JESUS, YOUR GOOD SHEPHERD AND DOOR
John 10:7 - Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
Jesus said that He is the “door of the sheep”. What did He mean? Well, a sheepfold during Jesus’ time had no door which could be opened and closed. The door of the sheepfold was just an opening. In this kind of sheepfold, after the sheep had entered it, the shepherd would sleep at the entrance. The shepherd became, effectively, the “door” of the sheepfold.
When Jesus told His disciples, “I am the good shepherd,” (John 10:11) He also assured them emphatically that He was the “door of the sheep”. He was telling them and us, “Inside My sheepfold, My sheep are always safe, completely protected and kept close under My watchful eyes. And since I am just at the entrance of the sheepfold, nothing, not even the muffled bleat of one of My own, can escape My ears. Also, nothing evil outside the sheepfold can enter and touch My sheep without first coming through Me for I am the door of My sheep.”
So when the fight of life comes knocking on your door and when panic threatens to rise within you, see yourself doubly protected! He is both the good shepherd and the door of His sheep. As your good shepherd, He gave His life for you to redeem you from poverty, sickness and every other curse.
As your door, He keeps out everything evil that He has redeemed you from. Because He shed His blood for you, you are covered and protected within the sheepfold by a blood-stained door. Disaster, destruction and death must pass over you and your family because of His blood on your door. Remember that on the night of the first Passover in Egypt, the destroyer could not enter the houses of the Israelites because of the blood of the lamb on their doors. (Exodus 12:13, 23)
Today, you can live life untroubled and unafraid, knowing that Jesus, your good shepherd and door, protects and preserves you and your family. No evil will befall you or your loved ones because He is your dwelling place and refuge!
IN THE SAME BOAT
When He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. —Matthew
8:23
When the cruise ship pulled into port, the passengers got off as quickly as possible. They had spent the last few days enduring an outbreak of a virus, and hundreds of people had been sickened. One passenger, interviewed as he disembarked, said: “Well, I don’t mean to complain so much. I mean I know everybody was in the same boat.” His seemingly unintentional pun made the reporter smile.
In Matthew 8, we read about another trip on the water (vv.23-27). Jesus got into the boat and the disciples followed Him (v.23). Then a terrible storm arose, and Jesus’ disciples feared for their lives. They awakened a sleeping Jesus, who they assumed was unaware of the crisis.
While Jesus was literally in the same boat as His followers, He was unconcerned about the weather. As the all-powerful Creator, He had no fear of a storm. “He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm” (v.26).
But we are not all-powerful, and we are oh-so-prone to fear. So what are we to do when the storms of life rage around us? Whether they quickly blow over or last for a long time, we can be confident in this: We are in the same boat with the One whom even the winds and the sea obey.
Heavenly Father, this life is full of uncertainty. But You have promised us Your unfailing presence. May we see You today—especially when we are tempted to panic or to do things in our own strength.
No danger can come so near the Christian that God is not nearer.
Remember, God said in His Word that no weapon formed against you will prosper! A weapon may be formed, but it only prospers if you give in. Stand firm and fight the good fight of faith!
Set your day for victory by setting your thoughts in the right direction. Victory starts in your mind—GOD is for you and He has a good plan for your future!
ARE YOU IN A STORM? (2)
...Who can this be...? - Matthew 8:27 NKJV
Matthew records: ‘Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith”? Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. So the men marvelled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”’ (Matthew 8:25–27 NKJV) You’ll never really know Jesus, or what He can do for you, until you go through a storm with Him. That’s why He plans your storms as part of the journey. Jesus asked, ‘Why are you fearful?’ He was teaching us that fear will suck the life out of you and drain you dry of joy. When fear rules your life, safety becomes your God. And when safety becomes your God, you seek a risk–free life. But those who are fear–filled cannot love deeply, because love is risky. They cannot give to the poor, because humanly speaking, benevolence is no guarantee of return. And the fear–filled cannot dream. What if their dreams shatter and fall from the sky? No wonder Jesus wages such a war against fear. The Gospels list some 125 Christ–issued imperatives. Of these, 21 are to ‘not be afraid’. The second most common command, to love God and your neighbour, appears only eight times. If quantity is any indicator, Jesus sees fear as one of our biggest issues. That’s why the one statement He makes more than any other, and the one He is making to you today, is: ‘Don’t be afraid.’
