"Trusting In The Temporary"

"He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; but the righteous shall flourish as a branch." Proverbs 11:28 

It is amazing how many people put their trust in the "all-mighty dollar". They act like as long as they have plenty of them it will save them, protect them and solve all their problems. The Bible says that riches will make themselves wings and fly away. You can be rich today and a pauper tomorrow. All it takes is for one catastrophe to hit and wipe out a life's savings. One bad decision can bankrupt you. A crash in the stock market and it could all be gone. There was a period in our history when Confederate money was valuable- it was "real" money. But now it is sold as souvenirs in stores or lives as a reminder of the past in our museums. A fire could burn it all up; a flood could wash it all away. Why would a person put their trust in paper, gold or silver? It is all temporary.

 

The bottom line is-- why would we put our trust in anything that is temporary? Why would we put it in things that give us no guarantees? There is nothing in this life that gives us any guarantees for happiness, security or hope. This is a depressing thought if I were to just leave it at that, but there is a place where we can put our trust. It is in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

 

When we place our trust in Him, we are placing it in one who is not temporary- He is eternal. We are placing it in one who is not affected by what is happening in the natural. When we place it in Him, we do not have to worry, or wonder, if we are secure. He won't take wings and fly away. He isn't affected by the stock market, laws of Congress, the economy, fire, water, wind or storms. He won't cave in when catastrophes come. Our bad decisions or nothing we do changes, minimizes or depletes Him. He will remain if everything else is gone. 

 

So where are you going to place your trust? In something that is temporary and subject to change and failure? Or will you put your trust in the Eternal One who does not change or fail?

 

Have a great day. If you put your trust in temporary things, they will fail you. But when you put your trust in Jesus, He will never fail. 

 

For further reading:

Proverbs 23:5; 11:4; 13:7; 27:24

Psalm 62:10

Matthew 6:19

"The Ark Of Rest"

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Mathew 11:28 

This scripture has come up several times to me over the last couple of weeks. The Lord keeps bringing me back to the subject of rest. I believe that is because rest is not an "event". It is not something that happens to you one time. It is not something that happens periodically like a holiday. Rest is not a thing, or an emotional state, rest is a place. It is a place where we are to dwell. As Christians we should be living in a place called "Rest". 

 

Where is that place you ask? To find it you must realize that it is not just a place either, it is a person-- the Lord Jesus and God the Father. He is the place of rest. He is our dwelling place. That place is found in Him because it is Him. "Come unto Me, and I will give you rest."

 

The place of rest is not to be misunderstood as deliverance "from" problems, trials, temptations, heartaches. Instead, it is safety "in", or during, problems, trials, temptations and heartaches. The rain was falling, the flood waters were rising, people were screaming and dying all around Noah, he wasn't delivered out the flood, but he was safe and protected during it. He was in a dwelling place-- the ark. It was now his home, it was now his shelter, it was his refuge. As long as Noah stayed in the ark he was protected during the rain. As long as he remained in the ark the flood waters could not drown or destroy him. It was his safe haven; therefore, he had nothing to fear. He could "rest"- be at peace inwardly. 

 

The Lord is our "ark"-- our place of safety, shelter, refuge, protection and rest. As long as we "abide" in Him, we can rest knowing that He surrounds us and keeps us safe. Even though there may be "flood waters" all around us, as long as we dwell in Him, we don't have to worry or fear that they will drown us-- that is rest.

 

Have a great day. The Lord Himself is our place of rest. 

 

For further reading:

John 15:4,7

Psalm 91:1

1 John 2:28

"What Are You Doing?"

"He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him." Proverbs 11:27 

When I read this verse, two other scriptures come to mind: "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." (Galatians 6:7) ^"But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the Lord: and be sure your sin will find you out." (Numbers 32:23)

 

If we are diligent to seek after and do that which is good, then in the end we will reap favor- the favor of God. There are always blessings attached to doing what is right in the sight of God. Obedience to His Word is the greatest "good" we can do. And when we are obedient we reap a harvest of blessings. I know, it may not always seem like blessings are upon us when we obey. Sometimes it seems like it causes us more problems and gets us into trouble. Paul and Silas obeyed God and they were thrown into prison. Many are obeying God yet they are facing persecution. This may be the case, but never stop seeking to do good. Never stop obeying. As I have said, there will always be blessings that are attached to doing good and we will reap them in due season. These blessings include favor, peace of mind, freedom (mentally and emotionally) and in the life to come a crown of life. 

