http://iceministries.org/devotional/ en-us Nucleus CMS v3.50 © Weblog http://backend.userland.com/rss http://iceministries.org/devotional//nucleus/nucleus2.gif http://iceministries.org/devotional/ http://iceministries.org/devotional/index.php?itemid=503 Jesus said unto her, I am the Resurrection and the Life:
he that believeth on Me, though he die, yet shall he live:
and whosoever liveth and believeth on Me shall never die.
Believest thou this?
John 11:25-26

He’s calling you for your time has come to receive life anew. The question is – what are you going to do with the call of God? You can hear His voice so clear as He whispers in your ear yet will you answer or will you simply turn and walk away? I hear the voice of the Lord saying, “I have given the best that I can for you, what more must I do to prove My love?”

It’s been said that guarantees are only as good as the paper that they’re written on; so it goes with the words that are spoken also. That’s why there are treaties drawn up between governments and laws are drafted to reign in governments, because it is the common practice of human beings to evolve, or in other words, to change their minds. The crowning miracle of our Lord’s life is of course the Resurrection, but not just His resurrection but that of Lazarus. I’m not sure that it might not be better called the “awakening of Martha” as we look at our devotional scripture, for there in the shadow of great sorrow and darkness, our Lord lifted her soul and helped her reach beyond what she saw - to experience what He knew she believed.

How common it is for you and I to live in our matter-of-fact day-to-day “belief state” and consider ourselves to be religious. Yet, we forget that our God also lives and works in every present tense situation we invite Him into. Think about it! If He is Lord of our lives, will He not desire to be a part of every thought we think; every breath we breathe; every decision we make? Yet, just like Martha, we often forget that eternity is counting down every second that we do, and that faith must learn to reckon on God’s I AM - alone! How many times I have searched for answers in the eternity I call today, the miracle I call common sense and the hope I have in me. Talk about a limited and finite mind; always neatly tucking away the manifestation of the Divine in the far past, or the far future, always seeing the Kingdom of Heaven as high above the Earth - knowing that at least on Earth we have something that is tangible; something we can touch. Oh but my friend - think of it! As you peer at the horizon and the sky seemingly caresses the Earth with its gentle embrace, you cannot help but feel the hand of God cover your mind and your spirit and your entire life with hope. You cannot help but to somehow know that here, in the everyday commonplaces of life, Jesus is the present and immediate answer to every need.

So, exactly what does Christ teach us about the Resurrection? Plato of course, believed in the immortality of the soul, but had no concept of the Resurrection. Jesus taught that the Resurrection is the reunion of the soul with the body, when it shall be raised in a form identical with, though different from, the body laid in the grave, just as a sheaf of corn is identical with, though different from, the seed-corn planted into the soil. The Lord said to Martha, “I am the Resurrection and the Life: he that believeth on Me, though he die, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth on Me shall never die. Believest thou this? The Bible tells us that, "She saith unto Him, Yea, Lord!” Did Martha understand it all? I doubt it, but she answered “Yea” to Him, on the grounds of what she knew Christ to be. He was the Messiah, and whatsoever He said, must be so. What a Word for you and I today! We too, may still accept much that we cannot understand . . . in Jesus alone! But in order for faith to work in us, our Lord only needs something on which to rest the lever of His mighty power. He found it in Martha…

Will He find it in you today?

Word For Today: Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. – John 5:24 – What a transition, what a Promise!!

]]> General http://iceministries.org/devotional/index.php?itemid=503 Tue, 9 Mar 2010 20:59:22 -0600 http://iceministries.org/devotional/index.php?itemid=501 But all their works they do for to be seen of men:
they make broad their phylacteries,
and enlarge the borders of their garments,
And love the uppermost rooms at feasts,
and the chief seats in the synagogues
Matthew 23:5

“The time for introspection is now, not when that which has been hidden is exposed. Look deep within and see whether there be any uncleanness, any area of dishonor or shame that may give the enemy the ammunition needed to bring railing accusations against you. He is an accuser but in Me you will find forgiveness and purification” says the Lord.

