Category: Christian Blog

Really, What Was So Amazing About How Jesus Spoke?

Really, What Was So Amazing About How Jesus Spoke?

Words are very powerful things. They can quicken a heart with joy or strike like a dagger leaving one to bleed. With our words we can give hope or plunge others deep into an abyss of despair. Sometimes, even when we are wanting to help; our words close the door on conversation by the manner in which we speak. On occasion, someone enters our life that knows just the right words to guide us. They have the unique ability to cause us to look deep within our own hearts and by doing so, they teach us how to find our way out of darkness and back into the light. These are the friends and teachers we hold dear to our hearts and remember always. We never forget those friends or sometimes strangers that God causes to cross our pathway with just the right word at the right time to guide our hearts to hope.

lwjas0109

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God.3 All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men… 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth… 16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace” (John 1). Jesus came to earth to provide the only means to restore our fellowship with God. He was going to give His life that we might have life. Self-centered stony hearts would be transformed into overflowing rivers of life to reach others in need. Throughout His journey here on earth, He taught us how to live in this broken world. He showed us by example the need to constantly be in prayer and to study God’s words. He taught us by example how to accept rejection by others, how to forgive, and how to love those whom the world had cast aside as unlovely. During His ministry on earth, He taught us how to be beacons of light shining into the darkness. He showed us how to speak to those in need.

Continue reading “Really, What Was So Amazing About How Jesus Spoke?”

Can My Life Really Be A Witness For God?

Can My Life Really Be A Witness For God?

So often, when I look back over my life; I see all the times that I have failed to love God as I should. I see my failures looming like giants and God’s grace as greater still. The other day I heard from someone out of my distant past, who said; “Because of you, I found Christ. You had such a tremendous impact on my life.” Now, what is more amazing, when I remember that time in my life; I realized that it was God’s Grace that allowed them to see Christ through whatever blurred picture I was displaying. Truly, I remember a bumbling, faltering testimony. A candle that barely flickered and a stream that had so little water trickling through it. Through the scars, cracks and crevices of my life the Holy Spirit shone forth and had touched another’s soul. That for me is such a humbling thought; that God would be so gracious as to use someone like me to do His work. So, if you ever thought that you are a poor witness for Christ or ever worried that your testimony would be more of a disgrace than benefit to God? God has promised to be the rivers of life flowing through your heart and mine for others to see His Glory and come to Christ. Why do I say that? rivers of life

 

JESUS PROMISE TO OVERFLOW OUR HEARTS WITH LIVING WATER

Remember that where we left off on Monday, Jesus had quietly gone up to the feast of the tabernacles and had been teaching in the synagogue every day. “37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit” (John 7 NKJV). Up until now in the book of John we have heard that Jesus has said that He is the living water, He is the bread of life and that He brings spiritual birth. He has presented this through His words and through the example of His miracles from changing the purifying water into wine to feeding the crowd. Now He takes this one step further by saying, “Not only will I be life to all who believe in me; but, I will fill them to the overflowing so they can spill over rivers of life to others.”

Continue reading “Can My Life Really Be A Witness For God?”

Is God really in Control of our every circumstance?

The crowd had left Him. The Jewish leaders wanted to kill Him because He proclaimed Himself to be God. And now His own brothers did not believe Him. Jesus had left His throne in heaven to come to earth to suffer and to die; yet, the agony of rejection must have weighed upon his humanity.  As we turn to Chapter 7 of John we are told “After this, Jesus walked [from place to place] in Galilee, for He would not walk in Judea because the Jews were seeking to kill Him”(AMP) Did He stay away from Judea for fear? Was He feeling dejected? No.  He was at peace, knowing that His Father was in control. This is made evident with the opening discourse with His brothers in chapter 7.  In fact, we see His brothers begin to chide Him when the feast of the tabernacles came. “2 Now the Jewish[a]Feast of Tabernacles (Booths) was approaching.3 So His [b]brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go to Judea, so that Your disciples [there] may also see the works that You do.4 No one does anything in secret when he wants to be known publicly. If You [must] do these things, show Yourself openly to the world and make Yourself known!” 5 For not even His brothers believed in Him” (John 7 AMP)

