"A Way"

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life...".  John 14:6a

In a dream that I had last night-- which I won't elaborate on-- I was looking for a way to get from "point A" to "point B".  As I pondered the dream after I woke up, I realized that we spend most of our lives looking for "a way".  We are always looking for a way around certain situations; a way to make ends meet; a way to solve our problems; a way to get out of debt; a way to fulfill our dreams; a way to achieve our goals; a way to better ourselves; a way to get more money; a way to be delivered from some bondage; a way to save ourselves and so on. 

We spend so much time and energy looking for "a way", but often to no avail.  As long as we are trying to find "a way" on our own, we will keep going around in circles and never find it.  There is only "one way" to find "a way" and "that way" is found in "The Way"-- Jesus. 

He has a way for you to be saved.  He has a way for you to be strengthened when you are weak; healed when you are sick; delivered when you are bound; encouraged when you are down.  He has a way of life that will give you hope and a future; a way that will give you abundant life; a way that will give you eternal life; a way that will give you victory, joy. peace, wisdom, grace and prosperity, 

He makes a way where there seems to be no way.  He has a way mapped out for you.  He has a way for you to fulfill your purpose for living.  And He has a perfect way.  How do we find this way?  We find it first by surrendering our lives to Him.  We receive Him as Savior (when we do that, we find the right way) and follow Him as Lord (when we do that, we will stay on the right way).  In doing so we won't have to look for our own way.  He will be leading the way.

Have a great day.  Are you spending your life looking for "a way"?  Follow Jesus, who is The Way, and you will not have to look any further. 

"A Know It All"

"A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent".  Proverbs 15:5

Have you ever been around people who "knew it all"?  You couldn't tell them anything because they already knew it.  It didn't matter what subject you were talking about, they already knew the answers, and they had already "done it".  The Bible talks a lot about these people-- it calls them fools. 

No one person knows everything about everything.  There is only One who truly knows everything-- God.  We each know in part.  There is something that I may know that you don't know.  And vice versa, there may be something you know that I don't.  I don't know how to play the piano.  Therefore, it would be foolish of me to say I can teach someone else how to play it.  But there are many people who can play it and they then are able to teach it. 

Because we don't know everything, God has placed people in our lives to help us in the areas we lack knowledge.  He has placed teachers in our lives to educate us.  He has given us pastors to instruct us in the Word of God.  He has given us financial counselors to help us in financial matters and use our monies wisely.  He has given us parents to help instruct us in matters of life.  He has given us friends to impart some understanding to us-- provided they are not ungodly friends. 

The point is that we can't and don't know everything-- even if we think we do.  Therefore, we need to be teachable and open to instruction and insight from others.  We especially need to be able to receive instruction and guidance from the Lord and His Word.  God's Word will make the simple-- those who lack knowledge and understanding-- wise.  The disciples were taught by Jesus and the Holy Spirit and when they preached the Word, people were astonished because they knew these men were uneducated fishermen.  The Word of God will make even those who have no understanding wise. 

Seek out wisdom and understanding from God's Word.  Listen to the counsel of those who have knowledge in areas that you don't.  Heed the instructions of those who are wiser in matters that you aren't wise in.  And always be teachable.  Don't be a "know it all".  That is pride and pride will bring you down and expose your ignorance.

Have a great day.  You don't know it all.  Therefore, listen to the Lord who does and the people He has placed in your life to give you counsel. 

Scriptural reference: Psalm 19:7; Acts 4:13

"At The Right Time"

"And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables."  John 2:14,15

Jesus grew up going to the temple.  His parents presented Him at the temple when He was an infant.  When He was twelve years old, His parents found Him in the temple with the doctors asking questions.  Later, after His ministry started, He went into the temple and was given the Book of Isaiah to read.  The Bible tells us it was His custom to go to the temple at the appointed time. 

At a time before His crucifixion, He went into the temple and drove out with a whip those who were turning His house into a den of thieves by their selling of the sacrifices.  We have already established that He went to the temple often, so why didn't He "drive" them out sooner?  Why did He wait until now at the end of His ministry?  Why not take care of them at the beginning of His ministry?  Evidently, they were there before.  Maybe they only showed up at Passover-- but this wasn't His first Passover to go to the temple.  He had seen them there before.  He watched them on more than one occasion.  He walked past them more than once.  The only answer is that God has a planned and perfect time for doing everything He does.

