The Daily WORD by Bishop Ronald Hardy, Sr.

“The Power of Friendship”

Proverbs 18:24

 There is a tremendous blessing that comes out of true friendship.

True friendship is special, and it is to be honored as such.

Honor – to esteem; to regard highly

You should place value on true friendship.

One of the things that make friendship special is that it is by choice.

You choose your friends.

Here are some key things that take place in true friendship:

1. Fellowship – Friends enjoy one another’s company. They take time to have fun and fellowship together.
2. Respect – Friends treat each other with respect in what they say or do to one another. They will esteem each other. They do not tear one another down.
3. Intimate – Friends share private and personal issues with each other, and do not have to worry about it being repeated. They are very confidential with each other.
4. Encourage – They are there to give support, confidence and hope to each other. They know how to say the right things to inspire, motivate or cheer each other up.
5. Necessary – Friends see the importance of having one another in their lives.
6. Devoted – Friends are truly dedicated to one another. They have made a commitment to always be there for each other no matter what.

Guess what? I just spelled out the word FRIEND by taking each letter to refer to a key ingredient of friendship. Remember, friendship is a powerful thing to have.

The Daily WORD by Bishop Ronald Hardy, Sr.

“The Essentials of Prayer”

Luke 18:1

 

Essential – absolutely necessary; extremely important

 

Prayer is an absolute necessity in our lives, and it should not be treated as optional.

 

That’s why the writer says that men should always pray and not faint. Another scripture says, “Pray without ceasing.”

 

I want to stir you up to make a commitment to prayer.

 

I believe that the Lord is trying to get you ready for some major breakthroughs in your life, and prayer is a key component to this happening.

 

Here are some key scriptures that speak to us concerning prayer:

• Matthew 21:22 says, “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.”
• Mark 11:24 says, “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”
• I John 5:14&15 says, “And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He heareth us: And if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him. Prayer is a big key to us receiving. Please know that the Lord will answer our prayer.

 

Prayer was the key to Peter living or dying. It was also the key to Hezekiah receiving 15 years added to his life.

 

I wonder what prayer is about to bring forth in your life at this time. Remember that prayer is essential in your life.

The Daily WORD by Bishop Ronald Hardy, Sr.

“Jesus Paid It All”

I Corinthians 6:19-20

 

The writer is letting us know that Jesus Christ paid a price for us to purchase our salvation.

 

This is why we should glorify Him with our lives which belong to Him.

 

He literally gave His life to give us life. I think that we should take a moment to really appreciate Him for the price that He paid for us.

 

This is the time in which we celebrate the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

 

As I revisited the scriptures concerning what He went through, I know that I could never repay Him for what He did. It makes me want to do all that I can for Him.

 

When He made the statement on the cross, “It is finished,” He knew that He had paid the full price for our salvation.

 

This price consist of Him being humiliated in the midst of Him being crucified, but He was willing to do it all for us. So, my word to you today is to never forget the price that He paid for us, because He paid it all.

The Daily WORD by Bishop Ronald Hardy, Sr.

“The Measure of Faith Part 3”

Romans 12:3

 

Do you know where you are in your faith? We have already talked about great faith and little faith.

 

Today, we want to look at two more that are found in Romans 4:17-21. The writer is testifying about Abraham who is the father of faith.

 

God promised him that he would be the father of many nations, and that his wife, Sarah, would bring forth a child. Many years went by, and the circumstances did not look good at all in the natural.

 

Verse 18 says that he had to hope against hope. Why? Because, Sarah and Abraham were past the time of life where they could naturally produce a child.

 

In verse 19, the word of God says, “And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb.”

 

So, weak faith must stop at the point where things cannot naturally be done. Here is my word to you today. We serve a God that can do the impossible. For with God, all things are possible.

 

In verse 20 it says, “He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God.” Strong faith reaches beyond the natural into the supernatural.

 

Strong faith expects the impossible to be done. Strong faith looks for a miracle.

 

Now, do you know where you are in your faith? Remember that faith is measurable. This means that there are different degrees of faith.

The Daily WORD by Bishop Ronald Hardy, Sr.

“The Measure of Faith Part 2”

Romans 12:3

 

Remember that faith is measurable. This means that there are different degrees of faith.

 

Yesterday, we learned about the degree of great faith. Today, we want to look at another example in the word of God. It is found in Matthew 14:22-31.

 

In the fourth night of the watch, Jesus was walking on the water to his disciples who were in a ship. When the disciples saw Him walking on the water, they were afraid, and said that it was a spirit. So, Jesus let them know to be of good cheer, because it was Him.

 

Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.” So, Jesus told him to come. Peter was doing fine. He was walking on the water to Jesus.

 

However, when he saw the wind boisterous, he became afraid and began to sink. Jesus rescued him, and said “O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?”

 

This is an example of little faith in action. When you are operating with little faith, it can only stand up in favorable situations. When circumstances no longer look favorable, it begins to become afraid, because it is controlled by sight.

 

II Corinthians 5:7 says, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

 

No matter how it looks, hold on to what the Lord promised you in His word.

The Daily WORD by Bishop Ronald Hardy, Sr.

“The Measure of Faith”

Romans 12:3

 

The writer lets us know that God has dealt to everyone of us the measure of faith.