During the week before He was crucified, Jesus was asked many questions by the religious leaders of His time. However, their questions were never asked for the purpose of education or to satisfy their true curiosity - they were asked with the intent of finding fault, “Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle Him in His talk.” (cf. Matthew 22:15). Jesus answered each of their questions, but then He warned the crowds about the hypocrisy of those who were trying to trap Him. The phylactery was a small box containing scripture, worn on the forehead or arm to fulfill the command of God as given through Moses; “Therefore shall ye lay up these My words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes:” (cf. Deuteronomy 11:18)

The Pharisees strictly followed God’s commands, but they also followed many self-created rules and “enhanced” God’s commands to make themselves feel more righteous. Jesus never rebuked them for following rules, but He greatly questioned the motivation of their heart. The Pharisees had forgotten that the purpose of everything they did was to worship God and glorify His name. Instead, they began to focus on their outward appearance as they sought to look holy and obtain the approval of others, “ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess” (cf. Matthew 23:25). This problem was definitely not new. Over 700 years earlier, the children of Israel had lost their heart for worship, “Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near Me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor Me, but have removed their heart far from Me, and their fear toward Me is taught by the precept of men” (cf. Isaiah 29:13).

Unfortunately, this problem is still with us today. We’ve created a list of rules and religious activities which we feel somehow define our relationship with God. We define our “Godliness” by our church attendance, our acts of service, or even our time spent reading His Word. But while all these are good and worthwhile actions they, by themselves, do not define our relationship - they do not define our love. Our love is, and always has been, defined by the condition of our heart, for even as 1st Samuel 16:7 tells us, “…for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” All our actions simply flow as an outward expression of the condition of our heart. EVERYTHING we do must be motivated by a desire to praise and honor our Heavenly Father. Our religious acts mean absolutely nothing if not accompanied by a heart full of love and thanksgiving. Let’s become true worshippers who express our love for God in all we do and say!

Let’s never allow our lives to be driven by the look of holiness.

Word For Today: And He said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. – Luke 16:15 – You can run but you can’t hide because God knows the heart.

]]> General http://iceministries.org/devotional/index.php?itemid=501 Mon, 8 Mar 2010 21:16:09 -0600 http://iceministries.org/devotional/index.php?itemid=499 [Therefore beware] brethren, take care,
lest there be in any one of you a wicked,
unbelieving heart [which refuses to cleave to,
trust in, and rely on Him], leading you to turn away
{and} desert {or} stand aloof from the living God.
Hebrews 3:12 (Amplified Bible)

There is a paradigm shift taking place in the atmosphere bringing strange weather conditions. I hear the voice of the Lord saying, “Listen, for in this season I shall give specific instructions that are key to your success in what you are being challenged with. Keen ears and an open spirit will be crucial in order for you to hear the instruction that I will give.”

As long as life lasts, it is never too late to start loving God. Nevertheless, it is of the utmost importance that we start loving Him as soon as possible. We must not wait any longer than today to begin doing this thing that we were created to do. When we finally realize what it is like to love God - and more importantly, to be loved by Him, we will wish that we’d learned this enjoyment earlier. We will resent the time we lost in other pursuits. However early in life we embark on our journey toward God, we will wish we had begun this adventure much sooner.

And what will it be that we regret? It will not only be that we’ve lost some of the joy that could have been ours in this life. More than that, it will be that the days that are now lost forever could have been given to God. It will seem to us that what is left of our lives is too little a gift for Him. We will regret that what we have to give is not more complete, more perfect.

The truth is, every day that we live in this world is a difficult day. We are surrounded by influences that push us into selfishness and pull us away from God. In its present condition, our world is enemy-occupied territory. It is so much under the dominion of the enemy that he is described by Jesus Himself as “the ruler of this world” (cf. John 12:31). So we live on somewhat of a battlefield, and since we do, it is all the more necessary for us to be careful. The temptations are great, and the opportunities for devotion to God are not unlimited. The Apostle Paul wrote, “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” (cf. Ephesians 5:15-16). Like a commodity in short supply, our days need to be “redeemed.” Without wasting any more time than we already have, we need to “buy back” every day that is left on the shelf. The entire length of a long human lifetime is too little to give to a God who has loved us as our true God has. But if the days that are left are all that we have to give, it is another token of His grace that He will accept this as our all.

Why not give Him our best?

Word For Today: But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward. – Jeremiah 7:24 – Why would people rather walk backwards before they follow the Lord?

