Praying For Ministers Who You Connect With

June 2015

Dear Friend,

This letter is especially dedicated to those who have been assigned to pray for those called to the five-fold ministry (Eph 4:11). It is to my fellow pray-ers that I dedicate this letter and honor for answering the call to pray, and to those who have a stirring in their hearts to pray for ministers of the Gospel.

We recently had an intensive ten-hour course on the study of man and his three-fold nature (being his spirit, soul and body). In one of the sessions, there were two utterances (or messages) in tongues given with their respective interpretations and I saw how it just 'unlocked' certain things that were brought out over the course of the session. I am reminded of something I heard an older minister say recently: that some things could only be revealed through giving a tongue and an interpretation that couldn't be revealed otherwise (1 Cor 14:26)

I strongly believe that all of this would not have been made possible if people had not been praying for the guest minister; that she would deliver the right word at the right time.

In his letter to the Church in Ephesus, the Apostle Paul strongly encourage them to pray, being led by the Holy Spirit, for 'all the saints'; those being God's consecrated people. (Eph 6:18). However, it is interesting what he writes in verse 19:

Ephesians 6:19 (AMP)

And [pray] also for me, that [freedom of] utterance may be given me, that I may open my mouth to proclaim boldly the mystery of the good news (the Gospel),

I find it significant that the Apostle Paul; a man who wrote approximately one half of the New Testament, actually requested for prayer from the Church, that he could have freedom and boldness to proclaim the Gospel. It is difficult to imagine that one as highly spiritual as him would covet the prayers of the church he was instrumental in founding.

Paul places such a high value on the prayers of the church that he even describes the effectiveness of their prayers in another letter he wrote, this time to the Church in Philippi:

Philippians 1:19 (AMP)

For I am well assured and indeed know that through your prayers and a bountiful supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ (the Messiah) this will turn out for my preservation [or deliverance, KJV] (for the spiritual health and welfare of my own soul) and avail toward the saving work of the Gospel. 

When you and I give ourselves over to prayer, we carry with us what Paul described as a 'bountiful' supply of that which God has placed in each of us. That when we pray, many doors of utterance will be opened for the person who we pray for. They have boldness and freedom to bring out of the rich treasury of their hearts the right word for the right season.

Why did Paul place such a high value on the prayers of the church? Read 1 Cor 16:9 and Eph 6:12 with me:

1 Corinthians 16:9 (AMP)

For a wide door of opportunity for effectual [service] has opened to me [there, a great and promising one], and [there are] many adversaries. 

Ephesians 6:12 (AMP)

For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.

When Paul wrote to the Church in Corinth, the Amplified Translation describes the door he had to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles as a "wide door of opportunity" (Acts 14:27); and that along with that door of opportunity came many who opposed it (Acts 19:9). These men may have opposed the preaching of the Gospel in the physical sense but Paul recognized that his real enemies were not the religious authorities of the day, but that it was a spiritual war that he fought.

Likewise we also have to recognize that the war we are in is not visible in nature but invisible. There is much opposition to the Word of God taking root in the hearts of men and women who have not heard the Gospel, who have been made spiritually blind to the goodness of God. 

THIS is the main reason why were pray for our pastors, and for those in the ministry who God has knit our hearts together with. It is through our prayers that we clear any opposition to the preaching of the Gospel and the teaching of the Word. Read Isaiah 40:3-5 with me:

Isaiah 40:3-5 (AMP)

A voice of one who cries: Prepare in the wilderness the way of the Lord [clear away the obstacles]; make straight and smooth in the desert a highway for our God! Every valley shall be lifted and filled up, and every mountain and hill shall be made low; and the crooked and uneven shall be made straight and level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory (majesty and splendor) of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it. 

This was a prophetic declaration of John the Baptist's role in proclaiming the coming of Jesus the Messiah, but this is also just as applicable to the role of the pray-er today. Through prayer, we prepare the way for God to come. We clear any obstacles and make the path straight and smooth for the Word to go forth. And as the Word goes forth without obstruction, we know that His Glory will be revealed. And all this can be done through praying for ministers!

As we pray for them, we help to prepare the path for them to speak the Word boldly and with clarity. We know that as they speak, it will penetrate the heart of the ones who hear, changing them from the inside out and positioning them to fulfill their call and destiny.

