December 13, 2011
During this Christmas Season of gift giving, we need to remember that our God is the greatest gift giver of all. Matthew 7:11, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” Our Heavenly Father loves to give gifts to us just as much as we love giving gifts to our loved ones. James 1:17 says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” The great thing about God’s gifts is they are always perfect and we never have to take them back.
As we study God’s Word, we can find many references to gifts and blessings the Lord bestows upon us. I want to take some time to look at two very special gifts. Every person on earth should receive these two very special gifts from our Heavenly Father.
The first gift we should receive from God is found in Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” In a world of sin and darkness, God has provided for us the gift of eternal life. As Christmas day approaches, we must remember what this day is truly about. John 3:16, 17 says, “16For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” Thank God for His wonderful gift of salvation and redemption to every person on earth. Salvation and eternal life are the greatest gifts given to us, and the most expensive. The gift of eternal life cost God the life of His Son and because of this, we should cherish and respect our walk with God above everything else.
Always remember that salvation is a gift from God. We cannot earn it or purchase it. Ephesians 2:8, 9 says, “8For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not of works, lest anyone should boast.” By God’s grace, we receive the gift of eternal life. We receive by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. I John 5:11, 12 says, “11And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” By accepting Jesus Christ into our heart we receive God’s great gift of eternal life.
I also want to take a look at the second gift from God that all people should receive. This gift is found in Acts 2:38, 39 “38Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” Once we make Jesus our Lord, our Heavenly Father has another gift for us. This gift is the baptism or infilling of the Holy Spirit. Every believer should put the Baptism of the Holy Spirit on their Christmas list. In Acts 1:8, Jesus tells us why we should receive this gift, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” The Holy Spirit empowers us to be the witness God wants us to be.
In Luke 11:13, Jesus said, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” It is our Heavenly Father’s desire to give us the Holy Spirit, but notice that He will not force it upon us. The Lord Jesus said we must ask for it. In fact, every gift from God must be asked for. God will never force His gifts on anybody but He always makes them available for everybody.
This Christmas let us all come to God with the faith of a child and ask Him for these wonderful gifts. At the mall, we see children sitting on the lap of Santa telling him the things they want for Christmas. With that same child-like faith, let us go into the Heavenly Holy of Holies and ask our Father to give us His gracious and wonderful gifts that only He can give. You can be sure that He will not turn you away.
November 10, 2011
According to Webster’s Dictionary, the word law is defined one way as, “a rule or principle stating something that always works in the same way under the same conditions.” A law is something that is absolute and can always be counted on to do what it says it will do. This is true in both the natural and spiritual realms.
The Lord also set up everything to work by laws and the principles that He laid out in His Word. The Word of God is the Law of God that always works and produces results. When we look at God’s Word and receive it as a law and not a concept or a theory, it will begin to produce results in our lives. When the Word of God becomes a law to us, it begins to govern our attitudes and actions as well as setting boundaries and direction for our lives.
When the Word of God becomes the law and standard that we live by it produces liberty and not bondage in our lives. I John 5:3 says, “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.”
In Genesis 8:22, God laid down what I call an earth law that would govern the earth as long as the earth remained. He said, “While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” As we look at this verse, we see all of these things in operation today. Why? Because they are laws and always work the same way under the same conditions. We will continue to experience cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night. I don’t care what some scientists are saying; man will never alter or stop these earth laws from working because they are God’s laws.
Notice also in this verse it says, “seedtime and harvest.” A natural law that God laid out to provide blessing to man is seedtime and harvest. This is a law. If you plant the right seed in the right soil in the right climate, you will produce a harvest. It works anywhere for anybody because it is a law.
Now look at Mark 4:26-29, “26And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; 27And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. 28For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. 29But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.” The same law that God set in motion to produce a harvest in the natural realm, the Lord Jesus set as a law to work in the Kingdom of God.
The law of the Kingdom is seedtime and harvest. To get the Kingdom of God to work for you, you must activate and operate its laws. The Lord Jesus said the law that activates the Kingdom is sowing and reaping, so whatever you want to receive into your life you must sow. To have friends, sow friendship. To be loved, you must love. Everything in the Kingdom of God works through this law. The only way not to reap a harvest is to not sow any seed.
With all the pressure that is coming against us in today’s environment, we can be tempted to pull back in many areas of our life. If the enemy can get us into fear and cause us to forsake God’s laws, he can defeat us. We must remember that God’s Word is an incorruptible seed that has within itself the ability to produce what it says in our life. The key is to activate it by sowing it and acting on it in faith. We must keep God’s Word as the governing law of our life. When we do, it will produce the same results no matter what is going on around us.
