Tag Archives: #Jesus

Your Deliverer

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Go and cry out to the gods which you have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your distress.” Judges 10:14

Time and time again, God delivered the Israelites from slavery, from starvation, from plagues, he delivered them from everything. However time and time again the Israelites kept going back to their pagan gods and false idols. So God had enough and told them, let your fake gods and idols deliver you in your times of trouble!

We still do this today, we make money our god, we make our vehicle our idol, however when times go bad, when your health is failing, or your feeling hopeless, who are you going to turn to? Money isn’t going to save your soul, you cant drive your new car into Heaven. Your video game system doesn’t care how your feeling, God does care and he will deliver you!

‘AND IT SHALL BE THAT EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.’ Acts 2:21

Israel realized their sins, repented, and returned to God. Put away your false idols and gods, repent, and call upon the name of Jesus! There is no one else who can save you but Jesus Christ! Don’t rely on objects or things that are temporary and will fade away!

Jesus Christ is the same today, yesterday, and forever! Choose Christ and he will deliver You! Amen!

Carry Your Cross

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And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. Mark 8:34

What does it take to be a Christian? A lot of people would say, well you repeat a few words, maybe get dunked into water, and then your good! Accepting Christ is not just a one-time event, it’s a daily walk. Of course you should come to Christ, repent of your sins, and get baptized. However what is after that?

Jesus said “If anyone wishes to come after Me” meaning If anyone wants to follow me (hence be a Christian) They must deny themselves, carry your cross, and follow Christ.

I think John the Baptist said it best “He (Jesus) must Increase, I must decrease” (John 3:30) How many churches or ministries seem to be self centered rather than Christ centered? A lot of these “Christian”books and sermons, its hard to even tell if they are Christian

For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. Mark 8:35

 If you truly want to be saved, your old self must die first. Your life no longer belongs to you, you were bought by the blood of Christ (1 Corinthians 6:20) So why do you keep acting like you own yourself? Why do we continue to try and puff ourselves up and feed our egos? Why do we continue to live like the world?

For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? Mark 8:36

The world will profit you nothing! However you will lose everything, including your soul! Whatever your doing for Christ, remember who your master is, Jesus! Nobody receives pride from carry a cross, carry it daily! Humble yourself before The Lord Amen!

No Bread

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They began to discuss with one another the fact that they had no bread. Mark 8:16

The disciples have just witnessed Jesus feed 4,000 people with 7 loaves of bread, however when they were leaving they forgot to bring the leftover bread (7 baskets) with them on their next journey.

Instead of marveling over the miracle they just witnessed, they continued to focus on the fact they only had 1 loaf of bread for all of them to share.

And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you discuss the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet see or understand? Do you have a hardened heart? Mark 8:17

Jesus is perplexed how these men could witness all of these miracles and listen to tall his teachings, yet no apply it to their lives. God just demonstrated that he would provide by feeding 4,000 people with 7 loaves, however the disciples are worrying about their lack of food

We are like the disciples also, we know all the stories about the miracles of Jesus. We know all the promises from God throughout the Bible, yet we worry about our basic needs, our hearts have been hardened

when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces you picked up?” They said to Him, “Twelve.” “When I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of broken pieces did you pick up?” And they said to Him, “Seven.” And He was saying to them, “Do you not yet understand?” Mark 8:19-21

Jesus is reminding them of the miracles that they have witnessed, the feeding of the 5,000 and the 4,000. Jesus asks them “Do you not yet understand”? Do we still not understand that nothing is impossible for God? Do we still not understand God will provide for all our needs? Don’t allow your heart to be hardened to Jesus Amen!

Crumbs of Christ

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And He was saying to her, “Let the children be satisfied first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” Mark 7:27

The story of a Gentile woman begging Jesus to save the life of her daughter. How can this Gentile woman even know Jesus is the Messiah (Christ) without growing up with the scriptures? The Holy Spirit led her and she believed with faith and knew Jesus is Lord

But Jesus response is interesting, somewhat harsh. He refers to Israel as the children and the Gentiles as dogs. Why? Because this is how Gentiles were viewed before Christ, we as Gentiles could not be Children of God without the blood of Christ

But she answered and said to Him, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs under the table feed on the children’s crumbs.” Mark 7:28

Instead of this woman being offended and walking away, she agreed with Jesus. And she said she was willing to just eat the crumbs under the Lords Table. This showed the womans humility and reverence for Jesus

How many of us would be willing to eat the crumbs just to get near Christ? Most of us use Christ to build ourselves up, instead of letting Christ break us down. Jesus must increase and we must decrease!

