Increase Your Faith http://blog.sacci.org with Bishop William J. McDuffie Sun, 19 May 2013 14:39:07 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 The Day of Pentecost: A Day to Remember http://blog.sacci.org/2013/05/16/the-day-of-pentecost-a-day-to-remember/ http://blog.sacci.org/2013/05/16/the-day-of-pentecost-a-day-to-remember/#comments Thu, 16 May 2013 17:00:30 +0000 Bishop McDuffie http://blog.sacci.org/?p=1867 By Keith Butler “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:4 KJV). You are a Christian, the seed of Abraham, and you are Satan’s worst nightmare. You see, the blessing of Abraham was really two things. The blessing of Abraham was Jesus, and the blessing of Abraham was the Holy Spirit, the Anointing. Now, you have received Jesus and you have received the anointing. You have His name and you have the Holy Spirit. The worse day of Satan’s existence was on the day of Pentecost. He couldn’t defeat one man (Jesus) filled with the Holy Spirit. And on the day of Pentecost, as Satan gets up to the surface after being whipped in hell, he looks into the upper room and sees 120 people praising God; and the Spirit comes upon them – that same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead. They began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them the utterance. Being filled with the Spirit, they stumbled out from upstairs drunk in the Holy Spirit. They said, “these men are not drunk as you supposed. It is 9 a.m. This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel. In the last days I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh.” And Peter preached and 3000 people were born again and filled with the Holy Spirit that day. Satan couldn’t deal with one man anointed with the Holy Spirit. Now there are 3120 filled with the Holy Spirit. It was the worst thing Satan ever saw. Now I am here to tell you that Jesus said, I give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. That is what unlocks the door. That is authority – the authority of the believer. I like what R.W. Shambach says, “You don’t have any problems. All you need is faith in God.” You have the authority of Jesus upon you. How do you receive all that? Stand on the Word of God and claim what is yours. When the devil sees you, he sees the blood of Jesus; he sees authority; he sees that he had better run. Realize that you are filled with the very nature of God, and you are more than a conqueror. You win in Jesus’ Name!

]]> http://blog.sacci.org/2013/05/16/the-day-of-pentecost-a-day-to-remember/feed/ 0 You Are Complete In Christ http://blog.sacci.org/2013/05/15/you-are-complete-in-christ/ http://blog.sacci.org/2013/05/15/you-are-complete-in-christ/#comments Wed, 15 May 2013 12:55:14 +0000 Bishop McDuffie http://blog.sacci.org/?p=1866 By Joseph Prince and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. Colossians 2:10 When you look at yourself, what do you see? Do you see someone who is imperfect and lacking in many areas, or someone who is whole and complete in Christ? There are believers who see themselves as incomplete. This is because they are conscious of their lack and imperfections. They say, “There are so many things imperfect about me! How can I be complete if there are so many things I am lacking in?” They see their weaknesses, condemn themselves and feel inferior to others. The good news is that God does not see the way man sees. Man sees the flesh. God sees the spirit. He sees us already complete in Christ. In spite of our imperfections, He sees us as new creations, partakers of His divine nature and more than conquerors over our faults. And He wants us to see ourselves the way He sees us. What we think we need or are lacking in, whether it is godly character traits or physical health, we already have in Christ. I used to think that I had to ask God to make me more patient, until I realized one day that Jesus is my patience. Since then, I no longer ask God to make me wiser either, because Jesus is my wisdom. (1 Corinthians 1:30) I am not waiting to receive more healing because Jesus is my complete healing at this moment. And I am not yearning for peace and rest one day because Jesus is my peace and rest today. Right now, I have everything because I stand complete in Christ! My friend, you are not going to be complete in Christ some day — you are already complete in Christ! And what remains for you to do is to walk daily in that completeness by believing that it is true and confessing that what you need right now, Jesus is to you. He is your complete forgiveness, complete righteousness, complete favor and complete protection. So don’t focus on the lack you see in your life. Focus instead on how in Christ, you are complete in everything at this moment. And instead of weaknesses, lack and defects, you will see His strength, wholeness, soundness and completeness manifesting in you! Thought For The Day: Don’t focus on the lack in your life. Focus on how in Christ, you are complete in everything at this moment!