 

Those who seek to do "mischief" (also interpreted evil, wrong, injury) will reap the mischief they have done. Whatever you sow you will reap. It will come back on you. You will not be able to hide it. Thus, the second scripture that came to mind. You may do mischief and think you have gotten away with it, but you are only deceiving yourself--- "be sure your sin will find you out". So many are living a life of self-deception thinking they are on top of the world and are getting away with the evil they are doing or have done. But there comes a reckoning day for all. If a person doesn't "get caught" here, they will in the life to come. And then it will not be man that they are standing before but God Himself... and nothing is hid from Him. 

 

Whatever we do- good or bad- we will reap either blessings or consequences for it here and now and in eternity. Therefore, it should compel us to do what is right and live our lives seeking to do what is pleasing in God's sight because God keeps good records and will reward us accordingly one day.

 

Have a great day. Whatever you do- if it is seeking to do good or seeking to do evil- you will reap the same. 

 

For further reading:

Mark 4:22

Hebrews 4:13

Luke 8:17

 

"Who's My Enemy?"

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Ephesians 6:12 

I have noticed over the past few weeks that in most of my Bible reading there are passages about "enemies". These passages are either talking about being pursued by an enemy, enemies rising up against them, or defeat and victory over an enemy. 

 

We all have an enemy. But it is important to identify who the enemy is if we are going to overcome them. Let me start off by talking about who your enemy is not. Your enemy is not that co-worker who is trying to make you look bad to your boss. Your enemy is not your spouse even if they are mistreating you. Your enemy is not that rebellious child. Your enemy is not the friend who has betrayed you. Your enemy is not that person that keeps lying about you. Your enemy is not that person who has been stealing from you. They are all being used by "the enemy". 

 

As I said earlier, we all have an enemy-- this enemy is very real. This enemy is out to steal, kill and destroy us. This enemy was present in the Garden of Eden and is still present today. The enemy is the devil. He will use human beings to try to "attack" each other. He uses flesh and blood beings to carry out his plan of destruction. He is a liar and prompts others to lie. He is a deceiver, he is evil, he tries to destroy homes, character, reputation, relationships and lives, and mostly your relationship with God.

 

It is important that we recognize who our real enemy is so that we aren't fighting the wrong battles. If we are fighting/wrestling against each other then the real enemy is ignored and left to continue his destruction. Get your eyes off of the person who is against you, who is causing you grief, causing you pain, causing you all sorts of problems. And remember that they aren't your problem, the devil behind it is, they are only being used as an instrument in his hands. Once you identify who it really is, then fight him with the weapons that God has given you. And remember also that Jesus already gave you victory over him.

 

Have a great day. We all have an enemy, but it is not that human person-- they are only being used by the real enemy.

 

For further reading:

John 10:10

1 John 3:8

Hebrews 2:14

1 Peter 5:8

Revelation 12:9

"Anxiety Free"

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God." Philippians 4:6 (NKJV) 

We could keep from having a lot of anxiety, grief and heartache that we encounter if we would seek the Lord in prayer about everything we do; if we would pray before we make any move or decision; and if we would pray when we are seeking a solution to a situation that we are facing.

 

"But I have prayed". Did you? How did you pray? Did you pray with your mind already made up? Was your prayer a request asking God to bless what you had already decided to do? Was your prayer more of an effort to try to convince God that this was the right thing, or were you earnestly and sincerely seeking His will and guidance? More often than not, when we pray about a matter we have already decided what we are going to do and we are just trying to get God on board with our plans. 

