Stepping Out in Faith - Part 554

Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was an hungred and you gave me meat. I was thirsty and ye gave me drink. I was a stranger and ye took me in. Naked, and ye clothed me. I was sick and ye visited me. I was in prison and you came to me. (Matthew 25:34-36)

Matthew 25 contains a powerful message for those who will listen with their hearts. Here was Jesus teaching to the multitudes about the ultimate gift of salvation. The endless blessings that fall upon those who love Him. Believers in Jesus whose hearts desire the Word. Herein Jesus was likening His teachings to the kingdom of heaven and eternal life. Jesus elaborates on the parable of the ten virgins and later the parable of the talents --"for unto every one that hath shall be given and he shall have abundance."

Jesus continues. He tells the multitudes -- the blessed of His Father -- to come. Come, He says. Come to the one that loves you so much and you will inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. "For I -- [your Lord God] -- was an hungred and you gave me meat. I was thirsty and ye gave me drink. I was a stranger and ye took me in. Naked, and ye clothed me. I was sick and ye visited me. I was in prison and you came to me."

But the righteous in the crowds were unable to grasp the essence of Jesus' message. Instead, they answer the King saying, "Lord, when saw we thee an hungred and fed thee? Or thirsty and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? Or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison and came unto thee?" In the minds and hearts of the righteous, they had completed all that was required of them to earn their salvation. The righteous had performed good works. They had lived their lives according to the letter of the law.

But obviously their contributions were not enough. For Jesus said, "And the King shall answer and say unto them, "Verily, I say unto you. Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." In other words, all of their worldly contributions missed the point. Here was Jesus -- the Lord of Glory -- wanting to give them the kingdom too and yet, the righteous -- as described in the parable -- were not willing to give their Lord God and Saviour their hearts.

The righteous were not willing to press in to touch the hem of His garment like the woman with the sickness for twelve years. They weren't quite willing to say, "Lord Jesus, here I am -- I am yours." Mold me Jesus into the person you intended me to be for you are the potter Lord and I am the clay.

So instead, as Jesus shares in Matthew 25:41, the king says unto them on the left hand, "Depart from me, ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels." He was saying, My desire is to give you the kingdom and yet, you don't see my love for you. You don't understand that I -- Jesus -- grew the tree that was destined to become the cross at Calvary.

Indeed, Jesus repeats these scriptures for a second time in Matthew 25, saying, then shall they also answer him saying, "Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?"

Therefore, the message for us today is to be not as the righteous. Instead, rejoice in Jesus' abundant love. His grace and goodness today. Pour the expensive ointment on your Lord and Saviour like the woman with the alablaster box of very precious ointment in Matthew 26. Why? Because Jesus - the very same God who created us in the beginning became flesh and shed His precious blood for our sins -- loves us so much that He wants to give us the kingdom.

Jesus wants to give us meat so that we are not hungred and sufficient drink should we become thirsty. He desires to take us in and clothe us and release us fully from the worldy prisons that keep us bound. Most of all, Jesus wants to visit with us and confirm that we can rest in His grace and mercies forever. Stand in the offering plate.

There Is Healing in the Name of Jesus - Part 553

My cup runneth over. This promise of joy and peace in our hearts is to all believers and their families and to all them that might still be afar off -- if we would only commit our lives to Jesus -- our Lord and Saviour who created this world and all that is within it -- and yet loved us enough to have His humanity die on the cross for our sin. He wants our cup -- the cup that is indicative of our lives -- to runneth over with joy. Not just in Heaven but in our daily journey here on earth too.

Why? Because as the scriptures point out, "Surely He hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon Him and yet with His stripes we are healed." The same God who holds the universe holding us tight in His arms. It is He who knows the innermost thoughts of our hearts and wants to make us whole -- and complete -- in His abundance. In the book of Job, there is an interesting passage about wisdom that states: 

There is a path which no foul knoweth, and which the vulture's eye hath not seen. The lion's whelps have not trodden it nor the fierce lion passed by it. He putteth forth His hand upon the rock. He overturneth the mountains by the roots. He cutteth out rivers among the rocks and His eye seeth every precious thing. He bindeth the floods from overflowing; and the thing that is hid bringeth He forth to light. But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? Man knoweth not the price thereof, neither is it found in the land of the living. 

The depth saith, It is not in me and the sea saith, It is not with me. It cannot be gotten for gold, either shall silver be weighed for the price thereof. It cannot be valued with all the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx or the sapphire. The gold and the crystal cannot equal it and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold. No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls; for the price of wisdom is above rubies. (Job 28:2-18)

Job saw the inherent value in knowing God intimately. In worshipping Him without hesitation. Job knew from personal experience whence wisdom comes from and the source from where exists this place of understanding. And he wasn't trading it for anything this world could offer. So did David in Psalms 23 when he wrote, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever." And John too when he wrote in I John chapter 3, "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we -- [the who-so-evers who believe in Jesus] -- should be called the sons of God."

Indeed, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that He was manifested to take away our sins -- our Creator who knew no sin -- so that we that abideth in Him can pass from death unto life. Hereby perceive the love of God because He laid down His life for us. (I John 3:16) This is the promise that we hold dear to our hearts. And this promise is forever.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life -- the word surely defined in the dictionary as firmly, without missing, undoubtedly, assuredly, certainly, without fail and yes, indeed. This is the Jesus in whom we worship. He is the way, the truth and the life. The same yesterday, today and forever. And yes, Jesus is enough. 

Stand in the offering plate.

Surely His Goodness and Mercy - Part 552

Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. It is He that sets an end to darkness. It is He who offered willingly and unconditionally to bear our sins. Unto Jesus do we look for Him for He shall appear the second time without sin unto salvation. Indeed, Jesus yearns to bless us and multiply those blessings exceedingly in our personal lives if we would only seek His presence and mercy. His joy and peace in our hearts.

