...[Y]ou were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

1 Peter 1:18-19

...[Y]ou were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 1 Peter 1:18-19

I agree with this post on DesiringGod.com that states that Holy Week is the most important week in all of history. As such, I continue with one of the recommendations from the post to prepare for Holy Week, which is to read John Piper's 50-day devotional Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die. Today I read reason #28: To Free Us from the Futility of Our Ancestry.  Here, John Piper, describes how the power of Jesus Christ is able break the cycle of pain that is associated with the "wounding of abusive, codependent, emotionally distant parents." Piper shares that in these families where this wounding occurs, "there is a sense of fatalism that we are bound to live with the curse or the wounds from our ancestry. The future seems futile and void of happiness."  Piper then refers us to 1 Peter 1:18-19 where the text shares that upon Christ's death on the cross, believers are ransomed not with silver and gold but with the blood of Christ, which is infinitely more valuable.  Piper writes: "[w]hen Christ died, God had a view to the relationship between us and our ancestors. He meant to set us free from the futility we inherited from them. That is one of the great reasons Christ died."  Piper expands: the implication is that "[w]hen Jesus died, all the blessings of heaven were purchased for those who trust him. And when God blesses, none can curse."  Piper makes it explicitly clear that, where none can curse, this includes those circumstances in families where people feel trapped (enslaved) by ancestral cycles. When God redeems you, the power of Him working in You, initiated by His blood on the cross, has the power to overcome anything.  Repent, believe and experience the power of Christ in Your life!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are infinitely more valuable than silver or gold and You ransomed/redeemed me with Your blood.  Thank You Father God for saving me and for giving me the power of the Holy Spirit in my life.  I am not deserving of my salvation nor how You give me the Holy Spirit and work in my life.  My sins are great and they continue...daily.  Please forgive me and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.  

[T]he immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe...

Ephesians 1:19

[T]he immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe...Ephesians 1:19

Given I have caught up with and am now ahead with where John Piper is in recording his videos on 1 and 2 Timothy for DesiringGod.com's Look at the Book series, this morning I lean on the Solid Joys daily devotion, which today encourages all to recognize the omnipotence of God "all day, every day, in all the ordinary and extraordinary experiences of life?"  John Piper first describes this omnipotence as "eternal, unshakable refuge in the everlasting glory of God no matter what happens on this earth. And that confidence is the source and power of radical obedience to the call of God."  If we recognize this omnipotence as Piper describes, Piper then encourages us to see how this will make a "difference...in our personal lives and in our ministries[.] How humble and powerful we would become for the saving purposes of God!"  We are also encouraged to take refuge in this omnipotence and how this will produce "joy and a freedom and a power that spills over in a life of radical obedience to Jesus Christ." 

Indeed believe and experience this joy, freedom, and power! 

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My Prayer: Jesus, You have produced miracle upon miracle in my life as Your grace and mercies are new every day and are ceaseless.  Thank You Jesus for my salvation and more...my cup overflows. I am not deserving of any of this.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth.

 1 John 2

But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.  I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. 1 John 2:20-21

This morning, I continue my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books. My study today focuses on a commentary-assisted review of 1 John 2:18-27. 

Per the commentary for this text:

Main idea: There have always been those, and more will come, who actively oppose Christ and the gospel; Christians must resist such error and cling to the truth of God as revealed by the Spirit in the Scriptures.

Excerpt from introduction:

• John seeks for believers to be on watch for signs that end times are near - and one of those signs is the antichrist, false teachers who deny God and seek to lead/deceive believers away from God. "[I]t is absolutely essential that we have a biblically balanced understanding of who the antichrists are and what the antichrists do."
  

