Tag Archives: Jesus

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I Can’t Do That!

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John 14:12-13 (NIV) “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”

How many of us have read this verse and felt a little overwhelmed? Or we read about the things that people like Moses, David, Elijah and the twelve did, and wish we were just like them? We want to do something grand. We would love to have our shadow heal those who need it, to have a showdown like Elijah and the prophets of Baal. But deep in our hearts we may be begging God to just help us get through the day. I know I have been there. I have heard and said the words, (and most of us can admit that we at least have thought them at one time) “I’m not Jesus!” (or Elijah, or Paul, Etc).

So then why does God expect us, and Jesus tell us Himself, that we will do the works He did and even greater?
We have to start by looking at Jesus. He is the Son of God! No doubt about it. Deity. Period. However, when He came to legally get back everything that had been given to Satan, by Adam, He was fully man. Jesus didn’t walk the earth after His human birth as God. The pre-incarnate Jesus, who came as the Angel of the Lord, that was Jesus in His heavenly body. But when He was here among us, He was just like us. If Jesus had come as anything other than a man, He wouldn’t have been able to fulfill the law or to take our place in the consequences of our sin. Only a man could do that.

Just a few places that show His humanity:
His human birth (Luke 2).
Jesus got tired, and slept (John 4:6, Matthew 8:24).
He got sad and suffered agony (John 11:33-35, Luke 22:44).
He was tempted just like we are, in every area! (Hebrews 2:14-17, Mark 1:13).

There are many scriptures that talk about Jesus. It is so important that we really know Him! So then how did He do it? The healings, the miracles and how did he suffer the agony of the cross?
Matthew 12:28 (NIV) “But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”

Jesus is pretty clear. He performed miracles by the Power of the Holy Spirit. Then He goes on to say in Luke 24:40 (NLT) “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”
No more excuses. We can do what Jesus did!
That’s how Peter, Paul and Elijah did it.

Romans 8:11 (NIV) “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.”
His shed blood on Calvary gave us back our health, our right standing with God, and our authority as Children of God. The power of the Holy Spirit gives us the power to witness and to do exactly what Jesus did. We have so many Spirit Filled believers what is hindering the miracles? Maybe the excuses and the wrong thinking.
No more say, “I can’t” but “I can.”

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Book Review for “Prophetic Guide to the End Times” – Christian Non Fiction

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I love Derek Prince to begin with and have read several of his books. I had to read this one for a college class and I can’t begin to say how grateful I am that I read it. We can all agree that things are looking shaky these days, and this book gives us hope for facing the future. God has a plan and as always His plan for His children in an expected (good) end. I recommend for all Christians. I give it 5 stars.

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Which King?

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There are only two kings, two rulers, two masters.
Both of them want your surrender.

One came in with deceit, stealth, and craftiness. You thought he was an ally. He tricked you into thinking your life would be better. It all seemed to be going well until he began the hostile takeover. He raped, pillaged and plundered. He took your stuff, your dreams and your children. He shed blood and broke hearts, destroying relationships. It became obvious that he only came to steal, kill, and destroy. He fights against you. Now you are his slave, your burdens too heavy, the shackles and chains too strong. His kingdom is darkness, without love and affection, without any of your true needs being met. You are without hope. Or if you aren’t there yet, you soon will be. The day will come that you will despise your king and the life he has coerced you into.

But, there is another King. He comes in with Truth. You thought He only wanted to control you- but He came to set you free. He doesn’t come in by force, except the force of His great love for you. The only blood shed was His. He mends and heals the broken heart, the broken bodies, and the broken lives. His greatest desire is to give you a life full of blessings, abundance, and joy. He not only wants to meet your every need, he also wants to give you your heart’s desire. He has come to give you eternal life with Him, the one who loves you more than any other ever could or would. His burden is light. He will break every chain that binds you. His Kingdom is Light, Love and Peace. His is our Hope! You will never regret the day you surrender your heart and life to Him!

There are only two kings, two kingdoms. You will serve one.
Which one will you serve?

Psalm 24:7-10 (NIV) “Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty— he is the King of glory”

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Don’t Be A Burden

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The chosen people of God were a whiny, ungrateful bunch. God hears their cry from Egypt and send them a deliverer. Things got worse in Egypt before they got better. Pharaoh made them work harder after the first meeting with Moses. Then after a great show of God’s strength and favor, finally they were on their way. The eleven day journey to the Promised Land took them forty years and a whole generation of rebellious, selfish people had to pass away before they could even cross over the Jordan. Those “chosen” complained about almost everything. When they whined that there was no food God sent them Manna, bread from Heaven. There are so many other places where they complained, accused Moses of trying to murder them, and wished they were back in Egypt “where at least we had cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic.”

