Before I head off to pick up my daughter Faith for church, I would like to tell the devil how much I appreciate what he has tried to do to me. Those of you who have followed this blog for the past couple of weeks (including you faithful ones in Russia) know that I've been pretty rough on him at times.
I have said several times that when things happen that are out of your control, it probably means that God is in control and is taking you somewhere. And that somewhere is good for you. And that somewhere will bring God glory when He gets you to the destination. And people will know that God is alive inside of you for certain.
Within the last 24 hours, I have been blind-sided by a couple of things that I never saw coming. I actually lost a little sleep over one of them until I could pull myself together. My faith and my attitude are back to their Jesus-praising, devil-destroying normal now and I'm ready to shout the victory.
I thank you devil because by rearing up your ugly head, you showed me that I was on the right track. I vowed to become a terrorist to you and I'm glad you've notice that I'm gaining ground. (FBI and all of you international security agencies---come see me about that statement if you'd like. I'm much better at explaining it in person than I am typing.)
Once again, devil, you have proven yourself to be a liar and I am going to re-double my efforts to expose and destroy your powers not only here in and around Savannah, Ga but also everywhere else on the face of this earth.
Everybody give the Lord a shout of praise with me. HALLELUJAH FOR THE LORD GOD OMNIPOTENT REIGNS!!!!!!!
Saturday, November 7, 2015
Friday, November 6, 2015
Give God Praise in Advance
Let's take a look at the celebration of God's people after their deliverance from Pharaoh. Exodus the 15th chapter tells about Miriam (Moses older sister) taking a tambourine and leading the ladies in a victory dance after the Lord destroyed Pharaoh and his army. I am presuming you've read the story before.
Well, I guess I can't blame them. After all, God freed them from being slaves, they came out of bondage with as much gold and silver as they could carry and all of the enemy soldiers that were chasing them were now dead. Yeah, I guess that's a good reason to dance and sing for a while. And it's good that they took time to dance before the Lord and praise Him in a very raucous manner. They probably did some shouting. Kinda like Florida and Georgia fans in the Gator Bowl, huh?
Here's the rub. God promised that miracle to their forefather Abraham over 500 years before that. Here is what God said. Genesis 15:13--KJV--And He said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; vs 14--And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge; and afterward shall they come out with great substance.
We can look at this story and say, "They had the promise. They knew they had been there for 400 years already. Why didn't they start praising the Lord and getting excited." Instead, they griped and complained to Moses (Exodus 5).
Unfortunately, we are the same way. We have read all of the great promises of Almighty God. We believe that He sent His Son to die for us and come back from the dead. There are preachers who can preach this particular message with such dynamic zeal that we would shout about it for weeks.
AND at the same time, we will gripe, nag, and bellyache about what we are going through, The same God that delivered the Hebrews from Pharaoh had given His promise that He would answer our prayer that was prayed in the name of Jesus (John 14:13).
You can say that if the Hebrews really believed God's Word to their forefather Abraham, then they had the right to dance, sing and shout. When Moses came back home and made his announcement about God speaking to him through a burning bush, THAT's when Miriam should have lead the women in a song and a dance. Every time Pharaoh said "No" to Moses' demand they could have danced and praised louder and longer. Why? Because no matter what it looked like, God was fixing to change the entire situation. They had the right to praise God in advance.
We have that same option. The same God has given us so many promises in His Word. Will He ever break a promise? Absolutely not. Then, no matter what it looks like, we have a right to shout and sing the praises of God. We can praise Him NOT for what it looks like right at this very moment but for what HE is going to make it in the future.
Praising God in advance builds stamina and courage in the heart of a Christian. It also encourages the younger Christians who are struggling with their faith. When we give God praise in advance for what He is going to do, it becomes a great testimony to the sinner when they see God working for you. If you are married and have children, it makes an impression on your children. When your children see a miracle they have to admit that there is something to this God-thing.
The bottom line---pull yourself up by the bootstraps and praise God in advance for what He has declared in His Word to do. Praise Him for saving your lost loved ones. Praise Him for healing. Praise Him for revival. Praise Him for the outpouring of His soul-saving power. Praise Him for changing the minds of the ungodly leaders. Praise Him for interfering with the evil plans against the innocent.
