Scripture: Mark 8:34 - 38 And when he had called the people [unto him] with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
Observation: This is a hard teaching. As followers of Christ, we are called to lay aside all of our wants and desires and to substitute for them the wants and desires of Christ. And if we chose not to do so, we are denying Jesus who will then deny us and our eternal destiny is put in jeopardy.
Application: This sacrificial call to Christ is not something that is often preached from the mainstream pulpit. It is not a popular gospel. But it is the teaching of Christ, and the truth of God. Have you devoted your life to follow Christ? That is the question to ask ourselves. What does following Christ look like? It is surely more than just acknowledging him and then going our own way. On the other extreme would be selling all that you have and giving it to the poor and going town to town preaching the gospel trusting God for your subsistence. Or can God use you where you are at, if you are fully devoted to him? These are questions that each of us must work out directly with the King of Kings. There is no more question which is more important. We must diligently seek his will for our life, then follow it with all of our heart, soul mind and strength.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, show us your will for our lives today. Help us to spend each day in full devotion to you. We love you, and desire nothing else than to serve you.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Friday, November 12, 2010
Can we do Miracles like Jesus did?
Scripture: Mark 4:39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
Observation: It is interesting that of all of the miracles Jesus did, they had all been done before. Here we see Jesus calm the sea. Moses also demonstrated authority over the sea. We see Jesus raise the dead, Elijah, Elisha, and others also raised the dead. We saw Jesus heal and cast out demons. Many prophets and his disciples also did these same miracles. Even the resurrection of Jesus is similar to the translation by Enoch and the raising of the dead person who was thrown on the bones of Elisha.
Application: It is clear to anyone who reads the Bible for what it says that Jesus is God, and we are not. However, the miracles Jesus did were by the same power of the Holy Spirit that he gives to us. And as Romans 8:11 tells us, we have that same power that raised Christ from the dead, then why should we not also be able to do the same miracles? The answer is multi-fold, first we should realize that we must hear and do what Jesus told us to do. We each need to read the word, and inventory our selves to see if we are in line with it. Second, we need to live by the spirit and not by the flesh. The power that raised Christ from the dead is in our spirit, not in our flesh. We must learn to deny our flesh and allow our spirit to become dominant. To the degree we can do these things, we should begin to see that power that raised Christ from the dead operate in our lives.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, I love you. I thank you for dying so that I could have life. I thank you for sending the Holy Spirit. I thank you for loving me enough to make me a new person in you. I pray that my flesh would be crucified, and that I would feed my spirit daily with your manna from heaven. Help me to keep my focus on you all day, every day. Help me to grow closer to you so that you and I can be one, just as you are one with the father.
Observation: It is interesting that of all of the miracles Jesus did, they had all been done before. Here we see Jesus calm the sea. Moses also demonstrated authority over the sea. We see Jesus raise the dead, Elijah, Elisha, and others also raised the dead. We saw Jesus heal and cast out demons. Many prophets and his disciples also did these same miracles. Even the resurrection of Jesus is similar to the translation by Enoch and the raising of the dead person who was thrown on the bones of Elisha.
Application: It is clear to anyone who reads the Bible for what it says that Jesus is God, and we are not. However, the miracles Jesus did were by the same power of the Holy Spirit that he gives to us. And as Romans 8:11 tells us, we have that same power that raised Christ from the dead, then why should we not also be able to do the same miracles? The answer is multi-fold, first we should realize that we must hear and do what Jesus told us to do. We each need to read the word, and inventory our selves to see if we are in line with it. Second, we need to live by the spirit and not by the flesh. The power that raised Christ from the dead is in our spirit, not in our flesh. We must learn to deny our flesh and allow our spirit to become dominant. To the degree we can do these things, we should begin to see that power that raised Christ from the dead operate in our lives.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, I love you. I thank you for dying so that I could have life. I thank you for sending the Holy Spirit. I thank you for loving me enough to make me a new person in you. I pray that my flesh would be crucified, and that I would feed my spirit daily with your manna from heaven. Help me to keep my focus on you all day, every day. Help me to grow closer to you so that you and I can be one, just as you are one with the father.
Who is this Man?
Scripture: Mar 4:39-41 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
Observation: If you have ever spent much time on the sea, you quickly gain a love and respect for the power of the water. It is incredible how much physical power is in an ocean wave. They pound everything to dust eventually. Jesus simply speaks and that incredible power is removed.