I do not take the assignment given me lightly, as I know I have a supply within me that helps bring the glory to the Church and beyond its walls. I cherish every minister who I have a connection with. And as God places them on my heart, I lift them up in prayer.

It would be an injustice for me to end this letter without enclosing some examples of how I pray for the ministers who I am connected to. I find that I have faith when I have scripture to stand on as the basis for my praying. The wording is up to the individual, as there is no specific formula or button to push in praying.

1. Ephesians 6:19

Father, I pray for [insert name], that You give [him/her] freedom of utterance, that [he/she] has boldness to proclaim the Gospel to those who would hear it....

2. Philippians 1:19

I thank You that I have a bountiful supply of the Spirit to bring, that my prayers will result in [his/her] freedom to speak the Word with boldness and unfailing courage....

3. Isaiah 50:4-5, 2 Timothy 4:2

I thank You for giving [name] the tongue of the learned, that [name] will speak the right word at the right time to those who need it the most. You open [his/her] ears to hear what You have to say to them. [name] will always be ready no matter where he/she is, whatever season he/she is in...

4. Ephesians 1:17-19

Father, I thank You for giving [name] the spirit of wisdom and revelation in knowing You intimately. You flood his/her heart with light through Your Word. He/she knows and understands the hope of Your calling, how rich Your glorious inheritance is in him/her, and the exceeding greatness of Your power that is working right now in him/her....

5. 1 Samuel 3:10 - 4:1(a)

I thank You that you are with [name], that none of his/her words will fall to the ground empty and void, but will produce much good fruit. He/she is established in You. And what he/she says will spread to all who cross their path.....

There are other possible promises in the Bible that you can stand on. And when you think you've prayed everything you know to pray, you can still pray in other tongues concerning them. Much of my praying is done both ways so it's up to the individual really.

I strongly urge you, fellow pray-er, to pray for those whom God has placed in your life, whether they be your pastor or other ministers of the Gospel who you have connected yourself to. The value of your prayers and the supply that you bring to them is immeasurable.

With much love,

Ken

Be Filled, Speaking!

May 2015

Dear Friend, 

I was stirred in my heart to share something that has helped me recently in dealing with certain situations that have been difficult to approach in the natural; and that has to do with one of the ways in which you and I can be "filled with the Spirit".

When Paul wrote his letter to the Ephesian Church, he exhorted them to walk "circumspectly" (or diligently, exactly, accurately), redeeming (making full use) of the time they had, because the days ahead were evil. (Eph 5:15-16) Looking at the times we live in right now, how much more relevant this is to us; even as we draw even nearer to the coming of the Lord!

Paul exhorted the believers (and us) to "not be unwise, but to understand what the will of the Lord is." (Eph 5:17). Purpose comes when you know clearly what the will of God is for your life. You will live determined to carry out your life in such a way and manner that reflects your Father accurately like Paul wrote in Galatians 5:25,

Galatians 5:25 (AMP)

If we live by the [Holy] Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. [If by the Holy Spirit we have our life in God, let us go forward walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit.] 

Paul then went on to write further in Ephesians;

Ephesians 5:18-20 (NKJV)

And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

Note that Paul did not specifically say that drinking alcohol was a sin, he encouraged against drinking it to the point of excess. Personally I do not drink; not for religious convictions but simply because I experienced going past excess and decided to just cut it out rather than go through the process again. Everyone should follow their own personal convictions regarding this issue but remember that as you are in Him, there is no condemnation (Rom 8:1)

Why then did Paul use this as an example of how we were to be 'filled' with the Spirit? Have you noticed people who were beyond drunk? They lose all sense of fear and reservation (even if it's only temporary), they speak boldly from their hearts, they can be extremely happy (again temporarily!) among others.

And that's the same way we should be when we're filled with the Spirit of God! I strongly believe that we should be the happiest people on this earth! Not only are we redeemed and forgiven of our sins (Eph 1:7), we're called His children (Rom 8:16-17), He's always with us wherever we are (Jn 14:16). If you actually stop and think about it, there's a lot of things you can be happy about.

