Faith for Wealth

21 Question Test of Spiritual Maturity

Faith for Wealth

Fact: You never have to worry about money; since Jesus Christ is in you, you have riches, honor and enduring wealth (Matthew 6:25, Psalms 24:1, Proverbs 8:18).

Psalm 27:9-10 (The Message Bible) You’ve always been right there for me;…… you’ve always kept the door open. My father and mother walked out and left me, but God took me in.

Recognize Your Source

In a world that values unending resources, sometimes it’s easy to forget that the Lord takes care of us, and He is the only One that we should look to for provision. Bank accounts, jobs, men, women, degrees nor the economy are our source-only the Lord is (Isaiah 54:4).  The good news is that He wants to be our source.  It’s His pleasure!

Haggai 2:6-8 (The Message Bible)

This is what God-of-the-Angel-Armies said: “Before you know it, I will shake up sky and earth, ocean and fields. And I’ll shake down all the godless nations. They’ll bring bushels of wealth and I will fill this Temple with splendor.’ God-of-the-Angel-Armies says so.  I own the silver, I own the gold.” decrees the God-of-the-Angel-Armies.

Wisdom and Kingdom Wealth

Mature Christians understand that God is the creator and source of wealth (Genesis 13:1).  As we grow in Him, we should be developing our faith for kingdom wealth as well. Since God created wealth, He certainly doesn’t mind us having it as long as we keep our priorities straight.  It’s okay to have savings accounts and investments because that reflects wisdom and good stewardship over our money.  However, if the Lord calls for our money, we should be ready to give it to Him—with a willing and cheerful heart.  On the flip side, wealth is more than just monetary means; it comes in the form of gifts, talents, knowledge, resources and influence. The Lord has given us access to all of it!

Why Wealth?

Some people think that to desire wealth is selfish and excessive.  But if God gave us the ability to have it, then He has a well-designed plan for how we should use it.  Wealth is a tool that allows Christians to carry out the will of the Lord.  Additionally, it helps us complete the ministry vision of His church.  Finally, wealth was created for God’s people to enjoy it.  Poverty and “just enough” are not of the Lord.  Our God thinks in terms of abundance.  If all Christians were millionaire and billionaires, consider all that we could do for the Lord.  There would be no end to our influence, and the world could not ignore it.

How to Get the Wealth

Anything that we get from God begins with faith; but after that, we have some actions to complete.  We have to be delivered from the fear of releasing money (2 Peter 1:3).  When we obey the Lord in giving tithes, offerings, supporting the works of the church and blessing our godly leaders, that reflects what is inside of our hearts.  Our giving (and the way we do it) reveals if we really trust and honor the Lord.  Below is a wealth checklist to help prepare you for the overflow that the Lord wants to give you–only if you’re ready for it.

A.   Seek the kingdom of Heaven. (Matthew 6:32)

B.    Simply as God! (Mark 11:24, Luke 11:9)

C.    Release your tithes without fear. (Malachi 3:10)

D.   Give offerings in addition to tithes.

E.    Get in the habit of obeying the Word of the Lord. (Luke 6:38, Deuteronomy 28:2,3)

F.     Work faithfully and diligently. (Proverbs 10:4, 1 Timothy 5:8, 2 Thessalonians 3:10)—everyone should have at least four streams of income.

G.   Have integrity. (Deuteronomy 25:16)

As a Christian, you have the complete salvation package, benefits included. Wealth is a powerful tool that God has authorized every Christian to have.  However, it is our faith and trust in Him that will limit or unlock our ability to get it.

Love,

Dr. Joyce Oliver

Fulfilling Your Purpose

21 Question Test of Spiritual Maturity

Fulfilling Your Purpose

Fact: Purpose is everything; without it, there is no life. We can never be completely spiritually mature if we are not walking in our purpose.

Purpose is Essential

When you ask someone, “What is your purpose” sometimes they give you a blank stare, stutter or tell you what they do for a living.  Others will be honest and say they don’t know.  Is that person you? Today, many people are living substandard, unfulfilled, chaotic lives because they are not walking in their purpose. No matter, how you got here on the earth, the Lord has a tailor- made divine plan just for you!  He created everything and everyone for His glory.

Jeremiah 1:5 (The Message Bible)

Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you.

It’s time to get spiritually activated and find out what the Lord has called you to do.  And don’t even entertain lying, doubtful thoughts that would try to make you think you can’t fulfill your purpose.  Did you know that God would be insulted if you told Him you “cannot” do what He asked? He created you and put the ability in you to live your destined life.  You are in the kingdom of the Lord now, and in here, there are no limitations.