David in Psalms wrote, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever." He understood inherently that our Lord God who had determined to become our Saviour even before the foundation of the world was formed offered the promise of eternal inheritance to those who receive Him. Not just abundance and joy in Heaven but in our daily lives on earth too.

It is for this reason that Jesus became and still is the mediator of the new testament -- the dispensation of grace that we live in today. That by means of His death, redemption of all transgressions that were under the first testament -- the Old Testament - could be rectified. In Hebrews chapter 9, we read that our salvation is not by the blood of goats and calves that were indicative of Old Testament beliefs but by His own blood -- the precious blood of Jesus shed on a cross. It was He who entered in once and for all having obtained eternal redemption for us. 

How much more then shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot in order to purge our conscience from dead works to serve the living God bless us? For this cause He is the mediator of the new testament that by means of death for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. The promise of eternal inheritance. Think about this. 

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives. Our lives here on earth. And we shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. In His joy. In His peace. He knows of our troubles and travails and yet He wants to comfort us.  Wrap us up in His arms and bless us with His abundance -- His kingdom. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.

For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true but into Heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us. He is the way, the truth and the life. The mediator between God and man. Our hope and our salvation.

Nor yet that He should offer Himself often as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others, for then must He often have suffered since the foundation of the world. But now once in the end of the world hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die but after this the judgement, so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Hebrews 9:25-28)

For the law with all its sacrifices and burnt offerings was only a shadow of the good things yet to come for those that believe in Jesus. 

This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts and in their minds will I write to them. And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus -- by a new and living way which He hath consecrated for us through the veil that is to say His flesh.

Therefore, let us draw near to our Lord and Saviour with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering -- for Jesus is faithful. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I -- we -- you and I -- who believe in Jesus dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Rejoice today! And remember that surely in blessing, He will bless thee and in multiplying, He will multiply thee. Jesus loves you. Stand in the offering plate. 

The Word of God is Liberty - Part 551

Acts chapter 12 speaks about Herod's attempt to prevent the preaching of Jesus from going forward. To that end, He killed James the brother of John with a sword. He had Peter apprehended and put in prison. Indeed, Herod had a mission. But what he had not counted on was the prayers that were made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

At the time, Herod had planned to bring Peter forward to the people. But in God's exact timing, a miracle happened. The same night Peter bound with chains and sleeping between two soldiers saw an angel of the Lord appear. And a light shone in the prison and the angel said to Peter, "Arise up quickly." And the chains fell from his hands. 

And the angel said unto Peter, "Gird yourself and bind on thy sandals. Cast thy garment about me and follow me." And he went out and when they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city "which opened to them of his own accord; and they went out and passed on through one street before the angel departed from him."

When Peter was come to himself -- because he had originally thought he was seeing a vision -- dreaming -- he said, "Now I know of a surety that the Lord has sent his angel and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews." And when he considered fully the thing -- the miracle that he had been freed from the worldly prison -- he knocked at the door of the gate to tell his friends before going to another place.

The Lord God Almighty who holds the universe in the palm of His hand loved Peter enough to set him free from the shackles and chains that attempt to bind us in the world. Indeed, is this not what happens in the world today? Man-made systems desire that we are kept imprisoned in the cares of the world -- chained and bound by earthly matters.

But Jesus came to save us and set us free. And He did so because He loved us. John wrote, "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God." And later in John 1:14, the Word became flesh. He desired our hearts so that we could commune directly with our Lord and Saviour.

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made us free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:2) As believers, our assurance is that we shall know the truth and the truth will set us free. (John 8:32)

You see Jesus paid the price for our sins on Calvary once and for all. Unconditional love for you and I. Acts 15:10-11 states, "Now therefore why tempt ye God to put a yoke upon the neck of [His] disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? We believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they."

Therefore, with surety as Peter did, stand fast in the liberty with which Jesus the Christ has made us free and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage - the constraints and shackles of this earth. (Galatians 5:1) Why? Because if Jesus has set us free, we are free indeed. (John 8:36) 

II Corinthians 3:17 adds a further confirmation of our liberty in Jesus. "Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." Freedom and liberty in abundance. Come out from the world and rejoice for our Lord and Saviour is surely good to those that love Him. Stand in the offering plate.

Seek First the Kingdom - Part 550

Matthew 6:33 instructs us as believers to "seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Notice where on the priority list the kingdom of God and His righteousness is placed. First. Not second or third. Not after the cares of this world, our job or finances. Rather, the scriptures states -- seek ye first -- the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.

Often, like the apostle Paul, we are pressed out of measure and above strength in our daily lives. But we shouldn't be because there is nothing in this world that our Lord God and Saviour Jesus does not have in His control. Everything that happens occurs for a reason, even when we don't immediately recognize the reason. Indeed, His timing is exact. God has a plan for our lives that is both unique and awesome. But first we must seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Seek the wondrous love of Jesus. Seek His abundant and everlasting mercy and grace.

I Corinthians 1: 9 states: "We had the sentence of death in ourselves." The devil wants to destroy us -- destroy our very being - our passion and love for Jesus who willingly shed His blood on the cross so that we might know Him more intimately. But the spirits of this world don't stop there. The devil also wants to destroy our zeal for life.

But as we read in Romans chapter 10 in reference to Israel "my heart's desire and prayer to God is that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal for God but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness and going about to establish their own righteousness have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth."

This is why Paul wrote -- when the toils of this world become too heavy and seemingly more than we can handle, "We should not trust in ourselves but in God which raiseth the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver. In whom we trust that He will yet deliver us."

Therefore, confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in thy heart that God hath raised Him from the dead and thou shalt be saved. For with the heart men and women believe unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For whosoever believeth in Jesus shall be saved. Trust His counsel and wisdom today. Stand in the offering plate.

