Monday Morning Scripture – Colossians 3:1-17

Put On the New Self

1 Therefore if you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, sharing in His resurrection from the dead], keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

2 Set your mind and keep focused habitually on the things above [the heavenly things], not on things that are on the earth [which have only temporal value]. 

3 For you died [to this world], and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God. 

4 When Christ, who is our life, [a]appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

5 So put to death and deprive of power the evil longings of your earthly body [with its sensual, self-centered instincts] immorality, impurity, sinful passion, evil desire, and greed, which is [a kind of] idolatry [because it replaces your devotion to God]. 

6 Because of these [sinful] things the [divine] wrath of God is coming [b]on the sons of disobedience [those who fail to listen and who routinely and obstinately disregard God’s precepts], 

7 and in these [sinful things] you also once walked, when you were habitually living in them [without the knowledge of Christ]. 

8 But now rid yourselves [completely] of all these things: anger, rage, malice, slander, and obscene (abusive, filthy, vulgar) language from your mouth. 

9 Do not lie to one another, for you have stripped off the old self with its evil practices, 

10 and have put on the new [spiritual] self who is being continually renewed in true knowledge in the image of Him who created the new self— 

11 a renewal in which there is no [distinction between] Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, [nor between nations whether] [c]barbarian or [d]Scythian, [nor in status whether] slave or free, but Christ is all, and in all [so believers are equal in Christ, without distinction].

12 So, as God’s own chosen people, who are holy [set apart, sanctified for His purpose] and well-beloved [by God Himself], put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience [which has the power to endure whatever injustice or unpleasantness comes, with good temper]; 

13 bearing graciously with one another, and willingly forgiving each other if one has a cause for complaint against another; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so should you forgive. 

14 Beyond all these things put on and wrap yourselves in [unselfish] love, which is the perfect bond of unity [for everything is bound together in agreement when each one seeks the best for others]. 

15 Let the peace of Christ [the inner calm of one who walks daily with Him] be the controlling factor in your hearts [deciding and settling questions that arise]. To this peace indeed you were called as members in one body [of believers]. And be thankful [to God always]. 

16 Let the [spoken] word of Christ have its home within you [dwelling in your heart and mind—permeating every aspect of your being] as you teach [spiritual things] and admonish and train one another with all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 

17 Whatever you do [no matter what it is] in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus [and in dependence on Him], giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Colossians 3:1-17 (AMP)

Footnotes

[a] Colossians 3:4 A reference to His second coming.

[b] Colossians 3:6 Two early mss do not contain this phrase.

[c] Colossians 3:11 A derogatory term used to describe uneducated, uncultured people who were not fluent in the Greek language.

[d] Colossians 3:11 The Scythians were savage equestrian herdsmen who were skilled archers and often worked as mercenaries and/or slave traders. The Scythian women were known to dress as warriors and fight alongside the men.

Bible Verse of the Day – Being the Light of Christ

14 “You are the light of [Christ to] the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 

15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 

16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good deeds and moral excellence, and [recognize and honor and] glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 5:14-16 (AMP)

Friday Morning Scripture – Psalm 51

A Contrite Sinner’s Prayer for Pardon.

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David; when Nathan the prophet came to him after he had sinned with Bathsheba.

1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness;
According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me thoroughly from my wickedness and guilt
And cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I am conscious of my transgressions and I acknowledge them;
My sin is always before me.

4 Against You, You only, have I sinned
And done that which is evil in Your sight,
So that You are justified when You speak [Your sentence]
And faultless in Your judgment.

5 I was brought forth in [a state of] wickedness;
In sin my mother conceived me [and from my beginning I, too, was sinful].

6 Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being,
And in the hidden part [of my heart] You will make me know wisdom.

7 Purify me with [a]hyssop, and I will be clean;
Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

8 Make me hear joy and gladness and be satisfied;
Let the bones which You have broken rejoice.

9 Hide Your face from my sins
And blot out all my iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a right and steadfast spirit within me.

11 Do not cast me away from Your presence
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation
And sustain me with a willing spirit.

13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners shall be converted and return to You.

14 Rescue me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation;
Then my tongue will sing joyfully of Your righteousness and Your justice.

15 O Lord, open my lips,
That my mouth may declare Your praise.

16 For You do not delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it;
You are not pleased with burnt offering.

17 My [only] sacrifice [acceptable] to God is a broken spirit;
A broken and contrite heart [broken with sorrow for sin, thoroughly penitent], such, O God, You will not despise.

18 By Your favor do good to Zion;
May You rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

19 Then will You delight in the sacrifices of righteousness,
In burnt offering and whole burnt offering;
Then young bulls will be offered on Your altar.

Psalm 51:1-19 (AMP)

Lion Bites – Global Prophetic Alliance – They’re Coming Home

So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

Luke 15:20 (AMP)

There is a fresh move of My Spirit to restore identity and heal the orphan heart. Pray and declare with faith and expectation for the prodigals as I call them into the fullness of My plans and purposes.

