)

Fools mock at sin, but among the upright there is favor. (Proverbs 14:9)

In the light of the king’s face is life, and his favor is like a cloud of the latter rain. (Proverbs 16:15)

He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord. (Proverbs 18:22)

A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold. (Proverbs 22:1)

“These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.” (Isaiah 66:2 NIV)

So, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:46-47)

For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. (Romans 14:18)

Today’s blog post was taken from Marilyn’s new book, Wide Open Doors.

2025-04-16T07:37:27-06:00May 19th, 2025|

The Most Important Gift You Can Give Your Children

I knew a woman from Chicago whose son had been classified by the police as a habitual criminal—he was hopelessly locked into a criminal mindset. She meditated and prayed over Proverbs 11:21 for her son, “…the seed of the righteous will be delivered.” She even testified her faith in church saying, “I know God is going to save my son, and he will preach the gospel in this church.” She focused all her attention on God’s transforming power.

One night. She felt an unusual burden to pray for her son. An hour later, he called her long distance, asking what she had been doing earlier. He said a man to whom he’d sold some bad drugs had come to his apartment. The man had beaten him to a pulp, then pulled out a gun, intending to shoot him. The man tried to pull the trigger, but couldn’t bend his finger! After several tries, he threw the gun down and ran out, declaring, “Your mother is doing something to stop me from pulling this trigger!”

Needless to say, the son received Jesus as his Lord and was Spirit-filled shortly thereafter. He attended Bible school and was later a guest speaker at his mother’s church.

Your children can be transformed! Whether they are grown and living a life of sin or still peacefully at home under your covering, the transforming power of God’s Word is available to help them.

A Mother’s Faith

There is something unique about a mother’s faith. Remember how the Syrophenician mother stretched out in supernatural faith on behalf of her hurting daughter:

And behold, a woman of Canaan came … and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord… my daughter is severely demon-possessed.” 23 But He answered her not a word… 25 Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” 26 But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs. 27 And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” 28 The Jesus answered… her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour. (Matthew 15:22-28).

This woman was not about to let anything stop her from claiming God’s transforming power for her daughter. Your children need that same kind of spiritual tenacity exerted on their behalf.

Put your faith in God’s Word—Jesus. Although your children may be involved in ungodly lifestyles, don’t let go of God’s transforming power. Remember the Prodigal Son. The Bible says, “he came to himself.” In other words, suddenly his eyes were opened and he saw things from the perspective of the Word rather than the world. Your wayward children will do the same. One day, they will hear the Holy Spirit speaking to their hearts and respond. They’ll get up, repent, and serve God. Don’t give up on God’s transforming power for their lives!

You Hold the Key

Your faith in God’s transforming power will determine the course of your child’s life. Remember Moses’ mother, Jochebed, Pharaoh ordered all the newborn male Hebrews murdered, but Jochebed trusted in God. The woman conceived, and bore a son; and… she hid him three months” (Exodus 2:2).

Jochebed had a mother’s faith for her baby. She hid him, then put him in an ark and floated him down a river full of crocodiles. The baby ended up in the bathtub of Pharaoh’s daughter. She named him Moses and raised him as her own.

Because of his mother’s faith, Moses’ life was spared; he received an education and had the best of everything. After some life-changing learning experiences, he answered the call of God and was used of God in tremendous ways.

Looking back on the circumstances surrounding Moses’ birth, would you have foreseen all of this in his future? I doubt it; but God’s transforming power turned Moses’ life around.

Maybe your decisions haven’t always served God and you’ve made some mistakes in raising your children. The good news is that, regardless of their beginnings, God has plans for your children—they may be future deliverers in the Body of Christ. Stop feeling guilty about mistakes you may have made. Seek God and repent. Then ask your children to forgive you and stand on God’s Word—the transforming power for their lives.

2025-04-16T07:30:51-06:00May 12th, 2025|

Your Future Is In His Hands

Whether you are 19 or 91, God has a vision for your life that you need to fulfill.  That vision will make it possible for you to wake up every day knowing what He wants from you, instead of guessing what you should do.

You may think, “God doesn’t have anything planned for ME.  I’m not intelligent, talented, pretty, or spiritual enough to be used by God.”  Satan is the one who tells you those lies.  God’s truth is clearly spelled out in Jeremiah 29:11, where He says, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

God’s “expected end,” or vision for your life, does not include pain, suffering, or poverty (those are the devil’s plans for you).  God envisions you experiencing peace and knowing your purpose.

You may think, “That may be true for other people, but I’m always messing up.  God’s mad at me because I blow it all the time.  I haven’t been tithing.  I haven’t been reading my Bible and praying like I should.  I have been cold towards Him.  So, of God has any plans for my life, I bet they are bad.  He wants to pay me back for all the bad things I’ve done.”  That is WRONG because as a child of God, He called you to achieve wonderful things even before He created you!

If you want to catch God’s vision, ask the Holy Spirit causes people to dream dreams of their future and have visions of God’s goals for their lives.  Don’t become discouraged if the vision isn’t revealed right away.  Wait on God!  “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart” Jeremiah 29:13.

God’s vision will give you direction.  Knowing where you’re supposed to go and what you’re supposed to do is important because “Where there is no vision, the people perish…” Proverbs 29:18.  Without God’s vision you won’t achieve the things you need in order to fulfill His purpose for you.

Even the apostle Paul lost his way when he didn’t wait for God’s leading.  Although his first missionary journey produced signs and wonders and a crop of new churches, he nearly flopped at his second journey because he didn’t wait for God to tell him where to go.  Everywhere he went the door was slammed in his face.  But then one night he dreamt of a man asking him to come to Macedonia—he finally received the direction he needed.  And when he followed that vision, God blessed him by opening Europe to the gospel.

Faith Builders

Many people ask me why it seems like some Christians have an easier time obeying God than others.  The answer is these people have a vision from God inside them, and those visions produce the faith they need to do what God wants them to do!  When you catch hold of God’s vision, the word “quit” is erased from your vocabulary and you can say, “My dreams will come true because God gave them to me.  He’s given me this vision, and I believe it will come to pass!”