Praise Him when it doesn't look like it's going to happen. Then praise Him when He answers in a different way than you thought He would. According to Psalm 8:2, praise stops the enemy from his evil work. And I'm all for that.
Well, I guess I can't blame them. After all, God freed them from being slaves, they came out of bondage with as much gold and silver as they could carry and all of the enemy soldiers that were chasing them were now dead. Yeah, I guess that's a good reason to dance and sing for a while. And it's good that they took time to dance before the Lord and praise Him in a very raucous manner. They probably did some shouting. Kinda like Florida and Georgia fans in the Gator Bowl, huh?
Here's the rub. God promised that miracle to their forefather Abraham over 500 years before that. Here is what God said. Genesis 15:13--KJV--And He said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; vs 14--And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge; and afterward shall they come out with great substance.
We can look at this story and say, "They had the promise. They knew they had been there for 400 years already. Why didn't they start praising the Lord and getting excited." Instead, they griped and complained to Moses (Exodus 5).
Unfortunately, we are the same way. We have read all of the great promises of Almighty God. We believe that He sent His Son to die for us and come back from the dead. There are preachers who can preach this particular message with such dynamic zeal that we would shout about it for weeks.
AND at the same time, we will gripe, nag, and bellyache about what we are going through, The same God that delivered the Hebrews from Pharaoh had given His promise that He would answer our prayer that was prayed in the name of Jesus (John 14:13).
You can say that if the Hebrews really believed God's Word to their forefather Abraham, then they had the right to dance, sing and shout. When Moses came back home and made his announcement about God speaking to him through a burning bush, THAT's when Miriam should have lead the women in a song and a dance. Every time Pharaoh said "No" to Moses' demand they could have danced and praised louder and longer. Why? Because no matter what it looked like, God was fixing to change the entire situation. They had the right to praise God in advance.
We have that same option. The same God has given us so many promises in His Word. Will He ever break a promise? Absolutely not. Then, no matter what it looks like, we have a right to shout and sing the praises of God. We can praise Him NOT for what it looks like right at this very moment but for what HE is going to make it in the future.
Praising God in advance builds stamina and courage in the heart of a Christian. It also encourages the younger Christians who are struggling with their faith. When we give God praise in advance for what He is going to do, it becomes a great testimony to the sinner when they see God working for you. If you are married and have children, it makes an impression on your children. When your children see a miracle they have to admit that there is something to this God-thing.
The bottom line---pull yourself up by the bootstraps and praise God in advance for what He has declared in His Word to do. Praise Him for saving your lost loved ones. Praise Him for healing. Praise Him for revival. Praise Him for the outpouring of His soul-saving power. Praise Him for changing the minds of the ungodly leaders. Praise Him for interfering with the evil plans against the innocent.
Praise Him when it doesn't look like it's going to happen. Then praise Him when He answers in a different way than you thought He would. According to Psalm 8:2, praise stops the enemy from his evil work. And I'm all for that.
Thursday, November 5, 2015
What Did Jesus Think of the Devil?
Philippians 2:5--KJV--Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.
1 Corinthians 2:16--KJV--But we have the mind of Christ.
Romans 12:2--KJV--And be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of you mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
If we follow Paul's admonition in Romans then we should think like Jesus thinks. As far as this particular blog is concerned let's ask ourselves just what does Jesus think about the devil. We can find that out by what Jesus says and what Jesus does concerning the devil.
Luke 10:18--KJV--I beheld satan as lightning fall from Heaven. In plain King James English, Jesus was standing right there when iniquity was found in satan and IMMEDIATELY satan was expelled from the portals of glory. Jesus said that it happened as quick as lightning.
Jesus saw satan's status with the Heavenly Father change irrevocably in the blink of an eye. That's how long God tolerated sin and satan. The mighty archangel Lucifer's status in the Glory World was changed to that of a disgusting imp in just a moment of time.
How did Jesus treat satan when they met? When they met and satan tried to get Jesus to worship him, Jesus refused by battering him with the Word of God (Luke 4). Again, in Luke 4 Jesus told a demon to shut up and he shut up. In Mark 5 Jesus commanded one to speak and he obeyed. In the same chapter Jesus told the demons to go into the pigs and they did. Luke 11, Matthew 8 as well as other places in the gospels tells of how Jesus cast demons out. Not once did ANY demon NOT do what Jesus told them to do. He was their master. They knew it and went into hissy-fits when Jesus came around (Luke 4:41)
So, just what does Jesus think of the devil? He NEVER ONCE gave into the thought that the devil was more powerful than He was. Jesus NEVER ONCE entertained ANY thought that the devil would not obey His command. Jesus NEVER ONCE was intimidated by anything the devil did. Jesus NEVER ONCE felt powerless and unable to cope with ANY situation dominated by the devil.
