Working in a groceries store, in the meat department, when the meat cutters took off their aprons, We were standing at the time clock waiting for four o'clock so we could sign out, and go home. I could not help overhearing when one of the men I worked with, was mentioning the name of Jesus in a derogatory way, several times in one sentence. I finally could not stand to listen to that anymore, and said to him; "I hear that you know Him too."
Surprised the man said to me; "Know who?" "Jesus” I said; “I heard you mentioning His name several times.”
I love to shock people it will make them think. In the grocery store, you can easily find someone that will complain about the high cost of food.
Because misery loves company, you wholeheartedly agree with them. Tell the person that you are sure that it will get worse. Agreeing with you is assured at this point. I will then tell them, that I won't need to worry as I have a very rich father.
On their faces you can read the surprise, of course, their faces say, then it is no wonder you don't worry if you have a rich father. “Yes ma’am I sure do,” is my reply, as I look up.
I had gone to church one evening with friends when we decided to stop at Denny’s. It had been a great meeting and we were still excited about it. I could not help to notice a young boy, a teenager, sitting at the next table. He kept looking at us.
Finally, he said; “Church can’t be that bad if it can leave you so happy.”
I gave him my phone number and asked him to call me if he wanted to do so, and I would tell him more about the church.
He called me and soon gave his heart to the Lord. I found out that David had lived on the street and had not had a good life so far. Today he is a happily married man. Yes, the Lord works through people.
A friend from church was in the hospital. I went to visit him and when leaving his room, I saw a man standing in the doorway of the room next door to my friend’s room. He beckoned to me and it was clear, he needed to talk to someone. He told me that he had cancer, and might have to have an operation.
He said that he was very scared. I asked him if he was a Christian. He said that he was not. I told him that I cared what happened to him.
He wanted to know, why I would care, as I did not know him at all. I said that I cared because God cared. He then told me that his sister had been talking to him about God, but that he could not stand to listen to her about it. He said that he didn't mind hearing it from me though.
I gave him the gospel of John that day, as it also had the sinner’s prayer in the back of this booklet.
Later I went back to see him, and he told me that he had been praying to the Lord.
I asked him if he wanted to meet the Lord, and he said that he would and we prayed.
He was no sooner saved, than he became an instant missionary.
He told me that he had witnessed to his wife, and she accepted the Lord also.
I had given my new brother in the Lord my phone number.
A few weeks later the wife phoned to tell me that her husband was dying, and would I come to the hospital.
The doctors had decided not to operate anymore, as his cancer was too advanced. That same night my new friend died.
I know that I will one day also meet with him again.....................
On one of my visits to a different care home, I met Lee, a delightful Chinese man. I perceived right away that Lee wanted to hear more about Jesus, as this time I started to tell Lee right from the start about the Saviour. I asked him if he wanted to ask Jesus to come to live in his heart and he shook his head vigorously that yes that is what he wanted to do. Lee, I will pray, and if you agree you repeat it okay Lee.? So it happened that Lee asked Jesus to come to live in his heart and become his Saviour On my next visit, I brought Lee a Bible in Mandarin, His English was pretty good but when it comes to the Gospels it is good to be able to read it in your own language. (You can get Bibles for free in all languages, just Google it, also Thriftf stores give them to you for free)
I want a big family in the hereafter so you all come.................
Totally agree with you Orzz, have been buying at Thrift stores for many years. Best are those stores that donate to the hospitals. Hospital auxiliaries. I have often been amazed at what some people give away. It often looks new and so I have some very nice clothes bought for very little money.......
Need a place to start? I chose a nursing home or called a care home. Just tell the people up front that you like to visit no one in particular. The people there are so grateful to have someone to talk to. So many there who never get a visitor or as one man told me that his daughter already picked up the check so why did I come? Just to visit with him? You will see that most keep score of when someone came to visit. I wonder if their family knows that they do this, keep track of the visits. One man told me that people just come for money. Finding out that he missed his own music, I bought him a little transistor radio, so now he could listen to his own choice of music in private. ( I made lots of money and no one to spend it on) You can't tell a hurting person that Jesus loved them they need to see His love. A visit and a listening ear are so appreciated. Show you care! Be sensitive, It is very rewarding for sure When to start talking about the Lord? You will find an opening telling about yourself may be a start. It is difficult to tell you as it is very individual. Some people like to talk and others like to hear about you. As I said; Just be sensitive to their needs first......................