Today, we will take a look at when they whined about the Manna. Let’s take up the story in Numbers 11:10-15 (NASB).
“Now Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, each man at the doorway of his tent; and the anger of the LORD was kindled greatly, and Moses was displeased. So Moses said to the LORD, “Why have You been so hard on Your servant? And why have I not found favor in Your sight, that You have laid the burden of all this people on me? Was it I who conceived all this people? Was it I who brought them forth, that You should say to me, ‘Carry them in your bosom as a nurse carries a nursing infant, to the land which You swore to their fathers? Where am I to get meat to give to all this people? For they weep before me, saying, ‘Give us meat that we may eat!’ I alone am not able to carry all this people, because it is too burdensome for me. So if You are going to deal thus with me, please kill me at once, if I have found favor in Your sight, and do not let me see my wretchedness.”

Moses is feeling the pressure of leading so many people. He feels the people are a “burden.” He goes so far as to even remind God that he hadn’t conceived them, they weren’t his children. I can feel Moses pain. Have you ever had a disobedient child, a whiney toddler, coworkers who grumbled and complained constantly? Then you have experienced some of what Moses is going through. It is important to also note that God was angry, very angry.

Now before we shake our heads and click our tongues over the hard to lead Israelites, let’s take a look at our own lives. We all have someone over us in authority. Parents, teachers, bosses, shift leaders, pastors, elders, government officials, etc. Are we sometimes a burden? ‘Ouch’ or ‘oh me.’

Hebrews 13:17 (NIV) “Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.”

Simply put, God has appointed those who are over you. They have to give an account to God for you. We are supposed to be a joy to them…not a burden. So maybe we aren’t as bad as those stiff-necked Israelites, but do our bosses cringe when we walk in, or smile? Do the ministry leaders want you on their team, or would they rather not even ask?

Thankfully all of the Israelites weren’t so horrible. During a great battle, against Amalek, (Exodus 17), Moses took his rod and went up on top of the hill to watch the battle. When Moses held the rod up, the Israelites would win. When the rod was lowered they lost. Soon Moses arms became heavy. He couldn’t do it alone. Aaron and Hur each took one of his arms, and they held them up so that the people would have the victory. Then when the twelve spies came back from scoping out the land, ten had a negative report and swayed the people to disobey God. Joshua and Caleb had faith in God and wanted to go in right away. Consequently they were the only two of their generation that got to enter the Promised Land. Even Aaron, Miriam and Moses weren’t allowed to enter in. The attitude of the people finally got to Moses and he acted out in anger, displeasing God.

Are we going to go in the spirit of Aaron and Hur, Joshua and Caleb? Or are we going to be the ones that are a burden.

Which ones pleased God?
That’s what I want to do, don’t you?

Father, Help me to be a blessing not a burden. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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Move With God

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Numbers 9:15-23 (NASB) “Now on the day that the tabernacle was erected the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the testimony, and in the evening it was like the appearance of fire over the tabernacle, until morning. So it was continuously; the cloud would cover it by day, and the appearance of fire by night. Whenever the cloud was lifted from over the tent, afterward the sons of Israel would then set out; and in the place where the cloud settled down, there the sons of Israel would camp. At the command of the LORD the sons of Israel would set out, and at the command of the LORD they would camp; as long as the cloud settled over the tabernacle, they remained camped. Even when the cloud lingered over the tabernacle for many days, the sons of Israel would keep the LORD’S charge and not set out. If sometimes the cloud remained a few days over the tabernacle, according to the command of the LORD they remained camped. Then according to the command of the LORD they set out. If sometimes the cloud remained from evening until morning, when the cloud was lifted in the morning, they would move out; or if it remained in the daytime and at night, whenever the cloud was lifted, they would set out. Whether it was two days or a month or a year that the cloud lingered over the tabernacle, staying above it, the sons of Israel remained camped and did not set out; but when it was lifted, they did set out. At the command of the LORD they camped, and at the command of the LORD they set out; they kept the LORD’S charge, according to the command of the LORD through Moses.”

As the chosen ones of God traveled through the wilderness they only moved when God moved. They only camped when God stopped moving. They did this not for days, weeks, or months, but years. God was trying to teach them a valuable lesson.

What lesson?
God knows where and when we need to go. His way is always best.

They could have made that journey in eleven days. Eleven days! Forty years later, they were still following the cloud by day and the fire by night. You’d think after forty years of this they would have gone into the Promised Land and continued to be “followers of God.” Read the Old Testament and it becomes clear that they didn’t. They followed their own deceitful hearts, the people who they were warned about, false gods and pretty much everything but God. Thank God there were always some faithful few who stuck to the course, who learned the lesson.

