This series is based on Rom 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.  NKJV     Unfortunately many people are unaware of these laws that dominate people’s lives. If we work in agreement with the Law of the Spirit of Life, we will prosper.  If we work against the Law of the Spirit of Life , then the Law of Sin and Death begins to work in our life.  The good news is that when we understand these spiritual laws we are then able to make the right choice.

Live according to the Word of God and the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus will give you strength day by day . However, if you live according to the desires of the flesh and natural mind the Law of Sin and Death will bring  weakness, and failure into your life.Ps 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life;

Of whom shall I be afraid? NKJV

Hab 3:19 The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like deer’s  feet and will make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering, or responsibility]! { Obstacles }   AMP

Job learned this spiritual truth and profited from it, and it made him wealthy, and protected him from the enemy.

Job 1:1 THERE WAS a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who [reverently] feared God and abstained from and shunned evil [because it was wrong].  8 And the Lord said to Satan, Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who [reverently] fears God and abstains from and shuns evil [because it is wrong]? 9 Then Satan answered the Lord, Does Job [reverently] fear God for nothing?

10 Have You not put a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have conferred prosperity and happiness upon him in the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. AMP

The command is to be strong in the Lord,  not in our own ability.

Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. NKJV

John 5:30 I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.  NKJV

The secret to being strong in the Lord is to surrender yourself to Him, to His Word, and to His Spirit.

Ps 91:1  He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.”

Divine protection and your defense.

3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence. 4 He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.

Strength during seasons of spiritual warfare

5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, 6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.  7 A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you. 8 Only with your eyes shall you look, And see the reward of the wicked.

Strength to resist the enemy

9 Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place,

10 No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;

Angelic assistance

11 For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. 12 In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.

Strength to challenge the enemy in battle

13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.

Strength through delegated authority

Luke 10:19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. NKJV

The rewards for remaining strong in the Lord

14 “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. 15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble;

I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.”   NKJV

Remember, walking in the Lord’s strength is walking in faith, obedience, and holiness.

2 Cor 5:7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. NKJV

Prov 10:29  The way of the Lord is strength for the upright, NKJV

Prov 24:5 The wise are mightier than the strong,  and those with knowledge { of God’s Word } grow stronger and stronger. NLT

Remember, our strength is in our relationship with the Lord.

Isa 30:15 This is what the Sovereign Lord,  the Holy grief Grief Israel, says: “Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength.  NLT

Dan 11:32 And such as violate the covenant he shall pervert and seduce with flatteries, { those who are weak in the faith}  but the people who know their God shall prove themselves strong and shall stand firm and do exploits [for God].  AMP

John 17:1 Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You,  2 as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him.  3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.  NKJV

Don’t allow anything to distract you from the relationship, for in it is your strength!

Luke 10:40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”  41 And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.  42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”  NKJV

A Salute to the Women of God

 The History of Mother’s Day: Anna Jarvis wanted to establish a national holiday that would honor her mother Anna Reeves Jarvis who passed away in 1905. After almost a decade of organizing by Anna Jarvis, the US Congress established Mother’s Day as a national holiday in 1914, signed into law by President Woodrow Wilson on May 8 of that year. Mother’s Day has been an American tradition for nearly 100 years. Mother’s Day is not only a celebration of Mothers, but also a celebration of those women who are our Spiritual Mothers. Not all women are mothers, but all women can be Spiritual Mothers. Let’s give honor to whom honor is due; let’s honor all the wonderful Mothers and Women in our lives today!

Mary, the Mother of Jesus- A Woman Who Was Not Afraid to Say Yes!

Luke 1:26-38   Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” 29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” 34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” 35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing will be impossible.” 38 Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Testimonies of Gwen Shaw and Shelvi Gilmore: Women Who Were Not Afraid to Say Yes!