]]> http://blog.sacci.org/2013/05/15/you-are-complete-in-christ/feed/ 0 The Clause That Makes It All Happen http://blog.sacci.org/2013/05/08/the-clause-that-makes-it-all-happen/ http://blog.sacci.org/2013/05/08/the-clause-that-makes-it-all-happen/#comments Wed, 08 May 2013 16:57:47 +0000 Bishop McDuffie http://blog.sacci.org/?p=1860 By Joseph Prince

For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” Hebrews 8:12

We are no longer under the old covenant. We are now under the new covenant. And in this new covenant, God says that He will do three things for us:

Lead us — “I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts.” (Hebrews 8:10) These are the laws of faith, love and liberty to guide you in everything you do. It is a spontaneous, dynamic, active and intimate way to be led by God.

Work miracles for us — “I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” (Hebrews 8:10) The phrase “I will be their God” denotes a miracle-working God. So if you are sick and God says, “I will be your God,” get ready for healing! If you are poor and God says, “I will be your God,” get ready for His supply!

Cause us to know Him effortlessly — “… all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them.” (Hebrews 8:11) The Greek word for “know” here is eido. It means to know intuitively without effort. This means that you will know God easily.

Do you want to experience all these blessings in your life today?

“Of course, Pastor Prince, I want to be led by God. I want Him to work miracles in my life. I want to know Him intimately without straining or striving.”

Then, you need to know the clause that makes it all happen: “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” The words “no more” in the Greek carry a strong double-negative sense. So God is saying, “I will never, by no means, remember your sins!”

Beloved, the more you believe this in your heart, the more you will see those blessings fulfilled in your life. When you realize how much God has forgiven you and remembers your sins no more, you will know Him, His ways and His will for you intimately and intuitively without effort.

So believe in your heart today the clause on which all these blessings hinge, and get ready for miracles and hopes fulfilled in the days ahead!

Thought For The Day: When you realize that God remembers your sins no more, you will know Him, His ways and His will for you intimately and intuitively.

]]> http://blog.sacci.org/2013/05/08/the-clause-that-makes-it-all-happen/feed/ 1 Can Strangers See Jesus in You? http://blog.sacci.org/2013/04/30/can-strangers-see-jesus-in-you/ http://blog.sacci.org/2013/04/30/can-strangers-see-jesus-in-you/#comments Tue, 30 Apr 2013 17:22:35 +0000 Bishop McDuffie http://blog.sacci.org/?p=1864 By Kenneth Copeland “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13). How would you like to be so full of the glory of God that it’s unmistakable to those around you? How would you like for people to be able to know just by looking at you that you’d been with Jesus? It’s entirely possible if you are born again and filled with the Holy Spirit. The same mighty power that changed you inwardly when you were saved can so revolutionize you outwardly that even strangers on the street will be able to see Jesus in you. One of my favorite testimonies is the one Jerry Savelle tells of the time he was in a shopping mall with his wife, Carolyn. He was sauntering from one store to another, casually passing time until Carolyn finished her shopping. A woman walked up to Jerry and said, “Will you pray for me?” Since he didn’t know the woman, he was puzzled. “Out of all the people in that mall, how was it that you picked me out?” he asked. She said, “The Lord told me to come to this mall and someone would be here who could pray for me. I came here looking for that person. I noticed a beam of light. It would go into one store, wander around, then go to another store and wander around some more. I followed the light until I found where it was coming from, and it was coming from you!” What was that light? The glory of God! It was shining from Jerry much like it shone from the face of Moses when he came down from Mount Sinai. And that radiant presence of God brought healing to that woman when Jerry prayed. Just as the fact that Peter and John had been with Jesus was unmistakable, so was the fact that Jerry Savelle had been with Jesus when that lady walked up to him in the mall. When you spend time with Jesus, it will be undeniable. His power and His glory will be reflected in you to the world. And His presence upon you will meet needs everywhere you go. Take time to be with Jesus today!

