We are most familiar with what I call petition, or asking prayers, but Jesus tells us about another kind of prayer; a commandment prayer, sometimes called a decree or proclamation prayer. Jesus used commandment prayers when performing signs and wonders. He teaches us this kind of prayer in Mark chapter 11 and called it a prayer of faith.
First, let us set the stage for this teaching. When Jesus came to Jerusalem for the appointed time, He and the disciples stayed at Bethany - about an hours walk to the temple. One morning, walking to the temple, Jesus desired some figs from a fig tree that He saw. When He saw there were no figs, Jesus commanded the fig tree to die. The next morning when walking to the temple, Peter asked Jesus a question:
Mark 11:21, And Peter remembering, said to Him (Jesus), "Rabbi, look! The fig tree which you cursed has withered away." (Remember, this is only 24 hours later.)
11:22, So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God."
11:23, "For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, Be removed and cast into the sea! and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says."
11:24, "Therefore I say to you whatever things you ask when you pray, believe you receive them and you will have them."
Now Note: You say or command the mountain, you don't ask God to do it. Then we have the spiritual law, speak and believe in your heart. This verse also says whatever you say, and Jesus gives an outrageous example of commanding a mountain to cast itself into the sea. The Bible says whatever I say, if I believe, I can have it happen. Well believing for the Mount Everest to move is mighty big belief, but spiritual mountains in your life are what is symbolized by Jesus’ attention getting example.
Then, in Luke 17:6, And the Lord said, "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, Be pulled up by the roots and planted in the sea! and it would obey you."
Another outrageous example! But one that we actually see acted out in God’s nature!
Now, Mark 11:23 is a very important scripture. Jesus tells us that if we speak (confess) any thing we desire and believe in our heart (God's law) that it shall happen, it will take place. Notice again He says, "whatsoever we say." If anybody questions whether what you command is scriptural, you can refer to Mark 11:23. For instance, I can ask for a seven foot angel to guard you and I can get one, if I believe.
This scripture describes how Jesus performed signs and wonders. Note Matthew 12:10-13, Jesus commanded the man with a withered hand to stretch forth his hand. He did and he was healed. How could he stretch forth a withered hand?
Mark 4:39, He commanded the wind to be still. It was. Mark 5:41, He commanded the dead damsel to arise. She did. Mark 7:34-35, He commanded the deaf man's ears to be opened, they were. Mark 9:25, He commanded the evil spirit to come out of the boy. It did. Mark 11:14, He commanded the fig tree to die. It did. Luke 4:35, He commanded an unclean spirit to come out of a man. It did. Luke 5:24, He commanded a man sick with palsy to arise and pick up his bed. He did. Luke 5:13, He commanded a leper to be clean. He was. Luke 7:14, He commanded a dead man to arise. He did. Luke 13:12, He commanded the woman who was bowed to be loosed from her infirmity. She was. Luke 19:42, Jesus told the blind man receive thy sight. He did. John 5:8, He told the lame man rise, take up thy bed and walk. He did. John 11:43, He commanded Lazarus to come out of the grave. He did. Acts 3:6, Peter commanded the lame man to rise up and walk. He did. Acts 16:18, Paul commanded a spirit to come out of a woman. It did.
In John chapter 14, Jesus tells us that we can do these same miracles. John 14:12, "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do because I go to my Father."
14:13, "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do that the Father may be glorified in the Son."
14:14, "If you ask anything in my name, I will do it."
Prayer is not a five minute thing, if you truly want to be effective in prayer, you will need to take time and study the word of God. I know this sounds funny, yet as Believers the Word of God is God's Will for our life. We need to know what it says, and when we pray, we ask God to do what He said He would in the Word. But if we do not know the Word, we get all these different kinds of noise to God, trying to con God, trying to make a deal with God, and trying to just tell God "you handle it."
Well my friends those prayers will not work. You have to show your self approved in the Word. Read the Bible. Start small and grow, but read it. It will baptize your imagination and empower your prayer life. And when you visualize that “mountain” that obstacle moving, in the Spirit with your Christian imagination, your better believe it will eventually move. Concieve it. Believe it. Receive it! So help us God. Amen! Amen!