It had to be hard for Noah to spend 100 years trying to explain what he was doing to a world full of people who had never even seen rain, let alone a flood.  I’m sure people took their families out by Noah’s Ark for after-dinner strolls just to laugh at him before they went to bed.  More than likely he lost friends, his family questioned his sanity, and the neighborhood complained about the monster-sized boat in his front yard.

But even with 10 decades of persecution, Noah continued to build and believe, preach and pray.  He could have become depressed and discouraged, and given up; but he kept at it because he had caught ahold of God’s vision and His vision gave him faith that survived and surpassed the trials he faced.

I’ve learned over the years that even the smallest portion of a vision will produce faith.  This is important because God sometimes doesn’t give you the entire vision at once.  Consider Abraham.  When God called him out of his father’s house and his native land, He didn’t tell him the vision He had for him.  God simply said, “Go.”  Only when Abram arrived at his destination did God show him His vision of being the father of a multitude (see Genesis 12, 13).

The vision was so important to Abram’s life that God changed his name, which means “father of altitudes,” to Abraham, the “father of multitudes.”  Imagine having God change your name to reinforce the power of His vision for your life!

However, even after Abraham’s faith was greatly energized by his encounter with God, I’m sure he started to second guess God when nothing happened for 11 years.  After a couple of years, Abraham went along with Sarah’s plan for him to make a baby with her servant, Hagar.

There may be times in your life when your vision seems to die.  I’m sure that by the time Abraham and Sarah entered their 90s and still didn’t have a baby, they thought, “God, it’s physically impossible to bear a child.  It’s too late.”

I think most people do that.  The vision is exciting and fresh when they first get it, but after a period of time they begin to wonder if the vision came from God after all.  They say, “God, forget it, it’s too late for your vision to come to pass.  It won’t do me any good now.”

Abraham and Sarah’s vision of a family still had not come to pass.  But when it was too late for them to have a baby, God took over and created life supernaturally.  He may do the same with you.  If you have a tendency to give yourself the glory when good things happen to you, God may keep your dreams out of your reach so that when you finally say, “I can’t do it, Lord,” He can hand you a miracle.

Do you feel like you could do so much for God if you could only change your personality?  Are you too shy, too fearful, too mean, or too proud?  Well, the good news is that visions can change your personality.  They can literally change your attitude!  They can change the way you talk, the way you think, and the way you act.

Moses was raised to be Pharaoh.  He was probably pretty arrogant, expecting people to serve him and do his bidding.  But one day, God spoke to him out of a burning bush and gave him a vision, and that vision changed him from a haughty prince into the “meekest man on earth” (see Number 12:3).  Moses changed so much that he was able to put up with two million murmuring people for 40 years.  That takes a big change!

Pray and Obey

When God gives you a vision, your part is to pray and obey—He will bring the results!  One time the Lord spoke to me and said, “When you pray, you always try to answer your needs by yourself.  Marilyn, you do the praying, and I’ll do the answering.”

If you obey God’s vision, God will do supernatural things to bring the vision to pass.  If you start “taking over” for God, trying to get things done in your own timing, then you will miss out on opportunities to receive His blessings and miracles.

Every year I ask God for a Scripture for the New Year.  One time God gave me Proverbs 9:21 “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge and discretion.”  The vision He put in my heart was witty inventions (or creative ways) to reach the lost.

Part of my vision was to pray over the nations of the world every day.  Shortly after I began doing that, some unique things happened at this ministry with foreign countries.  The first was an extremely large order for books and tapes from Kuwait.  Now, that is a miracle because Kuwait is nearly 100 percent Muslim!

When I caught hold of God’s vision for creative ideas and obeyed His leading, He brought a supernatural situation to pass.  And as I continued to obey, He brought more and more miracles to pass for us all over the world.

When God gives you a vision for your life, follow that dream.  If you’re not doing what God want you to do, you will be unhappy and frustrated.  When you do what God wants, your dreams will come true.  Trust in the Lord and delight in His plans and goals for you so He can give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4).  Then you will have godly success.

Please pray with me, “Dear heavenly Father, I ask You to clear my mind of earthly desires and free my heart of worldly weights.  Holy Spirit, please bring Your visions for my future into my heart and give me the faith to follow through with Your plans for my life.  Thank You, Lord, for my peaceful, joyful, expected end.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

2025-04-15T11:41:20-06:00May 5th, 2025|

Ask Marilyn

Friendship

Q: I have a friend who is growing farther away from the Lord; our relationship has become strained. What can I do?

A: The very best advice I can give you on how to help your friend is to be a gap stander. I encourage you to spend some time praying in the Spirit for her. Perhaps you can even fast and pray for this relationship with the Lord to be restored. Fasting and prayer have broken many yokes in other peoples’ lives. You’ll also find your own faith strengthened to believe for her return to the Lord. So the most effective action you can take is to pray, pray, pray!

Q: My husband works with an alcoholic who is living with a man who is not her husband. She has repeatedly invited us to their home for dinner. Should we accept?

A: Jesus associated with men and women with poor reputations, and He told us to go into all the world to preach the gospel: “The Son of Man cam eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.” (Matthew 11:19).

I believe the Lord wants you to carry your witness into this woman’s home, even though she is an alcoholic and living with a man—certainly they both need the Lord, and you can bring Him to them! Do not be concerned by what other people may think of you—Jesus wasn’t—but rather be concerned about the salvation of these two precious souls.

On the other hand, you should be certain that those people with whom you spend most of your time are fellow Christians. The Bible is very clear about the dangers of being unequally yoked with unbelievers, and that injunction definitely applies to all levels of relationships—business, marriage, and friendship (see 1 Corinthias 6:14).

Spiritual fellowship is a gift of God for those within the Body of Christ (Psalms 55:14; Galatians 2:9). Even the backslider is one who is out of fellowship with God; and therefore, our position should be to pray and believe that such a person will turn back to God. Let the Holy Spirit guide you in how much time to spend with unbelievers and what activities to share with them.