Many beloved prodigals have been wounded by the religious spirit and have partnered with bitterness and offence.  I am releasing dreams and encounters with My goodness and mercy to heal and deliver. Don’t limit My power to cleanse and restore, for no ‘pig swill’ years are beyond My redemption.  

In time, I will raise up many to return to those dark places in search of the lost to bring them, in turn, into the light.  They will do so with compassion, insight and understanding which comes only from shared experience.  Nothing is ever wasted! I know and love those who knew and loved Me, and they will carry great levels of My glory, power and authority. 

I am restoring your loved ones to Me, to you, and to the church.  There is fresh grace upon their lives to reach many for the sake of My Son and the kingdom.  Now is the time to call them home!

Activation:

Spend time in the Lord’s presence and release any disappointment and hope deferred.  Allow Holy Spirit to heal your heart and fill you with fresh faith to believe for the return of your prodigals.  Look at a photograph of your loved one(s) and ask God to show you how He sees them and the specifics of His plans for their lives.  Ask Holy Spirit to confirm scriptures to decree and declare daily and rise up in authority as you do!

Thus says the Lord,

“Restrain your voice from weeping
And your eyes from tears,
For your work will be rewarded,” says the Lord;
“And your children will return from the enemy’s land.

Jeremiah 31:16 (AMP)

A Contrite Sinner’s Prayer for Pardon.

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David; when Nathan the prophet came to him after he had sinned with Bathsheba.

1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness;
According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me thoroughly from my wickedness and guilt
And cleanse me from my sin.

13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners shall be converted and return to You.

Psalm 51:1-2, 13 (AMP)

#lionbites

Friday Morning Scripture – Matthew 5:14-16

Disciples and the World

13 “You are the [a]salt of the earth; but if the salt has [b]lost its taste (purpose), how can it be made salty? It is no longer good for anything, but to be thrown out and walked on by people [when the walkways are wet and slippery].

14 “You are the light of [Christ to] the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 

16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good deeds and moral excellence, and [recognize and honor and] glorify your Father who is in heaven.

17 “Do not think that I came to do away with or undo the [c]Law [of Moses] or the [writings of the] Prophets; I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.

18 For I assure you and most solemnly say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke [of the pen] will pass from the Law until all things [which it foreshadows] are accomplished. 

19 So whoever breaks one of the least [important] of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least[important] in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever practices and teaches them, he will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

20 “For I say to you that unless your righteousness (uprightness, moral essence) is more than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:14-20 (AMP)

Footnotes

[a] Matthew 5:13 In ancient times salt was often used as a preservative. Similarly, followers of Christ are to preserve both the gospel message and Christian values in the secular world.

[b] Matthew 5:13 The salt from the Dead Sea contains impurities that affect its qualities as a seasoning and as a preservative.

[c] Matthew 5:17 i.e. the Pentateuch.

    Lion Bites – Global Prophetic Alliance – Come and See

    My Beloved,

    Today I am extending an invitation to you: “Come and see.”

    I see that you are anxious and worried, exhausted and stressed. You have been doing and managing, running and planning for a long time. It is time to stop and pause and accept My invitation, My Beloved.

    Come to Me and get to know Me on a deeper level. 

    I am waiting for you. 

    I am welcoming you into My embrace.

    Come and see! 

    I am waiting for you to unburden your heart and to let Me take care of all the heavy weights you are carrying.

    Let Me transform your hopelessness into hope. Let Me exchange your worries and anxieties for peace. Let Me wipe your tears and give you laughter and joy instead.

    Hope has a name. 

    Freedom has a name. 

    Joy and laughter has a name. 

    Transformation has a name. 

    And this name is My name, Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

    My Beloved, Come and see. Let me demonstrate to you the transformative power of a deep relationship with Me. Come to Me and experience the power of My name. Make spending time with Me your utmost priority in this time.

    Activation:

    Jesus wants to breathe new life into you and into your circumstances. Write down a list of all your to-do’s, your worries, your anxious thoughts, your questions, your hurts. Then take some time and accept Jesus’ invitation to come to Him and see. Give Him your list and leave it with Him. Spend time in prayer, meditate on the verses below and let Jesus’ words transform your life.

    5 I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for [otherwise] apart from Me [that is, cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing. 

    6 If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown out like a [broken off] branch, and withers and dies; and they gather such branches and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 

    7 If you remain in Me and My words remain in you [that is, if we are vitally united and My message lives in your heart], ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you. 

    8 My Father is glorified and honored by this, when you bear much fruit, and prove yourselves to be My [true] disciples.

    John 15:5-8 (AMP)

    Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid.[Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.]

    John 14:27 (AMP)

    The Cure for Anxiety

    25 “Therefore I tell you, stop being worried or anxious (perpetually uneasy, distracted) about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, as to what you will wear. Is life not more than food, and the body more than clothing? 

    26 Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow [seed] nor reap [the harvest] nor gather [the crops] into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they? 