Divisions:

1. Antichrists Attack Christ (2:18): John is the only Bible author who uses the term antichrist, yet other authors in the Bible refer to the same figure, including Daniel ("the coming prince" - Daniel 9:27), and Paul ("the man of lawlessness" - 2 Thessalonians 2:3), and as the beast from the sea in Revelation 13:1-10. We are urged to live with a sense of urgency, not knowing when the second coming of Christ will appear and we are to be ready. We are also to be aware that during the end times (defined as the period between first and second coming of Christ) there will be those who serve as antichrists denying God and deceiving others, and then there will be the Antichrist who "comes at the end of the last hour. Jesus Himself warned us of all of this in Matthew 24:4-5,24-25." The antichrists that oppose Jesus who come before the final Antichrist "do not directly oppose Jesus." Instead they practice deception and seduction and they "redefine Him."  By "chipping" away at who He is, believers quickly lose sight of the One True God and begin following false Gods and their ways.  "This is the spirit of the antichrists, and it will attempt to lead you down the road of spiritual error that is a theological dead end....[B]e on the lookout for those who attack the biblical teachings about Christ. They will do you no good." 
   
2. Antichrists Abandon the Church (2:19,22-23): We are warned about "enemies within" the church.  We should recognize that antichrists who leave the church were never truly part of the church.  "Perseverance is the proof of possession. Defection from the fellowship gives evidence of a defective faith. That was certainly John’s perspective." Those who are truly saved persevere as part of the church.  We are referred to John 10:27-29 where Jesus refers to His followers as sheep who follow the shepherd when they hear His voice and how no one will be able to "snatch them out of His hand."  We must avoid the false belief that Jesus is significant but not preeminent and that not the Savior. This belief leads us away from the church.
   
3. Antichrists Assault the Christian (2:20-21,24-27): Believers are equipped with the Holy Spirit and the Word of God to truly know God and to discern truth from falsehoods. If we abide in Him we can defend ourselves from the attacks of the antichrists. We must also be clear that we are not to add or subtract anything from God. "The false teachers will attempt to deceive you into thinking you need something more than Christ or something other than Christ."
   

Comment and discuss this post.

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the One True God who gives me the Holy Spirit and Your Word and You protect me and save me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Romans 8

For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:3-4

This morning, I continued my study of Romans.  Using my commentary - Exalting Jesus in Romans (eBook) - I started chapter ten The New Way of the Spirit, which covers Romans 8.  My focus today is Romans 8:1-13, which my commentary refers to under the heading The Spirit of Life.  Building on my post yesterday, where I discussed my commentary's view that Romans 7:7-25 focused on unbelievers and the futile nature of pleasing God with just the law, Paul is now talking about believers freedom from the law in terms of how God, through the Holy Spirit working in us, brings about obedience that we are unable to achieve on our own. 

For today's verses - v1-13 - my commentary discusses four new privileges of living in the Spirit:

1. new freedom (v1-4); we "now" have no condemnation and as a result are truly "free" as Jesus "paid it all"; we are encouraged to remind ourselves of this freedom, particularly during times of trial and challenge
   
2. new mindset (v5-8); we have "a new mind...new attitude, orientation, bent, pattern of thinking, and affections"
3. new indwelling presence (v9-11); those in the Spirit belong to Christ (see also John 14:17, 1 Corinthians 6:19); v11 specifically gives us assurance of a future resurrection
4. new obligation (v12-13); "mortification" of sin is described we are encouraged to do all we can to avoid and kill sin in our lives; "say no to sin and yes to God!"

The commentary ends by emphasizing privilege #4 by stating that "[m]any people think you have to give up pleasure to pursue holiness, but you actually find pleasure in the pursuit. You find life. You find joy."

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who dwells in me and gives me joy...and life!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of the blessings You pour out for me...particularly my salvation.  My sin - of many kinds, including anger, harsh words, etc. - continues.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

“You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

1 Samuel 16-17

“You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” 1 Samuel 17:45-47

Day 88 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) focuses on David's anointing as king, his initial service to Saul to play the lyre to comfort Saul with his torment from evil spirits, and David's victory over Goliath (including Israel's subsequent victory over the Philistines in the battle that followed).