Q: I am so grieved about some friends of mine who have become involved in a false doctrine. Now they are harassing me with “intellectual” reasons why I should not believe the Bible as God’s Word. What can I do?

A: The very first thing I want to tell you is, “Don’t give up on your friends!” If you cannot speak to them about the subject and they will not take any literature, then pray this scripture for them: These also who erred in spirit will come to understanding, and those who complained will learn doctrine. (Isaiah 29:24).

Your friends have erred in their spirit, but you can pray this promise for them to return to right understanding. God says that those who have erred in spirit will learn the Word of God as a reality, and you can claim that scripture. My husband and I have stood on this scripture for friends and members of our church. It has sometimes taken months and even years, but over and over again we have seen God restore individuals to correct doctrine.

Don’t argue with your friends, and don’t listen to their false doctrines; but do keep praying the authority of God’s Word over their lives. Then watch God enlighten the eyes of their understanding.

Q: Should we have pets, or do they take the time and place of people who need our attention?

A: Pets are a source of joy and comfort to many people. So long as their care and presence in our lives do not interfere with our relationship to God or hinder us in doing His will, I see nothing wrong with enjoying and caring for pets. The guideline we should follow in this regard is to ask ourselves if God and His kingdom have first place in our lives (Matthew 6:33).

Q: Is it really Biblical to be “legally” married? I have a friend who loves the man she is living with very much, but they don’t believe a marriage certificate is necessary because they are married to one another in their hearts.

A: The Bible is very clear that we are to obey the ordinances of government: “Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake… 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men… (1 Peter 2:13,15).

A marriage certificate is required by God because it is required by most states for a marriage to be legally binding. Without a marriage certificate, the rights of the individuals involved, and any children they may have, could be unprotected. God set up governments for the sake of order and law, and we are required to submit to those laws.

In the marriage ceremony vows of commitment are made to God to the marriage partner. These vows are important, and the wedding ceremony is important. Jesus performed His first miracle at a wedding. Certainly, He believed that weddings were important.

Q: I am born again, but I still have friends who are not. Some of these people are in severe sexual bondage. How should I pray for them?

A: Christians overcome the enemy in two ways: first by the blood of the Lamb and next by the word of their testimony. The blood gives us authority to speak the Word over sin in our own life and in the lives of others. Confess the Word over those who are bound by sin. Pray that your friends will hunger and thirst after righteousness (Matthew 5:6), and then pray that they will confess their sins and receive God’s forgiveness (1 John 1:9). Thank God for His forgiveness and for the cleansing power of the blood.

Continue to stand in the gap for your friends, believing that nothing is too hard for God and His power can change things. Remember, Jesus came so that sin may no longer have dominion over us. God loves those who are bound by sin; and through the power of prayer, these people can know the liberty of walking in the light of the gospel.

2025-03-20T10:45:04-06:00April 28th, 2025|

The Surrendered Life

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

God offers us total victory in life. Though it’s a simple step of faith to reach out and receive from Him, it requires such a total surrender of ourselves that many fail to respond.  For example, the rich young ruler came to Jesus and asked what to do to gain eternal life (see Matthew 19:16-22). Jesus demanded of the young man more than he could part with.  Jesus didn’t care about the man’s wealth—He cared about the man.  Jesus asked him to give up himself so that Jesus could give him life. The same is still true today. Many of us are willing to give our time, labor, and money to the work of the Lord. But when Jesus asks for ourselves, it’s a different story.  Yet total surrender to Jesus is where the victorious life comes from.

Only Jesus has the right to ask that we totally surrender to Him because He already surrendered Himself for us. Romans 5:8 tells us that God gave everything for us at the cross: “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” God says, “I gave everything for you; I totally surrendered.  Now you are to be like me.  Give me your life.”

God isn’t asking you to die on a cross to be like Jesus.  Jesus already did that! Jesus taught us how to be like Him through total surrender and submission to the Father. He humbled Himself and became like man so that we could become like Him and be exalted.  The whole process is summed up in Philippians 2:5-11, which outlines Jesus’s seven steps to total surrender and victory.

Verses 6-8 focus on His surrender: Jesus (1) “Who being in the form of God, (2) did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, (3) but made Himself of no reputation, (4) taking the form of a bondservant, and (5) coming in the likeness of men. (6) And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself (7) and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”

You might be asking, “What’s so victorious about dying on a cross?” Well, verses 9-11 tell us that after Jesus totally surrendered (died), then God exalted Him in another seven-step process up from the grave: “(1) Therefore God also has highly exalted Him (2) and given Him the name which is above every name, (3) that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, (4) of those in heaven, (5) and of those on earth, (6) and of those under the earth, (7) and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

 Godly surrender yields lifetime benefits because it delivers you from the herd attitude that tempts you to say, “I can’t do that! What will so-and-so say?” The herd attitude makes us embarrassed to show others that we are surrendered to God.  It’s the world’s attitude of “If it feels good, do it.” But folks, if you’re a part of the herd, you are surrendered to the herd; and if you’re part of them, who’s going to minister to the herd?

Instead of a herd attitude, develop your “Word” attitude.  The “Word” attitude is just what it says.  If the Word says, “Do it, do it!” When you surrender to the cross, then you can be a blessing to others and to yourself because you’ll reap what you sow.  If you sow forgiveness, you’ll reap forgiveness.  If you sow love, you’ll reap love.  God forgave you so you can forgive others.  He waited for you to surrender to Him, so now you can patiently minister Him to others and enjoy the fruit of your labors as the whole cycle starts over again with someone to whom you ministered.

This blog post is excerpted from Marilyn’s 101-day devotional, Beautiful Inheritance.

2025-03-20T10:37:29-06:00April 21st, 2025|

Triumph and Victory

NOW THANKS BE TO GOD WHO ALWAYS LEADS US IN TRIUMPH IN CHRIST…

-2 Corinthians 2:14

Nine years after David was anointed to be king, he was an outcast of Israel! He was living in a Philistine city, Ziklag, with several hundred of his men and their families. “Ziklag” means “overwhelming despair.” What a place for the future king of Israel to live!