]]> General http://iceministries.org/devotional/index.php?itemid=499 Sun, 7 Mar 2010 21:12:50 -0600 http://iceministries.org/devotional/index.php?itemid=497 And saith unto Him, If thou be the Son of God, cast Thyself down
for it is written, He shall give His angels charge concerning Thee:
and in their hands they shall bear Thee up,
lest at any time Thou dash Thy foot against a stone.
Matthew 4:6

The footmen have engaged but we are more than conquerors and have already overcome. That’s right, we have already won and the enemy is only shadow boxing. I hear the Spirit of the Lord saying: “Perilous times are in the earth and sudden changes are in the atmosphere, but stand your grounds and wait upon Me,” says the Lord. Pray for Antigua and Barbuda, for there is a change in the atmosphere. I hear the Spirit of the Lord saying, “It is time to give an account for the idols that you have come into agreement with for I have not sold you.” Pray diligently for Antigua and Barbuda.

COMPROMISE, according to Webster’s Dictionary is defined as: “1. To adjust and settle a difference by mutual agreement, with concessions of claims by the parties; to compound. 2. To agree; to accord. 3. To commit; to put to hazard; to pledge by some act or declaration” We are living in a time when the enemy is trying to bring us into a position of compromise so as to cause us to undermine or shortchange the things which the Lord has appointed for us. He impresses upon us the gravity of and the consequences of our situation, so as to cause us to accept anything which presents a short term solution; a way out of a demon originated situation designed to entrap us in darkness. It is true that every frontline believer is feeling the sting of battle as day by day the warfare is intensified. Some are crying out, “Lord how long before this ends?” But here’s the thing, “This too shall pass.”

During this dispensation of time, we will feel the furnace turned up seven times hotter. For some, the furnace is associated with the weight of unpaid bills; tax collectors; repossessions; bailiffs and or family issues. Some are experiencing sleepless nights and anxiety attacks that are foreign to their character. In some instances, brethren are forced to evict and to pressure other brethren because of financial burdens. While these things are affecting the Body of Christ, the enemy watches for those that are open for negotiations. He is saying to those who will, “Give me your lips to speak lies and I will give you a loan to bring you temporary reprieve.” He forgets to tell you that this loan is going to bring reproach and shame; he neglects to inform you that there is an underlying agenda. Remember, he tried the same tactics with Jesus, trying to get Him to compromise and trust in uncertain promises and gain. The devil will always seek ways of bringing us into compromising situations where we feel it necessary to stoop below our standards. “If you do… I will,” says the devil.

However, we need to follow the example of Jesus and refuse to compromise, but rather stand upon the Word of God for it is written and documented to assure us of our divine covenant with Him through the Blood of Jesus Christ. We, as the children of God, are being called to walk blameless before Him with garments that are washed; hearts that are purified and lives set apart for His glory. Yes, the battle is hot… ”BUT” they that endure to the end… The Lord does not want us to adjust for the devil or to come into agreement for cease fire. We are to be vigilant in spite of the heat of battle. Even when the footmen threaten to tire us; we need to TRUST God. Trust Him even in the midst of lack and accusations; while the bill collectors are banging on the door or calling incessantly on the telephone. Trust in Him for He shall never leave you nor forsake you; that is His Word. He is an ever present God in the time of trouble; that is His Word and He changes NOT! Yes, you are depressed and feeling oppressed; cannot even trust those that profess Christ and your spirit is weary, BUT remember, they that wait upon the Lord… Beloved, don’t pledge by some act or declaration anything to the devil; stand firm…

Don’t give up, help is on the way; trust God for He is always on time!

Word For Today: He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? - Romans 8:32 - The most humble and obscure believer may derive consolation from the fact that Christ died for him, and that God has expressed the highest love for him which we can conceive to be possible.

]]> General http://iceministries.org/devotional/index.php?itemid=497 Thu, 4 Mar 2010 20:48:00 -0600 http://iceministries.org/devotional/index.php?itemid=495 And it came to pass, when they brought out those kings unto Joshua
that Joshua called for all the men of Israel
and said unto the captains of the men of war which went with him
Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings
And they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them
Joshua 10:24

I hear the Spirit of the Lord saying, “Pursue, for your enemies are delivered into your hands this day.” This is not the season to give up or give in, but pursue, for your enemies are on the run.