 

As long as we continue to pray like this, we will continue to keep making mistakes and doing the wrong thing. And the result will be anxiety, grief, suffering, confusion, etc. There was a reason why He said to acknowledge Him in all our ways. We don't have the ability to direct our own steps. We don't know the outcome before the beginning. We don't know what is around the corner or in the future. But God does and He has a promise attached to acknowledging Him in all our ways-- He will direct our paths. 

 

If you want to have the right answer, go in the right direction, do the right thing, and have peace in your decisions, then stop going to God in prayer with your own plans and preconceived ideas of His answer. Humbly and sincerely seek Him, laying your own answers aside to hear from Him. If you will, you will stop anxiety from entering into your life.

 

Have a great day. How can we stop a lot of anxiety in our lives? By going to God in prayer and sincerely seeking His answer, not having our minds already made up about the situation. 

 

For further reading:

Proverbs 3:5,6

Jeremiah 10:23

John 15:5

Isaiah 29:13

"Your Answer"

"Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life." John 6:68 

There is a hurting world out there. It doesn't matter if you live in America or Africa, you will find hurting people everywhere. Hurting people are looking for an answer to the pain they are experiencing. They look for it through drugs, alcohol, sex, education, entertainment and wealth, but to no avail. They may find it temporarily in these things, but it is only temporary, it soon wears off.

 

So, is there an answer, and if so, what is it? I have good news, there is an answer, His name is Jesus. Jesus is the answer for the world. Jesus is the answer to your questions. Jesus is the answer for your hurt. He is the answer to your pain and problems. You have probably heard this repeatedly for a long time, but it is still true. He is the answer. 

 

He was the answer when the Israelites were hemmed in between the Red Sea and Pharaoh's army. He was the answer when they needed water in the desert. Jesus was the answer when the woman was caught in the act of adultery. Jesus was the answer for the lepers who were isolated from the rest of society. He was the answer when Daniel was in the lion's den. He was the answer for the thief on the cross. He was even the answer when Peter denied Him three times. 

 

Jesus has always been and will always be the answer. When Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden, God immediately came with their answer for redemption- Jesus. "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." (Genesis 3:15) At the end of the age, God will continue to reveal our answer- Jesus. "And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful." (Revelation 21:5)

 

Have a great day. Jesus is the answer to all of life's pain and problems-- He always has been and always will be. 

 

For further reading:

Matthew 11:28

John 14:27

Hebrews 13:6

 

"Revealed To All"

"At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes." Matthew 11:25 

Spiritual revelation, insight and understanding comes from the Father. There is a knowledge that we can gain through study but the "spirit" of what is being said comes only from the Father through the Spirit. "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." (John 6:63) 

 

Many read their Bible but they never "hear" or "see" what it says. They just gain a knowledge of "facts and figures" about it. The Bible is more than facts and figures, it is a Person. From cover to cover, Genesis to Revelation, it is a revelation of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. It is a revelation of this wonderful Triune God and the great love He has for mankind.

I have come across many books that are so far above my understanding that it was pointless to read them. They are too intelligent in content for me to comprehend what is being written. The Bible is not like that although I have heard so many people say that the Bible is hard to understand. It is only hard when you are trying to understand it on a mental level. It is spiritual. And therefore it has to be read "spiritually". Now, the beautiful thing about that is, not only has God given us His Word, this wonderful revelation of Himself, but He also gives us the understanding of what it means. And even more beautiful than that is the fact that He will reveal it to all- not just the intellectual, not just the learned, but He will reveal it even to a child. God shows no respect to persons. He desires to reveal Himself to all and will to those who in turn want to know Him and will humble themselves to seek Him. He doesn't deny a person just because they are poor, uneducated, young, of a lower social status, unpopular, etc. We see within the pages of the Bible that He revealed Himself to the elite, the wealthy, the poor, the prostitute, tax collectors, lepers, the outcast, the common people and babes. 

 

He desires to reveal Himself to you this morning, regardless of where you are and who you are. He loves us all and wants to show us who He is. Had He not, He never would have given us His Word or sent the Living Word, Jesus, into the world. "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father." (John 14:9)

 

Have a great day. God is not a respecter of persons. He desires to reveal Himself to all. 

