Poor Mary and Martha. Their brother, Lazarus, was deathly ill and the one person who could help him was not there.
They sent for Jesus, but He did not come right away. It was not until Lazarus died and had been buried in the grave for 4 days did Jesus arrive. Both Martha and Mary confronted Jesus with their displeasure.
John 11:21: “…If thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.” [Martha]
John 11:32: “…If thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.” [Mary]
God had other plans for the situation. Jesus did come and raised Lazarus from the dead. He beat the biggest Giant that faces all mankind: death.
How many times in our life have we needed help and the people who could make the difference were not there.
Christians should not be so easily discouraged. What does it mean to be a Christian? It simply describes the truth of who you are: A child of God with Christ within. At the new birth you receive the gift of holy spirit, which is “Christ in you the hope of glory”! (Colossians 12:7). Look at only some of the verses that declare this remarkable truth:
Romans 8:9-11: “…spirit of God dwell in you… if [since] Christ be in you…”
II Corinthians 5:17: “…in Christ… a new creation…”
II Corinthians 13:5: “…now that Jesus Christ is in you.”
Galatians 2:20: “…I live…but Christ lives in me…”
Ephesians 2:10: “For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus…”
This is not some token name tag designation, or some fake religious condition. It is for real. We actually have His power and authority and the love of God within.
So, where is Christ when you are being attacked with fear and doubt? He is not far, He is in you!
How loud do you have to yell to get Christ’s attention? Not very loud, He is already in you!
My awesome brothers and sisters in Christ, you have Christ in you! Who are you? A child of God with Christ within. You have His authority and power! You can do what He did and more!
Let’s close by reading the end of one of the most dramatic conversations ever recorded: John 17:26: [Jesus is speaking] “…that the love where with thou hast loved me may be in them [all future believers] and I in them.”
Agape,
Bob
I don’t know about you, but when it comes to doing projects, I am hard pressed to do them all. The “honey do list” seems unending. Projects around the home either at some point get finished or more than likely, go on the “another day list.”
Thankfully, God is not like man. If He starts something, He completes it. This is true throughout the Bible. One example is the promise to Abraham, who was fatherless at 75 and yet God promised him that his seed would number as the stars of heaven. God made it happen! A greater example is the promise of a redeemer in Genesis 3:15. It took thousands of years, but God gave us our redeemer in Jesus Christ.
Psalms 89:34: My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.
Our recognition of God’s faithfulness to finish ALL His projects and promises, gives us confidence, boldness and assurance to trust Him in all things. We dare not take our mistrust of man and place it on God. He ALWAYS finishes everything He starts.
Psalms 62:5-8: My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.
He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.
In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.
What does this mean for us as born again believers? Our Heavenly Father has called us to His family with a purpose in mind. We are very special to Him. The work He has started in us via the holy spirit is magnificent, which means He will be finishing what He started in us.
Philppians 1:3-6: I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,
For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
God is going to finish what He purposed long ago to have a loving, eternal family. And you are a monumental part of it. Christ is coming back soon and that is what really matters. As a result, we can live our life today, experiencing His love, deliverance, healing and power. We can boldly depend on Him. We can trust in Him and His Word. Walk in victory believing Him and exercising your sonship rights knowing that He finishes what He starts!
Agape,
Bob
I don’t know about you, but when it comes to doing projects, I am hard pressed to do them all. The “honey do list” seems unending. Projects around the home either at some point get finished or more than likely, go on the “another day list.”
Thankfully, God is not like man. If He starts something, He completes it. This is true throughout the Bible. One example is the promise to Abraham, who was fatherless at 75 and yet God promised him that his seed would number as the stars of heaven. God made it happen! A greater example is the promise of a redeemer in Genesis 3:15. It took thousands of years, but God gave us our redeemer in Jesus Christ.
Psalms 89:34: My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.
Our recognition of God’s faithfulness to finish ALL His projects and promises, gives us confidence, boldness and assurance to trust Him in all things. We dare not take our mistrust of man and place it on God. He ALWAYS finishes everything He starts.
Psalms 62:5-8: My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.
He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.
In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.
What does this mean for us as born again believers? Our Heavenly Father has called us to His family with a purpose in mind. We are very special to Him. The work He has started in us via the holy spirit is magnificent, which means He will be finishing what He started in us.
Philppians 1:3-6: I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,
For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
God is going to finish what He purposed long ago to have a loving, eternal family. And you are a monumental part of it. Christ is coming back soon and that is what really matters. As a result, we can live our life today, experiencing His love, deliverance, healing and power. We can boldly depend on Him. We can trust in Him and His Word. Walk in victory believing Him and exercising your sonship rights knowing that He finishes what He starts!
Agape,
Bob
As we embark on this new year of 2020, may we exercise our spiritual 20/20 vision.
There are a vast number of subjects a person could focus on as they move into this New Year. Setting goals and making resolutions are usually the focus.
I was reminded by Jeffrey recently that ideal vision is 20/20. Why not look at this upcoming year of 2020 with clarity of sight focused on our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ.
The devil tries to impair our vision by getting us to look at worldly endeavors or earthly resolutions. He does not want us clear on who we are in Christ.
Thankfully God’s Word corrects our spiritual vision to 20/20 so that we clearly stay our minds on true spiritual matters.
Colossians 3:10-17:
And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
This year we want to “Walk in Victory.” We do so by maintaining a spiritual 20/20 vision of putting on the new man and keeping our focus on our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ.
Philippians 3:13 & 14 (NLT):
“…I focus on this one thing: forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,
I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”
Agape,
Bob
Nehemiah:
Experiencing Godly Success
I recently returned from an insightful weekend in God’s Word with Ken Petty on “Rebuilding the Broken Walls of Our Lives.” Ken taught from the story of Nehemiah rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem in a miraculous 52 days and reveals Godly principles for our success.
If you are on a mission from God, reading Nehemiah 1:1-6:16 will serve you well.
Nehemiah was part of the captivity of the Judeans by the Persians and had the job of being the cupbearer to the king.
As you read this fascinating adventure of believing God and rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem you will learn vital keys in experiencing Godly success in your life as you either restore the broken walls in your life or help others to do so.
Briefly, here are just some of the insights you will be exposed to in reading this daring feat by Nehemiah.
hearing about problems facing you or others, the first thing to do is pray. (Note: In his prayer to God, Nehemiah reminds God how awesomWhen e He is and the promises He has declared to His people.)
Pray for forgiveness in the situation as well as take responsibility for it. (Note: Nehemiah did not play the blame game pointing fingers at others. He took responsibility and prayed for forgiveness for the errors of the people.)
Ask God how to deal with the situation and then listen to His wisdom on it. (Note: Nehemiah 2:12: “…neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem…”)
Take action. Do it. Too many times we know what to do, but we end up talking about it over and over again. Once Nehemiah knew what to do from God, he started. (Note: Nehemiah 2:16: “…let us start rebuilding. So they began this good work.” NIV).
Handle opposition properly. When the enemy attacks or causes division within the household of believers, do not quickly respond. The enemy will attack your “morale” and “motives” as well as your “mission.” Do not react, but go to the Father in prayer so you will know what to do.
Conclusion: As you read Nehemiah 1:1-6:16, learn how Nehemiah used prayer, Biblical truth and Godly principles to travel back to rebuild the broken walls of Jerusalem. He wisely took action after praying and listening to God. The truths in this notable section of Scripture will serve you well as you walk with God and do His will in your life.
Nehemiah 6:15 and 16:
So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days.
And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.
Agape,
Bob