Salt & Light Blog

2 Kings 20:1-11 Nothing is too big for God; Ask Him Anything!

2/13/2016

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

2 Kings 20:1-11
Are you afraid to ask too much of God? Some people are. We think of the possibilities in terms of our capabilities, our bank accounts, and the physical. We can tend to think of The Lord in terms of how we understand people, our earthly fathers, our pastors, authority figures, and peers. But those people are humans and they have limits. God does not have limits and understanding that as well as His deep love for us is key to being able to respond to circumstances in faith. Maybe we need to change our perspective from the visible world to the spiritual one (2 Corinthians 4:18). Hezekiah knew that nothing is impossible for God. Verse 1 reads,
“In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him and said to him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die; you shall not recover.’”
Imagine hearing from All-knowing God that you will die. What would your reaction be? Would you do as He said and get your affairs in order? Hezekiah didn’t do that. Verses 2-3 record his response.
“Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, saying, 3 “Now, O Lord, please remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.”
He did not want to die. He didn’t accept that he had to die, even though it was The Lord who told him he would. He prayed. He talked to the Lord and told Him he didn’t want to die. He appealed to The Lord and asked Him to remember his faith. He did not assume God would let him live. He came before his Lord in humility and simply told Him that he didn’t want to die.
How did God respond? Did he send lightning down on the king and kill him? Did He roar and send an earthquake to destroy his house? No, He responded with mercy and love. Verses 4-7 read,
“And before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him: 5 “Turn back, and say to Hezekiah the leader of my people, Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord, 6 and I will add fifteen years to your life. I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city for my own sake and for my servant David's sake.” 7 And Isaiah said, “Bring a cake of figs. And let them take and lay it on the boil, that he may recover.”
God responded immediately. Isaiah had not even left the palace yet before The Lord sent him back to answer Hezekiah. Not only would He give the king fifteen more years, He would deliver Jerusalem from Assyria. He wouldn’t do it to glorify Hezekiah, He would do it for His own glory. He would do it because He had promised David.
Hezekiah was ready to obey and he asked Isaiah for s sign. He tested the prophecy. He did not automatically assume that every word Isaiah said was The Lord’s. Verses 8-11 say,
“And Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “What shall be the sign that the Lord will heal me, and that I shall go up to the house of the Lord on the third day?” 9 And Isaiah said, “This shall be the sign to you from the Lord, that the Lord will do the thing that he has promised: shall the shadow go forward ten steps, or go back ten steps?” 10 And Hezekiah answered, “It is an easy thing for the shadow to lengthen ten steps. Rather let the shadow go back ten steps.” 11 And Isaiah the prophet called to the Lord, and he brought the shadow back ten steps, by which it had gone down on the steps of Ahaz.”
Once again Hezekiah wasn’t afraid to ask for more. Moving the sun at all is huge! But Hezekiah asked for the harder sign, one that couldn’t be attributed to miscounted time or weather, to make the sun go in reverse! He knew that God can do anything, nothing is too hard for Him, nothing. And God did it.
Are you afraid to ask too much of God? God’s resources are limitless. His mercy is never-ending. His love is infinite. Romans 11:32-36 reads,
“For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.
33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord,
    or who has been his counselor?”
35 “Or who has given a gift to him
    that he might be repaid?”
36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
He is not disappointed in you, He loves to show you mercy. He loves to give you good gifts and nothing is too big (James 1:17-18). He created the universe. He made you. Psalm 136:4-9 says,
“to him who alone does great wonders,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
5 to him who by understanding made the heavens,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
6 to him who spread out the earth above the waters,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
7 to him who made the great lights,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
8 the sun to rule over the day,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
9 the moon and stars to rule over the night,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;”
Believer, nothing is too big to ask for. If your motivation is to glorify The Lord, He will give it to you. If it is good for you, He will give it to you. In John 14:11-14 Jesus said,
“Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.
12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”
Did He say ‘you will do some of the things I did and if you ask me for something manageable I might do it?’ No! You will do the works He does and more! You can ask anything and He will do it! Go ahead, believe God is The LORD your maker. Go ahead and believe He is who He says He is. Nothing is impossible for Him. Trust Him and let Him show you and the world how much He loves you and them.

