Archive | March 2015

He has equipped us for every situation!

Mar31

As I have mentioned in previous posts in the past, I like to read my Bible front to back. Other than when I am studying a particular topic, I like to read from Genesis to Revelation in order it has been placed.  I am once again back in one of my favorite books of the Bible, the book of Acts. When I go through this book I like to take it slow and savor every word and chapter. If you haven’t done so recently, I highly recommend that you reread the complete book of Acts!

Yesterday I was reading Acts 4 and was so encouraged. The Apostles and all those present in the Upper Room had been filled with the Holy Spirit. No more would Peter be afraid to admit to being a follower of Christ as he had previous to receiving the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit provided all they needed to be able to complete the work that Christ had called them to do. With the experience at Pentecost, God had  equipped His children to continue to share the good news with the rest of the world, Jews and Gentiles! He also equipped them to cast out demons and heal the sick in the name of Christ.

Just prior to chapter 4, the Apostles, now filled with the Spirit,  had just healed a man in the name of Jesus, who was about fourty years of age. This man had been lame right from birth. Because of the miracle, many became followers of Christ! Because of the miracle there was also a new threat of persecution. The Jewish rulers, elders and teachers were not happy to have Peter and John healing the sick and teaching about Jesus, whom they had crucified. They wanted them jailed and silenced.  I couldn’t help but think of all my brothers and sisters in Christ, worldwide, who are now going through the same thing. They are being threatened with prison or death if they continue to follow Christ and share the gospel with others.

When I read the following verses I was so encouraged and blessed! When faced with the threat of persecution or death, the Holy Spirit will provide the boldness and faith any true follower of Christ will need!

Acts 4:8-31 NIV 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 Jesus is “‘the stone you builders rejected,which has become the cornerstone.’

12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15 So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together.16 “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it.17 But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”

18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! 20 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

21 After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old. 23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: “‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord  and against his anointed one.’

27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

I have often wondered, Lord, how exactly should we be praying when faced with opposition for our faith or for those who are enduring persecution. At times I have prayed for deliverance  from the situation, I have prayed for the Lord to provide courage to endure,  I have prayed for safety  and I have prayed for God to intervene and stop the persecutors. However, after reading this chapter this time around I feel encouraged to now  pray as Peter and John prayed.  “Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness! Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus!”  Every follower of Christ is blessed with the gifting of the Holy Spirit! We too can call on the Lord for great boldness and signs and wonders through Christ!

God does not want us to walk in fear and trepidation when faced with opposition or persecution but wants us to call on Him in every situation and to use every situation to further His Kingdom!  I am believing, just as Peter and John did, that God will hear me and give me great boldness when I cry out to Him when i am faced with opposition for my faith.  I am also believing that when I intercede on behalf of my brothers and sisters suffering for the faith  that God will give them great boldness! It is the same Spirit in us that raised Christ from the dead! He will provide the power His church needs to stand and be bold. The Holy Spirit is as important in the life of the church today as He was on the day of Pentecost!

Lord, You have not left us without providing all we need. You have given us the Holy Spirit to equip us for every good work that You want us to fulfill! You have given us the Holy Spirit for signs and wonders! You have given us the Holy Spirit to comfort us! Thank You for His presence in our lives! Remind us to allow Holy Spirit to move through us and teach us all things! Give us a hunger for Your Word and keep us close to You as we fulfill all that You have called each of us to do.

In the beautiful name of Jesus, Amen.

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Find yourself waiting?

Mar24

Sometimes while we are waiting on a change in circumstances or increase in an area of our life we grow restless. We begin to fret and complain. We become discontent. Perhaps we are waiting on a job promotion and begin to envy those who have been promoted. Perhaps we have a financial need and grow impatient waiting on the ability to take care of it. Perhaps we have a health issue we are waiting to see resolved. Perhaps we are wanting an opportunity to use our giftings in the church and find ourselves having to wait on an opening to do so.