Nourish the Seed of Purpose

Inside of the seed of purpose, are the greatest treasures the world has ever known. However, the seed of purpose can only grow in the right environment.  The Lord has a job that only you can do.  There is one great moment in time when God comes to you and will ask you to fulfill your purpose and meet the need.  He wants to see if you are willing to lay your treasures down for His purpose.  The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) fulfilled his purpose and so did the disciples of Jesus (Matthew 4:19).  However, the rich young ruler did not (Matthew 19:16-30).  Don’t let your great moment slip out of your hands.

Live a Purpose Driven Life

Fulfilling your purpose is about the ministry of the Lord.  It’s about you following instructions of the Lord to complete a task on the earth.  Only He can tell you what your purpose is.  Ask Him what it is and listen for His voice.  You have to listen in faith. For example, marriage should be based on the purpose of the Lord.  When you get married, you and your spouse should blend well and walk together.  Furthermore, children are about purpose.  Parents should teach their children to pursue the goals of the Lord and not money.

The Rewards of Walking in Your Purpose

What many people fail to realize is that there are great rewards for fulfilling their God given purpose.  God always loves obedience, so when we lay our lives (plans and ambitions) for Him, He will certainly make sure we are well compensated.  We also have to remember that there is another side to our obedience.  What would have happened to us if Jesus did not fulfill His purpose?  That means, we would have been lost.

We live in a fast paced world with time ticking away.  Don’t let worldly, trivial distractions keep you from the calling of the Lord.  In the purpose of the Lord are your greatest opportunities and blessings in life! Get in the race and find your purpose!  And once you begin to walk in your calling and experience all of the diving blessings, remember that the Lord is your maker.  (Deuteronomy 8:17-18).

Love,

Dr. Joyce Oliver

Words and Thoughts

21 Question Test of Spiritual Maturity

Words and Thoughts

Fact: One of the biggest indicators of immaturity in a person is when they cannot control their thoughts and especially their words.

 

Psalm 19:14 (The Amplified Bible) Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my [firm, impenetrable] Rock and my Redeemer.

The Science of Words and Ideas

Words and thoughts are closely related.  Words are in fact vocally expressed thoughts.  Furthermore, everything begins with a thought whether we realize it or not.  We have the power to control what we say by controlling what we think, and it is done successfully through consistently meditating on the Word of God.

Hebrews 4:12 (The Message Bible)

God means what He says. What He says goes. His powerful Word is as sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey. Nothing and no one is impervious to God’s Word. We can’t get away from it—no matter what.

Thoughts are communications from the physical to the spiritual world.  If we think the right thoughts, we can communicate with God.  Thoughts are also seeds that when planted give birth to something.  Words are the power of life and death that are in fact spoken thoughts.  There are different kinds of thoughts which include God’s thoughts (based on the Word), the devil’s thoughts (based on destruction) and our thoughts (based on what we want).

We are not responsible for the thoughts that we do not accept.  God only judges that thoughts that we receive along with the attitude of our hearts.  That means that we can choose our emotions.  In addition, attitudes are chosen from the thoughts that we decide to receive.  This is why it is important for us to be watchful about who we associate with along with who and what we listen to.  No matter what you see, choose to be positive and see life from God’s point of view.

Obtain Victory Wise Speech and Thoughts

Maturity is the planned parenthood of thoughts, and it is receiving only godly seeds while rejecting everything else.  The result is the birthing of good things in your life. If you do not check your thoughts, you are in a losing battle (Hebrew 3:1).  Mature people have disciplined thoughts and understand that they have to take charge over the thought world.  They also understand that it is critical to store the Word up in their minds in order to speak victory in their lives.

Ungodly Thinking

Ungodly thoughts point us to struggles in the physical realm in order to camouflage demons.  It is our job to take captive over every evil thought which is a stronghold, or an old/set pattern of negative thinking.  This is why we cannot afford to let ungodly thoughts run ramped through our minds (Hebrews 4:13, Genesis 6:5-6).

Ephesians 6:12 (The Amplified Bible) For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.

2 Corinthians 10:3-6 (The Message Bible)

The world is unprincipled. It’s dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn’t fight fair. But we don’t live or fight our battles that way—never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren’t for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity.

Evil thoughts cause God pain, but when we walk in faith, He is impressed.  In the spirit world, thoughts are just as important as actions.  When we have godly thoughts stored inside of us, it leads us to make godly choices. Therefore, we have to make it a habit of checking those ungodly thoughts.

The Lord has already given you victory in every area of your life!  You even have the ability to control not just your confession, but your thoughts as well.  It does not matter what atmosphere you are in, you can influence your thoughts to reflect the Word of the

Lord.