]]> http://blog.sacci.org/2013/04/30/can-strangers-see-jesus-in-you/feed/ 0 Practice Jesus’ Presence And ‘Smell’ Like Him http://blog.sacci.org/2013/04/30/practice-jesus-presence-and-smell-like-him/ http://blog.sacci.org/2013/04/30/practice-jesus-presence-and-smell-like-him/#comments Tue, 30 Apr 2013 17:21:46 +0000 Bishop McDuffie http://blog.sacci.org/?p=1863 By Joseph Prince Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13 Have you ever been in a room filled with cigarette smoke? Perhaps you were in a small restaurant and there were a number of people puffing away. The whole place was smoky and your hair and clothes soon began to smell of smoke. And even after you left the restaurant, you still smelled of smoke! In the same way, you cannot spend time in the presence of the Lord without His glory, His majesty, His beauty, His power, His love and His peace rubbing off on you. You will begin to “smell” like Jesus, be bold like Him and be filled with peace like Him! No wonder Acts 4:13 records this about Peter and John: “Now when they [the rulers and elders of Israel] saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.” Beloved, practice the presence of the Lord wherever you are. Talk to Him. Spend time with Him. You will experience the undeniable evidence of His presence in your life!

]]> http://blog.sacci.org/2013/04/30/practice-jesus-presence-and-smell-like-him/feed/ 0 Knowing God’s Will for You http://blog.sacci.org/2013/04/26/knowing-gods-will-for-you/ http://blog.sacci.org/2013/04/26/knowing-gods-will-for-you/#comments Fri, 26 Apr 2013 20:45:31 +0000 Bishop McDuffie http://blog.sacci.org/?p=1859 By Larry Ollison, Ph.D. Several weeks ago a man told me that he had been praying for something for years and that God had not answered his prayer. He went on to say that every time he asks God for the answer to his prayer, nothing seems to happen. He said, “I guess you just never know what to expect from God.” Well, that statement may sound holy and humble, but let me say this. It’s wrong. You can know what to expect from God because He has told us exactly what He will do. Over and over again, God has told us through His Word, the Holy Bible, what He will do. There should be no surprises when we pray. We have been given all the information needed. We have been told what to ask for and how to ask. God has provided all the instructions necessary for us to make the Word of God come alive and work in our daily lives. For example, according to the Bible, when we pray, we must pray the will of God. First John 5:14 says, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” Then it goes on to say, “And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.” So, we can see from this scripture that if we pray the will of God, He hears us. Likewise, the implication is that if we do not pray the will of God, then He does not hear us. And logic would dictate that if He does not hear a petition, then He cannot answer it. Last week I met a man who had a kidney problem. He asked me to pray for his healing, and I did. After praying he looked at me and said, “I guess if God put this illness on me then He can take it away. I sure hope it’s His will to heal me. I’m tired of being sick.” This man not only suffered from a kidney problem, but he suffered from poor teaching. And he’s not alone. Many good Christians believe that God makes them sick to teach them something. Then they turn around and ask Him to make them well. I guess maybe they’re just tired of learning. We must know the will of God when we pray. But how can we know His will? The answer is through His Word. God’s Word, the Holy Bible, tells us the nature of God and what He wants for us. If your problem is a health related problem, then you should know that Psalm 103:3 says that God is the One “Who heals all your diseases.” If your problem is finances then you should know that in Isaiah 48:17 God said, “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you by the way you should go.” Would God teach you to do something that was a sin? No, of course not. God does want his children to profit. He wants us to prosper. If your problem is your children, then you should know that Proverbs 11:21 says, “The children of the righteous will be delivered.” It is God’s will that your children be set free. So, when we pray, we must pray God’s will. And we find His will in His Word. Remember, 1 John 5:14 says, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”