Note how Paul writes we were to be filled with the Spirit in Eph 5:19:

Ephesians 5:19 (NKJV)

speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 

There are other ways in which we're to be filled with the SPirit, through speaking in other tongues (Acts 2:4, 1 Cor 14:4), through the Word (Col 3:16) but I am convinced that we'll miss out if we're to neglect this way of being filled with the Spirit; whether unintentionally or intentionally.

I have experienced this, that somewhere deep within me a song (more like a poem, I'm not musically inclined) will just rise up. And more often than always the contents of that song will either address a situation that I'm facing right now, or will face in the near future. To this day, I don't know why those songs/poems tend to rhyme. I do not get the whole piece but a few words will come and as I take a step of faith and begin to speak out those words, more begins to come by inspiration until I finish.

There is an element of prophecy involved when you start speaking (or singing) songs given by the Spirit. That is also possible because one meaning of the word 'prophesy' brings across the image of something bubbling forth or springing forth. And that is the same with this way of being filled! It'll just start by springing up from within you a bit at a time until the full piece is released.

The following poems are examples of what I had recently that addressed some situations that I was going through. It's to give an idea of what I'm referring to. Do note that as it comes by inspiration, it can be either long or short (although for some unknown reason mine tends to be fairly long?)

Victory

Victory is not just for those

Who are strong in the Lord

But victory is for all

Who are dearly loved by God

For the enemy is a defeated foe

And that we should surely know

For the Son has thrashed him

And made him a show

So we rise up and 

Boldly take out place

Partaking of our Father's

Great and glorious grace

And we can surely say

How it will be, that

"Something great is now

happening for me!"

Songs

Songs in the day

Songs in the night

Songs that'll make a way

In the midst of the fight

Not by your might

Not by your power

It's by the Holy Spirit

In this day and this hour

Prepare yourself

No time to waste

To pursue His call

You must make haste

Called by the Spirit

Washed in His Blood

Living life above

Keeping the Word

Love

Love that is not easy

Nor does it come cheap

God's love demonstrated

Will cause you to weep

Love that brings about

Sweet and gentle peace

Love that puts 

The troubled heart at ease

So be willing, be hungry

Partake of that love

Be aware that it comes 

From your Father above

Know that His love 

He desires to show

That you are greatly loved

He wants you to know

Interestingly enough in Ephesians 5:18, some Greek scholars have suggested that Paul used a form of word play, that he encouraged believers to be 'being' filled or to be continually filled. So in a sense, by speaking songs of inspiration, you'll maintain your capacity of being filled with the Spirit of God, that would make you more than able to handle whatever the enemy throws at you!

So I encourage you, take time to fill yourself up! Take a step of faith and start speaking out songs that will see you through!

I pray for you,

Ken

Pursue His Call, Be Aggressive, Fulfill It!

April 2015

Dear Friend,

I write this letter to you with the conviction that you will be edified, encouraged and strengthened to run that race that lies before you; not being hindered by the past or by circumstances that seem to bog you down.

You and I are born in this very day and age for a specific purpose. As it was spoken of Queen Esther in the Bible, God is also speaking to us today; that we are here on this earth "for such a time as this"! (Esther 4:14)

I acknowledge that you may be saying within yourselves right now, "You don't know my past, the failures I've made, the circumstances I was born into. I don't see how I can do what you say I can do!" And that is true. But I can tell you about someone who does. Someone who's made it to the top of society, reached the very bottom of society, and still ran the full course of his race.

The Apostle Paul, in his writings to the church in Philippi, exhorted them to press in to the calling that God had for them, not looking back at the past. At the time of his writing, he was languishing in a Roman jail, heavily persecuted by both Jew and Roman for his preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Read with me Philippians 3:4-6

Philippians 3:4-6 (NKJV)
though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

He wrote to them of his past qualifications and mistakes that he had; that:

1) he was a pure-bred Jew descended directly from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
2) he was better than the rest of the Jews because he kept the Hebrew customs and traditions
3) he was considered as one of the best of the Pharisees
4) he was blameless in the sight of the written law
5) he persecuted the church as a Pharisee was supposed to.

But note what he writes in verse 7-8

Philippians 3:7-8 (NKJV)
But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ

That is a strong statement. Imagine, a man who by the standards of his day, would have been considered overqualified with his skills and what he did; and he considered them to be rubbish (literally dung) in the light of him gaining Christ!