Love,

Dr. Joyce Oliver

Faith for Health

21 Question Test of Spiritual Maturity

Faith for Health

Fact:The devil tries to use illness as a weapon to deter us from our purpose.  The world has facts on health, but God has the truth.  As children of the Lord, we already have divine health because Jesus died for it (1 Peter 2:24).  The devil may try to attack us in our bodies, but we have to continually believe the Lord for our healing.  Because the Lord keeps us, we are kept (Deuteronomy 8:4).  The devil is jealous of Christians because we have all of the privileges that he used to.  The devil only has the power that we give him.

Sickness Sneaks In, but We Drive it Out!

The devil tries to give us reasons to be sick.  He wants us to justify and pacify it.  However, sickness is an obstacle to us fulfilling our purpose.  Illness is one of his greatest strategies to destroy Christians.  Therefore, God is looking for us to fight by walking in faith.  For example, the Syrophoenicianwoman, despite her status, fought for her daughter to be healed.  She confidently approached Jesus and did not leave Him until He blessed her daughter (Matthew 15:26).

Let’s learn from this woman.  It took humility and faith for her to approach the Lord.  Therefore, we should make sure that our hearts are turned to the Lord, trusting Him completely.  Further, she did not tolerate the devil tormenting her daughter; therefore, we Christians should not let him wreak havoc on our bodies either.  Sometimes, if we experience a slight pain or a tiny sniffle, we brush it off.  But remember that all illness comes directly from the enemy.  He is never satisfied with a little symptom; he wants to amplify illness to the point of death.  Satan is an illegal alien, and he nor his influence do not belong on the earth.  It is our job to seek the Lord and give Him no rest until our healing is manifested.

To Hell with Sickness!

Good news! The devil is on his way to prison (Luke 10:18, Revelation 21:7).  No matter what it may look like, he has no power over you.  No need for midnight runs to the pharmacy or calling off work because you’re under the weather, let the Word of the Lord be your medicine—it’s the kingdom health plan! The good thing about kingdom medicine is that you can’t overdose (Proverbs 4:20).  Keep loading up on the Word!

The devil may try to bring sickness to us, be we certainly do not have to accept it. Every time we resist the devil, we grow and become stronger more mature and solid in our faith.

Love,

Dr. Joyce Oliver

21 Tests of Spiritual Maturity

What Grade Are You In?

Fact: In school, students are promoted to the next grade when they have proven themselves as successful students and are able to pass all important tests. On the other hand, if a student is not able to prove themselves, they have to repeat the class until they are ready.  This strategy is no different in the kingdom of God.  As Christians, we are all in different grades, and we will not get promoted until we pass all appropriate tests.  When we can pass a test successfully, it confirms our maturity.

All Christians equally share rights to the benefits of God’s kingdom.  However, not all Christians access their rights; this causes them to be in various grades.  In fact, many people are not aware of what their spiritual rank is.  Do you know your rank? If you want to rank high in the kingdom, you have to actively grow in the Lord.  Take a look at the list below.  It reveals that immature Christians:

1. Are just like real babies (cry and whine when they don’t get their way and make messes expecting others to clean it up).
2. Don’t like criticism or instructions.
3. Are selfish.
4. Are easily offended.
5. Demand attention.
6. Lack discernment and are vulnerable to the enemy.

 Time to Grow Up

We should strive to attain a whole measure of fullness in Christ.  Mature Christians are God’s agents; they are leaders, committed to the work of the Lord, they are steeped in the Word and walk in their Godly authority.  Furthermore, mature Christians know who they are.

Ephesians 4:11 (The Amplified Bible)
And His gifts were [varied; He Himself appointed and gave men to us] some to be apostles (special messengers), some prophets (inspired preachers and expounders), some evangelists (preachers of the Gospel, traveling missionaries), some pastors (shepherds of His flock) and teachers.

Mature Christians live disciplined lives and keep their priorities which are God first, consistent church attendance and obedience to the Word of God (Hebrews 10:25, 2 Samuel 11:1, Luke 18:17).

As long as you live on the earth, you will be tested from time to time.  Tests are a part of life because they reflect your level of maturity.  When you are tempted to act against the Word of the Lord, remember that it is only a test.  Ask God for strength and pass your test so you can go on to the next grade.  The people that get promoted get more blessings and privileges.

 2 Timothy 2:15 (The Amplified Bible)
Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth.

Love,

Dr. Joyce Oliver

Auntie Ann’s Yummy Sweet Potatoes

Auntie Ann’s Yummy Sweet Potatoes

3 Large Yams

1  1/2 C. Sugar

1 Stick of Butter

1 Tsp. lemon and vanilla extract

Cook yams until soft.  Do not cover.

