Ephesians 6:17
17And take the helmet of salvation…
When the phone rings at odd times, most people think, “Oh dear, it must be bad news.” They don’t think, “I wonder what the good news is that it cannot wait till morning!”
When we hear, “The boss wants to see you,” instinctively, we think, “Oh dear,this is not good.” But how do we know that it is not a promotion?
Our minds are inclined towards the negative. So to guard our minds against negative thoughts, we are to put on “the helmet of salvation”, which is “the hope of salvation”. (1 Thessalonians 5:8)
If you are going through a trial right now, putting on as a helmet the hope of salvation means that you have a confident expectation of good coming your way. It means that you choose to believe that this trial that you are going through is only temporary because God will see you through it. It means that you believe that this difficult period will end with your salvation —your preservation, wholeness, wellness, health and prosperity!
You may not know what is going to happen this week. But one thing that you can do is put on the helmet of the hope of salvation. And tell yourself that you are going to have a fantastic week!
“Well, you know, you never know what to expect. We hear so much bad news these days — another flu outbreak, another company retrenching its workers… I really hope that I will not be retrenched next. But I cannot be sure. I am keeping my fingers crossed.
”No, my friend, biblical hope is not “I hope so”, but “I know so”! You can have a confident expectation of good happening to you because you are not like the people of the world. You are a child of the living God. You have a Saviour watching over you. There are more angels given charge over you than there are demons against you. And greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world. (1 John 4:4) There is every reason for you to have a confident expectation of good happening to you!
Monday, January 28, 2008
Don't Just Know But Believe!
1 John 4:16
16And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
You may have heard and know that God cares for you and loves you, and that He demonstrated His love for you by dying on the cross for you. But it’s one thing to know this; it’s another thing to believe the love that God has for you.
For example, it’s one thing to know that the sun shines on us during the day. But it’s another thing to believe that the sun is still shining eventhough you don’t feel its warmth and all you see are cloudy skies.
Sometimes we are slow in believing God’s love for us when we are going through a bad patch. Today, God wants you to know and believe that He loves you in the midst of the deal falling through, when that job is slow incoming, when the boss is fault-finding, when your child still refuses to come home.
In the midst of the pain, He wants you to know and believe that He is wholly for you, on your side and defending you. And if God, the most powerful being in the universe, is for you, can anyone or anything come against you successfully?
Perhaps you feel like you have messed up big time. God wants you to know and believe that though others may be angry with you, He will never be angry with you. Neither will He condemn you.
The sum total of His anger against your sins fell upon Jesus at the cross. So He wants you to know and believe that He will never punish you because Jesus was punished in your place.
When you feel unworthy because you have just blown it for the hundredth time, know and believe that your heavenly Father still offers you the gift of no condemnation. So come boldly to His throne of grace to receive mercy and grace. (Hebrews 4:16)
My friend, know and believe that since He loved you and died for you while you were still a sinner, at your worst and ugliest (Romans 5:8), how much more is His love for you now that you are His beloved child and the righteousness of God in Christ! (2Corinthians 5:21)
16And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
You may have heard and know that God cares for you and loves you, and that He demonstrated His love for you by dying on the cross for you. But it’s one thing to know this; it’s another thing to believe the love that God has for you.
For example, it’s one thing to know that the sun shines on us during the day. But it’s another thing to believe that the sun is still shining eventhough you don’t feel its warmth and all you see are cloudy skies.
Sometimes we are slow in believing God’s love for us when we are going through a bad patch. Today, God wants you to know and believe that He loves you in the midst of the deal falling through, when that job is slow incoming, when the boss is fault-finding, when your child still refuses to come home.
In the midst of the pain, He wants you to know and believe that He is wholly for you, on your side and defending you. And if God, the most powerful being in the universe, is for you, can anyone or anything come against you successfully?
Perhaps you feel like you have messed up big time. God wants you to know and believe that though others may be angry with you, He will never be angry with you. Neither will He condemn you.
The sum total of His anger against your sins fell upon Jesus at the cross. So He wants you to know and believe that He will never punish you because Jesus was punished in your place.
When you feel unworthy because you have just blown it for the hundredth time, know and believe that your heavenly Father still offers you the gift of no condemnation. So come boldly to His throne of grace to receive mercy and grace. (Hebrews 4:16)
My friend, know and believe that since He loved you and died for you while you were still a sinner, at your worst and ugliest (Romans 5:8), how much more is His love for you now that you are His beloved child and the righteousness of God in Christ! (2Corinthians 5:21)
Friday, August 31, 2007
Be Numbered Among The Undevourable!
1 Peter 5:8
8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
The devil cannot just walk right up to you and rob you of your health, peace or family. He cannot just come into your life to enforce disease and destruction.
If the devil can do that, then he does not have to walk about seeking whom he may devour. He only has to walk straight up to the one he wants to devour and devour him!
But since the Bible says that he goes about seeking whom he may devour, the truth then is that there are people whom the devil cannot devour.
You see, the devil goes about like a roaring lion trying to stir fear in people with his roars. But the people who are not devourable are those who refuse to be intimidated by his roars because they know that the true Lion of Judah, Jesus Christ (Revelation5:5), has already come and destroyed him who had the power of death.(Hebrews 2:14) They know that the devil cannot do anything to them because the Lion of Judah resides in them, and that He is greater than the devil who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)
The Lion of Judah is in you. He has given you rights, privileges, authority and power. He has redeemed you with His blood. Therefore, everything about you and your life is redeemed by His blood. If you are fearful about losing your job, cover your job with the blood of Jesus. If you are worried about your childrens safety in these days of terrorist attacks, plead the blood of Jesus over them. If you have received a bad report from the doctor, apply the blood over yourself.
Whatever you have covered with the blood of Jesus, God says, Protected! Redeemed! And the devil flees when he sees the blood. And when he flees, he takes with him sicknesses, diseases, pains, sufferings, destruction and loss.
Once the devil knows that you know who you are in Christ and what you have in Him, his days of intimidating you are over, and you are numbered among theundevourable!
8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
The devil cannot just walk right up to you and rob you of your health, peace or family. He cannot just come into your life to enforce disease and destruction.
If the devil can do that, then he does not have to walk about seeking whom he may devour. He only has to walk straight up to the one he wants to devour and devour him!
But since the Bible says that he goes about seeking whom he may devour, the truth then is that there are people whom the devil cannot devour.
You see, the devil goes about like a roaring lion trying to stir fear in people with his roars. But the people who are not devourable are those who refuse to be intimidated by his roars because they know that the true Lion of Judah, Jesus Christ (Revelation5:5), has already come and destroyed him who had the power of death.(Hebrews 2:14) They know that the devil cannot do anything to them because the Lion of Judah resides in them, and that He is greater than the devil who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)
The Lion of Judah is in you. He has given you rights, privileges, authority and power. He has redeemed you with His blood. Therefore, everything about you and your life is redeemed by His blood. If you are fearful about losing your job, cover your job with the blood of Jesus. If you are worried about your childrens safety in these days of terrorist attacks, plead the blood of Jesus over them. If you have received a bad report from the doctor, apply the blood over yourself.