No matter what the need, the Word of God covers it. In this time of uncertainty, we must do as Isaac did in Genesis 22. Isaac heard and obeyed the voice of the Lord. He stayed in faith and he sowed his seed. Genesis 26:12 says, “Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him.” We serve the same God. We have the same laws. If we do as Isaac did we can have the same results. Seedtime and harvest is a law that will work for us today if we will step out in faith and do as God says.
November 08, 2011
This week on the "Faith That Overcomes" radio broadcast, we are offering the teaching series "The Miracle of the Seed" for only $15.
This is a 3 message series that includes the messages:
- The Miracle of the Seed
- Don't Dig Up Your Seed
- The Seed and the Soil
Take advantage of this great teaching series!
October 31, 2011
Matthew 28:18-20, “18And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen.” In these verses, the Lord Jesus reveals to each and every believer the very heart and purpose of God. We call these verses, “The Great Commission.” The Lord Jesus reveals to us the great heart of love and forgiveness that God has for every person and every nation on earth. It is God’s will that none should perish, but that all people should be saved and brought into the Kingdom of God.
In verse 19, the Lord tells all believers to go in His authority “and make disciples of all the nations.” This is God’s Great Commission to us: that we are now to represent the Lord and convince people to turn their hearts and lives to God. We are not only to win people to Jesus, but we are to teach them truths from God’s Word that will transform their lives. Our Great Commission from God is not to build crowds, but to make disciples.
Disciple according to Webster’s Dictionary is “one who accepts and helps to spread the teachings of another, also, a convinced adherent.” To make disciples then is to help people change their lives and lifestyles not only to serve Jesus as their Lord, but also be involved in sharing His Gospel with others. This is our Great Commission from the Lord, to establish the Kingdom of God in the hearts of people, that they may establish God’s influence on the earth.
My question today is “Have we, this generation of believers, accepted the Great Commission as God’s Word to us?” Do we accept the Lord’s words as commission, or order, from our Lord and King to go in His stead and make disciples; or, do we look at it as a suggestion that we can do in our spare time, if we feel like it?
In Matthew 9:37, 38 the Lord Jesus said, “37Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.’” We must become the laborers of this Harvest. We cannot allow our generation to be the one that lets darkness, sin, and false religions silence the voice of God. Nations and people are hanging in the balance and Jesus is calling out to us to go to them and make disciples. I read an article that said within the next twenty years there will be enough Muslims in America to elect the president. My question is “Will we, the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, have made enough disciples to stop them?”
When challenged in the past, the Church has risen to the challenge. Believers have, in the past, chosen to sacrifice time, money, and pleasures to pray, witness, and turn back the evil powers of darkness. Revival comes from the broken heart of believers accepting the Lord’s Great Commission and releasing His authority and grace to this generation. This is our generation and our responsibility, so in the words of our Lord, let us also say, “…Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”
July 21, 2011
We are excited to announce to the Tulsa and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma region that "Faith That Overcomes" with Dr. Darrell Huffman can now be heard daily on the radio! Listed below are the new stations and times that you can receive your daily dose of faith!
KNYD 90.5 FM
Tulsa, OK / M-F at 1:45 p.m. CST
KMSI 88.1 FM
Oklahoma City, OK / M-F at 1:45 p.m. CST
May 03, 2011
Needs or distractions? This is a question we all should ask ourselves as we face today’s challenges. The challenges I am speaking of are the things we must have such as food, clothing, gas, and whatever else we may need to make it through the day. The Lord Jesus speaks of these things in Matthew 6:30-33, and gives us some great spiritual insight on how to deal with these things. He says, “30)Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31)Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32)(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33)But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
The first thing I notice in the Lord’s teaching is that He reinforces to us that God is more than able to meet any need or situation that we have. The Lord assures us that God will clothe and provide for us all we need.
The next great truth the Lord gives is for us to get out of fear and worry and back over into faith. Both faith and fear have a confession. Fear confesses the need but faith confesses the supply. You can’t get God’s supply in your life by confessing your fear and needs. To be overcomers, we must get our eyes off of our needs and on God. We must stop confessing lack and start confessing that our God will supply our every need according to His riches in Glory by Christ Jesus.
In verse 32, the Lord calls these things needs. God knows our needs and has promised to help us in getting these needs met. The key is for us to not let these needs become distractions that dominate our time and stop us from doing what God called us to do. Our needs should never dominate our lives, that place is reserved for Jesus and Jesus only. Our lives should be influenced by the Lord and doing what He has called us to do.