Thou Hast Turned My Sadness into Dancing - Part 549

Embrace yourself in the loving arms of Jesus. When life takes its twists and turns -- both positive and negative -- and the law of sin and death both independently and collectively take on a new determination to destroy our souls, we are reminded that we need to continually praise Jesus. Why? Because our strength is in Jesus. He is the reason that we have been set free from sin. And as the scriptures so aptly state, if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:36,  Romans 6:18)

Romans 8:2 expands on this theme. This verse tells us that the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made us free once and for all from the sin and death that wants to bind us in chains. Instead of living life in darkness, Jesus released us from captivity through the blood He shed on the cross for our sins. Free from the shackles of a worldly system determined to destroy us. Saved from the grievous wolves who enter in to the fold with one agenda -- that is not sparing any within the flock.

This is the spirit that the devil wants us to adopt. Any other perspective than the one that proclaims that Jesus -- the King of kings and Lord of lords loves us intimately. That before we were formed in our mother's womb, He knew our inner thoughts. What kind of God is this that holds the universe in the palm of His hands but knows our deepest thoughts -- our hurts -- our desires -- and yet was still willing to become flesh and shed His blood so that we might know our Creator who became our Saviour personally.

Throughout our lives, Jesus gives us an opportunity to walk hand in hand with Him. He who is our Lord God and Saviour -- Jesus -- who wants us to take hold of His goodness. What a contrast? While the devil seeks to destroy the life that is within us -- each and every second of the day -- Jesus gives us pleasure and joy. Jesus cleanses us and makes us whole.

So why then do we mourn to the point whereby Paul says, "But I see another Law in my members, warring against the Law of my mind, and bringing captivity to the Law of sin which is in my members. Into captivity. O wretched man that I am, who will deliver me from the body of this death?"

David understood this darkness when he wrote of God's blessings in Psalms 30. "Hear O Lord and have mercy upon me; Lord be thou my helper. Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing. Thou hast put off my sackcloth and girded me with gladness. To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever."

Can you imagine a God so loving that when we desire His counsel, His Word, His love that He turns our mourning into dancing? This is why believers continually thank Jesus Christ our Lord for His incredible goodness. With our mind, heart and soul, we serve the God who loved us enough that He would willingly and freely shed His blood on the cross for you and I. Praise you Jesus!

The following chorus captures the essence of this message. Sing the words as a prayer. Rejoice in the blessings of Jesus and the-- offering yourself --in stand in the offering plate!

Lord, I give you my heart, I give you my soul, I live for you alone
Every breath that I take, Every moment I am awake
Lord have your way with me.

In Whom Will We Serve? Only Jesus - Part 548

In whom will we serve? In whom shall we place our trust today and until the end of time? When we think about Jesus -- who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom and in whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins, it only makes sense to worship the Almighty God who gave Himself a ransom for all. (Colossians 1:13-14) For the son of man came not to be ministered to but to minister and to give His life a ransom for you and I. Jesus paid the ransom in full so that we might have salvation. 


It was Jesus' blood that was shed to deliver the offspring of Adam -- us -- from sin and death. Indeed, Jesus redeemed us so that we could be set free. In Ephesians 1:7, the scriptures state, "In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace." Consider this message for a moment. The same Almighty God that holds the universe in His hands, became flesh so that our sins could be forgiven. He knew our innermost thoughts and desires before we even knew Him and still the Lord of glory only desired our hearts. Our 100% commitment to worship Jesus. To love Him with all of our hearts, our souls and our minds. 


So often, we think of the offering plate as our gift to the Lord. Our monetary gift to our Saviour who holds the universe. And as we do so without realizing that what Jesus really wants is our hearts. He wants us -- you and I -- to be the offering. Hebrews 9:12-15 asks us how much more shall the blood of Jesus purge our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. 

"Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh; How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" 

How much more indeed? For this cause, Jesus is the mediator of the New Testament that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. Most of all, Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the law, having been made a curse for us even while we were sinners. Jesus paid the price in full. Stand in the offering plate.

Rejoice in Jesus, Our Lord and Saviour - Part 547

"When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue fails for thirst, I the Lord will hear them. I the Lord God will not forsake them."

Jesus said in Hebrews 13:5 that He will never leave us nor forsake us. But our relationship with Jesus is more than just a starting point for salvation. Indeed, Jesus never leaves us where we are either. He wants us to grow in His grace -- His mercy -- for all of the days of our life. He wants us to delve into His Word and seek the abundance that Jesus has for our lives. He wants us to rejoice in His goodness and grace. He wants us to worship Him.

In the Old Testament, men and women are repeatedly instructed to fear nothing. Be not dismayed for He is - I AM - your Lord God and Saviour. The same God who in the beginning loved us beyond measure. The same God who in the New Testament -- John chapter one --- is described as the Word. In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh.

The same God who created us and then dwelt among us as one of us so that we might have salvation. He wants to converse with you. He wants us to give Him our hearts. Remember, throughout our trials and tribulations and our successes, it is He who strengthens you. Isaiah 41:10 states "I will help you. I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." 

In fact, the Almighty God who holds the universe in the palm of His hand will open rivers in high places and fountains in the midst of the valleys. The scriptures state, "I will make the wilderness a pool of water and the dry land springs of water. I will plant in the wilderness the cedar ... so that they might see and know and consider and stand together, that the hand of the Lord hath done this."

Today is the day that the Lord has made. Rejoice in His abundance, His mercies and His grace. He is the true vine. He says, "If you abide in me and my Word abides in you, ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you." (John 15:7) Ask Jesus to take hold of your life today. Acknowledge Jesus in everything you do and He will make straight your path. Stand in the offering plate.

