Jesus is Lord!

John 17:9-21
9 “My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. 10 And all of them, since they are mine, belong to you; and you have given them back to me, so they are my glory! 11 Now I am departing the world; I am leaving them behind and coming to you. Holy Father, keep them and care for them-all those you have given me-so that they will be united just as we are. 12 During my time here, I have kept them safe. I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold. 13 “And now I am coming to you. I have told them many things while I was with them so they would be filled with my joy. 14 I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not. 15 I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. 16 They are not part of this world any more than I am. 17 Make them pure and holy by teaching them your words of truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. 19 And I give myself entirely to you so they also might be entirely yours. 20 “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me because of their testimony. 21 My prayer for all of them is that they will be one, just as you and I are one, Father-that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe you sent me.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Published, 1nc.) 1996.

There is something comforting in knowing that Christ prayed for us before He left this world. In fact, He is before the Father right now bringing your requests to Him as stated in Romans 8:34, “It is Christ who died; and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God; who also makes intercession for us.” He wants you to be holy as He was holy. To be holy is to be set apart from sin. He has given us the words of the Father that we might be holy and full of His joy. Intimate contact with Jesus Christ is the source of true joy. It is the prayer of Christ that we stay connected to Him. We already have forgiveness for our sins through Christ’s death on the Cross, but we need a daily application of God’s Word to purify our hearts and minds. Scripture points out our sin, motivates us to confess and renews our relationship with Christ. Is there joy and peace in your life? Is there any measure of holiness? If not, look at your connection to Jesus Christ. Are you more connected to this world than to Christ? Remember, our true source of power is from Christ. And just like a lamp will not give out light unless it is plugged into an electrical socket, so our lives will not give out the light of Christ if we are not plugged into Him. Turn to Jesus and plug into Him everyday and you will have power to live in this world of sin and pain. This is the prayer of Jesus Christ for you.

Have a God Day!

Luke 12:35-39
35 “Be dressed for service and well prepared, 36 as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks. 37 There will be special favor for those who are ready and waiting for his return. I tell you, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat! 38 He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn. But whenever he comes, there will be special favor for his servants who are ready! 39 “Know this: A homeowner who knew exactly when a burglar was coming would not permit the house to be broken into. 40 You must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.”
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1996.

Jesus repeatedly said He would return back to the earth. Those who are ready and waiting for Him will be rewarded with special favor. Since no one knows exactly when He will return we should be ready for Him to come every day. This could be the day He returns for His Bride. Those who are ready are those who know Him. Are you ready today for Him to return? This is a question we should ask ourselves every day. To be ready means that we are walking in obedience to His Word. It means we believe Him and live according to His purpose. Christ’s return at an unexpected time is not a trap or a trick by which God hopes to catch us off guard. God gave us many signs of His returning and just as people knew He was coming the first time, many are ready for Him today. We are ready because we know what the Word of God says about His return. It could happen at any moment and in fact on God’s timeline, His return is the next event to happen. Prepare your life today for this event and don’t be one of those who were taken by surprise at His return. You have His Word and He has given us plenty of warning. Don’t be one of those who knew their duty, but refused to do it. Be prepared by living in obedience to Him and receive all that Christ has for you into this world and the next.

Have a God Day!

1 John 5;6-13
6 This is He who came by water and blood Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one. 9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. 10 He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. 11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.

The Gospels twice declare that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, once at His baptism (Matthew 3:16, 17) and at His transfiguration (Matthew 17:5). But John is giving us a clearer picture of who God really is. There are three witnesses in heaven, the Father, the Word (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit and these three are one. When we get to the end of Revelation we read that Christ will come back to earth and live as the ruler of the world during the Millennium. But after the 1000 year reign of Christ on earth, God the Father will come and live with us along with the Spirit. The world will be rebuilt for the reign of Christ, but will be created completely new for God the Father living with the Church and all of those who lived through the tribulation and the Millennium. And all of these will have the Son. Today only those who have accepted God the Father’s plan through the Word will live with Him forever. As the Day grows closer, life in Jesus Christ will become more difficult. To speak your faith today is not too difficult, but to speak your faith in Jesus Christ is very difficult. Today you can mention God anywhere, but mention Jesus and you are being too narrow and are to exclusive. Those who proclaim faith in Christ Jesus and only through Christ Jesus will have to become bolder in stating their faith. As the Day of His coming grows closer it will become more and more difficult. Stand strong in your faith and do not waiver or become inclusive. The is only one Way to God and that is through Christ Jesus. We are to treat all people with respect and love all people, but stand firm on the Word that states, “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.”

