“LET GO!”

 As I was prayerfully considering what GOD would have me share this morning, a friend posted the meme entitled “when you’re trying to take control of everything”!  

GOD IS TRYING TO GET ME TO “LET GO” AND SURRENDER CONTROL OF EVERYTHING TO HIM!!!

“WHERE IS YOUR FAITH?”

 Luke 8:22-25                    (ESV)

JESUS Calms a Storm

“[22] One day HE got into a boat with HIS disciples, and HE said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, [23] and as they sailed HE fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. [24] And they went and woke HIM, saying, “MASTER, MASTER, we are perishing!” And HE awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, AND THERE WAS CALM. [25] HE said to them, “WHERE IS YOUR FAITH?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “WHO then is this, that HE commands even winds and water, and they obey HIM?”

This is the same passage of Scripture used in yesterday’s devotional.  But as I was going about my day yesterday my mind was continually on these verses and how GOD has worked in my life in the past!  

There are SEVERAL times where I wouldn’t have gotten through the TEST has GOD not intervened!!!  Of course, July 09, 2007 is the example most are familiar with.  But Isaiah 42:5 DOES NOT need to overlooked as a KEY passage of remembrance: “Thus says GOD, THE LORD, WHO CREATED the heavens and stretched them out, WHO spread out the earth and what comes from it, WHO GIVES BREATH TO THE PEOPLE ON IT AND SPIRIT TO THOSE WHO WALK IN IT:!!

Humanity wants to glory in all its accomplishments and achievements, BUT in reality, we don’t even have the ability to make it through a single moment of LIFE without JESUS intervening on our behalf!  HE “GIVES” us the very air we breathe AND the SPIRIT to function every second of our lives!  HE permits us to accomplish HIS PLAN, even when we don’t do what we KNOW we should!!  Even David (a man after GOD’S OWN HEART according to 1 Samuel 13:14) was selfish and acted selfishly (in 2 Samuel 11:4) during certain times of his life!!

Especially when I get so caught up in the “cares of this world” (Matthew 13:42), I need to SLOW DOWN and refocus on HIS WORD and PURPOSE for my life.  “WHERE IS YOUR FAITH” is something that I must ALWAYS ask myself, ALL THE TIME!!!  My opportunities have been demonstrated to me to NOT be up to me when they will end!!!  “WHERE IS YOUR FAITH” and are you doing everything you can to make it known to others???

“MASTER, MASTER!”

 Luke 8:22-25                    (ESV)

JESUS Calms a Storm

“[22] One day HE got into a boat with HIS disciples, and HE said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, [23] and as they sailed HE fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. [24] And they went and woke HIM, saying, “”MASTER, MASTER”, we are perishing!” And HE awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, AND THERE WAS CALM. [25] HE said to them, “Where is your FAITH?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “WHO then is this, that HE commands even winds and water, and they obey HIM?”

The title of this lesson is JESUS Calms a Storm, as HE quietly and distinctly calms a RAGING sea after a few minutes earlier HE had explicitly told them “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.”  Was it a coincidence that HE said what HE did when HE KNEW that “the storm” was definitely in the future for HIS disciples?  Yet as HE slept, they were battling the storm, and with NOT a lot of success!!!

Being chiefly fishermen by trade, most of them were accustomed to the Sea of Galilee winds, but this storm was unlike anything that they had experienced before.  Regardless of their pedigree, the disciples were “in danger” and went to JESUS said, “MASTER, MASTER”, we are perishing.”  JESUS responded almost immediately, HE “rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, AND THERE WAS CALM”!

Sometimes I just need for my “MASTER, MASTER” to get my EYES off of “the wind and the raging waves” and KNOW that HE IS IN CONTROL!!!  Yes, I would prefer that HE reveal HIS PLAN to me more plainly sometimes, but my FAITH that HE IS IN CONTROL wouldn’t grow nearly as much if things were so plain??  When my EYES are OPENED and I SEE that I am NOT running things, ONLY THEN am I in a position to submit to HIS AUTHORITY?

Psalm 100:3 (ESV) says “KNOW that the LORD, HE is GOD!  It is HE WHO  made us, and we are HIS; we are HIS people, and the sheep of HIS pasture”!  There are times when the storms in our lives get SO terrible that we have to give in and cry out “MASTER, MASTER”!!!  It is not as though HE suddenly gets POWER, but HE requires us to look to our “MASTER, MASTER” to get us to where we are most beneficial for HIS PLAN!!!

“IRREVERENT BABBLE!”