Whatever you have covered with the blood of Jesus, God says, Protected! Redeemed! And the devil flees when he sees the blood. And when he flees, he takes with him sicknesses, diseases, pains, sufferings, destruction and loss.
Once the devil knows that you know who you are in Christ and what you have in Him, his days of intimidating you are over, and you are numbered among theundevourable!
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Be Full Of The Conciousness Of God!
1 Corinthians 2:12
12Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
I believe that you know the story of David the shepherd boy who defeated the 10-foot-tall Goliath, a champion warrior. Ever wondered why David succeeded while the others failed? David's secret was that he didn't know defeat because he was not conscious of a God who cannot. He was only conscious of a God who had rescued him time and again.
You can imagine him saying, "One day, I was taking care of my sheep when a lion came and took one of them. I was not willing to settle for that! I went after the lion, caught it by its beard and smote it. The Lord delivered me from the lion's mouth. On another occasion, a bear came and took one of my flock. I went after the bear and smote it. The Lord delivered me from the bear. The same God, who delivered me from the paws of the lion and bear, will deliver me from this Philistine." (1 Samuel 17:34-37)
David was conscious of what God had done for him. He knew that God was the one who was for him, loved him, favoured him, and gave him success. You can also remind yourself that the same God, who did tremendous things in the past for you, will do the same thing for you again.
Be like David, who was full of the consciousness of God. Do not be like the army of Israel, who were full of the consciousness of the words of Goliath. I believe that they must have talked about Goliath's threats, rehearsed his words, and as a result, filled their hearts with fear and trembling. (1 Samuel 17:11,24)
Do not feed on man's words nor the devil's which only give you anxiety and fear. Feed on God's Word by reading the Bible and listening to messages about who you are in Christ and what He has done for you. Pump yourself up with God's Word until you are filled with the consciousness of God, that you might know the things that have been freely given to you by God!
12Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
I believe that you know the story of David the shepherd boy who defeated the 10-foot-tall Goliath, a champion warrior. Ever wondered why David succeeded while the others failed? David's secret was that he didn't know defeat because he was not conscious of a God who cannot. He was only conscious of a God who had rescued him time and again.
You can imagine him saying, "One day, I was taking care of my sheep when a lion came and took one of them. I was not willing to settle for that! I went after the lion, caught it by its beard and smote it. The Lord delivered me from the lion's mouth. On another occasion, a bear came and took one of my flock. I went after the bear and smote it. The Lord delivered me from the bear. The same God, who delivered me from the paws of the lion and bear, will deliver me from this Philistine." (1 Samuel 17:34-37)
David was conscious of what God had done for him. He knew that God was the one who was for him, loved him, favoured him, and gave him success. You can also remind yourself that the same God, who did tremendous things in the past for you, will do the same thing for you again.
Be like David, who was full of the consciousness of God. Do not be like the army of Israel, who were full of the consciousness of the words of Goliath. I believe that they must have talked about Goliath's threats, rehearsed his words, and as a result, filled their hearts with fear and trembling. (1 Samuel 17:11,24)
Do not feed on man's words nor the devil's which only give you anxiety and fear. Feed on God's Word by reading the Bible and listening to messages about who you are in Christ and what He has done for you. Pump yourself up with God's Word until you are filled with the consciousness of God, that you might know the things that have been freely given to you by God!
He Is Willing, Be Healed!
Matthew 8:3
3Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed."...
Do you know that it is God's will for you to be healed? In fact, Jesus always healed the sick who came to Him. The blind, lame, maimed, mute deaf, and demon-possessed - He healed them all. (Matthew 8:16)
The Bible says that he who has seen Jesus has seen the Father (John 14:9). You want to see what God is like? Look at Jesus! He never gave sickness to anybody. When the leper came to Him, He didn't say, "Tough luck, I don't like your face. By the way, receive Aids as well!" Instead, He told the leper, "I am willing; be cleansed!"
Unfortunately, there are Christians who say, "It is God's will for me to be sick. God has some purpose, some mysterious purpose for my situation. It is all part of His divine plan and we shall all know in the sweet by and by, the reason why!" But these same people go to their doctors to get well. They take their medication and rest. Why do they do that if they really believe that God wants them sick? Doesn't make sense, does it?
Come on, what makes perfect sense is this : God wants you well. God wants you whole. God's will is for you to be healed! In fact, He is so willing that He took all your sicknesses and diseases upon His own body so that you don't have to suffer them today!
He allowed Himself to be beaten and scourged, so that by His scourging - by His stripes - you are healed! (Isaiah 53:5). Since He has already suffered the pain on your behalf, why should you suffer it today?
So, my friend, if you are sick, know that God did not give you the disease. Read every healing miracle that Jesus did in the gospels and see how Jesus is the Lord who heals you (Exodus 15:26).
Hear Jesus' gracious word, "I am willing, be healed!" and know that they are as much for you today as they were for the leper!
3Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed."...
Do you know that it is God's will for you to be healed? In fact, Jesus always healed the sick who came to Him. The blind, lame, maimed, mute deaf, and demon-possessed - He healed them all. (Matthew 8:16)
The Bible says that he who has seen Jesus has seen the Father (John 14:9). You want to see what God is like? Look at Jesus! He never gave sickness to anybody. When the leper came to Him, He didn't say, "Tough luck, I don't like your face. By the way, receive Aids as well!" Instead, He told the leper, "I am willing; be cleansed!"
Unfortunately, there are Christians who say, "It is God's will for me to be sick. God has some purpose, some mysterious purpose for my situation. It is all part of His divine plan and we shall all know in the sweet by and by, the reason why!" But these same people go to their doctors to get well. They take their medication and rest. Why do they do that if they really believe that God wants them sick? Doesn't make sense, does it?
Come on, what makes perfect sense is this : God wants you well. God wants you whole. God's will is for you to be healed! In fact, He is so willing that He took all your sicknesses and diseases upon His own body so that you don't have to suffer them today!
He allowed Himself to be beaten and scourged, so that by His scourging - by His stripes - you are healed! (Isaiah 53:5). Since He has already suffered the pain on your behalf, why should you suffer it today?
So, my friend, if you are sick, know that God did not give you the disease. Read every healing miracle that Jesus did in the gospels and see how Jesus is the Lord who heals you (Exodus 15:26).
Hear Jesus' gracious word, "I am willing, be healed!" and know that they are as much for you today as they were for the leper!
Hope Does Not Disappoint!
Romans 5:5
5Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Today, we express hope as if we can't be sure what will really happen. We say, "I hope I'll win the prize.. I hope it won't rain tomorrow... I hope everything works out well.."
But "hope" in the Bible is a confident and positive expectation of good. This is because as His child, your heavenly Father favours you. Because Christ is in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27), you can expect the glory of God to shine into every area in your life, including your family, job, ministry, health, and finances!
God's Word says, "Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us!" My friend, you may have experienced disappointed hopes, but there is a hope that does not disappoint when you are conscious of how much God loves you. It is the hope that springs from the heart of God, who loves you very much.
