O.W. PRINCE RADIO NETWORK BROADCAST #1

"Just A Simple Thought"

“What’s In You Will Come Out Of You.”

Today’s Word
A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. ~ Luke 6:45 (NIV)

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What is really inside of us will come spilling out  of us when life puts the squeeze on us.  Crisis will usually reveal what is really in our hearts.  It is easy to do and say the right things when life is calm and everything is going right, but what we say and do when chaos hits and the pressure is on tends to paint a more accurate picture of who we really are.  It is kind of like a sponge. 

Suppose you have five sponges lying on your kitchen counter.  Each member of your family has been cleaning different areas of your home, but the sponges all look the same.  You are curious about what was cleaned but you can’t tell just by looking at the sponges since they all look the same.  So what do you do? 

You squeeze each sponge to see what happens.  As you squeeze the first sponge, brown cola comes pouring out.  Someone must have cleaned the kitchen with that sponge.  Upon squeezing the second sponge, you see blue tub and tile cleaner oozing out of the sponge which leads you to believe someone used that particular sponge to clean the bathroom.  In the third sponge, you find cooking oil and conclude that someone spilled some oil and cleaned it with the sponge.  The fourth sponge produces a puff of baby powder when it is squeezed.  The baby’s nursery was obviously cleaned with that sponge.  Finally, the last sponge is dripping with floor wax which tells you someone used that particular sponge to clean the floor.  As you lay the last sponge down, you look again at their similarity.  They all look the same — until they are squeezed.

We are a lot like sponges when it comes to our Faith in God.  We look and act as if God is Lord of our lives.  We say all the right things to all the right people and do right things in order to prove we are right.  But what is really inside?  What do our hearts really look like? 

When a crisis comes and the pressures of life squeeze us mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually, what comes out?  Do we respond to that difficult person in anger or with patience and love?  Does revenge spill out in ugly words to that person who has hurt us more times than we can count or do we take a breath and remember that God loves them and that hurt people tend to hurt other people?  Does the pain of unresolved sin flood our hearts and minds as guilt spills out of our heart with a vengeance?
Just like the sponge, we can only squeeze out what is put in.  Fill your heart with the things of God.  Stay in the Word each day. Spend time with faith builders who will encourage you in your faith.  Seek God and His plan for your life.  Pray about everything so that when life puts the squeeze on you the very nature of God will come pouring out.
Today’s Prayer

Father, I pray to You today in the name of—*YeHoWsHua HaMashiach – Jesus the Christ.  Father, I want my faith to be more than just talk.  I want my religion to be more than just window-dressing.  I want to be real and authentic.  I want to be a genuine, baptized in Jesus’ name, Holy Spirit filled, tongue talking, obedient  child of God.  Please forgive me when I played religious games and pretended to be someone I was not.  I confess that I am a sinner.  I want to be saved.  I repent of my old sinful nature and take hold of Your grace in Christ Jesus through baptism in His name.  Anoint me O Lord.  Empower me to walk in Your grace so that when hard times press heavy upon me only Your Word will come pouring out of me.  This is my prayer today in the name of the LORD YeHoWsHua* (Jesus) the Christ, Amen.

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Footnote:
The Hebrew spelling of the name of Christ is used in this prayer for educational purposes. Yehowshua is often shorten to Yeshua but out of respect for my Lord I chose to use the spelling of His proper name to demonstrate that His name s above every name and that even the spelling of His name is relative to the spelling of The Father’s name – remembering that there were not any vowels in the Hebrew alphabets. Thus, YHWH (Yahweh) and YeHoWsHua (Yahweh is salvation) are grammatically and uniquely related.
For more information of the authentic name of God, please follow the link below:
http://www.therockofmontgomery.org/Yahweh.html
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COPYRIGHT DISCLOSURE:
Bishop O.W. Prince and The O.W. Prince Ministries authorizes that this work along with all works posted on this blog and related blogs may be copied, redistributed and retransmitted in part or in whole for non-commercial purposes only and without change or alteration to its contents or materials  with the stipulation that the author and source be clearly acknowledged.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons license.

God’s Grace Defined Lesson #1

Lately it seems that the term “grace” is being used by religious folks to refer to everything but the kitchen sink. 

