Hi Brian!

This week I felt led to share this from Joseph Prince's "Grace Inspirations"  devotional. The impression I got was that this is going to be something that will help you minister to someone you know or will come across who needs healing or some other answered prayer.

IS ANYTHING TOO HARD FOR GOD?

Jeremiah 32:27 “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?   

Do you have a problem believing that the moment a sinner receives Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, he is saved? I believe that you will say, “No.”

Let me then ask you which is harder for God (though in reality, we know that nothing is hard for God): To save a soul from hell or heal a sick body? Of course, it is “harder” to save a soul from hell because God had to send His Son to the cross.

So if God has already given you the greatest miracle that you can ever receive, which is to pluck you out of the clutches of eternal damnation and give you eternal life, what is healing your body, saving your marriage, turning your rebellious teenage son around or giving you that business deal to Him?

Therefore, don’t think that when you come to God with a headache, He says, “No problem,” but should you come to Him with cancer, He says, “Cancer? Wow! Not that easy. This is more problematic. I will need more power!”

No! It may appear more difficult to us, but with God, nothing is too hard for Him because He says, “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?”

This was indeed the case for a church member who was suffering from ovarian cancer. After I had prayed for her, I told her, “This cancer is not a problem for God. Just believe that when God said that nothing is too hard for Him, it is so!” In a matter of weeks, she came back with tears in her eyes, testifying that she went back to the doctor and he pronounced her healed after he could find no traces of cancer in her.

Beloved, if it is a miracle you need, it is a miracle you will get. God has already given you the greatest miracle of eternal life, so why would He not give you all the other lesser miracles?

Because of bad teaching, or a total lack of teaching in some cases, so many people feel unsure of what God will do, or unworthy to expect anything from Him! The most important TRUTH for us to know is that none of this is based on us and what we have or have not done. It is all based on Who JESUS is and what JESUS has already done for EVERY 'whosoever' will dare to believe! Here is Hillsong Live's "You Never Fail":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "adversity". It's only found once in the New Testament. Hebrews 13:1-3:

1 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. 3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body. KJV

This is the Greek word "kakoucheo". Strong's Concordance says: to maltreat. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: to ill treat, oppress, plague. Vine's Expository Dictionary says: a compound word from 'kakos' (meaning 'evil') and 'echo' (meaning 'to have'). To suffer ill, to be maltreated, tormented. I was a little surprised by this word when it came to me and I just kept praying to make sure I had it right! When I actually looked the word up, I see that this is referring to others! The instruction here is to 'remember' those who are undergoing adversity. I believe that you and/or your family will have an opportunity to be a real blessing and encouragement very soon to someone who is suffering through adversity! When it says that we are to remember those who suffer adversity, I was reminded of these verses: 

Philippians  2:4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. KJV

Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. AMP

Being there for someone suffering is just one of the ways that we minister to JESUS! (Matthew 25:34-40). We have the ANSWER that they need, and sometimes just being their friend will be enough to cause them to open up to Him! We'll be praying for you and them! Here is an older song by Hillsong called "Lost Are Found":

Everlasting While earthly ages fade In mercy Our God Your kingdom reigns Lord over everything You are near All of the universe at Your feet In the Saviour Injustice brought to right For Your glory That Your Name be lifted high The lost are found The blind will see The lame will walk The dead will live And You our God Forever You will reign

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week will have to be "more"! I have been given this word a few times this week, so we'll look at it! There are a few different words translated "more" in the New Testament, but there is only one that says this:

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. KJV

This is the Greek word "perissos". According to Strong's Concordance, it means: beyond, superabundant (in quantity), superior (in quality), excessive. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: exceeding some number or measure or rank or need; over and above, more than is necessary, superadded, superior, extraordinary, surpassing, uncommon. Vine's Expository Dictionary says: more than sufficient, over and above, abundant. The Theological Dictionary adds: overflowing, superfluous, surplus. Here are a few other translations of John 10:10:

10 The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). AMPC

10 The thief comes only in order to steal, kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, life in its fullest measure. Complete Jewish Bible

10 The thief does not come except to steal and to kill and to destroy. I alone came in order that they might be possessing life, and that they might be possessing it in superabundance. Wuest

10 A thief has only one thing in mind—he wants to steal, slaughter, and destroy. But I have come to give you everything in abundance,  more than you expect—life in its fullness until you overflow! The Passion Translation

The message that I am hearing from many of the prophets of God is that now is the time of God's "MORE"! Of superabundance and of more than we can ask or think! It is the time that the harvest of the seeds that we have sown generously (2 Corinthians 9:6) is going to be coming in on every wave! Multiplied! Much more than we need or have even asked for! In every area! So, now we must mix our faith with that great Word that is straight from the Word of God AND the Spirit of God and we will begin to see it manifest! Our God IS GOD and He is a very BIG and GENEROUS God! Here is an older song from Hillsong called "God Is Great":

Verse 1 All creation cries to You Worshipping in spirit and in truth Glory to the Faithful One Jesus Christ God's Son Verse 2 All creation gives You praise You alone are truly great You alone are God who reigns For eternity Chorus God is great and His praise Fills the earth fills the heavens And Your name will be praised Through all the world God is great sing His praise All the earth all the heavens 'Cause we're living for the glory Of Your name The glory of Your name Verse 3 All to You O God we bring Jesus teach us how to live Let Your fire burn in us That all may hear and all may see Bridge Holy is the Lord The whole earth sings The whole earth sings

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is a Greek word in itself! It is "abba". It's found in these three verses:

Mark 14:36 And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt. KJV

Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. KJV

Gal 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. KJV

Strong's Concordance says: Of Aramaic origin; father. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: father, a customary title of God in prayer. Vine's Expository Dictionary is very interesting! It says: is an Aramaic word, found in Mark 14:36; Romans 8:15 and Galatians 4:6. In the Gemara (a Rabbinical commentary on the Mishna, the traditional teaching of the Jews) it is stated that slaves were forbidden to address the head of the family by this title. It approximates to a personal name, in contrast to "Father," with which it is always joined in the NT. This is probably due to the fact that, abba having practically become a proper name, Greek-speaking Jews added the Greek word pater, "father," from the language they used. Abba is the word framed by the lips of infants, and betokens unreasoning trust; "father" expresses an intelligent apprehension of the relationship. The two together express the love and intelligent confidence of the child

I REALLY love that last underlined part above! Abba is 'framed by the mouth of infants', (betoken refers to a sign) and is a sign of an unreasoning trust! The two words 'taken together express the love and intelligent confidence of a child'! We KNOW that we are to come to the Father AS a child, pure of heart and ready to trust and obey. He will NEVER lead us in a wrong way! So, as you go about your daily routine with Kristine and your beautiful daughters, remember that God said THIS about His plans and purposes for us in Jeremiah 29:11:

11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
KJV

 11 For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. AMP

11 For I know what plans I have in mind for you,’ says Adonai, ‘plans for well-being, not for bad things; so that you can have hope and a future. CJB

11 I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out — plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. Message

11 For I have known the thoughts that I am thinking towards you — an affirmation of Jehovah; thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give to you posterity and hope. YLT

HE knows His plans and that they are GOOD! He always follows through! We can count on Him and know that HE put the hopes and dreams in our heart so that He CAN fulfill them! I love to see your hopes and dreams coming true! Here are Hillsong Kids again with "Little Life (For You Jesus)":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!