One day after returning home to Ziklag, David and his men found that all their wives, children and possessions had been stolen by the Amalekites. David’s men picked up stones to stone him. Instead of saying, “Go on and get it over with,” David encouraged his men that they were capable of reclaiming their wives, children and possessions from the hands of the Amalekites.

David and his men found the Amalekites camp and not only got back all of their wives, children and possessions; they confiscated all that the Amalekites had as well. When David returned to Ziklag, it was no longer a place of overwhelming despair, it was a place of OVERWHELMING VICTORY. Shortly after returning to camp, men came to tell him that both Saul and Jonathan had been killed and that they wanted David to become king!

What would have happened if David had given up when his men wanted to kill him? He never would have received his promised reward! He would not have been made king. God has given you exceedingly great and precious promises, but if you give up before you receive them, you’ll cut yourself off from a blessing. Hang on! You can do it!

If you have been living in Ziklag, a place of overwhelming despair, purpose in your heart to live in a place of OVERWHELMING VICTORY. Go out and reclaim the promises that satan has stolen from you!

2025-03-31T12:44:28-06:00April 14th, 2025|

Walking on Water

Jesus’ disciples slowly began to realize that dealing with fear was going to be an important part of their lives as His followers. The more time they spent with Him, the more evident that He would not always be with them and that it might not be either popular or safe to identify with Him. Persecution, although not an appealing thought, was a frightening possibility. Indeed, as they soon discovered, it was a certainty. Jesus tried to help them prepare for what lay ahead and remember that they would not be alone:

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world (John 16:33).

Although few of us in this country today have experienced it, persecution remains a real possibility for every believer. In addition, there are many other factors in our world that can be sources of fear if we let them. Even when we are walking in the perfect will of God, fearful circumstances occur because this earth is still in the possession of the enemy. Natural conditions such as blizzards, tornadoes, or earthquakes can give us a feeling of total helplessness, but knowing we can call on God to save us should be a great comfort.

One day, immediately after feeding five thousand people with three loaves of bread and two fish, Jesus sent His disciples across the Sea of Galilee in a boat while He dismissed the crowds. As night fell, a storm arose and the boat was badly battered by the high waves. Simon Peter and the other disciples were battling the winds, rowing in the dark, and probably scared half to death. Nevertheless, they were right where Jesus had sent them. They may not have known it at the time, but Jesus had not left them alone:

Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” (Matthew 14:25-27).

Recognizing their fear, Jesus immediately calmed them with the words, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” No matter how alone we may feel or how frightening a situation may be that we find ourselves in, we can take courage in the fact that Jesus is always with us; we are never alone;

For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you (John 14:18).

I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20).

Peace, I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (John 14:27).

When we are willing to trust Jesus no matter what the circumstances, He can enable us to do anything. Fear. However, can cause us to fail. Peter discovered this after he saw Jesus’ walking on the water:

And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” 29 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” 31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:28-31).

Peter was doing fine walking on the water until he looked around and focused on his circumstances. As soon as he took his eyes off Jesus, doubt and then fear overcame him. His physical senses took over. He heard the howling of the wind, saw the storm clouds moving, and felt the thrust of the waves against his body. This change of focus caused Peter to lose sight of his goal. He began to sink, even though moments before he had been walking on the water.  In fear and desperation, Peter called out to Jesus, who reached out and saved him.

Jesus also rebuked him: “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” Apparently, Peter’s faith was not the problem; after all, he had walked on the water for a few seconds. It was when fear took over and his courage failed that Peter began to sink. It only takes a little faith—childlike faith—to walk on water, but it also only takes a little fear to sink us.

Courage Restored

Later on, Simon Peter had another crisis of courage that could have been disastrous for him and for the church as a whole. On the very evening that He was arrested, Jesus spoke these words to Peter:

“Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat, 32 But I have prayed for you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” 33 But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.” 34 Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.” (Luke 22:31-34).

Jesus prayed that Simon Peter’s faith would not fail—and it didn’t. Wait a minute! You may be thinking. Didn’t Peter’s faith fail when he denied Jesus? No, Peter certainly did deny Jesus three times, just as Jesus said he would, but it was not Peter’s faith that failed; it was his courage. Peter loved Jesus with all his heart and knew that He was the Son of God and the Savior of the world. After all, it was Peter who answered Jesus’ question, “Who do you say that I am?” with the words, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:15-16). Jesus knew all about Peter’s faith and understood Peter’s struggle with fear, just as He understand ours.

Peter was devastated by the failure of his courage and his inability to stand by his Master’s side when the chips were down. After the crucifixion, Peter became depressed and discouraged, one day he decided to go fishing and convinced several of the other disciples to go with him. They fished all night and caught nothing. When morning came, a man on the shore called out to them and asked, “Children, you do not have any fish, do you?”   then told them exactly where to cast their net. Peter and the others complied, and suddenly they found their net so full of fish that they could not haul it in. It was at this moment that John recognized the man on shore as Jesus:

Therefore, that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea. (John 21:7).

No effort to walk on water this time; no excuses or bravado; impulsive Peter simply jumped into the water and began to swim to shore because it was the fastest way to get to Jesus. Such was Peter’s love for the Lord, even in spite of his own failures.

Jesus had built a fire on the shore and invited the men to bring their fish and eat with Him. After breakfast, He spoke to Peter. He wanted to be sure Peter heard Him, so He called him Simon, which means, “the listening one”:

So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” 16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep” (John 21:15-17).

Three times Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him, and three times Peter replied that he did. The first two times that Jesus asked, “Do you love Me?” He used the word agape, which means, as the Amplified Bible states it, “reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion, as one loves the Father.” Both times, when Peter answered, “You know that I love You,” he used a different word for “love” phileo. This word means “deep, instinctive, personal affection… as for a close friend” (John 21:15 AMP). Peter did not feel he could claim the higher kind of love represented by agape.

