And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour. And the Lord looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee? And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house. (Judges 12: 14–15)

DEVOTIONAL:

Are you trying to qualify yourself? Do you find your thoughts arguing back and forth? Don’t cave in to discouragement and think, “Well, I didn’t finish this,” or “I didn’t finish that.” Do you remember when the angel came to Gideon? The angel called Gideon a “mighty man of valor!”

Gideon said, “Who? Me? Right there, he began to disqualify himself. He said, “Wait a minute. You don’t know. My family is one of the poorest families in the tribe. I don’t have much education. I don’t learn easily like most people. I’m the least among my own brethren.” 

You can see that Gideon’s view of himself really didn’t make any difference to the call of God on his life. God has a plan. He has preprogrammed a marvelous plan for your life. Do you hear what I’m saying to you? And His plan includes you living on earth like you were in heaven. God has no plan for you to be poor or in any way unworthy of your calling.

God knew what kind of potential was in Gideon, and He knows what kind of potential is in you!

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, I repent of believing and saying anything about myself that is contrary to who You made me…who Your Word says I am…what Your Word says I can have…and what Your Word says I can do. I praise You for Your marvelous plan for my life. I am a mighty man (or woman) of valor! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

This devotional is excerpted from Bill Winston’s book, Training for Reigning. To order this kingdom leadership playbook, click here. 

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While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further? As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe. (Mark 5:35–36)

DEVOTIONAL:

Do you remember the story of Jairus, who asked Jesus to pray for his sick daughter, then the situation got worse and she died? Read this week’s scripture verse. What was Jesus’ response?

Jesus is saying, “You released your faith, and your faith is working on your behalf. Delays are not denials. You don’t have to keep talking. Once faith is released, you can close your mouth and let faith work! Fight the good fight of faith!”

Don’t even respond to the negative circumstances. “Just keep walking with Me,” Jesus says. “You said if I just lay my hands on her that she may be healed and she shall live, then she’s going to get up. I don’t care what condition she’s in.”

My friend, it’s never too late in the kingdom! Whatever man cannot repair, God will restore to you today! 

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, I refuse to be intimidated or fearful of how things look or what people say. I have spoken the Word of God over my situation and released my faith. I will not doubt—I believe only. It is done!  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

This devotional is excerpted from Bill Winston’s book, Training for Reigning. To order this kingdom leadership playbook, click here. 

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Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. (1 Peter 5:8–9)

DEVOTIONAL:

The Bible tells us that if we’re going to do anything for God, we’re going to meet resistance.

We are wrestling principalities, powers, and spiritual wickedness. So, whenever you try to expand the kingdom, a battle is going to be necessary because the enemy is trying to hold the ground that he thinks he owns. Here’s the truth: he has been spoiled, stripped of everything that he thought was his, and Jesus (glory to God!) has triumphed over him.

So guess what? You always win. You always win because Jesus has already given you the victory. 

PRAYER:

Dear God,  thank you that Jesus has already triumphed over my enemy. I receive His victory in (name a situation in which you need victory). I also pray for victory for all of my brothers and sisters in the Lord throughout the world in whatever battles they may be facing. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

This devotional is excerpted from Bill Winston’s book, Training for Reigning. To order this kingdom leadership playbook, click here. 

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By the blessing of the influence of the upright and God’s favor [because of them] the city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked. (Proverbs 11:11 AMPC)

DEVOTIONAL:

God depends on us to advance His kingdom wherever He assigns us. Once we are born again into His kingdom, God trains us up and sends us into the world to represent Him. Jesus prayed, “… as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you” (John 20:21). We become “ambassadors for Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:20). Your influence on others, therefore, is critical to your success and theirs. 

The best leaders are those who lead by example and influence. Because of their character, authenticity, and performance, people willingly want to follow them. As I’ve mentioned before, we are not invading the world as dominators, but deployed as liberators, with proper motives focused on demonstrating God’s love. When people trust and respect you, they will listen to what you have to say and often want to be like you.

No matter the “mountain” or sphere of social influence in which you serve, God’s plan is for you to go to the top. He knows that whoever occupies the top of the mountain will direct and influence the entire mountain. God wants you to be so successful that you will stand out, not for vainglory but for the glory of God.