Friday, August 31, 2007
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Nothing But the Blood of Jesus!
Nothing But the Blood
by Robert Loury, 1876.
What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
For my pardon, this I see,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
For my cleansing this my plea,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Nothing can for sin atone,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Naught of good that I have done,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
This is all my hope and peace,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
This is all my righteousness,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Now by this I’ll overcome—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus,
Now by this I’ll reach my home—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Some of the old songs of the church, the classic hymns, have great spiritual truth in them. So it is with the old toe tapper. "Nothing But the Blood!"
The blood of Jesus the Messiah was spilled on the cross for us, to cover our sins, and to make it possible for us to taste the resurrection.
Blood is unique and deserves great respect. The life of a creature is in the blood. Blood represents life itself. Blood is a living fluid. It brings nourishment to the body and cleans out the imperfections.
And, because of its unique, vital biological function God has set it apart and reserved it as His instrument for making atonement. The Israelites were not to touch it, nor use it for ordinary purposes. It was to be regarded as holy. How much more holy, then, is the blood of the Son, Jesus, given as the ultimate sacrifice for sin.
The blood of Christ is one of the most important elements of Christian doctrine. Yet, it is an element of the Christian faith that unbelievers especially puzzling. For, who wants to contemplate someone shedding lifeblood, drop by precious drop, upon a cross. But it happened, and it happened because of you and me. To the believer the blood of Jesus is precious. For, it is with that blood that Jesus "purifies us from every sin."
Purify. Other words we could use are "cleanse, wash, make clean." The blood of Jesus shed upon the cross cleanses us. It washes away from our lives the filth and dirt and pollution of sin. So we are now holy in God's sight. And, on that basis we can again have fellowship with God. It is the blood of Christ which alone provides us with a solution to the darkness of sin which prevents us from having fellowship with God. It is only by the blood of Jesus that we are once again able to walk and live in the light of God's glorious presence.
Of course, when the blood of Jesus purifies us from sin, it does a complete job: it purifies us from "every" sin." The sins of the past, the sins of the present, are all purified and washed away by Christ's blood. And the sins of the future will be, too. Sins of omission and sins of commission. The sin we are born with as well as the sin we actually commit. In fact, no sin is so great it cannot be washed away by the blood of Jesus.
How does the blood of Jesus accomplish this? You need to realize that the "blood" of Christ comes from the death of a sacrificial victim. The blood of Christ is the result of Jesus suffering and dying on the cross. This blood purifies us and washes us and cleanses us and makes us righteous in God's sight.
Think of the blood, think of the suffering and death of Christ, when you eat and drink of the Lord’s Supper. Think of how the blood of Jesus purifies us from all sin. Think of how the blood allows us sinners to have fellowship with God.
You know, the chief and highest end of man is to glorify God and fully to enjoy Him forever. Man, in other words, was created to have fellowship with God, to walk and live in the light of His glorious presence. For that to happen, Christ’s blood must cover our sins. Sin separates us from God. Sin keeps us from being the best that God has for us to be. We need Christ’s blood to bring us forgiveness of our sins.
Romans 5:9 "Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him."
Revelation 1:5 "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,"
Ephesians 1:7 "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;"
Colossians 1:14 "In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:"
I Peter 1:18-19 "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:"
by Robert Loury, 1876.
What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
For my pardon, this I see,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
For my cleansing this my plea,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Nothing can for sin atone,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Naught of good that I have done,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
This is all my hope and peace,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
This is all my righteousness,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Now by this I’ll overcome—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus,
Now by this I’ll reach my home—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Some of the old songs of the church, the classic hymns, have great spiritual truth in them. So it is with the old toe tapper. "Nothing But the Blood!"
The blood of Jesus the Messiah was spilled on the cross for us, to cover our sins, and to make it possible for us to taste the resurrection.
Blood is unique and deserves great respect. The life of a creature is in the blood. Blood represents life itself. Blood is a living fluid. It brings nourishment to the body and cleans out the imperfections.
And, because of its unique, vital biological function God has set it apart and reserved it as His instrument for making atonement. The Israelites were not to touch it, nor use it for ordinary purposes. It was to be regarded as holy. How much more holy, then, is the blood of the Son, Jesus, given as the ultimate sacrifice for sin.
