Pastor Mary Haley

Revelation 2:8-11 (TPT) Christ’s Letter to Smyrna
8 Write the following to the messenger of the congregation in Smyrna.[modern day Turkey] For these are the words of the one who is the Beginning and the End, the one who became a corpse, but came back to life:

9 I am aware of all the painful difficulties you have passed through and your financial hardships, even though, in fact, you possess rich treasure. And I am fully aware of the slander [blasphemy] that has come against you from those who claim to be Jews but are really not, for they are a satanic congregation. 10 Do not yield to fear in the face of the suffering to come, but be aware of this: the devil [slanderer and accuser] is about to have some of you thrown into prison to test your faith. For ten days [symbol of completeness] you will have distress, but remain faithful to the day you die and I will give you the victor’s crown of life.[for ruling in divine life] 11 The one whose heart is open let him listen carefully to what the Spirit is presently saying to all the churches. The one who conquers will not be harmed by the second death. [hell]

The church at Smyrna was terribly persecuted by the Romans and the so-called Jews; these people suffered great hardship financially, emotionally, and physically. In fact, the name Smyrna comes from the word myrrh which is used as ointment for the suffering and dying. So, in the midst of this intense persecution, rather than complain, the people from the church in Smyrna chose to release a beautiful fragrance of worship before the Lord. They chose to turn their energy toward worship and exalting Christ.

When you are mistreated or suffer from false accusations or slander how do you handle it? Presently, many sons and daughters of God are suffering in some way in our culture; certainly accusations and slander abound in every direction. The enemy desires to exhaust our energy with negativity. My prayer for God’s family is when we experience such persecution, we will focus on exalting our vindicating King so our lives will release a beautiful fragrance of worship, too. In time, the Lord will deal with the Accuser.

Prayer: Lord, help me to remain faithful even in the midst of persecution or slander. I want my life to release a beautiful fragrance of worship before you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Revelation 2:1-7 (TPT) Christ’s Letter to Ephesus
2 Write the following to the messenger of the congregation in Ephesus [translates: Desirable]. For these are the words of the one who holds the seven stars firmly in his right hand, [symbolic of authority and power] who walks among the seven golden lampstands:

2 I know all that you’ve done for me—you have worked hard and persevered. I know that you don’t tolerate evil. You have tested those who claimed to be apostles and proved they are not, for they were imposters. 3 I also know how you have bravely endured trials and persecutions because of my name, yet you have not become discouraged.[endured without complaining] 4 But I have this against you: you have abandoned the passionate love you had for me at the beginning. 5 Think about how far you have fallen! Repent [take the mind of Christ] and do the works of love you did at first. I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place of influence if you do not repent.

6 Although, to your credit, you despise the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also despise.[rituals to rule over people] 7 The one whose heart is open let him listen carefully to what the Spirit is saying now to all the churches. To the one who overcomes [experiences victory] I will give access to feast on the fruit of the Tree of Life that is found in the paradise of God.[now in the hearts of Christ’s followers]

Whether we are working hard and persevering for Christ, taking a stand against evil, or enduring trials without complaining, our motivation for a life of service must be our passionate love for Christ. In fact, our love for Christ and for each other is how the world should be able to recognize the children of God. And our victory or reward for obediently revealing this great love is the ability to enjoy eternal life now. Is Christ your first love?

Prayer: Lord, you continue to make me stronger each day as I focus on loving you and being a blessing for the Kingdom. Holy Spirit, please continue to help me remain focused. In Jesus’ name.

Acts 5:17-20 (TPT) The Apostles Persecuted
17 The high priest and his officials, who formed the party of the Sadducees, became extremely jealous over all that was happening, 18 so they had the apostles arrested, placed in chains, and thrown into jail. 19 But during the night, the Lord[Yahweh] sent an angel who appeared before them. He supernaturally opened their prison doors and brought the apostles outside. 20 “Go,” the angel told them. “Stand in the temple courts and preach the words that bring life!”