It is interesting that the first mention of the Holy Spirit in the book of Romans is tied up with the love of God. Now, the book of Romans is considered foundation for all Christians. Could it be that the first thing that the Holy Spirit wants to do is to establish in your heart that God loves you? Many people think that the Holy Spirit has come to teach us about power, but the truth is that the Holy Spirit has come not to reveal the love for power, but the power of love!
My friend, you may have just lost your job, but if you believe that "Jesus loves me this I know!", you can say, "I believe I will get a better job tomorrow." Your girlfriend may have just left you for your best friend, but because, "Jesus loves me this I know," you can say, "I'll meet a better girl tomorrow!"
you believe that God loves you, you will have a positive expectation of good. You will have hope that does not disappoint, so be careful what you hope for because you are bound to get it!
5Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Today, we express hope as if we can't be sure what will really happen. We say, "I hope I'll win the prize.. I hope it won't rain tomorrow... I hope everything works out well.."
But "hope" in the Bible is a confident and positive expectation of good. This is because as His child, your heavenly Father favours you. Because Christ is in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27), you can expect the glory of God to shine into every area in your life, including your family, job, ministry, health, and finances!
God's Word says, "Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us!" My friend, you may have experienced disappointed hopes, but there is a hope that does not disappoint when you are conscious of how much God loves you. It is the hope that springs from the heart of God, who loves you very much.
It is interesting that the first mention of the Holy Spirit in the book of Romans is tied up with the love of God. Now, the book of Romans is considered foundation for all Christians. Could it be that the first thing that the Holy Spirit wants to do is to establish in your heart that God loves you? Many people think that the Holy Spirit has come to teach us about power, but the truth is that the Holy Spirit has come not to reveal the love for power, but the power of love!
My friend, you may have just lost your job, but if you believe that "Jesus loves me this I know!", you can say, "I believe I will get a better job tomorrow." Your girlfriend may have just left you for your best friend, but because, "Jesus loves me this I know," you can say, "I'll meet a better girl tomorrow!"
you believe that God loves you, you will have a positive expectation of good. You will have hope that does not disappoint, so be careful what you hope for because you are bound to get it!
He Is Right There Upholding You!
Isaiah 41:10
10"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."
It is easy to say, "Praise the Lord! Hallelujah!" when times is good. It is easy to believe that God loves you when you are on the mountain top enjoying the sunshine. But what happens when you are down in the dark valley surrounded by your enemies?
Maybe today, you are in the valley of marital, financial, or bodily trouble and you are asking, "Where is God?"
My friend, He is right there with you. The God of the valleys says to you, "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."
When the King Jehoshaphat was surrounded, outnumbered and overwhelmed by his enemies, the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel and he said to the king, "Don't be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude for the battle is not yours, but God's. You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you. Don't fear nor dismayed. Tomorrow, go out against them for the Lord is with you." (2 Chronicles 20:14-17)
What King Jehoshaphat did then was brilliant - he acted with wisdom from on high. Instead of putting "commandos" in front, he put worshippers in front! They sang of God's love for them - "Praise the Lord for His love endures forever!" And God utterly destroyed their enemies! (2 Chronicles 20:21-23).
Beloved, it is not the trials that make us strong, but our responses in those trials. The devil wants us to respond by asking, "Where is God?" But God wants us to respond with faith in His love for us. We are more than conquerors not because of our love for Him, but through Him who loves us (Romans 8:37).
So, whatever valley you are in today, don't be afraid. God is right there upholding you. Just sing of His love for you and let Him fight your battles for you!
10"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."
It is easy to say, "Praise the Lord! Hallelujah!" when times is good. It is easy to believe that God loves you when you are on the mountain top enjoying the sunshine. But what happens when you are down in the dark valley surrounded by your enemies?
Maybe today, you are in the valley of marital, financial, or bodily trouble and you are asking, "Where is God?"
My friend, He is right there with you. The God of the valleys says to you, "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."
When the King Jehoshaphat was surrounded, outnumbered and overwhelmed by his enemies, the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel and he said to the king, "Don't be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude for the battle is not yours, but God's. You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you. Don't fear nor dismayed. Tomorrow, go out against them for the Lord is with you." (2 Chronicles 20:14-17)
What King Jehoshaphat did then was brilliant - he acted with wisdom from on high. Instead of putting "commandos" in front, he put worshippers in front! They sang of God's love for them - "Praise the Lord for His love endures forever!" And God utterly destroyed their enemies! (2 Chronicles 20:21-23).
Beloved, it is not the trials that make us strong, but our responses in those trials. The devil wants us to respond by asking, "Where is God?" But God wants us to respond with faith in His love for us. We are more than conquerors not because of our love for Him, but through Him who loves us (Romans 8:37).
So, whatever valley you are in today, don't be afraid. God is right there upholding you. Just sing of His love for you and let Him fight your battles for you!
Jesus Understands What You Are Going Through!
Hebrews 4:15
15For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathise with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
"Does God really understand what I am going through?"
Sometimes, we can't help but wonder if God really knows what it is like to be poor, rejected by people, backed into a corner by our enemies or sick with aches and pains.
My friend, Jesus was no stranger to emotional or physical pains, poverty or hardships. He was born into a poor family. He had a smelly manger for His birthplace (Luke 2:7). From an early age, as a carpenter, He knew all about working hard with His hands, standing on His feet all day long and returning home with aches in His body.
The religious of His days made life difficult for Him. They challenged His authority (Matthew 21:23) and tested His teachings (Matthew 19:3). They also called Him a glutton, winebibber, friend of tax collectors and sinners (Matthew 11:19), and blasphemer (Mark 2:7).
They said that He was demon-possessed and mad (John 10:20), put Him on the spot when they brought and adulterous woman to Him (John 8:2-11), attempted to stone Him (John 8:59, 10:31-39) and accused Him of perverting the nation (Luke 23:2).
Have you been chased out of your home because of your Christian beliefs? Jesus understands what you are going through. He was chased out of His own hometown (Luke 4:29). Have you ben rejected by someone you love? Jesus also experienced the pain of being denied by a loved one (Luke 22:54-62) and betrayed by one considered close to Him (Luke 22 :47-48). He also knows all about sickness you are suffering because He bore your sicknesses and pains on the cross (Isaiah 53:4).
Jesus certainly understands all that we are going through because being born fully Man, He was "in all points tempted as we are". He endured His sufferings for our sakes so that we can have His peace and the anointing to rise above the troubles we are facing!
15For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathise with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
"Does God really understand what I am going through?"
Sometimes, we can't help but wonder if God really knows what it is like to be poor, rejected by people, backed into a corner by our enemies or sick with aches and pains.
My friend, Jesus was no stranger to emotional or physical pains, poverty or hardships. He was born into a poor family. He had a smelly manger for His birthplace (Luke 2:7). From an early age, as a carpenter, He knew all about working hard with His hands, standing on His feet all day long and returning home with aches in His body.
The religious of His days made life difficult for Him. They challenged His authority (Matthew 21:23) and tested His teachings (Matthew 19:3). They also called Him a glutton, winebibber, friend of tax collectors and sinners (Matthew 11:19), and blasphemer (Mark 2:7).
