Help Us To Love You As You Love Us

“...The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.”

[1]

“And those who passed by blasphemed Him,

wagging their heads and saying, ‘Aha!

You who destroy the temple

and build it in three days,

save Yourself,

and come down from the cross!’

Likewise, the chief priests also,

mocking among themselves…

with the scribes, said,

‘He saved others;
Himself He cannot save.

Let the Christ, the King of Israel,

descend now from the cross,

that we may see and believe.’

Even those who were crucified with Him...
reviled Him.”

[2]

I am thankful that JESUS did not quit HIS mission to pay for humanity’s sins, when people rejected, mocked, and reviled HIM.

“Thank YOU, JESUS, for demonstrating God’s love for us.

No one ever loved humanity as much as you did JESUS…

No one ever paid a greater price to save us…

Help US dear LORD to love YOU as YOU love US…

In our lives… BE GLORIFIED.”

[1] Mark 12:10

[2] Mark 15:29-32

Telling What the Lord has Done

“As JESUS was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with Him. JESUS did not let him, but said, ‘Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how He has had mercy on you.’ So the man went away and began to tell in ten cities how much JESUS had done for him. And all the people were amazed.” [1]

JESUS has done so much for me throughout my life. I want to be a faithful teller of how-much-JESUS-had-done-for-me. I want thoughts of the Savior’s mercy to fill my thoughts and my speech.

“Dear Lord Jesus, please grant me, my spouse, my children and my children’s children mindsets and speaking-ability to tell the amazing things You have done for us. And then, I pray for my friends, and for my race, the human race, that we would ALL bring YOU glory and honor... for YOU are worthy.”

[1] Mark 5:18-20

The Best Thanksgiving Banquet

“Lord Jesus, may we partake of Your anointing and Word around our banqueting tables today. For it is in Your Name I pray. Amen.”

Today is Thanksgiving, and guess what! Two of my four Bible reading portions this morning cast a negative light on gluttony. I was surprised, but then, the Lord set before me a wonderful feast from His Word.

“When you sit down to eat with a ruler, consider carefully what is before you; and put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to appetite. Do not desire his delicacies, for they are deceptive food.” [1]

“Belshazzar the king made a great feast for a thousand of his lords and drank wine in the presence of the thousand.” [2] That same night Belshazzar’s kingdom fell to the Medes and Persians, and he was put to death.

Let us feast on the Word of God anointed by the Holy Spirit!

The Lord says, “…The yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil.” [3]

The Hebrew word Messiah means “Anointed One” and the Greek word “Christ” has the same meaning. It is Christ who breaks the yoke of oppression from sin, Satan and death from our lives. In fact, the Lord urges us to be anointed with oil by the elders of the church when we are feeling sick. “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.” [4]

The Holy Spirit anoints to understand the true meaning of the Scripture, “But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.” [5]

Jesus ministered in the power of the Holy Spirit: “Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee…” [6] “…With authority and power, He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.” [7] “…And the power of the Lord was present to heal them.” [8] “The whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all.” [9]

Jesus gave power to His disciples to overcome the works of the evil one: “Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.” [10] “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.” [11]

This power is none other than the Holy Spirit whom Jesus gives to those who believe in Him and want to obey and serve Him: “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” [12] “We are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.” [13]

Jesus provides a better Thanksgiving feast than turkey, taters and stuffing. He provides spiritual food that energizes His servants to cast out demons and heal the sick. The side-effects of the food Jesus gives are abundant life on earth and eternal life in the age to come.

Jesus urges us, “Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.” [14]

What kind of food does Jesus delight in? “Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.’” [15]

“Lord Jesus, thank You for giving to us the feast of Your Word anointed by Your Spirit. Thank You for gracing us with an array of spiritual fruits on our banqueting tables today.”

[1] Proverbs 23:1-3
[2] Daniel 5:1
[3] Isaiah 10:27
[4] James 5:14
[5] 1 John 2:27
[6] Luke 4:14
[7] Luke 4:36
[8] Luke 5:17
[9] Luke 6:19
[10] Luke 9:1
[11] Luke 10:19
[12] Luke 24:49
[13] Acts 5:32
[14] John 6:27
[15] John 4:34

Forgiveness And Healing

JESUS has the power…

And the will…

To forgive our sins

And heal our bodies…

If we ask Him to forgive us…

And make us whole.

“Which is easier, to say to the paralytic,

‘Your sins are forgiven you,’

or to say, ‘Arise,

take up your bed and walk’?

But that you may know…

that the Son of Man…

has power on earth to forgive sins’

…He said to the paralytic,

‘I say to you, arise, take up your bed,

and go to your house.’

Immediately he arose, took up the bed,

and went out in the presence of them all,

so that all were amazed

and glorified God, saying,

‘We never saw anything like this!’

And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him…

eating with the tax collectors and sinners,

they said to His disciples,

‘How is it that He eats and drinks…

with tax collectors and sinners?’

When Jesus heard it, He said to them,

‘Those who are well have no need of a physician,

but those who are sick.

I did not come to call the righteous,

but sinners, to repentance.’”

