Month: November 2017

The Living & Active Word

The Living & Active Word

For the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective].  It is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as the division of the soul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart.  (Heb 4:12 AMP)

I really appreciate this version of the above Scripture passage.  It amplifies our understanding of what the writer may have been thinking as this was written. 

It makes it clear that God’s Word is alive and powerful; that God’s Word can read us, and it can reveal us to ourselves!  Most of us keenly need God to do that for us, because we don’t truly know ourselves. 

This is why the Bible tells us that the Word is like a mirror.

For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror;  for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.  But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.  (James 1:23-25)

Let us read the Word and allow it to introduce us to ourselves!  As we come to know the Word more thoroughly, we will come to know ourselves more honestly.  And we’ll experience the incomparable love of God, without which, we could not have been saved! 

Love the Word; read the Word; embrace the Word—and LIVE!

Choose

Choose

I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life, and death, blessing or cursing; therefore choose life that both you and your descendants may live . . . (Deut 30:19)

In this passage of Scripture, God reminds us that He has given us the power to make our own choices.  We can choose life or death; we can choose blessing or cursing; we can choose to obey God or not.

As Christians, many of life’s seemingly inconsequential choices are simply opportunities to live as disciples and followers of Jesus Christ—or not . . . !

Think about the importance of such things.  It’s kind of mind-blowing when we view our lives from this perspective.  Each and every day, we have so many choices to make.

We must choose:

  • Whom we will serve (Josh 24:15)
  • What type of words we want to speak (Job 15:5; Pro 8:8; 21:23; Jas 3:6-9)
  • Not to be an oppressor (Prov 3:31)
  • Our friends wisely (Prov 12:26)
  • The good and refuse evil (Isa 7:15)
  • To bless God (Ps 33:1;146:2; 147:1; Heb 13:15)

We each have one life to live.  We each have millions of choices to make throughout the course of our lives. 

Take time to consider which kingdom you are serving with each and every choice that you make.  God bless you.

Power to Serve

Power to Serve

Here are a handful of Bible verses about:

  • God, who has power and uses it;
  • God gives strength and power to His people;
  • Jesus, who demonstrated his power by many mighty miracles; &
  • Jesus sharing His power with His disciples (and us).

O God, You are more awesome than Your holy places. The God of Israel is He who gives strength and power to His people. Blessed be God!  (Ps 68:35)

He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength.  (Isa 40:29)

And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.  (Mt 10:1)

Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, and to have power.  (Mk 3:14-15)

And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits.  (Mk 6:7)

Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.  (Lk 9:1)

Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.  (Lk 10:19)

For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.  (1 Cor 4:20)

Jesus called His disciples together to commission them to preach and to impart power to them.  Luke 9:1 says that He gave them power and authority; and Luke 10:19 says that our power can triumph over the enemy and protect us from harm.

We have been given this power to SERVE–in order to testify of Jesus and to preach Good News to all.  We are called to serve the Kingdom of God from the moment that we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

What a joy and a privilege to serve Jesus!

Mercy: A Ministry of Love & Service

Mercy: A Ministry of Love & Service

Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old.  (Ps 25:6 NIV)

Answer me, Lord, out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me.  (Ps 69:16)

And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He [Jesus] said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.”  And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored.  (Mk 3:5 NKJV)

Healing is a merciful act of God toward those who are ill.  In the case of healing a woman of barrenness, in bible times, that was a removal of disgrace—a stigma attached to the woman.  God is motivated to show mercy by His incomparable and unfailing love for us.  Here are biblical examples of healings:  Mt 9:27; 15:22; 17:15; 20:30; Mk 5:19; 10:47; Lk 1:58; 17:13; Phil 2:25-27.

Jesus has authorized us, His followers, to accept the same mission which He received from His Father God.

So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”  (Jo 20:21)

So, we are to bring salvation and healing to the lost, the wounded, and the hurting.  We can only do that by operating in the love of God and the mercy of God, even as Jesus did.  This is the ministry to which all believers are called.

The Rock

The Rock

The Lord lives! Blessed be my Rock! Let God be exalted, the Rock of my salvation!  (2 Sam 22:47)

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.  (Ps 18:2)

In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.  (Ps 62:7)

This expression [Rock of my salvation] stimulates vivid imagery and a sense of security. Our God is a trustworthy, reliable, resolute Savior.