PRAYER:

Dear God, thank you for Your plan in my life to demonstrate Your love and influence others as an ambassador for Christ. I pray that I will be an example of good character that will motivate others to seek You.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

This devotional is excerpted from Bill Winston’s book, Faith & the Marketplace – Becoming the Person of Influence GOD INTENDED YOU TO BE. To order this kingdom leadership playbook, click here. 

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The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s: but the earth hath he given to the children of men. (Psalm 115:16)

DEVOTIONAL:

Possessing an ownership mentality is a requirement to properly govern this planet. God is not running the world. I know that statement might shock a lot of people, particularly Christians, but God is running the Church and the Church should be running the world. This is a vital revelation for both kings and priests to understand if they are going to possess and control their high places (spheres of influence) on Earth and carry out the Great Commission on the level God intended.

Remember, all the power and authority that can be exercised in the earth has to be exercised through the Church or an anointed vessel. In short, problems exist because we permit them. The Church has not seen itself as the earth’s rightful heirs and owners, and therefore responsible for all that happens here, from laws to education, from employment to social unrest. We’ve been waiting for someone else or the government to fix or manage it.

Whether you are a king or a priest in the Kingdom, God has called you to take ownership over the divine assignment He has given you.

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, in Your sovereignty, You have given man the right and responsibility of governing the earth. I repent over expecting others to do what You’ve called Your Church to do. I purpose now to take my place as You lead and equip me to fulfill my divine destiny. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

This devotional is excerpted from Bill Winston’s book, Faith & the Marketplace – Becoming the Person of Influence GOD INTENDED YOU TO BE. To order this kingdom leadership playbook, click here. 

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Now, behold, in my trouble I have prepared for the house of the Lord an hundred thousand talents of gold, and a thousand thousand talents of silver; and of brass and iron without weight; for it is in abundance: timber also and stone have I prepared; and thou mayest add thereto. (1 Chronicles 22:14)

DEVOTIONAL:

Contrary to what many Christians may think, stewardship is not just about money or about how much money you can save. It is also about how we raise our children, how we help our employer achieve company goals, and how we help renew and revitalize our communities and cities. God told Adam to “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth…” (Genesis 1:28) because he had stewardship responsibilities over the earth.

In the kingdom of God, stewardship is about doing God’s work, God’s way. For example, in this week’s scripture, King David had amassed the equivalent in today’s money of over $100 billion in gold to hire the best craftsmen and to buy the finest materials for the construction of the temple. He spared no cost. David was committed to doing God’s work, God’s way, because he was a “man after God’s own heart.”

David’s attitude is a long way from taking a building project out to bid and choosing the lowest bidder because they are the cheapest. The lowest bidder could have the worst workmanship and the poorest quality building materials for the vision that God has given you. Again, stewardship is not about how much money you can save God, but about doing God’s work, God’s way. 

PRAYER:

Dear God, I purpose to have the same attitude as King David, choosing to give You my best time, talents and resources and to be the best steward I can be over all that You’ve given me. I receive Your anointing and wisdom to be fruitful in every area of my responsibility and do things Your way. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

This devotional is excerpted from Bill Winston’s book, Faith & the Marketplace – Becoming the Person of Influence GOD INTENDED YOU TO BE. To order this kingdom leadership playbook, click here. 

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There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Proverbs 14:12)

DEVOTIONAL:

There was a time when movies and television programs were not allowed to show certain things that were considered inappropriate to watch, but a shift in the culture changed all that and laws have been passed to make it legal and seem right. This week’s scripture tells us, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death”

In the beginning Adam was to “…Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth…” spreading the culture or quality of the garden of Eden throughout the whole Earth. Adam and Eve fell into sin, lost their relationship with God their Father, and began to create another culture outside of God. 

Jesus came to reintroduce the kingdom and put us back on track with Adam’s original assignment. The Church, as an institution, will be recognized as the most gifted and revered in the world. God is beautifying the Church in this hour and every work of the wicked one is being destroyed and dismantled.