Paul put on the mind of Christ. He was not intimidated in the least by stoning, beating, useless arguments, prison, hunger, sickness or shipwreck. Yes, the devil came at him time and time again. But, Paul changed his thinking from that of a mortal man to that of the Living God. How could he do that? He reminded himself that (Romans 8:11) the same powerful force that raised Jesus from the dead was alive and well inside of him.
We have that same Spirit of God inside of us. BUT, our minds are shackled by erroneous teaching and preaching that satan can run over us any time he wants. I will admit, satan can come against us just like he did Paul, But, (James 4:7) if I will resist the devil he will have to flee because we are filled with that same creative force that created the devil. We are filled with that same Spirit that cast the devil out of heaven in the first place. We are filled with that same spirit that raised Jesus from the dead and gave Him power to cast out every demon He came across.
Change your way of thinking and spend hours meditating on the power that resides inside of you. Think like Jesus thought. Pray like Jesus prayed. Spend time with the Father like Jesus did and pretty soon the commanding presence of the Holy Spirit will rise up inside of you. Then you'll begin to think that nothing is impossible to the believer. Because Jesus said that it wouldn't be (Mark 9:23).
What Was He Thinking?
The story of the resurrection of Lazarus is in John 11. Jesus was a day's walk from Lazarus' home in Bethany. His sisters sent Him word that Lazarus was sick.
vs 6--When He had heard that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where He was.
vs 7--Then after that He said to His disciples, Let us go unto Judaea again.
vs 14--Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
Something happens to you when you spend time in God's presence. Your doubts begin to fade. Your joy in answered prayed begins to rise on the inside of you. And, you begin to see things in a different light. You see things through a God-light.
Mary, Martha and Jesus' disciples thought that Lazarus' death was the end. That was the normal thing. You get sick and some sicknesses bring your death. Then you go out and have a tearful burial.
Jesus was around a lot of people that died. He had seen and endured death just like everybody else did. But this was different and this story would have a different ending.
Let me say this, first. Jesus did not just go throughout the land raising the dead any time He felt like it. That was never God's plan for Him or for anybody. And, surely, not everybody in the land wanted to be healed either. Some people just wanted to stay sick. So, it was God's plan for those that wanted to stay sick to let them just stay sick if they wanted to.
When you spend time with God in prayer and God finds that He can trust you, He will send you on special missions. There were a lot of people in that area at that time that were demon possessed. But, God sent Jesus and His disciples across a storm-tossed sea to a graveyard to minister to one man and then come back. He stopped Jesus outside of Nain to raise a widow's son in the middle of a funeral procession. God also urged Jesus to stay put for a couple of days before He left for Bethany.
What was Jesus thinking? Jesus knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that if He waited on His Father, His Father would give Jesus the right instruction at the right time. Jesus knew that if He was obedient to His Father's command that He would be very successful and God would work miraculously through Him.
If you'll read through the whole account, you'll find that there never was a doubt in Jesus' mind that He was going to raise Lazarus from the dead. His faith was based on His open and ongoing relationship with His Father.
As we consistently pray and seek God and His will for our lives, there will come a calm knowing way down inside of us that God is in control. We will know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God is taking the right steps at the right time. We will have the calm assurance that as we wait on God's answers He will answer in a fashion that will bring glory to His name and people will be able to see the Hand of God at work.
Jesus was thinking all during his two day stay and his one day walk to Bethany that He was going to raise Lazarus from the dead. He pictured it in His mind every time He thought about it. NOT ONCE did Jesus ever picture Himself calling Lazarus out of the grave and failing.
Not once did Jesus picture Himself hanging on the cross and NOT coming out of the empty tomb. Not once did He picture Himself laying hands on people and them NOT being healed. Not once did He see Himself being unsuccessful at what His Father had instructed Him to do. And there we have the great clue to His secret.