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2 Kings 13:10-25 The Lord Will Never Forsake You

2/3/2016

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Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. John 14:12-14

s2 Kings 13:10-25
Today’s passage describes the reign of Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel. Verses 10-13 read,
“In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned sixteen years.11 He also did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. He did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin, but he walked in them. 12 Now the rest of the acts of Joash and all that he did, and the might with which he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 13 So Joash slept with his fathers, and Jeroboam sat on his throne. And Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.”
It would seem that that is all that will be written about this Jehoash or Joash (the two names are interchangeable, like Michael and Mike refer to the same person). He walked in the way of Jeroboam and led Israel in sin, meaning he not only encouraged Jeroboam’s false religion which displaced true worship in Samaria, he practiced it. But even so, The Lord did not forsake Joash nor did He forget Israel. In fact Joash was a mighty warrior king for Israel because The Lord refused to relinquish His people.
Verse 14 turns from Joash to Elisha.
“Now when Elisha had fallen sick with the illness of which he was to die, Joash king of Israel went down to him and wept before him, crying, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!”
Elisha was ill and he was going to die. Joash came to see him and he was distraught over losing this man, the father to the sons of the prophets, father to a nation and better for Israel’s security than an army of chariots and horsemen. When Elijah, Elisha’s mentor was taken to Heaven, Elisha cried out the very same thing as The Lord allowed him to see His army take Elijah (2 Kings 2:9-13). Although Joash did not worship The Lord in the way The Lord had commanded, he still turned to Him, he still trusted The Lord to protect Israel and be their God because of Elisha. God would not abandon His people even when they turned from Him. Verses 15-19 read,
And Elisha said to him, “Take a bow and arrows.” So he took a bow and arrows. 16 Then he said to the king of Israel, “Draw the bow,” and he drew it. And Elisha laid his hands on the king's hands. 17 And he said, “Open the window eastward,” and he opened it. Then Elisha said, “Shoot,” and he shot. And he said, “The Lord's arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Syria! For you shall fight the Syrians in Aphek until you have made an end of them.” 18 And he said, “Take the arrows,” and he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground with them.” And he struck three times and stopped. 19 Then the man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck down Syria until you had made an end of it, but now you will strike down Syria only three times.”
Elisha was not angry that Joash had only struck the ground three times, he was angry that the people he loved would not completely eradicate their sin and would not completely overcome Syria. Joash would lead his people in victory against Syria three times, but he would not eliminate the threat for future generations. Joash did not give his entire heart to The Lord, only part of it. If he had loved The Lord with all his heart, soul, and strength (Deuteronomy 6:6), he would have taught the people of Israel to worship The Lord in truth and he would have torn down the false temple. Real faith results in real works which results in real effects. James 2:14-22 explains it this way,
“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works;”
Even so, The Lord did not desert Joash and Israel, He kept His covenant with them, He is their God and they are His people and they will know He is The Lord (Exodus 6:7). They didn’t keep the covenant, but God did. And He extended that covenant to believers in Jesus Christ who have been grafted into the olive tree of Israel (2 Corinthians 6:16-18, Romans 11:17-23).
After Joash said goodbye to the beloved prophet, Elisha died. Verses 20-21 read,
“So Elisha died, and they buried him. Now bands of Moabites used to invade the land in the spring of the year. 21 And as a man was being buried, behold, a marauding band was seen and the man was thrown into the grave of Elisha, and as soon as the man touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet.”
Even after his death, Elisha’s life was life-giving to people who remembered him, to people who heard and read what was recorded about his life and deeds, and literally to a dead man thrown into the grave with him. Elisha’s legacy continued to glorify The Lord, his legacy saved lives. He spoke the Word of God. He never backed down from that. God was always with Him. The Spirit of God was on Elisha from the moment he put on Elijah’s mantle and never left him.
God used Joash even though he did not worship Him in spirit and truth. But look how much more The Lord used Elisha who was totally ‘sold out’ to Him. Israel and Judah were saved numerous times, countless people came to faith in The Lord, the sons of the prophets learned, and people were raised from the dead even after his death. Consider how much more The Lord will use you and me, Brothers and Sisters, who have the Holy Spirit not just on us but within us! Consider the impact we can make for the Kingdom of God because we love The Lord with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Consider the lives that can be saved, the people snatched from death because we have Jesus Christ as our Lord and savior. You and I can make a difference if we let God use us fully. Ephesians 1:15-23 reads,
“For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.”
Unlike Joash, Jesus conquered the enemy and made us victors with Him. He completely wiped Satan out, and one day soon Satan will be thrown into the Lake of Fire. But there is more to do. There are people blindly following Satan to Hell, they must be rescued. In Matthew 10:7-8 Jesus commanded his disciples,
“And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.”
He would not tell us to do something and not make it possible for us to do it. Elisha had the Spirit of God on Him and he did all these things for The Lord. We have the spirit of God in us, we can do all the things that Jesus did. Together and the unified body of Christ, the impact we could and should make on this world should be huge! In John 14:11-17 Jesus said,
“Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.
12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me[ anything in my name, I will do it.
15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
The Lord did not abandon Joash or Israel, His special possession. He did not abandon Elisha, His prophet. He will not abandon us, His sons and daughters. Do not be afraid to glorify The Lord and do the works that prove your faith to the world.