Dwelling in the Secret Place of Most High - Part 546

Jesus is my refuge and my fortress - the Almighty God - in Him will I trust. If we read Psalms 91, it states that those of us who dwelleth in the secret place of the most high -- our Lord and Saviour Jesus the Christ - shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. How could we not want to dwell in the secret place of the most high. Sheltered in His abundant love. The one who created us in the beginning but loved us so much that He would become flesh.  In the beginning God. In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God and the Word became flesh. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. (I John 5:7) The same God who holds the universe in the palm of His hands loves us -- you and I -- so much to have suffered the cross of Calvary for our sins.  It is He who shall deliver us from all the snares of the fowler and from noisome and from pestilence. It is He who shall cover us with His feathers. Under His wings shall we trust. His truth shall be our shield and buckler. As a consequence, we will not be afraid for the terror by night, nor for the arrow that flies by. Nor for the pestilence that walks in darkness; nor for the destruction that wastes at noon day. A thousand shall fall at thy side and ten thousand at thy right hand but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Why? Because it is you Oh Lord that hast made it. The same Lord Jesus which is my refuge even the most High, thy habitation. David in Psalms wrote: "There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.  For He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. Because He hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him. Because we have loved Jesus, we will be delivered from the cares and toils of this life. Rescued - delivered - because we know in whom we have believed. Further in Psalms 91, we read that I - the Lord thy God - will set these believers in Him on high because we have known His name. We have met Jesus in our most broken moments and desired the Lord of lords and King of kings.  He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation. It is no wonder that we who dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High are wholly satisfied.  You too can abide under the shadow of the Almighty. The one who loves us and cares for us so much that He would shed His precious blood for us. Ask Jesus to come into your life today. Let the God who made the world dwell in your heart and life today and you conversely dwell in the shadow of the Almighty. Stand in the offering plate.

Crucified, Buried and Raised Again - Part 545

As believers in Jesus, we have tasted the Word of God. We have become partakers of the redemption purchased by the blood of Jesus -- redemption purchased by the blood and water that flowed from the Seed of the holy Spirit's side. Without this Seed -- Jesus -- there never would have been redemption. And, if there had never been redemption, there would never have been salvation.

But the good news is that because we believed in our hearts that Jesus loves us -- and because of His abundant (but non-deserving from our standpoint) grace, we are able to look upon and accept the Tree of Life. The life that was embedded in that Tree of Life is available free of charge to each and every one of us. All we have to do is call on the name of Jesus -- the Lord of Glory -- whose sinless body as a shell hung on a cross for us.

His body hideous on the cross because there, the God who loved us so much was covering our multitude of sins with His precious blood. Jesus who knew no sin upon Himself was willingly giving His life so that we could freely receive His righteousness as a gift. As a consequence, we are no longer condemned if we believe. Jesus took our place on the cross. Once and for all. And there is nothing that we can do to ever deserve Jesus' grace. But He let His humanity die on the cross so that we might have life abundant.

The old Adamic nature that is inherent in us since birth is buried with Jesus. God raises us out of the tomb as He did Jesus. We experience the new birth so that we can continue in obedience to our Lord -- the second Adam. Indeed, we have been crucified, buried and raised again in the newness of His imparted Tree of Life. Here, we not only bear much fruit but we are clothed with His righteousness.

Accept the Word -- Jesus the Word of God's counselled plan of redemption -- personally delivered to you and I, the Spirit of God now delivering to us, through His own redeemed Holy Spirit filled body His Word -- that we would repent and be baptized into the name of Jesus -- as outlined in Acts 2. Stand in the offering plate.

A Hundred Measures of Oil - Part 544

 In Luke 16, Jesus tells a parable to His disciples. There was a certain rich man which had a steward. However, the rich man accused the steward of wasting his goods. He asked, "How is it that I hear this of thee? Give an account of thy stewardship for thou might no longer be a steward."

Like so many of us caught between the demands of our lives and our professional obligations, the thought of losing our income was worrisome. Indeed, the steward said within himself, "What shall I do? For my lord takes away from me the stewardship. I cannot dig and to beg I am ashamed." But he resolved what to do, that when he was put out of the stewardship, they may receive him into their houses.

So the steward called every one of his lord's debtors unto him. To the first he said, "How much owest thou unto my lord?" And he said, "An hundred measures of oil." And he said unto him, "Take thy bill and sit down quickly and write fifty." Then he said to another, "How much owest thou?" And that man responded saying, "An hundred measures of wheat." And he said unto him, "Take thy bill and write fourscore." And the lord commended the unjust steward because he had done wisely.

But then Jesus said this. "Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness that when you fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much. And He that is unjust in the least is unjust in much. If therefore you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

And if you have not been faithful in that which is another man's who shall give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."

But the Pharisees who were also standing by listening, were covetous, and upon hearing this parable derided Jesus. And He said unto them, "Ye are they which justify yourselves before men but God knows your hearts. For that which is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God."

Indeed, it is Jesus who knows our hearts -- our most inner thoughts and desires -- and yet -- still -- loved us enough to become our Saviour when we were sinners. Even before we knew about Jesus, our Lord loved us. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. Ask Jesus into your heart today. It is He that gives the measures of oil. A hundred measures of oil -- and so much more to those that believe in Jesus. Stand in the offering plate. 

Press into Jesus Today - He Never Fails - Part 543

The law and the prophets were only intended until John. Since that time, the kingdom of God was (and is) to be preached to the world so that every man and woman alive has an opportunity to press into the kingdom. Press into the knowledge of Jesus. The one who holds the universe completely in His hands - so that each and every one of us can welcome Jesus into our lives as our own personal Saviour -- Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords. How many times have we lost something valuable and spent countless hours in search of it again. Jesus, in Luke 15:8-10 makes a reference to this very situation. A woman having ten pieces of silver had lost one. "Doth not [she] light a candle and sweep the house and seek diligently till she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls her friends and her neighbours together, saying, "Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost." Like so many of us, the woman had tried everything the world had to offer. And she was found wanting. What the world offered wasn't enough. She knew there had to be more. And when she found the one piece of silver - the one and only Jesus who gives hope and meaning -- life abundant - she was rejoicing. She had found Jesus - the Word who was with God and was God and then became flesh so that we could have eternal life. What did the woman do? She rejoiced. "For I have found the piece which I had lost." Jesus said, "there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth - one person who asks Jesus into their heart. Imagine. Rejoicing in Heaven over our willingness to give our all -- our lives -- to our Lord and Saviour who is omnipresent enough to hold the universe in His hands and yet, still knows firsthand the desires of our heart.