NO MORE CONDEMNATION
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. ROMANS 8:1
Many people are sick today because of guilt and condemnation.
Condemnation kills! People condemn themselves for their sins and failures, receive condemnation from others and even think that God is condemning them to a life of sickness.
The good news of the gospel is that there is ABSOLUTELY no condemnation for us who are in Christ, because Christ has already been condemned in our place at Calvary!
Beloved, freely receive God’s gift of no condemnation today by meditating on and thanking Him for it. When you reach out and receive God’s gift of no condemnation, you’ll receive your healing and the wholeness you desire, fully paid for by the blood of His Son
NO PEACE FOR THE WICKED
Luke 9:7, "Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him: and he was perplexed, because that it was said of some that John was risen from the dead."
Others may have thought Jesus was John the Baptist risen from the dead, but as can be clearly seen by looking at Matthew's account and especially Mark's record, Herod was convinced of this personally. This illustrates Herod's own conviction of the sin John had rebuked, his guilt and torment over his even greater sin of beheading John, and his fear of John and the God he represented. As revealed in Mark 6:20, Herod once listened to John gladly. It is certain that John was preaching his favorite message of, "Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." For Herod to hear him gladly, he must have been under deep conviction from God.
Herod feared his wife and the opinion of others more than he feared God. Herod was not as Festus, who told Paul he was mad for speaking of the resurrection from the dead. Herod knew the truth personally, was exceedingly sorry, and yet chose death - both John the Baptist's and his own spiritual death. Apparently, seen in this instance, Herod lacked peace after his fatal choice.
According to the world's mentality, peace is the absence of problems. However, God's peace is not dependent on circumstances. It is dependent only on God Himself who is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13:8). A Christian can have great peace even in the midst of terrible problems because his faith is in God. "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee" (Isa. 26:3). Let His peace rule in your heart today. Trust Him.
Free Christian Ebooks http://walthope.tripod.com
http://walthope.wordpress.com
https://plus.google.com/u/0/100302133262254344211/posts
John 10:7 - Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
Jesus said that He is the “door of the sheep”. What did He mean? Well, a sheepfold during Jesus’ time had no door which could be opened and closed. The door of the sheepfold was just an opening. In this kind of sheepfold, after the sheep had entered it, the shepherd would sleep at the entrance. The shepherd became, effectively, the “door” of the sheepfold.
When Jesus told His disciples, “I am the good shepherd,” (John 10:11) He also assured them emphatically that He was the “door of the sheep”. He was telling them and us, “Inside My sheepfold, My sheep are always safe, completely protected and kept close under My watchful eyes. And since I am just at the entrance of the sheepfold, nothing, not even the muffled bleat of one of My own, can escape My ears. Also, nothing evil outside the sheepfold can enter and touch My sheep without first coming through Me for I am the door of My sheep.”
So when the fight of life comes knocking on your door and when panic threatens to rise within you, see yourself doubly protected! He is both the good shepherd and the door of His sheep. As your good shepherd, He gave His life for you to redeem you from poverty, sickness and every other curse.
As your door, He keeps out everything evil that He has redeemed you from. Because He shed His blood for you, you are covered and protected within the sheepfold by a blood-stained door. Disaster, destruction and death must pass over you and your family because of His blood on your door. Remember that on the night of the first Passover in Egypt, the destroyer could not enter the houses of the Israelites because of the blood of the lamb on their doors. (Exodus 12:13, 23)
Today, you can live life untroubled and unafraid, knowing that Jesus, your good shepherd and door, protects and preserves you and your family. No evil will befall you or your loved ones because He is your dwelling place and refuge!
IN THE SAME BOAT
When He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. —Matthew
8:23
When the cruise ship pulled into port, the passengers got off as quickly as possible. They had spent the last few days enduring an outbreak of a virus, and hundreds of people had been sickened. One passenger, interviewed as he disembarked, said: “Well, I don’t mean to complain so much. I mean I know everybody was in the same boat.” His seemingly unintentional pun made the reporter smile.