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You Can Do What Jesus Did, He Promises!

10/25/2015

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John 14:12-14 is popular for a few reasons. It reads,
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do,because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”
It is very powerful. It isn’t about prosperity. It isn’t about winning football games or climbing mountains. It is about evangelism. It is about obeying Jesus' command to love people and leading them to God. When Jesus said this, He was answering Phillip’s request to see The Father, during a conversation about following Jesus.
Verses 4-11 precede these verses and gives us the context,
“And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.”
Jesus wants us to follow Him. Following Him means walking as He walked, doing as He did in His name and by His authority. He is our God, our King, Our Lord and Master. So when we go where He goes we act in His authority, we act in His name.
In order to really read the passage in its full context we also need to see what Jesus said after this amazing promise. Verses 15-17 read,
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.”
What great things are you asking in Jesus’ name? Are you loving Him and keeping His commandments? Are you revealing The Father to world by living for Jesus through The Spirit? That is at the heart of this passage. It is not about asking for stuff, or asking to be successful. It is about loving people by doing what Jesus did.
What did He do? He loved people. He was moved by that love to action. If they were hungry He fed them. If they were sick, He healed them. If they were broken, He restored them. If they were alone, He befriended them. If they wanted to know God, He taught them. He tells you and me to do these things as well. He equips us to do them and He even promises we’ll do more than He did.
Does your mind lie to you and tell you that you aren’t good enough to do the works Jesus did? Are you filled with doubt about who you are? Maybe you think that only some people are able to love others the way Jesus did. Perhaps you imagine only the very best Followers can heal or prophesy or do that most miraculous work of all, lead someone to the saving grace and truth of Jesus. But that is a lie.
1 John 3:19-22 reads,
“By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him”
God is greater than the lies and doubts of your heart. He promises again that whatever we ask we receive. Let’s look at the context of this promise too. Is it about wealth? Is it about achievements? It is about love.
Verses 16-18 pave the way for this beautiful promise,
“By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.”
It is about living out that love the way Jesus did. It is about obeying Jesus. The passage continues with verses 23-24.
“And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us,by the Spirit whom he has given us.”
You are called for a great purpose. It is a purpose much greater than sitting in a church pew. It is a call bigger than inviting a person to church. It is a job more wonderful than giving the waitress a tract. You are commanded to love others as Jesus loves you. He didn’t love in a small way, He loved in a big way. He spent time, He healed, He spoke truth, and He laid down His life. You are commanded to love the same way. You are commanded to reveal God to the lost by loving the way Jesus did.
John 15:12-17 reads,
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.”
So go, love, bear abiding fruit. Go, lay down your life for the lost. Ask Jesus to let you heal people. Ask Jesus to speak the truth to people through you. Ask Jesus to allow you to feed the hungry and warm the cold and comfort the hurting. Ask Jesus to save people. He will. Love them the way Jesus loves and see what Jesus will do.

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James 1:5-7 Go Ahead and Ask The Father, He Loves to Give Us Good Things

8/17/2015

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Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, Ephesians 3:20

James 1:5-7

Our awesome and loving Father loves to give us good things that will help us and develop us to be more like Jesus. In the previous verses James said to count it all joy when we meet trials of various kinds because our faith would lead to steadfastness. God loves to give us things. He is generous. When we ask, He doesn’t click tongue and tell us we want too much, we shouldn’t ask, or we’re wrong for asking. Verse 5 reads,

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”

God gives us wisdom when we ask. We know He is happy to give us wisdom. Solomon could ask The Lord for anything and he asked for wisdom. When he did that The Lord blessed him with great wisdom and much more. (1 Kings 3).