In verse 33, the Lord gives us the key to walking in both victory and the divine provision of God in our lives. That key is to put God and the expansion of His kingdom first in our lives. Simply stated, we are to be a witness for Jesus no matter what our circumstances. When we refuse to become distracted or discouraged by our needs and choose to put God first by praising Him and being a witness to others, the Lord Jesus says, “and all these things shall be added unto you.”
In Matthew 9:37-38, Jesus said, “37)Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38)Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” This is our time to be laborers in God’s harvest. Don’t allow personal needs to become distractions that keep you from witnessing and serving the Lord. Put Jesus first, be a witness to others and make God’s kingdom the priority in your life. If we do these things, the Lord promises that as others struggle, we will experience the supernatural provision of God in our lives.
April 08, 2011
Galatians 3:13-14 says, “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: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” On the cross, the Lord Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the law. The curse of the law was three-fold: sin, sickness, and poverty. Because of man’s sin and rebellion against God, this three-fold curse was allowed to come on him. Sin separated man from God, sickness separated man from health, and poverty separated men from prosperity and blessing.
In man’s fallen state, he could do nothing to separate himself from the curse that had come on him. God, through His grace and mercy, provided a way for man to be free. God’s provision for our redemption was to send Jesus, His only begotten Son, to take our place of judgment and provide a way to redemption and reconciliation to God. On the cross, Jesus was made to be sin for us. In becoming sin for us, He also took upon Himself sin’s destructive offspring of sickness and poverty.
II Corinthians 5:21 says, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” Jesus, the sinless, holy, Son of God took our sin upon Himself and took our place so we could receive His righteousness in our lives. In Christ we are no longer sinners and outcasts, but now we are the righteousness of God in Him.
I Peter 2:24 says, “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” Not only did Jesus provide redemption from sin, He also provided healing for our bodies. We no longer have to toil under the load of sickness and disease. By Jesus’ stripes we are healed. Healing is now the children’s bread. We can now be healed in our bodies from all sickness and disease.
II Corinthians 8:9 says, “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” On the cross, Jesus was stripped of everything. He gave up everything so we could receive everything. Prosperity and God’s full supply are a part of the blessing the Lord has provided for us. It is right for us to believe that God will now supply our need according to His riches in Glory in Christ Jesus our Lord.
We are to no longer live under the curse. We are now to live under the blessing of Abraham. Galatians 3:29 says, ‘And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.” In Christ, we are the seed of Abraham and heirs to these blessed promises. As we press into this Easter season, I pray that you will take the time to renew yourself in all the Lord has done for you and give Him praise and thanksgiving. A great way to honor the Lord is to receive all He has done for you, and use it as a testimony to others that what God has done for you, He will do for them.
This Easter, let us each celebrate our redemption and give God glory by sharing His good news with others, and worshipping Him with other Believers in the House of the Lord.
March 23, 2011
II Timothy 3:1-2 [AMP] says, “BUT UNDERSTAND this, that in the last days will come (set in) perilous times of great stress and trouble [hard to deal with and hard to bear]. For people will be lovers of self and [utterly] self-centered, lovers of money and aroused by an inordinate [greedy] desire for wealth, proud and arrogant and contemptuous boasters. They will be abusive (blasphemous, scoffing), disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane.”
As I watch the news, it seems as if these scriptures are coming to pass right before our eyes. In the Middle-East we see great uprisings in the Arab world. The people are rising up against the dictators who have kept them in bondage. They are looking for leaders that will bring peace, prosperity, and a better life to them. These are good things, but we must pray that the right leaders are chosen. If extreme leaders of a radical religion rise to power, we will all suffer for it.
We are also seeing hard and stressful days here in our own country. Verse two seems to express our problem. This country, and I am sorry to say, including much of the Church, has become self-centered, greedy, arrogant and abusive. We have become an entitlement society. We have adopted the attitude that we are owed and deserve whatever we need or want. The great generation that fought off every kind of evil in a time of war, knew and understood that it takes sacrifice and work to achieve greatness and nothing in this world is free.
In the news we see protests going on because cuts are being made. Everybody is for sacrifice as long as it is the other person doing the sacrifice. Elected officials who are supposed to represent people and stand for what they believe have fled to other states to keep democracy from working. Why? Because they don’t want what the majority is going to do. This is wrong and this is selfish. We don’t always get what we want, but that’s no reason to pout and take your bat and ball and go home.