pcmas0039

I have heard many scholars say that Jesus’ brothers wanted Him to go up as a miracle worker so they too could bask in the fame; but, as I read this again I see something quite different. I am reminded of Joseph’s story back in Genesis where he was so hated by his brothers and was sold into slavery. Remember that story? How Joseph saved his family later. How intricately God used every detail of the Old Testament saints lives to point a picture of Christ!! How in control of every detail of their lives and ours God really is. Hold onto that thought!!

Continue reading “Is God really in Control of our every circumstance?”

Would You Feast Upon The Suffering That Was Christ’s?

Would You Feast Upon The Suffering That Was Christ’s?

He had turned the water into wine, healed the lame, and given sight to the blind. For this Jesus had gained many disciples who followed Him. They followed Him into the mountains to see His miracles. With great compassion, He fed the 5000 men plus their families from 5 barley loaves and two small fishes. They desired the miracles. They wanted with great desire that Jesus become King on earth to remove all their oppressions and to supply all their needs. They did not really believe that He was the Son of God; but, a prophet like Moses to lead them. As the crowd pressed more, Jesus slipped away to be alone with the Father. He did that regularly. Did He in His humanity need that time alone sitting in His Father’s presence? Would the crowd pressing to make Him King now be a testing of Satan? Yet, Jesus did not waiver from the Father’s will. Instead, Jesus went on to teach in the Synagogue as the crowd found Him and continued to follow.

used permission: http://www.123rf.com/profile_subbotina

 

      Jesus is the bread of life to fill your spirit and soul.  Come and feast at His table.

 

 



picture used permission 123rf.com/profile_subbotina

 

A TRAGIC FAILURE TO UNDERSTAND

As Jesus spoke, He told them that it had not been Moses who gave them bread, it was His Father who had supplied the bread. The crowd began to murmur again. Jesus told them that He was sent down from heaven and was the bread of life. Yet, more murmuring among the crowds. They did not see and did not understand. Jesus knew their hearts of disbelief. He pressed on to explain that “Verily, verily I say unto you. He that believeth on me, hath everlasting life. 49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world” (John 6). Yet, they still did not understand that He was speaking of spiritual bread because they were so caught on their human desires here and now. They wanted bread to fill their bellies, not bread that fills their soul.

Continue reading “Would You Feast Upon The Suffering That Was Christ’s?”

5 Reasons Why the Pharisees Should Have Recognized Jesus

5 Reasons Why the Pharisees Should Have Recognized Jesus

The Pharisees were angry. How dare this man-Jesus heal people on the Sabbath!! Worse even, he tells the man to carry his bed. In their ritualistic carrying out of the law they had added many “traditions” of their own which included no medical practices on the Sabbath and no burden bearing. No one was to write anything on the Sabbath, carry a needle in their clothing, or put out a lamp. Then to add to this “breaking of their law”—He proclaimed to be the Son of God—equal in essence and nature to God. “How could that be?” they proclaimed. Calmly, confidently Jesus proceeds to tell them 5 reasons why they should have recognized Him as the long awaited Messiah. Why is that important for you and for me? As we look at these 5 reasons, let us remember that John very carefully chose what he was recording so as that we might see just enough of Jesus to desire Him, to know Him and to believe the truth unto life.

aiden,flower,God's glory

In this response of Jesus, we can see the 5 reasons why the Pharisees should have recognized Jesus and also the truths of why they did not. Is there any area of unbelief in your own heart as to who Jesus really is? Is there any area of unbelief in your own heart as to the majesty and power of Jesus? Do you doubt that “all things work together for good” in your life because Jesus, Your Savior came to purchase life eternal for you? Then my prayer is that you see His Glory and realize that in Him, you have all that you need.

Continue reading “5 Reasons Why the Pharisees Should Have Recognized Jesus”