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John 17:1-26!

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  Introduction John 17:1–26: Today’s reading is a prayer often referred to as Jesus’s “High Priestly Prayer,” and it appears only in John’s Gospel. After Jesus’s final discourse with his disciples and before his betrayal and arrest, he addresses God in prayer. Jesus acknowledges that he has completed the work God sent him to do, and he intercedes on behalf of his disciples and all future believers. Today’s Key Verse: John 17:9 GNT [Jesus said:] “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those you gave me, for they belong to you.” Read 17  After Jesus finished saying this, he looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Give glory to your Son, so that the Son may give glory to you.  2  For you gave him authority over all people, so that he might give eternal life to all those you gave him.  3  And eternal life means to know you, the only true God, and to know Jesus Christ, whom you sent.  4  I have shown your glory on earth;...

The Big Weapons of the Consumerlator!

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  The Big Weapon of the Consumerlator Scripture: Luke 16:11, NIV “ So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? ” (Luke 16:11, NIV) The  CONSUMERLATOR  will use many weapons to blunt our efforts as effective  CONVERTERLATORS  of our time, talents, and treasures. One of the most effective weapons the CONSUMERLATOR uses is worldly wealth. Remember, the CONSUMERLATOR wants us to spend all of our time and efforts on earthly matters that are in the process of perishing. The person who buys strictly into what the world system has to offer is going to end up with nothing in eternity. The mature CONVERTERLATOR has made the great discovery: “ Then the Almighty will be your gold, the choicest silver for you. ” (Job 22:25, NIV) “Now acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace; thereby good will come to you. ” (Job 22:21, NKJV) “ After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, ‘Do not be afra...

Check Your Shoes!

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  Yet the LORD says, “During the forty years that I led you through the wilderness, your clothes did not wear out, nor did the sandals on your feet.” Deuteronomy 29:5, NIV Check Your Shoes Stuck in the wilderness for forty years because of their disobedience, the Israelites complained over and over that nothing good was happening and they hadn’t seen the miracle of entering into the abundance of the Promised Land. Yet their clothes and sandals never wore out. There were no grocery stores, yet they never missed a meal. They weren’t trained in warfare, yet they defeated armies. They didn’t realize they were in the middle of a miracle. God was sustaining them, protecting them, not letting enemies defeat them. Perhaps you’ve been praying and believing, but your child hasn’t turned around, your business hasn’t taken off, you’re still taking the treatment. God hasn’t delivered you from it, but He is taking you through a desert season, sustaining you right now, holding back what should de...

Converterlator Weaponry!

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  Converterlator Weaponry Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2:13 and Ephesians 6:17 “ For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. ” (Hebrews 4:12, NIV84) “ And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe. ” (1 Thessalonians 2:13, NIV84) “ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. ” (Ephesians 6:17, NIV84) A Christian cannot be an effective CONVERTERLATOR without the Word of God. Along with the Holy Spirit, the Word is a modality for bringing the necessary transformation in our hearts, attitudes, and mindsets. It is the means for nourishing and fueling the very roots of our being. The Word also is usually the major means we learn ...

Was It Passed Down?

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  He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free.” Luke 4:18 Was It Passed Down? Some of the things we struggle with didn’t start with us. Studies show how some generational weaknesses—depression, addictions, anger, poverty, divorce, and low self-esteem—can be passed down through your family. I’m not saying to blame everything on the past, but you may struggle with negative baggage in your family line, something you inherited, a spirit being passed down. You didn’t choose to be raised in that difficult environment, to be looked down on, or to carry the weight of what was passed down—the guilt, the shame, the anxiety, the insecurity. But you have to deal with the consequences of it, and you may not be strong enough to break the generational baggage on your own. You’ve tried, but your willpower is not enough. The good news is that Jesus declares your freedom, your oppression being broken, your victory over whatever ...

Seals , Reveals and Deals!

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  Seals, Reveals, and Deals Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:9–10, NLT “ That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.’ But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. ” (1 Corinthians 2:9–10, NLT) The Holy Spirit does all of the above. He seals us at the pivotal point of spiritual birth: “ In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, ” (Ephesians 1:13, ESV) As we cultivate our relationship with Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit reveals more and more to us as we mature. Scripture teaches us the source of true life so we can be the yield-active  CONVERTERLATORS . “ And he said to them, ‘Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of hi...

Just Be Patient!

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  Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day! Habakkuk 2:3 Just Be Patient  The prophet Habakkuk wrote that we are to write down our vision, the dreams and promises God puts in our heart. Are you missing blessings, favor, healing, and breakthroughs because your pen is not ready? You’re thinking, “Maybe it will happen.” No, write it down. Get in agreement with God. You don’t have to figure out how He is going to do it. He didn’t ask you to write the how. He just said, “Write what I’ve spoken to you.” As you keep that vision in front of you and keep thanking Him that it’s on the way, the Scripture goes on to say that though the vision is fulfilled slowly, wait on it. You’re going to come into an appointed time, and it will not be late. You’re going to see God bring dreams to pass, turn the medical situation arou...