GOD STILL PERFORMS MIRACLES
John 11:40 - Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?”
God, who parted the Red Sea, rained manna from heaven, caused the walls of Jericho to fall, shut the lions’ mouths, healed the sick, raised the dead and calmed the sea, still performs miracles today.
However, some Christians doubt that God wants to work a miracle for them today. They believe that there were miracles when Jesus walked the earth, but they think that the day of miracles is over. And they talk about how everything will be perfect one day in the sweet by and by. But God wants us to know that He is still the God of miracles today.
Martha was like one of those Christians. She wondered if Jesus could perform a miracle when her brother Lazarus died. By the time Jesus arrived on the scene, Lazarus had already been dead for four days. So she thought that Jesus was four days too late. That is why she said, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” (John11:21) And even when Jesus said that Lazarus would rise again, she said, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” (John 11:24)
Martha believed that Jesus could perform miracles in the past and would do the same in the future, but she did not believe that He could give her a miracle when she needed it right then. You see, Martha was someone who lived wishing that the past could be changed and believing that the future would be better. But she did not believe that the “I Am” was there to meet her present need.
Today, God stands at the point of your need. What miracle do you need from Him? Believe that He is still the same miracle-working God today. Believe that you will see the glory of God. Believe and you will see your miracle!
BLESSED WITH GOOD SUCCESS TO BE A BLESSING
I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing.GENESIS 12:2
When God called Abraham, He said to him, “…I will bless you… and you shall be a blessing.” We who are new covenant believers in Christ are called the seed of Abraham (Galatians 3:29), and like Abraham, we are called to be a blessing.
Now, how can we be a blessing if we are not blessed in the first place? How can we be a blessing to others when we are always flat on our backs with sickness, living from hand to mouth, never having enough for our own family and always having to borrow from others?
No way, my friend. God wants you healthy and strong, and He wants you to have more than enough financially so that you can be generous with your relatives, friends, community or anyone who needs help. He wants to bless you so that you can, like Abraham, be a blessing to many!
“Roll your works upon the Lord—commit and trust them wholly to Him; [He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed” (Proverbs 16:3, The Amplified Bible).
Do not panic when things look impossible. Allow God to lead you and trust Him with your needs and concerns.
YOUR ANSWER IS IN THE BIBLE
The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul...' Psalm 19:7 NLT
Worldly success can leave you empty, but here’s something that won’t: ‘The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul...’ Have your plans fallen apart? Have you made a mess of your life? Do you need direction? Read this: ‘The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.’ (Psalm 19:7 NLT) Have the things you thought would bring you happiness, ended up bringing you misery? Read this: ‘The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart…’ (Psalm 19:8 NLT) Are you directionless, wondering where to go and what to do with your life? Read this: ‘The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living.’ (Psalm 19:8 NLT) The answers you’re seeking are in your Bible. David was a brilliant soldier, a popular king, and a man with access to all the riches anyone could desire. But he discovered these things don’t bring lasting joy. What he found instead is that: ‘…The laws of the Lord are true…They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb. They are a warning to your servant, a great reward to those who obey them.’ (Psalm 19:9–11 NLT) What was David’s problem? ‘How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt…’ (Psalm 19:12–13 NLT) What was David’s solution? Reading God’s Word daily, feeding his soul on it, and walking according to its precepts.
HIS CHOSEN TREASURES ...
Matthew 13:44, "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field."
The interpretation of this parable is this: the field is the world, the man buying the treasure is God, the treasure is the true believers in Christ. The price that was paid was the very life of Jesus on the cross. Jesus saw, through His foreknowledge, a remnant of people who would receive Him as Lord, and "for the joy that was set before him," He endured the cross (Heb. 12:2) and purchased us unto Himself with His own blood (Acts 20:28). He purchased the whole world, but not everyone will receive what He did. Therefore, the Church is hidden (scattered among the world) today.
Father God had the plan of salvation worked out before He even created the world. Most of us would not have created the world and mankind if we had known the heartache and terrible sacrifice this act would cost. But God is not man. In His judgment (which is the correct judgment) the prize was worth the cost.
God knows in advance those who will accept His offer of salvation. The Scriptures teach that we (believers) were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4). That's how infinite God's ability is. We were chosen in Christ before the world began. We are holy and without blame because God sees us through Christ. It was predetermined that we would be God's children. We have been accepted by God. The Father would no more reject us than He would reject Jesus, because we are accepted by the Father through Christ. We are redeemed and forgiven. We are truly blessed!