Esther- A Woman Who Saved Her People and Impacted a Nation!                                                                          Esther Chapter 1 Ahasuerus, ruler of a massive Persian empire, holds a lavish party, initially for his court and dignitaries and afterwards for all inhabitants of the capital city Shushan. Ahasuerus orders the queen Vashti to display her beauty before the guests. She refuses. Worried all women will learn from this, Ahasuerus removes her as queen and has a royal decree sent across the empire that men should be the ruler of their households and should speak their own native tongue.

Esther Chapter 2 Ahasuerus then orders all beautiful young girls to be presented to him, so he can choose a new queen to replace Vashti. One of these is the orphan Esther, whose Jewish name is Hadassah. After the death of her parents, she is taken in and raised by her cousin Mordechai. She finds favor in the king’s eyes, and is made his new queen. Esther does not reveal that she is Jewish. Shortly afterwards, Mordechai discovers a plot by courtiers Bigthan and Teresh to assassinate Ahasuerus. Mordechai tells Esther about the plot and she informs the king. The conspirators are apprehended and hanged, and Mordechai’s service to the king is recorded.

Esther Chapter 3 Ahasuerus appoints Haman as his prime minister. Mordechai, who sits at the palace gates, falls into Haman’s disfavor as he refuses to bow down to him. Having found out that Mordechai is Jewish, Haman plans to kill not just Mordechai but all the Jews in the empire. He obtains Ahasuerus’ permission to execute this plan, and he casts lots to choose the date on which to do this—the thirteenth of the month of Adar. On that day, everyone in the empire is free to massacre the Jews and plunder their property.

Esther Chapter 4 When Mordechai finds out about the plans he and all Jews mourn and fast. Mordechai informs Esther what has happened and tells her to intercede with the King. She is afraid to break the law and go to the King without being summoned. This action would incur the death penalty. Mordechai tells her that she must. “Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”  So Esther responds,  “Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!”

Esther Chapter 5 On the third day Esther goes to Ahasuerus, who stretches out his scepter to her, which shows that she is not to be punished. She invites him to a feast in the company of Haman. During the feast, she asks them to attend a further feast the next evening. Meanwhile, Haman is again offended by Mordechai and consults with his friends as what he should do. At his wife’s suggestion, he builds a gallows for Mordechai.

Esther Chapter 6 That night, Ahasuerus suffers from insomnia, and when the court records are read to him to help him sleep, he learns of the services rendered by Mordechai in the previous plot against his life. Ahasuerus is told that Mordechai has not received any recognition for saving the king’s life. Just then, Haman appears, to ask the King to hang Mordechai, but before he can make this request, King Ahasuerus asks Haman what should be done for the man that the king wishes to honor. Thinking that the man that the king is referring to is himself, Haman says that the man should be dressed in the king’s royal robes and led around on the king’s royal horse, while a herald calls out: “See how the king honors a man he wishes to reward!” To his horror and surprise, the king instructs Haman to do so to Mordechai. After leading Mordechai’s parade, he returns in mourning to his wife and friends, who suggest his downfall has begun.

Esther Chapter 7 Immediately after, King Ahasuerus and Haman attend Esther’s second banquet, at which she reveals that she is Jewish and that Haman is planning to exterminate her people, including her. Overcome by rage, Ahasuerus leaves the room; meanwhile Haman stays behind and begs Esther for his life, falling upon her in desperation. The king comes back in at this moment and thinks Haman is assaulting the queen; this makes him angrier than before and he orders Haman hanged on the gallows that Haman had prepared for Mordechai.

Esther Chapters 8-10 The previous decree against the Jews cannot be annulled, but the king allows the Jews to defend themselves during attacks. As a result, on 13 Adar, five hundred attackers and Haman’s ten sons are killed in Shushan, followed by a Jewish slaughter of seventy-five thousand Persians, although they took no plunder. Esther sends a letter instituting an annual commemoration of the Jewish people’s redemption, in a holiday called Purim (lots). Ahasuerus remains very powerful and continues reigning, with Mordechai assuming a prominent position in his court.

Testimonies of Corrie Ten Boom and Harriet Tubman: Women Who Rescued Others In spite of Great Danger!

