Who do you say that I am?

Matt 16:13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Cæsarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

THere are so many different opinions of Jesus. Even today. Some even say he never existed. So Jesus wants to know, who do we say that he is. Not only who do we think he is, or who do we believe he is. But who do we SAY that he is. Shall we allow everyone else to make claims who they believe he is, and we remain silent?

There are so many misunderstandings and so much misrepresentations of who Jesus is, so he asks his church, his people and his children: Who do you say that I am?

Jesus sent us out to be his witnesses. So the question is: What kind of witness am I? Am I a trustworthy witness? Will people believe my report of Jesus when they listen to me? Do they find me trustworthy?

What is my life saying about Jesus? Who do I say Jesus is by the life I live? What is my attitude testifying about Jesus?

My prayer today is this: Jesus help me to be a trustworthy witness. Help me to be a voice in this world that testifies who you are. Let my life, attitude and responds to situations be a good witness about who you are. Let it reflect your love, patience, piece and Joy. So when I testify that you are indeed God revealed in flesh, people will believe my witness.

When faith makes shipwreck

1 Tim 1:19 holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

 

A shipwreck is a tragic thing. When someone has a shipwreck that means they never reached the destination they once intended to make. 

The same is true, but even more tragic when it comes to faith. When a faith makes shipwreck that means someone once left sin and the world in order to reach heaven. But somewhere, at some point the faith made shipwreck. The reason for that can be so many different things. Sometimes it’s the storms of life that causes the Ship of faith to sink. Maybe the hurt and disappointment became too big. Some say they cant believe in a God that allowed things to happen in their lives. Others have simply got their boat out of course, by taking over the navigation themselves. Instead of letting Jesus be the Captain, they want to decide for themselves where to go and what to do. That has lead the boat right in to dangerous waters. Some maybe have crashed into a rock that bade a huge hole in the boat. Someone perhaps that offended them so bad, they walked away from God and the church. 

 

It really doesn’t matter if we start right, if we don’t make it all the way. We focus much on how to be saved, and we should. But what about staying saved? If you are in a storm right now, and you feel your faith is being shaken, maybe its time to seek shelter? Take some time aside with Jesus, and let him examine your boat. Strengthen your faith, and repair any damages. After some shelter time with Jesus, you are again ready to face the storms of life. We need from time to time to maintain the boat of faith. Check the navigation to make sure you still on the right course.

Search me, O God, and know my heart: Try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way of everlasting.

 

Lest Jesus cleanse your Temple

 Matt 21:12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, 13and said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

 

This is a very strong story, where Jesus shows his true feelings about the Temple. He reveals that the intention of the Temple was to be a house of prayer, but they had turned into a den of thieves.

 

The Bible makes it clear that it is we who are the Temple of God today… What would happen if Jesus were to visit your Temple? Is your Temple fulfilling its purpose? Have you filled your Temple with all kind of junk that was never intended to be there? Do you pray? Is your Temple a house of Prayer?

 

Why don’t you ask Jesus to come by your Temple, and to cleanse it? Let your prayer today be: Help me Lord that my Temple is clean, and fulfilling its purpose.

You are valuable, just the way you are

 Gen 3:5 for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. 

 

When the Devil tempted Adam and Eve, he told them that if they ate of the fruit, they would be as God… What is significant about that, is that the Devil implies that they were not good enough they way they were. That the way God made them could be improved. This is only revealing his own nature. Even though he was the most beautiful and magnificent of all Gods creatures, he was not satisfied. He wanted to be as God.

Here he attempts to inflict this poison into mankind. The thought and the idea that you are not good enough the way you are.

 

From the fall in the garden, this poison has effected mankind throughout all history. Never be satisfied the way you are. Those with dark skin use creams to get more light skin. Those with light skin uses sun and Solariums to get darker skin. Blond hair is died to brown hair, and brown hair is changed to blond hair. Curly hair is made straight and straight hair is made curly. Women use fortunes to change their looks. Nose, chin, breast, nails etc etc. Reason is there is this voice telling us we are not good enough as we are.

 

The Pride ideology builds on the same lie. Don’t be satisfied the way you are, or the way you were born. They support thinking and statements like: “I was born in the wrong body”… Men want to be women, and women want to be men. Some have even gone to the extreme of changing their sex by surgery. But the tragic reality is that they never will be satisfied. Suicidal rate keeps on going higher, and is not even going down after surgery. 

We have a message to them, and to the rest of a world that the Devil is trying to destroy by the lie that you are not good enough. Your creator loves you, and think you are valuable just the way you are!!! You were not born in a wrong body.  You are you.  If you don’t fit into the expectations of those around you, listen to your creator. You are good enough and beautiful enough the way you are.

Where your heart is

 2 Chron 7:16 For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine HEART shall be there perpetually.

 

This is part of what God told King Solomon, when he revealed himself to him by night, after the dedication of the Temple. God reveals that his desire and plan for the Temple is that his heart should be there always. God had chosen and sanctified his house, so that his heart could be there.

Today we know that this Temple only worked as a shadow and example for the truer Temple, which are you and I. The Bible makes it clear that God doesn’t dwell in houses build by men, but rather that we are the Temple of God today. 

 

So what is God trying to tell us today, by his statement to King Salomon? That his intention and plan for us, is to sanctify us, so his HEART can be with us always!!! 

What makes this even more wonderful, is when you think of the statement of Jesus in Matt 6:21 : ”…for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also…”

By choosing us as a dwellingplace for his heart, he also reveals that we are his tressure!!

 

Oh, how he loves us

Jesus loved Martha, Mary and Lazarus

 John 11:5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.