TODAY'S JOURNEY
Ephesians 3:19-20 (KJV) Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
This day, like every other, is full of opportunities, challenges, and choices. But no choice you make is more important than the choice you make concerning God. Today, you will either place Him at the center of your live, or not. And the consequences of that choice are both temporal and eternal.
Sometimes, without our even realizing, we gradually drift from the One we need most. Thankfully, God never drifts away from us. He remains always present, always steadfast, always loving.
As you begin this day, place God first in your thoughts, on your lips, and in your heart. And then, with the Creator of the universe as your guide and companion, you can face today's journey with courage.
THAT IS MINE!
I am the Lord; that is My name. —Isaiah 42:8
The Nile of Africa, which spans 6,650 kilometers (more than 4,100 miles) and flows northward across several northeastern African countries, is the world’s longest river. Over the centuries, the Nile has provided sustenance and livelihood for millions of citizens in the countries it passes through. Currently, Ethiopia is building what will become Africa’s largest hydro-power dam on the Nile. It will be a great resource for the area.
Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, claimed to be the Nile’s owner and originator. He and all Egypt boasted, “My River is my own; I have made it for myself” (Ezek. 29:3,9). They failed to acknowledge that God alone provides natural resources. As a result, God promised to punish the nation (vv.8-9).
We are to care for God’s creation, and not forget that everything we have comes from the Lord. Romans 11:36says, “For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever.” He is the One who also endows humanity with the ability to manufacture and invent man-made resources. Whenever we talk about a good thing that has come to us or that we have accomplished, we need to remember what God says in Isaiah 42:8, “I am the Lord; that is My name; and My glory I will not give to another.”
Praise the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does such wonderful things. Praise Your glorious name forever! Let the whole earth be filled with Your glory.
To God be the glory—great things He has done!
Faith is what brings the things God has provided for us from the spiritual realm into the physical realm (Heb. 11:1)
YOUR SECRET PETITIONS ...
Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart. - Psalm 37:4, AMP
God knows the secret petitions of your heart. He knows every hidden dream He’s placed within you. He knows those things that you haven’t told anybody about. Maybe you thought they would never come to pass, or maybe you buried them because they didn’t happen on your timetable. Maybe, in the natural, you have every reason to give up on those dreams. Be encouraged today — God is still working behind the scenes! He still has a plan to bring those dreams to pass. Do what the verse says and delight yourself in Him today. That word delight actually means to make yourself soft and pliable. It paints the picture of God as the Potter and you as the clay. Allow God to mold and shape your character today. Allow Him to direct your plans and ideas. Keep an attitude of faith and expectancy today, and as you submit your ways to the Lord and open your heart to His leading, He will fulfill those secret petitions of your heart!
GOD’S GRACE IS ALWAYS SUPPLYING
And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.PHILIPPIANS 4:19
When Jesus cried out, “It is finished!” the wall of sin that separated us from God crumbled, and God unleashed a flood tide of His grace upon us. That grace is still flowing toward us today, supplying whatever we need in this life, daily loading us with benefits!
My friend, the essence of God’s grace is SUPPLY. When you are conscious of His supply, instead of the demands of the world, you are under His grace. That’s when you will see His abundant provision for every need and situation.
So if you’re having trouble finding a job, beyond trusting God for employment, see the Lord stirring up the dormant giftings and abilities that He has already placed in you. As you hone these gifts, the Word of God declares that your gifts will unlock doors of opportunities in due season and cause you to stand before great men.
Don’t just believe you’ll be employed, believe God to also prepare, grow and develop you for a position of influence in your industry!
KING OF HEARTS
Mark 4:30, "And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?"
The word "kingdom" means "the realm over which a king rules." When applied to God, it could refer to all creation, since "his kingdom ruleth over all" (Ps. 103:19), but the kingdom more often applies to His rule in and through those who are submitted to Him. "The Kingdom of God" more specifically refers to Christ living and ruling in our hearts. So praying "thy kingdom come" is praying for the expansion and influence of God's rule in the hearts of men everywhere and, ultimately, the establishment of His physical Kingdom here on earth at His second coming (Rev. 11:15; 20:4).