The purpose of this article is to offer some advice on why and how Christians should be faithful witnesses to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
The word witness is interesting since it denotes something we are and something we do. One who sees or experiences something is a witness, and one who tells about that is witnessing. It is clear that all who see or experience something are witnesses and it is also clear that not all witnesses are witnessing. If you are a Christian, you are a witness. How good and faithful of a witness are you?
As Christians, we have a responsibility and the privilege to witness to the lost concerning our blessed Redeemer. We have been commanded to “witness to the world” (Mark 16:15) and He has provided us with the privilege of sharing in the delivery of the gospel. Here are a few thoughts intended to help you consider what the Lord has put before us all, and maybe by focusing on one or more of these ideas, you can be a more faithful witness.
The Purpose ; We are to tell others about Him, nothing more and nothing less. We need not be discouraged if there is little visible fruit in salvation shown from our efforts. Our responsibility is to get the message out clearly and in a reasonable manner to those who are willing to listen. John the baptizer specifically “came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through Him might believe.” (John 1:7-8).
The Person Focus on the Person we represent and the person to whom we are witnessing. We are messengers of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (1 Timothy 6:15), the One who created and sustains the universe. He is the Savior, the One who laid down His life for the lost. He is the Lord and we need not be ashamed in any way. And, to whom are you witnessing? Do you have a genuine care and concern, or are you merely going through the motions? Imagine that you came upon a house that was on fire and someone was in the house and unaware of the imminent danger. Would you do all that you could to save them from a horrible death? Would you pull them from the fire? (Jude 20-23). The people to whom you are witnessing who are lost and on the way to eternity and the fires of hell, and the Lord has placed you in their path to tell them of Him. Do so.
The Preparation Witnesses are open to questions so it is only natural that you will be asked questions about what you believe. You should be prepared with Bible study and prayer, but do not let your lack of knowledge keep you from witnessing. Be ready to provide answers for what you do know, and to get answers for what you do not know (1 Peter 3:15-16). In John chapter 9, the man who was blind from birth was given sight by our Lord. He was questioned by the Pharisees and he simply told them what had happened to him. When the Pharisees would not believe him and asked him the same questions again he states, “I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? Will ye also be His disciples?” (John 9:27). He did not have detailed answers to all the questions but he could tell them what happened to him. He was clearly not skilled in the scriptures but was able to tell of his experience. We should be as prepared as possible and we can do that with regular prayer and Bible study (2 Timothy 2:15). But don’t let your lack of Bible knowledge prevent you from witnessing about your Savior.
The Plan Have a plan and do not do things haphazardly. Are you planning to meet anyone today with whom you can share the gospel or have you asked the Lord to make someone available for you to witness to? Do you carry tracts and other materials to hand out? We are blessed with gifted speakers, gospel meetings, and excellent evangelistic materials. What is your plan today to meet and befriend one who is lost and to witness to them?
How Great Thou Art Oh Lord, my God When I, in awesome wonder Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder Thy power throughout the universe displayed Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee How great Thou art, how great Thou art Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee How great Thou art, how great Thou art
And when I think that God, His Son not sparing Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing He bled and died to take away my sin Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee How great Thou art, how great Thou art Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee How great Thou art, how great Thou art
When Christ shall come, with shouts of acclamation And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart Then I shall bow, in humble adoration And then proclaim, my God, how great Thou art Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee How great Thou art, how great Thou art Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee How great Thou art, how great Thou art How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Now, let's pray. Would you buy your head and close your eyes? Jesus, thank you for those who have given their lives to you, we know our future is certain. We've been sealed with your Holy Spirit. And so Jesus, thank you that it doesn't depend on us.
It doesn't depend on our successes are failures. But it depends on the fact that you do not ever lose that which belongs to you. And so thank you that in such an uncertain world, we can have this unwavering and certain peace. We belong to you. Thank you, Lord.
