“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10, ESV)

Forward motion depends on previous building—layers of diligence, dedication, and sacrifice. Yesterday, the day before, and the day before that, effort accumulates building blocks for an outcome envisioned in your heart.  For example, study and learning access higher levels of the same to gain subject mastery; or in business, we thrive when solid groundwork is followed by the next level of growth-producing increase and profit. 

The thief John speaks of is Satan. As enemy to the dream in your heart, Satan works against you, even questioning what you’ve built or attacking it outright, setting you back on your heels in confusion. Faith that brought you this far is now arrested. In the process, your greatest vulnerability is the adversary’s determination to take God’s Word away from you, stealing hope simultaneously. Specifics of the plan you began by faith, you now doubt, fear calling into question absolutes earlier trusted. 

The enemy is a thief—first! As thief, he comes to steal God’s word, leaving you ordinary, as those not familiar with the covenants of Almighty God. The process of wrangling God’s Word away from you is subtle. The very thing you’d never question now tempts you; faith was the speaker earlier, but now you are beset with increasing voices of contempt and suspicion. Many around you differ from your trusted beliefs, at the ready to fuel the confusion. 

Today, put your foot down. Surrender to God. Stand up to the devil and RESIST him. He will flee (James 4:7). He will not conquer. You have all of heaven’s authority—what you say matters (Matthew 16:18-19). For the person building with vision and a dream in their heart, for the one blessed, this is a lifestyle—daily. 

A thief comes to steal. Close and lock the door. 

Amen. 

John 10:10,ESV | Luke 19:10-24, ESV | Ephesians 2:12, AMP | James 4:7, TPT | Matthew 16:18-19, NLT | Verses@Once

Prophecy and prophetic words come from the Lord. In close fellowship with Him, we receive understanding of His working and are blessed to participate in those prophetic announcements. Every believer is a spokesperson, each one a speaking firebrand.  

Levels of revelation are apparent as we serve Him. Mature levels of prophecy provide fresh words as the Lord speaks to the inner man and we then speak—announce, declare—what thus sayeth the Lord. More and more, we discover “prophets, wise men, and teachers” speaking this way, quickened to speak God’s wisdom.  

Today we discern His voice and honor those who speak as He speaks.   

Amen.

Matthew 23:34, NIV | Matthew 23, NIV | Verses@Once

References: 
“Word of knowledge” – 1 Corinthians 12:8
“Quickened” – Ephesians 2: 5-10; 1 Peter 3: 18-22
“Working with Him” – 2 Corinthians 6:1; Colossians 2:13
“Prophetic words” – Acts 2:17

“To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected? But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him.”  (Mark 9:12-13, NIV)

Christians believe the Elijah who was prophesied to come first is John the Baptist, a preacher of righteousness who came “in the spirit and power of Elijah” to prepare the way for Jesus to begin His ministry. And many believers also believe that the spirit of Elijah remains among God’s people today… that we carry that spirit, and power. 

Like those who prophesied before us, we herald the call for the restoration of all things according to the Lord’s end-time plan. We declare restoration for families and homes, people and nations; we meditate on things above, declaring Godly inspiration for the home, and divine guidance for leaders of each nation. We invite the spirit and power of Elijah into the borders of our God-given authority—home and family, people, and nation!  

Amen, so be it!

Mark 9:12-13, NIV

God’s Word is supernatural in every way but speaking His Word aloud is its most powerful expression. Audible words focus thought and meditation that releases the power necessary to address all that’s involved—no matter what, where, or who! Remember, there is no distance in the Spirit. Selah!    

Personal preferences and what we believe determine the words we will speak; our thoughts and meditation are expressed in words that become containers that carry those to completion. So, beginning with thought and meditation in God’s Word, when we speak, we have the power to change the situation to conform to God’s plan.  

One more thing. While it is true that scripture is meaningful when read, studied, recited, referenced, etc., words of Scripture are not iconic or magical just because we strategically place, engrave, or display them. The greatest expression for the human heart—the greatest impact on thought and meditation to conform a person’s life to His will—comes when we speak as He has spoken, when we say what He has said, and the spirit-heart “hears” that sound, those words, that voice. 

Amen.

Proverbs 23:7-9 | Psalms 68:11 | 2 Corinthians 4:13 | Luke 7:6-8  | Verses@Once

“And being fully convinced that what He has promised He was also able to perform.”  (Romans 4:21)

Settle it in your heart that what the Lord has promised, He is able to do. Your part is to be fully convinced that what He said—what He promised—He will do because it is His will to do it. If unconvinced, God’s promises and the full benefit of His Lordship seem distant, the road ahead less hopeful. 

Without a sure word from the Lord, we spend time waiting and hoping while doing everything in our power to find out what to do next, and, as time goes by, delay decreases resolve as we become mentally weary.

So, right now, establish your confidence. The person fully convinced in their covenant with the Lord is mighty! That person represents the will of heaven here on earth. You are that person! 

When Abram heard that a member of his family was taken captive, he armed those he had trained personally and knew well and led them in pursuit of that which had taken his family member. Abram’s strategy was to attack with force from all sides—at night. He attacked and then chased the enemy army and brought back the one taken captive and all those with him, plus all the goods and possessions that were stolen and taken into captivity with them. 

Abram understood covenant. He was fully convinced.

Amen.

Romans 4:21 | Genesis 14:14-16 |Genesis 18:14 | Numbers 11:23 | Jeremiah 32:17 | Matthew 19:26 | Luke 1:37  | Verses@Once

Ezekiel prophesied to bones and breath. His prophecy released visual and audible changes in the valley. Nothing failed to respond to his command that day. Bones and breath obeyed him.

Ezekiel saw and heard change, a visible and audible response to the words he spoke, an important principle in God’s Word: we see and know according to faith, so the one speaking speaks according to his faith, although observers may not see or hear a thing.

Instruction from the Lord to Ezekiel was the power to bring change, but Ezekiel’s response was partner to that divine power. The Lord’s purpose here is clear: “Then you shall know that I am the Lord!”

God moves as Sovereign in the affairs of mankind. His presence cannot be explained apart from a direct extension of His hand, but His purpose also includes our participation in the outcome. 

Either way, Almighty God does not move apart from faith—His, or man’s.

Amen.

Matthew 13:9-17, NLT | Ezekiel 37:6, 13, NLT | Ezekiel 37 | Verses@Once