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Archive for the ‘Jesus’ Category

Do You Weep?

Posted in Jesus, Salvation on September 2, 2010| Leave a Comment »

 41When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it,

 42saying, “If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes.

 43″For the days will come upon you when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, and surround you and hem you in on every side,

 44and they will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.” Luke 19: 41-44

Do you weep over your city?  Jesus wept over Jerusalem because they did not recognize their visitation by God.  They rejected Jesus as the Son of God and denied His power.  Today we know the truth about Jesus but many still reject the gospel.  We are Jesus’ witnesses strategically placed in our cities and towns to spread the gospel and see the Kingdom of God expanded.  But do we weep for the lost the way Jesus does?

Imagine how different our cities would be if every person that lived there were saved.  Do you believe you can change your city, what about the nation?  We should make it known in our cities that the day of visitation has come.  Jesus is here now and salvation is at hand.  Our cities and nations can be saved.  Every believer represents a visitation by Jesus.

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The Greater Miracle

Posted in Jesus, Salvation on September 1, 2010| Leave a Comment »

19“Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you.

 20″Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.”  Luke 10:19-20

 10″In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:10

On our mission trip to Uganda we witnessed God do amazing things through us.  We prayed for people, laid hands on the sick and saw people get healed, we prophesied and even witnessed demons manifesting themselves and leaving a person’s body.  We also witnessed people give their life to the Lord.  We even ministered that we have the ability to raise the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus said we would even do greater works than He did.

With all of this happening I heard the Lord say that the greater miracle is salvation.  Yes demons are subject to us but Jesus tells us that we should rejoice that our names are written in Heaven.  Even Heaven rejoices when a sinner repents and gives their life to the Lord.

Too often we downplay people giving their life to the Lord.  We will jump up and holler if we see someone get out of their wheelchair and walk, but we don’t give the same praise when people give their lives to the Lord.   The greater miracle is always a sinner repenting and giving their life to Jesus.  Think about it that person was dead in their sin and now made alive in Christ.  They are a new creation and Heaven breaks out in joy because someone else has come home.

Signs and wonders point us to Jesus and lead lost ones home.  We should always be concerned about the condition of the soul above the physical body.  We should diligently seek after more souls being added to the Kingdom of God.  Wherever miracles take place salvation should also take place.  Jesus commissioned each one of us to go and preach the good news of the gospel to go out and be witnesses. 

The next time someone gives their life to Jesus, let us jump for joy and give a shout of praise because they have come home.  Finally, if you are a believer then praise God and rejoice that your name is written in heaven.

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We Need an Arbitrator

Posted in Jesus, Job on April 26, 2010| Leave a Comment »

 29 Since I am already found guilty,
       why should I struggle in vain?

 30 Even if I washed myself with soap
       and my hands with washing soda,

 31 you would plunge me into a slime pit
       so that even my clothes would detest me.

 32 “He is not a man like me that I might answer him,
       that we might confront each other in court.

 33 If only there were someone to arbitrate between us,
       to lay his hand upon us both,

 34 someone to remove God’s rod from me,
       so that his terror would frighten me no more.

 35 Then I would speak up without fear of him,
       but as it now stands with me, I cannot.  Job 9: 29-35 NIV

Job really wanted to confront God about what He had done.  However, Job believed that he had no chance to argue his case before God and plead his innocence.  Job questioned whether or not anyone is innocent before God.  He concluded that God treats the blameless and the wicked all the same – He judges them equally.

Job understood that there really is nothing we can do to cleanse ourselves of sin and stand before God blameless.  There is no work we can complete on our own that would allow us to claim righteousness.  Job knew that none of his righteous acts saved him in the eyes of God.  Job says that we need an arbitrator, someone that is between us and God; as Job states “someone to remove God’s rod from me…”  Job saw the need for a savior.

Job was wrong about God treating us with judgment and wrath, because out of His love for us God sent an arbitrator – Jesus.  Jesus stands between us and God the Father.  It is because of Jesus we can stand before God and argue our case just like Job wanted to do.  We can stand before God and not be afraid because Jesus took our sin and gave us His righteousness.

We are righteous before God because Jesus paid our debt of sin and death.  Even when we sin Jesus still arbitrates our cases before God.  It is in Jesus that we have the confidence that God will forgive us of our sins and return us to our righteous state.