He writes further of himself in verses 12-14,

Philippians 3:12-14 (NKJV)

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 

This was a man who wrote approximately 50% of the New Testament (I counted!), and he speaks plainly that he hadn't attained or even reached it yet. He was still pressing on to pursue that which God had called him.

I want you to focus on verse 13 with me:

Philippians 3:13 (NKJV)

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 

The word Paul used for 'forgetting' carries several other meanings to it; that brings out another side to it. It meant to neglect, to lose out of mind, to give over to oblivion. When he writes of forgetting those things that were behind, it can be safely said in the light of the earlier verses that not only was he talking about his qualifications, he also referred to the past mistakes he made, and the persecution he went through after he was converted and started preaching the Gospel.

In essence, what Paul saw to be the calling God placed on his life, he considered it to be so great and awesome that everything in his past paled in the light of what he saw before him!

Friends, some of you may have come from broken homes, dysfunctional families. Some of you may have come from normal homes and families. It does not matter. Some may not even know who your real family is. Mistakes may have been made. Some that you think are beyond recovery. Don't let that become a stronghold in your life that keeps you from fulfilling your destiny!

I do not know who my real family is to this day, but I'm not bothered by it. Why I can say that is because of who I know my Father to be, and the love that He has for me. You may know who your real family is; but that's not a 100% guarantee that you're part of it. Read Psalm 27:10 with me, what David said:

Psalm 27:10 (NKJV)

When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the LORD will take care of me.

If you examine the life of David when he was inspired to write that psalm, be aware that he already had his family. But in a way, it was as though he didn't have a family. Even his own father Jesse had forgotten about him when the prophet Samuel was searching through his sons for the one God would anoint as king over Israel. Yet in spite of that, it is written of David that he was a man after God's own heart (1 Samuel 13:14), and that he fulfilled the plan of God in his generation (Acts 13:36)

Even if you feel abandoned by all, know this: the same God of whom David said will take care of him, is the same One who will take care of you! He's promised that He'll never leave or forsake you, even to the very end! Read Hebrews 13:5(b)

Hebrews 13:5b (AMP)

He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!] 

When Paul said that he was to 'press towards the goal for the prize of the upward call', he uses the word 'dioko' which means the following according to Thayer's definitions:

1) to run swiftly in order to catch a person or thing

2) to pursue (in a hostile manner)

3) the seek after eagerly, earnestly endeavor to acquire.

This is the same word he uses when he said he 'persecuted' the church: dioko! It could then be said that to press towards that which God called you to do, you have to pursue it swiftly as though you were chasing your enemy, seeking after it eagerly and earnestly endeavor to acquire it until you obtained it! You have to be aggressive in the pursuit of the call of God on your life, whether it be in ministry or in the marketplace, or anywhere else!

My friend, the plan and calling of God will not fall on you and I like ripe cherries of a tree. It takes an almost hostile effort on our part to pursue it until we obtain it. And as we can see from the life of Paul, he obtained it successfully. He reached the end with such confidence that he could boldly declare in 2 Timothy 4:7-8,

2 Timothy 4:7-8 (NKJV)

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

Likewise it is the same with you and I. God is calling for a generation of people who will be like David and Paul; who would pursue the call of God on their lives unrelentingly and fulfill it. Will you be one of them?

I pray for you!

Ken

Know God, Know His Ways, And Follow Them!

March 2015

Dear Friend,

We had a glorious time in the Presence of God last Sunday; and it is out of the overflow from that service that I write this letter to you.

Our speaker: Reverend Cynthia Quek gave the following message in tongues with its interpretation:

For I have brought you here for a purpose: to learn of the things of the Spirit. To learn of the ways of the Spirit. And there is a way, which is the higher way. It is not the ways of man; but it is the ways of the Spirit. And you are to walk in them, you are to learn of them, and then the Lord will show you, and bring you to victory.

God is calling ordinary people like you and I to learn His ways; to follow Him in His way, which is a higher and more excellent way. This is not reserved for 'super' Christians; but it is for everyone who desire to follow. And as we follow that way, we will walk in victory as He said.

A realistic question to ask would be this then: What does it  mean to walk in His ways?