What James says next though has caused a bit of confusion or allowed some people to believe false doctrines. Verse 6 reads,

“But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.”

People have allowed this verse to tell them that they had to have no doubt whatsoever when asking God for anything. Some false prophets and false healers use this verse as an excuse for why God will not work through them. They blame the prospective recipient of healing for not having enough faith to be healed. But the person who receives healing is not the one who needs faith. Jesus, John, Peter, and Paul all healed people who had not asked for the healing who were not believers until after their healing and at least one who likely didn’t become a believer even after Jesus had healed him. (John 5:1-17).

So then what does it mean that we can’t have doubt when asking God for wisdom? Consider first what James is telling us to ask for, wisdom if we lack it. Wisdom, counsel and guidance from The Lord requires that we ask without doubt, or hesitation because when we ask for wisdom, we have to be willing to recognize, and listen to God. If we ask for The Lord to guide us or give us wisdom yet we don’t trust that He will give it, we won’t be listening to that counsel. Asking for wisdom from God without trusting He will give it is an empty request. The person asking that way will not hear or follow the counsel God gives, so he may as well be floundering blindly as if they had not asked for guidance. Verses 7-8 read,

“For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

If we’re going to ask The Lord for something that will help us become more like Jesus, shouldn’t trust that He will give it? We are encouraged time and again to ask God for gifts and blessings. He tells us to ask for Spiritual gifts, (1 Corinthians 12:31), provision, (Matthew 6:11), and guidance. (Matthew 6:13). Jesus told us that God loves to gives us good things, all we have to do is ask. Luke 11:9-13 reads,

“And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Not only does God love to give us what we ask for but more than we can even imagine asking for. Solomon asked for wisdom, and God blessed Him with wisdom, wealth, and honor. God loves us more than any earthly father could love us. He loves us persistently and tenaciously. He gives us the good things we ask for, He gives us the needs we do not ask for, and He gives us blessings we didn’t dream of asking for. He wants us to be like Jesus. He wants us to be spiritually strong and faithful. He wants us to live as testimonies to Christ and impact the Kingdom of God. Ephesians 3:14-21 says,

“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

Jesus told us there are no limits on what we can ask Him to do, especially when we ask as the Body of Christ. Matthew 18:18-20 says,

“Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

Jesus told us to ask for God’s Kingdom to be revealed and for His will on earth as it is in Heaven! (Matthew 6:10). Consider the greatness of that. Jesus told us to ask. Consider the greatness of this promise in John 14:12-14,

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”

Jesus did amazing things in order to bring people into the Kingdom of God. He healed, He spoke with revolutionary love and wisdom, and He raised people from the dead! As Jesus’ followers, we work in His name and with His authority. Just ask Him in our role of ambassador, evangelist, citizen of Heaven, royal priest, and child of The Living God and it is ours, He will give us what we ask for.

We are promised difficult times, but we are also promised that God is with us, that He will guide us, and give us everything we need to make it through. He will speak if we will listen. He will lead if we will follow. He promises that the troubles we go through will make us more like Jesus. Don’t be afraid to ask your Father for anything. And know that He will give you what you ask for.

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1 John 5:13-15 Take the Challenge! Ask Anything, Live Miraculously!

1/21/2015

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1 John Chapter 5 Verses 13-15

These verses are a wonderful promise. Verses 13-15 reads,

“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.”

Prayer is powerful. God wants us to ask for anything according to His will and know that He hears us, and that if He hears us, of course He will give it to us. I wonder if I took this promise more seriously how different my life might be. Would I see people healed in every manner right in front of me? Would I see people giving their lives to Christ everywhere? Yes, I believe if I more fully lived the life God has for me and if I were more confident about asking anything according to God’s will, my life would more closely resemble Jesus’.

This is not the only place we see this promise. Jesus told us the same thing repeatedly. One of those times is in John 14:12-14

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”

Even when He was teaching us to pray He told us to ask for God’s will to be loosed on earth. Matthew 6:9-10 reads,

“Pray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.”