This brings me to my point this morning.  Why doesn't He deal with the "moneychangers"-- those things that are wrong, out of place and out of order-- in our lives sooner?  Why does He allow trials, pain, illness, problems, etc. to continue?  He sees they are there in our lives.  If His eyes are on me, then He knows what I am going through.  So why doesn't He do something about it up front instead of allowing it to continue?  Again, the only answer I have is-- His ways are not our ways; they are perfect; He has a plan and that plan has a perfect timing to it.  We just have to trust that He sees it, knows about it, He is not ignoring it but at the appointed time He will "drive it out". 

Have a great day.  Just because the Lord doesn't do something about the issue/problem doesn't mean that He isn't aware of it.  He has a perfect time for everything. 

Scripture reference:  Luke 2:21-49; Luke 4:16-21

"False Healing"

"He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions."   Psalm 107:20

Healing can be in many areas-- not just physical.  Sometimes we need our emotions healed.  Sometimes we need healing from past memories.  Sometimes we need healing in our minds because of things we did that we regret now-- or things done to us.  Sometimes our hearts need to be healed because of sorrow, grief, heaviness, cares we carry, burdens we bear, hurts, loss we have suffered, rejections we have faced or trials we have been through.  Sometimes we are just "broken" and need to be fixed-- healed.

Where does this healing come from?  Many look for it in relationships.  They are looking to another person to make them feel whole and healthy.  Others turn to some sort of substance to make them "forget" their pain and problems.  Different people look to different sources.  Some look for affirmation and acceptance to "heal" them.  There is a wide variety to choose from-- entertainment, hobbies, work, money, a career, people pleasing, etc.  

When you have a physical wound, it has to be healed from the inside out.  There is a problem if we are looking for healing to come through people and earthly pursuits. That healing is from the outside in.  Like a physical wound, it looks healed but under the skin it is still a wound-- full of bacteria and germs.  It is still there "festering" out of sight.  It is not healed.  It just isn't as evident--- until later.  

True healing comes through "cleansing" the wound and "dressing" it with the Word of God.  His Word is health and life to our minds, spirits, souls and bodies.  It doesn't just cover up a wound; it starts deep on the inside and heals it from the inside out.  Once it is healed, it is healed-- unlike the wound that has just been covered over.  One day something will happen and cause it to break through to the surface of the "skin", and it will be a worse wound then it was at the beginning. 

If you are suffering a wounded heart, mind or spirit, the remedy for it is God's Word.  It will bring a complete and total healing instead of just "masking" over it.  Let Him heal you.

Have a great day.  The Word of God brings complete and total healing.... anything else will only cover it up.

For further reading:  Proverbs 4:20-22

"Repent To God"

"From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand".  Matthew 4:17

Repentance is not something that you hear preached often any more.  We think we can just decide to believe or be better people or start going to church and that makes us right with God.  It doesn't.  Jesus' first message was "Repent".  He also said that unless we repent we will perish. 

So, what exactly is repentance if it is necessary for our salvation?  The word repent means:  to change one's mind; heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins; repentance involves a turning with contrition from sin to God.  It means to not only change our minds and go in a different direction but it means we are truly and deeply sorry for and detest our sins to the point where we forsake them. 

Repentance is an act between the individual and God.  It is when God sees that contrite heart that He forgives our sins, washes them away, cleanses us and makes us a brand new person.  People can't do that for us.  Most people think that because they confess something to man, even in sorrow for what they have done, that it is enough.  It isn't-- only God can forgive sins.

King Saul confessed his sin to Samuel and asked him not to expose it before the people.  Judas after his betrayal of Jesus confessed to the priest and tried to give back the money he had received for his betrayal.  Neither one, though very sorry for what they had done, received forgiveness. There was no repentance and they didn't go to God for it. 

Confessing to men is for conscience sake, but it does not take away the stain of the sin.  Confessing to men will not bring reconciliation with God.  Confessing to men will help bring a certain amount of healing but not forgiveness or deliverance. 