The blood of Christ is one of the most important elements of Christian doctrine. Yet, it is an element of the Christian faith that unbelievers especially puzzling. For, who wants to contemplate someone shedding lifeblood, drop by precious drop, upon a cross. But it happened, and it happened because of you and me. To the believer the blood of Jesus is precious. For, it is with that blood that Jesus "purifies us from every sin."
Purify. Other words we could use are "cleanse, wash, make clean." The blood of Jesus shed upon the cross cleanses us. It washes away from our lives the filth and dirt and pollution of sin. So we are now holy in God's sight. And, on that basis we can again have fellowship with God. It is the blood of Christ which alone provides us with a solution to the darkness of sin which prevents us from having fellowship with God. It is only by the blood of Jesus that we are once again able to walk and live in the light of God's glorious presence.
Of course, when the blood of Jesus purifies us from sin, it does a complete job: it purifies us from "every" sin." The sins of the past, the sins of the present, are all purified and washed away by Christ's blood. And the sins of the future will be, too. Sins of omission and sins of commission. The sin we are born with as well as the sin we actually commit. In fact, no sin is so great it cannot be washed away by the blood of Jesus.
How does the blood of Jesus accomplish this? You need to realize that the "blood" of Christ comes from the death of a sacrificial victim. The blood of Christ is the result of Jesus suffering and dying on the cross. This blood purifies us and washes us and cleanses us and makes us righteous in God's sight.
Think of the blood, think of the suffering and death of Christ, when you eat and drink of the Lord’s Supper. Think of how the blood of Jesus purifies us from all sin. Think of how the blood allows us sinners to have fellowship with God.
You know, the chief and highest end of man is to glorify God and fully to enjoy Him forever. Man, in other words, was created to have fellowship with God, to walk and live in the light of His glorious presence. For that to happen, Christ’s blood must cover our sins. Sin separates us from God. Sin keeps us from being the best that God has for us to be. We need Christ’s blood to bring us forgiveness of our sins.
Romans 5:9 "Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him."
Revelation 1:5 "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,"
Ephesians 1:7 "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;"
Colossians 1:14 "In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:"
I Peter 1:18-19 "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:"
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Proverbs for Abundant Living
From a friend's email came this great list of proverbs for anundant living. I am not sure of the author, but they are based on Christian values.
In life we are to encourage and build up each other;
not to discourage and tear down one another.
In life we are to add, not subtract;
to multiply, not divide.
In life we are to leave an enduring impression;
not a careless dent.
In life we are to smooth out the rough roads along the journey;
not create new potholes.
In life we are to sing a joyful song;
not just drone a groan.
In life we are to add our harmonious strains to life's symphony;
not strain the symphony with clatter and clang.
In life we are to soar on eagles' wings.
not to peck and cluck with our beaks in the dirt like chickens.
In life we are to radiate light into unseen places;
not permit unknown fears to dim our radiance.
In life we are to leap in faith;
not to limp with doubt.
In life we are to give freely of our time, our love, our resources;
not to cling on to them greedily.
In life we are to lift up others;
not push them down.
In life we are to open our hands to those in need;
not to clutch our hands in fists of distrust.
In life we are to lend a helping hand to make loads lighter;
not use heavy hands to hold others back.
In life we are to be messengers of peace, signs of joy;
not Chicken Little portents of gloom-n-doom.
In life we are to enjoy, to savor, to remember, to reflect;
not to overlook, to forget, to ignore, to reject.
In life we are to seek conscious awareness;
not doze in the doldrums of half-awake.
In life we are to dare mighty things;
not to fear things gravely.
In life we are to show up, stand up, step forward and speak up;
not to cringe in fear, choosing to sit down, or to step back,
allowing the voices of silence to speak so loudly.
In life we are to exercise proper stewardship of earth's resources;
not pillage the heritage of future generations.
In life we are to move forward through forgiveness;
not grind to a halt mired in bitterness and resentment.
In life we are to be wacky, weird, and wonderful
in our own unique God-given way;
not to be staid-n-proper lemmings, stuck on life's treadmill.
In life we are to reach, to stretch, and to soar;
not to slink in fear, held back by mistrust and doubt.