Deborah the Judge of Israel and Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite: Women of Strength, Bravery and Courage! Summary of Judges Chapter 4:1-9 Deborah, a prophetess judged Israel at the time that Jabin, king of Canaan ruled over Israel.  She sat under the Palm Tree of Deborah and helped the people settle disputes between each other. For 20 years Jabin made life miserable for the Israelites.  Sisera was the commander of King Jabin’s army and he had 900 chariots of iron. Then the Israelites cried unto God for help.  Deborah told Barak, the commander of Israel’s army that God would help him defeat Sisera and his army.  God had instructed Barak to take 10,000 men from the families of Naphtali and Zebulon and march toward the Mount of Tabor. Barak told Deborah that he would go and fight if Deborah would go with him; but if she would not go, then he would not go. Deborah told him that she would go with him; but that he wouldn’t receive honor for the victory; “for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.”

Judges 4:14-24 14 Then Deborah said to Barak, “Up! For this is the day in which the Lord has delivered Sisera into your hand. Has not the Lord gone out before you?” So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him. 15 And the Lord routed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army with the edge of the sword before Barak; and Sisera alighted from his chariot and fled away on foot. 16 But Barak pursued the chariots and the army as far as Harosheth Hagoyim, and all the army of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword; not a man was left. 17 However, Sisera had fled away on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite; for there was peace between Jabin king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite. 18 And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said to him, “Turn aside, my lord, turn aside to me; do not fear.” And when he had turned aside with her into the tent, she covered him with a blanket. 19 Then he said to her, “Please give me a little water to drink, for I am thirsty.” So she opened a jug of milk, gave him a drink, and covered him. 20 And he said to her, “Stand at the door of the tent, and if any man comes and inquires of you, and says, ‘Is there any man here?’ you shall say, ‘No.’” 21 Then Jael, Heber’s wife, took a tent peg and took a hammer in her hand, and went softly to him and drove the peg into his temple, and it went down into the ground; for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died. 22 And then, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said to him, “Come, I will show you the man whom you seek.” And when he went into her tent, there lay Sisera, dead with the peg in his temple. 23 So on that day God subdued Jabin king of Canaan in the presence of the children of Israel. 24 And the hand of the children of Israel grew stronger and stronger against Jabin king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan

Song of Deborah                                                                                                                                                                       Judges 5:6-9 “…In the days of Jael, the highways were deserted, and the travelers walked along the byways. Village life ceased, it ceased in Israel until I, Deborah, arose, Arose a mother in Israel. They chose new gods; Then there was war in the gates; 
Not a shield or spear was seen among forty thousand in Israel. My heart is with the rulers of Israel who offered themselves willingly with the people. Judges 5:24 “Most blessed among women is Jael, The wife of Heber the Kenite; 
Blessed is she among women in tents.

Testimony of Florence Nightingale: A Woman of Strength and Courage; Not Afraid to Go to War!

This series is based on Rom 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.  NKJV     Unfortunately many people are unaware of these laws that dominate people’s lives. If we work in agreement with the Law of the Spirit of Life, we will prosper.  If we work against the Law of the Spirit of Life , then the Law of Sin and Death begins to work in our life.  The good news is that when we understand these spiritual laws we are then able to make the right choice. 

The Lord gives us abundant life through our faith in Jesus Christ our Savior.

Phil 1:26 that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again.

Abundance is the Lord’s plan , but failure, defeat, destruction, are the devil’s plan.

John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.  NKJV

Abundant life: means life on God’s level ! However, there are obstacles to living an abundant life.

I f we expect to enjoy an abundant life, we must follow His Word in order to experience it.

Mal 3:8 “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’

In tithes and offerings. 9 You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation.

10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,”

Says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.  NKJV 

Resisting the  Word is resisting  the Abundant Life that the lord wants to provide for us.

Job 9:4  Who has hardened himself against Him and prospered?  NKJV

An abundant harvest in ministry, when the Lord’s people walk uprightly, and remain loyal to Him.

Acts 19:19 Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed. NKJV

Rev 7:9  After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands  NKJV

Abundant Grace to win the lost and encourage the body of Christ , we should confess this abundance continually.