We pray for all those in our lives who don't know you and Lord, we want them to come to a knowledge of you now so that they can live for you and bring glory to you with their lives and enjoy the benefits and eternity of living for you. We want them to know the peace and joy and the hope that only you can bring. But, Lord, we also pray for those who are not open right now. Lord, help us to not give up, help us to be faithful, to plant those seeds, to share the gospel, to walk through the doors that you open, to share the truth, to share hope.
Lord God, knowing that the greatest revival of the world has ever seen is yet to come.
So, Lord, we pray, draw many to you, and use us Lord freely to do it. Give us the boldness that the disciples and the early believers had. We pray for boldness Lord, that we might be a light for You in our lifetime. And I just want to say if you're here and you're watching this and you haven't given your life to Jesus. I want to invite you to do that right now by just going to our website at Gospel City. A gospel and watching the gospel video there.
Go do that right now. If you haven't given your life to Jesus yet ,so Lord, we love you. We bless you. We thank you. All of our hope is in you.
And all of our peace comes from you. In your name. We pray. Amen.
This is the imagery that John is using, with the number of lamps being doubled to fit the witness motif. The church is pictured here as Spirit-filled in order to testify to God’s truth. Being empowered by the all-sufficient Spirit of God, the church shines forth the light of God’s true word.
Being built up in and on the Light of the world, the church testifies to the Light. Now in Zechariah 4, the light-giving menorah fed by the olive trees is particularly a picture of God’s word to Zerubbabel, the Davidic governor who would lay the foundation of the temple. This Zerubbabel, then, prophetically pictured the person and work of Christ. Christ even acknowledged this fulfillment when he said in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”
Jesus Christ is the One and True Light of the world. He laid the foundation of God’s temple people through his own death and resurrection, and all who come to him in faith are founded upon him. Therefore, being built up in and on the Light of the world, the church testifies to the Light. The Light of Christ shines through us as his temple people.
The two witnesses are covenant prosecutors giving legally valid testimony. And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed. (Rev. 11:5)
What is the effect of the ministry of these two witnesses? What role and power does the church’s menorah-testimony have? What is demonstrated by where the two witnesses stand and what they are able to do?
First, the two menorahs stand before the Lord of the earth (Rev. 11:4). This is a legal and judicial stance. The title “Lord of the Earth” highlights God as the Sovereign Judge; to stand before him is to be his witness, his prosecutor. Their legally valid testimony becomes the basis for the Lord’s judgment.
Second, we learn in verse 5 what the witnesses can do to those who desire to harm them. To harm the witnesses is to reject their message in hatred and hostility so as to desire their end. And what happens to such rejecters? “Fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes.”
The “fire” from the mouth of the witnesses refers to the power and effect of the word. This is not fire from heaven but from the mouth of the two. This is not literal fire or a physical burning. Rather, fire from the mouth is like the sword issuing forth from the mouth of the Son of Man. It refers to the power and effect of the word.
This imagery is found when the Lord speaks to Jeremiah about his prophetic ministry, as he says in Jeremiah 5:14, “Behold, I am making my words in your mouth a fire, and this people wood, and the fire shall consume them.” This fire refers to the judging and condemning effect of the prophetic word.
So also, for those who reject the testimony of the two witnesses, the church’s preaching condemns and judges them unto death. Their testimony convicts; it leaves the rejecter guilty and under the curse of eternal fire.
From what I have been reading, I believe that we are now living in the last of the 70th week. That is why it is so important to understand the 70 weeks talked about in the Book of Daniel. Remarkable how the book of Daniel and Revelation are knit together and should be studied together. This is why at times I like to bring you articles from different sources.
Also, we will meet again with (Elijah and Enoch), Or (Elijah and Moses), in the last of the 70 weeks. These two will be killed and the people are so happy they exchange gifts. Ha ha, the two dead men will come back to life. .............. God has a purpose for keeping these men re-appearing in the last days.:..........
The latter meaning would be much more consistent with what the Prophets had to say about the reason for Messiah’s death (e.g. Isaiah 53:1-12). The first three purposes of the 70 sevens—to finish the transgression, to make an end to sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity—have to be accomplished by an atonement. The Law of Moses decreed that atonement is made by blood (Leviticus 17:11). It appears that Messiah’s death “not for himself” but for others would be the means by which Israel’s transgression, sins and iniquity would be atoned for. The point of this phrase is that between the end of the second subdivision (the 69th seven) and before the start of the 70th seven, Messiah would be killed and would die a penal, substitutionary death.
