"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.... A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak". Ecclesiastes 3:1,7
When the Lord had the children of Israel march around the walls of Jericho, He told them to keep silent and not say a word. On the seventh day He told them to march around Jericho seven times and on the seventh time they were to shout. When they shouted, the walls came down and they were able to go into the city and destroy their enemy.
There is a time for us to keep silent, but there is also a time for us to speak. When it comes to petitioning the Lord, it is time for us to speak and make our request known. After we have asked there is a time for us to keep silent and give Him a chance to speak to us.
When we are in the presence of our enemies, there is a time to keep silent-- like the Israelites did for seven days. But there comes a time when we can't keep silent before our enemies and we have to "shout unto God with the voice of triumphant" for giving us victory over our enemies.
Some of us need to do more "shouting". We need to shout at the enemy. We need to shout at the mountain. We need to shout at the storm. We need to open our mouths and "do/say something". Jesus spoke to the devil in the time of temptations in the wilderness-- He spoke God's Word. He shouted at the sea to "shut up and hold its peace".
There is something "therapeutic" about a shout. There is something freeing about a shout. There is deliverance in a shout-- deliverance from pride, interbitions, intimidation and hurt. There is something that brings victory in a shout. When the Israelites shouted, God intervened, did something supernatural in bringing the walls down, and gave them the victory. It happened when they shouted, not before.
Have a great day. Your victory is in the shout!
Friday, June 30, 2017
Thursday, June 29, 2017
"The Encounter That Changes"
"..... as many as touched him were made whole." Mark 6:56b
One thing that is lacking today is an encounter with Jesus. This is why, in my opinion, there is no life changing transformation taking place in those who profess to be "Christians". It is hard to tell them from those in the world. It is hard to tell the difference, when there should be a distinct difference. A difference as different as day and night, light and dark.
We have substituted an encounter with Jesus for an encounter with church and religion. We equate them as the same thing. But it is not. We can encounter them and stay the same as we always have been. But we can't encounter Jesus and stay the same-- our lives will be forever changed.
Everyone in the Bible who had an encounter with Jesus was changed, they were transformed and their lives were altered forever. Peter's life changed. The woman with the issue of blood had a life change. Zacchaeus was changed. Saul, when he encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus, was forever changed. Blind Bartimaeus was changed. Everyone in the upper room on the Day of Pentecost was changed when they encountered the Holy Spirit of God. And the list goes on.
Is your life no different? Are you the same as you have always been, yet you profess to be a Christian? Could it be that you have had an encounter with "church" or "religion" but not an encounter with Jesus Christ the Head of the Church, the Savior of your soul? If that is the case, you can call out to Him today and He will come and give you that life changing encounter with Himself. Has it been a long time since you have had an encounter with Him? We can have multiple encounters. We have to have an encounter with Him daily to keep us changing.
Have a great day. Have you had an encounter with church or with Jesus? Only an encounter with Jesus will transform your life.
One thing that is lacking today is an encounter with Jesus. This is why, in my opinion, there is no life changing transformation taking place in those who profess to be "Christians". It is hard to tell them from those in the world. It is hard to tell the difference, when there should be a distinct difference. A difference as different as day and night, light and dark.
We have substituted an encounter with Jesus for an encounter with church and religion. We equate them as the same thing. But it is not. We can encounter them and stay the same as we always have been. But we can't encounter Jesus and stay the same-- our lives will be forever changed.
Everyone in the Bible who had an encounter with Jesus was changed, they were transformed and their lives were altered forever. Peter's life changed. The woman with the issue of blood had a life change. Zacchaeus was changed. Saul, when he encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus, was forever changed. Blind Bartimaeus was changed. Everyone in the upper room on the Day of Pentecost was changed when they encountered the Holy Spirit of God. And the list goes on.
Is your life no different? Are you the same as you have always been, yet you profess to be a Christian? Could it be that you have had an encounter with "church" or "religion" but not an encounter with Jesus Christ the Head of the Church, the Savior of your soul? If that is the case, you can call out to Him today and He will come and give you that life changing encounter with Himself. Has it been a long time since you have had an encounter with Him? We can have multiple encounters. We have to have an encounter with Him daily to keep us changing.