God spoke of Himself through the prophet Isaiah:

Isaiah 55:8-9 (NKJV)
"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.

God does not think as we do. His ways and His thoughts are much higher than anything we could come up with. Not only that, He's seen our end even from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10)! He knows the path that we should take, so that we fulfill the call and destiny He placed on us even before we were born.

The Psalmist David writes of a man who knew the ways of God. That man was Moses. Read Psalm 103:7 with me:

Psalm 103:7 (NKJV)
He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel.

The Hebrew word used for 'known' is the word 'yada'; which carries several meanings which is more than to just know:

Brown, Driver And Briggs defines it as:

- to perceive and see; to know by experience; to know, be acquainted with; to know (a person carnally) [be intimate with]; to know how, be skillful in

This tells me that Moses knew God intimately. That his knowledge of God and His ways was borne out of experiencing God; not only through knowing of or about God, but to know Him and be acquainted with Him. And the acts of Moses that we read about was a fruit born out of that intimate relationship he had with God.

Israel saw the acts of God. They saw the parting of the Red Sea, water coming out of the rock, manna from heaven, and many other miracles. But only Moses knew His ways. What you and I do in the life we live will be an outflow of the depth of our relationship with Him. We could choose to be like Israel and merely watch miracles taking place, or we could choose to be like Moses and do them.

We read in Exodus 33:7-10 how Moses met with God in the tabernacle set up in the wilderness. We can see how the people of Israel merely stayed at their own tent doors. Only Moses entered the Tabernacle, and a young man called Joshua never left the tabernacle. But read verse 11:

Exodus 33:11 (NKJV)

So the LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. And he would return to the camp, but his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tabernacle.

God spoke to Moses. Face to face. As two close friends. And we can see that as he knew God more intimately, we see him growing more skillful in the ways of God. It is said that there was no prophet like Moses in Israel, who the Lord knew face to face. And that was under the Old Covenant. And we know that Jesus brought us near to God under the New Covenant. We have a better covenant established on better promises!

I want to be skillful in the ways of God as Moses was. I don't want to be like Israel, passively watching as God moved mightily. I want to be like Moses was, who knew his God intimately and performed mighty miracles because of that intimate relationship!

I strongly believe that there is a generation who will hunger to know God AND His ways. They will seek after His heart. They will want to connect to that heart and draw from it. Acting out of the overflow of that intimate relationship WITH HIM.

The prophet Daniel spoke of such a group of people, that they will know their God, and be strong, and carry out great and mighty exploits. (Daniel 11:32b) The word used for know is the exact same word used in Psalm 103:7, yada! That the people who knew Him intimately would be strong. That they would carry out great exploits BECAUSE they knew Him.

Hosea also prophesied in Chapter 6:3,

Hosea 6:3 (KJV)

Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth. 

That as we know God intimately, He WILL come to us as the rain. That we won't just hear about Him, we will experience Him in all His goodness. We will be skillful in His ways!

Now read Ephesians 3:19 with me:

Ephesians 3:19 (AMP)

[That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!

Paul prayed this prayer for the Ephesian church; and it is also what God wants for us. God desires that we may know through experience; the Love of God; which is far greater than mere knowledge without experience. And why? That we may be wholly filled and flooded with God Himself!

God desires that we be empty vessels, and that as we experience that Divine Love, we will begin to know Him more intimately. We will be filled with Him; where His actions become our actions, His ways our ways, His thoughts our thoughts. We will be led by Him, as Moses was led by Him and fulfilled his part in the plan of God. So also will we fulfill our part in His indescribable plan.

So I strongly encourage you: Be determined like Moses to know God intimately. Don't just settle for knowing about Him like Israel, KNOW HIM INTIMATELY BY EXPERIENCE. Know His ways and follow them, and you will see yourself having the greater victory!

I pray Ephesians 3:19 for you,

Ken

Three Things That Come From Knowing God

February 2015

Dear Friend,

I was reading Ephesians 1:17-23 recently when that passage was made alive to me. I saw some things in Paul's prayer for the Ephesian Church that blessed me as it gave me a revelation of what it really meant to pray that same prayer that Paul prayed; not only for myself but for those around me.