As children of God we are engaged in a deadly warfare while the enemy seeks to send scavengers to destroy the release of the harvest appointed for us. He has sensed activity in the realm of the Spirit as the womb of the Spirit is being dilated and birthing pangs are increasing to yield our inevitable harvest in this season. Know this, we shall be victorious and defeat the enemy; the Lord our God shall rain down hailstones upon the enemy of the harvest and crush the heads of those that rise up against us.

In our devotional scripture today, we read of how the Lord is able to deliver His children from those that would war against us. Five kings joined forces to devour and to destroy a people that posed a potential threat because of their association with Israel and the fame of how the Lord their God is able to deliver by the hand of Joshua. (cf. Joshua 10:5) We see their fear motivating them to take actions against a people that were at peace and had not initiated any acts of war or even given a hint of such intentions. In so saying, we need to be cognizant of the fact that the enemy has initiated war against us because he sees the threat of our allegiance to Jesus. He is afraid of the mandate that is upon your life and has brought in reinforcements because you are a threat to him. This should strengthen our resolve to stand on our watch and to rejoice in the Lord our God who shall cause us to triumph over our enemies.

The people of Gibeon sent for Joshua as their enemies encamped against them to wage war and Joshua and the children of Israel moved with haste to fight for them. Even so, call now for the Lord your God and He shall come and fight for you. Psalm 107 tells us of how He delivers out of distress those that would cry unto Him or call Him to bring them out of trouble. “Oh, that men would praise the Lord” and call unto Him to accomplish great deliverance. Gibeon called unto Joshua and the Lord responded because of His anointed servant and His chosen people. We read in verse 11 “And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Bethhoron, that the LORD cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword.” Cry out and call upon the Lord for He is coming to fight for you and to rain down hailstones upon your enemies that are stronger than you. He is preparing to plunder the camp of the enemy and secure your harvest for release in the appointed time.

At the end of the day the Lord delivered those five kings into the hands of His people and they were given a demonstration of scripture as they were instructed by Joshua to put their feet on the necks of their enemies. For it is written: “He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet.” (cf. Psalm 47:3) Further, “Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.” (cf. Psalm 91:13) Therefore sing and rejoice and let your praise resound to the heavens, for the Lord your God will fight for you and put the necks of your enemies under your feet.

Cry out and shout for joy for He is waiting to hear your voice!

Word For Today: And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the LORD do to all your enemies against whom ye fight - Joshua 10:25 - It is the Lord who has delivered the enemy into our hands; none can stand before us.

]]> General http://iceministries.org/devotional/index.php?itemid=495 Wed, 3 Mar 2010 22:24:43 -0600 http://iceministries.org/devotional/index.php?itemid=493 The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright:
but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
Proverbs 15:2

There is a stillness in the atmosphere as the gears of the Spirit are shifted into overdrive. “Look” says the Lord, “for I come with a mighty hand to deliver you.”

In this season we need to be cognizant of the power behind what we choose to say with our tongues. We need to be reminded of what James so eloquently penned in James chapter 3. There he speaks of the tongue being “a little member”, (cf. James 3:5) yet he alludes to it as a powerful tool which has the capacity to set on fire. He also sees it as “a fire” (cf. James 3:6); “a world of iniquity”. So basically, this little member has the ability to defile the entire body.

During my childhood many children would often say something like this: “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me”. I’ve also heard parents or grandparents speak words such as, “You are just like your no good father or mother” with the intention of wounding or inflicting pain because of the situation surrounding either parent. It may have been said because the father was a drunkard or is prone to doing things that are immoral, and likewise for the mother. Nevertheless, these words can be attributed to the deposit of negative things in the mind and spirit of the hearer which produces negative actions in the future.

The man or woman who is wise will always use his or her tongue as an instrument of edification. In fact, he or she will see opportunities to encourage and to impart that which is wholesome and good for nurturing positive attitudes. The wise man or woman in possession of negative information will find avenues to use this information to his advantage so that the person who may have made mistakes or is prone to making them may be rescued. James says, “But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison” (cf. James 3:8). We are indeed found wanting if we cannot discipline our tongues to minister grace to our hearers. I guess the real question is....

How will you use your tongue?

Word For Today: Who so is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. – James 3:13 – Use your tongue to build and establish your integrity as a wise man.