When the Spirit of the Lord is released in the lives of believers and they speak the simple Truth of God’s extravagant love, forgiveness, and grace found in Christ, opposition will come. The enemy always endeavors to silence and snuff out the message that actually witnesses to life with God—Immanuel. In our passage today, the apostles face persecution while sharing the Word of God. This persecution does not come from unbelievers; rather, this persecution comes from legalistic religious spirits who are jealous of the anointing—the healing and restorative power of God outflowing the apostles. Jesus had prepared his followers for this very moment when he taught them about the cost of righteousness on the Mount of Beatitudes. “Blessed [Happy in life with God] are those who are persecuted for righteousness [demonstrating the attributes of God], because the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of Me. Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven” (Mat. 5:10-12). So, as we follow Christ, don’t allow evil to hinder you or snuff out your passion. Be an example of life with God!

Prayer: Lord, I want to thank you for surrounding me with such a loving congregation who desire to walk out your righteousness in the life of Christ. As I am persecuted for living right with you, please let me be like the apostles and immediately return to preaching the words of life and modeling my devotion and appreciation for your unfailing love and grace. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Hebrews 2:5-9 (TPT) Jesus, and the Destiny of Believers
5 For God will not place the coming world, of which we speak, under the government of angels. 6 But the Scriptures affirm:
What is man that you would even think about him,
    or care about Adam’s race.
7 
You made him lower than the angels for a little while.
    You placed your glory and honor
    upon his head as a crown.
    And you have given him dominion
    over the works of your hands,
8 
For you have placed everything under his authority. [The authority of God’s Son has not changed since creation] This means that God has left nothing outside the control of his Son, even if presently we have yet to see this accomplished. 9 But we see Jesus, who as a man, lived for a short time lower than the angels [because he took on flesh] and has now been crowned with glorious honor because of what he suffered in his death. For it was by God’s grace that he experienced death’s bitterness on behalf of everyone!

I truly hunger for the rule of the Son and his authority over this world. Since creation Father God has never rescinded his command for his children to take dominion. The problem is that sin confused—having the knowledge of good and evil—every human’s ability to discern God’s will or how he designed his creation to function. Because of this confusion, we need help knowing the difference between what God defines as good and evil. “Woe, to those who call evil good and good evil…” (Isa. 5:20).

Jesus came to bring salvation to humanity by paying the penalty for this sin and opening our eyes to wisdom and understanding so we can live righteously; he sent the Spirit who knows the heart of God on the matter of good and evil. The gift is to have the Word and the Holy Spirit living within us so we can be properly guided to live that which is good. The Word of God teaches the earth will one day be under the rulership of men and women who are under the rulership of Christ. Glory to God!

Prayer: Father, thank you for putting everything in place that keeps my life guided toward that which is good. Help me each day to listen for your voice and chose wisely In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Luke 6:12-13, 17-19 (TPT) Jesus Chooses Twelve Apostles
12 After this, Jesus went up into the high hills to spend the whole night in prayer to God 13 At daybreak he called together all of his followers and selected twelve from among them, and he appointed them to be his apostles.

17 Jesus and his apostles came down from the hillside to a level field, where a large number of his disciples waited, along with a massive crowd of people who had gathered from all over Judea, Jerusalem, and the coastal district of Tyre and Sidon. 18 They had all come to listen to the Manifestation so that they could be healed of their diseases and be set free from the demonic powers that tormented them. 19 The entire crowd eagerly tried to come near Jesus so they could touch him and be healed, because a tangible supernatural power emanated from him, healing all who came close to him.

After Jesus spent time in prayer, he knew the Father’s will and obediently went to choose his apostles. Jesus—the Son of God—always said he and the Father were one in purpose and prayer was how they forged that oneness. What do you suppose would happen in the lives of God’s children if we spent the night praying, asking the Father’s will in decisions we need to make, and then obediently following his plan?

Scripture tells us that evil ran when Jesus walked the roads of life in oneness with the Father. Tormenting spirits had to flee when Jesus came near. A tangible supernatural power for healing emanated from the Son, because he was fulfilling his Father’s purpose. What could we do to reveal Christ in us to the world if we would pray for the will and purpose of the Father and get beyond our own worldly desires and agendas? This Sunday we will celebrate Father’s Day. As a child of God, I ask you to begin your celebration today as you focus on gaining oneness with your Heavenly Father—the Great I AM.