Paul wrote to the Church in Ephesians 1:16;

Ephesians 1:16 (NKJV)
[I] do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:

Some people can and have taken that to the extent that it became a bondage to them, praying long prayers for the people who they knew. When Paul said he mentioned them in his prayers, the word for mention really does mean 'mention'! It's perfectly all right to just mention the names of people you're praying for and leave it at there; don't feel condemned because someone else shared on praying long hours for that same person!

This is what Paul prayed for them:

Ephesians 1:17-18(a)
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened;

The Amplified Translation of Ephesians 1:18(a) brings it out as having the 'eyes of your heart flooded with light'

Paul prayed that the Church would have wisdom and revelation in knowing God. The word used for knowledge would also imply the idea of becoming fully acquainted with God! This tells me that Paul prayed for the Church to have a much closer and deeper relationship with God; so as to become fully acquainted with Him!

And as we become more acquainted with God, we can see a much clearer picture of Him as He is in the Word. David said of God in Psalm 119:130,

Psalm 119:130 (NKJV)
The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple

And what blessed me tremendously was the three things that comes about as a direct result of knowing Him intimately:

Ephesians 1:18(b)-19(a) (NKJV)
that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe,

1. You know the hope to which God has called you.

As I prayed this prayer for myself, I found that I started to know exactly what God was calling me to do, and that it was a living hope that He would bring to pass as I cooperated with Him. God says clearly in Jeremiah 29:11:

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

And as you continue knowing Him intimately, He gives you insight into the plans and purposes that He ordained for you even before you were born.

2. You know the riches of what He has in you

The Passion Translation reads this way:

Ephesians 1:18(b)
And I pray that you will truly experience all the riches of this wealth that has been freely given to all His holy ones, for you are His true inheritance!

You and I are God's true inheritance! And Paul prayed that we would truly experience everything that God has given us freely as His children!

Romans 8:32 describes the love of God for us, and His willingness to give us everything that Jesus died to restore:

Romans 8:32 (NKJV)
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?

When you realize that God has given you all things, it will put a much different spin on the way you pray. You'll pray boldly as a child of God, knowing that He won't deny you the petition that you ask of Him; as you ask according to His will!

3. You know the magnitude of the power God has placed behind you.

Ephesians 1:19(a) to 23 describes the magnitude of the power that God has placed within you and I. That same power that raised Jesus from the dead is sitting resident in us! That very power is the Holy Spirit, who is the source of power that we need to be able to carry out the plan of God for our lives!

Paul also write in Ephesians 3:20

Ephesians 3:20 (NKJV)

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 

God is able to do much more than what we can even dare to ask or imagine; and He's made it relative to the power that is in us. As we get a clearer revelation of the magnitude of the power that God used to raise Jesus from the dead; and that God has placed that same power within us, we'll be more bold with our prayers, knowing that God is able to do much more than what we asked.

So I encourage you. Start praying Ephesians 1:17-19. Don't just pray it for yourself. Pray it for your family, your friends, your loved ones. And see them walk in God's plan for their lives!

I pray this for you,

Ken

Re-Dig Those Wells!

January 2015

Dear Friend,

It was in early 2014 when I heard a preacher make a statement that had an impact on me. He said the following:

"Learn to believe God for your health and finances; because the day will come when you'll need to know how to do both."
- Mark Brazee

I'm writing this as of end January 2015; and I see more clearly than ever the necessity of us being able to believe God for MORE than just our health and finances! We live in a time where inflation of prices is rapidly increasing by the year, and unknown diseases that seemingly have no cure run rampant. It'll take faith in God to be able to stand tall through the storms of life that are coming our way.

I do not write this as someone who's already reached the pinnacle of learning faith; as there is much more to it that remains to be experienced. I write this as a reminder even to those who embraced the message of Faith; and have grown lax concerning it for whatever reasons best known to them.

The message of faith isn't just a teaching to be understood intellectually and left in the back closet to be forgotten; it is a lifestyle that all of us should live.

In Genesis 26:18-32, we read the story of Isaac re-digging again the wells that his father Abraham had dug prior to his death; and as he moved on, he dug new wells that had water in them. Likewise, as we revisit the message of faith and its importance, I'm believing that new wells will be opened up for us, enabling us to press even further in fulfilling the plans that God has for us.

The writer of Hebrews writes in Chapter 11, that

Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)
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.

