Monthly Archives: April 2019

Heart Issue

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But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

The nation of Israel cried out for a King! What they didn’t understand was God was their King, but instead they wanted to follow a mortal man, does that sound familiar? So because of Israel’s disobedience he handed them over to a human King, who was Saul

From the outside Saul looked perfect, he was big, strong, and handsome, this was a man everyone wanted to follow. However on the inside Saul was evil and corrupted, he didn’t truly love God, he loved himself more.

Eventually Saul continually disobeyed God and sinned against him, Samuel had continually regretted anointing Saul the King. However God was going to anoint a new King, a King who loved God with all his mind, heart, and soul

Who is this mighty King you may ask? It was a little , young, and lowly shepherd boy named David. This cant be right, how can God pick this little boy to be their King? Because God wasn’t concerned about outward appearances, he was concerned about his heart. And David loved God more than anyone else in Israel. The rest is history as David’s family line included Jesus Christ!

Do you feel like your not “good enough” to serve God? Maybe you have a disability, maybe you have a disorder or medical condition, God is still choosing You! God is examining our hearts and minds, not our physical appearances.

God still has a plan for your life, be faithful to him and he will anoint you in Jesus name! Amen!

First Is Last

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Sitting down, He called the twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” Mark 9:35

What!? The First Should Be Last? The First should be Servant of All? This is not what we are taught in this world, right? The First is always King, right? The First shall be praised, right? No, not in the Kingdom of God. If you truly want to be first you should be willing to become last

Jesus has totally flipped the tables on our understanding of who we are. In the world we grow up trying to become the greatest we can, no matter who we step on! But Jesus wants us to stop focusing on ourselves for once and focus on our neighbors, focus on our family, most importantly focus on God!

Taking a child, He set him before them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them, “Whoever receives one child like this in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me Mark 9:36-37

Jesus then take a little child, sits them on his knee, and tells his disciples, “If you want to be great, be like one of these little children”! What?! The disciple’s egos are immediately broken. But we are in the inner circle of Christ! What qualities can we learn from a child?

Are children afraid to ask questions or say they don’t know? No! Are children born racist or hateful? No! Until we learn to humble ourselves like children, and see the world through the eyes of a child, we can never be first!

Deny yourself, Carry your Cross, and Follow Jesus! Then you will become great in the Kingdom of God!

Faithful Servant

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Then the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.” 1 Samuel 3:10

Samuel was a young prophet, his mother Hannah dedicated him to God at a young age because he was a blessing and miracle from God. This is the first time God has spoken to Samuel and its been a very long time since God has spoken to anyone in Israel

Samuel is so perplexed when God calls him that he thinks Eli (who is a high priest) is calling him. Eventually Eli tells Samuel it must be God calling you. So next time God calls Samuel he responds to God “Your servant is listening”

How would you respond if God called you? Do you even believe God would talk to you? See people often complain God is silent to them, however those same people don’t even believe God would talk to them in the first place. We need pure faith to be with God, we need an attitude of servant hood like Samuel

So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. And he said, “It is the LORD; let Him do what seems good to Him.” 1 Samuel 3:18

Samuel did not have good news for Eli and was afraid to share it with him. Eli just told him “Give it to me straight, tell me what God said” See Eli was a man of God and valued his word, however his sons were blasphemous. They hated God and did a lot of evil at the temple, these sons were supposed to become high priests but God wouldn’t allow it

All Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the LORD. 1 Samuel 3:20

Samuel was obedient to God as a faithful servant, and because of this he was confirmed as a prophet of God. We need to learn to be more like Samuel:

  • ready to serve God
  • willing to listen to God
  • obedient to God

Amen!

All Things Possible

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and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth and stiffens out. I told Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it.” Mark 9:18

When Jesus was approaching his disciples, he noticed there was a great dispute going on. A large crowd has gathered, and the disciples were arguing with the religious leaders. What was going on?

Well apparently, this man brought his son to the disciples to have a demon cast out of him. However the disciples were unable to cast out the demon, this allowed all the skeptics to start harassing the disciples. Have you ever been put into this position? Where someone asked you to pray for someone and your afraid if nothing happens, everyone will doubt your sincerity.

And He answered them and said, “O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him to Me!” Mark 9:19

Jesus has been putting up with the skeptics for awhile. But notice what he says to them “You unbelieving generation” The reason the disciples couldn’t cast out the demon was because nobody there had any genuine faith.  Without faith nothing is possible, but with faith anything is possible!

And Jesus said to him, “‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.” Mark 9:23

This man brings his son to Jesus and says “If you can do anything, have compassion on us” Jesus is like What? “If there is anything I can do”?  Obviously this man really didn’t know or believe who Jesus was. Obviously this man really didn’t have much or any faith.  But Jesus says to those who do believe “All Things Are Possible”!

And He said to them, “This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer.” Mark 9:29

The disciples asked Jesus why they were not able to cast out the demon? Jesus said this demon could only be cast out by prayer. Meaning we personally cant cast out anything only God has the power to cast out demons or heal people. But our true faith activates Gods power and makes all things possible!

Don’t Leave Me

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The road is long and the journey is steep

When I think of your grace all I can do is weep

The valley is low and the mountains are high

All I have is your hope to get me by

 

Don’t leave me here

Don’t let me die

Don’t leave me in this pit where all I can do is cry

Don’t let me burn

Don’t let me drown

I’ll keep crying out to You until I hear a sound

Don’t leave Father, Don’t leave me Son

Don’t leave me Holy Spirit, because we are all One

 

The divisions are strong and the arguments are weak

How can we be unified when you just strike my cheek

The love is gone and it has grown cold

When will our Lord return? Because this struggle is getting old

 

Don’t leave me here

Don’t let me die

Don’t leave me in this pit where all I can do is cry

Don’t let me burn

Don’t let me drown

I’ll keep crying out to You until I hear a sound

Don’t leave Father, Don’t leave me Son

Don’t leave me Holy Spirit, because we are all One

So I pray to the Father for Unity

I pray to the Father for peace and strength

I pray the Holy Spirit fills us up

And we will overcome in Jesus name!

 

Don’t leave me here

Don’t let me die

Don’t leave me in this pit where all I can do is cry

Don’t let me burn

Don’t let me drown

I’ll keep crying out to You until I hear a sound

Don’t leave Father, Don’t leave me Son

Don’t leave me Holy Spirit, because we are all One

Kingdom of God

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And Jesus was saying to them, “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.” Mark 9:1

Its often been debated about what Jesus was talking about here. Many conclude that Jesus was referring to the Transfiguration, because it happens typically right after this event. And I agree the transfiguration was a glimpse into the power and glory of Gods Kingdom to come. As we see Moses representing The Law and Elijah representing the Prophets come together under Jesus to be fulfilled

But when did we see the Kingdom of God come into power? We saw it on the cross, when Jesus defeated sin and death, Jesus fulfilled The Law, Jesus defeated Satan forever. The power of Gods Kingdom was displayed at Calvary.

As they were coming down from the mountain, He gave them orders not to relate to anyone what they had seen, until the Son of Man rose from the dead. Mark 9:9

Notice what Jesus says to Peter, James, and John after the Transfiguration. “Don’t tell anyone until after the Resurrection” Why? Because it was then the Kingdom of God has come into power here on Earth. Sin, Death, and Satan have all been defeated at the cross!

 

Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. John 19:30

When Jesus said “It Is Finished” he fulfilled his mission to save humanity. The Heavens and the Earth shook when the power of Gods Kingdom came to Earth through Jesus Christ Amen!