Application: This was a turning point for the disciples who were fisherman. Still today, for many who know the sea it is a turning point for them. This man Jesus, is God. And if he is God, everything changes for you.
Prayer: I know that you are God Jesus. Forgive me of my wrong doings. Cleanse me of my filth. Make me a new person in you. Help me to follow you all of the days of my life. Amen!
Observation: If you have ever spent much time on the sea, you quickly gain a love and respect for the power of the water. It is incredible how much physical power is in an ocean wave. They pound everything to dust eventually. Jesus simply speaks and that incredible power is removed.
Application: This was a turning point for the disciples who were fisherman. Still today, for many who know the sea it is a turning point for them. This man Jesus, is God. And if he is God, everything changes for you.
Prayer: I know that you are God Jesus. Forgive me of my wrong doings. Cleanse me of my filth. Make me a new person in you. Help me to follow you all of the days of my life. Amen!
The benefits of listening
Scripture: Mark 4:24-25 And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.
Observation: Jesus had just finished sharing the interpretation of the Parable of the sower with his disciples. He told them to be sure they were rooted in the things of God, that they should be wary of Satan and the cares of this world, and that they should follow God with all of their heart and if they did so they would flourish. Now Jesus tells his disciples that they need to hear, listen, and do those things which they just heard.
Application: There is power in God's word. He has given us clear direction in his word that we should follow. The power is when we do what he has told us to do. When we do so, nothing can stop us. When we follow God, the power is not our own... but his.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, I pray that I would keep my eyes on you. I pray that I would listen to your Word. I pray that I would have understanding of your Word. I pray that I would do your Word and not be distracted by the things of this world. I trust you to provide that which you have said you will provide. Thank You.
Observation: Jesus had just finished sharing the interpretation of the Parable of the sower with his disciples. He told them to be sure they were rooted in the things of God, that they should be wary of Satan and the cares of this world, and that they should follow God with all of their heart and if they did so they would flourish. Now Jesus tells his disciples that they need to hear, listen, and do those things which they just heard.
Application: There is power in God's word. He has given us clear direction in his word that we should follow. The power is when we do what he has told us to do. When we do so, nothing can stop us. When we follow God, the power is not our own... but his.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, I pray that I would keep my eyes on you. I pray that I would listen to your Word. I pray that I would have understanding of your Word. I pray that I would do your Word and not be distracted by the things of this world. I trust you to provide that which you have said you will provide. Thank You.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Be careful about condemning the works of God
Scripture: Mark 3:28-30 Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation: Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.
Observation: This is a scripture which has puzzled many Bible readers. Why would you receive eternal condemnation for speaking against the Holy Spirit, but not for speaking against Jesus? To understand this, you must understand who Jesus was on earth. Jesus was fully God, but also fully Man. He stepped down from his throne to come to earth as a baby. That didn't change who he was, but it did change his position. Before Jesus did miracles, he was first baptized with the Holy Spirit (as should we all be). He was, and always will be God, but when he was baptized with the Holy Spirit he was endued with heavenly power on earth from the Holy Spirit. So, Jesus operated in the position of Man... under the covenant of Adam, but he operated in the power of the Holy Ghost while still being fully God. Thus, it was the power of the Holy Ghost who cast out the devils in Mark chapter 3, and so when the Pharisee accused Jesus of casting out devils by Satan, they were calling the spirit by which Jesus did the miracles Satan. The Pharisees called the Holy Spirit Satan. That was the unpardonable sin.
Application: We need to be very careful about condemning the ministry of others. It could be us who is wrong, not them. How many times have you looked back on things you did years earlier and thought about how wrong you were? Is it possible that you could be wrong now when you condemn someone else's ministry. Ultimately people who operate in the occult will be exposed by their fruit. Prayer is a better course of action than condemnation of the ministry of others.
Prayer: Dear Father, Give me a humble heart. Let me think less of myself than others. Help me to always walk in humility. Help me to speak softly but to carry a big stick. You are my power and my authority dear Jesus, let me never forget that. Amen!