Jesus stayed in God's presence until He knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that He had heard a command from His Father. He decided early in His life that if He was ever going to accomplish the things that the Word of God said that He would do, He had to have an up-to-date experience with His Father.
The same goes for us. If we want revival, if we want a God-change, if we want to make a difference in the area that we live in then we need to have an on fire, up-to-date relationship with the Father. Now let's get busy and get one.
vs 6--When He had heard that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where He was.
vs 7--Then after that He said to His disciples, Let us go unto Judaea again.
vs 14--Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
Something happens to you when you spend time in God's presence. Your doubts begin to fade. Your joy in answered prayed begins to rise on the inside of you. And, you begin to see things in a different light. You see things through a God-light.
Mary, Martha and Jesus' disciples thought that Lazarus' death was the end. That was the normal thing. You get sick and some sicknesses bring your death. Then you go out and have a tearful burial.
Jesus was around a lot of people that died. He had seen and endured death just like everybody else did. But this was different and this story would have a different ending.
Let me say this, first. Jesus did not just go throughout the land raising the dead any time He felt like it. That was never God's plan for Him or for anybody. And, surely, not everybody in the land wanted to be healed either. Some people just wanted to stay sick. So, it was God's plan for those that wanted to stay sick to let them just stay sick if they wanted to.
When you spend time with God in prayer and God finds that He can trust you, He will send you on special missions. There were a lot of people in that area at that time that were demon possessed. But, God sent Jesus and His disciples across a storm-tossed sea to a graveyard to minister to one man and then come back. He stopped Jesus outside of Nain to raise a widow's son in the middle of a funeral procession. God also urged Jesus to stay put for a couple of days before He left for Bethany.
What was Jesus thinking? Jesus knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that if He waited on His Father, His Father would give Jesus the right instruction at the right time. Jesus knew that if He was obedient to His Father's command that He would be very successful and God would work miraculously through Him.
If you'll read through the whole account, you'll find that there never was a doubt in Jesus' mind that He was going to raise Lazarus from the dead. His faith was based on His open and ongoing relationship with His Father.
As we consistently pray and seek God and His will for our lives, there will come a calm knowing way down inside of us that God is in control. We will know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God is taking the right steps at the right time. We will have the calm assurance that as we wait on God's answers He will answer in a fashion that will bring glory to His name and people will be able to see the Hand of God at work.
Jesus was thinking all during his two day stay and his one day walk to Bethany that He was going to raise Lazarus from the dead. He pictured it in His mind every time He thought about it. NOT ONCE did Jesus ever picture Himself calling Lazarus out of the grave and failing.
Not once did Jesus picture Himself hanging on the cross and NOT coming out of the empty tomb. Not once did He picture Himself laying hands on people and them NOT being healed. Not once did He see Himself being unsuccessful at what His Father had instructed Him to do. And there we have the great clue to His secret.
Jesus stayed in God's presence until He knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that He had heard a command from His Father. He decided early in His life that if He was ever going to accomplish the things that the Word of God said that He would do, He had to have an up-to-date experience with His Father.
The same goes for us. If we want revival, if we want a God-change, if we want to make a difference in the area that we live in then we need to have an on fire, up-to-date relationship with the Father. Now let's get busy and get one.
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
The Audacity of Jesus
Phil. 2:5--KJV--Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus:
John 14:12--KJV--He that believeth on Me, the works that I do, He will do also: and greater works than these shall he do because I go to the Father.
Jesus thought and acted like He could do anything through the power of prayer. Those thoughts led Him to do some things that we would consider crazy and insane.
For example: In Matthew 21 Jesus drove out the dove sellers and money changers from the temple in Jerusalem. He broke all of the established "Godly" customs of His day. Then the blind and the lame came into the temple and Jesus healed them. In Matthew 12 Jesus interrupted a service at a synagogue by healing a man with a withered hand. In Luke 7 He dared to stop a funeral procession to raise a widow's son from the dead. In John 11 He called out Lazarus from the grave. In John 8 He stopped a stoning by forgiving a woman that had been caught in the act of adultery.
Time and time again He repeated the promises of His Father as He taught the disciples that He would go to Jerusalem, be beaten, be crucified and rise again the third day. That was not the usual sermon that the disciples were used to hearing. That lesson was not covered by any of their Sabbath School quarterlies. But, He preached it anyway and, as crazy as it sounded, it came to pass just like He quoted God's promises.