They said that He was demon-possessed and mad (John 10:20), put Him on the spot when they brought and adulterous woman to Him (John 8:2-11), attempted to stone Him (John 8:59, 10:31-39) and accused Him of perverting the nation (Luke 23:2).
Have you been chased out of your home because of your Christian beliefs? Jesus understands what you are going through. He was chased out of His own hometown (Luke 4:29). Have you ben rejected by someone you love? Jesus also experienced the pain of being denied by a loved one (Luke 22:54-62) and betrayed by one considered close to Him (Luke 22 :47-48). He also knows all about sickness you are suffering because He bore your sicknesses and pains on the cross (Isaiah 53:4).
Jesus certainly understands all that we are going through because being born fully Man, He was "in all points tempted as we are". He endured His sufferings for our sakes so that we can have His peace and the anointing to rise above the troubles we are facing!
Who Do You Say Jesus Is?
Mark 8:29
29He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered and said to Him, "You are the Christ."
Do you know that how you see Jesus determines what you receive from Him? If you see Jesus as your healer, you will receive healing. If you see Jesus as your refuge and fortress, you will receive protection.
The people from Nazareth, Jesus' hometown, saw Jesus in the natural. They said of Him, "Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? And His sisters are they not all with us?" (Matthew 13:55-56). They saw Jesus in the natural. They did not see Him as God in the flesh. As a result, He could not do many mighty works there (Matthew 13:58).
Many people, including some philosophers, see Jesus of Nazareth as a good man who led an exemplary life. They feel that if all of us could live our lives like Him, the world would be a better place. They do not see Jesus as the bread of God who came from heaven to give life to the world (John 6:33). They do not see Him as the one who came to give them living water so that they would never thirsty again (John 4:14). They do not see Him as the Lamb of God who took away the sin of the world (John 1:29). They do not receive from Him what they need because they do not esteem Him rightly.
But Jesus did not come just to set a good example. He came to be your Redeemer (Galatians 3:13). He came to be your righteousness (1 Corinthians 1:30). He came to be your Shepherd so that you will not lack anything (Psalm 23:1).
Jesus asked His disciples once, "But who do you say that I am?" How you answer this question depends on how you see Jesus. And how you see Jesus is how you will receive from Him. So, see Him as your God, as everything He claims to be in His Word, and He will do mighty works in your life!
29He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered and said to Him, "You are the Christ."
Do you know that how you see Jesus determines what you receive from Him? If you see Jesus as your healer, you will receive healing. If you see Jesus as your refuge and fortress, you will receive protection.
The people from Nazareth, Jesus' hometown, saw Jesus in the natural. They said of Him, "Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? And His sisters are they not all with us?" (Matthew 13:55-56). They saw Jesus in the natural. They did not see Him as God in the flesh. As a result, He could not do many mighty works there (Matthew 13:58).
Many people, including some philosophers, see Jesus of Nazareth as a good man who led an exemplary life. They feel that if all of us could live our lives like Him, the world would be a better place. They do not see Jesus as the bread of God who came from heaven to give life to the world (John 6:33). They do not see Him as the one who came to give them living water so that they would never thirsty again (John 4:14). They do not see Him as the Lamb of God who took away the sin of the world (John 1:29). They do not receive from Him what they need because they do not esteem Him rightly.
But Jesus did not come just to set a good example. He came to be your Redeemer (Galatians 3:13). He came to be your righteousness (1 Corinthians 1:30). He came to be your Shepherd so that you will not lack anything (Psalm 23:1).
Jesus asked His disciples once, "But who do you say that I am?" How you answer this question depends on how you see Jesus. And how you see Jesus is how you will receive from Him. So, see Him as your God, as everything He claims to be in His Word, and He will do mighty works in your life!
He Took Your Place So That You can Took His!
Matthew 27:46
46And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"
Do you know that it was at the cross that Jesus addressed His Father as "God" for the first time? He had always addressed His Father as "Father". But at the Calvary's tree, He addressed His Father as "God".
Jesus lost that Father-Son relationship when He was representing you and carrying your sins on the cross so that today, you can call God, "Abba! Father!" (Romans 8:15), and have a loving father-son relationship with God forever. He was forsaken by God when His world became very dark on that lonely hill so that in your darkest hour, God will always say to you, "I will never leave you nor forsake you!" (Hebrews 13:5).
At the time when Jesus needed God most, God turned His back on Him. God had to turn His back on His Son because His eyes are too holy to behold all the sin that was in His Son's body. And because God turned His back on Jesus, He will never turn His back on you. Instead, you will see God's face of favour shining on you all the time!
Jesus also took your place of no protection at the cross. For the first time, He gave up divine protection so that you can enjoy it all the days of your life! And because He became sin, He took your curse at the cross so that today, as you take His gift of righteousness, you receive only blessings from God.
Jesus receive the full burnt of God's wrath in His body once and for all when He carried your sins. All of God's anger and condemnation fell on Him, consuming all your sins until there was no anger left.
Today, God is not angry with you. The body of Jesus absorbed everything - you sins, curses, and God's wrath and condemnation. So live life expecting not to see the judgement, but the goodness and blessings of God!
46And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"
Do you know that it was at the cross that Jesus addressed His Father as "God" for the first time? He had always addressed His Father as "Father". But at the Calvary's tree, He addressed His Father as "God".
Jesus lost that Father-Son relationship when He was representing you and carrying your sins on the cross so that today, you can call God, "Abba! Father!" (Romans 8:15), and have a loving father-son relationship with God forever. He was forsaken by God when His world became very dark on that lonely hill so that in your darkest hour, God will always say to you, "I will never leave you nor forsake you!" (Hebrews 13:5).
At the time when Jesus needed God most, God turned His back on Him. God had to turn His back on His Son because His eyes are too holy to behold all the sin that was in His Son's body. And because God turned His back on Jesus, He will never turn His back on you. Instead, you will see God's face of favour shining on you all the time!
Jesus also took your place of no protection at the cross. For the first time, He gave up divine protection so that you can enjoy it all the days of your life! And because He became sin, He took your curse at the cross so that today, as you take His gift of righteousness, you receive only blessings from God.
Jesus receive the full burnt of God's wrath in His body once and for all when He carried your sins. All of God's anger and condemnation fell on Him, consuming all your sins until there was no anger left.
Today, God is not angry with you. The body of Jesus absorbed everything - you sins, curses, and God's wrath and condemnation. So live life expecting not to see the judgement, but the goodness and blessings of God!
Scourged For Your Wholeness!
Isaiah 53:5
5... And by His stripes we are healed.
The striped Matzah bread used in the Jewish Passover meal speaks of Jesus' body, which was beaten and scourged for us.
Under Roman law, a criminal was either scourged for a lesser crime and then set free, or crucified straightaway if guilty of a greater crime. But Jesus was both scourged and crucified.
Pontius Pilate had hoped that after scourging Jesus and presenting His bloodied body to the people, they would be satisfied and willing to let Him go. But the people were not and demanded His crucifixion.