Add sugar, butter, lemon and vanilla extract.

Enjoy.

Mrs. Ann Washington

Holiday Homestyle Cornbread Dressing.

Holiday Homestyle Cornbread Dressing.

Hey all you folks out there in web world! Here is the homestyle cornbread dressing recipe that I promised you. Most people are either a white bread stuffing person or a cornbread stuffing person. Never the two shall meet! Which one are you? Take a vote!

I am definately a down home cornbread stuffing woman. Well try the recipe and tell me what you think. A lot of people have been bragging on how good their dressing recipe is lately. I won’t brag, but I do think that it’s a flavorful dressing that will go over well during the holidays. Please enjoy!

Cornbread Dressing

Ingredients:

One 9 x 13 inch pan of yellow cornbread (see recipe below)

3 stalks celery chopped (cut off tops and bottoms before chopping)

1 large onion chopped

2 cloves of garlic chopped

2 TBSP melted butter

2 TBSP olive oil

2 TBSP chopped flat leaf parsley

1 tsp fresh thyme leaves (don’t use dried herb, if you can’t find fresh omit)

1 tsp poultry seasoning (level be careful not too much!)

1/2 tsp sage (level be careful not too much!)

1 tsp Lawry’s seasoning salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

1 tsp onion powder (not onion salt)

1 egg

1 can Campbell’s cream of mushroom soup

3 1/2 cups Turkey broth drippings or canned chicken broth

In a skillet saute the celery, onions and garlic in the butter and olive oil until soft and translucent. Add garlic last so that it won’t burn. (garlic taste bitter when burnt)

Crumble the cornbread in a big pot or bowl. Add sauteed vegatables and all other ingredients to crumbled cornbread. If you like a looser dressing you can add extra turkeybroth or chicken broth if you wish.

(To get turkey broth I place my turkey on a rack after I add onions, celery, garlic and water to the pan. I put water in the turkey roasting pan, as much water as I need broth. After roasting the turkey I use the broth for my dressing. Using real broth makes the dressing taste much better.)

Add all of the other ingredients and blend thoroughly. Pour into a 9 x 13 baking pan that has been sprayed to keep the dressing from sticking. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes and then at 375 until edges begin to brown and the middle is set and hot.

Cornbread Recipe (for dressing)

2 cups all purpose flour

2 cups yellow cornmeal (If you have only white corn meal add yellow food coloring because white cornbread dressing looks weird)

2 TBSP sugar

2 TBSP baking powder

2 tsp. kosher salt

2 cups milk

3 extra large eggs lightly beaten

1/2 stick melted butter

4 TBSP vegatable oil

Preheat oven to 350 and spray a 9 x 13 inch pan with non stick spray

Combine flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl and stir dry ingredients with a whisk to thoroughly mix ingredients. In a separate bowl combine the milk, eggs, butter and oil. Break the eggs into a separate bowl before incorporating so you can spot any egg shells that might drop into the bowl.

With a wooden spoon stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Don’t over mix. Just stir until well blended, a few seconds. Pour the batter into the pan and bake for 30 minutes at 350 then turn up to 400 and bake until top begins to brown and edges are brown. This cornbread can be used for dressing or served alone with a meal.

Hope you guys enjoy. Dr. J

 

Looking for a quick soul food recipe for Thanksgiving?

Looking for a quick soul food recipe for Thanksgiving that’s the “bomb?” Then try Dr. Joyce’s “Twenty Minute Greens” below:

Pastor Joyce’s 20 Minute Greens

Ingredients:

5 strips thick cut bacon chopped (semi frozen will chop easier)

(Don’t eat pork? Too bad for you Try smoked turkey)

3 TBSP olive oil

1- 1/2 onion chopped

2 cloves of garlic chopped

pinch red pepper flakes to taste

1 box of chicken stock (32 oz)

1 pinch of sugar

4 bags of pre-picked, pre-washed and pre-cut greens

(2 bags of turnip and2 bags of mustard)

Salt to taste

In a large stock pot brown the bacon over a medium heat in the olive oil

Once the bacon is brown, pour off some of the bacon fat and olive oil based on your desired taste.

Add the onion and let it begin to cook until transluscent

Add the garlic and pepper flakes, cook one more minute

Pour in the entire box of chicken stock and (pinch) of sugar

Turn on high and bring to a boil

Add all 4 bags of greens one at a time as they cook down and shrink in size

Once all greens are soft, turn heat to medium low heat and cook until tender

Salt to taste.

Another great taste addition is 3 TBSP of the vinegar from a jar of pickled pepperoncini peppers.