In life we are to realize: "I am a remarkable Somebody!";
not listen to other's jabs:
"You're a Nobody, an Everybody, an Anybody."
In life we are to comprehend, "I am worthwhile";
not tremble with feelings of worthlessness.
In life we are to create, to laugh, and to live life nobly;
not to despair, to moan, or to live life less.
In life we are to encourage and build up each other;
not to discourage and tear down one another.
In life we are to add, not subtract;
to multiply, not divide.
In life we are to leave an enduring impression;
not a careless dent.
In life we are to smooth out the rough roads along the journey;
not create new potholes.
In life we are to sing a joyful song;
not just drone a groan.
In life we are to add our harmonious strains to life's symphony;
not strain the symphony with clatter and clang.
In life we are to soar on eagles' wings.
not to peck and cluck with our beaks in the dirt like chickens.
In life we are to radiate light into unseen places;
not permit unknown fears to dim our radiance.
In life we are to leap in faith;
not to limp with doubt.
In life we are to give freely of our time, our love, our resources;
not to cling on to them greedily.
In life we are to lift up others;
not push them down.
In life we are to open our hands to those in need;
not to clutch our hands in fists of distrust.
In life we are to lend a helping hand to make loads lighter;
not use heavy hands to hold others back.
In life we are to be messengers of peace, signs of joy;
not Chicken Little portents of gloom-n-doom.
In life we are to enjoy, to savor, to remember, to reflect;
not to overlook, to forget, to ignore, to reject.
In life we are to seek conscious awareness;
not doze in the doldrums of half-awake.
In life we are to dare mighty things;
not to fear things gravely.
In life we are to show up, stand up, step forward and speak up;
not to cringe in fear, choosing to sit down, or to step back,
allowing the voices of silence to speak so loudly.
In life we are to exercise proper stewardship of earth's resources;
not pillage the heritage of future generations.
In life we are to move forward through forgiveness;
not grind to a halt mired in bitterness and resentment.
In life we are to be wacky, weird, and wonderful
in our own unique God-given way;
not to be staid-n-proper lemmings, stuck on life's treadmill.
In life we are to reach, to stretch, and to soar;
not to slink in fear, held back by mistrust and doubt.
In life we are to realize: "I am a remarkable Somebody!";
not listen to other's jabs:
"You're a Nobody, an Everybody, an Anybody."
In life we are to comprehend, "I am worthwhile";
not tremble with feelings of worthlessness.
In life we are to create, to laugh, and to live life nobly;
not to despair, to moan, or to live life less.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
The Wonders of the Holy Spirt
The more I read about the Holy Spirit's work, the more in awe I am.
Should we be expecting the same miraculous confirmations of our witnessing in evangelism today as we saw in the early church? My answer is yes, because the Scriptures show God's power is available to the beleiver. The reason I say yes is that I don’t see any compelling reason given in the New Testament that God has declared a moratorium on miracles. But I do see lists of miraculous gifts for the church (not just apostles) in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10. So I think God intends to bless his Word and his people with miracles in our day — extraordinary works of divine power that go beyond the laws of nature. And I hve seen some of them in answers to prayer.
When the Lord Jesus returns to heaven and the apostles have laid the foundation of the church in the New Testament and are taken off the scene, I think what we have is not a de-supernatualized religion. Not at all! The Holy Spirit has been poured out, and he is still fully capable of doing signs and wonders. Rather, we have a centralized focus on the Word of God, the gospel, because all the central acts of salvation are now in history and it is the Word that connects us with these saving acts of God in the past.
As long as we keep the word of God in its properly central place, I think it would please the Lord for us to pray the way the early church did in Acts 4:29-30. Here’s what they said, “And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
One of the things that amazes me is how the Spirit helps me to preach and teach. Preaching should be always under the Spirit – His power and control – and you do not know what is going to happen. So we always need to stay open to the Spirit. It may sound contradictory to say, ‘prepare, and prepare carefully,’ and yet ‘be free.’ But there is no contradiction. You will find that the Spirit Who has helped you in your preparation may now help you, while you are speaking, in an entirely new way, and open things out to you which you had not seen while you were preparing your sermon.
PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW!
Should we be expecting the same miraculous confirmations of our witnessing in evangelism today as we saw in the early church? My answer is yes, because the Scriptures show God's power is available to the beleiver. The reason I say yes is that I don’t see any compelling reason given in the New Testament that God has declared a moratorium on miracles. But I do see lists of miraculous gifts for the church (not just apostles) in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10. So I think God intends to bless his Word and his people with miracles in our day — extraordinary works of divine power that go beyond the laws of nature. And I hve seen some of them in answers to prayer.
When the Lord Jesus returns to heaven and the apostles have laid the foundation of the church in the New Testament and are taken off the scene, I think what we have is not a de-supernatualized religion. Not at all! The Holy Spirit has been poured out, and he is still fully capable of doing signs and wonders. Rather, we have a centralized focus on the Word of God, the gospel, because all the central acts of salvation are now in history and it is the Word that connects us with these saving acts of God in the past.
As long as we keep the word of God in its properly central place, I think it would please the Lord for us to pray the way the early church did in Acts 4:29-30. Here’s what they said, “And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
One of the things that amazes me is how the Spirit helps me to preach and teach. Preaching should be always under the Spirit – His power and control – and you do not know what is going to happen. So we always need to stay open to the Spirit. It may sound contradictory to say, ‘prepare, and prepare carefully,’ and yet ‘be free.’ But there is no contradiction. You will find that the Spirit Who has helped you in your preparation may now help you, while you are speaking, in an entirely new way, and open things out to you which you had not seen while you were preparing your sermon.
PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW!
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Jesus Loves You, This We Know
1st John is a wonderful epistle full of deep sayings about God and his love for us. John wrote the Epistle so that the joy of his audience would "be full" (1.4) and that they would "sin not" (2.1) and that "you who believe in the name of the Son of God... may know that you have eternal life." (5.13) The letter was written to (1:1-4) is to declare the Word of Life to those to whom he writes, in order that they might be united in fellowship with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ. He shows that the means of union with God are, (1) on the part of Christ, his atoning work (1:7; 2:2; 3:5; 4:10, 14; 5:11, 12) and his advocacy (2:1); and (2), on the part of man, holiness (1:6), obedience (2:3), purity (3:3), faith (3:23; 4:3; 5:5), and love (2:7, 8; 3:14; 4:7; 5:1).
There are many scriptural gems here -- and the whole book bears reading often. in Chapter 4 alone you find the amazing verse pictured above, as well as that wonderful promise of 4:4 "greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world!" And then there is the sage advice of 4:11 "Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another." We are called to be people of remarkable, radical love, not as the world loves, but as Jesus loves us.
God WIll Make a Way for You
"This the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24
One of the favorite choruses we sing in our churches is God will make it way. It’s words resonate with faith in God’s steadfast love and sovereign power.
God will make a way,
Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me
The song echoes the promises of God in Scripture, and is most closely associated with the words of the prophet in Isaiah 43, where he proclaims God’s words: I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
…For I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, To give drink to my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself, So that they might declare my praise.
What a wonderful vision this is –streams in the desert, a pathway in the wilderness, all through the power and grace of God almighty.
God doesn’t promise to take away the wilderness or the desert, or take you out of it, but He promises to make a way through it and to help you find the life giving water, so that people will stop and see the new thing that God is doing, and give God all the praise and honor He so richly deserves.
This promise was for the Hebrews then, and through Jesus it is also for us, for all of us. God will do a new thing. God is doing a new thing. And this can give us great hope. No matter how difficult the situation, or sleepless the night, or painful the problem, God will do a new thing. God will make a way where there seems to be no way.
We must look for the new thing God is doing – and flow with it, and rejoice. At the heart of Christianity is the wisdom of the ages – and it is this – Jesus loves you. Immerse yourself in the love of Jesus Christ, receive Him as your Lord and Savior and ask Him to fill you with the overwhelming power and grace of the Holy Spirit.
Rise each morning with hope in your heart and faith that God is with you each step that you take. Go out and look for that new thing God is doing. Live to be a blessing for God to other people, and you will surely be blessed. Don’t let your imagination be closed off by the cares and distractions of this world. As a Christian you are part of God’s family, a child of the living God, so rejoice! No matter what comes your way, remember to walk in the blessing you have as God’s child.