]]> http://blog.sacci.org/2013/04/26/knowing-gods-will-for-you/feed/ 1 Have a Lifestyle of Peace http://blog.sacci.org/2013/04/23/have-a-lifestyle-of-peace/ http://blog.sacci.org/2013/04/23/have-a-lifestyle-of-peace/#comments Tue, 23 Apr 2013 17:21:49 +0000 Bishop McDuffie http://blog.sacci.org/?p=1858 By Keith Butler “Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you” (2 Cor. 13:11). Walking in the fruit of peace is a lifestyle. It is a decision. You must decide, “I am not going to allow myself to get so upset that I lose my peace.” Anchor that with a decision of quality. Decide right now, “I am not going to allow other things to cause me to lose my peace. Those things aren’t worth it. I have to stay in peace.” The whole world is looking for it. You can’t find peace in him. You can’t find peace in her. You can’t find peace in money. You can’t find peace in fame, because it is all fleeting. It’s there just for a second, and then it is gone. However, the peace of God is with you always, inside. Jesus is our peace. That wall of partition that stood between God and us was the law—the Ten Commandments and all the other commandments (the Ten Commandments were just part of the law). The Ten Commandments were really a mirror that made us look and see that we needed help. It made us see that we were full of sin, and therefore could not live up to that code that we saw written. But Jesus is our peace. He broke down that middle wall of partition. And now there is nothing between God and us except the blood. Anyone who has accepted the blood of Jesus should be walking in peace. You might be saying, “I hear what you are saying Bishop, but I’m not in peace. To be honest with you I’ve just about chewed off every fingernail I’ve got. I’m full of worry about this thing.” Well, how about deciding to stop right now, and follow the peace that is inside of you? It starts with a decision, because God has placed His peace inside you. And peace will make you sit back in the easy chair, pull back the lever, put your feet up and say, “Thank you Lord. I don’t have anything else to worry about. I just give you praise and glory.” There is a time to praise, and there is a time to sit back and bask, knowing everything is all right. In this you know that you living a lifestyle of assurance and peace.

]]> http://blog.sacci.org/2013/04/23/have-a-lifestyle-of-peace/feed/ 1 Having All Things Added To You http://blog.sacci.org/2013/04/21/having-all-things-added-to-you/ http://blog.sacci.org/2013/04/21/having-all-things-added-to-you/#comments Sun, 21 Apr 2013 14:34:53 +0000 Bishop McDuffie http://blog.sacci.org/?p=1857 By Joseph Prince But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33 You are probably a responsible person who is concerned about providing well for your family — making sure that there is food on the table, money for the children’s needs, comfort and education, and so on. What does God have to say to us about these legitimate concerns? According to Matthew 6:31, He tells us, “Do not worry.” Now, He is not saying that we don’t need all these things because in the same portion of scripture He says, “For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.” (Matthew 6:32) So God cares about us having these things. He wants us to have all these things. In fact, He wants all these things added to us. And He tells us that the way these things are added to us is by us seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Therefore, our number one priority every day is to seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness. It is not to seek to add these things to ourselves. But what is righteousness? Righteousness is not right behavior. It is right standing with the Father. It is the clearance of all your guilt, which makes you able to stand before God. It is not something you get through right behavior. It is a gift from God. Paul calls it “the gift of righteousness”. (Romans 5:17) And to “seek” this gift is to be conscious of the fact that you have it, to confess that you are righteous in Christ. So this righteousness we are told to seek is not right behavior, but right standing before God, which comes to us as a gift when we receive salvation. At the cross, Jesus didn’t just remove our sins, He also gave us His righteousness so that today, we can come boldly before the throne of God and receive freely everything that He died to give us! Today, if you want to provide your family with the good things in life, be assured that your heavenly Father knows that you need these things. Just seek His righteousness, not your own righteousness, and “all these things shall be added to you”! Thought For The Day: Jesus gave us His righteousness so that we can come boldly before the throne of God and receive freely everything that He died to give us!