 

For further reading:

Psalm 40:7

Hebrews 10:7

John 1:1,14; 3:16

Romans 2:11

 

"Eat And Give Thanks"

"And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat." Acts 27:35 

This scripture passage comes from the story of Paul when he was a prisoner on a ship heading to Rome. The ship had been caught in a storm for the past fourteen days. At this point Paul had received a word from the Lord that the ship would be destroyed but all the men would be saved. No one had eaten during the whole time. So Paul then admonishes them to take bread and as they did he gave thanks.

 

When you are in a storm, "take bread and give thanks". Don't wait until the storm has passed. Bread represents the Word of God. Keep yourself "nourished" with God's Word. Partake of it often. Feast on it. Consume it. Hold on to it. Believe it. His Word will give you strength, courage, guidance, enlightenment, wisdom, faith and everything else you need. Don't neglect His Word.

 

When you are in a storm, don't neglect to give God thanks. Prayers of thanksgiving and praise will bring His presence into your situation. Again, don't wait until the storm has passed to give thanks. He is worthy of praise, honor and thanksgiving regardless of the situation that you are in. Thanking Him even in the storm will get your eyes on Him and help you to refocus-- which will in turn strengthen your faith. When we are constantly focused on our situation, it robs us of our faith and breeds fear and discouragement. Thanksgiving will put us back where we need to be-- trusting the Lord to see us through.

 

So if you are facing a storm today, keep "eating" God's Word and giving Him thanks.

 

Have a great day. When you are facing a storm, don't neglect God's Word and giving Him thanks. 

 

For further reading:

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Psalm 119:105

"His Invitation"

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." Matthew 11:29

 Our Lord Jesus is offering us an invitation here to come to Him and take His yoke upon us. Both of these involve a choice on our part. We have to choose to accept His invitation or refuse it. Coming to Him or not is a choice you have to make. Taking His yoke upon you or not is a choice you have to make as well. It isn't automatic. The words "come" and "take" are both action verbs, therefore, they involve action on the part of the one to whom the invitation has been extended. 

 

Will you come to Him and let Him give you rest from the burden you are carrying? The invitation does not specify what the burden is, it invites you to come with whatever is weighing you down. Maybe it is a burden of grief, of pain, of confusion, a broken relationship, an illness, etc. The invitation is to bring it to Jesus no matter what it is.

 

Will you take His yoke upon you? This invitation involves an exchange. He is offering for you to not only take His yoke but give Him yours at the same time. What is this yoke? It represents two things. First it represents submission. Farmers would put yokes on their cows or oxen, and they would submit to the famer's directions and will. When we take on Jesus' yoke, it means that we are putting ourselves in His hands. We are letting Him lead us. We are no longer trying to go our own way. The result is "rest to our souls". Because when we are in His hands, we are no longer struggling with the burden we are carrying, we have exchanged it and it has now become His. 

 

Second the yoke represents grace. Grace is God's favor upon you. It is His merciful kindness being bestowed upon those who will receive it. It is His own influence and ability in our lives that will strengthen us, empower us, keep us, increase our faith and helps us to walk in the Christian virtues. That means His grace gives us peace in times of confusion, strength in times of weakness, faith in times of fear, help in times of trouble and love in times of betrayal. 

 

The invitation is extended from Jesus Himself, will you accept it? Will you come to Him? Will you take His yoke upon you? Will you submit to Him? Will you receive His grace? Will you give Him your heavy burden? Will you give Him the yoke you are carrying? Will you receive the rest that He is offering? The choice is up to you.

 

Have a great day. The only way to have true rest and peace is by accepting Jesus' invitation to come to Him and receive His yoke of submission (putting yourself in His loving hands) and His yoke of grace (His merciful kindness and ability). 