Do not think for a moment that the people had power to inflict such sufferings on Jesus. It was God's plan and the scourging was necessary for only bu His stripes we are healed.
The Roman whip used for scourging was a leather whip made up of leather straps embedded with glass fragments and metal hooks. With just one strike, the instrument would have been wrapped around Jesus' body, causing the crushed glass to cut deep into His flesh. And as the whip was pulled back, the hooks would have stripped off His flesh, exposing muscle and bone. Indeed, the Psalmist says, "They pierced My hands and My feet; I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me." (Psalm 22:16-17) and "The plowers plowed on My back; they made their furrows long." (Psalm 129:3).
Although 39 was the maximum number of times one could be whipped according to Jewish law, I believe that Jesus was whipped more than that because the Romans, who were not likely to regard Jewish law, carried out the scourging. Whichever the case, His back would have been reduced to a mass of bloody, mutilated flesh. That day, Jesus' blood flowed freely from His body for your deliverance from every kind of disease and physical affliction. God allowed every one of those stripes to fall on His Son's body so that your body need not be scourged with disease.
My friend, if you are sick or suffering from some physical condition, know that Jesus took the scourging as full payment for you to be free of that condition. He bore those stripes so that, today, there is no sickness, no disease left for you to bear. By His stripes you have been healed!
5... And by His stripes we are healed.
The striped Matzah bread used in the Jewish Passover meal speaks of Jesus' body, which was beaten and scourged for us.
Under Roman law, a criminal was either scourged for a lesser crime and then set free, or crucified straightaway if guilty of a greater crime. But Jesus was both scourged and crucified.
Pontius Pilate had hoped that after scourging Jesus and presenting His bloodied body to the people, they would be satisfied and willing to let Him go. But the people were not and demanded His crucifixion.
Do not think for a moment that the people had power to inflict such sufferings on Jesus. It was God's plan and the scourging was necessary for only bu His stripes we are healed.
The Roman whip used for scourging was a leather whip made up of leather straps embedded with glass fragments and metal hooks. With just one strike, the instrument would have been wrapped around Jesus' body, causing the crushed glass to cut deep into His flesh. And as the whip was pulled back, the hooks would have stripped off His flesh, exposing muscle and bone. Indeed, the Psalmist says, "They pierced My hands and My feet; I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me." (Psalm 22:16-17) and "The plowers plowed on My back; they made their furrows long." (Psalm 129:3).
Although 39 was the maximum number of times one could be whipped according to Jewish law, I believe that Jesus was whipped more than that because the Romans, who were not likely to regard Jewish law, carried out the scourging. Whichever the case, His back would have been reduced to a mass of bloody, mutilated flesh. That day, Jesus' blood flowed freely from His body for your deliverance from every kind of disease and physical affliction. God allowed every one of those stripes to fall on His Son's body so that your body need not be scourged with disease.
My friend, if you are sick or suffering from some physical condition, know that Jesus took the scourging as full payment for you to be free of that condition. He bore those stripes so that, today, there is no sickness, no disease left for you to bear. By His stripes you have been healed!
A Holiday Letter From God!
Dear Children,
It has come to My attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season.
How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just get along and love one another. Now, having said, that let Me go on.
If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put it in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all My followers did that, there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.
Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree are holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can and may remember Me anytime you see any tree.
If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth, here is My wish list:
1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.
2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.
3. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.
4. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.
5. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile it could make the difference. Also, you might consider supporting the local Hot-Line: they talk to people like that everyday.
6. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in you town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day, they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families.
7. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary, especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name. You may already know someone like that.
8. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to some charity that believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you.
9. Finally if you want to make a statement about your belief and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of Mine.
P.S : Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those you love and, remember, I love you!
It has come to My attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season.
How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just get along and love one another. Now, having said, that let Me go on.
If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put it in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all My followers did that, there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.
Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree are holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can and may remember Me anytime you see any tree.
If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth, here is My wish list:
1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.
2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.
3. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.
4. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.
5. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile it could make the difference. Also, you might consider supporting the local Hot-Line: they talk to people like that everyday.
6. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in you town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day, they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families.
7. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary, especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name. You may already know someone like that.
8. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to some charity that believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you.
9. Finally if you want to make a statement about your belief and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of Mine.
P.S : Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those you love and, remember, I love you!
Jesus Wore The Crown Of Thorns For You!
John 19:2
2And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head...
If hard work is the formula of prosperity, then everyone who works hard should be prosperous. But this is certainly not the case. Many people who work very hard are still poor!
I am not advocating laziness. What I am saying is that working hard by the sweat of your brow is not how God's prosperity comes. In fact, if you have to work overtime all the time and are stressed out, you are operating under a curse.
What curse is that? It is that curse: "In the sweat of your face, you shall eat bread..." (Genesis 3:19). And it refers to the stress, struggle, and anxieties that come with working hard and yet producing little. Now, work itself is not a curse since God gave Adam work before the fall - Adam was to tend the garden of Eden. It was only after Adam sinned that the land was cursed and it brought forth thorns, and man had to toil to eat of it. (Genesis 3:17-18).
But praise God Jesus wore the thorns on His head to show you that He has borne this curse for you and redeemed you from it. He wore the crown of thorns so that you can work stress-free and yet have the results. You don't have to toil night and day like the world just to get ahead in life. Your heavenly Father can get you there without the stress (Matthew 6:22-23). Beloved, every curse that was supposed to fall on your head fell on Jesus' head, typified by the crown of thorns. He wore the crown of thorns for you so that you can have peace on mind. He wore the crown of thorns for you and took your curse so that you can wear the crown of glory and take His righteousness, and all the benefits of that righteousness!
Today, don't labour and toil like the people of the world. Instead, expect the blessings of God come into your life without the blood, sweat, and tears because Jesus wore the crown of thorns for you!
2And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head...
If hard work is the formula of prosperity, then everyone who works hard should be prosperous. But this is certainly not the case. Many people who work very hard are still poor!
I am not advocating laziness. What I am saying is that working hard by the sweat of your brow is not how God's prosperity comes. In fact, if you have to work overtime all the time and are stressed out, you are operating under a curse.
What curse is that? It is that curse: "In the sweat of your face, you shall eat bread..." (Genesis 3:19). And it refers to the stress, struggle, and anxieties that come with working hard and yet producing little. Now, work itself is not a curse since God gave Adam work before the fall - Adam was to tend the garden of Eden. It was only after Adam sinned that the land was cursed and it brought forth thorns, and man had to toil to eat of it. (Genesis 3:17-18).
But praise God Jesus wore the thorns on His head to show you that He has borne this curse for you and redeemed you from it. He wore the crown of thorns so that you can work stress-free and yet have the results. You don't have to toil night and day like the world just to get ahead in life. Your heavenly Father can get you there without the stress (Matthew 6:22-23). Beloved, every curse that was supposed to fall on your head fell on Jesus' head, typified by the crown of thorns. He wore the crown of thorns for you so that you can have peace on mind. He wore the crown of thorns for you and took your curse so that you can wear the crown of glory and take His righteousness, and all the benefits of that righteousness!