 

Maybe John felt the need of emphasizing the fact that Jesus loved Mary, Martha and Lazarus. Especially after he decided to wait two more days before he arrived on the scene. It would be easy for Martha and Mary to doubt what they had believed until this point. Namely that Jesus did love them. But after seeing he chose not to come back with the messengers, despite the fact Lazarus was dying could very easily cause them to think he didn’t love them. But the Bible makes it clear that it was not because he didn’t love them, that he delayed his coming. 

 

Sometimes it can be easy to assume Jesus doesn’t love me, when I go through hardship in my life. When the answer seems to delay. When it seems like Jesus doesn’t care about my pain and struggle. But let me remind somebody today: Jesus does love you. Whatever you go through does not mean he doesn’t love you. Hold on to your faith in both his LOVE and his ability to change your situation.

This sickness is not unto death

 John 11:3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. 4When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.

 

This statement seems a bit odd, knowing that Lazarus was about to die moments later. But maybe that was exactly the reason for Jesus to say this. This sickness is not unto death. Death is not in control over this sickness. Jesus was. He said it was for the glory of God.

When you go through hardships and trials, you need to tell yourself: This situation is not unto death. My faith will not die as a cause of this. Hell is not in charge. Jesus is in charge. When I come through, I will come through pure as gold. It may look dark and difficult. I may not have all the answers, and even question why sometimes. But I will not allow anything cause the death of my faith. This sickness is not unto death.

Jesus says in Luke 10:19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.

He didn’t promise that we would not encounter snakes and scorpions in our lives, but he promised that when we do, it would not harm us. He never promised we never would get sick; but hat the sickness would not harm us. He never promised us that friends and people never would betray us, but when they do, he would make sure it wouldn’t harm us.

No matter what you face or go through, remember: This situation is not unto death. The Devil is not in charge. Jesus is.

Dont worry about the stink

 John 11:39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. 40Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?

 

When Jesus told Mary to roll the stone away, she was worried about the stink. She was concerned about the smell that would fill the atmosphere and be an embarrassment to her and her family. What would people think? What would they say? Best to keep the stink behind the stone. But Jesus was trying to let her know that if you want your miracle, you will have to endure some stink.

Many times in the Bible, we can see people go through a time of stink before they experience their miracle. Joseph is one example. There in Egypt’s prison, betrayed by his brothers, and betrayed by Potiphar, he was in the midst of STINK. But after the stink was a great miracle. You may go through some stink in your life right now, but maybe what you need is to let Jesus speak into your stink. When the voice of Jesus shouted “Lazarus come forth”, the stink was changed into a great miracle. Let Gods word speak into your situation, and see how God will transform your “stink” into a wonderful testimony.

Confidence in Prayer

 1 King 18:41 And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain. 42So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,

 

First Elijah proclaims to the King with confidence to prepare for an abundance of rain. This is three and a half years after he had told the same King it wouldn’t rain until he said so. Now he proclaims the time has come. What a confidence. What a faith. What an assurance.

But then something strange happens. The Prophet starts to pray… Was it because he was not confident in his own proclamation? Was it because he hoped God would back up his statement? Actually, what it shows is an incredible confidence and faith in the power of prayer. He had prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and God had answered that prayer for three and a half year. Now he hears in the Spirit that it’s finally time to rain. Even though he knows its Gods will for it to rain, he also knows it doesn’t come without prayer. The same prayer that stopped heaven, now opens up heaven. 

 

When God reveals his will to us, is for us to pray it through. Sometime Gods intention to reveal his will to us is to get us on our knees. Will you like Elijah put your face between your knees and pray Gods will through? Will you pray like Jesus taught: Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven? Pray until you see the clouds starts manifest it self?

Don’t say thing like “I guess it wasn’t Gods will” when things doesn’t happen. Sometimes its not the lack of Gods will, but the lack of prayer!!

Not unto death !

John 11: 4When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.

 

 This seems for us that know the story a bit strange. Especially when we know the rest of the story. Even Jesus himself said in verse 14 ”Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.” Seems contradictory at first glans… First he says that this sickness is not unto death, and then he says plainly that Lazarus is dead.  According to the timeline it also seems like Lazarus was already dead when the messengers came back to Martha and Mary. They greeted them with what they thought was the good news from Jesus; “this sickness is not unto death.” They must have been puzzled when they heard he was already dead. 

Did Jesus miss it? Had they misunderstood him? Did they hear wrong?

 

They did not hear wrong or misunderstand, this was exactly what Jesus said. But he didn’t say Lazarus would not die, he only said this sickness is not unto death. In other words, death does not own this situation. Death is not in charge or in control of this sickness. Even though there is some stink already, the promise of Jesus is still more powerful than death itself. 

But before Jesus could do the miracle, they had to role the stone away, and let him do it.

 

Some of you have rolled a stone over some promises, and settled with the thought that I guess it was not meant to be. Let me remind you: Hell is not in charge of your situation. Jesus is. You need to role the stone away and pray one more time. Let the enemy know that this situation is not unto death. Death has “owned” this situation long enough. Stand on the promises of God. 

 

Some people have allowed death and hell to “own” their issue and problem. There is already a stink there. A stink of bitterness. A stink of doubt. A stink of rebellion. What they need to do, is to role the stone of doubt, bitterness and rebellion away and let Jesus make sure that their issue is not ending in a dead faith. Too many people will go to hell over situations that Jesus never meant should lead to death. Maybe they never heard the good news or report from the messengers. Maybe they didn’t believe it. Maybe they refused to let go of their bitterness or doubt. And they end up going to hell, because they never rolled the stone away so the life giving, and life transforming words of Jesus could speak into their lives.