Have a great day. Have you had an encounter with church or with Jesus? Only an encounter with Jesus will transform your life.
Wednesday, June 28, 2017
"Living Up To The Name"
"A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold." Proverbs 22:1
When you look at the names of people in the Bible, their names have specific meanings. Some people lived up to their names like Jacob. His name meant deceiver-- he was until the Lord changed it. Some people did not live up to their names like Eli the priest. His name meant Jehovah is high. His life, lack of godly character and slothfulness concerning the things of God did not reflect the meaning of his name.
When we are born-again, we are given a name. That name is "Christian". The meaning of the name Christian is: follower of Christ; Christ-like. If you are a Christian, are you living up to the name/meaning? Are you truly following Christ? Is your life a reflection of who Christ is? Do you act, talk, treat others and live like Christ? Are you kind and merciful like He is? Are you loving, gracious, forgiving, truthful, honest, pure, tender, gentle, moral, giving and so on like He is? When you have the name Christian, do others see Christ in you? Do they hear Him in your speech? Do they see Him in your actions, attitudes and dealings with others?
A sister in the Lord reminded me of this the other day-- if you say you are a Christian (Christ-like) and were put on trial to see if you truly are, would their be enough evidence to convict you? In other words, are you living up to your name? Are you living up to who you say you are, Christian?
Have a great day. If you are a Christian, are you living up to the name?
When you look at the names of people in the Bible, their names have specific meanings. Some people lived up to their names like Jacob. His name meant deceiver-- he was until the Lord changed it. Some people did not live up to their names like Eli the priest. His name meant Jehovah is high. His life, lack of godly character and slothfulness concerning the things of God did not reflect the meaning of his name.
When we are born-again, we are given a name. That name is "Christian". The meaning of the name Christian is: follower of Christ; Christ-like. If you are a Christian, are you living up to the name/meaning? Are you truly following Christ? Is your life a reflection of who Christ is? Do you act, talk, treat others and live like Christ? Are you kind and merciful like He is? Are you loving, gracious, forgiving, truthful, honest, pure, tender, gentle, moral, giving and so on like He is? When you have the name Christian, do others see Christ in you? Do they hear Him in your speech? Do they see Him in your actions, attitudes and dealings with others?
A sister in the Lord reminded me of this the other day-- if you say you are a Christian (Christ-like) and were put on trial to see if you truly are, would their be enough evidence to convict you? In other words, are you living up to your name? Are you living up to who you say you are, Christian?
Have a great day. If you are a Christian, are you living up to the name?
Tuesday, June 27, 2017
"You Have To Be Born Again"
"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:3
When Nicodemus came to Jesus, Jesus told him what he had to do to enter into the Kingdom of God (go to heaven). Jesus didn't tell him he had to believe He was from God-- Nicodemus already believed that. He didn't tell him to go serve in the church-- Nicodemus was already doing that. He didn't tell him to become a church leader-- he already was. Jesus didn't tell him to go study the scriptures and read his "Bible"-- he already knew them and did study. Jesus didn't tell Nicodemus to do religious acts-- he was already doing religious acts.
Instead Jesus told him to be "born again". He told him he needed to "come back alive". Nicodemus was spiritually dead-- in trespasses and sin. He, like the rest of us, had sinned and come short of the glory of God. He was dead spiritually through Adam's sin in the garden. Sin and death came upon all mankind through Adam. (In the day that you eat of the tree you shall surely die.) Mankind spiritually died.
How do we come back to life spiritually? We must be born again. That was the message to Nicodemus and it is still the message to us today. The criteria hasn't changed. We still have to be "born again" if we are going to enter into heaven. Jesus doesn't say to us we have to do religious duties. He doesn't tell us that if we want to enter into heaven we have to join the church, shake the preacher's hand, get baptized, repeat a sinner's prayer, serve in the church, give offerings, etc. No, He tells us we have to be "born again". We have to come back alive spiritually. Only spiritually alive people enter into His Kingdom. Nothing, and no one, "dead" enters there.