 

For further reading:

2 Corinthians 12:9

Isaiah 53

"Real Love"

"Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NKJV) 

Yesterday we celebrated Valentine's Day. It's a time for expressing our love to family and friends. Many exchanged cards of affection, candy and flowers hoping to relate a message of love to the recipient. It's nice to receive a card that says you are loved, candy, flowers or some other token. But these aren't real love, they are only material expressions. They can be given with no genuine love behind them. As a matter of fact, some are given out of duty or pressure because the holiday dictates that you do it. 

 

Just because a gift of love is given doesn't mean that love exist. Love is not a gift, it is not a feeling, it is not some show of affection. Love is a person. "God is love". We can't truly love as we should without the person of love (Jesus) in our hearts and lives. It is then that we experience real love and can give real love to someone else. 

 

Real love is not a material item that you give as a gift, real love is demonstrated in your treatment of that person. You can say, "I love you", all day long; you can buy the biggest box of candy in the store; you can buy dozens of roses; you can buy the most expensive ring they make, but that is not the real proof of love. The greatest expression of love is that you are willing to lay down your life for that person. Yes, it means literally if the situation comes to that, but I am mostly talking about laying down your life by putting yourself last and the person you say you love first- above your own self and desires. Real love treats that person with kindness, not rudeness. Real love isn't abusive, proud, overbearing, dominating or cruel. Real love doesn't cheat, it doesn't take advantage, it doesn't hurt, it doesn't do evil against them. 

 

The material expressions that we have named are only temporary- cards get lost, flowers fade, candy is soon eaten, jewelry can be stolen- but real love lasts day in and day out regardless of the tests it is put through. Real love is evident and expressed in word and action even when it is not pressured by a holiday to acknowledge it. 

 

Have a great day. Real love is not some material item you give to another person. Real love is demonstrated by the way you treat that person. 

 

For further reading:

1 Corinthians 13

1 John 4:7,8

John 15:13

 

"Entangled Through Neglect"

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." Galatians 5:1 

"Entangled again". Why do we keep getting entangled over and over again with the same besetting sins or habits? You would think that once we have gained victory and stopped, we would never do them again. But that is not always the case. 

 

It is possible for us to stand fast in freedom and victory because Christ has made us free. Entanglement happens again for several reasons. It happens when we neglect to do those things that keep us spiritually strong. Things such as putting on the full armor of God every day; renewing our minds with the word of God; building up our most holy faith by praying in the Spirit; walking in an attitude of praise; prayer and daily communion with the Lord.

 

It happens when we get our eyes off of the eternal prize and on temporary things. It happens when we ignore or rebel against the Spirit's warning, wooing and conviction. It happens when we think we can take care of the temptations on our own and don't seek the Lord's help. 

 

At the root of our entanglement, we will find either one, some or all of these reasons are present. The way to keep from getting entangled by our flesh and continue to walk in the Spirit is to not neglect those things that made us free to begin with and will keep us free.

 

Have a great day. When we get entangled again by the yokes and habits of the flesh, it is because we have neglected doing those things that keep us free. 

 

For further reading:

Hebrews 2:3

Galatians 5:16

Ephesians 6:13

Romans 12:2

"Do Not Underestimate God"

"And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever." Exodus 14:13

Never underestimate the power of God! The Israelites had seen the power of God demonstrated in Egypt through each of the plagues. They had seen Him bring darkness upon the land, hail stones, turn the waters of Egypt into blood and protect them while death passed throughout the land. Yet here they are standing before the Red Sea in fear of Pharaoh behind them and the sea in front of them. 

 

How did they not know that God would deliver them? Why didn't they trust Him? After all, they had already seen His power, they had seen Him do so many miracles. The reason-- "Fear ye not". Fear will rob you of faith and cause you to believe its report and not God. It will cause you to doubt and underestimate God's ability to save you, deliver you, heal you, provide for you, keep His word to you or come through for you. 

 

Are you like those Israelites? You have seen the power of God. He has moved on your behalf time and time again. You know He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all you can ask or think but this time you are doubting? You are thinking that this is too big even for God. God's word to you is-- do not fear and do not underestimate His power. He is All Powerful! With Him nothing is impossible. He is able to open up the sea before you. He is able to destroy the enemy behind you. He is able to pull down the giant with a small stone. He can still bring water from a rock. He is able to quench the fire, shut the lion's mouths and cause the mountain to be cast into the sea. 