We know that as believers we will face trouble and difficulties - see John 16:33 - but even if the world throws the "kitchen sink" at us, we have the Lord.  We should pray that we have the peace of mind and confidence that David felt that day - that we know that we have a supernatural strength that comes when the Spirit of the Lord enters our life (see also 1 Samuel 16:13).  This is the 

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

Ephesians 1

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. v18-21

Building on my post yesterday, this morning Paul reminds us of our identity in Christ, including:
- our hope 
- our inheritance as children of God
- the power in and for our lives and for the the lives of others through us

See also previous posts via tags: .

One of the implications I see is that God desires us to seek big things in our lives (and in our families) so that others can see the power of God in and through us so that others are drawn to Him.  We have an identity, we are Christ's ambassadors, and as His ambassadors we are to represent Him and His kingdom appropriately.  Implications for fathers are great here.  Check out this great podcast on this topic of "Casting a Vision for Your Family".  

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has done great things in me, for me, and through me - I am SO blessed by Your Spirit in my heart and life - thank You Jesus!  I am of course undeserving as my sin is great...and daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.... Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers....This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.

Acts 9

Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.... Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers....This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. v22,31,42

Once Ananias was able to lay hands on Saul (see post yesterday), Saul received the Holy Spirit and Peter was there when the Holy Spirit came during Pentecost (Acts 2). As we see in Acts 2:41 where three thousand believers were added in a single moment to the small but growing church, we see the same type of results in Acts 9:19-43. These are clearly results that ONLY God can deliver and once again we must remind ourselves as Paul writes about in Ephesians that we as believers - via the Holy Spirit - all have this power:

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. 

That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.  Ephesians 1:18-21

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and I know You give me the same power that raised Jesus from the dead and ask me to use this power for Your glory - I am grateful and blessed that You adopted me as Your child and can use me as part of Your perfect plans.  Thank You Jesus!  I am undeserving of such blessings.  My continues - daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.    

Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.

Acts 5

Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah. v42

I've been posting quite a bit about the Holy Spirit, and the power it gave not only Peter, the apostles, and the early church, but also what it gives all believers today.  In today's reading we see more of the Holy Spirit at work as many are healed and the church growth continued apace (v12-16).

The apostles are thrown in jail but an angel released them telling them to continue spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ (v17-20).  Even Gamaliel likely senses the Holy Spirit at work.

The Holy Spirit gives Peter and the other apostles great power to continue preaching - DESPITE suffering and grave threats of physical harm.  THIS is the Holy Spirit at work.  It is something that cannot be stopped by any early power nor can Satan stop it.

As I posted a couple of days ago, we should ask for boldness to continue on with what we are led to do by Jesus as the Holy Spirit WILL be us, equipping us, providing for us, and protecting us - eternally.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who is worthy of my worship and my full devotion.  I know You are with me - always.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not deserving of all the blessings You pour out for me.  I worry and I have much more sin - daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Acts 4

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. v31

After Peter and John defended themselves in front of the Sanhedrin (see last post) they were freed because "[the Sanhedrin] could not decide how to punish them" (v21).  In v23-31, Peter and John returned to their fellow believers and prayed asking for boldness:

Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” v29-30

God has given all of us a great task - the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20). We should ALL be asking that God enable us to be bold.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves us and who has given us Your Son, the church, the Holy Spirit, Your Word, and so much more - thank You Jesus!  I am no deserving of such blessings!  I worry and I am harsh with my words and actions.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people!

Acts 4

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! v8

As a follow up to yesterday and other recent posts, once again we read about the Holy Spirit and how the Holy Spirit was at work during Peter's defense of himself and John in front of the Sanhedrin.

In response to "[b]y what power or what name did you do this?", Peter boldly indicates that it was "by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazereth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed" (v10).  Peter then goes on to further clarify who Jesus is (quoting Psalm 118:22):  

"Jesus is 'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” v11-12

Even the Sanhedrin saw something special in Peter and John (v13), and Peter and John continued to demonstrate great courage and boldness (vs 20 - "As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”) in the face of threats from the same people who crucified Jesus. 