Job is right – without Jesus no one can stand before God and claim his innocence.  We are all guilty and have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.  There is no human act that can justify us.  It is only the shed blood of Jesus that saves us.  Jesus is the only one that can stand between us and God; declare our innocence, and ask God to have mercy upon us.  Praise God for Jesus our Arbitrator.

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He Arose!

Posted in Jesus on April 4, 2010| Leave a Comment »

5The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

 8So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”  Matthew 28: 5-10

The Christian faith is based on the knowledge that Jesus Christ not only died for our sins but He arose from the dead.  Without the resurrection our faith is meaningless.  Jesus’ death was for the judgment of sin but His resurrection is how Jesus conquered death.  Also, our life is to imitate Jesus.  When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior we die to sin and we become a new creation.  We also know that when Jesus returns that the dead in Christ will rise and be resurrected.

The resurrection shows us that death had no power over Jesus and it no longer has power over us.  Sin and death came through one man – Adam.  Through Jesus we have the promise of eternal life because even today Jesus lives.  He arose and because He arose we will rise again one day with a glorious new body just like Jesus.

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Jesus’ Death

Posted in Crucified, Jesus, The Father on April 2, 2010| Leave a Comment »

45Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour.

 46About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?” that is, “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?”

 47And some of those who were standing there, when they heard it, began saying, “This man is calling for Elijah.”

50And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.

 51And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split.  Matthew 27:45-47, 50-51

Jesus came to lay down His life for us.  He was without sin and became sin for us.  He was rejected and despised by man but gave Himself as a sacrifice and atonement for our sins.  The law required that blood be shed for the forgiveness of sins.  Jesus was perfect, sinless and lived amongst us.  He taught us and showed us the Father. 

When Jesus was crucified and put on the cross, God the Father judged our sin.  Jesus paid the price even the rejection of the Father.  God cannot be around sin and when Jesus became sin, the Father judged Jesus and Jesus died on our behalf.  He took the punishment of sin and the rejection by the Father.  Since, Jesus took our place we now can take His place.  He took our sin and gave us His righteousness. Jesus’ death has allowed us to have a relationship with the Father because our sins have been atoned for by Jesus. 

So even on this day that we remember Jesus’ death it is a Good Friday because we have been set free from the bondage of sin and death.  Jesus paid it all.  All we have to do is accept Jesus and receive Him as our Lord and Savior.  It is God’s will that no one should perish and all should come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.  Today let’s report the good news of Jesus for it will save the souls of men.  Once we accept Jesus we never have to fear being rejected by God the Father the way Jesus was on the cross.

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Palm Sunday

Posted in Jesus on March 28, 2010| 2 Comments »

 5″SAY TO THE DAUGHTER OF ZION,
  ‘BEHOLD YOUR KING IS COMING TO YOU,
  GENTLE, AND MOUNTED ON A DONKEY,
  EVEN ON A COLT, THE FOAL OF A BEAST OF BURDEN.'”

 6The disciples went and did just as Jesus had instructed them,

 7and brought the donkey and the colt, and laid their coats on them; and He sat on the coats.

 8Most of the crowd spread their coats in the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them in the road.

 9The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting,
         “Hosanna to the Son of David;
         BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD;
         Hosanna in the highest!”

 10When He had entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, “Who is this?”

 11And the crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.”  Matthew 21:5-11

Today is Palm Sunday, when we celebrate the beginning of Holy Week and Jesus’ triumphant entrance into Jerusalem prior to his death.  It is the time that all churches no matter what denomination focus on Jesus.  Whenever I think of the story of Jesus entering Jerusalem, I think about His second coming and what a day of rejoicing that will be.

In Jesus’ day people did not fully grasp who Jesus was and what was about to take place.  But we know what took place and what significant this week represents.  The death and resurrection of Jesus is what saves us and gives us access to the Father.  Jesus told the disciples to celebrate the fact that there names were written in the Lamb’s book of life.  So let us be thankful for the coming of our Savior and that our names are written in the Lamb’s book of Life.

The day is coming when Jesus will return to the earth.  This time the bible says that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord.  Indeed, Hosanna in the highest.

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Why Worry?