What is God’s will? How is it in Heaven? It is God’s will that all people come to a relationship with Him, that everyone receives eternal life. 1 Timothy 2:1-4 says,

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

But there is more to His will than the beginning of the relationship. He wants us to have an abundant life that exemplifies Christ. The relationship with the Father, following Jesus, filled with the Spirit is lovelier and more amazing than people outside that relationship can know.

John 10:9-10 reads,

“I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

Abundant life doesn’t mean Lamborghinis and Caviar. The life we have is the eternal life given to us by Jesus, lived now and always. We have life, while the lost have death. We know the way to life. Jesus is the door. Jesus is the way, and the truth, and the life. (John 14:6). It is a relationship following Jesus, doing what He did loving people like He loved. And just like He gave us His life, we are to do the same for others. We have life so abundantly it is eternal, never-ending, deep, and awesome.

What is God’s will as it is in Heaven? It begins with that perfect relationship. In Heaven, In God’s house there is a place for you, prepared by Jesus. He is there and He will take us to Himself. God is our home, our sanctuary, our tower, and our place. Jesus made the way and takes us to Himself. Jesus is not only the path, He is the destination. John 14:1-3 says,

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”

Revelation 21:3-5 describes Heaven this way.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

The perfect relationship, including perfect peace and joy awaits us in Heaven and Jesus said we can have it now, here just for the asking. Heaven is not like earth. Satan is defeated. He has no power at all. Revelation 20:10 reads,

“and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”

Death and Hades or Sheol, (another word for the grave) are defeated forever. As is unbelief. Revelation 20:14-15 reads,

“Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”

That is God’s will. God’s will is for all of us to have that deep relationship with Him. He doesn’t want anyone to perish, but He says they will. He says that anyone who desires eternal life will have it but that the rest will not. Revelation 21:8 reminds us,

“But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

God doesn’t want that for them, but they chose it for themselves. If we want what He wants then we will ask for anything according to His will and He will hear us and He will grant it. So take the challenge I am taking. Be bold. Be confident. Ask God for miracles. Ask God to reveal Himself in you to the dying masses. Ask God to heal, to feed, and to reveal truth. God will hear you and like any loving Father, He will give you the good things you ask for.

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John 14:12-17 You Will Do Greater Things than Jesus.

12/20/2014

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John Chapter 14 Verses 12-17

One of the most amazing promises of the Bible is John 14:12-14, where Jesus says,

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”

Have you ever thought about it? Have you ever mulled it over? Jesus says that if we believe in Him we will do the works the He does. But He doesn’t stop there. He continues with “and greater works than these” That is incredible! But it is true. Jesus did great things while He was walking the earth. What are some of the miracles He performed? He fed 5,000 men with a couple fish and a five loaves of bread. He healed men with leprosy. He healed the lame and the blind. He freed people from demons. He spoke into people’s hearts and lives. He raised people from the dead.

According to His promise, if you believe in Him, you will do all those things too. Remember belief isn’t about agreeing He exists. Belief is about trusting Him, acknowledging in your core that He is Christ, the Son of God, your savior, and depending on Him. It is remarkable to me that I should be doing all those amazing feats.

What could you or I possibly do that is greater than Jesus? Seriously? Yet He didn’t just say, “You can do greater things” or “You should do greater things.” He said, “You will.” What is it that you and I could possibly do? When Jesus returned to the Father He gave us a job. Matthew 28:18-20 reads,

“And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Jesus considers that of the greatest importance. That is a hefty job and it was the last thing Jesus commanded before ascending to Heaven. It is a considerable undertaking but He makes it possible. He gave us a gift. He didn’t leave us here to fight it out alone, to wander lost and hope we were getting it right. The Holy Spirit came and He unites with those who believe. He fills up those who follow Jesus. He guides, comforts, transforms, and empowers us. Jesus describes Him in verses 15-17.

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.”

We don’t just have God with us. He is not distant, looking down on us from Heaven hoping we do well on our mission. He is living within in us. God is inside you, Believer! Because He is in you, you can do the work of Jesus. You can reveal God to the world. You can do all those awesome and wonderful things Jesus did. Jesus loved people with every fiber of His being. He healed the sick. He comforted the hurting, even when He was hurting.

Are you doing that? Or is the power inside you quenched and grieved, stifled and depressed? Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” What are His commandments? They are simple. John 13:34 says,

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.”