So what must we do? Ezekiel 22:30 [AMP] says, “And I sought a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it...”
As Believers, we must not let the spirit of this world gain control over our lives and the Church. We must be willing to live a life of sacrifice and holiness. We do this by not being caught up in this craziness that is going on around us. We must now, more than ever, stay focused on our walk with Jesus and give ourselves to prayer for our nation and world.
This can be a time of great stress for the Church, or a time of great opportunity. As people look for the right answers and true leadership, let each one of us let our light shine bright for Jesus and be ready to lead people out of chaos into the peace of God. Remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 24:14. “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”
If Believers will take their place and follow the Lord, that which the devil has meant for bad can and will be turned to our good. Amen!
January 29, 2011
In Matthew 16:18, the Lord Jesus said, “…I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” I believe it is the Lord’s will to grow and increase His Church in 2011 but we too have a part to play. We must be sold out to the plans, purpose, and vision the Lord has for us. We must have the Lord’s vision and believe that through our obedience to that vision the Lord will work with us and grow His Church.
Everything starts with the revelation of God’s vision. Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” Vision and purpose are vital to Church growth. I want to give you four keys the Lord has given me to renew in myself so the Lord can work with and through me to build His Church in 2011.
1. No vision, people perish and leave your Church.
2. If your Church is at a plateau, declining or discouraged, your most important task is to redefine your vision and purpose.
Nothing will revitalize a discouraged church faster than rediscovering its purpose.
Ingredients for a growing, healthy Church:
- You must have a clear-cut identity.
- You must know and understand your reason for being.
- You must be precise in your purpose.
- You must know exactly what God has called you to do.
- You must be able to effectively communicate the vision to the people.
In Nehemiah 4:6-15 the wall was completed in 52 days. The people became discouraged at the halfway point. Nehemiah renewed the vision by recognizing the project and rallying the people back to work.
We must keep the vision and purpose before the people on a consistent basis. Don’t get caught up in fighting battles and forget to preach and communicate your vision and purpose for being there.
3. God told the prophet to write down the vision so people could know it. Habakkuk 2:2-4
If asked, could you write down your ministry vision and communicate it to the people? If you can’t do this, you have found your problem.
4. Things the Lord has instructed me to do to revitalize this ministry.
- Rediscover the vision God has for New Life Church.
- Receive the revelation of the Church’s purpose and then set in motion the process of bringing it to pass.
- Begin to communicate the vision and purpose to the Church. (A little at a time.)
- Retrain the leadership of the Church.
- Reorganize and set in motion Team Ministry concept.
- Retrain my leadership skills to equal my ministry skills.
Let us rediscover our vision and purpose, and then with passion stir our Churches to fulfill what God has called us to do. I believe it is the Lord’s will to build and grow His Church in 2011.
December 21, 2010
Luke 2:7-14 – “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. 8And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
As I read these scriptures, I see seven great truths we should embrace and celebrate this Christmas week. I’m sure we could find more than just seven truths, but let me share these with you, that you can walk in them and receive them in your life.
1) Jesus will never push or force Himself into our lives. He will only come to where room is made for Him. Revelation 3:20 says, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” We must open the door and invite Jesus into our lives.
2) Jesus wants to become a part of your life and lifestyle. The shepherds were busy going about their work when the angel came to them with the message of Christ’s birth. Jesus desires to join into what we do and be a blessing to us as we live our lives.
3) The Lord Jesus will deliver us from all fear and insecurity and bring peace into our lives. It seems that during the holidays people look for peace and fulfillment every where except for the Lord. Only Jesus can bring true peace and assurance into our lives.
4) Jesus is the Lord of good news and good things. He is never the bearer of bad news or tragedy. John 10:10 says, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” Jesus has come to give us the abundant and blessed life of God.
5) We are the recipients of the greatest news ever given to man. The Savior of all mankind has now come and He is Christ the Lord. Salvation is now God’s free gift to all. Romans 10:13 says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” No matter the depth of our sin, Jesus has come to save us and give us a new life.
6) Our new relationship with Jesus fills our life with praise and new found optimism. When we receive the reality of our salvation in Christ we cannot but praise Him and give Him glory. Our rejoicing is not in our circumstances but in our relationship with the Lord. Even in our worst moments, we are saved and have the assurance of salvation as the anchor of our soul.
7) This Christmas, let us all give glory to God and exalt His Name on high. Let each one of us live in His peace and favor and release His good will toward all men.
Merry Christmas Everybody!