Throughout Jesus' earthly ministry, the Jews kept looking for Jesus to establish a physical kingdom here on the earth and deliver them from the oppression of the Romans. Although, during the Millenium, the Kingdom of God will physically rule over the nations of the earth, Jesus' Kingdom is spiritually established by His Word and not by carnal weapons (2 Cor. 10:3-5). Jesus said, "The Kingdom of God cometh not with observation . . .behold, the kingdom of God is within you." (Lk. 17:20-21) Paul says we are already in the Kingdom of God (Col. 1:13). The Kingdom of God is therefore Christ's "invisible Church," His body. The Kingdom began during His earthly ministry and is still ruling the hearts of men today.
The new birth ushers us into the Kingdom of God which is infinitely greater in wonder and benefits than our finite minds can comprehend. To the degree that we do begin to understand how God's Kingdom works and apply our lives to it, we can experience heaven here on earth. Pray for a release into the physical of what is already present in your spiritual being.
ARE YOU FLOURISHING? (3)
...a grain of wheat remains no more than a single grain unless it... dies...then it produces many grains.' John 12:24 GNT
Here are two more areas in which God created you to flourish:
(1) Your relationships. Relationally, your languishing self is often troubled. You’re undisciplined in what you say, sometimes reverting to sarcasm, gossip and flattery. You isolate. You dominate. You attack. You withdraw. Whereas your flourishing self seeks to bless others. They energise you. You’re able to disclose your thoughts and feelings in a way that invites openness in them. You’re quick to admit your own mistakes and to freely forgive others.
(2) Your experiences. God grows you because He wants to use you in His plans to redeem His world: that’s why you find Him changing your experiences. Your flourishing self has a desire to contribute. You live with a sense of calling. Indeed, your inner longing to become all you were meant to be is a tiny echo of God’s longing to begin the new creation. The rabbis spoke of this as tikkun olam—‘to repair the world’. Focused on yourself, your life is as small as a grain of wheat. Given to God, however, it’s as if that grain is planted in rich soil, growing into part of a much bigger project. Jesus said: ‘…unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.’ (John 12:24–25 NIV)
Free Christian Ebooks http://walthope.tripod.com
http://walthope.wordpress.com
https://plus.google.com/u/0/100302133262254344211/posts
John 11:40 - Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?”
God, who parted the Red Sea, rained manna from heaven, caused the walls of Jericho to fall, shut the lions’ mouths, healed the sick, raised the dead and calmed the sea, still performs miracles today.
However, some Christians doubt that God wants to work a miracle for them today. They believe that there were miracles when Jesus walked the earth, but they think that the day of miracles is over. And they talk about how everything will be perfect one day in the sweet by and by. But God wants us to know that He is still the God of miracles today.
Martha was like one of those Christians. She wondered if Jesus could perform a miracle when her brother Lazarus died. By the time Jesus arrived on the scene, Lazarus had already been dead for four days. So she thought that Jesus was four days too late. That is why she said, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” (John11:21) And even when Jesus said that Lazarus would rise again, she said, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” (John 11:24)
Martha believed that Jesus could perform miracles in the past and would do the same in the future, but she did not believe that He could give her a miracle when she needed it right then. You see, Martha was someone who lived wishing that the past could be changed and believing that the future would be better. But she did not believe that the “I Am” was there to meet her present need.
Today, God stands at the point of your need. What miracle do you need from Him? Believe that He is still the same miracle-working God today. Believe that you will see the glory of God. Believe and you will see your miracle!
BLESSED WITH GOOD SUCCESS TO BE A BLESSING
I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing.GENESIS 12:2
When God called Abraham, He said to him, “…I will bless you… and you shall be a blessing.” We who are new covenant believers in Christ are called the seed of Abraham (Galatians 3:29), and like Abraham, we are called to be a blessing.
Now, how can we be a blessing if we are not blessed in the first place? How can we be a blessing to others when we are always flat on our backs with sickness, living from hand to mouth, never having enough for our own family and always having to borrow from others?
No way, my friend. God wants you healthy and strong, and He wants you to have more than enough financially so that you can be generous with your relatives, friends, community or anyone who needs help. He wants to bless you so that you can, like Abraham, be a blessing to many!
“Roll your works upon the Lord—commit and trust them wholly to Him; [He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed” (Proverbs 16:3, The Amplified Bible).
Do not panic when things look impossible. Allow God to lead you and trust Him with your needs and concerns.
