In Genesis
18:14 (KJV) we read: "Is anything too hard or for the Lord?" This is
what the Lord said to Abraham when he told him that Sarah would have a baby in
her old age. Jeremiah told the Lord: "there is nothing too hard for thee"(Jer
32:17) and in Job 42:2 Job told God: "I know that thou canst do every thing,
and that no thought can be withholden from thee”.
In Matthew
19:26 we read that with God all things are possible. The Greek word used here for
possible is dunatos and it implies that when we try to do things in our own
strength nothing much is accomplished but God can do what for us would seem impossible.
The Angel Gabriel told Mary, the mother of Christ: “For with God nothing shall
be impossible” (Luke 1:37). Finally, Ephesians. 3:20 reads that God can do:
"exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think". Do you get the
picture? Don’t bang your head against the wall, just give your challenges to God.
If you are trusting God for something impossible then allow these verses to
encourage you; stand on them - and keep on standing.
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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.
“That I may know him, and the power of his
resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto
his death” (Phil 3:10). Paul said that his goal in life was to know Christ and
the power of his resurrection. Think what power (the Greek word dunamis) was
needed to raise Jesus from the dead (Eph 1:19-20). We get our English word
dynamite from the Greek word dunamis.
That
same power dwells in us (Rom 8:11), brings life to our mortal bodies, empowers
us to be witnesses for him (Acts 1:8) and in fact, makes us like Jesus (2 Cor
3:17-18). Wow and double Wow.
Eph
1:18 also indicates that God’s power (the Greek word kratos) in us is the power
of dominion or authority. As born-again believers, we walk in the authority of
Jesus over the devil. Jesus took back all power and authority from satan through
his (Jesus) death and resurrection (Eph 1:21-22). What a victory we have in
Jesus. But Paul also went on to say, in Philippians 3:10, that we must also be
willing to fellowship in Christ’s sufferings and death. We have to die to self
and live for Christ, no matter how much persecution or difficulty this may
bring; are we willing? The benefits are truly amazing.
Please
pass this on. All right 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.
“Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an
alarm in my holy mountain” (Joel 2:1; KJV). The prophet Joel lamented the
destruction of Israel’s crops by locusts as a result of God’s judgement for
disobedience. Later in His prophesy to Israel Joel brought God’s call for
repentance; a call for the people of Israel to turn back to God with all their
heart. (Joel 2:12).
I often
look sadly at the modern church and think how we need prophets like Joel to sound
the alarm. We need to ask ourselves if our churches are salt and light (Matt
5:13-14). Are we impacting our world and turning it right side up? Do we praise
and worship our God: “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23)? Do we put God first
in our lives (Matt 6:33)? Are signs wonders and miracles part of our regular
church experience (Heb 2:4)? Are our churches growing as they did in the early
days of the age of grace in which we live (Acts 2:41)? This early experience of
the church is described in the book of the Acts of the Apostles; you should
read it. Do we have the same zeal for God, his word and his body the church?
How
do we get back to the vibrancy and power God desires in his church? Well, maybe
as a start, we need to consider God’s admonition given to Israel by Joel (Joel
2:12-13). “Turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping,
and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto
the Lord your God.” To rend your heart is to humble yourself and repent of sin.
What impact we would see if whole churches got on their knees and sincerely
sought God; think about it. Put your programs and man-made approaches aside and
humbly seek God. God is waiting.
Sow
this into the life of another. 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.
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his
righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matt 6:33-34; KJV).
This verse in Matthews gospel is part of an exhortation that we should not
worry about the things we need, as God will supply. God answers all of our
prayers as long as we ask according to his word (1 John 5:14-15) and in faith
(Mark 11:24). In fact, Jesus said to Martha before he raised Lazarus from the
dead: “Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see
the glory of God" (John 11:40)?
As
Christians we sometimes need to learn to take the limits off of God, to let him
out of the tiny box of expectations that we keep him in. We serve a mighty God,
one who created the universe and each of us (Gen 1). James tells us that: “every
good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father
of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James
1:17). That’s every good and perfect gift, and notice it says that God does not
change.
The
Bible tells us that God wants to open the floodgates of heaven on our lives and
pour out so great a blessing that we cannot contain it (Mal 3:10). In Ephesians
it is written that our God can: “do exceedingly abundantly above all that we
ask or think” (Eph 3:20) and in First Corinthians (2:9) Paul tells us that man
cannot fathom, grasp or appreciate with his senses all that God has for those
who love him.
If
we genuinely love and seek after God it is his heart to bless us in every way
possible!
Please
pass this along. 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.
It
is good for us to spend time in the Old testament of the bible and be reminded
that God has zero tolerance for sin. This is portrayed graphically in his
dealings with Israel and Judah as he allowed them to be taken into exile
because of their rebellion and sin (2 Kings). We are exhorted also to hate evil
(Ps 97:10).
In
the New Testament we are told that sin causes spiritual death (Rom 6:23) and
separation from God; all people sin (Rom 3:23). Jesus paid the price for our
sins by his sacrificial death (1 Peter 3:18) and won justification for us (Rom
3:24). Justification simply mean that if we repent, ask his forgiveness and ask
him into our life as Lord and Savior we are made, just as if we had never
sinned. Our sins were washed away by his blood (Rev 1:5), the price was paid
and God sees us as righteous in Christ Jesus (2 Cor 5:21).
Does
this mean God has gone soft on sin? Absolutely not (1 John 1:5). We are told as
Christians that we should not go on willfully sinning (1 John 3:6-9). But we
are still flesh and blood and we will sin (1 John 1:8), but if we repent and
ask God’s forgiveness, he is quick to forgive (1 John 1:9).
The
next question is, as Christians, are we soft on Sin? Do we have things in our
lives that we wink at or ignore? You might say: well, you know, God knows I get
it mostly right but I am sure he can tolerate a few minor issues? But God is
still black and white on sin and he tells us to take of the old man and put on
the new (Eph 4:22-24). That’s all of the old man and all of the new. Let’s not
limit God in our lives by ignoring sin.
Now
don’t get condemned, God knows our hearts (Ps 44:21) and as we desire to be
everything he wants us to be, he will provide grace to help us to change (Eph
1:7-9). Paul never claimed to be perfect (Phil 3:12) and God does not expect us
to change overnight. Keep on keeping on, the blessings are amazing.