 

Again, do not underestimate His power! This is not a man we are talking about. This is not just another person. This is not an angelic being. This is not some elderly God who has become weak and tired. He is God-- the Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent, Creator of the universe, who only has to think it and it happens. 

 

Have a great day. Do not underestimate the power of the Lord!

 

For further reading:

Luke 1:37

Ephesians 3:20

Matthew 8:26

"Moses Is Dead"

"Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel." Joshua 1:2 

"And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended." (Deuteronomy 34:8) The Lord has laid a word on my heart this morning that is for all of us but I also believe that it is a specific word for someone. The word is-- "Moses is dead". 

 

When Moses died, the Lord allowed the children of Israel to mourn for him for thirty days but then it was time to move on. The word for you this morning is that it is time to move on and stop mourning that last season of your life. It is time to stop looking at the past-- the season in the wilderness, and the memories of the miraculous. 

 

The Israelites under Moses not only had the wilderness experience but they experienced a great deliverance from bondage. They saw the plagues on Egypt while being protected themselves. They left Egypt with its wealth. They saw God open up the sea and make it dry ground, they saw Pharaoh's army drowned in the same miracle. But now it was time to leave those past experiences- the glorious ones as well as the difficult ones. 

 

It is time for you to leave the victories and defeats of the past in the past-- Moses is dead! God is wanting to take you into a new season, into new lands, new victories, new opportunities, new blessings, new miracles. But if you keep looking at and focusing on the past- even the past blessings and miracles- it will stop you from going forward into the "promised land".

 

Don't stay tied to your past, it is past- bury it and don't mourn its passing any longer. Look ahead to the "land" that the Lord desires to give you now. 

 

Have a great day. Stop mourning Moses- what once was- so that you don't miss what God is wanting to do in, and through, your life now. 

 

For further reading:

Isaiah 43:19

Philippians 3:13

"Belief Equals Sharing"

"And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day." Matthew 11:23

Jesus did so many mightily works among the people. He did miracles, He revealed who the Heavenly Father was, He preached the truth of the Kingdom to them. Yet, they did not believe. They ignored and rejected it. I just wonder, "What about us?" What are we doing with what we know and have seen Him do?

 

As Christians, we have seen the works of God in our own lives. We have had so many answers to prayers. We have access to the preaching of the gospel almost 24 hour a day- so we should know the truth. We all have a testimony of the saving grace, love and goodness of the Lord. We have seen His power to heal, deliver and transform our lives. He has given every born-again believer the greatest miracle ever-- salvation, a new life. 

 

Are we doing the same thing they did? Do we still reject? Do we keep it to ourselves and not share our testimonies with others? Are we neglecting to reveal who the Heavenly Father is by hiding our light, by denying Him in our actions, attitudes and conduct? We have all seen God do great and mighty things in our lives-- I know I have, too many to name-- but if we aren't sharing them, if we aren't testifying of them, if we aren't sharing who Jesus is with others, then in a sense we are doing, or acting, like those who don't believe. Where is the difference?

 

What has He done for you? When was the last time you shared it? When was the last time you did a good work that caused others to glorify your Father in heaven? Are you hiding your light or letting it shine brightly?

 

Have a great day. When we never share who Jesus is and what He has done in our lives, we are acting as a non-believer.

 

For further reading:

Matthew 5:16

Mark 16:15

1 John 4:13-15

 

"Touch His Hem"

"And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?" Mark 5:30 

When we think about the story of the woman with the issue of blood, and how she touched the hem of Jesus' garment and was healed, we usually think about it for physical healing only. But when she touched His hem, virtue (defined as strength, power, resources, and power for performing miracles) flowed from Him. Power flowed from Him and it touched her in the area of her need-- physical healing.

 

What is your need this today? Do you need a healing? Do you need salvation? Do you need peace? Do you need guidance concerning a matter? Do you need deliverance from a besetting sin? Do you need wisdom? Do you need strength? Whatever it is your answer lies in "touching the hem of His garment". 

