“I am the vine; you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” [1]
“Christ makes me a new plant, one that is grafted on Him the Vine and grows from Him. I bear fruit in Him and through Him. This fruit is not mine; it is the Vine’s. Christianity is a new birth brought about by God’s Word and Spirit. When the heart is born anew in Christ, fruits will follow naturally.” [2]
[1] John 15:5
[2] Martin Luther, Luther’s Works, Vol. 24: Sermons on the Gospel of St. John: Chapters 14-16, ed. Jaroslav Jan Pelikan, Hilton C. Oswald and Helmut T. Lehmann (Saint Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1999), John 15:5.
Friday, May 27, 2016
Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Eyes Fixed On Jesus
Which direction are you looking? Your eyes are the gates to your soul. The Bible urges you to keep your eyes fixed on Jesus.
Once, Peter asked Jesus what would happen to John. Jesus said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow Me.” [1]
To follow Jesus we must keep our eyes on Him.
Once, Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water to Jesus. A miracle happened as Peter kept his eyes on Jesus. However, when Peter saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid. He began to sink. At that moment, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” [2]
As long as Peter had his eyes fixed on Jesus, the miraculous was possible. When Peter took his eyes off of Jesus and focused on his circumstances, he began to sink.
The Bible urges us “look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” [3]
Jesus is the way to the Father. Looking away from Jesus is the way to get lost.
“Dear Heavenly Father, please help us to fix our eyes on Jesus, both now and always. It is in His Name that I pray. Amen.”
[1] John 21:22
[2] Matthew 14:29-31
[3] Hebrews 12:2
Once, Peter asked Jesus what would happen to John. Jesus said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow Me.” [1]
To follow Jesus we must keep our eyes on Him.
Once, Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water to Jesus. A miracle happened as Peter kept his eyes on Jesus. However, when Peter saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid. He began to sink. At that moment, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” [2]
As long as Peter had his eyes fixed on Jesus, the miraculous was possible. When Peter took his eyes off of Jesus and focused on his circumstances, he began to sink.
The Bible urges us “look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” [3]
Jesus is the way to the Father. Looking away from Jesus is the way to get lost.
“Dear Heavenly Father, please help us to fix our eyes on Jesus, both now and always. It is in His Name that I pray. Amen.”
[1] John 21:22
[2] Matthew 14:29-31
[3] Hebrews 12:2
Monday, May 23, 2016
Christ Is Our Peace
“Now, in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in His flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in Himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace.” [1]
Christ brings us close to God. Christ brought us close to God by dying on the cross for the forgiveness of our sin. Christ brought peace to us with God. A good prayer to pray for loved ones is that the distance between them and God will be replaced with nearness. The nearness will come as they receive a revelation of who Jesus is and ask Him to save them from their sins.
Isaiah wrote of the Lord, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” [2]
[1] Ephesians 2:13-15
[2] Isaiah 26:3
Christ brings us close to God. Christ brought us close to God by dying on the cross for the forgiveness of our sin. Christ brought peace to us with God. A good prayer to pray for loved ones is that the distance between them and God will be replaced with nearness. The nearness will come as they receive a revelation of who Jesus is and ask Him to save them from their sins.
Isaiah wrote of the Lord, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” [2]
[1] Ephesians 2:13-15
[2] Isaiah 26:3
Thursday, May 5, 2016
The One Who Loves Me
Jesus Christ said, “Whoever has My commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I too will love them and show Myself to them.” [1]
King Saul replaced the Lord’s commandment with a decision to please himself. He took the best of the spoils of war for himself! He also set up a monument to honor himself.
“Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves, and lambs—everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed.” [2]
“Then the word of the Lord came to Samuel: ‘I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My commandments.’” [3]
To turn to the Lord is a turn outward. A turn towards love! King Saul turned from the Lord towards himself.
“Early in the morning Samuel got up and went to meet Saul, but he was told, ‘Saul… has set up a monument in his own honor. He has gone down to Gilgal.’” [4]
When Samuel reached him, Saul said to him, “‘The Lord bless you! I have carried out the Lord’s instructions.’ But Samuel said, ‘What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of cattle that I hear? Why did you not obey the Lord? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the Lord?’” [5]
King Saul objected, saying to Samuel, “But I did obey the Lord, I went on the mission the Lord assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag, their king. The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the Lord your God at Gilgal.” [6]
King Saul tried to shift the blame to his subordinates. But Samuel replied: “’Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance is like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, the has rejected you as king.’ The Lord regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel.” [7]
“Heavenly Father, please forgive us for setting ourselves above You. Please change us. Please help us to submit ourselves to obeying You. You deserve to be honored above all else. I pray that You will be glorified in our lives. I pray these things in Your Name, Jesus Christ. Amen.”