Prayer: Father, I want to walk in oneness with you each day; to be responsible before you for the gifts, graces, and power you have imparted to me. These gifts of grace are called the anointing and this is the power that breaks the chains of spiritual bondage off from your children. Help me to walk with Christ in your purpose. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 (TPT) Chosen for Wholeness
13 We always have to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, for you are dearly loved by the Lord. He proved it by choosing you from the beginning for salvation through the Spirit, who set you apart for holiness, and through your belief in the truth. [convincing you of the Truth] 14 To this end he handpicked you for salvation through the gospel so that you would have the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. [to presently share in and possess the glory of Christ]

15 So then, dear family, stand firm with a masterful grip of the teachings we gave you, either by word of mouth or by our letter.

16 Now may the Lord Jesus Christ and our Father God, who loved us and in his wonderful grace gave us eternal comfort and a beautiful hope that cannot fail, 17 encourage your hearts and inspire you with strength to always do and speak what is good and beautiful in his eyes. [from his perspective]

I am hungry to hear people speak words and reveal actions that encourage human hearts and inspire divine strength to live, move, and have our being in God’s love (Acts 17:28). The Apostle Paul knew how badly the Thessalonian believers needed those things in order to press on in faith to live in the glory of the Lord. Life was difficult. Just like the early Christians, we need to be lovingly reminded to stand firm while we prepare our hearts and wait for the Lord’s Second Coming.

So, I want to encourage you today to pray and ask the Spirit to put a watch over your words that you would not sin against God or your neighbor with your conversation. Life and death is in the power of the tongue; we can build one another up or tear one another down (Pro 18:21). As well, I want to encourage you to pray and ask the Spirit to put a conviction in your heart for any action that does not seem good or beautiful in God’s eyes; we must put to death those actions that try to rise out of our sinful and selfish nature because we are to be led by the Spirit of love (Rom 18:13).

Prayer: Lord, thank you for finding ways to encourage me and inspire me to keep looking to a future with hope. As well, help me to be a source of those things to others each day. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 105:1-5 (TPT) God’s Wonderful Works
1 
Go ahead and give God thanks
for all the glorious things he has done!
Go ahead and worship him!
Tell everyone about his wonders!
2 
Let’s sing his praises! Sing, and put all of his miracles to music!
3 
Shine and make your joyful boast in him, you lovers of God.
Let’s be happy and keep rejoicing no matter what.
4 
Seek more of his strength! Seek more of him!
Let’s always be seeking the light of his face.
5 
Don’t you ever forget his miracles and marvels.
Hold to your heart every judgment he has decreed.

We have many choices to make each day that will in some way affect our lives. We need to make the choice to remain joyful while praising God no matter what is going on in the world. I am convinced the more time I spend with God and doing things that feed a positive spirit in me, the better I handle the reality of the world. I am fully aware and understand my need for God’s strength and power operating in my life. We must put a guard over our souls, by staying focused on the things that are eternal. The Apostle Paul teaches us how to practice biblical thought control: “So keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always” (Phil 4:8). If we carefully choose what will occupy our thoughts each day, we can be happy and rejoice no matter what!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for being the strength and helper I need each day to remain focused on eternal realities. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Luke 12:2-3
2 Everything hidden and covered up will soon be exposed. For the facade is falling down, and nothing will be kept secret for long. 3 Whatever you have spoken in private will be public knowledge, and what you have whispered secretly behind closed doors will be broadcast far and wide for all to hear.

In our passage, today, Jesus is teaching his disciples about hypocrisy—acting like one is near God when his or her heart is far from Him. For the most part, a hypocrite is a master of coverups or concealments, because he or she is concerned with appearances and wants to be favored by other humans. However, evil hiding in hearts is eventually revealed through bad attitudes and unholy actions; naughty hearts cannot hide from the Truth of God.

