Mike Keyes Ministries Int.

JUNE 08 DAILY DEVOTIONAL
1 Timothy 2:15 - THE IMPORTANCE OF SELF-CONTROL
Paul told Timothy to make sure everyone (not just the women) walked in faith, love and holiness WITH SELF CONTROL. This is a message every pastor needs to be sharing with his sheep. We are commanded in the Bible to walk by faith not sight (2 Corinthians 5:7), to let everything we do be done in love (1 Corinthians 16:14), and to be holy like God (1 Peter 1:16). How to do this consistently, day after day? Only through SELF CONTROL! Your flesh doesn’t want to obey, so you have to MAKE it obey!

Your flesh is an enemy. It is still dead-to-sin and doesn’t want to submit to God or His Word. You must MAKE it obey, and that’s where self control becomes so important. Paul had these struggles like you, but he overcame. Read Romans chapters 6,7 and 8 and see for yourself. If he had problems keeping his flesh under control, don’t feel so badly if you do! 1 Corinthians 9:27 says that he kept his body “under”. That means he controlled his carnal appetites and didn’t allow them to affect his ability to walk in faith, love or holiness before His God. You must do the same. Renew your mind, confess the scriptures, stay strong in prayer. When your flesh tries to take over, you do what Paul did. Keep it under, or as the Greek implies in that passage, you “beat your body black and blue!” How? By making your flesh pray! By making your flesh sit and listen to you read your Bible out loud! By making your flesh attend church everytime the doors are open. By meditating in God’s word daily and casting down every thought that exalts itself against God’s Word. You can do it! You can do all things through Christ who is your strength!

JUNE 07 DAILY DEVOTIONAL
1 Timothy 1:5 - The Purpose for the Commandment

Paul told Timothy the end of all commandments was to walk in love from 1) a pure heart, 2) a good conscience, 3) sincere faith. Jesus said that if you really love God, you will prove it by keeping His commandments (John 14:15). When you develop the discipline to walk in God’s love daily, you automatically fulfill every other commandment you can find in the Bible! And what is the foundation for letting the love of God dominate your life? A pure heart! A good conscience! Sincere Faith! Keep an eye on these three things, and you’re protecting the “love foundation” in your life!

Your job on earth is to be an ambassador for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). That can’t happen if you’re not keeping God’s commands, and you can’t do that unless you let your love for God dominate everything you think, say or do. When you purpose to love God and obey His commands, you do it because your heart has been cleansed, you no longer have a sin-consciousness, and your faith is being renewed daily through study of His Word. Doing this protects you from your own flesh, and enables you to maintain the love walk, which is the only commandment left to keep! Keep your heart pure, keep your conscience good, and keep your faith strong and sincere, and the devil will never be able to come along and heap his condemnation on you - for sins committed, mistakes made, or vows broken. When you walk in love, you are able to fulfill every command God has given, because love is the fulfillment of the law (Romans 13:8). And also, you’re able to live free from guilt, with the ability to reach out to others without a feeling of personal hypocrisy or unworthiness! So, get busy! God’s love is already inside you, let it dominate!

JUNE 06 DAILY DEVOTIONAL
2 Timothy 1:13 - FAITH WORDS AND LOVE WORDS ARE SOUND WORDS

Paul exhorted Timothy to speak sound words in FAITH and LOVE. Words you speak that are filled with faith are sound because they always give God something to work with in your life, and in the lives of those who listen to you. And because faith works by love (Galatians 5:6), you know your words are sound because your faith is based on your love for God, and love for your fellow man. Let your words be sound, based on your love for God, and your faith in His Word.

When we develop the discipline to speak sound words of faith and love, we position ourselves to receive much more than we could even ask or think to ask for. Faith words and love words are sound because they tap into the flow of grace available to those who embrace God and His Word. When you allow your words to be filled with faith and love, you energize your conversation, and license God to get involved in your life according to the words coming out your mouth. In other words, your words are working for you, not against you! When that happens, blessings begin to overtake you, you don’t have to confess for them, they just start finding you! At that point, you’re free to devote yourself to using faith for others, letting the love of God constrain you on their behalf. That’s when your life really begins to be fun!

JUNE 05 DAILY DEVOTIONAL
2 Timothy 1:13 - ARE YOUR WORDS SOUND WORDS?

Paul exhorted Timothy to speak the same kind of sound words as he had heard him speak. What about your words? People are listening, so what do they hear when you speak? Are your words “sound”? Do they glorify God, reveal your unwavering faith in God’s Word, and challenge, inspire, exhort and encourage your listeners to follow your example? Or are your words “unsound”? We have a responsibility to God, to ourselves and to those who listen to us. Make sure your conversation is SOUND!