When Jesus asked, “Do you love Me?” for the third time, He used Peter’s word, phileo. Jesus came down to Peter’s level to bring Peter up to His. What was the significance of this? Three times Peter had denied Jesus and now Jesus gave Peter three changes to reaffirm his love for Him. In this way, Peter once again declared the deep love and devotion he held for his Lord.

During this same encounter, Jesus, in His loving way, let Peter know that when his time to die came, he would be able to resist fear:

Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” 19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.” (John 21:18-19).

Peter’s faith was strong and in time his courage grew to match his faith. History records that Peter was crucified for his faith. According to tradition, Peter insisted on being crucified upside down because he felt unworthy to die in the same manner as his Lord.

Like, Peter we can triumph over our fear! The death and resurrection of Christ sets us free to live our new life unhindered by the fears that characterized the old life. The presence and power of God in us through the Holy Spirit can banish the fear that so often seems to control us. The more we love and trust the Lord, the less power fear will have over us.

2025-03-13T12:13:13-06:00April 7th, 2025|

Overwhelming Victory

DECLARE:  TODAY IS MY DAY OF OVERWHELMING VICTORY.
NOW THANKS BE TO GOD WHO ALWAYS LEADS US IN TRIUMPH IN CHRIST…-2 Corinthians 2:14

Nine years after David was anointed to be king, he was an outcast of Israel! He was living in a Philistine city, Ziklag, with several hundred of his men and their families. “Ziklag” means “overwhelming despair.” What a place for the future king of Israel to live!

One day after returning home to Ziklag, David and his men found that all their wives, children and possessions had been stolen by the Amalekites. David’s men picked up stones to stone him. Instead of saying, “Go on and get it over with,” David encouraged his men that they were capable of reclaiming their wives, children and possessions from the hands of the Amalekites.

David and his men found the Amalekites camp and not only got back all of their wives, children and possessions; they confiscated all that the Amalekites had as well. When David returned to Ziklag, it was no longer a place of overwhelming despair, it was a place of OVERWHELMING VICTORY. Shortly after returning to camp, men came to tell him that both Saul and Jonathan had been killed and that they wanted David to become king!

What would have happened if David had given up when his men wanted to kill him? He never would have received his promised reward! He would not have been made king. God has given you exceedingly great and precious promises, but if you give up before you receive them, you’ll cut yourself off from a blessing. Hang on! You can do it!

If you have been living in Ziklag, a place of overwhelming despair, purpose in your heart to live in a place of OVERWHELMING VICTORY. Go out and reclaim the promises that satan has stolen from you!

2025-03-12T13:25:24-06:00March 31st, 2025|

The Hall of Fame of Faith

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

Hebrews 11 is the “hall of fame” of faith. It includes people like Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, and Noah. Today, we’ll talk about a few of these heroes of faith.

Noah: Faith for Your Family

By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith. (Hebrews 11:7)

God told him that He was going to send a flood. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky. But right believing brings right living, and because Noah had faith, he was obedient to God. Put your hand on your heart and say, “I’ll never forget — faith obeys.”

So Noah built an ark, and everyone thought he was crazy. Everyone but his family, that is. His wife and sons believed that he heard from God. And by walking in faith, Noah saved his family. All the people who didn’t believe in God drowned, but Noah’s family was saved.

Noah leaves that legacy for us today—that his faith brought righteousness. When we believe God, He makes us righteous. Stop trying to do things to become righteous. Just obey His Word and have faith in His Word. God can save your household if you walk in faith. You can claim this promise.

Abraham: Faith for Provision

Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. (Genesis 22:13, KJV)

In Genesis 22, God spoke to Abraham and told him to take Isaac, the promised son who was born to him when he was 100 years old, and sacrifice him on Mount Moriah.

What must Abraham have been feeling? Hebrews 11:19 tells us Abraham believed that even if his son died, God would raise him from the dead. What?! Abraham believed in a resurrection before there was one?! Absolutely! I believe he was the first to believe.

Alone on the mountain, Isaac asked his father, “The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb?” And Abraham said, “God himself will provide the lamb.” God will provide. Abraham never took his eyes off the Father!

Once Abraham had prepared the fire and the wood, he put Isaac on the altar. And just in time, a voice spoke to him and said, “Lift up your eyes.” I would say that to you today! Get your eyes on what God can do rather than what your problem is. Lift up your eyes. Abraham did, and saw a ram caught in the thicket. God had provided the sacrifice!

Do you realize that at the same time Abraham and Isaac were going up Mount Moriah, the ram was coming up the other side? When we’re going up the mountain, God has a provision coming up to meet us! Abraham substituted the ram for Isaac and called God a very special name: Jehovah-Jireh, which means the God who provides. But it’s more than just provides. It means the God who sees ahead and has a provision for us!

Rahab: Faith Comes by Hearing and Believing

By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace. (Hebrews 11:31)

So, how does one receive faith? Let’s look at the life of Rahab (see Joshua 2 and 6)? She, along with all of Jericho’s inhabitants, had heard about the God of the Hebrews, but Rahab alone heard and believed. Not only did she believe in her heart, but she confessed it with her mouth and acted out her faith by hiding the Israelite spies.

Faith does come by hearing God’s Word (see Romans 10:17). But many people hear God’s Word and don’t believe it, so they don’t get its benefits.

Because of Rahab’s willingness to believe what she had heard, she was rewarded beyond her wildest imagination. When the rest of Jericho was destroyed, the walls of Rahab’s dwelling remained standing — as a testimony to her belief in God’s Word.

We can hear God’s Word continually, but until we believe what we hear and then act on it, it is not profitable to us. When you hear the Word of God, don’t just casually receive it in your mind. Meditate on it. Accept it and receive it as a special message from God to you. Then use it to benefit your life.

Just as Noah’s faith saved his household and Abraham’s faith saved Isaac, the first thing Rahab did when she made a covenant with the Israelites was to ask protection for her family (see Joshua 2:12-13). When you get saved, you want your whole family to be saved. When we become faithful followers of Christ, meditating on His Word day and night, God will bless us and make our homes prosperous.