One of the ways it is being defined by some Christians is that grace is the opposite of the Law.  However, contrary to popular opinion, grace is not the opposite of the Law or commandments of God.  The opposite of the law is indecency or lawlessness.  But Grace is favor over the Law.  It is the favor that comes from being God’s child, and not from justifying our actions or behavior legally or otherwise.  If you sin against God and repent – demonstrating your desire for forgiveness and mercy – earnestly desiring to be in a right relationship with the Father – His favor or His grace accepts your apology even when the Law demands your punishment. 

Another way of understanding this is to say that we are always “under the law” of God but we are not always subject to the demands and penalties of the Law although we may be found guilty of a violation of the law.  I know that this seems to contradict the Word found in Romans 6:14 that says, “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.”  But if you were to look at this scripture in the light of Jesus’ teachings you would realize that Romans 6:14 doesn’t mean that God has done away with His Eternal Ten Commandments.  To the contrary, we all are subject to the eternal commandment of God and instructed by Jesus to keep all of God’s commandments. (Matthew 7:21-23, John 14:15, John 14:21, 1 John 2:4). Therefore, God’s Eternal Law abounds over us but where the law abounds grace much more abounds – admonishing us to obey God’s Commandments voluntarily and go and sin no more. (Romans 5:15, 20) 

For instance, if you were caught speeding – doing 55 miles per hours in a 35 miles per hour speed zone – you were guilty of a traffic violation but you repented and acknowledged responsibility for your offense – then the Law Enforcement Officer, instead of penalizing you as you deserve, issued you a warning ticket – he showed you mercy.  This act of kindness doesn’t justify your violation nor does it relax the law or license you to continue to speed.  It simply extended mercy toward you, allowing you another opportunity to comply with the law and obey the speed limit from here on out (John 8:10-11).  But if you practice speeding and continue to disregard the law, mercy will cease and punishment will be enforced.  However, grace accepts the penalty (punishment) for our transgressions and relieves us from the consequences of our lawlessness.  But this grace is not for everyone.

Now God may have mercy on whomever He will but His grace is reserved for His children.  

Many are under the impression that “Grace” is somehow extended to everyone regardless of their willful disobedience to God’s commandments.  Thus they believe that in order to be saved by grace all that they have to do is recite a prayer or repeat a confession of faith.  Others think that grace somehow excuses them from any obligation to observe and keep the Eternal Moral Commandments of God.  They believe that God will pardoned their willful disobedience and lawlessness on the merits of grace.  However, they are dangerously mistaken. 

Only those who obey God’s commandment to repent (die to sin) and are baptized into the death of Jesus Christ may consider themselves children of God and eligible to receive His grace. 

A good way to understand how Grace relates to one’s relationship with God is to think of God as a good parent and ourselves as children (Matthew 18:2-4).  Children have favor in the eyes of their parents.  If they obey their parents, they are rewarded.  If while obeying their parents they get into any trouble or break anything, the parents assume responsibility and pays any cost on behalf of their child.  The child doesn’t earn this grace, it is freely given by virtue of the child’s relationship to the parent.  However, a child of disobedience (a practitioner of sin) has no expectation of grace or favor from God.  God is not his parent.  His parent is Satan (John 8:44).

Let me summarize.  Mercy is not getting what you deserve although you are guilty of breaking the law.  It is withheld punishment or postponed condemnation for God is NOT willing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).  Whereas Grace is receiving what you could not earn or deserve on your own.  It is unmerited favor and forgiveness.  Grace is reserved for those who have Repented, Kept God’s Commandments and Obeyed His will (Romans 6:1-4).  

“Mercy doesn’t save us.  It gives us time to repent.  God’s Grace Saves!“  (Ref. Matthew 7:21-23, Ephesians 2:8) All Praise Honor and Glory belongs to God the Father through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

(Order Lesson #2 Today)

COPYRIGHT DISCLOSURE:
Bishop O.W. Prince and the O.W. Prince Ministries authorizes that this work along with all works posted on this blog and related blogs may be copied, redistributed and retransmitted in part or in whole for non-commercial purposes only and without change or alteration to its contents or materials  with the stipulation that the author and source be clearly acknowledged.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons license.

Today's Word & Prayer for Today's Christian

Three Reasons To Pray

Today’s Word
I love the LORD, because He hears my voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I shall call upon Him as long as I live. ~ Psalm 116:1-2

The psalmist says three things before saying he will call upon God as long as he lives.  All three things lead to his desire to pray.