Let me warn you. PRAYING IS DANGEROUS!!!! The more time you spend in God's presence the more you begin to think like Him. Then as you keep thinking like God and begin to allow the mind of Christ to challenge you.......you will begin to act as if every promise in the Bible is true. You will begin to pray for the meanest sinner. You will begin to pray for the crippled to walk. You'll actually be walking down the street and wonder who you are going to meet that you could lead to a life changing experience with Jesus. YOU'LL BEGIN TO ACT AS IF YOU REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY BELIEVE THE WORD OF GOD IS TRUE. And that ain't bad.
Pray with me:
Father, I'm tired of life as usual. I'm tired of ho-hum church services. My heart is broken when I see lives torn apart by sin. I'm through with being a casual Christian. Light my fire, O God. Make my life a fountain of Your love and Your passion. Bring people across my path today that I can give a drink of this Living Water to.
I'm tired of watching my city and this nation struggle under the weight of sin. I pray for that burden-removing, yoke-destroying anointing in my life (Isaiah 10:27). Show me how to stir the gift You have placed in my life (2 Timothy 1:6). Erupt inside of me with the Spirit of power and love and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).
As I flow with Your Spirit.....give me a double portion of Your audacity, in Jesus' Name, Amen.
John 14:12--KJV--He that believeth on Me, the works that I do, He will do also: and greater works than these shall he do because I go to the Father.
Jesus thought and acted like He could do anything through the power of prayer. Those thoughts led Him to do some things that we would consider crazy and insane.
For example: In Matthew 21 Jesus drove out the dove sellers and money changers from the temple in Jerusalem. He broke all of the established "Godly" customs of His day. Then the blind and the lame came into the temple and Jesus healed them. In Matthew 12 Jesus interrupted a service at a synagogue by healing a man with a withered hand. In Luke 7 He dared to stop a funeral procession to raise a widow's son from the dead. In John 11 He called out Lazarus from the grave. In John 8 He stopped a stoning by forgiving a woman that had been caught in the act of adultery.
Time and time again He repeated the promises of His Father as He taught the disciples that He would go to Jerusalem, be beaten, be crucified and rise again the third day. That was not the usual sermon that the disciples were used to hearing. That lesson was not covered by any of their Sabbath School quarterlies. But, He preached it anyway and, as crazy as it sounded, it came to pass just like He quoted God's promises.
Let me warn you. PRAYING IS DANGEROUS!!!! The more time you spend in God's presence the more you begin to think like Him. Then as you keep thinking like God and begin to allow the mind of Christ to challenge you.......you will begin to act as if every promise in the Bible is true. You will begin to pray for the meanest sinner. You will begin to pray for the crippled to walk. You'll actually be walking down the street and wonder who you are going to meet that you could lead to a life changing experience with Jesus. YOU'LL BEGIN TO ACT AS IF YOU REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY BELIEVE THE WORD OF GOD IS TRUE. And that ain't bad.
Pray with me:
Father, I'm tired of life as usual. I'm tired of ho-hum church services. My heart is broken when I see lives torn apart by sin. I'm through with being a casual Christian. Light my fire, O God. Make my life a fountain of Your love and Your passion. Bring people across my path today that I can give a drink of this Living Water to.
I'm tired of watching my city and this nation struggle under the weight of sin. I pray for that burden-removing, yoke-destroying anointing in my life (Isaiah 10:27). Show me how to stir the gift You have placed in my life (2 Timothy 1:6). Erupt inside of me with the Spirit of power and love and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).
As I flow with Your Spirit.....give me a double portion of Your audacity, in Jesus' Name, Amen.
Monday, November 2, 2015
Father, I Thank You that You Have Heard Me.
John 11:40-42--NIV--Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?" 41--So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised His eyes, and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42--"I knew that You always hear Me; but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me."
Jesus says some incredible things here. AND, He's about to do some incredible things. He's not doing it to show off. He's not trying to be flashy as some televangelists would and are doing today.
He is simply trying to get the people to understand that God, the Father, really did send Him. That is crucial to their salvation. They have got to believe that He was the Messiah, the Son of the Living God. They've got to believe that Jesus is on a mission to die on a cross and rise again according to God's perfect plan for all mankind.