Another temple destruction; Secondly, during this interim period, it would also happen that “the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary, and the end thereof shall be with a flood.…” The city and the temple that was to be rebuilt because of the decree by which the 70 sevens began would now be destroyed. So sometime after the Messiah was cut off, Jerusalem and the temple would suffer another destruction. Our knowledge of history during this period is extremely clear: the people responsible for this deed were the Romans, and Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed in the year 70 C. E. Based upon this verse, it is also clear that the Messiah should have both come and died prior to the year 70 C.E. If such an event did not take place, then Daniel was a false prophet. If such an event did occur, then the question must be answered, who was that Messiah who was killed before 70 C.E.?
All this would set the stage for the final, or 70th, seven. The third thing to take note of would be, “and even unto the end shall be war; desolations are determined.” For the remainder of the interval between the 69th seven and the 70th seven, the land would be characterized by war, and its resulting condition would be desolation. All this would set the stage for the final, or 70th, seven.
The 70th seven Daniel 9:27 From where we stand in time today, the last seven years of Daniel’s prophecy are still prophetic, still future, but it is with their conclusion that all six purposes of verse 24 will reach their fulfillment. The verse’s main points are as follows: First, the 70th seven will begin only with the signing of a seven-year covenant or treaty between Israel and a major Gentile political leader. Secondly, in the middle of that period, that is, after 3 1/2 years, this Gentile leader will break his treaty with Israel and caused a cessation of the sacrificial system. The implication here is that by this time a temple in Jerusalem will have been rebuilt again and the sacrificial system of Moses re-instituted but then will be forcefully ceased. Thirdly, the result of the breaking of this covenant is that the temple will now be abominated. The ” abomination” refers to an image or an idol. As it was in the days of Antiochus Epiphanes, so it will be again in the future when a gentile ruler will abominate the temple by means of idolatry. Fourthly, the abomination is to be followed by wrath and desolation, persecution, and warfare, for the remaining half of the 70th seven (the final 3 1/2 years). This is similar to the trials and tribulations the rabbis spoke of as preparation for the establishment of the messianic kingdom. These terrible days were referred to as “the footsteps of the Messiah.” But once those days have run their course, the last three things predicted in verse 24 will occur: After this period the age of righteousness will be brought in, in which the holiest place will be anointed and every vision and prophecy be fulfilled. At this point, the messianic kingdom for which the prophet Daniel yearned will be set up.
Obviously, the messianic kingdom requires the Messiah to rule as king. This means the Messiah will come after the 70th seven.
We see it all as God preparing the scene for His program with Israel. We don't look for 70th seven. We look for our deliverance (1 Thessalonians 1:10). We look for our blessed hope (Titus 2:13). Here is a good way to think about the Second Coming: "We plan as though Jesus isn't coming for 1,000 years, but we live as if He is coming in the next 10 minutes." Israel's immediate future is desperate, but she will repent and turn to God, trust in the blood of Christ, and have a glorious future with the Lord. By the way, the same future is available to all who apply the blood of Christ to themselves.
Hopefully, this overview will help you to make sense of Bible prophecy and how it applies to what is going on in the world today, as well as to remind you that God is in control of our future, and has been since the beginning of time.
Daniel 12: End-time events; While previous prophecies in the book of Daniel have touched upon end-time events, the final chapter gives special emphasis to this time period. Even though this will be “a time of trouble” unlike any other, the encouragement for God’s people is that after Christ returns they will receive eternal life and be glorified (verses 1-3).
A brief reference to the resurrections is found in verse 2. Verse 4 shows that indications of the end time will be mankind’s ability to travel and an explosion of knowledge.
For further explanation of these prophecies, how long this time of trouble will last, and the correlation of these prophecies with Christ’s teaching, see the article “Daniel 12: End-Time Events.”
Angels; Angels are spoken of in at least 34 books of the Bible, including the book of Daniel. While there are a vast number of angels, we know very few of their names. The Bible provides the names of only three of these spirit beings, and the Book of Daniel provides two of these.
