Pastor Mary Haley

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 Since creation Father God has never rescinded his command for his children to take dominion.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.

1 Corinthians 12:12-13
12 Just as the human body is one, though it has many parts that together form one body, so too is Christ [a body with many parts who are to represent him in the world]. 13 For by one Spirit we all were immersed and mingled into one single body [a baptism into the body of Christ]. And no matter our status—whether we are Jews or non-Jews, oppressed or free—we are all privileged to drink deeply of the same Holy Spirit [to inwardly receive and outwardly flow the refreshing and powerful Living Water and love of Christ].

Every human being has an opportunity to respond to the wooing love of Jesus Christ; to enter into fellowship and peace with God and learn how he actually created us to live. God desires for all humanity to form his Body. Otherwise, out of ignorance or rebellion, we live deceived and wicked in the eyes of the Lord. So, God sent Jesus to die for our sins and if we will respond to faith by believing in his sacrifice for us, we can know peace with God and a new beginning [new birth]. The Holy Spirit—the Spirit of Peace—was sent to be our helper and guide to live out the will and purposes of God. Otherwise, we will actually fight against the will of God and look for others to blame; humanity demonizes people right and left for the lack of peace he or she have with God. Do you think we are going to win that battle?

The Lord sent the Holy Spirit in order to get us headed in the right direction; he brings an awareness of what pleases God. The Spirit gives us new birth, indwells us as a source of power to apply the Word to our lives, baptizes us in love and unity as a spiritual body, and seals us as God’s priceless possession who reflect and reveal his glory in the world. The Holy Spirit is such a gift; please receive the guiding power that is offered so you can live in peace with God as a part of his Body.

Prayer: Lord, there are so many ways you have blessed me by sending the Spirit of holiness into my life. Help me to respond to your love by appropriating every way you desire to help me. In Jesus name. Amen.

1 Corinthians 12:1-3 (TPT)
1 My fellow believers, I don’t want you to be confused about spiritual realities. 2 For you know full well that when you were unbelievers you were often led astray [tempted] in one way or another by your worship of idols [anything that usurps God’s reign in your heart], which are incapable of talking with you. 3 Therefore, I want to impart to you an understanding of the following:
No one speaking by the Spirit of God [under the unction of God] would ever say, “Jesus is the accursed one.”

No one can say, “Jesus is the Lord Yahweh,” [Lord God] unless the Holy Spirit is speaking through him.

Is Jesus Lord God over your life? We can all wrestle with thoughts, emotions, and desires that seek to usurp the Lord’s rule in our hearts. To profess ‘Christ is Lord’ is to speak the Truth regarding God’s Word and influence over our lives. Christ is Lord when we allow him to rule and direct our destinies as his followers. False teachers disguise themselves as harmless sheep, but inside they are wolves out to devour and discredit the Word and minimize the Lord God (Mat 7:15). Their goal is to build their own empires instead of the Kingdom of God. Anointed teachers are validated by the fruit of their actions; how they honor and reflect the Word, as well as how they treat others in their care.

Prayer: Lord, when I am tempted to exalt my own ideas and desires above your way, please help me stand on your Word and put things back into a righteous perspective. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

2 Timothy 1:12-14 (TPT)
12 The confidence of my calling enables me to overcome every difficulty without shame, for I have an intimate revelation of this God. And my faith in him convinces me that he is more than able to keep all that I’ve placed in his hands safe and secure until the fullness of his appearing.

13 Allow the healing words you’ve heard from me to live in you and make them a model for life as your faith and love for the Anointed One grows even more. 14 Guard well this incomparable treasure by the Spirit of Holiness living within you.

Our confidence must be in Christ alone as the Anointed One. Let’s define confidence as faith in God, certainty and assurance of one’s relationship with God, a sense of boldness that is dependent on a realization of one’s acceptance by God, and a conviction that one’s destiny is secure in God. When we have confidence in God, then whatever comes our way we can handle it in the strength and power of the Anointed One. As a believer, you never face anything that grace cannot successfully take you through. Fear not and have courage as you place your confidence in Christ. Blessings for your weekend.

Prayer: Lord, when the storms of life threaten to overwhelm me, please keep me focused on your love and help me remain confident in your power. In Jesus’ name. Amen.