Today, don't labour and toil like the people of the world. Instead, expect the blessings of God come into your life without the blood, sweat, and tears because Jesus wore the crown of thorns for you!
Thanking Your Way To Your Miracle!
John 11:41
41Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me."
Jesus lived a life of thanksgiving. He always thanked His Father for what He had and for always hearing Him when He prayed. That was how He released miracles in His life.
In the story of the feeding of the five thousand (John 6:1-13), Jesus' attitude was one of the thankfulness. He took a little boy's lunch of five loaves and two fish, gave thanks and had them distributed. He gave thanks for the little that was there and the little multiplied. Not only did the people eat as much as they wanted, there were 12 basketfuls left over!
So, when you see your meagre balance in your bank account, thank the Lord for what you have. It could be your "five loaves and two fish". When you give Him thanks, your little will become much, with leftovers!
Even when faced with the impossible, the solution was still, "Father, I thank You.." When Jesus stood outside Lazarus' tomb, and the people took away the stone that was covering the tomb, Jesus did not see the situation as hopeless and impossible. He simply lifted up His eyes and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me." Then, He proceeded to call forth Lazarus, and the man came forth alive once more.
The raising of Lazarus, who was dead for more than four days, was one of Jesus' greatest miracles. And He accomplished this by saying, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me." He thanked His way to an awesome miracle.
The next time you find yourself praying, "God, please! Do this for me... God, please! Give me this!" STOP! Instead say, "Thank You God, for hearing me. And because You have heard me, I thank You that I have what I asked for." And when you thank God, the little that you have will multiply. Your impossible situations will turn around for God's provision. And resurrection life will hit you!
41Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me."
Jesus lived a life of thanksgiving. He always thanked His Father for what He had and for always hearing Him when He prayed. That was how He released miracles in His life.
In the story of the feeding of the five thousand (John 6:1-13), Jesus' attitude was one of the thankfulness. He took a little boy's lunch of five loaves and two fish, gave thanks and had them distributed. He gave thanks for the little that was there and the little multiplied. Not only did the people eat as much as they wanted, there were 12 basketfuls left over!
So, when you see your meagre balance in your bank account, thank the Lord for what you have. It could be your "five loaves and two fish". When you give Him thanks, your little will become much, with leftovers!
Even when faced with the impossible, the solution was still, "Father, I thank You.." When Jesus stood outside Lazarus' tomb, and the people took away the stone that was covering the tomb, Jesus did not see the situation as hopeless and impossible. He simply lifted up His eyes and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me." Then, He proceeded to call forth Lazarus, and the man came forth alive once more.
The raising of Lazarus, who was dead for more than four days, was one of Jesus' greatest miracles. And He accomplished this by saying, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me." He thanked His way to an awesome miracle.
The next time you find yourself praying, "God, please! Do this for me... God, please! Give me this!" STOP! Instead say, "Thank You God, for hearing me. And because You have heard me, I thank You that I have what I asked for." And when you thank God, the little that you have will multiply. Your impossible situations will turn around for God's provision. And resurrection life will hit you!
Jesus Bore Your Diseases!
Isaiah 53:4
4Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows...
Imagine the dreadful disease leprosy eating a man alive. The poor leper in Matthew 8:2 could stand his suffering no longer, so he came out into the open to look for Jesus. He needed to know if Jesus was willing to heal him. So when he saw Jesus, he fell at His feet and said, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean." (Matthew 8:2). The Son of God looked at the outcast with love in His eyes, reached out His hand, touched him and said, "I am willing; be cleansed." (Matthew 8:3).
Perhaps you are suffering from some disease and wondering if God is willing to heal you? And you are not sure if He is willing because just as you have seen people not get healed. My friend, don't look to people's experiences, look at the cross! As surely as Jesus bore away your sins, He also bore away your diseases!
I want to give you a solid foundation today for believing this truth. In Isaiah 53, the chapter on our Lord's crucifixion, it says in verse four : "Surely He has borne our griefs and carried out our sorrows." Now, let's learn a little Hebrews. The word "griefs" and "sorrows" here means "sicknesses" and "pains" in the original Hebrew text. So, Isaiah is referring to physical healing.
Once, I asked a Jewish friend to read this verse in his Hebrew Bible and tell me what it means. He told me that his Bible says clearly that Jesus has borne our sicknesses and carried out our pains.
If that is not enough, look at Matthew 8:16-17 : "....they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying : 'He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.'" Matthew quotes Isaiah 53:4, saying that Jesus took our "infirmities" and bore our "sicknesses". And the context is physical healing.
My friend, if you will just believe this report, your days of sickness will be over. You will walk in greater health because the One who has surely borne your sicknesses and carried your pains says to you, I am willing, be cleansed."
4Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows...
Imagine the dreadful disease leprosy eating a man alive. The poor leper in Matthew 8:2 could stand his suffering no longer, so he came out into the open to look for Jesus. He needed to know if Jesus was willing to heal him. So when he saw Jesus, he fell at His feet and said, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean." (Matthew 8:2). The Son of God looked at the outcast with love in His eyes, reached out His hand, touched him and said, "I am willing; be cleansed." (Matthew 8:3).
Perhaps you are suffering from some disease and wondering if God is willing to heal you? And you are not sure if He is willing because just as you have seen people not get healed. My friend, don't look to people's experiences, look at the cross! As surely as Jesus bore away your sins, He also bore away your diseases!
I want to give you a solid foundation today for believing this truth. In Isaiah 53, the chapter on our Lord's crucifixion, it says in verse four : "Surely He has borne our griefs and carried out our sorrows." Now, let's learn a little Hebrews. The word "griefs" and "sorrows" here means "sicknesses" and "pains" in the original Hebrew text. So, Isaiah is referring to physical healing.
Once, I asked a Jewish friend to read this verse in his Hebrew Bible and tell me what it means. He told me that his Bible says clearly that Jesus has borne our sicknesses and carried out our pains.
If that is not enough, look at Matthew 8:16-17 : "....they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying : 'He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.'" Matthew quotes Isaiah 53:4, saying that Jesus took our "infirmities" and bore our "sicknesses". And the context is physical healing.
My friend, if you will just believe this report, your days of sickness will be over. You will walk in greater health because the One who has surely borne your sicknesses and carried your pains says to you, I am willing, be cleansed."
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Choose The Good Part And Profit!
Isaiah 48:17
17Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel : "I am the Lord your God, who teached you to profit, who leads you by the way you should go."
God instructs us for our own benefit. He wants us to profit in every area of our lives - our health, finances, social life, marriages, and family relationships. The Bible says that it is God who leads us in the way we should go. God always has our best interests at heart. We only have to sit at His feet, listen to His word and just have fresh, daily communion with Him, and He will make our way prosperous.
We are constantly bombarded with things to do n our daily lives, like sending the kids to school, attending a business meeting and making a sales presentation. Likewise, in church, there are just as many as important things to attend to - ministering to the needy, reaching out to the lost and healing the sick. But you know what? All these things will be taken care of when we sit at Jesus' feet and listen to His Word.