As a Christian you have a legacy of miracles: remember the seas that split open so that the people could pass through on dry land; pillars of fire in the night that led the people through the wilderness; rocks that rolled away from the tomb. The dead raised; the lost found. You have a memory of God’s liberating, overpowering love! Put your faith there, and the miracles that are part of your spiritual bloodline will come to life in you.
This is a great day. It is the day God has made for you. God is about to do a new thing in your life. May praises for God be on your lips for every day you are alive on this Earth. Praise the Lord! In Jesus Name. Amen. Amen.
One of the favorite choruses we sing in our churches is God will make it way. It’s words resonate with faith in God’s steadfast love and sovereign power.
God will make a way,
Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me
The song echoes the promises of God in Scripture, and is most closely associated with the words of the prophet in Isaiah 43, where he proclaims God’s words: I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
…For I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, To give drink to my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself, So that they might declare my praise.
What a wonderful vision this is –streams in the desert, a pathway in the wilderness, all through the power and grace of God almighty.
God doesn’t promise to take away the wilderness or the desert, or take you out of it, but He promises to make a way through it and to help you find the life giving water, so that people will stop and see the new thing that God is doing, and give God all the praise and honor He so richly deserves.
This promise was for the Hebrews then, and through Jesus it is also for us, for all of us. God will do a new thing. God is doing a new thing. And this can give us great hope. No matter how difficult the situation, or sleepless the night, or painful the problem, God will do a new thing. God will make a way where there seems to be no way.
We must look for the new thing God is doing – and flow with it, and rejoice. At the heart of Christianity is the wisdom of the ages – and it is this – Jesus loves you. Immerse yourself in the love of Jesus Christ, receive Him as your Lord and Savior and ask Him to fill you with the overwhelming power and grace of the Holy Spirit.
Rise each morning with hope in your heart and faith that God is with you each step that you take. Go out and look for that new thing God is doing. Live to be a blessing for God to other people, and you will surely be blessed. Don’t let your imagination be closed off by the cares and distractions of this world. As a Christian you are part of God’s family, a child of the living God, so rejoice! No matter what comes your way, remember to walk in the blessing you have as God’s child.
As a Christian you have a legacy of miracles: remember the seas that split open so that the people could pass through on dry land; pillars of fire in the night that led the people through the wilderness; rocks that rolled away from the tomb. The dead raised; the lost found. You have a memory of God’s liberating, overpowering love! Put your faith there, and the miracles that are part of your spiritual bloodline will come to life in you.
This is a great day. It is the day God has made for you. God is about to do a new thing in your life. May praises for God be on your lips for every day you are alive on this Earth. Praise the Lord! In Jesus Name. Amen. Amen.
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Living for Jesus, Living in Love
Greetings in Christ. May God bless you richly today. Today we continue bringing to you “Words of Encouragement” and pray that these words will edify you and give you strength. I want to encourage you to live for Jesus Christ and to remind you that as a Christian He has given you His Authority – so USE IT!
One of the great songs of the Christian faith is “Living for Jesus” The words exhort us to live for Him : “Living for Jesus, a life that is true, Striving to please Him in all that I do; Yielding allegiance, glad hearted and free, This is the pathway of blessing for me.”
The song goes on to call onus to give our lives to Jesus and make our hearts His throne. Have you done this? Or do you have more to do? The time is short, I encourage you to do it quickly.
God makes plain to us that He is the head and owner of the church. He paid for it with His own blood. We are to humbly follow him and to believe that His word is true and that He backs up His promises. We are to fulfill Christ’s own Great Commission, but He has given us all the ammunition we need to fight our battle with the spiritual enemy.
We have His authority and we have the Name of Jesus! Mat. 28:18-20 “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the end of the age."
Luke 19:19-20 “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” Pray, declare His word INTO YOUR LIFE in His Name!
God has our back. He will fulfill his guarantees.
God is your mighty fortress, His angels have charge over you. You have unseen protection at all times. Ps. 91.11 “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” Build your faith up. Romans 10:17 “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.”