 

Measure – a degree; a quantity or amount

 

So, faith is measureable. This means that there can be a difference in the degree, quantity or amount of faith.

 

Please note that faith is not based on a feeling. Faith is a mindset.

 

Let’s look at some examples of different measures of faith in the word of God.

 

In Matthew 8:5-13, Jesus experienced a Centurion approaching Him asking for his servant to be healed. Jesus said unto him that he would come and heal his servant. However, the Centurion answered him and said that he did not need him to come to his house. He said that he only needed Jesus to speak the word, and his servant would be made whole. His faith was in the power of the spoken word.

 

Listen to how Jesus describes His faith. In verse 10, Jesus said that he had not found such great faith in Israel. This man’s faith was described as great faith. Due to his great faith, his servant was healed in the same hour.

 

Mark 11:23 says, “For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.”

 

Great faith believes in the power of the spoken word.

 

The Daily WORD by Bishop Ronald Hardy, Sr.

“Get Wisdom”

Proverbs 1:5

 

The book of Proverbs is full of wisdom nuggets for everyday living. It is important to recognize that we all need wisdom for everyday living.

 

Wisdom gives us the ability to live life skillfully.

 

A person can make a mess of their life if they lack wisdom.

 

If you gain the wisdom that you need, you will live a successful life.

 

In order for you to obtain wisdom, you must know where it comes from.

 

In verses 5-7 the Lord gives wisdom. How many times have we sought out wisdom from the Lord?

 

James 1:5 says, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”

 

So, take time to ask the Lord for wisdom with your finances, relationships, business, children, etc., because wisdom gives us the ability to live life skillfully.

The Daily WORD by Bishop Ronald Hardy, Sr.

“God Rewards a Good Steward”

Matthew 25:21

 

As good stewards, we are supposed to manage our time wisely.

 

Ephesians 5:16 says, “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

 

Redeem – to recover ownership of; to make up for; to set free

 

Steward – one who manages another’s property, finances or other affairs

 

We all are stewards. So, today I want to look at an area that God has entrusted us with. As good stewards, we must manage our time properly.

 

Thought to remember: Time waits on no one. So, you must take full advantage of the time that you are given each day, week, month and year.

 

We must manage our time wisely, and not be a waster of time. If not, time can easily get away from you.

 

Here are some key things about time management:

 

1. It takes a level of discipline.
2. It takes some scheduling.
3. It takes valuing.
4. It takes balance.

 

Life should consist of worship, work, rest and play in order for your life to be balanced. So, here are some areas that you should have time for weekly.

 

1. Time for the Lord
   1. Time in God’s house
   2. Prayer
   3. His word
2. Family time
3. Work
   1. Job, business, etc.
4. Sleep
   1. Your physical body needs sleep.
5. Free time
   1. Time to relax and be refreshed through whatever you like doing (me time).

The Daily WORD by Bishop Ronald Hardy, Sr.

“The Power of Praise”

Psalms 34:1

 

David understood the power of praise. David said, “I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

 

My word to you today is to never allow the enemy to take your praise, because it is a powerful force in your life.

 

Praise – the expression of approval or admiration for someone or something; to exalt or magnify someone.

 

First of all, we must recognize that the Lord is worthy of all our praise. We must also continue to remember that it is a powerful force in our lives.

 

Psalms 22:3 says, “But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.” Israel represented the people of God.

 

So, if you are a child of God, then He inhabits your praise. He dwells in our praise, and we know that when he shows up the enemy is a defeated foe.

 

Jehoshaphat experienced this in the midst of his battle. II Chronicles 20:22 says, “And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.”

 

My word to you today is to praise Him right in the midst of the battle, because the battle is not yours. It belongs to the Lord.

 

He will show up in the midst of your praise. The Power of Praise.

The Daily WORD by Bishop Ronald Hardy, Sr.

“The Love Test”

I Corinthians 13:4-8

 

The strength of who we are as believers or Christians is found in our love. In I Corinthians 13, He is letting us know that it is more important than anything else.

 

So, periodically we must continue to take the love test.

 

Verses 4 – 8

 

1. Love suffereth long.

Long-suffering – to tolerate or endure evil or wrong doing without being filled with resentment

 

2. Love is kind.

Kind – of a friendly generous nature; warmhearted

 

3. Love envieth not.

Envy – a feeling of discontent an resentment aroused by contemplation of another’s desirable possessions or qualities with a strong desire to have them for oneself

 

4. Love vaunteth not itself.

Vaunt – having extravagant self praise; to describe oneself in boastful terms

 

5. Love is not puffed up.

Proud – arrogant; conceited; over confident; lifted up in pride

 

6. Love does not behave unseemly

Unseemly – not in good taste or out of control

 

7. Love seeketh not her own. It does not seek its own to the hurt of others, and is not selfish.

 

8. Love is not easily provoked.

Provoke – to stir up

 

9. Love thinketh no evil. It is not suspicious or always assuming wrong in others.

 

10. Love rejoiceth not in inquity. It wishes no ill on others.

Iniquity – the wrong doing of others.

 

11. Love rejoiceth in truth.

Truth – what is right or just

 

12. Love beareth all things, believeth all things, heareth all things and endureth all things. It is very patient and tolerant with others.

 

The powerful ending to this truth is that love never faileth. In the end, true love will always prevail.