What was the Lord's response to Martha's complaint that her sister was sitting at His feet and listening to Him, instead of helping her with the many tasks? "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:41-42)
Yet, many of us like Martha. We worry about many things. And we are so busy that we have no time to sit at Jesus' feet to listen to His Word and enjoy communion with Him. When we fail to draw from Him, we end up running on our own strength, and relying on our own flesh and wisdom to get things done. Listen, you can never have a plan that is better than God's!
My friend, let's choose the good part like Mary did. Let's follow God's way today. Spend time with Jesus, open your Bible and say, "Lord, speak to me." You will find that your heavenly Father takes care of your troubles, and teaches and leads you to profit!
17Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel : "I am the Lord your God, who teached you to profit, who leads you by the way you should go."
God instructs us for our own benefit. He wants us to profit in every area of our lives - our health, finances, social life, marriages, and family relationships. The Bible says that it is God who leads us in the way we should go. God always has our best interests at heart. We only have to sit at His feet, listen to His word and just have fresh, daily communion with Him, and He will make our way prosperous.
We are constantly bombarded with things to do n our daily lives, like sending the kids to school, attending a business meeting and making a sales presentation. Likewise, in church, there are just as many as important things to attend to - ministering to the needy, reaching out to the lost and healing the sick. But you know what? All these things will be taken care of when we sit at Jesus' feet and listen to His Word.
What was the Lord's response to Martha's complaint that her sister was sitting at His feet and listening to Him, instead of helping her with the many tasks? "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:41-42)
Yet, many of us like Martha. We worry about many things. And we are so busy that we have no time to sit at Jesus' feet to listen to His Word and enjoy communion with Him. When we fail to draw from Him, we end up running on our own strength, and relying on our own flesh and wisdom to get things done. Listen, you can never have a plan that is better than God's!
My friend, let's choose the good part like Mary did. Let's follow God's way today. Spend time with Jesus, open your Bible and say, "Lord, speak to me." You will find that your heavenly Father takes care of your troubles, and teaches and leads you to profit!
God Always Wants You Well!
John 14:9
9Jesus said to him, "... He who has seen Me has seen the Father..."
Imagine the following scenario :
"Come here, girl. Mummy says that you have been playing by the roadside. Is that true?"
"Yes, Daddy. I'm sorry."
"Sorry? How many times have I told you that you must not play near the road? Come here! Now, lie down on the road and stretch out your legs!"
Daddy drives his car over his little girl's legs. There is the sound of bones being crushed and the poor girl screams in pain.
"Now girl, you know Daddy loves you. And Daddy did that to you to teach you a lesson, to tell you that playing by the roadside is dangerous!"
If you are shaking your head in horror by now, wondering which sick mind would do that to one's own daughter, imagine what people are accusing our heavenly Father of - that He gives sicknesses, accidents, destruction, and even death just to teach people lessons.
Jesus said, "If you have seen Me, you have seen the Father." Jesus is the nature of God in action. Throughout the gospel, we see God going about healing the sick. If God wants people sick, there should at least be one incident in the gospel where you see Him saying, "Behold, your complexion is too lovely, receive leprosy." or "Blindness is good for you. Remain blind." But no, never once! In fact, Jesus "went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil." (Acts 10:38). That's the heart of God.
As a father, if your child is sick and in great pain, your heart just wants him well. How much more your heavenly Father! God does not give your child sicknesses to teach both of you some lesson or to glorify Himself. To think so is to talk out of a warped mind bound by religion! Christianity is not a religion. It is a relationship with your Father in heaven. It is a heart matter.
As His heart speaks to your heart, saying, "I will never ever punish My children. I do not wish you ill. I will not take away your child. I will not give you car wrecks to teach you a lesson. My heart always wants My children well!"
9Jesus said to him, "... He who has seen Me has seen the Father..."
Imagine the following scenario :
"Come here, girl. Mummy says that you have been playing by the roadside. Is that true?"
"Yes, Daddy. I'm sorry."
"Sorry? How many times have I told you that you must not play near the road? Come here! Now, lie down on the road and stretch out your legs!"
Daddy drives his car over his little girl's legs. There is the sound of bones being crushed and the poor girl screams in pain.
"Now girl, you know Daddy loves you. And Daddy did that to you to teach you a lesson, to tell you that playing by the roadside is dangerous!"
If you are shaking your head in horror by now, wondering which sick mind would do that to one's own daughter, imagine what people are accusing our heavenly Father of - that He gives sicknesses, accidents, destruction, and even death just to teach people lessons.
Jesus said, "If you have seen Me, you have seen the Father." Jesus is the nature of God in action. Throughout the gospel, we see God going about healing the sick. If God wants people sick, there should at least be one incident in the gospel where you see Him saying, "Behold, your complexion is too lovely, receive leprosy." or "Blindness is good for you. Remain blind." But no, never once! In fact, Jesus "went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil." (Acts 10:38). That's the heart of God.
As a father, if your child is sick and in great pain, your heart just wants him well. How much more your heavenly Father! God does not give your child sicknesses to teach both of you some lesson or to glorify Himself. To think so is to talk out of a warped mind bound by religion! Christianity is not a religion. It is a relationship with your Father in heaven. It is a heart matter.
As His heart speaks to your heart, saying, "I will never ever punish My children. I do not wish you ill. I will not take away your child. I will not give you car wrecks to teach you a lesson. My heart always wants My children well!"
Thanking God At All Times!
Hebrews 13:15
15Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
"God, I can't thank You enough for this miracle!"
"Thank You, Father, for answering my prayer!"
Lifting up your hands and thanking God is spontaneous and easy when you have just received a wonderful blessing. Perhaps you came so close to being killed, but God protected you and plucked you out of danger just in time. Or your grandmother, an unbeliever for many years, finally received Jesus as her Saviour and got healed from a long-term disease.
But there are times when you don't feel like lifting up your hands to thank and praise God - yet you do it.
Perhaps you feel very discouraged lately. Perhaps everything is going wrong for you and you feel like you are not in control of your life. You can't even control your tears. Still, you make a conscious decision to lift your hands and thank God for being in the situation with you. You open your mouth and begin to praise Him even though you really don't feel like doing it.
In the midst of the trial that you are going through, you praise Him that He is your righteousness in spite of all the mistakes you have made. You thank Him because He is your Prince of Peace, and that He will bring His peace into you and His calm into your chaotic world.
My friend, God sees and appreciates such times when, despite feeling so discouraged and depressed, you offer a freewill thanksgiving offering to Him (Leviticus 7:16). In fact, your thanksgiving during such times is more highly prized by Him than your thanksgiving during those times you are feeling joyful because you have just been blessed.
And when you choose to thank Him for His unfailing love and His faithfulness to deliver, protect and provide for you even when you don't see it yet, before long, you will find yourself experiencing and enjoying the blessings! So, lift your hands and praise the Lord, for He is good, and His mercy endures forever (Psalm 106:1).
15Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
"God, I can't thank You enough for this miracle!"
"Thank You, Father, for answering my prayer!"