]]> http://blog.sacci.org/2013/04/21/having-all-things-added-to-you/feed/ 1 Blessed With Good Success To Be A Blessing http://blog.sacci.org/2013/04/14/blessed-with-good-success-to-be-a-blessing/ http://blog.sacci.org/2013/04/14/blessed-with-good-success-to-be-a-blessing/#comments Sun, 14 Apr 2013 15:16:47 +0000 Bishop McDuffie http://blog.sacci.org/?p=1856 Blessed With Good Success To Be A Blessing By Joseph Prince I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. Genesis 12:2 When God called Abraham, He said to him, “…I will bless you… and you shall be a blessing.” We who are new covenant believers in Christ are called the seed of Abraham (Galatians 3:29), and like Abraham, we are called to be a blessing. Now, how can we be a blessing if we are not blessed in the first place? How can we be a blessing to others when we are always flat on our backs with sickness, living from hand to mouth, never having enough for our own family and always having to borrow from others? No way, my friend. God wants you healthy and strong, and He wants you to have more than enough financially so that you can be generous with your relatives, friends, community or anyone who needs help. He wants to bless you so that you can, like Abraham, be a blessing to many! Walking in the BLESSING, WILLIAM J. McDUFFIE International Presiding Bishop & Founder: Seed of Abraham Christian Center International, Inc. William McDuffie Ministries, Inc. Seed of Abraham Alliance of Independent Ministries And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:29

]]> http://blog.sacci.org/2013/04/14/blessed-with-good-success-to-be-a-blessing/feed/ 1 Discerning The Lord’s Body http://blog.sacci.org/2013/04/12/discerning-the-lords-body/ http://blog.sacci.org/2013/04/12/discerning-the-lords-body/#comments Fri, 12 Apr 2013 23:58:22 +0000 Bishop McDuffie http://blog.sacci.org/?p=1855 By Joseph Prince …and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 1 Corinthians 11:24 Have you ever taken a close look at the Matzah bread that the Jews eat during their Passover meal? The bread, which is unleavened, is pierced with rows of little holes forming stripes. It is also slightly burnt. Many churches today use this bread for the Holy Communion. Do you know why the bread is pierced, striped and burnt? My friend, the bread that you hold in your hands when you partake of the Lord’s Supper speaks of the body of our Lord Jesus Christ when He bore our sins and sicknesses on the cross. Like the bread, He was pierced in His brow by the crown of thorns as well as in His hands and feet by the nails. He was also pierced in His side by a soldier’s spear. The prophet Isaiah says, “He was pierced for our transgressions…” (Isaiah 53:5, NIV) Like the bread, He was scourged on His back until His flesh was all torn and bloody, and His bones were exposed, so that today, you can say, “By His stripes I am healed!” (Isaiah 53:5) What about the burnt marks on the bread? The full fire of God’s wrath fell on Jesus, burning up our sins into ashes, and at the same time, bringing out the fragrance of the offering of Jesus. Today, your sins and lawless deeds are but ashes, and your Father in heaven remembers them no more! (Hebrews 8:12) So the next time you partake of the bread during the Holy Communion, know that Jesus was pierced for your sins and scourged for your healing. He bore God’s fiery judgment so that you will never be judged for your sins! He also bore your diseases and carried your pains so that you can walk in divine health! When you discern these precious truths about our Lord’s body, you are partaking of the Holy Communion in a worthy manner. And you will not be weak and sickly, nor die before your time. (1 Corinthians 11:27–30) No, you will be strong and healthy, and you will live long! Thought For The Day: Jesus was pierced for your sins and scourged for your healing so that you can walk in divine health!

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