Rom 5:17 How much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) NKJV

Rom 8: 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. NKJV

Phil 4:19  And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus NKJV

1 Tim 1:14 And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. NKJV

John 15: 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. NKJV

The Lord has promised His faithful people an abundance of truth, peace, and healing.

Ex 34: 6 And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth,  NKJV

Jer 33: 6 Behold, I will bring it health and healing; I will heal them and reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth. NKJV

Ps 37:11 But the meek shall inherit the earth,  And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

Abundance of revelation comes to those who diligently seek the Lord.

2 Cor 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. NKJV

1 Cor 2:9 “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”  10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit  NKJV

1 Cor 14:26 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification  NKJV

Abundant pardon ,and forgiveness and acceptance in Christ.

1 Peter 1: 3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, 4 and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. 5 And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.  NLT

Isa 55:7 Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously. NLT

The Lord promises an abundance of success.

Ps 1 1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners,

Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;  2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,  And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. NKJV

Josh 1:8  This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. NKJV

Abundance of wealth, good health, spiritual growth, and all things.

2 Peter 1:3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature  NKJV

Rom 8:32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? NKJV

1 Tim 6:17 trust in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.NKJV

2 Cor 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. NKJV

Poverty is not for God’s people.

Ps 37: 25 I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken,

Nor his descendants begging bread.   NKJV

Ps 34: 8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! 9 Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. 10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger;

But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing. NKJV

Ps 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  NKJV

The Lord will rescue the poor and needy when they call on the Name of the Lord.

Ps 72:4 He will bring justice to the poor of the people; He will save the children of the needy,

And will break in pieces the oppressor. NKJV

Ps 72:12 For He will deliver the needy when he cries, The poor also, and him who has no helper.  NKJV

1 Sam 2:8 He raises the poor from the dust   And lifts the beggar from the ash heap, NKJV

The anointing of the Lord breaks the yoke of poverty.

Luke 4: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,  Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;  NKJV

It is the written will of God to break the yoke of poverty . The Key is to hear and obey the Word of the Lord!

Matt 6: 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. NKJV

Ps 37:4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. NKJV

There should be no poor among God’s covenant people !

Deut 15:4 “There should be no poor among you, for the Lord your God will greatly bless you in the land he is giving you as a special possession. 5 You will receive this blessing if you are careful to obey all the commands of the Lord your God  NLT

Judg 18:10  a place where there is no lack of anything that is on the earth.” NKJV

Phil 4:19  And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. NKJV

Ministering to the poor and oppressed brings breakthroughs into our own lives.

Isa 58: 6 “Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens,To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke?  7 Is it not to share your bread with the  hungry,And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;  When you see the naked, that you cover him,  And not hide yourself from your own flesh? 8 Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. 9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’”If you take away the yoke from your midst, NKJV

The Lord’s blessings are on those who give.

Prov 22: 9 Blessed are those who are generous, because they feed the poor. NLT

Prov 28:27 If you give to the poor, your needs will be supplied! But a curse upon those who close their eyes to poverty. TLB

Giving to the poor brings God’s favor into your life.

Prov 19: 17 When you help the poor you are lending to the Lord‑and he pays wonderful interest on your loan!  TLB

Notice how Job prospered because he had compassion on the needy.

Job 31:16 “Have I refused to help the poor, or crushed the hopes of widows? 17 Have I been stingy with my food and refused to share it with orphans? 18 No, from childhood I have cared for orphans like a father, and all my life I have cared for widows. 19 Whenever I saw the homeless without clothes

and the needy with nothing to wear, 20 did they not praise me for providing wool clothing to keep them warm?  21 “If I raised my hand against an orphan, knowing the judges would take my side, 22 then let my shoulder be wrenched out of place! Let my arm be torn from its socket! 23 That would be better than facing God’s judgment.  NLT

Give generously and it will come back to you with a profit.