To those who seek a different meaning to this; I regret to inform that it means the same in Greek: that it is impossible to please God without faith.

The Believer's walk is to be a walk of faith, as Paul declares in 2 Corinthians 5:7 that we "walk by faith and not by sight".

We also cannot be saved except through faith. Salvation is a free gift given by God. It is His grace in action. However, as we read in Ephesians 2:8

Ephesians 2:8 (AMP)
For it is by free grace (God's unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God;

The word 'saved' can also be taken as healed, preserved, made whole. God has graciously extended His gift to you; but it is through the exercising of your faith that you are able to take what He offers to you.

God has not promised the Christian a life of absolutely no problems. We're not going to float through life on 'flowery beds of ease' as some would put it. There are challenges that we'll all go through. Paul strongly encouraged his spiritual son Timothy to 'fight the good fight of faith' (1 Timothy 6:12).

Thank God for Romans 12:3:

Romans 12:3 (NKJV)

For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. 

God has deposited in you and I a definite measure of faith that enables us to believe Him! And it is through that faith that He has given us that we'll be able to stand strong through 2015!

So revisit those old wells! Find good teachings on faith that will help build you up and remind you on how you can exercise your faith in believing God that He'll see you through all the way to the end!

Blessings!

Ken

Re-positioning Yourself In 2015

December 2014

Dear Friend,

As we cross over from 2014 into 2015, I was stirred in my heart that 2015 would be a year of re-positioning and re-direction for some of you who will be reading this letter.

2014 would have been a great year for many but for some of you, you feel as though 2014 was a trying time, that it was like you just found yourself going around in circles. Your internal GPS is messed up and for every decision you make, you find yourself back in the exact same place you were before you acted on that decision. I can even see you now just sitting there wringing your hands and wondering "Just how can I get out of this?"

It may not even be on a personal basis. Some of you may be running a business, pastoring a church or even be in itinerant ministry and still be experiencing the above. Doors that you thought were opened seems to have closed on you. Depression's sinking in and you see no way out.

THIS is what God has promised concerning you in 2015:

Isaiah 48:17 (NKJV)
17 Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the Lord your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you in the way that you should go.

He's identified Himself as your Redeemer, and your God.

You HAVE been redeemed or bought back by Him! You belong to Him because He paid an exceedingly high price for you: His only Son.

Colossians 1:13-14 (AMP)
13 [The Father] has delivered and drawn us to Himself out of the control and the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,
14 In Whom we have our redemption through His blood, [which means] the forgiveness of our sins.

The word 'has' in English is what we would call a 'present perfect progressive tense'. It's a mouthful, but what it means is this: that it describes a past action that's still continuing into the foreseeable future. 

Never question the truth that you've not only been redeemed by God, you're still redeemed and you'll still be redeemed tomorrow and the days after; because you are THAT valuable to Him!

That just thrills me, knowing that I have a God who's FOR me, not against me! AND He's for you too! This is what He's saying concerning you right now:

Isaiah 41:10 (AMP)

10 Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice. 

If you've been in a state of fear and depression because of your situation, then don't fear. There IS a way out! God HAS promised that! He's even gone before you to prepare the way as He did for Israel of old:

Deuteronomy 1:33

33 who [being God] went in the way before you to search out a place for you to pitch your tents, to show you the way you should go, in the fire by night and in the cloud by day.

He said He went before Israel to show them where to go. If that worked for them in the Old Testament, where they were under bondage to an Old Covenant; how much more would He show us where we should go; being His Children under a New and better Covenant!

Our God is omnipresent. He lives outside of time. Not only has He gone before you to prepare the way, He's WITH you, keeping His Promise that He'll NEVER leave you or forsake you! (Hebrews 13:8)

Your steps are ordered by God, and He delights in your ways!

Psalms 37:23 (NKJV)

23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way. 

The word 'ordered' in Hebrew means to be established, confirm, be fixed, perfect, prepared.

God has more than just ordered your steps, He's established them by fixing them into place, preparing and perfecting them just for you!

So as we enter 2015 together, begin to boldly declare this; that the good work started in you by Him will come to full completion before Jesus comes back (Philippians 1:6), that He WILL perfect that which concerns you (Psalms 138:8)

I call you blessed!

Ken