PRAYER:

Dear God, thank you that through Jesus we are not bound to the world’s ways and limitations, but we are part of Your Church and we walk according to Your kingdom ways. I praise You for destroying and dismantling every work of satan that has come against my loved ones and me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

This devotional is excerpted from Bill Winston’s book, Faith & the Marketplace – Becoming the Person of Influence GOD INTENDED YOU TO BE. To order this kingdom leadership playbook, click here. 

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For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16)

DEVOTIONAL:

Jesus didn’t preach much about going to Heaven. He preached about Heaven coming to Earth. He said that was God’s will. If God has been running everything on Earth, why aren’t we living Heaven on Earth? If He’s in control, He’s got everything in a mess!

The average church person would say that God is in control of everything, but He’s not in control. Human beings are in control and are the ones who have made the mess. Now, believers have the responsibility to bring Heaven to Earth and we do that by doing what Jesus told us to do: preach the gospel and make disciples of all nations.

The gospel is the Good News and it is for all people. It is the only thing that will transform a person’s life by restoring them to God and bringing them out of darkness into His marvelous light. Before He ascended, Jesus told us to go to the uttermost parts of the Earth and preach the gospel. This was how we were going to bring Heaven to Earth. Can Jesus go by Himself? No. He put His Spirit in His Church and commanded us to go.

PRAYER:

Dear God, thank you for the Great Commission to preach Your Good News of the gospel to all people and make disciples of all nations. I ask You to anoint me with boldness and faithfulness to do my part in sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ in my everyday life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

This devotional is excerpted from Bill Winston’s classic book, The Law of Confession. To order this 240-page, faith-building book, click here.

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who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. (1 Peter 2:24)

DEVOTIONAL:

Because the law of confession hinges on belief, it’s important that you understand a couple of related terms: non-belief and unbelief. There is no such thing as non-belief. Everyone believes something. An atheist believes there is no God, but that is still a belief. You cannot exist believing nothing because God created humans in His image, and He believes. Therefore, we believe—something.

Unbelief, on the other hand, is a God term. It is a biblical term that means you do not believe what God said. In simple terms, God says unbelief is not agreeing with Him and His Word. Unfortunately there has been a great deal of unbelief in the Church. For instance, you hear people say, “God’s going to heal you,” but that’s not what God said. In 1 Peter 2:24, He said, “By His stripes ye were healed”—past tense. If you are waiting on God to heal you, you can forget about ever being healed. God says you have already been healed by the stripes Jesus bore on His back. He has healed you already, and saying what He says is believing.

Whether it is for healing, your family, your finances or something else, Bible believing is based solely on the Word of God without any external evidence to support it. You believe it just because God said it!

PRAYER:

Father God, I am a believer in Christ Jesus! I agree with Your Word over my situation (name the situation or need you are believing for and the scripture you are standing on for its fulfillment) In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

This devotional is excerpted from Bill Winston’s classic book, The Law of Confession. To order this 240-page, faith-building book, click here.

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Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. (Ephesians 4:29)

DEVOTIONAL:

Corrupt communication is translated from the Greek words sapro and logos. We have seen the word logos before. Logosmeans words, either spoken or written. Sapro tells us what kind of words: “rotten, putrefied; worn out; of poor quality, bad, unfit for use, worthless.”

It’s obvious we would never want to speak words that were rotten or putrid, but it really begins to cut out a lot of what we say when we realize that we don’t want to speak any words that are “worthless,” “worn out,” or “unfit for use.” How much of what we say on a daily basis falls into those categories? Are we saying things that are unnecessary and will bring no life to anyone or anything?

Paul instructed the saints at Ephesus (see this week’s scripture, Ephesians 4:29), and us, to build up and minister grace to people. God has not called us to tear other people down. And by the way, that includes you! You are not to put yourself down either. You are not to speak anything that God didn’t say about you in His Word or that the Holy Spirit hasn’t spoken directly to your heart about who you are and what you are called to do. 

PRAYER:

Lord, guide and enable me by the power of Your Holy Spirit to speak words that will build others up and minister grace to them. I repent over every worthless or unfit word I’ve spoken in the past and decree that my words will become fruitful and fit for the Master’s use. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

This devotional is excerpted from Bill Winston’s classic book, The Law of Confession. To order this 240-page, faith-building book, click here.

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