As believers, we need to remember the power of spoken words. Words are containers, which can be filled with spiritual forces like faith or fear. God wants our words to be sound words. Words which are filled with faith. Words that not only give God license to move in our lives, but which cut Satan off at the same time. Those are “sound words”! Are you setting that kind of example to your spouse, children, friends, relatives, classmates or co-workers? Do they get to hear “sound words” coming out your mouth everyday? Or do they hear something different? Think before you speak! Words not in agreement with God’s word are not sound and should not be spoken. For your sake, and the sake of those who hear you. Hold fast the PATTERN of sound words. Make it your habit today, and everyday! Don’t let anyone or any circumstance steal your pattern of sound words. Hold fast!

Tonight is our next Live Stream broadcast. 7:30pm Arizona time on June 04, and 10:30am on June 05 in the Philippines. We hope you can join us!

JUNE 04 DAILY DEVOTIONAL
1 Chronicles 28:10 - THE NECESSITY FOR SPIRITUAL STRENGTH

One of the most awesome truths about God is that He chooses to limit His activity on earth to partnership with man. 2 Corinthians 6:1 tells you to be a “worker together with Him”. 1 Corinthians 3:9 and 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 say the same thing. God has ordained that you be part of the team that goes into all the world to preach the Gospel and set men free. His Word to you: “BE STRONG AND DO IT!” No excuses. No delays. No procrastination!

Never forget this. God is not going to entertain your excuses for failing to take your place on the front lines of world evangelism. He is telling you that He will partner with you to get the job done, so at no point should you ever entertain the idea of quitting or giving up, or worst still, failing to even start for fear of failure! God has a word for you! Get off your “blessed assurance,” and go out there and make a difference in your areas of influence for Me. Deuteronomy 9:1-4 shows us that there are 2 parts to every victory in Christ. God’s part and man’s part. God wants you to do what you can do, and then He will do what you can’t do. That’s the way it works. You and God working together in ministry outreach. You doing whatever you can do as led by the Holy Spirit, and He doing the impossible in your life to bring the collective effort to completion. BE STRONG! DO IT!

JUNE 03 DAILY DEVOTIONAL
Proverbs 24:10 - THE NECESSITY FOR SPIRITUAL STRENGTH

God loves all men equally. He is no respecter of persons. He wants to use every Christian in fulfilling the Great Commission of Mark 16:15-18, but He can only use the strong ones! He can’t work with the weak! Why? Because when He puts you on the front lines of world evangelism, you must be strong enough to withstand the counterattacks of Satan. To quit when the going get tough is to admit your level of spiritual strength is very low.

Never forget this. The level of difficulty, persecution and demonic attack in your life is directly proportionate to the amount of fruitful work you’re doing in fulfilling the Great Commission. The more God uses you; the more persecution and Satanic attack will come against you. The reason most believers aren’t persecuted or attacked much is because they’re not doing anything for God. And the reason they’re not doing anything is because they can’t handle the heat when the battle is on! Friend, God promises you a rich, fulfilling life in service to Him, but never does He promise you a life of ease and cushy comfort. You owe the world! They are entitled to know what you know about salvation. Therefore, you are responsible for becoming strong in spirit, and for staying strong in spirit. No excuses! To bail out on God when the battles grow hot is to admit you’re not as strong as you need to be. God has a word for you! BE STRONG! STAY STRONG! The world can’t be reached by weak believers. Only the strong can do the job.

JUNE 02 DAILY DEVOTIONAL
Isaiah 1:19 - THE BLESSINGS OF AVAILABILITY

God is telling you that if you be willing and obedient, you will eat the good of the land. To “eat the good of the land” means your needs will be met, and you will bear fruit for the glory of God. To be willing and obedient is to make yourself available to His plan, purpose and will, and that is the pre-requisite for the blessings of God to manifest in your life as He has promised in His Word.

Notice that two things are required to eat the good of the land. First, you must be willing to make yourself available, and let God run your life, not you. Second, you must be obedient to say or do whatever He asks of you, when He wants it done, no questions asked. Many Christians are either one or the other, but not both. Some are willing but not obedient, others are obedient but not willing. Be both! Go to God in prayer today and ask Him to show you whether or not you’ve been truly willing AND obedient to Him. And depending upon His answer to you, make the necessary adjustments with the Holy Spirit’s help, so you can position yourself to reap the harvest of blessings in your life as God has promised. Proverbs 3:5,6 tells you that if you trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not to your own understanding and acknowledge His Lordship in your life, He will direct your steps! Be available today, and everyday. Willing and obedient. The good of the land awaits you!

JUNE 01 DAILY DEVOTIONAL
Isaiah 6:8 - ARE YOU AVAILABLE?

The Bible says that in Christ, we can do all things. The moment we say we can’t do whatever God tells us to do, we’re calling Him a liar! God has given us everything we will ever need to be triumphant over the devil, his world system, and our still-dead-to-sin flesh. We have the Name of Jesus. We have the living Word of God. We have the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. We have angels available to help when needed. We have spiritual armor. We have 9 gifts of the Holy Spirit. And lastly, we’ve already been declared the “winner” before any fight of faith begins! Don’t listen to the lies of the devil, or the lies of those who do his bidding. In Christ, you can tackle and overcome anything that tries to stand between you and the victory Jesus provided, and now promises for you daily!