Unlike the Pharisees with their self righteousness and pompous dispositions, press into the knowledge of Jesus Christ today.  Not as seemingly perfect beings as the Pharisees might have us believe but rather as ordinary people who know that when we fail in our everyday walk, that He -- Jesus, our Lord and Saviour -- is faithful.  It is Jesus who bestows His riches on us. His abundance. The one who holds the universe never intended for us to be less than victorious. He is faithful. Take up your cross and follow Jesus. Stand in the offering plate!

Cleave Unto the Lord Jesus - Part 542

"Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord."

Cornelius had seen the grace of God. A centurion, Cornelius was already known as a just man and one that feared God. He was also a man of good report among all the nations. Still, even for all Cornelius reputation, he was told by an angel that he needed more. Good works were not enough. An exceptional reputation was not enough. Indeed, Cornelius needed Jesus in his heart. 

As we read in Acts 10, Cornelius had invited Peter to come. Cornelius' men stood at the gate asking whether Simon which was surnamed Peter was lodged there. Just prior to this, Peter had a vision whereby the Spirit of the Lord said, "Arise therefore, and get down and go with them, doubting nothing for I have sent thee." 

When Peter came, Cornelius met him and falling down at his feet began to worship him. But Peter took him up saying, "Stand up Cornelius for I myself also am a man." And when Peter talked with Cornelius, he went inside to find many that were come together. And he said unto them, "Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company or come unto one of another nation, but God hath showed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. Therefore, came I unto you without gainsaying as soon as I was sent for." Peter then asked the people, "What intent ye have sent for me?"

But Peter seeing all that had assembled in the house before God -- all who had come to hear all things that the Saviour wanted them to hear said, "Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons but in every nation he that fears Him and worketh righteousness is accepted with Him. The Word which God sent unto the children of Israel preaching peace by Jesus Christ -- the Lord of all."

Peter told them the good news of Jesus. How God annointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power and how Jesus healed all those that were oppressed of the devil. Here we are witnesses, said Peter, of all the things which Jesus did both in the land of Jews and in Jerusalem -- the same Jesus who they slew and hanged on a tree. It is this Jesus who God raised up the third day and showed Him openly to those who loved Him. The witnesses chosen before God, even to us, who did not eat and drink with Him after He arose from the dead.

So what did He do? Jesus commanded His disciples to preach and to testify that all the whosoevers of this world -- if they believed in Jesus -- would receive remission of sins. (Acts 11:43) While Peter yet spoke, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the Word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. Yes, there was a mighty outpouring of the Spirit. Hearing these people speak with tongues and magnify their God and Saviour, Peter said, "Can any man  forbid water, that these should not be baptized which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?" And Peter commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. (Acts 10:43-48)

You see, even Cornelius whose heart was in the right place needed Jesus. He understood that with purpose of heart, we needed to cleave unto the Lord Jesus who loved us enough to shed His precious blood on the cross for us. Like Cornelius, ask Jesus into your heart today. Take the first step of faith into the arms of our Lord and Saviour Jesus. Stand in the offering plate.

Whosoever Shall Call on Jesus - Part 541

To Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Saviour, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever - Amen. (Jude 1:24-25) This is the good news gospel of Jesus. 

Regardless of what is happening in our lives, He will keep us from stumbling. Why? Because the same God who holds the earth in His hands -- loves us so much that He would become flesh and die on the cross -- so that we could enjoy the life abundant that only He gives. It is no wonder that the mountains melt like a wax at the presence of the Lord (Psalm 97:5)

The Bible states that if thou shalt confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and shall believe in your heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart believeth unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:9) Indeed, whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord Jesus shall be saved. 

Take hold of the truth of the gospel today. Let the knowledge of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ reign in your hearts. Stand in the offering plate.

Who Shall Separate Us from Jesus - Part 540

We have become more than conquerers through Jesus that loves us. This is why believers in Jesus are fully persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth shall separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8)

Indeed, as a consequence of Jesus' blood shed on the cross, there is now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after His Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made us free from the law of sin and death. For what the ten commandments and law dictated in the Old Testament could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh could accomplish.

Jesus on the cross in order that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh but after His Spirit. Jesus. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but for those that are after the Spirit, there is only Jesus. "And when they lifted their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only." (Matthew 17:8)

You see once we have asked Jesus into our hearts, we are no longer in the flesh. No longer subject to the worldly spirit of bondage that subjects us to the whims of men. Instead, He that searches our hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. The one and only mediator between God and man -- Jesus. 

Therefore when we let Jesus into our lives,  we receive the Spirit of adoption whereby we cry, Abba, Father. We become the children of our mighty God and Saviour. 

Romans 8:18 states: "For I reckon that [even] the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."

Therefore rejoice. Because we are in the Spirit and the Spirit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is within us. We are delivered from the corruption of this world into the glorious liberty as the children of God. Free. Saved by hope. Who shall separate us from the love of Jesus? Shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword? Not a chance.

Why? Because as it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long. We are counted as sheep for the slaughter and yet, in all these things we are more than conquerers through our God and Saviour that loves us.

For we know in whom we believe. And if the same Spirit of Him that raised Jesus from the dead dwells within us, He that raised up Christ from the dead will also quicken our mortal bodies by His spirit that dwelleth in us. All things work together for good to them that love God. Stand in the offering plate.

Nothing Too Precious for My Jesus - Part 539

The woman in Mark 14 understood who Jesus was. She was the woman who brought an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard -- an ointment considered very precious and expensive at the time -- and poured the oil over Jesus' head. In her mind, there was nothing too precious for Jesus. As we read in the previous post, here was Jesus our Lord and Saviour pouring out His soul unto death for us. Ready to die so that we might have life in His abundance. The cornerstone of our salvation. The Alpha and Omega. Our God and Saviour - the beginning and the end. Preparing to hang on a cross because He loved us even before the foundation of this world was formed.