Hope you enjoy! Love Dr.  Joyce

Walking in Godly Authority

21 Question Test of Spiritual Maturity

Walking in Godly Authority

As Christians, we have been adopted into the family of God (Galatians 3:26 and 4:6). As His children, we are entitled to all kingdom rights and privileges. The Lord is our Daddy; we have rights to everything He owns and—just for the record—He is not poor. One of the most important things we inherited from Him is authority.

Change Your Vision

Your duty as a child of God is to destroy the works of the devil in the earth. This power is a part of the total salvation package that Jesus died for you to have. You need to get a clear picture of yourself and understand that you are a royal ruler. See yourself as the leader that you are; the Lord has graced you to do so. Remember that mature children of God walk are not doormats; they graciously walk in their authority because they are authorized by divine power (1 John 4:4).

Exert Your Power in a Godly Way

Start commanding challenges in your life to line up with the Word of God. Do not tolerate foolishness from the enemy. You have to exercise your authority because it is preparation for Heaven (Genesis 1:26, John 5:19). Through salvation, we have been positioned to rule over darkness and demons. God expects us to be firm with the devil because his agenda is to destroy us. However, we must have a balance and be sure to display the love of God to those around us. Our authority should not be used to humiliate or belittle people. We are trying to draw people to Christ not push them away.

As a mature Christian, use your leadership to inspire by example. In Ephesians 2:1-6 of the Message Bible, says that:

^{1 -6}It wasn’t so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. You let the world, which doesn’t know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat. It’s a wonder God didn’t lose his temper and do away with the whole lot of us. Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah.

Dominion Belongs to God

When you come across the spirits of drama and adversity, let your godly authority rise up in you. That’s why it is important to stay steeped in the Word so that your flesh won’t get in the way. Your authority is limitless and has the ability to move mountains in your life. Your job is to secure the land with your confession and faith and to not succumb to the devil’s attacks (Mark 11:22, Hebrews 11:6, Psalms 8:3).

You should never want for anything in Christ because He has already given you everything you need for life and godliness. The challenges are coming, so you have to be ready. Your power to rule is inside of you so begin to develop it. Your power grows when you refuse to give in t emotions and pain. Make your choices up on the Word of God—not how you feel. Remember that you reign as a believer and that you have the victory in every situation. Keep your thoughts in line with the Word!

Love

Dr. Joyce Oliver

Love

21 Question Test of Spiritual Maturity

Love

Love has levels of intensity and is always moving forward or backwards.

Ephesians 3:14-19–The Message Bible

   ^{14 -19}My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.

The beautiful thing about the love of God is that it accepts us just the way we are.  The love of God is pure, all-inviting, warm and forgiving.  As believers, we have the privilege of living this extravagant love.  It takes faith in God to receive this kind of love, and it takes faith to display it to those around us.  Humans have a habit of walking in conditional love because we judge people based on their faults and shortcomings.

Put on the Rose Colored Glasses of Love

Love is a feeling that can be guided by our choices (Matthew 22:37).  So, before you cast the stones, remember that Jesus Christ set the ultimate example of pure love.  He gave His life so we could have all of the privileges of son ship and access to God’s kingdom.  It is so like God to look past a person’s faults and love them.

Relationships: The Best Place to Practice Love Skills

No one can live successfully on earth without healthy relationships.  It was God’s design for people to know how to interact with one another.  Establishing the right love foundation is possible yet takes a lot of practice because relationships are planned, delivered and change with time.  Below is a grid that shows different levels of love.

Tolerance	It’s the foundation for love; it accepts the differences and appreciates.
Fondness	A crush or tender care.
Love Love	Strong affection for a person or being attached to them.  This is where soul mates are formed.
Cherish	To hold dear and value highly; to treat tenderly.  Unfortunately most relationships don’t get here.
Devotion	Involves spending time together and putting energy into a relationship.  It aims to please.  We cannot be devoted to more than one thing at a time.
Common Contact (apathy)	To be civil—not treating a person badly, but not going out of your way either.

When we show the love of God to people, we draw them in.  Judgment hinders love.  When we find faults in others, it actually points out our weaknesses.  The world is filled with many people who have all types of backgrounds and life experiences that have shaped who they are.  Sometimes they may seem difficult and rough around the edges, but it’s our job as Christians to walk in grace and show them the love of God.

Instead of labeling them, try to encourage them by finding something good.

Accept people so you can move on and do something great for God.  Many times, the very qualities that we pray for in a person is found in the one that we don’t want anything to do with.  The love of God will help you look a little deeper and find the beauty that He placed inside of them.

Walk in love so you can get your blessing.

Love

Dr. Joyce Oliver