Have you turned to God in repentance?  Have you only changed your mind about God and started going to church?  Have you gone to God with a sincere heart confessing that you have sinned against Him?  Do you hate the sin you are in and are willing to turn completely away from it?  Do you see that what you are doing is a sin in God's sight and you are ready to forsake it?  There must be repentance if you are going to get right with God.  Other wise, you are just going through some religious motions and are still the same sinner you were. 

Have a great day.  There must be repentance of sin to God in order for you to have your sins forgiven.     

For further reading:  Luke 13:3,5; Matthew 27:3,4; 1 Samuel 15

"Quench Your Thirst"

"There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High".  Psalm 46:4

Water is the most essential element to life.  We can live without much, but we can't live without water.  Water provides life and refreshment.  It refreshes and rehydrates the body.  It revives what is wilting.  It provides a place for habitation to aquatic life forms.  It is a cleansing agent.  It plays so many roles in our existence and without it we would not survive very long.

There is a spiritual water that many are lacking.  This is why their lives are so dry.  It is why they are weak.  It is why they have no life.  They are neglecting its life-giving power.  The water that I am referring to is Jesus.  He is living water.  The difference in water for the body and water for the spirit is that one you will have to continue to drink because it only satisfies your thirst temporarily.  The other- living water- will take away your thirst once and for all.  This is what He told the woman at the well.  (John 4) 

Today He gives you the same invitation as He did to the woman at the well.  He offered to quench her thirst so that she would never thirst again.  He will do the same for you.  You can receive it freely without cost.  It is already paid for.  "Ho, everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price". (Isaiah 55:1) Will you come and drink and be satisfied?  There is plenty for everyone.  It is an abundant supply-- a never-ending river.

Have a great day.  Is your soul thirsty?  Jesus is the living water that if you drink of Him, you will never thirst again. 

"Only True Foundation"

"For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ".  1 Corinthians 3:11

A lot of people are trying to lay a spiritual and eternal foundation under their lives which is no foundation at all-- it is only sand.  You cannot build anything- in the natural or in the spirit- on sand.  It will shift.  It will move.  It will fail. 

What foundation are you trying to lay in order to have eternal life?  The rich young ruler tried to make his foundation riches.  He laid a foundation of money, but it fail.  The Pharisees tried to lay a foundation on the Law.  They thought if they kept every "jot and tittle" they would have a solid foundation spiritually.  But it failed as well.  

Many today are trying to lay a spiritual/eternal foundation based on the keeping of religious deeds and practices.  Some are trying to lay a foundation on goodness-- if they are good enough the foundation will be strong and support them.  Some are trying to build a foundation based on knowledge. They think that the more they know about the Bible and spiritual matters they will have a good foundation upon which to stand.

None of these things will work.  You can't build your life, your hope or your eternal security on but one foundation-- the Lord Jesus Christ.  He is the only true and sure foundation.  He is the only Rock-- firm and solid-- that can support our lives and our eternity. 

Have a great day.  If you are trying to lay your own foundation you will surely fail and fall.  You have to build on the foundation that is already laid-- Jesus Christ. 
 

"Who Knows Who?"

"And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?".  Mark 4:41

The disciples had spent much time with Jesus.  Daily they watched Him heal the crowds of their various illnesses.  They had seen Him raise the dead and cast out demons.  They had heard His teachings.  They had received revelation from Him.  Peter even professed that He was the Son of God.  But now they wondered "who He was" after seeing Him demonstrate power over the raging sea.  Evidently, they knew Him, but they didn't really know Him.  They knew who He was, but they didn't really know who He was.

When all is said and done, when we come to the very end, when eternity comes, when we stand in the Judgment, it won't matter if we knew Him, it won't matter how much we think we knew Him, it won't matter how much we knew about Him, it won't matter what we saw Him do and heard preached about Him.  The only thing that will matter is whether He knows you are not.  You can say you know Him, but does He know you.  "And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity". (Matthew 7:23)

The disciples asked a good question, but they needed to seek to find out the answer.  Once they found the answer (He is the Son of God- the Savior of the world), they then needed to ask another question-- since He is the Son of God, does He know me?  You may think you know Him.  You may think you know a lot about Him.  You may think you know all there is to know about Him.  But the most important thing you need to be finding out is-- does He know you? 

Have a great day.  It isn't whether you know Jesus, it is whether He knows you that matters.  
 