]]> General http://iceministries.org/devotional/index.php?itemid=493 Tue, 2 Mar 2010 20:42:42 -0600 http://iceministries.org/devotional/index.php?itemid=491 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?
Psalm 27:1

“Put on thy strength” saith the Lord, “for within you lies a resolve that will lead you to the place of safety that I have prepared for you in this season. Be not afraid of their looks for even while they gaze upon what they think is a defeated person, you are in fact being raised up and shall appear before their eyes as a testimony of who I am.”

Today’s devotional will no doubt make a wide appeal, for who is there who has not at some time or another experienced this gripping thing called fear? Indeed, some people are constantly dominated by it. David knew something of it, though from Psalm 34:4 we discover that it is possible for a man who is full of fear to be delivered from it completely. Even though man has achieved so much in the area of science and technology he is still subject to all the frailties common to mankind. He has to overcome sin, he knows what sorrow is, he is beset by worry, he is threatened by anxiety, he knows what depression is, and one of his biggest enemies is fear. Here is the question I want us to ponder today - Is it God’s will that His children should be dogged and overwhelmed by the demons of fear? No, it is not His will, and the good news is that it is possible to be released and delivered from all our fears.

There are two kinds of fear in human experience, the normal and the abnormal, the good and the bad. A surgeon fears to harm his patient, a pilot takes care in his handling of his aircraft, as he fears to harm his passengers through an accident, etc. However, in this devotional we are concentrating on the bad kind of fear, the fear from which we need to be delivered, and from which we may be delivered. Notice in the Bible how frequently the Lord says, “Fear not!” or “Be strong and of a good courage!” As we read the Word we repeatedly hear God saying to us, “Don’t be afraid” (cf. Genesis 26:24; Deuteronomy 31:8; Joshua l: 9; Psalm 46:2; Isaiah 35:4; 41:10; and Isaiah 43:1).

There are general fears - as Luke 21:26 tells us, and this is very true of today. But there are particular fears, which may have to do with the past, the present or the future. Consider the following: Anyone who is conscientious or ambitious in the right sense, or who has achieved any success at all, must experience the temptation to fear lest he should fail, and this can be a very devastating fear. We may be ambitious and yet fear the very responsibility in which the achievement of our ambition may thrust upon us. Some people are afraid of thunderstorms or of traveling by sea or air. Sometimes their fear arises from the fact that they have known someone to be hurt by lightning or to lose their lives in the air or on the sea.

Then there is the fear of some “skeleton in the closet” being revealed. Many people fear that some past sin or indiscretion will find them out. Many who are getting old become fearful as to how they will be able to live on their small pensions or savings, or are fearful of being dependent upon others, or are fearful of what will happen when their children leave them. For some there is the fear of mental disorders or physical disease. This is a very real fear to many people, even among saved and unsaved alike. Perhaps someone they know has been afflicted in this way, and this has instilled a fear in them. Lastly, there is the fear of death. This fear is common among people who are saved and those who are not, but Hebrews 2:15 says, “And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”

Today, God wants us to know that He is available to deliver us from all our fears, but we need to take our fears to the mercy seat of Christ and leave them there. We must remember to cultivate the consciousness of the Lord’s presence for fear cannot live in the realized, enjoyed presence of Christ. Today, if God is speaking a Word to you because fear is such a big enemy in your life, then give yourself wholeheartedly to that Word until you are able to say confidently what the psalmist said in Psalm 56:3. Then you will know the way of deliverance from fear.

Allow His strength to heal you of your fears!!

Word For Today: Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me. – Micah 7:8 – The outward afflictions which we face come not by chance but by divine appointment.

]]> General http://iceministries.org/devotional/index.php?itemid=491 Mon, 1 Mar 2010 22:20:10 -0600 http://iceministries.org/devotional/index.php?itemid=489 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven
against all ungodliness and unrighteousness
of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness.
Romans 1:18

“I long to hear the voice that would cry out in humble submission ‘I surrender ALL’ for truly when you think about it, you owe more than you could have ever paid and yet I have removed every barrier and erased every failure and yet still you will not come to Me. All that I ask of you is everything which is nothing in comparison to what I gave for you. I gave of My only Son so that you might live” declares the Lord God.