YOUR ANSWER IS IN THE BIBLE
The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul...' Psalm 19:7 NLT
Worldly success can leave you empty, but here’s something that won’t: ‘The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul...’ Have your plans fallen apart? Have you made a mess of your life? Do you need direction? Read this: ‘The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.’ (Psalm 19:7 NLT) Have the things you thought would bring you happiness, ended up bringing you misery? Read this: ‘The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart…’ (Psalm 19:8 NLT) Are you directionless, wondering where to go and what to do with your life? Read this: ‘The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living.’ (Psalm 19:8 NLT) The answers you’re seeking are in your Bible. David was a brilliant soldier, a popular king, and a man with access to all the riches anyone could desire. But he discovered these things don’t bring lasting joy. What he found instead is that: ‘…The laws of the Lord are true…They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb. They are a warning to your servant, a great reward to those who obey them.’ (Psalm 19:9–11 NLT) What was David’s problem? ‘How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt…’ (Psalm 19:12–13 NLT) What was David’s solution? Reading God’s Word daily, feeding his soul on it, and walking according to its precepts.
HIS CHOSEN TREASURES ...
Matthew 13:44, "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field."
The interpretation of this parable is this: the field is the world, the man buying the treasure is God, the treasure is the true believers in Christ. The price that was paid was the very life of Jesus on the cross. Jesus saw, through His foreknowledge, a remnant of people who would receive Him as Lord, and "for the joy that was set before him," He endured the cross (Heb. 12:2) and purchased us unto Himself with His own blood (Acts 20:28). He purchased the whole world, but not everyone will receive what He did. Therefore, the Church is hidden (scattered among the world) today.
Father God had the plan of salvation worked out before He even created the world. Most of us would not have created the world and mankind if we had known the heartache and terrible sacrifice this act would cost. But God is not man. In His judgment (which is the correct judgment) the prize was worth the cost.
God knows in advance those who will accept His offer of salvation. The Scriptures teach that we (believers) were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4). That's how infinite God's ability is. We were chosen in Christ before the world began. We are holy and without blame because God sees us through Christ. It was predetermined that we would be God's children. We have been accepted by God. The Father would no more reject us than He would reject Jesus, because we are accepted by the Father through Christ. We are redeemed and forgiven. We are truly blessed!
TODAY'S JOURNEY
Ephesians 3:19-20 (KJV) Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
This day, like every other, is full of opportunities, challenges, and choices. But no choice you make is more important than the choice you make concerning God. Today, you will either place Him at the center of your live, or not. And the consequences of that choice are both temporal and eternal.
Sometimes, without our even realizing, we gradually drift from the One we need most. Thankfully, God never drifts away from us. He remains always present, always steadfast, always loving.
As you begin this day, place God first in your thoughts, on your lips, and in your heart. And then, with the Creator of the universe as your guide and companion, you can face today's journey with courage.
THAT IS MINE!
I am the Lord; that is My name. —Isaiah 42:8
The Nile of Africa, which spans 6,650 kilometers (more than 4,100 miles) and flows northward across several northeastern African countries, is the world’s longest river. Over the centuries, the Nile has provided sustenance and livelihood for millions of citizens in the countries it passes through. Currently, Ethiopia is building what will become Africa’s largest hydro-power dam on the Nile. It will be a great resource for the area.
Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, claimed to be the Nile’s owner and originator. He and all Egypt boasted, “My River is my own; I have made it for myself” (Ezek. 29:3,9). They failed to acknowledge that God alone provides natural resources. As a result, God promised to punish the nation (vv.8-9).
We are to care for God’s creation, and not forget that everything we have comes from the Lord. Romans 11:36says, “For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever.” He is the One who also endows humanity with the ability to manufacture and invent man-made resources. Whenever we talk about a good thing that has come to us or that we have accomplished, we need to remember what God says in Isaiah 42:8, “I am the Lord; that is My name; and My glory I will not give to another.”
Praise the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does such wonderful things. Praise Your glorious name forever! Let the whole earth be filled with Your glory.
To God be the glory—great things He has done!
Faith is what brings the things God has provided for us from the spiritual realm into the physical realm (Heb. 11:1)
YOUR SECRET PETITIONS ...
Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart. - Psalm 37:4, AMP
God knows the secret petitions of your heart. He knows every hidden dream He’s placed within you. He knows those things that you haven’t told anybody about. Maybe you thought they would never come to pass, or maybe you buried them because they didn’t happen on your timetable. Maybe, in the natural, you have every reason to give up on those dreams. Be encouraged today — God is still working behind the scenes! He still has a plan to bring those dreams to pass. Do what the verse says and delight yourself in Him today. That word delight actually means to make yourself soft and pliable. It paints the picture of God as the Potter and you as the clay. Allow God to mold and shape your character today. Allow Him to direct your plans and ideas. Keep an attitude of faith and expectancy today, and as you submit your ways to the Lord and open your heart to His leading, He will fulfill those secret petitions of your heart!
GOD’S GRACE IS ALWAYS SUPPLYING
And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.PHILIPPIANS 4:19
When Jesus cried out, “It is finished!” the wall of sin that separated us from God crumbled, and God unleashed a flood tide of His grace upon us. That grace is still flowing toward us today, supplying whatever we need in this life, daily loading us with benefits!
My friend, the essence of God’s grace is SUPPLY. When you are conscious of His supply, instead of the demands of the world, you are under His grace. That’s when you will see His abundant provision for every need and situation.
So if you’re having trouble finding a job, beyond trusting God for employment, see the Lord stirring up the dormant giftings and abilities that He has already placed in you. As you hone these gifts, the Word of God declares that your gifts will unlock doors of opportunities in due season and cause you to stand before great men.
Don’t just believe you’ll be employed, believe God to also prepare, grow and develop you for a position of influence in your industry!
KING OF HEARTS
Mark 4:30, "And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?"
The word "kingdom" means "the realm over which a king rules." When applied to God, it could refer to all creation, since "his kingdom ruleth over all" (Ps. 103:19), but the kingdom more often applies to His rule in and through those who are submitted to Him. "The Kingdom of God" more specifically refers to Christ living and ruling in our hearts. So praying "thy kingdom come" is praying for the expansion and influence of God's rule in the hearts of men everywhere and, ultimately, the establishment of His physical Kingdom here on earth at His second coming (Rev. 11:15; 20:4).
Throughout Jesus' earthly ministry, the Jews kept looking for Jesus to establish a physical kingdom here on the earth and deliver them from the oppression of the Romans. Although, during the Millenium, the Kingdom of God will physically rule over the nations of the earth, Jesus' Kingdom is spiritually established by His Word and not by carnal weapons (2 Cor. 10:3-5). Jesus said, "The Kingdom of God cometh not with observation . . .behold, the kingdom of God is within you." (Lk. 17:20-21) Paul says we are already in the Kingdom of God (Col. 1:13). The Kingdom of God is therefore Christ's "invisible Church," His body. The Kingdom began during His earthly ministry and is still ruling the hearts of men today.
The new birth ushers us into the Kingdom of God which is infinitely greater in wonder and benefits than our finite minds can comprehend. To the degree that we do begin to understand how God's Kingdom works and apply our lives to it, we can experience heaven here on earth. Pray for a release into the physical of what is already present in your spiritual being.
ARE YOU FLOURISHING? (3)
...a grain of wheat remains no more than a single grain unless it... dies...then it produces many grains.' John 12:24 GNT
Here are two more areas in which God created you to flourish:
(1) Your relationships. Relationally, your languishing self is often troubled. You’re undisciplined in what you say, sometimes reverting to sarcasm, gossip and flattery. You isolate. You dominate. You attack. You withdraw. Whereas your flourishing self seeks to bless others. They energise you. You’re able to disclose your thoughts and feelings in a way that invites openness in them. You’re quick to admit your own mistakes and to freely forgive others.
(2) Your experiences. God grows you because He wants to use you in His plans to redeem His world: that’s why you find Him changing your experiences. Your flourishing self has a desire to contribute. You live with a sense of calling. Indeed, your inner longing to become all you were meant to be is a tiny echo of God’s longing to begin the new creation. The rabbis spoke of this as tikkun olam—‘to repair the world’. Focused on yourself, your life is as small as a grain of wheat. Given to God, however, it’s as if that grain is planted in rich soil, growing into part of a much bigger project. Jesus said: ‘…unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.’ (John 12:24–25 NIV)
Free Christian Ebooks http://walthope.tripod.com
http://walthope.wordpress.com
https://plus.google.com/u/0/100302133262254344211/posts
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