When we find ourselves in this place, a place of waiting, the Word of God tells us how we are to wait. Seldom is it how we find ourselves waiting. God knows are natural, fleshly tendencies and therefore the Word is full of reminders of just how we are to wait. So if you currently find yourself in a place of waiting, regardless of what you are waiting on or for, take a look at but a few verses from the Word of God to remind you of the importance of waiting and how we are to wait…

But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.~Isaiah 40:31

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.~Psalm  37:7

I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in His word I put my hope.~Psalm 130:5

Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long.~Psalm 25:5 

I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.~Psalm 27:13,14

Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore He will rise up to show you compassion.
For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for Him!~Isaiah 30:18

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.~Matthew 6:34

I lift up my eyes to you, to you who sit enthroned in heaven.
 As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a female slave look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till He shows us his mercy.~Psalm 123:1,2

And finally one of my favorites.

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.~Matthew 6:33

For when we seek His Kingdom and His righteousness first, everything else will eventually fall into place! He will  meet our needs, He will work out those challenges that are beyond are capability, He will move in the hearts of Kings, rulers and others in our lives. He will take care of us!  Rushing ahead of God and trying to orchestrate things in the flesh never works out for our good or the good of others. Wait on the Lord! He is trustworthy! He is faithful! He will come through for all those who wait on Him!

Blessings!

Feed and Tend, the Call for All

Mar18

We serve a Master with the heart of a servant. I love that about Jesus. He, the Son of God, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords washed the disciples feet. He cared for them as He cares for us.  He fed the multitudes, He healed the sick, He delivered the bound and set the captives free!  Praise God He is still doing this today!

His heart has always been tender toward those who seek Him. He longs for fellowship and intimacy with those who call on His name. When I read John chapter 21 last night I couldn’t help but think of just how much He loves His church. Just as a loving parent, in the latter days of their life, wants to do what they can to ensure their children and grandchildren will be prepared and looked after after they depart, Jesus did the same.

After His resurrection from the dead, He appeared three times to His disciples. Though His throne awaited Him, though His reunion with the Father awaited Him, He wanted to ensure His church would be taken care of!

John 21 After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.”

They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. 4 But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?”

They answered Him, “No.”

6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.

7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish. 9 Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.”

11 Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?”—knowing that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish.

14 This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”

He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”

He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”

16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”

He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”

He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”

17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.

18 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” 19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”

20 Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” 21 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, whatabout this man?”

22 Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”

23 Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?”

24 This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true.

25 And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.

 Jesus wanted to ensure that Peter, one of the founding members of the body of Christ, the Church, would continue His work. He wanted to ensure that the lambs (new believers) would be fed (nurtured) with  the message of the gospel so that they could grow into sheep.
He wanted to ensure that His followers (sheep)  would be tended to or taken care of just as Christ took care of them when He walked with them.  And lastly He wanted to ensure that His followers (sheep) would be fed. That they would continue to be fed the Word of God and the sharing of the gospel in order that the good news would be spread throughout all the world. Well fed sheep are less likely to wander off into other pastures!
 Jesus, just like a loving parent, wanted to ensure that His disciples would continue to fulfill the purposes of God by spiritually feeding and tending to His lambs and sheep. He didn’t leave until He had done so.  Until He had fed His disciples and reminded them yet one more time to take care of the lambs and sheep. He knew their natural propensity to forget what was important and wanted to tend to them and remind them one more time!
That is the heart of the One we serve! That blesses me and makes me sad all at the same time! To be loved by One that loves us that much is truly awesome!
 Our Shepherd loves His herd and we like Peter, have a responsibility to feed His lambs, tend His sheep and feed His sheep. We too are His disciples. Every one of us that call Him Savior and Lord share this responsibility.
It is a blessing and a privilege to serve Our Shepherd! Let’s remember His words to Peter as we start each day!
Blessings!