And He said to her, “Because of this answer go; the demon has gone out of your daughter.” Mark 7:29

Because of her true faith, Jesus cast out the demon from her daughter. Jesus was testing her to see how she would respond. How would we respond if Jesus said that to us? We would be offended? Or would we humble ourselves to the King of Kings?

This was a foreshadow of the Gentiles coming into the Covenant with God through the blood of Jesus Christ Amen!

Sun Stood Still

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So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, Until the nation avenged themselves of their enemies. Is it not written in the book of Jashar? And the sun stopped in the middle of the sky and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day. Joshua 10:13

The day the Earth stood still! One of the most amazing and controversial events in the Bible is when Joshua declares God stopped the Sun from setting so he could finish off his enemies. Skeptics will often attack this text, as saying “The Sun doesn’t move”. First off we need to understand that the Bible is not a science book, the Bible is the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Many things in the Bible are poetic or idioms not always literal.

Why is this story so hard to believe? If we believe the first scripture in the Bible In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1) then all things are possible. If God can create the universe from nothing, he can easily stop the Earth from spinning for a day! God can also easily raise Jesus from the dead and defeat Sin and Death!

There was no day like that before it or after it, when the LORD listened to the voice of a man; for the LORD fought for Israel. Joshua 10:14

The Bible tells us there was never a day like this before and never will be! God loved Joshua and the Israelites enough to stop the Sun! God loves you enough to send Jesus Christ to the cross to die for your Sins! What is impossible for God?

Don’t limit God, don’t put God in a box! Be in awe and wonder for your Heavenly Father Amen!

Defiled

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there is nothing outside the man which can defile him if it goes into him; but the things which proceed out of the man are what defile the man. Mark 7:15

I heard some “Christians” today say we must follow a Kosher diet otherwise we are “sinning against God” Jesus himself said “Its what comes from within us that defiles us, not what comes from the outside” What is Jesus talking about?

Sin is a heart issue and not a legal issue. Before you sin, your intentions come from your heart, this is what defiles you, YOURSELF! As Jesus taught anyone who lusts after a women in his heart has already committed adultery (Matthew 5:28), why? Because Sin is a heart issue. Anyone who hates his brother has already committed murder, (Matthew 5:21) why? Because Sin is a heart issue!

And He said to them, “Are you so lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated?” (Thus He declared all foods clean.) Mark 7:18-19

Yet people still today want to argue that eating pork has defiled us, as Jesus said “Are you so dull or lack understanding to believe this?” The New Covenant is about circumcision of the heart (Jeremiah 4:4, Ezekiel 36:26) we are not under the Law but under Grace

And He was saying, “That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. Mark 7:20-22

The legalist will say “ How can I live under Grace without the Law?” Because if you a truly Born Again (John 3) then you have been baptized by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit lives inside you and has written the Law on your heart (Jeremiah 31:33, Romans 2:15)

The Holy Spirit cant live in you if you continue to defile yourself with Sin, these are not the Fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5) Your evil heart is what defiles you, not what you eat! Amen!

Rise Up!

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So the LORD said to Joshua, “Rise up! Why is it that you have fallen on your face? Joshua 7:10

When the Israelites went into the city of Ai , it should have been an easy battle. So the Israelites only sent a couple thousands troops and they were utterly destroyed. This defeat had Joshua perplexed, why wasn’t God with the Israelites?

So Joshua wept and mourned to God and questioned why God even sent them this far in the wilderness. But notice Gods response, he told Joshua “Rise Up”!

“Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. And they have even taken some of the things under the ban and have both stolen and deceived. Moreover, they have also put them among their own things. Joshua 7:11

God told Joshua exactly what Israel’s problem is, they have a sin problem! Israel expected to live in sin and also receive Gods blessings, this cant happen! God will not be mocked! You cant walk with God and hold hands with Satan!