    27 And who of you by worrying can add one [a]hour to [the length of] his life?

    Matthew 6:25-27 (AMP)

    Footnotes

    [a] Matthew 6:27 Lit cubit, here probably applied metaphorically to a lifespan.

      #lionbites

      Lion Bites – Global Prophetic Alliance – Let Me Complete You

      Come up higher and let go of what holds you back from being close to Me.  

      Step into My realm of limitless resources; meet with Me and be made complete.  

      I long for intimate fellowship with you as a bridegroom longs for his bride!  I desire the closeness that comes from meaningful time and deep connection spent together face to face.

      My love for you overflows and never ends; experience My compassion for you that is like a warm blanket wrapped around you on a cold night!

      I freely give wisdom and counsel, so don’t be afraid to release your burdens to Me.

      I am eager to come alongside and strengthen you with peace, joy, solutions, wisdom, and understanding. I want to stand with you in your joys, fears, and trials.

      I desire to give abundantly and for your good, just like a beautiful stream brings life and beauty to the forest.  

      Let Me be the one who completes you. Invite Me into the dry places, the places which feel empty, and allow Me to bring life and wholeness to those areas. 

      Activation:

      Take a moment to quiet yourself and then ask Holy Spirit these questions:  

      “Where am I feeling incomplete? What do You say about this?”

      “What strategy do You have for a problem that has me stuck and feeling like there is no solution?”

      Take time to consider Holy Spirit’s answers and continue conversing. 

      For as a young man marries a virgin [O Jerusalem],
      [a]So your sons will marry you;
      And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,
      So your God will rejoice over you.

      Isaiah 62:5 (AMP)

      Footnotes

      [a] Isaiah 62:5 The ancient rabbis interpreted marryin the sense of making a home with the bride, which would correspond to the resettling of Jerusalem by Israelites.

      It is the LORD who goes before you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or abandon you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

      Deuteronomy 31:8 (31:8)

      #lionbites

      Lion Bites – Global Prophetic Alliance – Stop Procrastinating

      My child,

      It’s time to come out of your hiding place and into visibility. It’s time to stop procrastinating and start building what I have asked you to build. Be courageous and start working for My Kingdom with a fresh zeal, as I provide you with new blueprints and strategies. 

      Do you not see that I have been preparing you for this time? I have equipped and trained you with everything you need for this hour and task. You are ready!

      You do not need to see the full picture in advance because I want you to lean into Me and listen to My voice as you take one step after the next.

      Do not be shaken by what is going on around you but instead fix your eyes on Me. 

      Start building and do not let mocking voices intimidate and ridicule you for building the new.

      My child, put on your whole armour and start building now. 

      Do not procrastinate any longer.

      I am releasing a new level of courage and boldness to you and make your forehead like flint.

      Activation:

      Read Nehemiah chapters 1-6. Be encouraged by his attitude of perseverance, focus and trust in the Lord to protect him to see the building of Jerusalem’s wall finished. Then, take some time to sit with the Lord and ask Him for the next step you need to take in order to start working on your assignment. Write it down and be very specific. Then declare Joshua 1:9 over yourself and start doing the work God has called you to do.

      Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified or dismayed (intimidated), for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

      Joshua 1:9 (AMP)

      “You will keep in [a]perfect and constant peace the one whose mind is steadfast [that is, committed and focused on You—in both [b]inclination and character],
      Because he trusts and takes refuge in You [with hope and confident expectation].

      Isaiah 26:3 (AMP)

      Footnotes

      [a] Isaiah 26:3 Lit peace, peace, a Hebrew idiom of emphasis.

      [b] Isaiah 26:3 The Hebrew word for inclination became a technical term in Jewish tradition, and the rabbis frequently referred to the “evil inclination” much in the same sense as the sin nature. They also recognized a “good inclination,” which the righteous choose to follow, and urged people to make their good inclination king over the evil inclination.

      #lionbites

      Lion Bites – Global Prophetic Alliance – Strip Off the Old

      Now is the season to go further. 

      Strip yourself away from what belongs to the past and the weighty things that you unknowingly carry. It is like an old, heavy, moth-eaten cloak that slows you down as you run for the Kingdom.

      Take it off your shoulders and step into My presence to receive the new mantle I have for you. It is a mantle of hope and fine golden embroidery, purposely made for you to regally walk into the perfect plan I have prepared.

      Activation:

      Ask Holy Spirit if there are any “old coats” you are wearing. Ask Holy Spirit to show you what these “coats” look like. Then, visualise taking off your old coat. Prophetically move forward and look in the spirit. See Jesus as He envelops you with His glorious mantle. 

      You may also want to express the desire for Him to infuse you with new hope and strength. Finally ask Him what is your next step forward. Take your time to listen to the direction He has for you.

      But no one puts a piece of unshrunk (new) cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and a worse tear results.

      Matthew 9:16 (AMP)

      Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life].

      2 Corinthians 5:17 (AMP)

      New Heavens and a New Earth

      “Behold, I am creating new heavens and a new earth;
      And the former things       [of life] will not be remembered or come to mind.

      Isaiah 65:17 (AMP)

      #lionbites