Mark 2:9-12, 16-17

The Messiah’s Ministry

“And he (John the Baptist) preached, saying,

‘There comes One after me…

who is mightier than I,

whose sandal strap…

I am not worthy to stoop down and loose.

I indeed baptized you with water,

but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’

Now after John was put in prison,

Jesus came to Galilee,

preaching the Gospel of the kingdom of God,

and saying,

‘The time is fulfilled,

and the kingdom of God is at hand.

Repent,

and believe in the Gospel.”

At evening,

when the sun had set,

they brought to Him all who were sick

and those who were demon-possessed.

And the whole city…

was gathered together at the door.

Then He healed many…

who were sick with various diseases,

and cast out many demons…”

Mark 1:7-8, 14-15, 32-34

Don’t Wait Another Day

“This Gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” [1]

The Gospel of Christ’s death and resurrection, His ascension into heaven, and His promise to return for those love His appearing has and is going out to the whole world as a witness to the nations. Millions have embraced Christ as Messiah. He is the Anointed One of God who saves all who believe in Him. This is good news.

Have you believed in and confessed Christ as your Lord and Savior? He gives eternal life in paradise to all who believe in Him. Don’t wait another day. Ask Christ to save you, transform you and make you a new person. Enter the Ark of God (Jesus Christ) before the last day and be saved today.

“Be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” [2]

[1] Matthew 24:14
[2] Matthew 24:44

BC - AC

BC – Before Christ – Dry bones and a stony heart

AC – After Christ – A Great Army

“The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in-the-midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed, they were very dry.

And He said to me, ‘Son of man, can these bones live?’ So, I answered, ‘O Lord God, You know.’ Again, He said to me, ‘Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the Word of the Lord!’

So, I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly GREAT ARMY.” [1]

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.

I will multiply the fruit of your trees and the increase of your fields, so that you need never again… bear the reproach of famine among the nations.

Then the nations which are left all around you shall know that I, the Lord, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted what was desolate. I, the Lord, have spoken it, and I will do it.” [2]

[1] Ezekiel 37:1-4, 10
[2] Ezekiel 36:26, 30, 36

Victory In Jesus

“The Lord is on my side;

I will not fear.

What can man do to me?”

[1]

“It is better to trust in the Lord

Than to put confidence in man.

It is better to trust in the Lord

Than to put confidence in princes.”

[2]

“The Lord is my strength and song,

And He has become my salvation.

The voice of rejoicing and salvation

Is in the tents of the righteous;

The right hand of the Lord does valiantly.”

[3]

“I shall not die, but live,

And declare the works of the Lord.”

[4]

“The stone (Christ) which the builders rejected

Has become the chief cornerstone.

This was the Lord’s doing;

It is marvelous in our eyes.

This is the day the Lord has made;

We will rejoice and be glad in it.”

[5]

Christ is better than TV:

“T-urn away mine eyes from beholding V-anity;

And quicken (revive) Thou me in Thy way.”

[6]

(T = Turn away… V = Vanity)

God’s Word gives life when afflicted:

“This is my comfort in my affliction,

For Your word has given me life.”

[7]

God’s Word is better than silver and gold:

“The law of Your mouth is better to me

Than thousands of coins of gold and silver.”

[8]

God’s Word turns the light on for people:

“The entrance of Your Word gives light;

It gives understanding to the simple.”

[9]

Christ is merciful to those who love Him:

“Look upon me and be merciful to me,

As Your custom is toward those who love Your name.”

[10]

Christ gives us victory over sin through His Word:

“Direct my steps by Your Word,

And let no iniquity have dominion over me.”

[11]

[1] Psalm 118:6

[2] Psalm 118:8-9

[3] Psalm 118:14-15

[4] Psalm 118:17

[5] Psalm 118:22-24

[6] Psalm 119:37

[7] Psalm 119:50

[8] Psalm 119:72

[9] Psalm 119:130

[10] Psalm 119:132

[11] Psalm 119:13

Embrace Understanding

Biblical Proverbs personify wisdom and understanding as a woman to be embraced. Proverbs is a book of divinely inspired sayings passed down from a father and a mother to their son. In essence they are saying, “My son, if you want to embrace a woman that will bless you, embrace understanding. Love her like you would a wife.” “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. and in all your getting, get understanding.” [1]

Understand God and people. Ask the Spirit of Christ to help you see God and humanity through the eyes of divine love.

“In all your getting, get understanding. Exalt her, and she will promote you; she will bring you honor, when you embrace her. She will place on your head an ornament of grace; a crown of glory she will deliver to you.” [2]

[1] Proverbs 4:7
[2] Proverbs 4:8-9

Jesus regards the prayer of the destitute...

“Jesus departed from there, skirted the Sea of Galilee, and went up on the mountain and sat down there.

Then great multitudes came to Him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others; and they laid them down at Jesus’ feet, and He healed them.

So the multitude marveled when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.” [1]

“For the Lord shall build up Zion; He shall appear in His glory! He shall regard the prayer of the destitute, and shall not despise their prayer.” [2]

[1] Matthew 15:29-31
[2] Psalm 102:16-17