Friday Fellowship: KNOWING “HOW” IS NOT FAITH…KNOWING “WHO” IS FAITH!

HOW does a rainbow come to be? I don't know maybe some atoms, particles, rain molecules mix somehow. But, a better question is WHO formed that beautiful rainbow? The Bible says it's a token of a covenant with man that God will not destroy all flesh with water by flood again. HOW did God make the rainbow? It doesn't say. 

Luke 17, talks about a centurion whose servant was near death and he sought out a man WHO he HEARD of, Jesus, and earnestly asked him to come heal his servant. Jesus complied and when he was close the centurion’s friends greeted him. The centurion's message to Jesus was, "I have authority and understand authority I know when I command of my servants they obey. So Jesus if you just speak the word my servant will be healed." At some point while Jesus was coming he understood WHO was coming was far greater than HOW he would do it. The Bible says that Jesus marveled at his faith, calling it GREAT FAITH. The Bible does not say what Jesus said in regards to the centurion's request to speak the healing words. After Jesus hears the message he acknowledges the GREAT FAITH and the next verse says the servants left and returned home to the healed servant. Are there prayers in your life you’re still waiting for? This story shows that the miracle was already on its way, but because of GREAT FAITH, it came sooner. The centurion had GREAT FAITH because he said to himself, “I’m trusting in WHO he is rather than HOW he will do it.” Sometimes when you focus on the HOW of a situation it causes you to doubt, have fear, and ultimately feel hopeless. In Luke 7, a widow’s son died and the funeral ceremony was crossing Jesus’ path. Jesus eventually raised the boy from the dead.  Jesus was nearer to this widow woman and the funeral party than the centurion.  However, the only difference was that this funeral party did not know WHO Jesus was so they did not know to seek him even though he was nearby. The centurion knew WHO he was because he heard of him. 

The insight that I gained from today’s reading is this: Christians, like centurion, make great efforts to seek God because we know WHO he is.  Also, this is the reason why we should tell the world WHO he is, because there are people WHO are in dire need to know WHO God is. These same people are suffering just as the widow did, and in reality, they do not need to because God is always there to save.  Furthermore, this is the reason why we must reflect God’s image in our own lives so that other people can see WHO he is!!!  Is there anybody in our lives WHO don’t know WHO God is??? WHO’s image are you reflecting???

WHO was God to Noah? He was shelter, guidance, strength, a provider of food, and family. WHO is God to me?  God is my strength, my confidant, my boldness, my patience, and above all else my everything.  WHO is God to you???

God never addressed the HOW in today’s reading.  He never once told us HOW the rainbow was made or HOW he healed the sick.  God just did it!!! Has God ever given you a vision and never told you HOW to do it??? I’m sure he has! Let’s attempt to live with GREAT FAITH.  

GREAT FAITH is taking the limits off of God just as the centurion did.  He believed that God could perform a miracle so great that God did not even have to come to his house.  His faith said that all God had to do was speak a word and he would be healed.  I took this as elevating your personal faith in God.  Have you elevated your faith in God lately??? Has it grown bigger than the size of mustard seed??  Is it bigger today than yesterday?  The bible says: in Psalms 4:2 “How long will ye turn my glory into shame?”  And Psalms 4:6 reads, “There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.”

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Thirsty Thursdays: Dare To Be Different

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We as Christians are called to be different. We were made in his image, and as stated in the first post that’s not saying we physically look like God, but that we embody and reflect his characteristics such as love, mercy and forgiveness.  These qualities should be on display not just when things are going well and all is easy breezy, but during the difficult times and through our storms. Exemplify the qualities of God even when our love, gentleness, mercy or compassion is going unrequited. We all at times want to get even, or seek revenge when others do us wrong. It’s hard to be nice to someone who is being mean to you or lend to those who wouldn’t do the same for you.  For me personally it’s a battle not giving in to human nature and society’s “Eye for an Eye” ideal as if Hammurabi’s Code of Law still governs us. If we only gave to those who would give to us, loved those who loved us or who we felt were deserving then how different would we be from non-Christians/non believers.  They look out for those who look out for them as well. It’s not up to us to deem who is deserving. We all have our faults and shortcomings, we all sin.  Through it all God still loves us, grants us mercy and forgives us time and time again even when undeserving.  It’s tough but we are called to be  ☆DIFFERENT☆; we were made in his image. “Love ye your enemies, and do good and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. 36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your father also is merciful” Luke 6:35-36

Noah, is a great example of being in the world but not of the world. Genesis 6:5 says “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every imagination of thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” As we continue reading we see Noah was different; verse 8 in the same chapter says “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. 9 these are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.” Unlike the rest of mankind at the time, “Noah walked with God” and because of this he found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

 

 

Be In The World But Not of The World

John 17:14 – I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”

Stay Thirsty My Friends

Thirsty Thursdays: Ron

Warrior Wednesdays: Acceptance

Do you see your self as ordinary? Do you take your frustrations out on others when asked to make a change? Are you afraid of rejection? If you answered yes to the above questions than you have similarities with today's reading. Many people including myself struggle with acceptance of who we are and how we can grow in Christ. 