"Renovation"

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God".  Romans 12:2

The verse above says to renew our minds.  We often think that means to just think about the Word of God.  It does but it means so much more than that.  The word for renew also means renovate. 

When something is being renovated, there is a process that takes place.  The old is being removed and the new is replacing it.  In renewing our minds, we have to renovate them-- tear out and replace.

If I were renovating my kitchen, I would not pull out all the cabinets and just leave it like that-- I have only started the renovation process.  I have to replace the old torn out cabinets with new ones, or my kitchen would remain empty and uncompleted.

Jesus talked about this principle-- when an unclean spirit is gone out of a man and walks around in the dry places then decides to go back to the house he came out of and finds it empty, he goes and gets seven other spirits and inhabits it again. (Matthew 12) How could he do that?  The house was empty.  Nothing had been put back in it.  The renovation was not complete.

You can't just get rid of the "bad" and not replace it with the "good".  You can't just "not think" worldly thoughts.  You have to replace them with "godly" thoughts.  It has to be "renovated"-- restored to a good condition; renewed; revived.  You do this first by surrendering your life to the Lord.  Then you have to "cast down imaginations" (your old way of thinking).  Next, you have to replace those thoughts with God's Word.  The verse says to be transformed.  Isn't that what a renovation does?  I watch those home improvement shows on television and when they renovate a room or a house, the appearance is totally transformed-- it doesn't even look the same. 

We have to be renovated until we no longer look the same because we have been transformed.  This happens as we take out the old and replace it with the new.  In other words, we have to die to self and let the Lord live through us.

Have a great day.  Are you being renovated? 

"Hiding The Word"

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”  Psalm 119:11

Occasionally, I will "hide" money in my wallet.  I put it in an inconspicuous place and then "forget" about it-- I hide it from myself, so I won't be tempted to spend it.  That way when I have an emergency and need it, I will have a few dollars on hand.  (I know other people who do the same.)

The verse above says that we should do the same with the Word of God.  We should "hide" it.  God's word needs to be hid in our hearts, not so that we will not use it, but so that when we need it it will be there.  It has been a relief to remember I had those few dollars stuck back (hid) when I found myself in a situation where I needed them.  They saved me a lot of embarrassment, got me out of what could have been a bad situation, and came to my rescue.  Had they not been "hid" in my wallet, the outcome of the situation would have been different.

If the word of God is not hidden in our hearts, when we need it in order to make it through a situation-- or an emergency-- we are facing, we won't have it.  We won't have an answer to face the problem with.  We won't have the wisdom, grace, peace and everything else the word provides for us when we need it.  In short, we won't have what we need when the need arises and won't know what to do about it either.

Have a great day.  Don't just read the word of God, hide the Word of God in your heart so that when you need it, it will be there to help you.  

"Limitations On God"

"Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died".  John 11:21

Martha believed Jesus could heal her brother while he was alive but wasn't able to do anything after he died.  She put limitations on Jesus.  We do the same thing.  We believe Jesus can do this but not that.  We believe He can heal this disease but not that disease.  We believe He can work in this situation but not in that one.  We believe He can handle the little problems but not the big ones.  We believe He can multiply what is already there but can't provide when there is nothing to work with. 

Why do we put limitations on the Lord?  The main reason is because we don't really know who He is.  We have placed Him on the same level of just another man.  We look at Him like we look at everyone else and each other.  We think about Him the way we think about everyone else.  We think He is a mere mortal.  We think He is limited in what He can do.  We don't really believe that He is God who can do the impossible.  We don't really believe He is all powerful.  If we did, what might we be doing differently? 

Would we go to Him as the first resort instead of the last one like we usually do?  Would we believe Him for greater things?  Would our faith be stronger?  The truth is that He is God!  He is not a mortal, or another man.  He has always been and will always be.  He has no beginning and no end.  He is more than able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think.  He is Omniscient, Omnipotent and Omni-present.  At His name every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord.  At the sound of His voice demons tremble and flee.  By His word all things were created-- visible and invisible.  All power and authority in heaven and earth belongs to Him.  He speaks and the winds obey.  He speaks and the fire is quenched.  He speaks and the mountains are brought low.  He speaks and the sea rolls back.  All of nature-- fire, sea, wind-- knows how powerful He is.  Why don't we? 

