When life gets hard, difficulties arise and
there seems no way out, isn’t it wonderful to know that we can draw close to
God (Ps 91). He protects us under his shadow, his wings and he is our refuge
and fortress (Ps 91).
In
the New Testament Jesus reaffirmed his desire to gather, protect and care for his
people as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings (Luke 13:34). God charges his
angels to watch over us (Ps 91:11). Nothing is too hard for our God (Jer
32:17).
First
Corinthians 10:13 (KJV) is one of my favorite scriptures: “There hath no
temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who
will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the
temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it”. Temptation
can be translated more widely to mean any kind of trial or tribulation. This
verse shows us that we are not unique in the trials we go through; never think
it is only you that has the problem you are facing.
God’s
way out is by faith in his word (Mark 11:22-24). Cast every care on him (1 Peter
5:7) and speak to the mountains (problems) in your life, commanding them to
leave (Mark 11:23). You are victorious and have authority over all the works of
satan in Christ Jesus (Matt 28:18). Greater is he (Jesus) that is in you as a
Christian than he (satan) that is in the world (1 John 4:4). Wow, I get happy
just thinking about that.
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In Psalm 103:2-3, King David the psalmist
talks about God’s benefits and reminds us that he (God) heals all of our
diseases. God had a healing covenant with his people in the old testament as
long as they obeyed the law (Ex 15:26), but praise God, in the new testament,
we are told that we are healed by the stripes of Jesus (1 Peter 2:24). Jesus
body was flogged, broken and striped with wounds so we could be whole. In Acts
10:38 (KJV) Luke talks about Jesus: “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with
the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that
were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him”. He is still our healer
today as we are told in Hebrews that he never changes (Heb 13:8). So, he can heal but will he heal me you may
ask? Well, God is no respecter of person (Mark 12:14). A leper came to Jesus
knowing Jesus could heal but not sure if it was his (Jesus) will to heal him;
Jesus replied: “And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will;
be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed” (Matt 8:3). If you are
concerned with the scope of God’s desire to heal, be concerned no more. The apostle
Matthew tells us that Jesus healed: “every sickness and every disease” (Matt 9:35)
and that: “great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all” (Matt 12:15).
Alleluia. Healing is yours, believe God for it today.
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Check
out our web site ( www.onthewayinlove.com ) for information on our book: “On the Way:
Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and also to see more
encouraging Bible based blogs. Please recommend our book to others.
"......Upholding
all things by the word of his power…..." (Heb 1:3b; KJV). It is God's
powerful word that upholds everything. We are told in John 1:1 and Col 1:16 that
this world was created by his word. God literally spoke the world into being: “And
God said, Let there be light: and there was light” (Gen 1:3). That's how
powerful God's word is.
In Hebrews 4:12 it says that: "the word of God is
quick, and powerful......". The centurion certainly believed that when he
told Jesus to just speak the word trusting that his servant would be healed as
a result (Luke 7:7). This reminds us of Psalm 107:20 that says God sent his word
and healed them. Words in our mouths can be equally powerful if we speak them
in faith because Prov 18:21 tells us that "death and life are in the power
of the tongue."
When faced with negative situations we can speak life into
them by speaking the word and allowing it to energize and effect our
situations; God watches over his word to bring it to pass (Jer 1:12).
Please
pass this on. All rights reserved.
Check out our web site ( www.onthewayinlove.com ) for information on our
book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and
also to see more encouraging Bible based blogs. Please recommend our book to
others.
"A
man's heart deviseth his way; but the Lord directeth his steps " (Prov 16:9;
KJV). We read similar words in Proverbs 20:24 and Psalm 37:23-24, where we are
told that our steps are directed by the Lord.
The
most well-known scripture on guidance is Proverbs 3:5-6, which tells us to
trust in the Lord and not depend on our own ability and to
"acknowledge" him; if we do that, God will direct our way. The
meaning of the word "direct" is to make straight and the meaning of
"acknowledge" is to have close fellowship with God.
So,
according to these verses, we have a part to play. We have to make sure we
trust God and not just depend on ourselves and also have a close relationship
with God. Jesus confirmed this in John 10:27 where he told us that the sheep
(that's you) follow him (Jesus) because they know his voice. We won't be able
to know his voice unless we spend time with him every day. We also understand
that God does not often speak to us in a loud audible voice but in a:
"still small voice" (1 Kings 19:12); a gentle prompting on the inside
of us with a real sense of peace and assurance. If we step out and respond to
those: "promptings", they will become easier to recognize.
Please
pass this on. All rights reserved.
Check out our web site ( www.onthewayinlove.com ) for information on our
book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and
also to see more encouraging Bible based blogs. Please recommend our book to
others.
We
hear much about the importance of the word, faith, prayer, praise, the fear of
God, obedience, humility, repentance and the need for change in our Christian
walk, and so we should. But Gods cardinal commands are to Love him with all our
heart, soul and mind and our neighbor as ourselves (Matt 22:37-39).
Jesus
gave us a new command that we love each other as he loves us, by this he said
the world would know we are Christians (John 13:34). In the great love chapter of the Bible (1 Cor
13:1-13) Paul tells us that without love we are nothing. Of faith hope and love
the greatest is love Paul says (1Cor 13:13).
The
Greek word for love that is used dominantly in the New Testament is agape (noun);
God’s unconditional love and the love that we are called to love with. First
Corinthians chapter 13 defines this love for us, take time to meditate on it.
The
bible says God’s love is in us, poured in by the Holy Spirit (Rom 5:5) God
demonstrated the extent of this love by allowing Christ to die for us (Rom 5:8).
We are called to love with our words (Eph 4:15); words that come from our
hearts and are spoken in love. But love has to go beyond our words to actions,
our deeds (1 John 3:18); love must be demonstrated, just as faith is not faith
without corresponding actions (James 2:17). Think how you can share Gods love
today; a gentle encouraging word, a kind spontaneous action.
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