Isaiah 28:16 says:  Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; whoever believes will not act hastily.  [not be panic-stricken]

This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’  (Acts 4:11)

From these various passages of Scripture, we understand that Jesus is our Rock and our foundation—even the chief cornerstone of our faith!  Jesus is solid, secure, and unmovable.  He is our sure foundation who never changes, and who never fails.  Glory to God!

Put your faith in Jesus, alone, and you won’t be disappointed.

Watch & Prepare

Watch & Prepare

Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.  (Mt 25:13 NKJV)

Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.  (Mt 24:42)

The Bible verses above remind us to be aware of the return of the Lord—to have a watchful frame of mind and heart.  It’s a good idea to watch and to be expectantly, eagerly awaiting our Savior’s return. Here are two good tips for doing that:

  • In holiness, we prepare ourselves for His coming;
  • Meanwhile, we continue to preach the Good News (gospel) to all mankind.

The Lord instructed us to be holy (Lev 11:45; 19:2; Nmb 15:40; Rom 12:1; 1 Pet 1:15, 16), because we serve a holy God.

In obedience to the Lord, we serve the Kingdom by sharing the gospel with everyone—right until the moment of Jesus’ return.  Lastly, we want to maintain a vital, loving relationship with the Lord Jesus!

You Will SAY

You Will SAY

If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will SAY to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.  (Mt 17:20b, emphasis added)

But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  (Rom 10:8-9)

These verses teach us that one consequence of faith is words.  Our faith encourages and inspires us to speak to our situation (circumstances) and command them according to the Word of God.  In Romans 10, we’re reminded that the word of faith is in our mouths and our hearts. The passage then proceeds to elaborate on the “word of faith” message.

Faith says:  “I confess Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, and that God raised Him from the dead; and therefore I am saved.”  This means that in ANY trial, trouble, or evil circumstance in our lives, we can calmly and peacefully expect Jesus to:

  • deliver us,
  • protect us,
  • heal us, and
  • meet our every need.

Study the Bible and locate passages of Scripture that you may speak into your situation with a faith-filled heart.  Then wait in hope and expectation as God works on your behalf.

Out of the Mouth

Out of the Mouth

Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth [words], this defiles a man.  (Mt 15:11 NKJV – parenthesized word added)

But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. (Mt 15:18)

If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. (1 Cor 3:17)

The definition of defile is:  spoil, sully, impair, debase, or degrade; to desecrate or profane something sacred.  The words that come out of our mouths are capable of defiling us!

From the verses quoted above, we understand that our words can displease God, because we are His holy, sacred temple.  He never wants us to speak words which would degrade us.  Words are the heart’s reaction or response to people or circumstances.  He wants us to respond to all things as He would—with love and mercy.

Jesus is our example in all things.  (1 Pet 2:21-24; Jo 13:13-16)  He has called us to follow Him, as He leads and shepherds us. 

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good . . .  (Lk 6:45a KJV)  Let us encourage ourselves to speak forth only words which are good and edifying—which bring glory to God and blessings to mankind.

The Touch of Faith

The Touch of Faith

. . . and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment.  And as many as touched it were made perfectly well.  (Matt 14:36 NKJV)

She came up behind Jesus and touched the tassel of his garment, and her bleeding stopped at once.  (Lk 8:44 ISV)

As we read these two different reports, you’ll notice that in one “the hem” of Jesus’ garment was mentioned; and in the other, “the tassel” of His garment was touched by the needy, faith-filled woman.

In the Mosaic Law, God instructed His people regarding the corners, or fringes, of their garments. Jews were to “make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a “cord of blue on the tassel of each corner” as a reminder that they were God’s people called to keep His commandments (Numbers 15:37-41). It seems like a strange instruction until we learn that in the Ancient Near East, the corner of a person’s garment represented his identity; it was a symbol of who he was and what he stood for.  (Source of above note:  https://biblemesh.com/blog/why-were-people-healed-from-touching-jesus-clothes/)

According to the above historical note about the tassels of a person’s clothing in Bible days, the tassels represented a person’s identity.  So, the woman with the issue of blood would have known that symbolism.

 It helps us to understand that the woman not only reached out in faith and in need, but she also reached out with a desire to identify and connect with Jesus’ identity.  She was humbly connecting with the Son of God, her Messiah.

In the same way, when we have a need, we would do well to follow this woman’s example.  Draw near to Jesus with a humble heart; recognize and appropriate His identity; and reach out and touch Him by faith.  In the biblical account of the woman healed of the issue of blood, Jesus established that He responded to this touch of faith!

He’s never too busy to perform a miracle for you!