Eccl 11:1 Give generously, for your gifts will return to you later. 2 Divide your gifts among many, for in the days ahead you yourself may need much help. TLB

Luke 6:38 For if you give, you will get! Your gift will return to you in full and overflowing measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use to give

large or small it will be used to measure what is given back to you.” TLB

No gift large or small given in the spirit of love will be overlooked.

Matt 10: 42 “And if, as my representatives, you give even a cup of cold water to a little child, you will surely be rewarded.”  TLB

Jesus taught that giving is an act of dedication to the Lord. Such giving has rewards now and in the world to come.

Mark 10: 28 Then Peter began to mention all that he and the other disciples had left behind. “We’ve given up everything to follow you,” he said.

29 And Jesus replied, “Let me assure you that no one has ever given up anything‑home, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, or property‑for love of me and to tell others the Good News, 30 who won’t be given back, a hundred times over, homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and land‑with persecutions!

“All these will be his here on earth, and in the world to come he shall have eternal life. 31 But many people who seem to be important now will be the least important then; and many who are considered least here shall be greatest there.” TLB

Giving in whatever form  falls under the law of sowing and reaping.

2 Cor 9: 6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.  NKJV

Giving and prospering are connected, and withhold from the Lord brings a curse.

Prov 11:24 Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything. 25 The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.  NLT

Prov 3:9‑10 Honor the Lord by giving him the first part of all your income, and he will fill your barns with wheat and barley and overflow your wine vats with the finest wines.  TLB

Giving our Tithes, Offerings, and Firstfruits always brings a blessing.

Mal 3:10  Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.  11 “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, NKJV

Giving sacrificially by faith.

Mark 12:41 Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. 42 Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. 43 So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury;  44 for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.”  NKJV

The widow and the Prophet, an illustration of faith in the Word of the Lord.

1 Kings 17: 8 Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, 9 “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.” 10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, indeed a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a cup, that I may drink.” 11 And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.”

12 So she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.”

13 And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son. 14 For thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth.’”

15 So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. 16 The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke by Elijah.  NKJV

Resurrection Sunday— a feast or festival of the Christian church that commemorates the resurrection of Christ. It is celebrated on the first Sunday following the full moon that occurs on or after March 21—or one week later if the full moon falls on Sunday. In other words, Resurrection Sunday falls between March 22 and April 25. However, the matter of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is one of the most hotly contested matters in human history. Today we will see the resurrection from three perspectives:

1. The resurrection from the position of the enemies of the gospel

2. The foreknowledge of the prophets

3. The resurrection from the perspective of the apostles

The enemies of the gospel

Matt 28:10  Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.” 11 Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened.12 When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13 saying, “Tell them, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.’ 14 “And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and make you secure.” 15 So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

Prophetic revelations concerning the resurrection

Ps 16:10 For You will not leave my soul in hell, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.

Mark 9:10 Now as they came down from the mountain, He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 So they kept this word to themselves, questioning what the rising from the dead meant.

John 2:19  Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

20 Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty‑six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” 21    But He was speaking of the temple of His body.

How the resurrection was accomplished

Acts 2:24  “whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.

John 10:18 “No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”

Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

Christ’s resurrection opens the door for our resurrection

1 Cor 15:20  But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those   who have fallen asleep. 23But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming.

The idea of the resurrection of the dead was an accepted teaching among the Jews, but not among the gentiles.

The widows son ; 1kings17: 17-22

The Shunammite’s son;  2kings 4: 32-35

The dead man who was thrown on Elishah’s bones;  2Kings 13:20-21

Jairus’ daughter; Mt 9:23-25

The widow of Nain; Lk 7:11-15

Lazarus of Bethany JN 11:43-44

Many believers Mt 27: 52-53

Dorcus   Acts 9:36-40

The Two Witnesses Rev. 11: 8-11

Appearances of the resurrected Christ

Mark 16:9  Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons.

Luke 24:13‑15  Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem.

14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.

15 So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them.

Luke 24:34  “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!”

Remember, through faith in our Lord Jesus we inherit the promises.