First, he says, “I love the Lord.”  His prayer life is motivated by love.  Then he says “He hears my voice and my supplications.”  He prays because he knows that he is not just wishing out loud.  Nor is his prayer simply a religious activity.  No! God is there and He’s listening. Third, he says, “He has inclined His ear to me.”  God is paying attention.  He cares about the issues we bring to Him.
As you begin each new day speak to God from your heart. Let your prayers be the expression of your love for Him and not just your need for Him. Go through the day with the confidence and assurance that God is listening to you and that He is paying attention to the concerns and issues in your life.
Today’s Prayer
Father, I pray to You today in the name of—*YeHoWsHua HaMashiach – Jesus the Christ.  I pray to You out of love for You and Your Word.  When I think of Your love for me and all You’ve done for me, I become emotional.  My soul shouts “Hallelujah!”  I cannot help but Love You because You first loved me.  When I was bad, You were good to me and You are good to me all of the time.  You hear me when I pray.  And You save me out of all my troubles.  I am astonished that You would be mindful of a wretch like me.  Yet, You are inclined to be concerned with my concerns and attentive my issues. You are an awesome God, great in mercies, kindness and love. Thank You Dear Father for loving me the way that You do.  Help me to demonstrate Your love for me in my love toward others.  May I never cease to call upon Your name in prayer.  This is my prayer today in the name of the LORD YeHoWsHua* (Jesus) the Christ, Amen.

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Footnote:
The Hebrew spelling of the name of Christ is used in this prayer for educational purposes. Yehowshua is often shorten to Yeshua but out of respect for my Lord I chose to use the spelling of His proper name to demonstrate that His name s above every name and that even the spelling of His name is relative to the spelling of The Father’s name – remembering that there were not any vowels in the Hebrew alphabets. Thus, YHWH (Yahweh) and YeHoWsHua (Yahweh is salvation) are grammatically and uniquely related.
For more information of the authentic name of God, please follow the link below:
http://www.therockofmontgomery.org/Yahweh.html
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COPYRIGHT DISCLOSURE:
Bishop O.W. Prince and The O.W. Prince Ministries authorizes that this work along with all works posted on this blog and related blogs may be copied, redistributed and retransmitted in part or in whole for non-commercial purposes only and without change or alteration to its contents or materials  with the stipulation that the author and source be clearly acknowledged.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons license.

Today's Word & Prayer for Today's Christian

“Consider this: The Father has given us his love. He loves us so much that we are actually called God’s dear children. And that’s what we are.” ~ 1 John 3:1 (GW)

Have you ever noticed that you are never a grown-up to the ones who birthed you? They completely disregard the gray hairs, crowfeet, and bulging waistlines of your adult life. No matter how many children call you “Dad” or “Mom,” to your parents you are still just a child yourself. 


They seem to think you have slipped into the closet to put on grown-up clothes and are really just playing a game. They must believe that somewhere beneath the receding hairline there is still a child, hiding in the shadows of adulthood. The worst part about it is (keep this quiet) I think they are right! 

And like our parents, the Lord looks beyond our façade and sees the trem­bling places in our lives. He knows our innermost needs. No matter how spiritually mature we try to appear, He is still aware that lurking in the shadows is an insecure little girls who needs her Father to tell her that he loves her and he is going to make everything alright. He is aware that beneath the façade of brawny masculinity is a little boy who needs his Father to reassure him of his manhood and tell him that he is the image and glory of his daddy. God is aware of the hidden issues of His “all grown-up” little children. 

The Father understands the hidden fears, insecurities, anxieties, hurts, anger and feeling of revenge that lurks in each of us from time to time. He is aware of the worst in us, yet still thinks the best of us.

He understands the child in us, and He speaks to our blanket-clutching, thumb­-sucking, infantile needs. In spite of our maturity, income, edu­cation, or notoriety, He still speaks to the childhood issues of our aging hearts. 

The Father’s Love Never Fails.

Today’s Prayer
Father, I pray to You today in the name of—*YeHoWsHua HaMashiach – Jesus the Christ.  I thank you for adopting me into Your family and for calling me Your child. I am grateful for the privilege to be called a child of God. And like a child I am still growing and learning. I need Your guidance and instruction to help me navigate this tedious life. I am unsure of my myself and I need Your reassurance. I have strayed from the path You’ve chosen for me and I need You to lead me back to the path of righteousness. I have even been rebellious at times and now I repent and I need You to forgive me O God. Have mercy on me. No one knows me like You do. Speak to the issues of my heart and heal all of my hurts and pains. Daddy, I need You and I need You now! Help me to become more and more like You—to look and sound like You and to walk in the knowledge and power of my birthright. This is my prayer today in the name of the LORD YeHoWsHua* (Jesus) the Christ, Amen.