Posted in Jesus on March 17, 2010| Leave a Comment »

So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34

It is so easy to worry about things in our lives.  We worry about the future and what tomorrow holds.  Jesus told us not to worry about tomorrow.  We have enough to deal with in a day, and do not need to add tomorrow’s worries.  Of course this is easier said than done.  We all have responsibilities and plans for tomorrow so it is human nature to worry about these things.

We have to recognize that God is in control.  We have to learn to relinquish control to God and trust that He will work everything out for our good.  Jesus knew that worrying about tomorrow only brings us trouble and burdens that God did not intend for us to bear.  So we have to learn to live each day and trust God in everything that we do.

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What Are You Seeking?

Posted in Jesus, Knowing God, The Father on March 12, 2010| Leave a Comment »

 4One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek:
  That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,
  To behold the beauty of the LORD
  And to meditate in His temple.
 5For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle;
  In the secret place of His tent He will hide me;
  He will lift me up on a rock. Psalm 27:4-5

The Christian life is not easy.  We face many obstacles and seem to be constantly at war with our flesh.  Then you add all the trouble in the world and life can be overwhelming.  However, it is great to know that we can find comfort in God.  We should seek after spending time with God.  When we spend time with God, He will conceal us from trouble and hide us in the secret place.  In God’s presence all our troubles seem to go away.

It is important that we take time to seek after the things of God.  If not, we can be overcome by the cares of the world.  Even Jesus found quiet time to be alone with the Father.  Jesus was connected to the Father, but Jesus was also a man and got tired and worn out; so Jesus found strength in the Father’s presence.

The above scripture is not a future event.  We can seek the Lord now and dwell with Him for the rest of our lives.  We are His temple and we can meditate on His goodness and presence.   There is nothing that an separate us from the Father.  So let us seek Him while He may be found.

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Suffering Leads to Hope

Posted in Jesus on March 11, 2010| Leave a Comment »

3Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Romans 5:3-5

There are those that are reading this and this is a difficult time for you.  These are difficult times we are living in.  But we have reason to REJOICE, for our hope is in God.  Whatever we go through is not in vain, but as Paul states in the above scriptures we are being built up.  God is developing our character and hope.

So will things get better? Of course they will because hope does not disappoint.  God will not disappoint us, He will deliver us and we will experience the victory.  He takes from faith to faith and Glory to Glory.  Whatever you are going through God is just causing you to be stronger, to persevere, and causing you to be more like Christ.  We fellowship with Christ in our sufferings, for even Christ suffered, was crucified and rose again.  You will rise again and experience the victory.

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Dishonor leads to Unbelief

Posted in Healing, Jesus, The Holy Spirit on February 23, 2010| 5 Comments »

 2When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue; and the many listeners were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things, and what is this wisdom given to Him, and such miracles as these performed by His hands?

 3″Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?” And they took offense at Him.  Mark 6: 2-3

When Jesus went to His hometown Nazareth He was unable to do many miracles because of their unbelief.  The people there had recognized him as Joseph and Mary’s son but not the Son of God.  They also did not recognize the Holy Spirit that was at work in Him, because Jesus said that He only did what He saw His Father in heaven doing.  So the people in Nazareth did not honor Jesus and their dishonor led to unbelief and for this reason Jesus was unable to do many miracles.

The same is true today.  The same Holy Spirit that was in Jesus has been given to us.  It is the Holy Spirit that enables a person to perform the miracles that Jesus did.  Jesus did what He saw the Father doing and we should do what we see Jesus doing.  But many dishonor the gifts of miracles like healing and the raising of the dead because they see the person but not the Holy Spirit at work.   Many take offense at the men and women of God who operate in the gift of healing and prophesy.

It is really sad that many in the church doubt the testimonies of healings that take place at revivals or at the hands of well known ministers who operate in these miraculous gifts.  When we doubt the testimony and we dishonor the people who God uses to perform the miracles we are actually dishonoring the Holy Spirit, and are in danger of actually attributing the works of the Holy Spirit to that of Satan.  The same thing happened in Jesus’ day.

As Christians we have to understand that our gifts and abilities are not dependent upon whom we are, but it is the Holy Spirit at work in us.  We don’t heal the sick or raise the dead but the Holy Spirit does and we must honor the men and women God uses to demonstrate His power and Spirit.  Our dishonor leads to unbelief and the lack of miracles taking place in the church.

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