Observation: This is a scripture which has puzzled many Bible readers. Why would you receive eternal condemnation for speaking against the Holy Spirit, but not for speaking against Jesus? To understand this, you must understand who Jesus was on earth. Jesus was fully God, but also fully Man. He stepped down from his throne to come to earth as a baby. That didn't change who he was, but it did change his position. Before Jesus did miracles, he was first baptized with the Holy Spirit (as should we all be). He was, and always will be God, but when he was baptized with the Holy Spirit he was endued with heavenly power on earth from the Holy Spirit. So, Jesus operated in the position of Man... under the covenant of Adam, but he operated in the power of the Holy Ghost while still being fully God. Thus, it was the power of the Holy Ghost who cast out the devils in Mark chapter 3, and so when the Pharisee accused Jesus of casting out devils by Satan, they were calling the spirit by which Jesus did the miracles Satan. The Pharisees called the Holy Spirit Satan. That was the unpardonable sin.
Application: We need to be very careful about condemning the ministry of others. It could be us who is wrong, not them. How many times have you looked back on things you did years earlier and thought about how wrong you were? Is it possible that you could be wrong now when you condemn someone else's ministry. Ultimately people who operate in the occult will be exposed by their fruit. Prayer is a better course of action than condemnation of the ministry of others.
Prayer: Dear Father, Give me a humble heart. Let me think less of myself than others. Help me to always walk in humility. Help me to speak softly but to carry a big stick. You are my power and my authority dear Jesus, let me never forget that. Amen!
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Watch and Pray
Scripture- Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak
Observation: The Garden of Gethsemane and the sweat of blood that Jesus shed prior to his crucification are perhaps some of the most heart wrenching scenes from the New Testament. Here we find Jesus trying to compel his inner circle, Peter James and John, to pray. One might assume that they prayers would be for him, since he has stated that he is very sorrowful. However, in this verse the subject of the prayers Jesus wants his disciples to pray are not for him self. He wants to keep THEM from entering into temptation. "Ye" in this verse is second person plural. That is, it is not Jesus who is being tempted and who's flesh is weak but rather the disciples.
Application: Since this verse is one that is applicable to the disciples, and if we are a disciple of Christ, then perhaps we should be more cognizant of it in our lives. We DO need to watch and pray so that we don't enter into temptation. As a believer in Jesus Christ, his spirit lives in us, and so yes our spirit is willing to do God's will in our lives, but it is most often our flesh who is weak. The solution given here is to watch and pray. Many other verses in the Bible encourage us to watch and pray. Watch implies staying awake and being vigilant. The enemy is out to kill, steal, and destroy. We need to Watch and be ready. Our response to the attempts of the enemy is prayer. Our prayer should be words of faith to bring to pass God's will on earth.
Prayer: Father in Heaven, I pray that we stay vigilant to the wiles of the enemy. Teach us to pray, Father of ours. Let us pray with faith, not doubting, that the kingdom of heaven would be manifest here on earth. In Jesus name.
Observation: The Garden of Gethsemane and the sweat of blood that Jesus shed prior to his crucification are perhaps some of the most heart wrenching scenes from the New Testament. Here we find Jesus trying to compel his inner circle, Peter James and John, to pray. One might assume that they prayers would be for him, since he has stated that he is very sorrowful. However, in this verse the subject of the prayers Jesus wants his disciples to pray are not for him self. He wants to keep THEM from entering into temptation. "Ye" in this verse is second person plural. That is, it is not Jesus who is being tempted and who's flesh is weak but rather the disciples.
Application: Since this verse is one that is applicable to the disciples, and if we are a disciple of Christ, then perhaps we should be more cognizant of it in our lives. We DO need to watch and pray so that we don't enter into temptation. As a believer in Jesus Christ, his spirit lives in us, and so yes our spirit is willing to do God's will in our lives, but it is most often our flesh who is weak. The solution given here is to watch and pray. Many other verses in the Bible encourage us to watch and pray. Watch implies staying awake and being vigilant. The enemy is out to kill, steal, and destroy. We need to Watch and be ready. Our response to the attempts of the enemy is prayer. Our prayer should be words of faith to bring to pass God's will on earth.
Prayer: Father in Heaven, I pray that we stay vigilant to the wiles of the enemy. Teach us to pray, Father of ours. Let us pray with faith, not doubting, that the kingdom of heaven would be manifest here on earth. In Jesus name.
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