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Footnote:
The Hebrew spelling of the name of Christ is used in this prayer for educational purposes. Yehowshua is often shorten to Yeshua but out of respect for my Lord I chose to use the spelling of His proper name to demonstrate that His name s above every name and that even the spelling of His name is relative to the spelling of The Father’s name – remembering that there were not any vowels in the Hebrew alphabets. Thus, YHWH (Yahweh) and YeHoWsHua (Yahweh is salvation) are grammatically and uniquely related.

For more information of the authentic name of God, please follow the link below:
http://www.therockofmontgomery.org/Yahweh.html

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COPYRIGHT DISCLOSURE:
Bishop O.W. Prince and The O.W. Prince Ministries authorizes that this work along with all works posted on this blog and related blogs may be copied, redistributed and retransmitted in part or in whole for non-commercial purposes only and without change or alteration to its contents or materials  with the stipulation that the author and source be clearly acknowledged.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons license.

The Uzzah Syndrome

 In the Book of 2^nd Samuel there is a story of a man named Uzzah who was in the employment of David.  He and his brother were entrusted with the task of guiding an ox drawn cart upon which the ark of the LORD had been laid.  However, there was a divine order in which the ark of God was to be transported and handled. (Exodus 25:10-22, Numbers 4:1-20, 1 Chronicles 15:13-15)  This divine order was not observed by David or Uzzah.  They ignored God’s instructions and prerequisites regarding the handling of the ark, for only Levites were suppose to transport the ark of God in a divinely prescribed manner.  And when the oxen stumbled, Uzzah reached out His hands to steady the ark of God so that it would not fall and God struck him dead.

A life was lost because a pair of human hands was laid upon the ark of God in irreverence (disrespect) to God’s divine orders.  Uzzah placed his hands upon the ark with the best of intentions, to steady it and keep it from falling, but they touched God's work presumptuously, and he fell dead. 

In today’s contemporary Christian churches, there are many systems of religions that espouse various forms of gospels that offer various means of salvation.  They have presumed to change God’s divine order of things and do it their way.  They have, in a real sense, shown irreverence to God’s divine will and instructions.  And regardless of their motives or of their good intentions, they are inviting the wrath of God and the destruction of themselves. 

God is a just God.  All of His actions are right and fair.  He does not show partiality for He is no respecter of men.  Deuteronomy 32:4 says, ^“He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.”  

If God killed Uzzah for touching the ark and disregarding His divine order, what will happen to those who mishandle His Holy Word-Jesus the Christ- disregarding His divine order and establishing their own way?

Disobedience to God equals disrespect for God and this will always end in death.

Our challenge today is simply to Trust and Obey.

Today’s Word

⁶ When they came to the threshing floor of Nakon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. ⁷ The LORD’s anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down, and he died there beside the ark of God.  ~ 2 Samuel 6:6-7

 Today’s Prayer

Father, it is in the name of the LORD YeHoWsHua* (Jesus) the Christ that I pray to You today.  I confess that I have sinned against You.  I have shown irreverence and disrespect for Your way and Your will.  I have not followed Your instructions or kept Your Holy Commandments as I should.  I realize that I am in danger of eternal damnation.  Please forgive me O God.  I am sorely sorry for my sins.  I REPENT!  I realize that Your way is always right and just.  I desire to obey Your Word, for in Your Word is life—life everlasting.  Please forgive me O God.  Help me to never disregard Your living Word or disrespect Your divine order.  Your divine instructions are a delight and a joy to obey.  Empower me to keep all of Your commandments.  Help me to obey Your divine instructions regarding repentance, water baptism in Your name and the indwelling of Your Holy Spirit.  Protect me from false religions and counterfeit faith.  Please keep me away from perverse doctrines of demons and religions of men.  I want to be found in Your perfect will.  I want to be saved according to Your divine way.  This is my prayer in the name of the LORD YeHoWsHua* (Jesus) the Christ, Amen. 

For a Bible lesson on God’s ordained instructions regarding the salvation process, please visit the following link:  http://owprince.wordpress.com/you-must-be-born-again-introduction/