Light exposes things and makes them visible; so the King of Glory will shine and make public the authenticity of every person’s heart. Therefore, it is the wise person who willingly opens his or her heart to God then there will be nothing for which to be ashamed. During the final judgment, all the hidden secrets and motives of humanity will be exposed. Everything will be unveiled before the one who judges accurately. For this reason, Scripture teaches us to be careful how we live by making the most of these evil days. We need to pay attention to our words, because our speech needs to reflect and acknowledge our Master. So, fear (respect) the Lord and live by the Spirit’s power!

Prayer: Lord, please continue to work in my heart. When you return, I want to stand before you unashamed of how I loved you and my neighbor. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 116:1-2 (TPT) I’m Saved1 I am passionately in love with God because he listens to me.He hears my prayers and answers them.2 As long as I live I’ll keep praying to him,for he stoops down to listen to my heart’s cry.

As believers in the salvation of Jesus Christ and the redeeming work of the Holy Spirit, we must pray more than we have ever prayed before; pray to the Living God who listens to his children and the cries of their hearts. Pray for his love to overflow in your heart, as well as in the hearts of every believer. Pray for unbelievers—those who have never tasted the love of the Savior—to desire the love of Christ for their own hearts. May our love for God and our neighbors cause reviving change that hits this country and world like a wildfire burning up self-centeredness and evil.

Please don’t put your greatest hope in human institutions or governments to create a righteous foundation for lasting peace. I support our civil institutions, agencies, and governments that God put into place in order to maintain freedom, exalt Truth, support equality, ensure protection, and execute justice, but those structures were never to replace the authority of All Mighty God to govern individual hearts (Romans 13:1). We have watched the shortcomings and hypocrisy of people in these areas for generations, because the human heart is prideful and struggles to embrace divine love and spiritual life which leads to peace.
The peace we need in this country and in the world is a change in human hearts that only the Holy Spirit can bring; we need a passionate heart for the heavenly Father and for our earthly neighbors that produces supernatural agape (the highest form of love—1 Cor. 13:4-7). When Jesus is the Lord of our hearts, agape is our signature. Pray for that supernatural change to begin in your heart and let the life and love of Jesus shine into a dark world. When we protest against people groups and governments thinking that is going to bring lasting reform or peace, you have given those human institutions way too much credit. They are empty, void, and easily shaken without the grace of God. Look higher! You want change? You want peace? Let’s all get on our faces before Father God and pray for an outpouring of redeeming and reviving love to hit human hearts. He is listening!
Prayer: Lord, I pray today knowing you hear the cry of my heart for sending an outpouring of your redeeming and reviving love to hit human hearts. Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

John 14:21-26 (TPT)
21 Those who truly love me are those who obey my commands. Whoever passionately loves me will be passionately loved by my Father. And I will passionately love you in return and will manifest my life within you.”

22 Then one of the disciples named Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “Lord, why is it you will only reveal your identity to us and not to everyone?”

23 Jesus replied, “Loving me empowers you to obey my word. [love is proven by obedience to the Word] And my Father will love you so deeply that we will come to you and make you our dwelling place. 24 But those who don’t love me will not obey my words. The Father did not send me to speak my own revelation, but the words of my Father.

25 I am telling you this while I am still with you. 26 But when the Father sends the Spirit of Holiness, the One like me who sets you free, [the Redeemer from the curse] he will teach you all things in my name. And he will inspire you to remember every word that I’ve told you.

It is the work of the Holy Spirit to redeem us from the curse of sin and death and the way to walk in that gift of freedom is to love Christ—the Living Word—passionately. Don’t ever forget the world is cursed and will face judgment, but those who receive Christ are redeemed from that curse as we allow the Word to teach us a new way to live in the truth and love of God. Our passionate love for Christ enables our spiritual memory, too; the Holy Spirit will inspire us to remember the Word of God so we can walk in victory. Hallelujah for God’s glorious Gifts!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your ongoing redemption to lift me out of dead living. As I stay connected to the Vine of Christ—the Word—I will grow in the ways of righteousness. As your children around the globe stay connected to the Vine of Christ, we will overtake evil with good. If God be for us who can be against us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.