The ONLY way to do this is through faith in Jesus' work at the cross. Jesus is the Way. Jesus takes away our sins. Jesus is Life. Jesus makes us brand new and a new person. Jesus turns our hearts that were dead in trespasses and sin into a brand new heart that is alive.
Have a great day. The criteria for eternal life is the same today-- you must be born again.
Scripture references:
John 3:1-21; 14:6
Genesis 2:16,17
Romans 3:23; 5:19
When Nicodemus came to Jesus, Jesus told him what he had to do to enter into the Kingdom of God (go to heaven). Jesus didn't tell him he had to believe He was from God-- Nicodemus already believed that. He didn't tell him to go serve in the church-- Nicodemus was already doing that. He didn't tell him to become a church leader-- he already was. Jesus didn't tell him to go study the scriptures and read his "Bible"-- he already knew them and did study. Jesus didn't tell Nicodemus to do religious acts-- he was already doing religious acts.
Instead Jesus told him to be "born again". He told him he needed to "come back alive". Nicodemus was spiritually dead-- in trespasses and sin. He, like the rest of us, had sinned and come short of the glory of God. He was dead spiritually through Adam's sin in the garden. Sin and death came upon all mankind through Adam. (In the day that you eat of the tree you shall surely die.) Mankind spiritually died.
How do we come back to life spiritually? We must be born again. That was the message to Nicodemus and it is still the message to us today. The criteria hasn't changed. We still have to be "born again" if we are going to enter into heaven. Jesus doesn't say to us we have to do religious duties. He doesn't tell us that if we want to enter into heaven we have to join the church, shake the preacher's hand, get baptized, repeat a sinner's prayer, serve in the church, give offerings, etc. No, He tells us we have to be "born again". We have to come back alive spiritually. Only spiritually alive people enter into His Kingdom. Nothing, and no one, "dead" enters there.
The ONLY way to do this is through faith in Jesus' work at the cross. Jesus is the Way. Jesus takes away our sins. Jesus is Life. Jesus makes us brand new and a new person. Jesus turns our hearts that were dead in trespasses and sin into a brand new heart that is alive.
Have a great day. The criteria for eternal life is the same today-- you must be born again.
Scripture references:
John 3:1-21; 14:6
Genesis 2:16,17
Romans 3:23; 5:19
Monday, June 26, 2017
"Calling On Who?"
"Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not." Jeremiah 33:3
Call unto who? Thank the Lord that He has placed people in our lives that we can call upon for help with matters that we face. But do we call on these people first? The invitation. and admonishment, is to call upon the Lord.
We are so busy calling on others for help that we forget the One who can truly help us. We forget that He has invited us to call. We forget that He has made Himself available to us. We forget just how much He desires to help us and meet our needs.
Who are you calling on in your time of need? Others are the Lord? Are you calling on Him or them first? Have you forgotten that you can call on Him? Do you automatically run to Him or others when you are in need? Do you run to the phone or to the Throne?
Perhaps the reason we don't see more answers to our problems and more needs met is because we are calling on the wrong one for help. People are limited. People are in need just like we are. People can only do so much. But the Lord is more than able to meet the need. He is all powerful. He can do anything but fail. He has all the resources you need. He is unlimited in His abilities. Man is not. So, who are you going to call upon on?
Have a great day. Who are you calling on in time of need?
Call unto who? Thank the Lord that He has placed people in our lives that we can call upon for help with matters that we face. But do we call on these people first? The invitation. and admonishment, is to call upon the Lord.
We are so busy calling on others for help that we forget the One who can truly help us. We forget that He has invited us to call. We forget that He has made Himself available to us. We forget just how much He desires to help us and meet our needs.
Who are you calling on in your time of need? Others are the Lord? Are you calling on Him or them first? Have you forgotten that you can call on Him? Do you automatically run to Him or others when you are in need? Do you run to the phone or to the Throne?
Perhaps the reason we don't see more answers to our problems and more needs met is because we are calling on the wrong one for help. People are limited. People are in need just like we are. People can only do so much. But the Lord is more than able to meet the need. He is all powerful. He can do anything but fail. He has all the resources you need. He is unlimited in His abilities. Man is not. So, who are you going to call upon on?
Have a great day. Who are you calling on in time of need?
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