Have a great day.  The Lord is not like us.  He is the Creator; we are the creation.  So, stop limiting Him and making Him like everyone else.       

"Revive Us Again"

"O Lord, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O Lord, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy".  Habakkuk 3:2

We talk about revival.  We pray for revival.  We see the need for revival.  But we miss the object to whom revival is directed.  Revival is not for the world.  It is for the church/body of Christ.  The word revive means:  to restore to life, regain life, give new strength or energy to.  The world is dead in trespasses and sins.  They must first be "born-again" and receive life.  The church, however, has already received life- it is made up of the "living".  Therefore, you can only revive (restore life) what once was alive but is now either dead or dying. 

When you were "born-again" (brought to life), the Lord began a good work in you.  Through the course of time, because of situations you have gone through, because of neglect, whatever the reason, that work that He started in you, those works that He once did through you, have been "dying"-- they are not as evident as they once were. 

I believe He is asking you today-- What do you want revived in your life?  What work do you want revived?  Perhaps you need the joy of your salvation revived.  Maybe it is a gift of the Spirit that hasn't operated in your life in a while.  It could be that you need a hunger and thirst for the Word of God to be revived in your life.  Maybe you aren't as spiritually discerning as you were once and you need it revived.  It could be your faith needs to be revived.  Whatever it is, ask the Lord to revive it.  He is desiring to finish what He begun in you.  He is desiring that you walk in abundant and full spiritual life.  He is desiring that you-- in every and all areas-- come back to life (be revived).

Have a great day.  The Lord wants to revive you and revive what He once begun in you. 

John 5:4; Philippians 1:6

"Spiritual Starvation"

"But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God".  Matthew 4:4

When I have gone for periods of time without eating, I feel weak in my body.  I need nutrition which comes from food in order to sustain it and make it strong and healthy.  It's the same spiritually.  In order for me to be spiritually strong and fit, I need spiritual food.  What is the spiritual food that I need?  It is the Word of God.  It is like bread; it is sustenance to my spirit.

Are you feeling weak spiritually?  Does your faith feel weak?  Are you having a hard time spiritually?  Do you feel as though you have no spiritual energy?  Are you having a hard time fighting spiritual battles?  Are you having a hard time discerning spiritual matters?  Has your spiritual eyesight and understanding become dim?  Are you at a loss as to what to do in certain situations that require guidance from the Word of God?  If you have been answering "yes" to these questions, then I have another question for you.  "When was the last time you ate?".  When was the last time you picked up the Bible and read it?  When was the last time you meditated and pondered on it or rehearsed its verses?  If you aren't reading and studying it, then you may be suffering from spiritual malnutrition.  If you have spiritual malnutrition not only will you not know what to do, but you will be in danger of spiritual starvation. 

But there is a remedy.  It is called-- eating.  Start "eating" God's Word.  Take it into your spirit daily-- several times a day.  Start filling your heart with it.  And the weakness you are experiencing in your faith will begin to disappear and you will also begin to get stronger.  "So, then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God". (Romans 10:17)

Have a great day.  Are you feeling weak spiritually?  It could be because you are starving from not eating on God's Word. 

"Will With Conditions"

"Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven".  Mathew 6:10

"Thy will be done".  How many times have we prayed that?  But what are we really praying when we do?  What we usually pray is full of conditions.  "Thy will be done... if". 

We want His will if it doesn't cost us anything.  If it doesn't take us out of our comfort zone.  If it fits into our plans.  If it is part of our agenda.  If it is what we want.  If there is no test or trial attached to it.  If it lines up with our own will.  If we don't have to give up anything. 

"Thy will be done" means exactly what it says-- His will be done.  There are no conditions.  There is no argument.  There is no question about it.  The most perfect example of the meaning of this verse is found in Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.  He knew the will of God would cost Him, would bring Him pain, shame, beating and crucifixion.  He knew it would cost Him His life, but He made no bargains and set no conditions on it.  He simply submitted to it.  He removed His own will out of the way and obeyed the will of the Father.

The next time you are praying, "Thy will be done", check yourself and see if you truly mean "Thy" or "mine"?  Pay attention to see if you are placing conditions on it.  Or are you without question submitting to His will and without trying to bargain with Him no matter what the price of obedience?   Do you truly want His will and nothing but His will? 

Have a great day.  "Thy will be done", means just that.