 

How do you touch His hem? You touch it through prayer. You press your way into His presence until His power touches you healing the area that you are struggling with. For instance, if you are struggling with an issue of loving and forgiving a certain person, once you "touch His hem" His virtue of love will flow into you and heal you of your struggle. If you are struggling with confusion, when you press in until you touch His hem, His virtue will flow into you in the form of peace and the confusion will leave. 

 

Are struggling with an issue? Are you weighted down by a matter? Have you done all you know to do on your own? Then you need to "touch His hem". You need to get to Him in prayer and let His virtue come into that area to heal and deliver you. 

 

Have a great day. If you are struggling with an issue, touch the hem of Jesus' garment by going to Him in prayer and His power will bring an end to your struggle.

 

For further reading:

Mark 5:25-34

"Dry And Thirsty"

"There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink." John 4:7 

This woman was at the well to draw water. Water that was needed to quench her physical thirst. But she had more than a physical thirst-- she was dry and thirsty inside. That was evident because she had spent her life trying to quench that place within her through one broken relationship after another. "Thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband."

 

The thirst that she had could only be quenched by "living water". That day she discovered it and from that time on she never thirsted again. She recognized that what she needed was standing before her. She realized that what she had tried to quench her thirst with had not worked-- she was still thirsty. When Jesus offered the living water to her, she knew that this was what she had been looking for and so she received it.

 

Are you dry and thirsty this morning? Are you trying to quench that thirst by yourself-- through relationships, entertainment, education, etc.? Has it worked? Try as we may but everything that we try still leaves us dry and thirsty. As He did to the woman that day, Jesus is offering you the same living water that will quench your thirst. Will you receive it? Perhaps you have received it before but now you are dry and thirsty again? That is not the "waters" fault. Like the woman, He quenched her thirst and will quench yours too. But once He has you have to continue to drink from the living water that keeps you "hydrated". Drink from the well of salvation if you have not. And if you have, keep drinking and you will never thirst again. 

 

Have a great day. Are you dry and thirsty inside? Jesus is offering you water to drink that will quench your thirst and you will never thirst again. 

 

For further reading:

John 4:1-29

Isaiah 12:3; 55:1

"Learn To Rest"

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." Matthew 11:28,29 

Rest, everyone is looking for rest. Even in the secular world there is a cry for "world peace"-- rest from war, rest from strife, rest from division, rest from turmoil, from fear and anxiety. This rest and peace is searched for through religious practices, philosophy, compromise and appeasement. But to no avail.

 

There is only one place where we find true peace and rest. As the old hymn says, "There is a place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God." As the Bible says, "Come unto Me, and I will give you rest, and you shall find rest for your soul". True rest and peace are found in God alone. Jesus is the Prince of Peace. 

 

To find that rest in God we must: come to Him, take His yoke upon us, learn of Him. To get to this rest is a process. First step is "come to Him". The next step is "take His yoke upon you"- in other words, make an exchange once you come to Him by casting your heavy burden on Him and taking His light one. The third step is "learn on Me". The more you learn about Jesus- not just facts and figures- but learn about Him personally, one on one, intimately- the more rest you will find and enjoy. 

 

Learning of Him is done the same way as learning of anyone else, it happens by spending time with them. The more time you spend with Him in prayer and in His word, the better "acquainted" with Him you will become. The more acquainted you become, the more you know about Him. The more you know about Him, the deeper your faith in Him grows. The deeper your faith in Him grows, the more rest you will have because you KNOW that He loves you, He is trustworthy, He is faithful, He will never let you down, He will never leave you, He is for you and He is working on your behalf. If that doesn't bring peace and rest and calm the agitation and fearfulness and remove the heavy burden you are laboring under--- nothing will.

 

Have a great day. Are you looking for rest? It is found in Jesus. The more you learn about Him in intimacy the more rest you experience in Him. 