Have a God Day!

Luke 11:9-12
9 “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened. 10 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And the door is opened to everyone who knocks. 11 “You fathers-if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? 12 Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! 13 If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1996.

Do you get discouraged when you think God is not answering your prayers? Or when you think He is not even hearing you when you pray? Many of us do, but many times it is not that God is not answering our prayers, it is that our prayers are not centered on His will for our lives. We make plans and then ask God to bless them after we have decided what we want. Luke 12:21 states, “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.” The most important thing we can do or desire is a closer relationship with Jesus. This is what God desires most from us. And if we are making plans and doing what we think is best for us, then our prayers will reflect our will and not His. And this may be the reason for unanswered prayers. God is not going to give us that which would take us away from what He wants most for us and that is a relationship with Him. But that means that we live according to His purpose for our lives and not ours. That should be the focus of our prayers. Jesus said it best when He was asking God the Father to take the cup of punishment He was about to drink away from Him. But His prayer was if it is possible, not make it happen because it is what I want. His ultimate prayers was “Your will be done.” If God the Father did not spare even His own beloved Son, how much more do you think you will be spared from the trails of this life? Going through that trail trusting in His will may be the best thing that ever happens to you. It may make you stronger in His strength and more like Christ. So accept where you are today and start from this place and seek to know what He wants you to do and not what you want Him to do for you. Be strong in the power of the Spirit that live is in you and not the spirit of this world. And never stop seeking and asking for more of Him.

Have a God Day!

Ephesians 4:17-24
17 With the Lord’s authority let me say this: Live no longer as the ungodly do, for they are hopelessly confused. 18 Their closed minds are full of darkness; they are far away from the life of God because they have shut their minds and hardened their hearts against him. 19 They don’t care anymore about right and wrong, and they have given themselves over to immoral ways. Their lives are filled with all kinds of impurity and greed. 20 But that isn’t what you were taught when you learned about Christ. 21 Since you have heard all about him and have learned the truth that is in Jesus, 22 throw off your old evil nature and your former way of life, which is rotten through and through, full of lust and deception. 23 Instead, there must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes. 24 You must display a new nature because you are a new person, created in God’s likeness-righteous, holy, and true.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1996.

As Christians, we all have the desire to surrender to the will of God, sometimes a very strong desire. But what does it really mean to throw off the “old nature” and put on the “new nature” of Christ that is now within you? How do we do this? It starts with a heart that has been restored. When we come to Christ there have been many events that have happened to us. We all have “baggage.” Most of it is not good and from these events we have learned how to deal with life. And most of what we have learned is contrary to the Word of God. We do this to protect ourselves from further pain. We have learned what to think, different attitudes and patterns of behavior from these events. All of this is not done consciously and most starts in childhood. Someone said something to us and now we think that is who we are. All of this is within every person when they come to Christ. He has to come in and restore your unresolved pain and unmet needs that come from your way of dealing with life. Your way of thinking, behaving and reacting has to be stripped away and Christ be allowed to come in and place within you His way of thinking, His way of behaving and His way of reacting. Most Christians are not willing to be stripped naked of their “old nature” in order for Christ to do this. There is no room for Him to work because we hold onto what we know. If you can relate to this scripture, God is talking to you about letting Him come in to renew your mind to the mind of Christ. Start by going before Him and telling Him you do not know how to do this, but are willing to let Him show you. Then bind your mind to the mind of Jesus Christ daily and loose your old way of thinking, behaving and reacting. Ask God to come in and make Himself at home in your heart and your mind, as you submit to taking on His nature.

Have a God Day!

Philippians 2:5-11
5 Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. 6 Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. 7 He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. 8 And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal’s death on a cross. 9 Because of this, God raised him up to the heights of heaven and gave him a name that is above every other name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1996.

God wants you to have the same attitude that Christ had while He was walking as a human here on earth. Do not be afraid to offer yourself and God within you to those around you. God wants to use your arms to hug them. God wants to use your voice to speak words of wisdom and hope to them. God wants to use your heart to love them. We all need to create room in ourselves for that kind of boldness, wisdom and love. Jesus stretched Himself out to the hurting and those in need and had compassion on them. We should do no less. To have this kind of attitude, you need to see others as God sees them. If He values their potential, how can you judge them as worth any less? Realize there are times when you may be the only link they have to God. Be willing to get outside of your understanding and allow God to think through you and use you to meet the need of a hurting person. This will be having the attitude of Christ and will please the Father.

Have a God Day!