Creflo Dollar Ministries
One Ministry, One Church, One Message Worldwide
One Ministry, One Church, One Message Worldwide
Would you like to read the Word daily, but don’t know how to begin? Reading our Daily Devotionals is a good way to develop the habit of studying the scriptures. Visit this page to find a scripture for every day of the year, complete with practical advice for applying the principles to your everyday life. It is possible to enjoy reading the Bible. Simply set time aside each day, and soon daily Bible reading will become a lifestyle!
“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20, NIV).
God has many ways of making His presence known. The manifestations that He’s there don’t have to be loud or noisy; sometimes all we need to do is listen to that inner voice speaking to us, which is the Holy Spirit.
“Suppose you sin by violating one of the Lord’s commands. Even if you are unaware of what you have done, you are guilty and will be punished for your sin” (Leviticus 5:17, NLT).
Under the old covenant, sin was the central issue. Jesus took care of sin on the cross. Realizing this frees us from sin-consciousness and allows us to focus on God’s mercy and love.
“And again in this place: ‘They shall not enter My rest.’ Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, again He designates a certain day, saying in David, ‘Today,’ after such a long time, as it has been said: ‘Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts’” (Hebrews 4:5-7, NKJV).
In Jesus, we find the rest for our souls that God promised. This kind of rest only comes through faith, which is considered obedience under the new covenant.
“Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies” (Psalm 107:2, NLT).
We fight the devil’s thoughts not with more thoughts, but with words. When he shows up and makes suggestions contradictory to God’s Word, we effectively fight back by opening our mouths and confessing Scripture.
“But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30).
Getting born again allows Christ to live in us. With Him living in us, we’re wise, righteous, sanctified, and redeemed, because He is all those things.
“And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin” (Romans 14:23).
Under the law, sin focused on breaking one of the hundreds of rules and regulations the people were required to observe. Under grace, it’s now about having faith in Jesus and in His finished works.
“For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death” (Romans 7:5).
“The flesh” is a mindset hostile to God and to the things of the spirit. When we live by the law, this mindset even impacts our physical flesh.
“How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Hebrews 9:14).
Under the law, the people were commanded to live by a set of rules that were impossible to keep. This was hard work that required constant self-effort; failure to perform perfectly resulted in a guilty conscience. Jesus shed His blood to deliver us from dead works.
“For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith” (Mark 11:23).
The authority God gave us in the physical and spiritual realms even extends to the power of our speech. Our mouths carry the ability to move mountains and verbalize the faith of Jesus Christ.
“The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences” (Proverbs 18:21, NLT).
Our words carry great weight, and they carry the potential to either hurt others or build them up. Depending on how we choose to speak to others, the consequences can either be bad or good.
“But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us” (Ephesians 2:13, 14).
Under the law, God kept man at a distance. Now that we’re under grace, He welcomes us into His presence.
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
The finished works of Jesus changed everything that needed to be changed, and restored the relationship between God and man that sin had spoiled. He now welcomes us with open arms and asks us to confidently approach Him.
“And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death” (Exodus 19:12).
Before the cross, God was angry because of the sin that originated with Adam. Because of sin, God’s law of justice required that mankind had to remain distant from Him.
“Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin” (Romans 4:8).
Unlike under the law, God no longer holds our sins against us; He charged them against Jesus when He went to the cross. God now sees believers as innocent and blameless, regardless of our actions.
“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree” (Galatians 3:13).
To be redeemed means to be freed and delivered. After Jesus’ death and resurrection, we’re blessed not because of our actions, but because we’re God’s redeemed, and we now belong to Him.
“Look, today I am giving you the choice between a blessing and a curse! You will be blessed if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today. But you will be cursed if you reject the commands of the Lord your God and turn away from him and worship gods you have not known before” (Deuteronomy 11:26-28, NLT).
Much has changed since the Old-Testament covenant of the law was in force. Under the New-Testament covenant of grace, curses have been replaced by blessings. Neither does God punish people anymore.
“Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ” (Colossians 2:8, NLT).
Religion can fool us. It’s dangerous to blindly accept philosophies taught in church if they aren’t scripturally based.
“There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord” (Proverbs 21:30, NIV).
God is the author of eternal wisdom, but this simple truth escapes the world. Any philosophy that contradicts His Word is wrong, and anyone using that philosophy to make plans or try to gain insight independently of Him will surely fail.