 

For further reading:

Hebrews 4:1,9,11

Psalm 37:7

Isaiah 9:6

"His Faithfulness Is Great"

"They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness." Lamentations 3:23

 All morning the words of an old hymn having been repeating in my thoughts. The hymn is, "Great Is Thy Faithfulness". I have typed the words below for those of you who may not know the song or for those who need to be reminded of the words. The chorus and verses are a "sermon" in themselves and if I didn't say anything else this morning you would be encouraged by them. 

 

But I do want to remind you that God is faithful. What He says He will do, He will do. He is faithful even when we are not-- our lack of faithfulness will not change His faithfulness. He has always been faithful- you will never find one time when He has not been. He is faithful- past, present and future. His faithfulness is great and beyond measure. 

 

Today lean upon the faithfulness of God. You can trust that He will always be faithful. Put your faith in Him and His ability, not yours. He will never fail you, and He will never let you down. 

 

“Great is Thy faithfulness,” O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

 

“Great is Thy faithfulness!” “Great is Thy faithfulness!“
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—
“Great is Thy faithfulness,” Lord, unto me!

 

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

 

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

 

Have a great day. The Lord is faithful, and great is His faithfulness. 

 

For further reading:

2 Timothy 2:13

Hebrews 2:17; 10:23

1 Peter 4:19

"Seek Him Now"

"Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near." Isaiah 55:6 

When you read this verse, it gives an indication that there may be a time when the Lord won't be found when you seek Him, or He won't be near. The verse seems to give a warning as well as an invitation. Will there be a time when we won't find Him as we seek Him? Will there be a time that He will not be near to us when we call upon Him? The real message here is that the best time to seek and call upon Him is "now". 

 

Don't put off seeking Him. Don't wait until tomorrow. Don't wait for "brighter" days or "better" times to seek Him. Don't wait until you get your life straight and things are going well. Don't wait until you are in a trial or facing problems and need an answer. Don't wait for all the right conditions to be present to seek the Lord and call upon Him. The time to seek Him is now. When is now? Now is always present- never in the future. Now is at this moment regardless of what is happening. Now mean now.

 

Have a great day. When is the time to seek the Lord? When is the best time to call upon Him? Now.

 

For further reading:

Matthew 6:33

Acts 17:27

Jeremiah 29:13

"How Do You Know Him?"

"That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;" Philippians 3:10 

"That I may know Him." Paul desired to know the Lord Jesus as deeply as a person could. Jesus desires that we know Him on a deep level as well. But many "think" they know Him because they know what the preacher says about Him, what a family member (perhaps a parent or grandparent) says about Him, because of what another person says about Him or what society says about Jesus. Some think they know Him because they know "facts and figures" and Bible stories about Him. 

 

There is a difference in knowing someone in a personal, intimate way and knowing about them. I know some facts about many people, but I don't know them. I may know who someone is but not know them in a relationship sort of way. For example, I know who the president is- I know facts about him, I know what he looks like and recognize his picture when I see it. But I don't know him- never even met him. There are others that I know more personally. I know my daddy. I can tell you just about anything you want to know about him. I have known him all my life and have shared my life with him. But even that knowledge is still some limited. For example, I have a relationship with him but I still don't know him the way my mama knew him. I know him on a personal level, but not on an intimate level like she did. 

 

Where are you at in your "knowing" Jesus? Do you only know about Him based on knowledge? Do you know Him in a relationship? Or do you know Him in intimacy- as a husband and wife know each other? This is the "knowing" that He desires for us to have. This was the "knowing" that Paul desired to have. Jesus desires it so strongly that He died on the cross so that we could have this type of relationship with Him. He desires it so much that if we refuse it, He will say to us on the day when we stand before Him, "Depart from Me, I never knew you". 

 

He offers you so much more than just a knowledge of Himself. He is offering you a relationship with Him, yet He is offering much more, He is offering you Himself. In essence, He is doing the same thing a man does when he proposes to a woman to marry him. Will you accept His offer?

 

Have a great day. Do you know Jesus? Do you know about Him, do you have a relationship with Him, or do you know Him intimately?

 

For further reading:

Matthew 7:23

John 3:16; 15:13