Lifting up your hands and thanking God is spontaneous and easy when you have just received a wonderful blessing. Perhaps you came so close to being killed, but God protected you and plucked you out of danger just in time. Or your grandmother, an unbeliever for many years, finally received Jesus as her Saviour and got healed from a long-term disease.
But there are times when you don't feel like lifting up your hands to thank and praise God - yet you do it.
Perhaps you feel very discouraged lately. Perhaps everything is going wrong for you and you feel like you are not in control of your life. You can't even control your tears. Still, you make a conscious decision to lift your hands and thank God for being in the situation with you. You open your mouth and begin to praise Him even though you really don't feel like doing it.
In the midst of the trial that you are going through, you praise Him that He is your righteousness in spite of all the mistakes you have made. You thank Him because He is your Prince of Peace, and that He will bring His peace into you and His calm into your chaotic world.
My friend, God sees and appreciates such times when, despite feeling so discouraged and depressed, you offer a freewill thanksgiving offering to Him (Leviticus 7:16). In fact, your thanksgiving during such times is more highly prized by Him than your thanksgiving during those times you are feeling joyful because you have just been blessed.
And when you choose to thank Him for His unfailing love and His faithfulness to deliver, protect and provide for you even when you don't see it yet, before long, you will find yourself experiencing and enjoying the blessings! So, lift your hands and praise the Lord, for He is good, and His mercy endures forever (Psalm 106:1).
God Wants You Free From Worries!
Matthew 6:25
25Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what will you eat or what will you drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
Is your heart full of worries about your health, finance, family, or future? Even when all is well, you still worry because you have heard people say, "You should worry when everything is peaceful because something is wrong when the devil leaves you alone." So you worry even when there is nothing to worry about!
But Jesus does not want you to worry about what you will eat or drink, or about your body and what you will put on your back. He tells you not to worry about your daily provisions because God, who is your heavenly Father, knows that you need all these things and He wants to add these things to you (Matthew 6:32-33).
God is the same God who took care of the children of Israel in the wilderness, feeding them with manna every day for 40 years! (Exodus 16). Under His care, His people had no lack. When the people wanted meat for dinner, God simply rained quails on them (Numbers 11:31-32). The children of Israel only had to pick them up. If they had gone to look for meat themselves, they may not have found any in the desert.
The problem with us is that we feel that we must do something to help ourselves. Some of us may think that it is easy for Jesus to say, "Don't worry. Take no thought for your life" because He does not know the problems we face in life.
But the truth is that Jesus knows the problems we face in life. In fact, He faced what I would call the "final problem" - death. Death is the "final problem" because it puts an end to all our other problems. Jesus faced death at the cross, conquered it and rose from the dead. And because He conquered the problem of problems, we ought to trust Him when He tells us, "Do not worry."
25Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what will you eat or what will you drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
Is your heart full of worries about your health, finance, family, or future? Even when all is well, you still worry because you have heard people say, "You should worry when everything is peaceful because something is wrong when the devil leaves you alone." So you worry even when there is nothing to worry about!
But Jesus does not want you to worry about what you will eat or drink, or about your body and what you will put on your back. He tells you not to worry about your daily provisions because God, who is your heavenly Father, knows that you need all these things and He wants to add these things to you (Matthew 6:32-33).
God is the same God who took care of the children of Israel in the wilderness, feeding them with manna every day for 40 years! (Exodus 16). Under His care, His people had no lack. When the people wanted meat for dinner, God simply rained quails on them (Numbers 11:31-32). The children of Israel only had to pick them up. If they had gone to look for meat themselves, they may not have found any in the desert.
The problem with us is that we feel that we must do something to help ourselves. Some of us may think that it is easy for Jesus to say, "Don't worry. Take no thought for your life" because He does not know the problems we face in life.
But the truth is that Jesus knows the problems we face in life. In fact, He faced what I would call the "final problem" - death. Death is the "final problem" because it puts an end to all our other problems. Jesus faced death at the cross, conquered it and rose from the dead. And because He conquered the problem of problems, we ought to trust Him when He tells us, "Do not worry."
Like Father, Like Son!
Romans 8:16
16The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God...
Everything produces after its kind. Dogs give birth to puppies, cats give birth to kittens and tigers give birth to tiger cubs.
In the same manner, when you are born again, you are born of God. You are a child of the Most High God and He is your Father. He doesn't see you in the flesh, He sees you in the Spirit. And His Spirit bears witness with your spirit that you are His child.
So, when the devil comes to you and says, "Well, your father died of cancer, his father died of cancer, and you are going to die of cancer, just like your father," you should say to him, "Yes, devil, you are right, I am like my father - my Father in Heaven. I am a child of the Most High God. He doesn't have cancer, so neither do I!"
In the same way, when you are born again of the Spirit, you are born to win. Because your Daddy God is a winner, you are too! When you wake up in the morning, say, "I am born to be a winner because God is a winner!"
When you say that you cannot afford to buy something that you need, you have forgotten which family you now belong to. You have been born again into a very rich family - your Father owns every beast in the forest and the cattle on a thousand hills! (Psalm 50:10). You have a Daddy God in Heaven who can supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19). Even if you don't have the money now, you need not worry. Just ask God for the supply because your Heavenly Father is rich.
When someone talks to you about a problem and asks, "What are we going to do about it?" you should say, "Don't worry. Let's talk to Daddy God about it. It's not a problem for Him, so it will not be a problem for us."
Even when all around you is going under, your Daddy God is still the same heavenly Father who kept Noah's world afloat, his loved ones safe and sound, and his possessions intact. Your world will never go under because you are God's beloved child!
16The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God...
Everything produces after its kind. Dogs give birth to puppies, cats give birth to kittens and tigers give birth to tiger cubs.
In the same manner, when you are born again, you are born of God. You are a child of the Most High God and He is your Father. He doesn't see you in the flesh, He sees you in the Spirit. And His Spirit bears witness with your spirit that you are His child.
So, when the devil comes to you and says, "Well, your father died of cancer, his father died of cancer, and you are going to die of cancer, just like your father," you should say to him, "Yes, devil, you are right, I am like my father - my Father in Heaven. I am a child of the Most High God. He doesn't have cancer, so neither do I!"
In the same way, when you are born again of the Spirit, you are born to win. Because your Daddy God is a winner, you are too! When you wake up in the morning, say, "I am born to be a winner because God is a winner!"
When you say that you cannot afford to buy something that you need, you have forgotten which family you now belong to. You have been born again into a very rich family - your Father owns every beast in the forest and the cattle on a thousand hills! (Psalm 50:10). You have a Daddy God in Heaven who can supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19). Even if you don't have the money now, you need not worry. Just ask God for the supply because your Heavenly Father is rich.
When someone talks to you about a problem and asks, "What are we going to do about it?" you should say, "Don't worry. Let's talk to Daddy God about it. It's not a problem for Him, so it will not be a problem for us."
Even when all around you is going under, your Daddy God is still the same heavenly Father who kept Noah's world afloat, his loved ones safe and sound, and his possessions intact. Your world will never go under because you are God's beloved child!
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