And we just read Jesus parting words, our great commission from Matthew’s gospel. We are to make disciples of all nations, baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all that Jesus commanded.

We cannot love one another without active implementation of the gifts we were given. Jesus didn’t love others by saying a prayer as He passed them by. He loved by connecting to and relating to people. He loved by meeting their needs. He loved by pointing people to repentance and directing them to the Father. He loved by teaching people what God wants. God wants love and relationship not sacrifice and ritual. Hosea 6:6 reads,

“For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,
the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.”

Examine your life and ask yourself if you are truly loving others as Jesus loved. Are you doing the work of Jesus? Maybe you are doing your own work. Maybe you are doing the work of your church. Who is being glorified by your acts? Is God being glorified when you can’t say no to every favor asked of you and work yourself into a tizzy? I doubt it. Is Jesus being glorified as you sit in your church pew and pray for the orphans and widows?

Even acts that seem great might not be loving others as Jesus loved if anyone but God is getting the glory. When you adopt the needy family for Christmas, is it you, your church, or God being praised? When you heal a broken arm is it you or God being exalted? When you feed the homeless man is God being adored?

Are there any works to examine? Is there active love happening in your life? If you love Jesus, then you should be loving others. You love Jesus by loving others. You are not saved by works. That is clear. But your love for God is manifested by good works. Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.” (Verse 12). He said whoever believes in Him will do the works He did. Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you love Jesus and you believe and follow Him if you are loving people in a concrete manner like Jesus. Don’t dupe yourself by saying your relationship with God is a private one and that God knows your heart and that is enough. Yes, God knows your heart, but He wants others to know His heart and He wants people to see you are His disciple. John 13:35, the verse directly after Jesus tells the disciples to love one another as He has loved, says,

“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

So I challenge you to love others tangibly as Jesus loved and loves. I challenge you to do at least one great work today, and each day. I challenge you to unleash the power of God within you and obey Him in a way that might even frighten you a bit. Ask the Father anything in Jesus’ name and watch what Jesus will do for the person you lavish His love upon.

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John 14:1-14 The Father's House

12/19/2014

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John Chapter 14 Verses 1-14

Jesus and the disciples had gathered for the Passover. Judas had just left to betray Jesus. And Jesus had just told Peter that he would deny even knowing Him before the rooster crowed three times the next morning. Jesus knew that He would soon be arrested and He would give up His life for His friends and for the world. He also knew that most of His friends would abandon Him and that most of them would come back. His own heart was troubled (John 13:21). But He comforted the disciples and continued to teach them. Verses 1-4 read,

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.4 And you know the way to where I am going.”

Jesus was going to His Father’s house. He wasn’t referring to a physical house. He was talking about the Father’s personage, His being. Being in God’s presence entirely. You and I dwell in tents now. Our earthly bodies are temporary but God in perfection and eternity is a house. He is a house with many rooms where we can dwell and rest forever. Jesus came so that we could live there too. There is space for us. And Jesus made it possible for us to go there. He prepared the way. 2 Corinthians 5:1-3 says,

“For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked.”

The disciples didn’t think they did know the way to get where Jesus was going. They knew by now that when He talked about His Father, He wasn’t referring to Joseph of Nazareth, but His Father in Heaven, God. But did they know the way to the Father? Thomas voiced their concern, “Lord, We don’t know where you’re going. How can we know the way?” Verses 6-7 read,

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

Jesus wasn’t reprimanding Thomas for his question. He wasn’t accusing Thomas of not being a good follower. He was teaching. He reminded the disciples of everything He had taught. He was about to truly glorify the Father by His act of complete love and sacrifice. And that was when Thomas and the rest would know, yes Jesus is God, Jesus is the Christ. Although they didn’t understand everything He was teaching at the moment, they would understand it when Jesus ascended to the Father and the Spirit was given to them. Everything Jesus taught would be remembered and understood.

Thomas did know the way to the Father’s house. He knew Jesus. Jesus is the only way. We can’t get to Heaven by being good. That is impossible. We can’t get to know God by looking inward, or searching the skies, or by doing good deeds. We can only get to know God by following Jesus. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.

