Mended Institute

Morning Bliss: Revelation Knowledge_ Focal Scripture : Luke 2:26, 'And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.'                                      Read: Luke 2:25-35 Simeon didn't receive this knowledge through the normal method of learning. This knowledge was revealed to him directly from the Holy Spirit.  This revelation knowledge which comes only from God is distinctly different than knowledge acquired through study. Man's knowledge is based on observation.  It cannot give perfect instruction about the future. God's knowledge can.  Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit we can know things to come (Jn. 16:13). When dealing with God, revelation knowledge is essential. The Lord's ways are not always our ways (Isa. 55:8).  A fear of trusting the intuitive knowledge that God gives us w...

Morning Bliss: Joseph Was A Man Of Faith_ Focal Scripture : Matthew 1:24, 'Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife.'.'                                       Read: Matthew 1:18-24 Much attention is given to Mary and her piety, but Joseph was quite a man of faith, too. Verse 18 says that Mary was 'found' with child, implying that the pregnancy was observed by Joseph, not explained to him by Mary.  And this was after Mary had been away visiting Elisabeth for three months! (Lk. 1:56) Certainly Joseph was tempted with the same thoughts that you or I would have been.  How could she expect him to believe that this was a virgin birth? As special as Mary was, she had an equally special young man for a fiance. How many men would have believed such an incredible story even if an angel had told them in a dream? It ...

Morning Bliss: Desert Training_ Focal Scripture : Luke 1:80, 'And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.'                                       Read: Luke 1:57-80 John the Baptist had the most important job assignment ever given to any mortal in the history of the world.  He was to prepare the way for the coming of the long awaited Messiah (v. 76). How did the Lord prepare John for such an important task? What university could teach him all he needed to know? Who offered a course in becoming the greatest prophet who ever lived? (Mt. 11:11) Of course, no one could prepare John for such an important position, so the Lord taught him personally.  John was in the deserts until he was thirty years old. He was tutored directly by the Lord through the Holy Spirit. The personal touch of the Lord became very ...

Morning Bliss: The Power To Serve_ Focal Scripture : Luke 1:41, 'And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost.'                                      Read: Luke 1:39-56 Upon hearing the greeting of Mary, John the Baptist leaped for joy inside his mother's womb (v. 44).  A six month old fetus experienced unbridled emotion, voluntarily leaped for joy and was actually filled with the Holy Spirit. It is no coincidence that the man who was called the greatest of all Old Testament prophets by Jesus, was the only man in the Bible to be filled with the Holy Ghost from his mother's womb (Lk. 7:28). The anointing of God that breaks every yoke is simply the manifest presence and working of the Holy Spirit (Isa. 10:27).  The Holy Spirit is the part of the Godhead that empowers us fo...

Morning Bliss: Nothing Is Impossible_ Focal Scripture : Luke 1:37, 'For with God nothing shall be impossible.'                                      Read: Luke 1:26-38 What a statement! If we just believed this, how different our lives would be! From birth we are trained to know our limitations. You can't have this. Don't touch that.  Don't put things in your mouth. You can't touch the fire. On and on the list goes. As we grow up, it's actually a sign of maturity to recognize our limitations and learn to live within them.  There are limits to everything. It's a fact of life. But God has no limits. When we enter into the realm of the supernatural, we have to take off all the limits.  We have to renew our minds with the truth that God is not like us. He can do anything. We have an awesome God whose power is so great that we can't even comprehend it.  He created th...

Morning Bliss: Choosing Joy_ Focal Scripture : Luke 1:46-47, 'And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.'                                      Read: Luke 1:39-56 Here, Mary makes a very clear distinction between her soul magnifying the Lord and her spirit rejoicing. Our soul is the part of us that is considered to be our personality. It is our intellect, emotions and will.  Our spirit is the part that gets changed at salvation and it is always operating in 'love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance' (2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 5:22-23).  That's true whether our souls (feelings and emotions) 'feel' it or not. Many believers wait until their emotions feel like praising the Lord before they enter in to worship.  They think it's hypocritical to act like they are rejoicing in the Lord if t...