But the woman knew this already. Even when those in the house of Simon became indignant, calling the use of the ointment a waste -- suggesting that it could have been sold for 300 pence and the money given to the poor --  this woman knew that Jesus was worth more than silver or gold. She knew that  Jesus - the Word that had became flesh to save us from sin -- was worthy of worship and praise.

Remember when Jesus came to Nazareth where He had been raised and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath Day? There He opened the book of the prophet Esaias and read the following: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because He hath annointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent me to heal the broken hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord." (Luke 4:18)

Well, when the woman poured the expensive oil over Jesus, the woman already recognized Jesus as her Lord and Saviour. She knew that only Jesus could free souls from the torment and toil that is inherent in life. That it is Jesus who heals the broken-hearted and sets the captives free. Indeed, the woman was already aware of the miracles of Jesus. That it was this same Jesus who had repeatedly recovered sight to the blind throughout the new testament. It was Jesus who set at liberty all those that were bruised.

In this chapter, here was a woman willing to give Jesus her everything - her all - because she knew He was enough. Unlike Peter who should have known better, this woman was not going to deny her Lord and Saviour. She knew in whom she believed. And she understood why.

Psalms 73:25 states, "Whom have I in Heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire but you." In other words, in this woman's view, even this expensive oil wasn't good enough for Jesus who knew our hearts and yet loved us even before the foundation of the world was formed.

Grace and abundance be yours through the knowledge of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ. Stand in the offering plate.

Jesus - His Life a Ransom for Us - Part 538

Jesus said unto the disciples, "This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many. Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God." As Jesus and His disciples headed into the mount of Olives, Jesus continued speaking to their hearts, "All ye shall be offended because of me this night, for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee."

But Peter in Mark 14 is adamant that he will not be offended even though Jesus knew beforehand that Peter would deny Him in the hours ahead. At the same time as this conversation was taking place, Jesus knew that His false accusers lay in wait. This is why Jesus said, "I will destroy this temple that is made with hands and within three days I will build another made without hands."

Even when the chief priests, elders and scribes of the day were intent on killing Jesus to the point that they sought witnesses who would falsely testify against Him, Jesus knew that this cup -- His precious blood shed on the cross for our sin - was necessary. Still, even though the flesh was weak, the Spirit was truly ready. "Not what I will, but what thou wilt." (Mark 14:38)

The Lord God who created this world had become flesh so that He could shed His humanity for our sins. Shed His precious blood on the cross so that we -- you and I -- might have salvation. As Jesus had read earlier in the scriptures from the prophet Esaias, Jesus knew that even the tomb could not hold the King of kings and Lord of lords. Jesus was going to rise again -- in pure defiance of the devil of this world. Praise you Jesus! Give your life over to Jesus today! Discover why Jesus loves you so much. Stand in the offering plate.

The Marvel of Jesus - Part 537

Look among the nations, watch, and wonder marvelously; for God is working a work in your days, which you will not believe though it is told you. Therefore,"behold I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder; and the wisdom of their wise men will perish, and the understanding of their prudent men will be hidden." It is no wonder that the man in Mark 5:20 went on his way, proclaiming in Decapolis how Jesus had done great things for him. Indeed, he began to publish the great things Jesus had done for him.

Prior to the man's encounter with Jesus, he had been possessed with a devil. Life wasn't going so well. Tormented, the man's only hope was Jesus. And Jesus? He knew of the man's situation, And He had compassion on the man. "Go home to thy friends and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee." It is no wonder that the man published his encounter to everyone he met. Jesus - the King of kings and Lord of lords had set him free -- once and for all. And the people marvelled.

But this is only the beginning. John 5:20 states: "For the Father loveth the Son and showeth Him all things that Himself doeth; and He will show Him greater works than these, that ye may marvel." Greater works than these. Jesus said in John 7:21, "I have done one work and ye all marvel because of it." It is no wonder that Peter said unto the people, "You men of Israel, why do you marvel at this man? Why do you fasten your eyes on us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made him walk? (Acts 3:12)

This point is reiterated in the example in John chapter 9. It was the Sabbath Day. As Jesus passed by, He saw a man which was blind from birth. And His disciples asked saying, "Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents but that the works of God should be made manifest in him." Jesus then went on to say, "I must work the works of Him that sent me while it is day, the night cometh when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

When Jesus had spoken, He spat on the ground and made clay of the spittle and He annointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. And then Jesus said, "Go wash in the pool of Siloam (which is by interpretation Sent). The man went his way, washing and seeing his sight restored. The neighbours asked, "Is this not he that sat and begged?"

The neighbours asked the man, "How were thine eyes opened?" And the man said, "A man that is called Jesus made clay and annointed mine eyes and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam and wash; and I went and washed, and I received sight."

Then the neighbours brought the blind man to the Pharisees who also asked how the man had received his sight. "He put clay upon eyes and I washed and do see." Some of the Pharisees said that this man was not of God because He keepeth not the Sabbath Day. Others said, "How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them." (John 9:16)

They said unto the blind man again, "What sayest thou of Him that He hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet. But the Jews did not believe concerning him that he had been blind and received \his sight until they called the parent s of him that received his sight. And they asked them, saying, "Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? How then doth he now see."

The parents answered them. "We know that this is our son and that he was born blind; But by what means he now seeth we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not; he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself."

The parents worded their response this way because they feared the Jews. This is because the Jews had already agreed that if any man did confess that he was teh Christ he should be put out of the synagogue. So the parents said, "He is of age, ask him" referring to their son.

So the Pharisees again asked the man that was blind, "Give God the praise, we know that this man is a sinner." But the maan answered and said, "Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know that whereas I ws blind now I see."

The Pharisees asked again, "What did Jesus do?" But the man answered them, "I have told you already and ye did not hear wherefore would ye hear it again? Will ye also be His disciples?" In other words, will you follow the Jesus who healed a blind man who begged. Will you understand why the man said, "Why herein is a marvellous thing that ye know not from whence he is and yet he hath opened mine eyes. Now we know tht God heareth not sinners but if any man be a worshipper of God and doeth His will him He heareth. Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. If this man were not of God, He could do nothing."