Although Daniel’s three friends also served with him in King Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylonian government, they are likely best known for their example of faith in refusing to bow down to an image created by the king.
After being told that they would be thrown into a fiery furnace if they did not worship the image, the three respectfully told the monarch that they would not do so. They explained that their God could save them, but even if He did not, they would not bow down to the king’s image.
While understanding the background of the names of Daniel’s friends is interesting information, these men’s outstanding examples of faith are much more important. Their tests of faith in regard to their diets and threats of the loss of their lives remain a timeless encouragement for us today to live similarly.
Nebuchadnezzar’s statue; The book of Daniel contains many prophecies—some that have been fulfilled and some that will be fulfilled in the future. The prophecy in this book begins in chapter 2 with King Nebuchadnezzar of the Babylonian Empire receiving a strange dream of a great image. God, through Daniel, revealed that this dream meant that three great world-ruling empires would follow after the Babylonian Empire.
The walls DID come tumbling down! As to their evidence, Dr. Bryant Wood, Director of the Associates for Biblical Research and one of the leading experts on the archaeology of Jericho, recently responded.
“It matters little what the Italian archaeologists did not find in their month-long dig. The evidence is already in. Three major expeditions to the site over the past 90 years uncovered abundant evidence to support the Biblical account.”
As Wood went on to point out, John Garstang (1930-1936) and Kathleen Kenyon (1952-1958) both dug at Jericho for six seasons and a German excavation directed by Ernst Sellin and Carl Watzinger dug for three. All found abundant evidence of the city’s destruction by fire in a layer related to the Biblical date of 1400 BC.
In September 1997, Dr. Wood visited Jericho and examined the results of the Italian excavation first hand. Incredibly, he found the Italians had uncovered the stone outer revetment wall at the base of the tell with part of the mudbrick wall built on top of it still intact. In the balk of the Italian excavation, at the outer base of the revetment wall, Wood noticed the remains of the collapsed mudbrick city walls which had tumbled. Not only did the Italians find the same evidence uncovered in the earlier excavations, it fits the Biblical story perfectly!
Excavations at Tell es-Sultan; In 1868, Charles Warren identified Tell es-Sultan as the site of biblical Jericho. Ernst Sellin and Carl Watzinger excavated the site between 1907–1909 and 1911, finding the remains of two walls which they initially suggested supported the biblical account of the Battle of Jericho. They later revised this conclusion and dated their findings to the Middle Bronze Age (-1550 BCE). In 1930–1936, John Garstang conducted excavations there and discovered the remains of a network of collapsed walls which he dated to about 1400 BCE. Kathleen Kenyon re-excavated the site over 1952–1958 and demonstrated that the destruction occurred at an earlier time, during a well-attested Egyptian campaign against the Hyksos of that period, and that Jericho had been deserted throughout the mid-late 13th century BCE, the supposed time of Joshua's battle. Sources differ as to what date Kenyon instead proposed; either c. 1500 BCE or c. 1580 BCE. Kenyon's work was corroborated in 1995 by radiocarbon tests which dated the destruction level to the late 17th or 16th centuries BCE. A small unwalled settlement was rebuilt in the 15th century BCE, but it has been agreed that the tell was unoccupied from the late 15th century until the 10th/9th centuries BCE.
More recently, Lorenzo Nigro from the Italian-Palestinian Expedition to Tell es-Sultan has argued that there was some sort of settlement at the site during the 14th and 13th centuries BCE.n He states that the expedition has detected Late Bronze II layers in several parts of the tell, although its top layers were heavily cut by leveling operations during the Iron Age, which explains the scarcity of 13th-century materials. Nigro rejects the idea that these discoveries give credence to the biblical narrative about the conquest of Canaan by Joshua.
Solomon was the biblical king most famous for his wisdom. In 1 Kings he sacrificed to God, and God later appeared to him in a dream, asking what Solomon wanted from God. Solomon asked for wisdom in order to better rule and guide his people. Pleased, God personally answered Solomon's prayer, promising him great wisdom because he did not ask for self-serving rewards like long life or the death of his enemies.