Press in to God and He will press into you. The time has come to clean up, rise up, and live radically for Jesus! James 4:7.8 “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."
And at the heart of living for Jesus is what James called the royal law – “to love your neighbor as yourself” We are to be people of love, followers of the Golden rule that Jesus gave us in Matthew 7:12 – “to Do unto others what you would have them do unto you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
If you want to know what that love looks like, read 1 Corinthians 13th chapter, and you will see that it is patient, kind, generous, humble, courteous, unselfish, good tempered, forgiving, and sincere.
I encourage you today to live for Jesus and be a person known by your love.
One of the great songs of the Christian faith is “Living for Jesus” The words exhort us to live for Him : “Living for Jesus, a life that is true, Striving to please Him in all that I do; Yielding allegiance, glad hearted and free, This is the pathway of blessing for me.”
The song goes on to call onus to give our lives to Jesus and make our hearts His throne. Have you done this? Or do you have more to do? The time is short, I encourage you to do it quickly.
God makes plain to us that He is the head and owner of the church. He paid for it with His own blood. We are to humbly follow him and to believe that His word is true and that He backs up His promises. We are to fulfill Christ’s own Great Commission, but He has given us all the ammunition we need to fight our battle with the spiritual enemy.
We have His authority and we have the Name of Jesus! Mat. 28:18-20 “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the end of the age."
Luke 19:19-20 “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” Pray, declare His word INTO YOUR LIFE in His Name!
God has our back. He will fulfill his guarantees.
God is your mighty fortress, His angels have charge over you. You have unseen protection at all times. Ps. 91.11 “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” Build your faith up. Romans 10:17 “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.”
Press in to God and He will press into you. The time has come to clean up, rise up, and live radically for Jesus! James 4:7.8 “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."
And at the heart of living for Jesus is what James called the royal law – “to love your neighbor as yourself” We are to be people of love, followers of the Golden rule that Jesus gave us in Matthew 7:12 – “to Do unto others what you would have them do unto you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
If you want to know what that love looks like, read 1 Corinthians 13th chapter, and you will see that it is patient, kind, generous, humble, courteous, unselfish, good tempered, forgiving, and sincere.
I encourage you today to live for Jesus and be a person known by your love.
Saturday, August 04, 2007
A Wedding Charge for Landi and Brett on 7-7-07
Last month we had the opportunity to gove a charge at the wedding of my niece Landi and her husband Brett. It is a good charge for any married couple:
May God's blessings surround you. May 1 Corinthians 13th Chapter be a blueprint for your love. If you want to know what true love looks like, you will find it there, and you will see that love is patient, kind, generous, humble, courteous, unselfish, good tempered, forgiving, and sincere.
May your home be a place where the Golden Rule, "that you do unto the other what you would have them do for you," is a way of life. May you always keep your sacred wedding vows, being reminded of them every time you see your wedding rings, and each time you look into each other's faces.
May you keep Jesus at the center of your marriage -- and as you grow closer to Him, you will find you also grow closer to each other.
I give you the Apostle Paul's vibrant command of Colossians 3rd chapter: "As God's own people, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness and patience, forgiving each other as the Lord has orgiven you. And crown all these things with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony." (Col. 3:12-14)
"Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the Name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God through Him!" (Col. 3:17)
IN JESUS NAME we charge you. AMEN. AMEN.
May God's blessings surround you. May 1 Corinthians 13th Chapter be a blueprint for your love. If you want to know what true love looks like, you will find it there, and you will see that love is patient, kind, generous, humble, courteous, unselfish, good tempered, forgiving, and sincere.
May your home be a place where the Golden Rule, "that you do unto the other what you would have them do for you," is a way of life. May you always keep your sacred wedding vows, being reminded of them every time you see your wedding rings, and each time you look into each other's faces.
May you keep Jesus at the center of your marriage -- and as you grow closer to Him, you will find you also grow closer to each other.
I give you the Apostle Paul's vibrant command of Colossians 3rd chapter: "As God's own people, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness and patience, forgiving each other as the Lord has orgiven you. And crown all these things with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony." (Col. 3:12-14)
"Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the Name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God through Him!" (Col. 3:17)
IN JESUS NAME we charge you. AMEN. AMEN.
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