2025-02-27T11:15:50-07:00March 24th, 2025|

Stand on the Word of God

Do you realize how important it is to spend time reading and meditating on the Word? When we surround ourselves with the favor of God’s Word, we can confidently step out in faith and change situations around us.  The wisdom of the Word in your spirit will give you favor, regardless of the circumstances which may confront you or the people whom you may meet.  Again, remember Psalm 5:12, “For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield.” You have an invisible shield of favor surrounding you.

Whenever you are in a state of doubt, fear, or anxiety, remind God of His promises: “But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head” (Psalm 3:3). Likewise, Hebrews 10:35 tells us to “not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.” Always lift your head high above all circumstances. You are wearing His glorious crown of divine favor.

Many times, we experience deep levels of grief and frustration, but if we hold fast to God’s promises, any situation can be altered! Hebrews 10:23 commands us to “hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”

David understood the awesome power of favor because in Psalm 30 he writes, “Lord, by Your favor You have made my mountain stand strong…” (v. 7). If God’s favor is powerful enough to hold you up, no matter how heavy the pressures may be which come against you! Always remember that He is “upholding all things by the word of His power” (Hebrews 1:3). If you are standing on His Word, you can count on Him to uphold all the things in your life and give you wide open doors of favor. Hallelujah!

Today’s blog post was taken from Marilyn’s book, Wide Open Doors.

2025-02-26T10:30:19-07:00March 17th, 2025|

Trust in God’s Presence

God sent His Son to earth so man could experience His presence, not as Old Testament believers did in tents, temples, and tabernacles but through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. If you are born again, the presence and power of God is in you! You’re a walking tabernacle, and God is ever present to lead, protect, and guide you regardless of where you go or what you’re doing. First Corinthians 3:16 says, Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

In John 14, Jesus told His disciples that even though He was going to return to heaven, they would not be without His presence. He would not leave them comfortless, but promised to send them the Holy Spirit, who would lead and guide them into all truth. This promise was fulfilled in Acts 2 when the disciples were baptized with the Holy Spirit and the presence of God filled them. It was this point that God’s presence began to tabernacle with man.

Psalm 22:3 says that God inhabits the praises of His people. Simply put, this means God inhabits everything we do to glorify Him. Adam and Eve lived in a garden, and the presence of God was there. The Israelites lived in a tent, so God said, “Put me in a tent.” When His people built a temple, God said, “Put me in a temple.” Finally, God said, “Put me in people so that I can be with them all of the time.”

Many people can name times when they’ve experienced God’s presence. This can happen everywhere—I’ve experienced the presence of God in airports and on airplanes. For some, God may have manifested His presence at church, in their cars, while they were preparing dinner, or getting ready for work. One thing is certain, God’s presence can be felt.

2025-02-26T08:35:06-07:00March 3rd, 2025|

God Is Always Leading Us

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul; He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.  (Psalms 23:1-3 NKJV)

You must realize—and if you absorb this truth, it will change your life—God never leads His people aimlessly.  He always has a direction, a plan, a purpose.  He leads us with divine precision and accuracy, and always for good.

Keep your mind and heart tuned to the Great Shepherd’s voice and He will continually lead you into places of provision, security, restoration, and righteousness.

If you continue to follow Him, you will be going somewhere, and that somewhere will be a place full of God’s promise and power.

2025-01-29T12:40:00-07:00February 24th, 2025|

The Gift of Encouragement

Therefore comfort each other and edify one another. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

The gift of encouragement is important because all believers need encouragement: “Therefore comfort each other and edify one another” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).  Acts 4:36 tells us of Joses, who operated in the gift of encouragement. Joses was a wealthy priest from Cyprus who got saved and gave his wealth to help persecuted believers.  He was such an encouragement that the disciples called him “Barnabas,” which means “Son of Encouragement.” By encouraging others, we not only uplift them, but we establish areas of service that minister to generations of people after us. Barnabas operated in such a ministry.

When the Holy Spirit called Paul and Barnabas to be missionaries, John Mark went along to serve and learn from them (see Acts 12:25; 13:2). Though called to the ministry, he was still young, immature, and unprepared for the hardships that a missionary had to endure.  He ended up going home mid-journey.  That’s why on their second mission trip, Paul didn’t want John Mark to come along, so they separated.  Barnabas took John Mark with him. This time, John Mark didn’t run home.  Barnabas encouraged, trained, and discipled him because he saw who John Mark could be a hardworking, seasoned minister.  John Mark became a very successful minister of the gospel—he wrote the book of Mark. Through this episode with John Mark, even Paul learned the profound results that encouragement could bring.  John Mark was with Paul during his first Roman imprisonment (Colossians 4:10; Philemon 24). At the end of his life, Paul sent for John Mark because he was so useful (2 Timothy 4:11).

Like Paul, we may forsake other people because they have disappointed us in the past, but we can also learn to minister encouragement. How? By applying three simple keys found in Hebrew 10, you can unfold your gift of encouragement.

  1. Draw near to God. Hebrews 10:22 tells us to “draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith.” To encourage others successfully, you must first draw near to God and fellowship with Him daily. People who are experiencing difficulties need to hear encouragement that comes straight from Jesus’s heart—not something we think He might say.
  2. Develop patience. Fellowship with the Lord gives a spiritual foundation upon which to base a ministry of encouragement. However, it’s crucial that we don’t allow impatience to erode that foundation; “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23). Unfortunately, most of us begin to lose patience if we don’t see results in ten seconds or less.  We must wait patiently and steadfastly for answers.
  3. Determine needed actions. Hebrews 10:24 states, “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works.” We can speak encouraging words all day, but if they don’t instill in others the faith to act, remember that “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17). The Word of God, the most powerful force in the universe, will instill faith in people’s hearts and encourage them to act. Our responsibility is simply to speak forth the Word.

Remember, everyone needs encouragement.  Begin today to share your gift encouragement, and you’ll bless the body of Christ for many generations.

This blog post is excerpted from Marilyn’s 101-day devotional, Beautiful Inheritance.