The Pharisees cast the man out. But Jesus, upon hearing the Pharisee's response found the man and asked him, "Dost thou believe on the Son of God?" And the man answered and said, "Who is the Lord that I might beleive on Him?" And Jesus said, "Thou hast both seen Him and it is He that talketh with thee."

I am He that has come. And the man worshipped Jesus. The man who was once blind could now see and He knew in whom to put his faith in. He had said to the leaders of the day, "Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence He is and yet He has opened mine eyes." (John 9:30)

Like Paul states in Acts 13:4: "Behold you despisers [scoffers], and wonder, and perish; for I work a work in your days; a work which ye shall in no wise believe. Ye shall in no wise believe though a man declare it unto you."

The blind man was telling the Pharisees that Jesus had performed a miracle but the scoffers were not listening. They were not marvelling at the miracle that Jesus performed. Even though here was Jesus - God Almighty - the Word in the flesh - giving His mercies and grace to the people in abundance, the Pharisees were not rejoicing. But the Gentiles listened and as a consequence, the multitudes kept on coming to see Jesus. Why? Because the people recognized that Jesus was the only way, the truth and the life. It is Jesus' mercies that makes us whole. It is Jesus who gives us peace. It is Jesus that sets us free.

The Alpha and Omega. The beginning and the end. The Saviour who even when He is passing by - as was the case with the examples above - knows our inner struggles. Focus on Jesus today. Ask Jesus what He has planned for your life. Because it is Jesus who knew you before the beginning of the world and yet loved us. Jesus alone is enough. Stand in the offering plate.


  

Rejoice in the Lord Jesus - Part 536

Jesus loves you! Once a person accepts Jesus into their heart, their life begins to change. This personal peace comes from recognizing -- without a doubt -- that the same God of the universe -- the God who holds the heavens in His hands, cares so much more about you and I. Now there is a message to take hold of for this day. A reason to rejoice cradled in Jesus' love. Cradled in His grace and His never ending mercy. Why? Because this is the day that the Lord hath made!


In Matthew chapter 9, we read about Jesus at dinner with "many publicans and sinners" who had come to see Him. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked the disciples, "Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?" These were the lost of the world in the Pharisee's eyes. The people who didn't rate within the social fabric of society. Men and women who had nothing good to offer -- sinners -- as the Pharisees referred to them. 

But when Jesus heard this, He said unto the Pharisees. "They that be whole need not a physician but they that are sick. Go ye and learn what that meaneth. I will have mercy and not sacrifice; for I am not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance." 

Think about this for a moment. The same God who created the universe -- the same God who created you and I and knew us even before we were formed in the womb -- wants to know us personally. And He told the naysayers, the elites, the Pharisees in this example -- who readily sit in judgement of the less fortunate - to go figure out what it means to be whole. Imagine the joy the sinners sitting with Jesus must have felt. Confident that "my Lord and my God" as Thomas said of Jesus, loved them too.

Take hold of Jesus today for He loves you - unconditionally - no strings attached. All one has to do is say "Jesus, come into my heart." Rejoice in the knowledge that the Master is dining at the table with you too. Stand in the offering plate.

Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Part 535

Jesus wept. The same Jesus who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, and crowned with glory and honour so that He -- by the grace of God -- should taste death for every man wept for you and I. (Hebrews 2:9) So that we might know His abundance. His love for you and I.

Indeed, freely He shed His precious blood so that we might be saved. Not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to His mercy He saved us -- by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost which He shed abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour, that being justified by His grace, "we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." (Titus 3:5-7)

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God." (Ephesians 2:8-9) Not of works lest any man boast. 

For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus. "It is He who is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; having abolished in His flesh the enemy, even the law of commandments, contained in the ordinances, for to make in Himself of twain one new man, so making peace. That He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enemy thereby. 

For through Him, we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners but fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God. And are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone, in whom all the building fitly framed together grows unto an holy temple in the Lord in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit."

In other words, our salvation was already purchased by the blood of Jesus. It is finished. Trust Jesus today. Stand in the offering plate. 

Jesus - The Sweetest Name I Know - Part 534

Who am I Lord that you - the Lord of lords and King of kings - would even know my name? The Lord who holds the earth completely in His hands. The same Lord who calms the oceans. And heals the sick. In comparison to your greatness Lord, who are we that we would even be a consideration? Or anything more than a passing thought in the broader scheme of humanity? But you Lord? You are our Lord God who loved us so much that you became our Saviour. The Creator of the universe who had decided, even before the foundation of the world was formed that He would shed His humanity on the cross of Calvary for our sins. To reconcile you and I back to Him -- as creation was originally intended.

"In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God ... And the Word became flesh." (John 1:1-14) 

Yes Lord, you showed us your abundant love when you allowed your own humanity to die on the cross so that we might know your goodness Lord. Your abundance Lord. Your love that has not changed since the beginning of time. Even in the conversation with Jacob in the Old Testament, the Lord that created him said, "Fear not: for I have redeemed thee. I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine."

In Acts 4:10-12, the scriptures further state: "Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of  Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by Him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

Jesus - the greatest name I know. This is why believers are confident in their salvation because "to us, there is but one God, the Father of whom are all things, and we in Him and one Lord Jesus Christ by whom are all things." Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father but through me." 

This love story written especially for you and I is further elaborated upon in John 10:30-33. Therein, the Jews were attempting to stone Jesus. Jesus had said, "I and my Father are one." Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. Jesus answered them, "Many good works have I showed you from my Father; for which of those words do ye stone me?" The Jews answered Him saying, "For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God."

This same Lord thy God, "which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage" stated as well according to Isaiah 43:2, "When thou passes through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee." 

Yes, it is Jesus who is the I AM."Before Abraham, I AM." The Lord thy God that divided the seas whose waves roared. It is for this reason that Paul in the New Testament was willing to go the distance to tell the world about His God and Saviour - Jesus. Paul knew in whom He served. He had seen firsthand the healing power of Jesus. People's lives restored.