Phillip spoke up with his desire to see God. He said, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” I think some people imagine Jesus as exasperated much of the time, but I don’t see Him that way. Love is patient and kind. Jesus is the personification of love. He is Love. I imagine Him answering with that patience and kindness, understanding that the men were only men and didn’t have the Spirit yet to help them grasp the divine concepts. The people we encounter today who might aggravate us and upset us with their misunderstanding of scripture, salvation, and God don’t have the Spirit either. We have no right to answer them with defensiveness or irritation. Verses 9-11 read,

“Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.”

Jesus already lived in His Father’s house spiritually. He and the Father are united. Jesus is in the Father and the Father is in Him. Jesus said He was going to the Father’s house fully and preparing a place for us. He did that through the cross and resurrection. He made a way by laying down His life so you and I can abide in the Father as well. Believer, Jesus is in the Father, the Father is in Jesus, Jesus is in you, you are in Jesus, the Spirit is in you and you are in the Spirit. Try diagramming that.

Jesus is the truth and He said to believe Him because He said it or believe Him because He proved it but just believe Him. Then He gave one of the most awesome promises ever. Verses 12-14 reads,

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”

If you are living in God and the Father, Son, and Spirit are in you, you can do anything Jesus did and more!!! He said we would do greater things than He did if we do them in Jesus’ name, which means in the will and purpose of God. You’ve got the power of God in you. There are countless lost and hurting people who need a relationship with God. You can bring God to them. You can introduce them to a love so deep they can’t fathom it, a love so strong nothing can change it, and love so perfect that it can heal them perfectly.

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Ephesians 5:1-2 Imitate God? How's that?

11/1/2014

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Ephesians Chapter 5 Verses 1-2

In Ephesians chapter 4 we read about unity and about choosing to walk like Jesus rather than look and act like the lost. In chapter 5 Paul expounds on that idea. Verse 1reads,

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.”

Be imitators of God, as beloved children! What? How can I imitate God? How can I emulate my Father? Verse 2 continues,

“And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

We emulate the Father by following Christ, by walking how He did, doing what He did, and loving as He did. We love. In a dilemma we choose to love. Every day we decide to intentionally love. We love others as Jesus loved us. We have His example to follow. He loved others perfectly. The gospels recorded His birth, His ministry, His death, and His resurrection and ascension. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John wrote His words for us, they wrote about various situations and how Jesus dealt with them. We have His example. The Sermon on the Mount in Matthew chapters 5-7 gives us His words and thoughts on a number of topics.

John 15:12 reads,

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”

This is one of my favorite verses. But you may ask, what it means to love as Jesus loves. Well He expands on that in the very next verses 13-17

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.”

Jesus gave up His life for us. His love for you and me made Him sacrifice Himself for our good. We may not be called on to surrender our lives but we are called to give sacrifice for each other or for the commonwealth of believers. My friend and pastor Robert Gordon, demonstrated Jesus’ love for me one night when he sacrificed precious time with his family and a good night’s sleep to comfort me in the hospital. My friend Teresa sacrificed money she had put away for other things to buy my sisters groceries when they had nothing. I sacrificed my pride when I forgave a person who had wounded me deeply and caused me to lose my job and position. Time, money, pride, and possessions are only some of what we forfeit in love for one another.

We love others by being obedient to God and serving Him. Servitude to God is not like service to a worldly king. He is not a tyrant. He is Love. And He considers His children as friends. He doesn’t just shoot out orders and expect obedience, He partners with us, and He lets us in on the plans and the secrets.

He asks us to bear fruit, not just any fruit, but fruit that will remain. Permanent fruit like the transformation He works in us, like more disciples, and changed lives are the fruit that abides.

He gives us an amazing promise when we intentionally love others as He loved us. That promise is also another way we manifest His Spirit and Love others. He promises that whatever we ask in His name, as His representatives in love, will be given to us! That is pretty big!

Do you say, but Jesus is the Son of God! How can I love the way He loved? He is God, He did amazing things like heal, raise people from the dead, and speak with truth and authority. In John 14:12-17 Jesus said,

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.”

Jesus said whoever believes in Him will do what He did and greater! He didn't say a few people, like my Apostles, will do the works I do and greater. He said whoever believes in me will do the works that I do and greater. Just ask as Jesus’ delegate, in His name and He will do it! You can do what Jesus did because He gave you His Spirit. He is living in you, He is with you. He allows you to know the truth and look at the world with His eyes, love them with His heart and hands, and do what Jesus did, even greater works than Jesus did are possible because you have the Holy Spirit indwelling you. The Holy Spirit teaches you to do what Jesus would do and makes it possible for you to do what He did.

