Scripture: Luke 3:15 - And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;
Observation: John the Baptist preached a hard word, of repentance from sin and sacrificial giving. His message was much like Christ, but different. We don't have record in the scripture of John doing great miracles like Jesus did, and yet we see that the people questioned whether he was the Christ or not.
Application: There seems to be a similarity between the message of John, and what we preach today... and the contrast to the message of Jesus Christ. Just as they ask of John ... One could ask of us, the Church, whether we are the Christ? Is the Church today the hands and feet of Jesus, or are we as John preparing for the return of Jesus Christ, or both?
Prayer: Thank you Jesus for your word. Thank you that you have given us all things that pertain to life and godliness. Thank you for your goodness. Help us to be found faithful to you. Let us be loyal and true to you in all things. Amen
Showing posts with label miracles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label miracles. Show all posts
Friday, March 4, 2011
Thursday, December 9, 2010
An atmosphere of unbelief
Scripture: Mar 9:17-19 And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not. He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.
Observation: So who was it that did not have faith? One might assume it was his nine disciples who stood watching and were unable to cast out the spirit. One might assume it was the Scribes who Jesus questioned when he arrived on the scene. Or it could be the father of the boy who spoke with Jesus. The Textus Receptus Greek seems to imply Jesus was speaking to the father, answering his question. This follows a spiritual principle that the father would have had spiritual authority over the boy since the boy was not yet of age. Thus the unbelief of the father would prevent the deliverance of the son. But certainly everyone was listening and Jesus would have considered that in his response. All involved had contributed to an atmosphere of unbelief, and Jesus had walked right into the middle of it. It was this atmosphere of unbelief that made the work of God difficult for Jesus' disciples to accomplish.
Application: How can we avoid developing an atmosphere of unbelief? Unfortunatly, we live in a society that is filled with unbelief. It is all around us, and it seems to be the default for whom we encouter. Most church services today begin with a time of worship, prayer, and Bible reading. These things help reduce and atmosphere of unbelief. Later in this chapter, Jesus instructed his disciples to fast and pray to overcome this type of unbelief. Many ministers who see miracles at their services will first teach on healing or deliverance before praying for those things to help disuade the atmosphere of unbelief and build up faith.
Prayer: Father help us to know your will. Let us discern spiritual things. Let us spend time each day in prayer and fasting. Let us work in your discipline and your authority to accomplish your will on earth, as it is in heaven... this day! Amen
Observation: So who was it that did not have faith? One might assume it was his nine disciples who stood watching and were unable to cast out the spirit. One might assume it was the Scribes who Jesus questioned when he arrived on the scene. Or it could be the father of the boy who spoke with Jesus. The Textus Receptus Greek seems to imply Jesus was speaking to the father, answering his question. This follows a spiritual principle that the father would have had spiritual authority over the boy since the boy was not yet of age. Thus the unbelief of the father would prevent the deliverance of the son. But certainly everyone was listening and Jesus would have considered that in his response. All involved had contributed to an atmosphere of unbelief, and Jesus had walked right into the middle of it. It was this atmosphere of unbelief that made the work of God difficult for Jesus' disciples to accomplish.
Application: How can we avoid developing an atmosphere of unbelief? Unfortunatly, we live in a society that is filled with unbelief. It is all around us, and it seems to be the default for whom we encouter. Most church services today begin with a time of worship, prayer, and Bible reading. These things help reduce and atmosphere of unbelief. Later in this chapter, Jesus instructed his disciples to fast and pray to overcome this type of unbelief. Many ministers who see miracles at their services will first teach on healing or deliverance before praying for those things to help disuade the atmosphere of unbelief and build up faith.
Prayer: Father help us to know your will. Let us discern spiritual things. Let us spend time each day in prayer and fasting. Let us work in your discipline and your authority to accomplish your will on earth, as it is in heaven... this day! Amen
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)