2025-01-29T12:04:50-07:00February 17th, 2025|

The Peace that Passes All Understanding

Fear is the opposite of peace. No one enjoys being frightened. In Hebrew, the word “baath” means to be “affrightened.” Job poetically used this word to describe his grief after his great trials. The word “baath” conveys the meaning of desert winds, grievous visions, discomforting pain and a panting heart.

God has freely given us a remedy for all the above calamities. Philippians 4:7 tells us,

…and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

When you keep your mind on Jesus Christ, God’s Incarnate Word, you will never be “affrightened;” you will remain in “perfect peace.”

Concentrate today upon keeping your mind focused on Jesus. When you enter a difficulty, ask yourself, “How would Jesus handle this situation?” Do you remember what He said to the storm? He said, “Peace, be still.” Do the same in all your difficult circumstances! Speak PEACE to them.

2025-02-18T10:00:02-07:00February 10th, 2025|

Love With God’s Love

We will reap what we sow, and today I want you to decide to sow LOVE. In John 13:34-35, Jesus said,

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

The love we demonstrate for each other is infectious. Non-Christians will see it and want what we have—Jesus! Decide today to correct any differences that you may have with someone else. Go out of your way to walk “the extra mile” to love the person who has offended you. You will not be sorry. Why? Because you’ll be acting like Jesus.

Remember He loved us while we were in sin, and His love was so strong that He was willing to die for us. Because He first demonstrated His love towards us, we love Him. Purpose in your heart to SOW LOVE to someone who is not expecting it. Surprise someone by showing them the LOVE OF JESUS today!

2025-01-16T11:48:28-07:00February 3rd, 2025|

Ask Marilyn

Q. I’m not sure I know how to lead someone to the Lord. Are there any specific “rules” I should follow? What do I say?

A. Any Christian can lead someone to the Lord, so let me first encourage you not to succumb to fear or worry about what to say. Pray first and ask the Lord to fill your mouth with the words He would have you say. Then, follow this simple scriptural approach:

  1. Open a Bible to Romans 10. Have the individual read aloud verses 9 and 10.
  2. Explain to the individual that because these scriptures say that “… confession is made unto salvation,” you are going to lead him in a short prayer. Ask the individual to repeat after you as you pray.
  3. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide your prayer so that the individual will be sure to
  • Acknowledge that he is a sinner (repentance).
  • Ask the Father to cleanse him, by the blood of Jesus, from every sin committed.
  • Invite Jesus to come into their heart and to be Master and Lord of his life.
  • Thank God for saving his soul
  1. Ask the individual to read Romans 10:13 aloud. Now, ask him to read it again, but this time have him substitute their own name for “whoever” in this verse.

The individual will realize that he has fulfilled the simple requirements of verse 13 and that he is saved according to God’s Word, whether or not they feel any different!

You may warmly affirm this momentous decision and welcome your new brother or sister to the Body of Christ.

Q. What can I do to help a friend receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit?

A. The individual for the baptism in the Holy Spirit must be a born-again child of God. The work of the Holy Spirit is essential for Christian growth. Through this baptism God empowers the believer to develop and express his new life in Jesus Christ.

Many people desire to be baptized in the Holy Spirit, but they don’t know how to do so. Frequently, I open the conversation by saying, “I would love to pray with you to receive the baptism with the Holy Spirit.” Then I proceed to

  1. Open a Bible to Luke 11:10-13 and ask the individual to read this passage aloud. These verses establish the way to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit. We simply “ask” in faith because we know that our loving heavenly Father would never give us a “counterfeit.”
  2. Ask the individual to read Acts 2:4 aloud. Assure the individual that just as Jesus’ disciples spoke in tongues when the Holy Spirit came upon them, the candidate will also speak in tongues when baptized in the Holy Spirit.
  3. Ask the individual to read Romans 8:26-28 aloud. This will confirm the purpose and the benefits of praying in “tongues.”
  4. Lead the candidate in a short prayer during which he asks the Father to baptize him with the Holy Spirit. Now tell the candidate that, by faith, you are going to pray in the Spirit together. Encourage the individual to speak freely—as the Holy Spirit directs—regardless of how it may sound to the natural ear.
  5. You, the leader, should begin to pray aloud in tongues. After you have prayed together in tongues for a while, you may wish to sing in the Spirit (1 Corinthians 14:15).

Although the baptism in the Holy Spirit is a one-time event, the “infilling” of the Holy Spirit is a one-time event, the “infilling” of the Holy Spirit goes on and one and never stops. Encourage your friend to pray in the Spirit every day and to expect to find a new richness in his Christian experience.

2025-01-29T12:34:36-07:00January 29th, 2025|

Take Hold of God’s Promises

After three thirsty days in the wilderness, the children of Israel finally arrived at a huge pool of water.  However, when the people tried to drink the water, they could not because it was terribly bitter. Therefore, the people complained and murmured against Moses—and they named the place Marah, meaning “bitter.” Moses could have told the people to shut up. He even could have told the Lord, “I’m tired of this crowd of murmurers!” But Moses did neither of these things.

So, he cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet. There He made a statue and an ordinance for them, and there He tested them, 26 and said said, “If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you. (Exodus 15:25-26 emphasis added)

God told Moses to throw a tree into the water, and Moses obeyed. Moses was given something to do in order for the miracle to take place. Moses believed God, but his faith had to be accompanied with action. So, it is with all of us; faith demands action. You can talk faith, but you must also walk faith. When Moses threw the tree into the waters of Marah, they were sweetened. Then Jehovah revealed Himself to His people in a new way as Jehovah-Rophe. If the people walked uprightly before the Lord, then He would not only be their healer but their health as well. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we never got sick? God desires that His people have divine health.

At Marah, God revealed Jehovah-Rophe as one of His covenant names. God was telling His people they would have none of the world’s diseases if they obeyed Him and His Word. Egypt, a type of the world, was full of disease because the Egyptians practiced idolatry. God said to Israel, “You will have none of Egypt’s diseases if you listen to my Words because I am the Lord your health. I am Jehovah-Rophe!”