So today I encourage you, Believer to imitate God, follow Christ, and manifest the Spirit. I encourage you to make your life a fragrant offering to the Lord.

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Isaiah 61 Verses 1-2 You are anointed to do what Jesus did.

10/16/2014

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Read Isaiah Chapter 61 Verses 1-2

Sometimes when a Bible passage is very familiar, longtime Christians will read over it quickly without looking deeper into it. That can mean missing something God is saying. Isaiah 61 begins with a passage that is well-known because it is one that Jesus quoted a portion of in Luke 4:18-19 as He began His ministry. He told the people in the synagogue at Nazareth that that very day the scripture had been fulfilled. But Jesus was not only not accepted in the place where He had grown up, He was kicked out of town.

Let’s not miss the message. Let’s not miss the healing, encouragement or salvation the way the people of Nazareth did and dismiss our Savior. Let’s dig in. Verses 1-2 read,

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
    he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
    and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor,
    and the day of vengeance of our God;
    to comfort all who mourn;”

We know this is about Jesus, because He said so Himself. He quoted it but stopped as He got to “and the day of vengeance…” He stopped there because that part of the prophecy was not yet fulfilled by Him. That part is coming when He returns. The day of vengeance will send the enemy and all of his followers into hell, destroy the earth and everything and everyone on it, and make a New Heaven and a New Earth. But let’s step back a moment and look at the rest of it.

The Spirit of the Lord God, The Holy Spirit was on Jesus from the time of His Baptism until death on the cross. Now The Holy Spirit is given freely to every Believer. He comes into us, fills us, guides us, comforts us, transforms us and gifts us. Just as Jesus was anointed or chosen, set aside, and made holy for His ministry on earth we are too. He was not anointed with oil to make Him sacred, He was anointed with God Himself, the Spirit of the Lord.

Believer, you are anointed with the Spirit and by the Spirit as well. You were given gifts and talents. You were given people and circumstances in your life. You were made to serve God in a beautiful and specific way that no one else on this Earth was made like. He consecrated you. He made you righteous. Not so you could sit back and think about your goodness or even God’s goodness, but so you could go out and bring good news to the poor, bind up the broken hearted, and proclaim liberty to the captives.

Jesus didn’t live die and rise from death so you could have a monthly breakfast with your Sunday school class and invite the lost to the latest Kirk Cameron movie. There is nothing wrong with either of those things, but He made you for more!

There are people out there lost and dying and they have no idea. You can tell them the wonderful news that they do not have to wander aimlessly anymore. There are despairing dejected people out there that think there is no such thing as real love. You can show them Love is real, you can let Jesus heal them and bring them joy. There are people in slavery to sin, following the prince of this world and they don’t know how to take the shackles off. Some people think they are in chains when the truth is, they are free but afraid to step out of their prison and into the freedom Jesus gave them. You can declare to those in slavery whether imagined or real that Salvation is theirs. You can open the prison doors and let them know that Jesus wants to be their King and Lord and His freedom is perfect. Jesus did these things while He was on earth. He does them now through you because He gave you His awesome Spirit. One day He is coming back and He will declare His favor over you and all those who are sealed with the Holy Spirit. He will finish the war against the prince of this world and then you will be comforted forever. Your reward will be complete.

Jesus made it possible for you to live the life He made for you. The Holy Spirit is in you! His power, His love, His wisdom, and His peace are in you. You can live a life that brings good news, heals, and liberates.

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2 Kings 20:1-11 Nothing is too big for God; Ask Him Anything!

2 Kings 13:10-25 The Lord Will Never Forsake You

You Can Do What Jesus Did, He Promises!

James 1:5-7 Go Ahead and Ask The Father, He Loves to Give Us Good Things

1 John 5:13-15 Take the Challenge! Ask Anything, Live Miraculously!

John 14:12-17 You Will Do Greater Things than Jesus.

John 14:1-14 The Father's House

Ephesians 5:1-2 Imitate God? How's that?

Isaiah 61 Verses 1-2 You are anointed to do what Jesus did.

Donna Campbell

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