[1] John 14:21
[2] 1 Samuel 15:9
[3] 1 Samuel 15:11
[4] 1 Samuel 15:12
[5] 1 Samuel 15:13-14, 19
[6] 1 Samuel 15:20-21
[7] 1 Samuel 15:22-23, 34
King Saul replaced the Lord’s commandment with a decision to please himself. He took the best of the spoils of war for himself! He also set up a monument to honor himself.
“Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves, and lambs—everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed.” [2]
“Then the word of the Lord came to Samuel: ‘I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My commandments.’” [3]
To turn to the Lord is a turn outward. A turn towards love! King Saul turned from the Lord towards himself.
“Early in the morning Samuel got up and went to meet Saul, but he was told, ‘Saul… has set up a monument in his own honor. He has gone down to Gilgal.’” [4]
When Samuel reached him, Saul said to him, “‘The Lord bless you! I have carried out the Lord’s instructions.’ But Samuel said, ‘What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of cattle that I hear? Why did you not obey the Lord? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the Lord?’” [5]
King Saul objected, saying to Samuel, “But I did obey the Lord, I went on the mission the Lord assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag, their king. The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the Lord your God at Gilgal.” [6]
King Saul tried to shift the blame to his subordinates. But Samuel replied: “’Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance is like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, the has rejected you as king.’ The Lord regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel.” [7]
“Heavenly Father, please forgive us for setting ourselves above You. Please change us. Please help us to submit ourselves to obeying You. You deserve to be honored above all else. I pray that You will be glorified in our lives. I pray these things in Your Name, Jesus Christ. Amen.”
[1] John 14:21
[2] 1 Samuel 15:9
[3] 1 Samuel 15:11
[4] 1 Samuel 15:12
[5] 1 Samuel 15:13-14, 19
[6] 1 Samuel 15:20-21
[7] 1 Samuel 15:22-23, 34
Prevailing WITH God’s Presence
“Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.” - Abraham Lincoln
David was on the Lord’s side. David believed in the goodness and power of God. The Lord’s presence empowered David to prevail against his enemy.
Young David to King Saul: “The Lord who rescued me (David) from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” King Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!” David fastened his sword to his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. David said to Saul, “I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them.” So David took them off.” [1]
When the Lord is on one’s side, expensive accessories are unnecessary.
“He (Goliath the giant) said to David, ‘Am I a dog that you come at me with sticks?’ The Philistine cursed David by his gods. ‘Come here,’ he said, ‘and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and the wild animals!’” [2]
The devil always reviles and demeans those who dare to stand up to him. He wants the Lord’s servant to believe that his power is greater than God’s. What a joke he is!
“David said to the Philistine, ‘You come against me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD ALMIGHTY, the GOD of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a GOD in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give all of you into our hands.’” [3]
David refused to be intimidated by the bully. Faith in God empowers the little guy to say to the big guy, “I’m not backing down. No, I am going to win.” Paul wrote the following exhortation to Timothy, “Don’t be frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God.” [4]
“As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face-down on the ground.” [5]
By faith in God, David ran towards the foe and defeated him quickly.
“In everything he did he (David) had great success, because the Lord was with him.” [6]
“Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for giving David the victory over the giant. Thank you for calling us to Your side and anointing us to conquer those who seek to destroy us. In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen.”
[1] 1 Samuel 17:37, 39
[2] 1 Samuel 17: 43-44
[3] 1 Samuel 17:45-47
[4] Philippians 1:28
[5] 1 Samuel 17:48-49
[6] 1 Samuel 18:14
David was on the Lord’s side. David believed in the goodness and power of God. The Lord’s presence empowered David to prevail against his enemy.
Young David to King Saul: “The Lord who rescued me (David) from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” King Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!” David fastened his sword to his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. David said to Saul, “I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them.” So David took them off.” [1]
When the Lord is on one’s side, expensive accessories are unnecessary.
“He (Goliath the giant) said to David, ‘Am I a dog that you come at me with sticks?’ The Philistine cursed David by his gods. ‘Come here,’ he said, ‘and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and the wild animals!’” [2]
The devil always reviles and demeans those who dare to stand up to him. He wants the Lord’s servant to believe that his power is greater than God’s. What a joke he is!
“David said to the Philistine, ‘You come against me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD ALMIGHTY, the GOD of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a GOD in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give all of you into our hands.’” [3]
David refused to be intimidated by the bully. Faith in God empowers the little guy to say to the big guy, “I’m not backing down. No, I am going to win.” Paul wrote the following exhortation to Timothy, “Don’t be frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God.” [4]
“As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face-down on the ground.” [5]
By faith in God, David ran towards the foe and defeated him quickly.
“In everything he did he (David) had great success, because the Lord was with him.” [6]
“Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for giving David the victory over the giant. Thank you for calling us to Your side and anointing us to conquer those who seek to destroy us. In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen.”
[1] 1 Samuel 17:37, 39
[2] 1 Samuel 17: 43-44
[3] 1 Samuel 17:45-47
[4] Philippians 1:28
[5] 1 Samuel 17:48-49
[6] 1 Samuel 18:14
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