Still we have some great faith and prayer lessons. #1--Jesus, in verse 42 states a truth, not only for Himself but for all of those that call upon God through His name. "I knew that You always hear Me." This is so vital and essential to a child of God. You have got to know that the Heavenly Father HEARS you EVERY TIME you pray. It is never hit or miss. It is never maybe or I think so. It a solid I KNOW THAT YOU ALWAYS HEAR ME. If we don't get that declaration down pat we have lost our reason for praying. God always does and He always will hear you when you pray.
#2--That statement stems from something that Jesus said in verse 41. He said "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me." Up until then, Jesus hadn't prayed anything to the Father. But, He was about to. This is a strong demonstration of the depth of the relationship He had with the Father. God had placed all of His power in the hands of His only begotten Son. Jesus could do with that power whatever He pleased. It was somewhat like a blank check that God has signed and handed over to His Son. Whatever the Son wanted to use it for, God would honor it. God knew His Son's heart and knew Jesus could be trusted. Jesus also know His Father's heart and He knew that Lazarus' resurrection would turn many hearts toward the Father.
Paul said in Philippians 4:6--NIV--Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Paul even declares that prayer with thanksgiving go hand in hand.
I hope you can catch what I am about to say. In Jer. 29:11 it says that God has a plan for us and that it is a plan to do us good. When some challenge comes our way that we have NO control over we need to understand that God might be guiding our circumstances to present us with a miracle. Examples: Joseph sold into slavery looked bad until it lifted him up to be second in command in Egypt and preserved Abraham's lineage. The three Hebrew children faced a fiery furnace and Daniel faced a lion's den so God could show their captors the God of the Hebrews was in control and not them.
So, when something happens that you have no control over, don't be anxious. Do like Jesus and give God praise that He's still in control and that God will hear your prayer. Then pray for the need and praise Him for the answer. He obviously brought you there and He is well able to get you out.
Pray with me:
Father, I don't always understand why You do the things You do. But, I accept Your Lordship and Your wisdom in guiding my life and the lives of my children. First of all, I'm going to give You praise that You are firmly in control. Then, I'm going to thank You for making a way out where there seems to be no way. I ask for the wisdom to understand Your ways concerning my life. Give me the unction of the Holy Ghost to make the right decisions at the right time and at the right place. I am going to praise you for victory in this situation. You certainly never said that I would fail. But, in every scripture that I know of, You promised a great deliverance.
So I praise You for that deliverance. And, like Jesus, I'm asking You to show up in our lives in a way that people would be able to see the glory of the Lord in our situation. Show your compassion and mercy in a way that would make them want to know more about You.
Help me to walk through this time with grace and love in my heart toward everyone I meet. Let the glory of the Lord be evident in all that I do. Give me an opportunity to share Your love through this time as well as after our deliverance. Let all things be done to Your glory, in Jesus' Name Amen.
Jesus says some incredible things here. AND, He's about to do some incredible things. He's not doing it to show off. He's not trying to be flashy as some televangelists would and are doing today.
He is simply trying to get the people to understand that God, the Father, really did send Him. That is crucial to their salvation. They have got to believe that He was the Messiah, the Son of the Living God. They've got to believe that Jesus is on a mission to die on a cross and rise again according to God's perfect plan for all mankind.
Still we have some great faith and prayer lessons. #1--Jesus, in verse 42 states a truth, not only for Himself but for all of those that call upon God through His name. "I knew that You always hear Me." This is so vital and essential to a child of God. You have got to know that the Heavenly Father HEARS you EVERY TIME you pray. It is never hit or miss. It is never maybe or I think so. It a solid I KNOW THAT YOU ALWAYS HEAR ME. If we don't get that declaration down pat we have lost our reason for praying. God always does and He always will hear you when you pray.
#2--That statement stems from something that Jesus said in verse 41. He said "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me." Up until then, Jesus hadn't prayed anything to the Father. But, He was about to. This is a strong demonstration of the depth of the relationship He had with the Father. God had placed all of His power in the hands of His only begotten Son. Jesus could do with that power whatever He pleased. It was somewhat like a blank check that God has signed and handed over to His Son. Whatever the Son wanted to use it for, God would honor it. God knew His Son's heart and knew Jesus could be trusted. Jesus also know His Father's heart and He knew that Lazarus' resurrection would turn many hearts toward the Father.