Once Israel repented and removed their sin problems, God was with them and allowed them to move into their Promised Land (Israel)

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

Today we are still like the Israelites, we have a sin problem! God has sent our Lord Jesus to lead us into the Promise Land (Heaven) however many have ruined their blessing because of sin

Repent of your Sins, and Trust in the Lord Jesus Christ! Rise Up! Jesus has already defeated Sin and Death at the Cross! Amen!

5 Loaves + 2 Fish

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But He answered them, “You give them something to eat!” And they said to Him, “Shall we go and spend two hundred denarii on bread and give them something to eat?” Mark 6:37

The disciples had a dilemma, send all the people home or spend a years salary to feed them. The answer was pretty simple for the disciples, especially since none of them had any money! So they started telling the people to all go home, but Jesus said “You give them something to eat!”

The disciples were probably thinking , how are they going to give 5,000 people something to eat! They had very little food for themselves, very little money, it was getting dark in a remote location. By our practical standards this was turning into a bad situation.

And He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go look!” And when they found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” Mark 6:38

Jesus asked them “What do you have?” Meaning instead of complaining about what they didn’t have, use what they did have and allow God to bless it. We can relate to this as Christians, we focus on what we don’t have and not on what we have already to offer God

And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food and broke the loaves and He kept giving them to the disciples to set before them; and He divided up the two fish among them all. Mark 6:41

Jesus took what they did have, which was 5 loaves and 2 fish , and blessed it. God then multiplied what they had and used it to bless all the people. Whatever we have , we should give thanks to God and allow him to bless it and use it for his glory!

Don’t allow your circumstances or lack of resources prohibit you from serving God Amen!

Shake The Dust

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“Any place that does not receive you or listen to you, as you go out from there, shake the dust off the soles of your feet for a testimony against them.” Mark 6:11

People like to make other people believe their worldview. This is human nature, we believe and are passionate about something, so we think everyone should believe this. If you don’t believe me, go on Facebook and read the never ending debates between people about anything you can think of.

As Christians we often fall into this trap also, we obviously want everyone to get saved and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior, but sometimes its not going to happen. There were people who actually witnessed miracles performed by Jesus and still rejected him. Some people are never going to accept Christ

So what do we do about this? Jesus instructed his disciples when the gospel is rejected to “Shake the Dust Off Their Feet” meaning Move On. You cant force anyone to be a Christian. Accepting Jesus as your personal Lord is a personal decision.

They went out and preached that men should repent. Mark 6:12

Keep it simple, Preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ! If they reject it move on, simple as that. We personally don’t save anyone, only God can save people. Its our job to preach his message and be his hands and feet.

And they were casting out many demons and were anointing with oil many sick people and healing them. Mark 6:13

 The first century Church was powered by the Holy Spirit, not Facebook. They were doing the works of God not worrying about social activities and budgets. If people are serious about their salvation they will take you serious.

Hometown Hero?

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“Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?” And they took offense at Him. Mark 6:3

Typically when places give birth to a  famous celebrity , athlete, or politician, towns embrace them as their own. A lot of times they will have parades in their honor and some even declare a day to remember them, but this was not the case for Jesus

Even though Jesus performed many miracles and revealed many prophecies, his hometown would not believe in him. Instead of looking at his divinity, they kept pointing back to his humanity. Even his own family didn’t believe in him until his resurrection.

Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and among his own relatives and in his own household.” And He could do no miracle there except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. Mark 6:4-5

Notice because of the peoples continual lack of belief, miracles could not be performed. We see this over and over again throughout his ministry. When people have true and complete faith in Christ they were healed. Nothing can be accomplished without faith, but with faith nothing is impossible with God

And He wondered at their unbelief. And He was going around the villages teaching. Mark 6:6

Jesus wondered or was amazed at their lack of belief. His mother Mary had a direct revelation from God that Jesus would be the Christ, but they didn’t believe. Jesus performed many miracles including raising the dead and walking on water, but they didn’t believe.

Jesus wonder is probably why there is so much disbelief when there is so much evidence, its clear that peoples disbelief in Christ is a moral issue and not an evidential issue. Seek him and you will find Amen!