1 Cor 1:30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God — and righteousness and sanctification and redemption NKJV

Wisdom: the power or faculty of forming a sound judgment in any matter. Ability to judge correctly and to follow the best course of action, based on knowledge and understanding. The apostle Paul declared that the message of the cross is foolishness to the Greeks and a stumbling block to the Jews. But to those who believe, said Paul, this ” foolishness ” is “the wisdom of God”

1 Cor 1: 18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written:

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,

And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”

20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. NKJV

The biblical concept of wisdom, therefore, is quite different from the classical view of wisdom, which sought through philosophy and man’s rational thought to determine the mysteries of existence and the universe. The first principle of biblical wisdom is that man should humble himself before God in reverence and worship, and become obedient to His commands. This idea is found especially in the WISDOM LITERATURE: the books of Job, Psalms, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes.

Mic 6: 8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly,

To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God? NKJV

Righteousness: godly, upright, just, moral, good; purity ; devout, virtuous.

Our righteousness without Jesus Christ our Lord

Isa 64:6 But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousness are like filthy rags; NKJV

Our righteousness in Him.

2 Cor 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. NKJV

Our right standing with God is only by our faith in Jesus Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Titus 3:5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. NKJV

Sanctification: make holy; purify. 2, consecrate , Dedicate

Jesus prayed for us to become sanctified when he prayed in the garden of Gethsemane be fore his death, burial, resurrection and ascension to the Heavenly Father.

John 17: 6 “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. 7 Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. 8 For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.

9 “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. 10 And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. 12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth. NKJV

Sanctification is progressive work of the Holy Spirit in the life of every believer.

1 Thess 5:23 And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you through and through [separate you from profane things, make you pure and wholly consecrated to God]; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved sound and complete [and found] blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah). 24 Faithful is He Who is calling you [to Himself] and utterly trustworthy, and He will also do it [fulfill His call by hallowing and keeping you]. AMP

Redemption: The act or result of redeeming; salvation. deliverance; rescue; recovery.

* Redeemed from spiritual death

John 5:24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. NKJV

Redeemed from Poverty

2 Cor 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. NKJV

* Redeemed from sickness and disease.

1 Peter 2:24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness — by whose stripes you were healed. NKJV

This series is based on Rom 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.  NKJV     Unfortunately many people are unaware of these laws that dominate people’s lives. If we work in opinion with the Law of the Spirit of Life, we will prosper.  If we work against the Law of the Spirit of Life , then the Law of Sin and Death begins to work in our life.  The good news is that when we understand these spiritual laws we are then able to make the right choice. 

God’s attitude about riches among the Old Testament believers.

Gen 13:2  Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. NKJV

Finding favor with the Lord opens the door to multiple blessings.

1 Chron 29:12 Wealth and honor come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand, and at your discretion people are made great and given strength. NLT

2 Chron 17:5 So the Lord established Jehoshaphat’s control over the kingdom of Judah. All the people of Judah brought gifts to Jehoshaphat, so he became very wealthy and highly esteemed. NLT

2 Chron 32:27 Hezekiah was very wealthy and highly honored. He built special treasury buildings for his silver, gold, precious stones, and spices, and for his shields and other valuable items.

2 Chron 32:29 for God had given him great wealth. NLT

God’s attitude toward riches among New Testament believers.

2 Cor 8:9 You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich. NLT

Matt 27:57 Now when evening had come, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. NKJV

The Laws of the Spirit are simple to understand, but very powerful when applied.

Matt 6:31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you  NKJV

The Lord is not holding back anything, he wants to give us all we need.

Rom 8:32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? NKJV

The Apostle John, who was perhaps the closest to Jesus, expressed his apostolic opinion to members of Christ’s church. 

3 John 2  Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers

NKJV

The Lord wants us to enjoy life , but he wants us to stay in balance about money.

1 Tim 6: 17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. 18 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, 19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. NKJV

Riches, whether it is physical or spiritual , are for those who walk uprightly. Those who walk in the fear of the Lord, speak the truth and walk in love.

There are reasons why prosperity is not a reality in many people’s lives.