The words used in our devotional scripture show that the Apostle Paul had his eye especially on those who, not having readily accepted the written revelation from God, might yet know of Him through His works of nature. Paul’s view is that God’s invisible attributes has been apparent to the human mind, ever since the creation of our world; being revealed by the things He has made. In and by means of these works, we may learn His eternal power and His real divinity. Hence, all men have some means of knowing the great truths that pertain to God, our infinite Creator. Therefore God may, with the utmost respectability, hold men responsible for either accepting or rejecting this truth reverently, and rendering to their Creator the homage due. For withholding this, they are utterly without excuse. So then, what is the true idea of unrighteousness? Well, beyond question, it cannot be less than the exclusion of righteousness, and may imply more or less of downright wickedness. Here the question will arise, what is righteousness? To which I answer, rightness; moral rightness, the original term being used in regard to material things, to denote what is straight; as, for example, a straight line.

Unrighteousness, the opposite of this, must then mean that which is morally crooked, distorted or not in harmony with the rightness of God’s law. To support the idea of sin, the Scriptures employ some terms which properly signify a cancellation, or utter absence of what should be. Some theologians have maintained that the true idea of sin is simply negative, supposing sin to consist in not doing and not being what one ought to do and to be. This idea is strongly implied in our devotional, for you see sin is, indeed, a neglect to do known duty and a refusal to comply with known obligation. Inasmuch as love is required always and of all men, this must be a state of real disobedience. Suffice it, then, to say, that unrighteousness is an omission; a known omission, a refusal to be what we should, and to do what we should. Of course it is completely voluntary. It is the mind’s refusal to obey God which becomes a matter of its own free choice. We choose to obey or disobey God. Think about it, whenever you do something that you know is wrong, you are not forced, you do it because you make a choice, a conscious decision. What is implied in “holding the truth in unrighteousness?” Well, the meaning of the original term “hold” is to ‘hold back, to restrain’. The idea here is that man restrains the reasonable authority of the truth, and will not let it have its proper influence over his will. You see, the human mind is so established that truth is its natural motivation. This stimulus of truth would, if not restrained and held back, lead the mind naturally to obey God. Therefore, man holds back the truth through his own unrighteousness, when, for selfish reasons, he overrules and restrains its natural influence, and will not allow it to take possession and rule his mind.

The point being emphasized in this devotional is that God, manifesting Himself from heaven, has revealed His high and just displeasure against all restraining of the truth and withstanding of its influence. Now before I proceed to show why this is, (which I shall talk more about in our next devotional) I feel led to talk to some of you whom I see before me this day, and in talking to you I must be frank and honest. There are some of you, who have not been outwardly immoral, but you have restrained the truth, you have withstood its influence. You are therefore the very persons against whom the wrath of God is said to be revealed. This is true of every one of you who have not given himself or herself over to the influence of truth. You have restrained that natural influence; therefore, against you God has revealed His wrath, and that is a terrible thing. The wrath of a king is terrible; how much more so is the wrath of God! I ask you, who can stand before Him when once He shall arise in His wrath to avenge His truth and His own glorious name?

If you think you can, think again!!!

Word For Today: And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient – Romans 1:28 – Convenience can be an extremely dangerous tool, when used incorrectly.

]]> General http://iceministries.org/devotional/index.php?itemid=489 Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:14:49 -0600 http://iceministries.org/devotional/index.php?itemid=487 Now a certain young man followed Him,
having a linen cloth thrown around his naked body.
And the young men laid hold of him,
and he left the linen cloth and fled from them naked.
Mark 14:31-32

The Spirit of the Lord is speaking as in times of old and He is saying, “Worship Me, for I am indeed seeking those who would worship Me; not for what I can do but for Who I AM. I AM the Lord your God who has brought you through many situations. I am Jehovah Rapha, your healer and I have come with healing in My wings to appoint unto you comfort from the pain that you have been suffering. Worship Me, as I permeate through your body and drive sickness far from you. Worship Me, as I bring your daughter back home and I deliver the son that you have been crying over. Worship Me, and watch Me move in the midst of every situation that concerns you. WORSHIP ME!!!”

See this today as a reminder of King David and his march to bring back the Ark of the Covenant. This is a picture of worship in the hands of men for real worship must be offered in humility and freedom. It must be offered by enthusiastic followers of Christ. Do not think there are not those like the young man in our devotional scripture, who have sought to come after God but have been frightened away. The scene here is of the disciples having left and this one lone man trying to follow Christ. He represents the worshipper, the king who wore a linen ephod. He represents the last to be pushed away by man, by religion and parameters of such things as self-preservation and respectability.