2024-12-19T09:51:36-07:00January 20th, 2025|

You Must Remember This

“These stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.” (Joshua 4:7)

God likes to remind His people to certain things.  Jesus has given Christians two very special things to remember, and if we keep both of these things in mind, we can have victory over past failures, victory over present circumstances, and victory every day throughout our lives.

Remember how the Israelites crossed the Jordan River into the promised land?  The waters miraculously parted, and they walked across.  Then God told Joshua to set up two memorials of 12 large stones one was in the midst of the river, and one was on the riverbank (Joshua 4:20). The stones were to be memorials to the Israelites so that:

“When your children ask in time to come saying, ‘What do these stones

              mean to you?” Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan

              were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD…these stones

              shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.” (Joshua 4:6-7)

The heap of stones at the site where they crossed the Jordan was to remind them of all the miracles God wanted to work on their behalf in the present and the future.  They were to keep their eyes on God’s miracles and His promises—and never look back at the past.  They were constant reminders of God’s miraculous care and provision.  Each time they saw the memorials, their faith would increase, and increased faith meant increased victory.

God’s two memorials for Christians are designed the same way.  The first memorial is baptism.  In John 1:28, we learn that John baptized Jesus in the Jordan River at Bethabara.  Bethabara means “house of the ford or passage.” I believe this is where the Israelites crossed the Jordan.  Jesus went there to be baptized by John.  The one who is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6) went under the waters, which pictures His death for you and me. But that’s not all.  You were buried with Jesus—that is what your baptism symbolizes: “buried with Him in baptism” (Colossians 2:12). That’s how God transformed your past—He eliminated it!

The second memorial that Christians celebrate is communion.  First Corinthians 11:26 tells us that in communion, we remember not only the Lord’s death but also His second coming: “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.” In communion, we have a reminder of the daily power needed to live a victorious life (Christ’s life within) and the glorious future that awaits us (Christ second coming).

Like Israel, God has forgiven our past and provided for present and future needs in our lives. Sometimes we forget that God has done everything He can do to ensure we live triumphant Christian lives.  That’s when we need to take a long look at the two memorials God placed in our lives: baptism and communion.  When you recall that your past, present, and future are taken care of by the death, resurrection, and return of Jesus, your faith will increase, and your life will be transformed.

2024-12-19T09:52:22-07:00January 13th, 2025|

Take God’s Word Like a Medicine

Moses lived on God’s Word, and its truth became a reality in his life. The Word was Spirit and life to Moses because he believed it and acted upon it. By trusting Jehovah-Rophe, God’s life and health became a personal revelation to Moses. When he died, Moses was 120 years old; and Deuteronomy 34:7 tell us, his eyes were not dim nor his natural vigor diminished. Jehovah-Rophe wants to be personal to you, also. He wants to heal you and make you whole!

God’s Word is like medicine; when you take His Word, you are taking health. That is why God told His people to heed His Word! God wants His children to be full of His life. You may believe God heals, and that’s great, but you must also receive His healing to be well. You will receive your healing and walk in divine health only by reading, meditating, and claiming the Word. God’s words of life, health, and healing must your continual feast.

In Isaiah 53:4, Isaiah prophesied the sufferings of Christ at Calvary when he wrote, Surely, He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. Notice that it was not for Himself that Jesus suffered rejection and sorrow, but it was for you and me. In order to be whole persons, we not only need to be healed physically, but we need to be healed of those things which bring sickness to the soul. God has a special medicine cabinet that contains a sure cure for all kinds of sickness. If you are hurting in your body, mind, or emotions, Jehovah-Rophe has made provision for you. Don’t try to carry your grief or sorrow; cast it on Jesus and set yourself free!

A familiar chorus, taken from Isaiah 61:3, exhorts us to put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Have you ever gone into a service feeling “heavy”—sorrowful and depressed—or just plain down? But, when you began to worship and praise the Lord, lifting your hands and singing, what happened? Your spirit was lifted, and you received healing in your soul. Those people who abide in praise, abide in the Lord and life in health!

The Sweet Smell of Victory

Song of Solomon 1:13 says, A bundle of myrrh is my beloved to me. Who is this bundle of myrrh? Of course, He is Jesus. Myrrh has a delightful aroma, either crushed or left as twigs, and because of this, it has been used in many ways: on clothing, in incense and oil, and in sacrifices. Jesus is the perfume in our lives. He is not just a drop or a pinch, but He is a whole bundle for every heartache and heartbreak we experience. When you allow Jesus to heal wounds in your soul as well as your body, you will smell sweet like Jesus.

The three Hebrew children were thrown into Nebuchadnezzar’s fiery furnace for refusing to bow down to his statue, but the fire did not touch them. When these Hebrews were taken out alive, they did not even smell smoke. Why? Because Jesus was in the fire with them. They probably didn’t even want to leave the furnace because of the Lord’s presence, and I don’t blame them!

Perhaps you have come out of some negative experiences that wounded you, and you smell like smoke. You still talk and complain about them, the wounds still show. Friend, come to Jesus; cast the hurt upon Him. Let Jesus remove that smoky smell and give you the sweet smell of myrrh—the smell of victory. Jesus has healing for sin, backsliding, physical diseases, heartaches, depression, rejection—Jehovah-Rophe has a prescription for whatever ails you!

Pray this prayer:

Father, I believe that you are my healer. You are the God who is life and health to me! You proved your love for me when you gave your Son, Jesus, to die for me. His blood was shed for all my sicknesses and diseases—and all means all! That includes all my aches and pains. It includes all the mental attacks that may attempt to entrap me. It includes all my emotional ups and downs. Matthew 4:23 tells me that “Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.” Jesus, you delivered the demon-possessed: healed paralytics, made the blind see and deaf to hear, and even raised the dead. Since God never changes, the same is true now, and you are able to heal me today. I put my trust in your and believe that I am healed and delivered in Jesus’s name.

2024-12-19T05:50:49-07:00January 6th, 2025|
Click to access the login or register cheese
Go to Top