Jesus is the beginning and the ending. He is the Almighty. When He told us that in the book of Revelation, He wasn't just giving us a general piece of information about Himself. He was giving us a powerful truth we can apply now, today!

Let me show you how. He said He is the beginning. So no matter what challenge or situation you may be facing right now, you need to start with Him. John 1:1 says Jesus is the Word. That means, if you're going to start with Jesus, you're going to start with the Word. Don't do anything until you find out what the Word has to say about it.

Then, stay on the Word. As Colossians 1:23 says, "Continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard."

Continue in the faith. The only way the devil can defeat you is to pressure you into throwing away the Word. Everything he does, every challenge he brings you is intended to make you doubt the Word of God. So don't let go of the Word, no matter what may happen. Settle it with God in prayer and stay with it forever. It is written!

Then end with the Word. Jesus said He was the first and the last. That means the word of your doctor is not the last word. Even the word of your pastor is not the last word. The Word of Jesus is the last Word!

Remember this: You are now what the Word says you are. You can do what the Word says you can do. And you can have what the Word says you can have. Begin to believe that. Begin to say it out loud in faith.

Now shout the victory. Yes, now! You don't have to wait to see the outcome to celebrate. You have Jesus' Word on the matter, so you know beyond any doubt that your breakthrough is coming. Once you've settled yourself on Him, you can be assured that He will have the last word!

Scripture Reading:
Proverbs 1:1-9

There seems to be an abundance of "stony ground" Christians these days. Initially, they get excited about the Word of God. They'll hear a message on prosperity, for instance, and they'll go home saying, "Hallelujah! I'm going to prosper in the Name of Jesus!" But then, somehow, things don't work out like they thought they should.

Their bank balance doesn't double overnight. They go through some disappointments. They suffer some criticism. Then, before you know it, their faith has withered away.

If you don't want that to happen to you, make up your mind right now that you're not going to let the rough times defeat you. Decide now that you're going to hang onto the Word even when the persecutions and afflictions come—because, I can guarantee you, they will come.

When you decide to walk by faith, you don't get rid of trials. You learn to overcome them.

When you let the Word of God get down into your heart, you're going to learn more about the devil than you ever wanted to know because he's going to do his best to see to it that the Word is unfruitful in you. He's going to be trying to mess you up every time you turn around. You'll have problems, but the difference is now you have the answer—the Word of God.

Thank God, however, through Christ Jesus you have the power to defeat Satan. When he brings problems and disappointments your way, you don't have to lie down and let them steam roll over you. Just keep fighting the good fight of faith until you win.

Sure you'll get knocked down sometimes. But when you do, get back up and say, "Look here, Devil, I'm not going to let you steal the Word out of my heart. It's in there and I'm meditating on it. I'm saying it with my mouth, and I'm acting on it until God's blessings overtake me. If you don't believe me, just hide and watch!"

If you'll take that attitude, no matter what that devil does, he'll never make a "stony ground" Christian out of you!

Scripture Reading:
2 Corinthians 4:6-18

Religion is dangerous. Religion would rather debate about healing than see somebody healed. Religion would rather argue about deliverance than see someone set free.

You can see an example of that in Luke 13. Jesus healed a woman who had been bowed over for 18 years. Think of it, a dear old woman—a daughter of Abraham Jesus called her—set free after being bound by the devil for nearly two decades. You'd think the temple rulers would have been rejoicing at what Jesus had done. But, no! They were angry because He'd done it on the wrong day.

Do you know what's worse? Those very same religious leaders who criticized Jesus for healing on the Sabbath could have ministered healing to that woman themselves on any of the other six days of the week if they'd cared enough to do it.

That's why Jesus was so indignant with them. They had the same covenant of Abraham that Jesus was ministering on. But their religion had kept that woman bound instead of setting her free. It always does.

Remember that next time someone tries to get you sidetracked into a religious debate about healing or deliverance. If someone needs to be delivered from a demon, just do it! Don't get all hung up on theological questions about where the demon is.

"Is it in his body? Or his brain? Or his spirit? Or his pocket?" While you're arguing about questions like that, the demon will be driving the poor guy up the wall.

The question isn't, "Where is the demon?" The question is, "Why haven't we gotten this man delivered? He's our blood brother in the Name of Jesus and he ought to be free!"

Once you start asking that question, you won't care whether that demon is inside or outside, hovering over or sitting under. All you'll care about is getting that person free!

That's the difference between religion and the love of God. Religion argues. Love acts. Choose love today.

Scripture Reading:
Luke 13:11-17

God wants you well! Did you know that? He wants you healthy and strong in every single area of your life.

He wants you to be spiritually strong. Strong in faith. Strong in the Word. Strong in redemption. Strong in the love of God.

He wants you to be well in your mind, to be strong and stable emotionally.

He wants you to have a healthy will, a will that's aligned with His will.

He wants your body to be well. He wants you free from the bondages of pain, sickness and care. Free from the worries and woes of this earthly life.

Your heavenly Father wants you well!

What's more, in this day and hour, He needs you well. He needs you living in victory and healing so that you can teach others how to do it too. We're stepping in to a time when that kind of knowledge is an absolute necessity. There's no more time for the Body of Christ to limp along, uninformed and unprepared for the devil's attacks.

In fact, here's what the Lord has told me:

The further you go, the more dangerous things in the earth will become. People will have to grow in the realities of redemption and the "how-to's" of living by faith in order to live in the great, overcoming way I have planned for them.

Jesus gave Himself in death so that we could be well. He was raised in life, ever making intercession for us now so that we can be well. And He wants us to be healthy and strong as a witness in these last days to a world that's filled with terror—a witness of His love, His grace and His power.

Receive Jesus' healing power in every area of your life. Start applying it by faith right now. Commit yourself to getting well and growing strong in every area of your life today!

Scripture Reading:
Psalm 107