Reception with Celebration< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

1 Thessalonians 2:1-16

When you hear a preacher preach, how often have you claimed by saying you receive it, and after claiming to have received the word, nothing happens? No changes, no results, but yet you continue to claim ÒI receive it.Ó The word of God is true, it has not failed and it will not fail except if you fail to live by what is required. 1 Thessalonians 2:13, ÒFor this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.Ó  The word that you claimed to have received is not working because: one, you have failed to welcome the word. Can you think of what and how it will be when you receive a message that one million dollars has just been deposited into your account? When you truly receive the word as you frequently claim, you will celebrate it. Two, if what you claim to have received is scripturally based, then do not let anything deny your reception and celebration of what you have received. When the measure of how you welcome what you receive matches up with the celebration at the time of reception, then what you receive will work effectively for you.

The Good Hand of God< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

Exodus 3:19-22, 1 Kings < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>18:41-46

By the good hand of God, the children of Israel were delivered from the bondage of over four hundred years. It was also the good hand of God that saw Ezra through in his journey from Babylon back to Jerusalem. Ezra 7:9, ÒOn the first day of the first month he began his journey from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.Ó Have you ever thought about the hand of God? What you know to be available for you is what will work for you. What you do not acknowledge cannot be activated. The hand of God is always available; it never falls short or becomes too tired to deliver. 1 Kings 18:46, ÒThen the hand of the LORD came upon Elijah; and he girded up his loins and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.Ó At every given time, in any given situation, the hand of God will not fail especially for those that know to call for His hand. The hand of God will not just deliver, it will also make you an overcomer over all that gather or stand against you. Ask for GodÕs hand with the expectation of getting a result. He is a faithful God, and if you will begin to ask for His hand in your going out and in your coming in, you will begin to come from behind and be ahead in all of your endeavors.

Fear Not< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

1 Kings 17:8-16

Fear opens the door for failure; faith makes way for man to prevail. In time of famine, God sent Elijah to a widow of Zarephath to provide for him. 1 Kings 17:9, ÒArise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.Ó The widow that was to provide for Elijah by the LORDÕs command did not even have enough for herself and her son to survive. When Elijah approached her, she made it known to Elijah, 1 Kings 17:12, ÒSo she said, ÔAs the LORD your God lives I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.ÕÓ God commanded Elijah ÒSee, I have commanded a widow to provideÓ but the widow responded to Elijah, ÒSee, I only have a handful for me and my son.Ó Fear is the thickest cloud that will blind your vision from seeing where God has already made provision for your survival. She was reacting by what she saw and what she had, while Elijah responded by what the LORD had said. What is the word of God saying concerning your dilemma? For the widow of Zarephath, God spoke through Elijah, but fear was the only force that could have caused the widow to suffer the famine like everyone in that city, while faith was all she needed to prevail. 1 Kings 17:13, ÒAnd Elijah said to her, ÔDo not fear; go and do as you have said but make me a small cake first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son.ÕÓ Faith, not fear, will make a way where you do not see a way.

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1 John 4:1-6

What you receive determines what you believe, while your belief is what you are living. When you receive the word, you believe it and back it up by the confession of your mouth, and then you become what you have received. It becomes an error when your confession is contrary to your conduct. 1 John 4:2, ÒBy this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God.Ó Have you confessed Him? Is your way of life in line with your confession? If all your answer is not a sounding yes, that means He is not in you. 1 John 4:4, ÒYou are of God, little children, and have overcome them because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.Ó If you are not confirmed in your confession, avoid error by stopping the claim that ÔHe that is in you is greater than he that is in the worldÕ. He is not in you just because you have memorized the word and you know about saying the word. He is only in you if you are actually living what He has laid down in His word for you to live by. It is an error not to be living the word and attempting to claim the word over confronting circumstances. There is no error in the manifestation of the word of God. The word of God is true and it will work if you work for the word.

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Invitation

John 2:1-10

At a certain wedding in Cana of Galilee Jesus was present. JesusÕ presence denied mockery, embarrassment; failure and ridicule, they could not prevail. It was not accidental that Jesus was at the wedding. John2:2, ÒNow both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding.Ó Jesus was at the wedding by the invitation of someone or the celebrant. The most important fact was that, Jesus was there at the wedding. Have you invited Him into your goings and comings today? Have you invited Him into your week, month or the remaining days of this year? He is worthy of your invitation, He is waiting on you at your door for an extending of your invitation. He will not force Himself on you because He is not a slave master but a saving master. Revelation 3:20, ÒBehold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.Ó If you will let Him into all, He will let all that is not of God fail in your life. At the wedding, His presence filled all the emptiness with fullness. Jesus will not turn down your invitation if you will look up and call on Him today, He will fill you up. As usual, do not rush out to where you are going without an extending of your invitation to Him. God will uphold you.