Perhaps the best known story of his wisdom is the Judgment of Solomon; two women each lay claim to being the mother of the same child. Solomon easily resolved the dispute by commanding the child to be cut in half and shared between the two. One woman promptly renounced her claim, proving that she would rather give the child up than see it killed. Solomon declared the woman who showed compassion to be the true mother, entitled to the whole child.
Solomon was traditionally considered the author of several biblical books, "including not only the collections of Proverbs, but also of Ecclesiastes and the Song of Solomon and the later apocryphal book the Wisdom of Solomon."
What a Friend We Have in Jesus................. Paul Baloche
What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer. Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer. Are we weak and heavy-laden, cumbered with a load of care? Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer! In His arms He'll take and shield you; you will find solace there. Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer. Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.
Source: Musixmatch Songwriters: C. Converse / J Scriven
Conflict with false prophets; While Jeremiah was prophesying the coming destruction, he denounced a number of other prophets who were prophesying peace.[Jeremiah 6:13–15]
According to the book of Jeremiah, during the reign of King Zedekiah, the Lord instructed Jeremiah to make a yoke with the message that the nation would be subject to the king of Babylon. The false prophet Hananiah took the yoke off Jeremiah's neck and broke it, prophesying that within two years the Lord would break the yoke of the king of Babylon, but Jeremiah prophesied in return: "You have broken the yoke of wood, but you have made instead a yoke of iron."[Jeremiah 28:13]
Relationship with the Northern Kingdom (Samaria) Jeremiah was sympathetic to, as well as descended from, the northern Kingdom of Israel. Many of his first reported oracles are about and addressed to, the Israelites at Samaria. He resembles the northern prophet Hosea in his use of language and examples of God's relationship to Israel. Hosea seems to have been the first prophet to describe the desired relationship as an example of ancient Israelite marriage, where a man might be polygamous, while a woman was only permitted one husband. Jeremiah often repeats Hosea's marital imagery.
Jesus believed in Jonah and his story. In fact, Jesus used the story of Jonah and the big fish as THE sign, the one and only symbol of His coming death, burial, and resurrection. Jesus referenced it not once, but twice.
Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection were the most important and crucial series of events in the history of the world and eternity. Jesus staked His claim as Son of God, Christ and Messiah on His resurrection.
How crazy would it be that Jesus would claim to be “The Truth,” if His resurrection were based on a myth? How absurd would it be that Jesus would base His claims of speaking God’s truth upon a lie?
Here’s the deal. Jesus used the story of Jonah’s three days in the belly of the big fish because it was true. Jesus used Jonah’s story as a sign that, after His crucifixion, He’d be in the heart of the earth for three days and nights and then be “spit back out” because both were true.
Discount the story of Jonah and you discount Jesus’ account of His own resurrection. Jonah, the big fish, and Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection: ....................
Walvis Bay Community Church September 3, 2022 · The Verge of Revival
Jonah set out on the first day of his walk in the city and proclaimed, “In forty days Nineveh will be demolished!” Then the people of Nineveh believed God (Jonah 3:4–5, CSB).
Jonah is a prophet we find in the Bible who, when given a divine assignment from God, chose at first to flee from that word rather than submit to it. But when he did submit, when he said “yes” to God, revival broke out in a rebellious land.
I wonder, what is on the other side of your “yes” to God today. You could be on the verge of revival, of breakthrough, or victory in your home, workplace, school, or community.
My prayer is that you will choose to accept your daily divine assignments by valuing the small conversations, the small interactions, and the small acts of obedience that lead to a life lived on a mission, producing great fruit for the glory of God.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works so that no one can boast.
How often have I heard people tell me how much good they do for others. Give to the poor, help wherever they can. That is wonderful and it makes you a good person but not necessarily a Christian. You can NOT earn your Salvation. (Not by works lest anyone could boast) This seems too easy for some to accept, how easy it is to become a Christian! Yes indeed it is that easy, but..............the hard work comes later when we need/want to stay a good Christian. Then we can get help from the Holy Spirit, who is there to keep us on the straight and narrow. Your heart is willing? The Holy Spirit is always there for us, to do His part..............