This snapshot of the Holy Spirit is supported elsewhere in scripture, including when Paul it writes that those who believe have the same power that raised Jesus from the grave (Ephesians 1:19-21) and when Jesus says He is "with [us] until the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:20). 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me, who has given me the Holy Spirit to be with me and You are always with me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings - unbelieveable!  I worry and I have other sins.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.   Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?

Acts 3

Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? v12

In Acts 3 we see Peter's healing of a lame man and Peter's reaction to those who see Peter as having some special power. Peter's reaction and subsequent speech (including defense in front of the Sanhedrin in Acts 4) shows the difference the Holy Spirit makes in the life of Peter, who previously was held captive by fear of being recognized as with Jesus (see full chapters from references here). In less than 2 months time Peter is transformed into the leader of the new church through Jesus reinstatement (John 21) and the Holy Spirit.

Over the course of the last week or so, I've been posting on the power of the Holy Spirit and in Peter's transformation from ordinary fisherman and follower of Jesus to bold leader of the new church. This offers us great encouragement for those of us called to do God's work - it is not through us that we ever accomplish anything but instead through Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

My Prayer: Jesus, You provide The Holy Spirit and it is an amazing gift among many You provide and You bless me far more than I deserve - thank You Jesus!  Yet again I am undeserving.  I gossip, worry, etc.  Please forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Acts 1

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. v7

The book of Acts is authored by Luke and it chronicles establishment of the church, growth among the Jews, Gentiles, and throughout church plants in Asia, Greece, and all the way to Rome.


Acts begins with Luke's reference to his other book where he wrote about how Jesus ascended to Heaven (Luke 24:51) and it includes a review of this in verses Acts 1:1-9.

In a previous post, I wrote about how in the book of John Jesus encourages the disciples by telling them that when He dies He will provide the Holy Spirit as a helper and as believers we must remind ourselves that the Holy Spirit gives us confidence to do what Jesus leads us to do.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God who loves us and who provides us with amazing freedom from the sting of sin and death and with the same power that raised You from the dead.  We are led by You to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ everywhere and I am amazed that You would be able to use me as a broken person.  I am grateful that You love, that You died for me and that You continue to love.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not deserving of such love.  I sin...constantly.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth.

John 14

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. v16-17

Right after Jesus predicts His betrayal by both Judas and Peter (John 13), He once again returns to His death which will soon come to pass on the cross.  This are unsettling matters, yet Jesus comforts the disciples and these same words can comfort believers today.  He talks about His ascension to Heaven and that He will save a place for us in Heaven.  He then promises us the Holy Spirit to help us.

I definitely feel His presence and am grateful that Jesus is always with me.

The Holy Spirit gives us power - check out this short video from Francis Chan.  

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are great in that You give me life through Your Word, the Holy Spirit, and more - thank You Jesus!  I know You are always with me.  Yet from time to time I worry and I have other sin.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.

Luke 10

I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. v19

Jesus gives believers the same power that raised Him from the dead - the Holy Spirit.  With Jesus, we must remember that we have power - yet at the same time we must remember that this power exists for His glory.

This is why Jesus tell us to despite our troubles (that we WILL have), we should take heart, as Jesus has overcome the world (John 16:33).

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who gives us as believers power - thank You Jesus!  I have seen this power in my life and in the lives of others - amazing.  Thank You Jesus for never leaving or forsaking us and for giving us help to overcome our troubles and to overcome the sting of sin and death.  I am undeserving of such blessings.  I daily miss the mark.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Matthew 17

He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” v20-21

The disciples, although at least Peter recognized Jesus as Messiah, have not yet grasped the power of Jesus and the Holy Spirit has yet to manifest itself for the disciples.  For all of us believers at this point however, we SHOULD understand that we have the Holy Spirit - and this is the same power that raised Jesus from the grave.