Paul said in Philippians 4:6--NIV--Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Paul even declares that prayer with thanksgiving go hand in hand.
I hope you can catch what I am about to say. In Jer. 29:11 it says that God has a plan for us and that it is a plan to do us good. When some challenge comes our way that we have NO control over we need to understand that God might be guiding our circumstances to present us with a miracle. Examples: Joseph sold into slavery looked bad until it lifted him up to be second in command in Egypt and preserved Abraham's lineage. The three Hebrew children faced a fiery furnace and Daniel faced a lion's den so God could show their captors the God of the Hebrews was in control and not them.
So, when something happens that you have no control over, don't be anxious. Do like Jesus and give God praise that He's still in control and that God will hear your prayer. Then pray for the need and praise Him for the answer. He obviously brought you there and He is well able to get you out.
Pray with me:
Father, I don't always understand why You do the things You do. But, I accept Your Lordship and Your wisdom in guiding my life and the lives of my children. First of all, I'm going to give You praise that You are firmly in control. Then, I'm going to thank You for making a way out where there seems to be no way. I ask for the wisdom to understand Your ways concerning my life. Give me the unction of the Holy Ghost to make the right decisions at the right time and at the right place. I am going to praise you for victory in this situation. You certainly never said that I would fail. But, in every scripture that I know of, You promised a great deliverance.
So I praise You for that deliverance. And, like Jesus, I'm asking You to show up in our lives in a way that people would be able to see the glory of the Lord in our situation. Show your compassion and mercy in a way that would make them want to know more about You.
Help me to walk through this time with grace and love in my heart toward everyone I meet. Let the glory of the Lord be evident in all that I do. Give me an opportunity to share Your love through this time as well as after our deliverance. Let all things be done to Your glory, in Jesus' Name Amen.
Anger, Fear and Hatred
John 14:12--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.
I've heard countless people try to say that the days of miracles are over. All I can say is that they are tremendously deceived. If you'll think about this scripture for just a little bit, you'll come to the same conclusion that I have. Jesus came to this earth, suffered and died on the cross and rose again the third day just so we could walk in days of miracles. He even said that we would do greater miracles than He did.
Phil. 2:5--KJV--Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Paul was a miracle worker himself. He overcame tremendous obstacles in order to follow the heart of God throughout his life. He led many to Christ. He performed many miracles including causing blindness to come on someone (whom he later healed). He said in Romans 12:2--KJV--And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
If Paul trained himself to think like Jesus thought and saved and healed and delivered people, then we can too. Jesus never thought that any situation He faced was too hard to overcome. The only place where His miracle power was held back was in Nazareth (Matt 13:58). And that was because of the people's doubts.
Paul learned Jesus' secret to great power. Galatians 5:6--KJV--but faith which worketh by love. Jesus preached a fervent love toward God and toward each other. Paul said the same thing throughout his epistles.
Mankind is not born with anger, fear and hatred. These are learned traits. We learn them from our parents and from the people we hand around with. When we let our mind dwell on these three emotions it completely destroys the power of God that is trying to work through us.
Many people's minds are slave to these three demons. We all have been slaves to them at some time or another. I was, too, until my prayer life brought me to this truth. I couldn't go thirty minutes without my mind going off on some rabbit trail being chased by one of the three. Jesus and His healing power didn't stand a chance. I was always mad at somebody or fussing about not having my prayers answered.
But, the more I prayed, the more I realized that this type of thinking is the greatest interrupter of God's power that wants to work through me. His Holy Spirit is constantly desiring to perform miracles of deliverance and healing today. It's the very heart of God and has been since before the creation of the world.
Now, I am casting out these imaginations and bringing my thoughts into captivity of God's thoughts (2 Cor. 10:5). I am allowing the mind of Christ take charge of my thoughts by thinking of others with the agape heart of God. The more I refuse to let my mind dwell on anger, fear and hatred the stronger the Holy Spirit is within me. My faith and anticipation are rising to new heights. I am expecting a move of God in my life, my family and the area in which I live. I am beginning to feel way down inside of me that God is leading me to the land of "nothing is impossible".
Pray with me:
Father, as of today, we are going to change the way we think. We are going to put off the old man and his way of looking at the things that plague us. We will put away our anger, fear and hatred and begin to meditate on Your agape love and the promises You have made to us. We have a desire to walk out of our stale and dead Christian lifestyle and into a fresh life of renewed fellowship with You.