Jesus is now in heaven interceding for mankind and preparing a place for the faithful (John 14:2-3). Someday soon He will return to judge the world. The apostle John wrote about that day. “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it... And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened... and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books” (Revelation 20:11-12). God will separate the faithful followers of Jesus Christ from those who lived in selfish unbelief. He will receive all the faithful into the heavenly mansions He has prepared.
Do you know the One who knows everything about you? Are you experiencing the power of the resurrection today? If not, then come. Come and see the risen Lord............
Jesus is Lord, He is My Lord, is He yours? He could be yours right now. Open your heart, Ask Jesus to forgive your sins and take over your heart. He will come in, as promised, and from now on He will be your Savior.................
The resurrection; “Come, see.” These words recorded in John 4:29 were spoken by a Samaritan woman with a sense of wonderment and awe. She had just met a Man at the village well who said He was the Messiah. Something about this Man convinced her that He knew all about her although not many words were spoken. She felt his love and compassion even though she was living in sin. With a sense of urgency, she hurried back to her village, her water pot forgotten. “Come,” she said, “come see and hear for yourselves.”
Jesus came to earth with a message of hope. His love and compassion reached out to everyone, including the outcasts of society. He healed the sick, comforted the distressed, and preached salvation. Many received His teachings and followed Him. The religious leaders felt threatened by his message of love and humility and plotted to kill Him. He was betrayed, arrested, and sentenced to die. As the angry mob followed, Roman soldiers took Jesus up the hill of Golgotha and nailed Him to a wooden cross between two thieves.
Jesus was crucified at nine o’clock in the morning. At noon the sky darkened for three hours. Afterward, Jesus cried with a loud voice, “It is finished,” and gave up his life. There was a mighty earthquake that rent the rocks and opened many graves.
Jesus’s disciples took his body down from the cross. They lovingly placed it in a new tomb and closed the entrance with a large stone. Early in the morning of the third day, there was a great earthquake. An angel came down from heaven and rolled the stone away from the tomb. Some women who loved Him came to anoint his body, and they were surprised to find the tomb empty. They were met by angels who told them, “He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. And they remembered his words” (Luke 24:6-8).
Following his resurrection Jesus met his disciples in an upper room. He showed them the wounds in his hands and his side and blessed them with the peace of God. He spent forty days teaching and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. With his death and resurrection, the plan of salvation was completed.
One day while speaking with his disciples, Jesus told them to wait at Jerusalem until they received the power of the Holy Spirit. This would enable them to witness Him wherever they went. When He finished speaking, He lifted up His hands, blessed them, and ascended into heaven. As the disciples watched Him ascend, two men in white clothing appeared and said, “Ye men of Galilee, why to stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).
So when the people of Samaria heard Jesus’s message, they believed in Him. They told the woman, “Now we believe, not because of what you said, but because we have heard Him ourselves and know that He really is the Christ.” The gospel of Jesus Christ, which is his teachings, death, and resurrection, is the power of God unto salvation. To experience salvation, come to Jesus, repent, and forsake sin. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and commit your life to Him. Then through the power of the Holy Spirit, you can love and forgive all people, even your enemies. As Christians continue in faithful obedience, Jesus gives the power to live victoriously over sin.
Jesus is now in heaven interceding for mankind and preparing a place for the faithful (John 14:2-3). Someday soon He will return to judge the world. The apostle John wrote about that day. “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it... And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God, and the books were opened... and the dead were judged out of those things which were written
Jesus Christ, You are alive. You have given the good news. Life is abundant, and now life is eternal to those who know You and that includes me. "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten, Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
You have promised it, Lord. "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live." You have promised that if I have faith as the grain of a mustard seed, I can say to my mountain, "move and nothing will be impossible. Jesus Christ, look at me. You know who I am. You know where I come from. You know what problems I carry in my heart, and my mind, and in my physical, organic body.
O Lord, you know a lot more about me than I do. A lot more about me than any doctor, any psychiatrist, or any counselor knows.
O God, give me the gift of faith. I receive this gift, and I feel a warm glow. Your faith is flowing from my mind, across my face, across my lips, down my neck, and through my body. I am feeling the healing prescence of the God of all eternity. In the name of my Lord, I praise You, and I thank You, Jesus Christ. Amen.