Our faith should rest on the power available to us through Jesus Christ. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who has made available to me an awesome power and You are with me always - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love and blessings.  I worry, I am quick to anger, I gossip, etc. among my many sin.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is. Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts. Perhaps the Lord God Almighty will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph.

Amos 5

Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is.  Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts.  Perhaps the Lord God Almighty will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph. v14-15

Verses 14-15 may seem straightforward enough, yet God wants us to love others as He loves us - see John 13:34-35.  This is a high bar indeed - but anything is possible through God.

Everything is possible for one who believes. Mark 9:23 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has transformed my heart and life.  Thank You Jesus.  Yet I am undeserving of such love.  I daily fail to love others as You love me.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

And the name of the city from that time on will be: the Lord is there.

Ezekiel 48

And the name of the city from that time on will be: the Lord is there. v35

Just as I posted a couple of days ago, chapters 46-48 (the last chapters of the Book of Ezekiel) describe how Israel will be fully restored, including both a physical restoration of the temple in Jerusalem, and a spiritual restoration of Israel's people.  Yet we must remember that what is presented in Ezekiel is a vision of things to come, and more broadly the Bible is not presented chronologically so it is important to try and follow the "arc" of history.  Check this out from John Piper's website, and as well chronological Bibles.

Today, I am reminded how God sent His Son Jesus to die for us and when Jesus rose from the grave He gave us the Holy Spirit who is always with us as God cannot be contained in a building such as a temple - He is with and within us.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an awesome God You are that You sent Your Son for us and we have the Holy Spirit - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such an act of love.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The earth trembled and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains shook; they trembled because he was angry.

Psalm 18

The earth trembled and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains shook; they trembled because he was angry. v7

For believers, we know that God will never leave or forsake us - that He will be with us until the end of the age (Matthew 28:20).  Yet I am not sure we take the time to reflect on the extent to which God will go to protect us - if we call on Him.

This Psalm gives us a glimpse of God's power and how it comes to our aid in times of trouble.  It is the power of the Holy Spirit, and it is the same power that raised Jesus from the grave.

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength  he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. Ephesians 1:18-21

 

For us to begin to appreciate this power, we need to be in relationship with God and to put on the "full armor of God".

Power indeed.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who has not only created the Heavens and the Universe and everything in them, but also rules over all.  You know everything about me, including my sin, yet You came to save me, dying on the cross.  Thank You Jesus for saving me...daily.  I am not worth such love...I worry and am often harsh with my words and actions.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

 

But Elisha answered, “Give it to the people to eat. For this is what the Lord says: ‘They will eat and have some left over.’” Then he set it before them, and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the Lord.

2 Kings 4

But Elisha answered, “Give it to the people to eat. For this is what the Lord says: ‘They will eat and have some left over.’” Then he set it before them, and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the Lord. v43-44

Much like yesterday's post, we see similarities between Elisha and Jesus.  Elisha has a double portion of God' spirit on him and he performs miracles like that of Jesus, including raising people from the dead and feeding many with little.

We should all understand that God's spirit is in all of us as believers and we should serve with the same confidence as Elijah and Elisha - God is able and will do amazing things when we submit to His will and trust in Him.


I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.   

That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.  Ephesians 1:18-21

I pray for myself that I recognize this on a daily basis and life for His glory and not my own.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and You provide the Holy Spirit for me - what an amazing blessing.  Thank You Jesus. I am not worth such love.  I am weak and I worry.  Please forgive me and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes.

Judges 16

Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes. v28

While we are led to believe that it was Samson's hair that gave him his strength, we must all understand that Samson's strength came only from the Lord - as it is true with all of us.  

We must also believe that we are provided with the same power that resurrected Jesus from the grave:

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. Ephesians 1:18-21

Lord Jesus, please help understand use the great power available to me through You.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who has exercised incredible power in my life - as I have seen Your hand.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth how You have poured out Your blessings on me.  I worry far too much and I am harsh with my words and actions.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.