What about us? Has God brought you through some wilderness times, only for you to stop following Him? Have you allowed the lies of the enemy, or the lust of your own flesh to lure you away? Has the world in all its momentary pleasures got you caught in its web?

Psalm 37:23 (ESV) says, “The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand.”
So maybe you got off the path. It’s only ever one step back to the Lord. Then you may stumble from time to time, maybe even fall. But fear not, God will uphold you.

I Corinthians 9:24 (NASB) “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.”
It really isn’t important how fast you run, just that you finish, with honor. It is not something you can cheat at. You can’t pretend. You are either in the race or you aren’t. What is the prize?
Just the saving of our souls.
Eternal life.

So what about it? Will you move when He moves? Will you stop when He stops? Will you allow Him to show you the way?

His word is a light unto our paths and a lamp unto our feet. (Psalm 119:105). He knows the way. He made the path. Your steps are ordained. He even gave us the Holy Spirit to lead us along the way. Fix your eyes on the prize and run! When you are too tired to run, walk. When walking gets hard, crawl. Do whatever you have to do to move forward…towards Him.

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What Are You Building Out Of?

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I Corinthians 3:10-13 (KJV) “According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth hereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”

What would you prefer to have your building made out of? The choices are gold, silver and precious stones or wood, hay and stubble. The rich building materials represent things that aren’t easily found, they are rare, they last, and they have value. They can be tried by fire and retain their beauty and form. The others are easily found building materials, quite common actually. During those fiery trials…they burn up. In a stiff wind or a storm, they blow away. The wood here isn’t big oak logs, but more like the twigs of the “Three Little Pigs” story. These building materials are easily corruptible. They rot, they mold, and they lose their strength over time.

The bible uses the word “stubble” quite often. Some versions replace it with the word “chaff.”
In Isaiah 5, Isaiah talks about the wicked. Verse 24 (NASB) says, “Therefore, as a tongue of fire consumes stubble and dry grass collapses into the flame, so their root will become like rot and their blossom blow away as dust; for they have rejected the law of the LORD of hosts and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.”
Isaiah 40:23-24 (NLT) “He judges the great people of the world and brings them all to nothing. They hardly get started, barely taking root, when he blows on them and they wither. The wind carries them off like chaff.”
Isaiah talks about sorcerers, astrologers, soothsayers and the like in Isaiah 47:14 (NIV). “Surely they are like stubble; the fire will burn them up. They cannot even save themselves from the power of the flame. These are not coals for warmth; this is not a fire to sit by.”

That is our poor building material; let’s take a look at the better stuff. Proverbs 3:13-15 (NIV) talks about wisdom. “Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.”

The temple was full of these precious building materials. All of the wood, which was the best of the best, was still covered in gold, silver and bronze. All of the articles were made of the same metals. The ephod had twelve precious stones. (Exodus 24, I Kings). Heaven is a wonderful place. The Bible tells us that the streets of the city are gold, the walls are made of twelve precious stones and the gates are giant pearls.

Now, we who are now in the family of God, who have made Jesus our Lord, are building. Jesus and his plan of salvation is the foundation. What building material are we adding to this foundation? Are we building what will remain? What has eternal value? Or will it be burnt up in the flames? It all depends on our motives and whether or not we are hearing from God, or just doing what seems right to us. All good ideas aren’t God ideas.
Getting rich so that we can buy more toys: Stubble.

Allowing God to prosper us so that we can use it for the Kingdom: Gold.
Singing on the praise and worship team so that others can see us: Twigs.
Singing on the praise and worship team so that we can lift up Jesus and give glory to God: Rubies.
Are you getting the picture?

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Thank You For Your Grace

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Dear Father God,
I thank You that You have given us mercy and grace. That you are extravagant with both. You always give us so much more than we can ask or think, and most definitely more than we could ever deserve. No matter what we do, how we fail, You are slow to anger and quick to forgive! I thank You for the shed blood of Jesus. That no more do we need to shed the blood of cattle and sheep. That Jesus’ shed blood cleansed us of all sin. I am so grateful that the life and blood of Jesus fulfilled all the law. I no longer have to follow a lengthy list of “do’s and don’ts.” I am no longer bound to the law, but set free by Your grace. Thank You, Father, that I can now come boldly into Your presence. It is so wonderful, Lord, to know You in a personal way, to be in fellowship with you. Thank You, Father, that you speak to me, as I speak to my own child. Thank You for Your love. Thank You for Your forgiveness. Help me to be more like you.
Amen