With Permission from The Possibility Thinkers Bible (NKJV) Eagles Club Edition Prayers for Positive Faith Copyright 1996, 1984 by Robert H. Schuller and Paul David Dunn
The Best Day of My Life by Gregory M. Lousig-Nont, Ph.D.
TODAY, WHEN I AWOKE,
I suddenly realized that this is the best day of my life, ever! There were times when I wondered if I would make it to today, but I did! And because I did I'm going to celebrate!
Today, I'm going to celebrate what an unbelievable life I have had so far: the accomplishments, the many blessings, and, yes, even the hardships because they have served to make me stronger.
I will go through this day with my head held high, and a happy heart.
I will marvel at God's seemingly simple gifts: the morning dew, the sun, the clouds, the trees, the flowers, the birds. Today, none of these miraculous creations will escape my notice.
Today, I will share my excitement for life with other people. I'll make someone smile.
I'll go out of my way to perform an unexpected act of kindness for someone I don't even know.
Today, I'll give a sincere compliment to someone who seems down. I'll tell a child how special he is, and I'll tell someone I love just how deeply I care for her/him and how much she/he means to me.
Today is the day I quit worrying about what I don't have and start being grateful for all the wonderful things God has already given me. I'll remember that to worry is just a waste of time because my faith in the Divine Plan ensures everything will be just fine.
And tonight, before I go to bed, I'll go outside and raise my eyes to the heavens.
I will stand in awe at the beauty of the stars and the moon, and I will give thanks for these magnificent treasures.
As the day ends and I lay my head down on my pillow, I will thank the Almighty for the best day of my life.
And I will sleep the sleep of a contented child, excited with expectation because I know tomorrow is going to be the best day of my life, ever!
Jesus Christ was crucified on Good Friday. So why is it called ‘good’? Good Friday is a Christian holiday commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. This year, it is observed on April 7.
Good Friday, Jesus Christ; Good Friday is considered to be a day of penance and remembrance Good Friday is a Christian holiday commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. According to the New Testament accounts, Jesus was crucified on a Friday, which is now commemorated as Good Friday by Christians around the world. It is a solemn day for Christians, typically observed with somber and reflective activities that focus on the suffering and death of Jesus Christ.
Good Friday is considered to be a day of sorrow, penance, and fasting. In many Christian communities, Good Friday services are held in churches where Jesus' crucifixion is remembered through readings, hymns, and prayers. A reading of the Passion narrative is often included in these services as it describes the events leading up to Jesus' death, as well as his last words from the cross. Some Christians choose to fast or abstain from meat as a form of penance on Good Friday.
If Good Friday is a day of sorrow and remembrance, it begs the question – why is it called “Good” Friday?
Good Friday is called "good" because of the religious significance of the day for Christians, who believe that Jesus’s death on the cross was the ultimate sacrifice for humanity's sins. For Christians, this sacrifice represents the ultimate act of love and redemption, and it is good because it marks the start of his resurrection on Easter, which is the most important religious holiday for Christians.
Another theory is that the “good” in Good Friday refers to the word’s original Old English meaning, where it means holy. Therefore, Good Friday is also sometimes called Holy Friday.
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What Makes Jesus Unique? No one else made the claims that He did, He is alive...............
Working in a groceries store, in the meat department, when the meat cutters took off their aprons, We were standing at the time clock waiting for four o'clock so we could sign out, and go home. I could not help overhearing when one of the men I worked with, was mentioning the name of Jesus in a derogatory way, several times in one sentence. I finally could not stand to listen to that anymore, and said to him; "I hear that you know Him too."Surprised the man said to me; "Know who?" "Jesus” I said; “I heard you mentioning His name several times.”
I love to shock people it will make them think.
In the grocery store, you can easily find someone that will complain about the high cost of food.
Because misery loves company, you wholeheartedly agree with them. Tell the person that you are sure that it will get worse. Agreeing with you is assured at this point. I will then tell them, that I won't need to worry as I have a very rich father.
On their faces you can read the surprise, of course, their faces say, then it is no wonder you don't worry if you have a rich father.
“Yes ma’am I sure do,” is my reply, as I look up.