In I Corinthians 9:18-20, for example, the scriptures state: "Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel. for though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant to all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews, I became as a Jew that I might gain the Jews to them that are under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law."

But Paul did not just preach to people unnecessarily bound by institutional religions serving under the Law. Paul also preached to the weak so that they might also know Jesus as their personal Lord and Saviour. Didn't Paul ask, "Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord?" 

Paul is saying to each and every one of us that the meaning of life is in Jesus. Our freedom is in Jesus. The lily of the valley -- Jesus! Therefore, rest in Him for He is the Good Shepherd who plants hope and everlasting peace in our hearts. Jesus is still on His throne today setting us free. Jesus the Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever. And the best part -- this King Jesus already knows your name. Ask Jesus into your heart today. Give "yourself" to Him. Stand in the offering plate.

Jesus' Mercy From Everlasting to Everlasting - Part 533

Our hope is in Jesus. Bless His holy name. It is Jesus who heals all thy diseases, who forgives all our iniquities, who redeems our life from destruction, who crowns us with loving kindness and tender mercies. Indeed, Jesus satisfies us with good things so that "thy youth is renewed like the eagle's." (Psalm 103) 

Jesus - the sweetest name under Heaven and the only name whereby we can be saved. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. When Jesus became our Saviour, it was not to establish institutionalized formal religion on earth. Rather, Jesus shed His blood on Calvary so that we might know the God that controls the universe personally. The God who knew us before we were formed in the womb. Yes, He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. In Him, are we reconciled to God. (II Corinthians 5:18-20)


Why? Because Jesus - our Lord and Saviour - loves us that much. So that we could walk hand in hand with the creator of the universe. The same God who loved us enough to allow His humanity to die on the cross. In Him alone do we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. So many times religion wants to bind us up with their rules and regulations -- even though we are no longer under the law. The gift of salvation was already purchased through the shedding of blood on the cross. As a consequence, Jesus has set us free. 

"And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation. To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; but hath committed unto us the Word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God."


This is why in Luke 4:18 we read, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor. He hath sent me to heal the broken hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised." 

Colossians 1:27 states, "To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." Immerse yourself in the contentment that God intended for men and women from the beginning. 

Rejoice in the Lord always. Stand in the offering plate.

Only Jesus Gives Beyond Measure- Part 532

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; and before you came forth out of the womb I sanctified you, and I ordained you a prophet unto the nations." (Jeremiah 1:5) This is the God that loves us beyond measure. This is the magnificent God who has compassion on His people -- so much so that He would become flesh and dwell among us. And His name is Jesus.

In Mark chapter 7, we read about the miracles and healings that Jesus performed. He healed the woman whose daughter had an unclean spirit. When the mother returned home after encountering Jesus, there was her daughter laying on the bed - peaceful. No longer subject to demons. But the healing power of Jesus does not end there. 

Departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis. And there, the people brought unto Him - Jesus - the sick and lame, the hurting, those that were deaf, and those with impediments in speech. All they asked was that Jesus - the Almighty God in the flesh - the Heavenly Father who created us and loved us enough - put His hand on the sick. You see, when it comes to the King of kings, just one touch from His hand was enough. The hand of the Master who loves us.

And when Jesus did touch those in need, as we learn from this one example of a deaf man, "straight way his ears were opened and the string of his tongue loosed." Jesus then charged him not to tell no man. But the more Jesus asked that the miracles He performed and in particular this healing not be told, the more this good news was published throughout the land. He touched me. Indeed, Jesus touched me and made me whole.

"And were 'beyond measure' astonished, saying, He has done all things well: He makes both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak." 

It is this same Jesus who brings us peace today. Sufficiency of grace for each and every one of us. An abundance for eternity so that we can walk with Him forever. Jesus never failed the people then and He is not going to fail us today. Ask Jesus into your heart. Stand in the offering plate!

Jesus is the Answer - Part 531

Jesus is the answer for your life today! Not only did He form us from the womb but He said "I will pour water upon [all those] that are thirsty." Thirsty for His Word. Yes, Jesus is pouring out His spirit upon us but He doesn't stop there. Matthew 5:6 - "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after [His] righteousness; for they shall be filled." Indeed, they shall spring up as among the grass as willows by the water courses. In delight of the many blessings that Jesus has declared for those who love Him.

Did not Jesus say to His disciples privately? "Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see; For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them."

Remember the leper in Mark chapter one? Jesus had been preaching in the synagogues throughout Galilee  at the time, casting out devils. And there in the midst came a leper to Him, beseeching Him, and kneeling down to Him , and saying unto Him, "If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean." Did Jesus turn away? Not a chance. There was Jesus - the  creator of the universe, the King who uses earth as His footstool - the King of kings and Lord of hosts - moved with compassion. Moved by compassion for the leper.

And what did Jesus do? He put forth His hand and He touched him. In that moment, the leper knew that Jesus was making him clean. The leper was cleansed once and for all. Why? Because He recognized that without Jesus, there was no hope. It is this same Saviour with the power to forgive sins who was also saying to the sick, "Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house."

This is the God that we have faith in - the God who loves us so much that He would become flesh and have His humanity die on the cross for us. His name is Jesus. Everything that He has promised, He will do for you.

"What things so ye desire when ye pray, believe that ye receive them and ye shall have them." This is the Jesus we serve. How could we ever doubt a God whose hands hold the universe? Why would we ever question Jesus plan for our lives?  Because the reality is that there is no place where we can go that He - Jesus the Christ - would not already know the things that trouble us. The desires of our hearts. It is this Jesus in whom I trust. It is this Jesus who is faithful.

Our Redeemer who proclaims, "I am the first, and I am the last, and beside me there is no God ... Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have I not told thee from that time, and have declared it? Ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God - I know not any." Therefore, take up your cross and follow Jesus. Stand in the offering plate!