“Come after Me” as this young man, even if no one else does, even if the rest have already fled. “Come after Me” says the Lord. “Keep at it, for there is a reward for those who will pursue Me to the end. There is a reward for the vigilant and faithful. I want worshippers today who would worship Me in spirit and in truth. Did I not say it would be so?” I hear the voice of the Lord saying, “In this day there is no force, no band of men who can send you away. This is the day of My resurrection power and soon return. Do not think it is as in the past. You are entering into a new era of unending praise. Watch, as I open the floodgates on this side. Be singers and dancers, and worshippers before My throne.”

Hear the voice of the Lord as He would say, “Come in. Come in and take part. This is the day. This is the hour for great praise. Be bold. Cause people to stop and behold My glory being displayed. Magnify My name in the earth. Why not start here? Why not start now? Think of ways to worship Me. Think of places in which you can offer praise. I want the ark of My presence brought into many sectors of society, in many settings and localities. I am coming and I want My coming to be heralded throughout the nations of the earth. Usher My presence into your place with praise. Would it be so different as in former days? What about praising Me every six steps as My servant David did? (cf. 2nd Samuel 6:12-13) It is near. I am near. It is as if the ark were being brought up from Obed Edom’s house into your life, your home, your place of worship, into your situation and with it comes My favor.”

Worship Him without reservation!

Word For Today: And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. – 2nd Samuel 6:14 – In true worship there is no shame.

]]> General http://iceministries.org/devotional/index.php?itemid=487 Thu, 18 Feb 2010 23:21:49 -0600 http://iceministries.org/devotional/index.php?itemid=485 And the evil spirit answered and said
Jesus I know, and Paul I know;
but who are ye?
Acts 19:15

“I hear the cries of My people; I see their tears and I am moved” says the Lord, “to comfort them”. Hear the Word of the Lord, for this is the season in which many that have sown in tears shall reap in joy. “Sorrow of heart and grief shall be healed and the brokenness shall be removed for I, the Lord, have spoken it.” Get ready, for March is the month of miracles.

Who are you? This is a question that most people have been asked at some point in life. Perhaps on a more personal level many of us have questioned our own identity. We find ourselves at the mercy of varying opinions as to our identity and the identity of others as we sometimes tend to judge based upon some experience or misadventure. In the case of our devotional scripture for today, the question is being directed to seven men who chose to act without proper authority, to their shame on someone else’s authority. As we read the story within the confines of content and context of scripture we will find that the Apostle Paul was ministering in Ephesus and according to Acts 19:11 “God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul”. He baptized in the name of Jesus, laid hands and many received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Acts 19:6 also affirms the following: “And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.” So many must have witnessed the ministry of Paul and recognized that the origin of authority within him came through his relationship with Jesus. We are further told in the preceding verses that seven men became very presumptuous concerning the things they saw done in the name of Jesus.

These men, namely the seven sons of someone by the name of Sceva, a Jew and chief priest; took it upon themselves; without divine appointment, authority or relationship to Jesus, to start a deliverance ministry. They had no clue that demons are quite aware of our identity. We might have questions about ourselves as they make accusations daily to bring us into self-condemnation; others might post a question mark against us because they have prior knowledge of misconduct, improprieties or as a result of slanderous information that defamed our character. However, make no mistake. Demons are well aware; cognizant of who and whose we are. They see us and know the things that they are able to deceive us into entertaining or practicing as a part of our lifestyle. In John 14:30 Jesus told His disciples: “Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in Me.” Jesus had nothing of the enemy within Him. When the devil saw Him, he saw the image of the invisible God. The demons asked the seven sons of Sceva: “Who are you?” When the enemy sees you; does he question the validity of your claim to authority in Jesus’ name or does he bow to the anointing of the Holy Spirit within you? Who are you? I dare you to respond before God, man and devil…

“I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus!”

Word For Today: For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him – 2nd Corinthians 5:21- He knew you even before you knew yourself and He knew what you were made of even then.

]]> General http://iceministries.org/devotional/index.php?itemid=485 Wed, 17 Feb 2010 23:12:41 -0600