In Matthew 8, we read about another trip on the water (vv.23-27). Jesus got into the boat and the disciples followed Him (v.23). Then a terrible storm arose, and Jesus’ disciples feared for their lives. They awakened a sleeping Jesus, who they assumed was unaware of the crisis.
While Jesus was literally in the same boat as His followers, He was unconcerned about the weather. As the all-powerful Creator, He had no fear of a storm. “He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm” (v.26).
But we are not all-powerful, and we are oh-so-prone to fear. So what are we to do when the storms of life rage around us? Whether they quickly blow over or last for a long time, we can be confident in this: We are in the same boat with the One whom even the winds and the sea obey.
Heavenly Father, this life is full of uncertainty. But You have promised us Your unfailing presence. May we see You today—especially when we are tempted to panic or to do things in our own strength.
No danger can come so near the Christian that God is not nearer.
Remember, God said in His Word that no weapon formed against you will prosper! A weapon may be formed, but it only prospers if you give in. Stand firm and fight the good fight of faith!
Set your day for victory by setting your thoughts in the right direction. Victory starts in your mind—GOD is for you and He has a good plan for your future!
ARE YOU IN A STORM? (2)
...Who can this be...? - Matthew 8:27 NKJV
Matthew records: ‘Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith”? Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. So the men marvelled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”’ (Matthew 8:25–27 NKJV) You’ll never really know Jesus, or what He can do for you, until you go through a storm with Him. That’s why He plans your storms as part of the journey. Jesus asked, ‘Why are you fearful?’ He was teaching us that fear will suck the life out of you and drain you dry of joy. When fear rules your life, safety becomes your God. And when safety becomes your God, you seek a risk–free life. But those who are fear–filled cannot love deeply, because love is risky. They cannot give to the poor, because humanly speaking, benevolence is no guarantee of return. And the fear–filled cannot dream. What if their dreams shatter and fall from the sky? No wonder Jesus wages such a war against fear. The Gospels list some 125 Christ–issued imperatives. Of these, 21 are to ‘not be afraid’. The second most common command, to love God and your neighbour, appears only eight times. If quantity is any indicator, Jesus sees fear as one of our biggest issues. That’s why the one statement He makes more than any other, and the one He is making to you today, is: ‘Don’t be afraid.’
NO MORE CONDEMNATION
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. ROMANS 8:1
Many people are sick today because of guilt and condemnation.
Condemnation kills! People condemn themselves for their sins and failures, receive condemnation from others and even think that God is condemning them to a life of sickness.
The good news of the gospel is that there is ABSOLUTELY no condemnation for us who are in Christ, because Christ has already been condemned in our place at Calvary!
Beloved, freely receive God’s gift of no condemnation today by meditating on and thanking Him for it. When you reach out and receive God’s gift of no condemnation, you’ll receive your healing and the wholeness you desire, fully paid for by the blood of His Son
NO PEACE FOR THE WICKED
Luke 9:7, "Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him: and he was perplexed, because that it was said of some that John was risen from the dead."
Others may have thought Jesus was John the Baptist risen from the dead, but as can be clearly seen by looking at Matthew's account and especially Mark's record, Herod was convinced of this personally. This illustrates Herod's own conviction of the sin John had rebuked, his guilt and torment over his even greater sin of beheading John, and his fear of John and the God he represented. As revealed in Mark 6:20, Herod once listened to John gladly. It is certain that John was preaching his favorite message of, "Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." For Herod to hear him gladly, he must have been under deep conviction from God.
Herod feared his wife and the opinion of others more than he feared God. Herod was not as Festus, who told Paul he was mad for speaking of the resurrection from the dead. Herod knew the truth personally, was exceedingly sorry, and yet chose death - both John the Baptist's and his own spiritual death. Apparently, seen in this instance, Herod lacked peace after his fatal choice.
According to the world's mentality, peace is the absence of problems. However, God's peace is not dependent on circumstances. It is dependent only on God Himself who is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13:8). A Christian can have great peace even in the midst of terrible problems because his faith is in God. "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee" (Isa. 26:3). Let His peace rule in your heart today. Trust Him.
Free Christian Ebooks http://walthope.tripod.com
http://walthope.wordpress.com
https://plus.google.com/u/0/100302133262254344211/posts
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