Dear Sisters and Brothers in Jesus the Christ,

“13) Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.  14) But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.” James 1:13-14 (NKJV)

“Don’t let anyone under pressure to give in to evil say, ”God is trying to trip me up.’ God is impervious to evil, and puts evil in no one’s way. The temptation to give in to evil comes from us and us only. We have no one to blame but the leering, seducing flare-up of our own lust.” James 1:13-14 (MSG)

To know that all things are possible with God (Matthew 19:26, Mark 10:27) denotes understanding that whatsoever God says must be accomplished (Isaiah 55:11), it never returns void (KJV), it always produces (NLT). Therefore, it is wise of those created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27) to be ever mindful of what we speak and/or allow the perpetrating cohorts of the devil to trick us into saying. James 3:1-12 depicts the fact that the tongue is a powerful force that can either lift up or tear down. (Yes, that ditty of a rhyme we learned as children was a lie of the devil, for words indeed may harm.) Hence, the redeemed are to exercise control of the tongue for it is written, “If you claim to be religious and yet don’t keep a tight rein on or control your tongue, you are just fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless” James 1:26 (NLT & NIV [combined]).

This is what the LORD says concerning the grafted (Romans 11:17-20) branches on the Vine who is Jesus the Anointed One: “I am the LORD, and there is no other.  19) I publicly proclaim bold promises. I do not whisper obscurities in some dark corner so no one can understand what I mean. I did not tell (the seed of the original branch) to ask me for something I did not plan to give. I, the LORD, speak only what is true and right. . . . .  23) I have sworn by my own name, and I will never go back on my word . . . ” Isaiah 43:19-23 (NLT). Faith moves beyond awareness of the promises of God by the Holy Spirit’s revelation of the information in God’s Word, to comprehension by the Teaching of the Holy Spirit that the promises relayed in God’s Word belong to those made heirs by the Blood, to action oriented application of the God’s Word for manifestation.

Faith is not about seeing with our natural eye which doesn’t dismiss the fact that by gravity we also know that we can’t fly. Hence when the devil quoted Psalm 91:11-12 in an attempt (notice the word tempt) to get the Messiah to throw Himself down, Jesus’ response was Deuteronomy 6:16. And faith isn’t about only doing what we feel like doing. Rather, it is a decision to act in the way of God. Faith is full confidence that the WORD works regardless of what it looks like in the natural because the things of God are supernatural.That is, God puts His super on your natural as you pray/ask Him. Yes, the Sovereign Lord God Almighty is Omnipotent, yet He doesn’t intrude. It is Satan who comes sans invitation, intent on taking-over the steering; hence we don’t play patti-cake with the devil nor his cohorts. Rather, we immediately cast him and all of his cohorts out with authority in the Name above all names, to the praise and glory of God.

If those reconciled unto the Family of God by the blood of Jesus aren’t already sabotaging themselves (whether consciously or unconsciously) on a daily basis, a significant number of the well-intentioned will help them along but oh! “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things” Romans 10:15b (NKJV) & Isaiah 52:7. We have been entrusted to God’s Word which builds-up by His grace (unmerited favor) and has given us an inheritance (Acts 20:32) by the finished work of Christ Jesus. Hallelujah!

Speak the promise . . . Harriet