We firmly believe that we as spirit-filled believers have the potential to do the same thing that Jesus did. We believe that we can reach the lost by just strolling through the market place. We believe that we can lead people to life changing decisions by the power of the Holy Spirit. As we continue to fellowship with You and think like You that we are confident that we will walk into a new realm of possibilities that are limited only by You.
Lead us and guide us by Your Spirit. Come alive inside of us and give us visions of what we have inherited because of Your blood. Help us flow in the power of Your glorious Presence.
More than anything, we want to see hurting people healed by the entrance of Your Spirit. Help us to bring peace to our communities by saving those who seek to destroy it. Help us to take Your burden-removing, yoke-destroying presence out into the streets and parks where the devil seems to rule and reign.
Help us to declare to all who will hear us that Jesus Christ is Lord of lords and King of kings. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
I've heard countless people try to say that the days of miracles are over. All I can say is that they are tremendously deceived. If you'll think about this scripture for just a little bit, you'll come to the same conclusion that I have. Jesus came to this earth, suffered and died on the cross and rose again the third day just so we could walk in days of miracles. He even said that we would do greater miracles than He did.
Phil. 2:5--KJV--Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Paul was a miracle worker himself. He overcame tremendous obstacles in order to follow the heart of God throughout his life. He led many to Christ. He performed many miracles including causing blindness to come on someone (whom he later healed). He said in Romans 12:2--KJV--And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
If Paul trained himself to think like Jesus thought and saved and healed and delivered people, then we can too. Jesus never thought that any situation He faced was too hard to overcome. The only place where His miracle power was held back was in Nazareth (Matt 13:58). And that was because of the people's doubts.
Paul learned Jesus' secret to great power. Galatians 5:6--KJV--but faith which worketh by love. Jesus preached a fervent love toward God and toward each other. Paul said the same thing throughout his epistles.
Mankind is not born with anger, fear and hatred. These are learned traits. We learn them from our parents and from the people we hand around with. When we let our mind dwell on these three emotions it completely destroys the power of God that is trying to work through us.
Many people's minds are slave to these three demons. We all have been slaves to them at some time or another. I was, too, until my prayer life brought me to this truth. I couldn't go thirty minutes without my mind going off on some rabbit trail being chased by one of the three. Jesus and His healing power didn't stand a chance. I was always mad at somebody or fussing about not having my prayers answered.
But, the more I prayed, the more I realized that this type of thinking is the greatest interrupter of God's power that wants to work through me. His Holy Spirit is constantly desiring to perform miracles of deliverance and healing today. It's the very heart of God and has been since before the creation of the world.
Now, I am casting out these imaginations and bringing my thoughts into captivity of God's thoughts (2 Cor. 10:5). I am allowing the mind of Christ take charge of my thoughts by thinking of others with the agape heart of God. The more I refuse to let my mind dwell on anger, fear and hatred the stronger the Holy Spirit is within me. My faith and anticipation are rising to new heights. I am expecting a move of God in my life, my family and the area in which I live. I am beginning to feel way down inside of me that God is leading me to the land of "nothing is impossible".
Pray with me:
Father, as of today, we are going to change the way we think. We are going to put off the old man and his way of looking at the things that plague us. We will put away our anger, fear and hatred and begin to meditate on Your agape love and the promises You have made to us. We have a desire to walk out of our stale and dead Christian lifestyle and into a fresh life of renewed fellowship with You.
We firmly believe that we as spirit-filled believers have the potential to do the same thing that Jesus did. We believe that we can reach the lost by just strolling through the market place. We believe that we can lead people to life changing decisions by the power of the Holy Spirit. As we continue to fellowship with You and think like You that we are confident that we will walk into a new realm of possibilities that are limited only by You.
Lead us and guide us by Your Spirit. Come alive inside of us and give us visions of what we have inherited because of Your blood. Help us flow in the power of Your glorious Presence.
More than anything, we want to see hurting people healed by the entrance of Your Spirit. Help us to bring peace to our communities by saving those who seek to destroy it. Help us to take Your burden-removing, yoke-destroying presence out into the streets and parks where the devil seems to rule and reign.
Help us to declare to all who will hear us that Jesus Christ is Lord of lords and King of kings. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
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