When we accept who we are and who God has called us to be we can begin to be great in him. When we do not accept ourselves we fall into trouble.The following points show the importance of acceptance in today's reading.

Luke 6:1-26

The Pharisees cared more about protecting the law than the well being of others.

However, Jesus made it clear that people come first.  In today's reading, the Lord gave examples  where he placed the value of people far above the value of the law.

So, what about you, do we ACCEPT putting people first as Jesus did? Are we able to ACCEPT a change in our routine or do we stick to rigid rules?

Jesus chose 12 disciples ordinary men to bring about extra ordinary change. Today, Jesus has chosen us to do remarkable exploits for his glory. 

We may feel ordinary or sometimes even inadequate, but we should ACCEPT how God sees us with full potential for greatness!  

"Blessed are ye when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company..." (Luke 6:22a)No one wants to be hated or an outcast as the above scripture references, but God says you are blessed for this. Walking after Christ is not always socially acceptable.   
 We need to ACCEPT that we may be an outcast or even despised as Christ was, but the scripture goes on to say. "Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for behold, your reward is great in heaven:..." (Luke:23a)

Genesis 3-5

Had Eve ACCEPTED what God had told her and focused on all that he had given her and not what he had restrained from her she would have continued to live happily in the garden of Eden.
 How many times do we refuse to ACCEPT what God has for us, by choosing something that looks more appealing but is actually designed to destroy us?

Had Cain ACCEPTED what God said about his sacrifice and made the necessary corrections he would have been blessed, instead he could not ACCEPT himself as the problem and turned on his brother. 
When we make a mistake it can be hard to hear criticism, however when we ACCEPT the need to change we will be blessed.

Psalms 2

Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

ACCEPT that we can not live this life alone we need to fully trust God

Stay Blessed and Continue Warring for Christ!
Warrior Wednesday: Brittney

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.) (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 2 Corinthians 10:4

Transforming Tuesdays: The Creator of All Things

January 1, 2013 

Luke 5:25-39

God performs miracles that many people find “unimaginable.”  That’s the beauty of miracles!  Miracles defy all logic where it can only be one explanation: God!!! One dictionary defines miracles as, “A surprising and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is considered to be divine.”  Even the dictionary recognizes miracles as something that is divine because human knowledge is incapable of understanding this type of event.

Has God ever performed a miracle in your life?  I’m sure he has. Think of a time where the odds were stacked against you and somehow you pulled through.  Have you been ever sick with terminal illness and cured?  Blessed with a job that you know you are unqualified for?  Are you able to pay your bills when they supersede your monthly salary?  God performs miracles all of the time….that is just one of many things that makes him who he is.

We should praise God all the time; when things don’t go our way, before we’re sick, when we have it all together, through our struggle, and in our triumph God should be praised.  I found it so humbling that all God had to say was “Follow me” and without hesitation Levi got up, left everything and followed God. I couldn’t even tell you how many times God has told me to follow him or even listen to him and I haven’t just obeyed him.  I don’t even know why it’s so hard for me to follow and obey God when I have seen his miracles.  I am a product of his miracles!!!!  For me I would obey him once I tried to something my own way and failed.  Why is this??? How much are willing to sacrifice in order to follow God?

Also, God calls all sinners and makes them whole through his grace and mercy.  He didn’t come to call people who don’t need him but people who once again know that they can’t do it alone.  He calls sinners who want to be made whole, all you have to do is ask and repent for your sins.  Jesus is amazing!!! He is here for me, for you, and every other sinner as long as we are willing to repent for those sins.  If you don’t have Jesus in your life, and you feel your life has no direction, then I dare you to try Jesus!!!! I can’t promise that it will be easy but I promise it WILL be worth it!!!

Genesis 1 & 2

When God formed the world he created us in his image.  This does not mean that we look like God or even that we are God, but that we reflect who he is, meaning his glory!  In essence we can reflect his characteristics such as love, peace, forgiveness, and even compassion but being created in his image is not necessarily literal.  Being created in his image puts into perspective our worth.  If he created you, then you are already full of so much worth and value.  This value has nothing to do with what the world places value on; this does not include money, success, and fame.  Being valued when you don’t have any of these things is true value and that comes from God the most high.  This means loving him, not being ashamed of his love, forgiving, repenting, being baptized in his name, speaking in tongues, being who he called you to be, and more!

The world was not complete until man and woman were created.  Adam was created from the dust of the ground and Eve from the rib of Adam.  God specifically states that it was not good for man to be alone and so he made a companion who was just right for him.  Eve could have been made from the dust just as Adam was but God wanted to make her from Adam. When men and women become married they do so by becoming one. In my opinion I feel like everyone wants that kind of relationship: you want to marry who God carefully designed for you.  If you follow him I believe that is exactly what will happen.  

Psalms 1
Lastly, when God is in your midst you are continuously blessed and doors are opened.  When he isn't, then life leads to destruction.  This is fact! I challenge you to be that tree planted by the water and follow God.  This once again means praising him before things go wrong, when things are wrong, and when they are good.  God is at the center of my life and even if I began to count all of my blessings there would not be enough time to do it all.  Give him a chance and be blessed!

-Transforming Tuesdays: Jamera

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