 2 Timothy 2:14-17a                    (ESV

A Worker Approved by GOD

“[14] Remind them of these things, and charge them before GOD not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. [15] DO YOUR BEST to present yourself to GOD as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the WORD OF TRUTH. [16] But AVOID “IRREVERENT BABBLE”, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, [17] and their talk will spread like gangrene.”

Having a decision in your future that has the opportunity to place you where you are able to HEAR from ALMIGHTY GOD can be a “tricky” thing!!  WHO we listen to has a very important role.  We can listen to “wise counsel” or we can listen to “IRREVERENT BABBLE” that brings confusion and chaos??

Surely nobody would CHOOSE on their own to listen to “IRREVERENT BABBLE” before making a decision about what GOD would have them do??  But HOW DO YOU KNOW what GOD is doing and avoid the “IRREVERENT BABBLE” from “this world”??  In 1 Kings 19:12 Elijah is being SPOKEN to by ALMIGHTY GOD WHO instructed Elijah to listen for a “low whisper”!!  A “low whisper” CANNOT be heard unless you are INTENTLY wanting to HEAR the MESSAGE!!

“IRREVERENT BABBLE” leads to hearing from “the enemy” confusion that is FAR AWAY from the TRUTH we are searching for in our lives!  When we RIGHTLY HANDLE THE WORD OF TRUTH it WILL CHANGE our lives in ways that are IMPOSSIBLE to comprehend. But we have to get away from the noise of “this world” and listen for a “low whisper”!!

FATHER IN HEAVEN, cause me to GET AWAY FROM “this world” and HEAR TRUTH from YOU!!!  We CANNOT HEAR TRUTH when we are listening to “IRREVERENT BABBLE” from the great deceiver (Revelation 12:9)!!! 

“I AM GOD, YOUR GOD!”

 Psalm 50:7-11                    (ESV)

    “[7] “Hear, O MY people, and I will speak;

        O Israel, I will testify against you.

        “I AM GOD, YOUR GOD”. 

    [8] Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you;

        your burnt offerings are continually before me. 

    [9] I WILL NOT accept a bull from your house

        or goats from your folds. 

    [10] For every beast of the forest is MINE,

       THE CATTLE ON A THOUSAND HILLS. 

    [11] I know all the birds of the hills,

        and all that moves in the field is MINE.”

My memories of July 2007 are VERY limited!  Being in a coma (from July 12-29) was completely uneventful from “my point of view”.  Although “I thought” I was in several states across the United States, I was informed by my wife that I never left the hospital that was treating my “Hemorrhagic Stroke”.  

This morning our Sunday School our teacher asked the question “If anyone had been in need where only GOD could help with a dilemma”, or something like that??  My memory immediately went to my medical records where in the early morning hours my blood pressure DROPPED substantially, enough to where they were calling the physician in charge at home asking him how they should treat me……at 1:45 AM!!!  

Now almost 18 years later I am still SEEING that GOD had to get ALL doctors and healthcare providers out of the way so HE could get TOTAL CREDIT for the MIRACULOUS recovery!!  Don’t think that I am ungrateful for the care I received by the hospital staff, but had my journey been complete, I can only imagine that the medical staff would have been praised for their efforts?  Ultimately though, without GODS INTERVENTION I wouldn’t be here today!!

“I AM GOD, YOUR GOD” is the ONLY ONE worthy of PRAISE and ADORATION, not only in my view, but also the doctors and medical staff who treated me!  My personal physician stated (as previously shared MANY times), “However, he has had a remarkable recovery that could only be defined as a MIRACLE FROM GOD”!!!  “I AM GOD, YOUR GOD” is the ONE my doctor wrote about!!!!  

“THEY WILL NOT ESCAPE!”

 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3                    (ESV)

The Day of THE LORD

“[1] Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have NO NEED to have anything written to you. [2] FOR YOU YOURSELVES ARE FULLY AWARE THAT THE DAY OF THE LORD WILL COME LIKE A THIEF IN THE NIGHT. [3] While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” THEN SUDDEN DESTRUCTION WILL COME upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and “THEY WILL NOT ESCAPE”.”

This letter to the Thessalonian church was written by the Apostle Paul, Sylvanus and Timothy.  The last portion of this letter is a stark reminder that WE BELIEVERS have NO NEED to be preached to, but that WE must never forget that the END is coming!!  As many people beforehand, I am convinced that THE END TIMES are not far away!!!  

These three verses let me know that WE BELIEVERS have no need to be reminded about THE END TIMES. But do I live my life as so who BELIEVES that the END OF THE WORLD could be next week….or tomorrow???  

The first Easter came around 2,000 years ago and virtually every person THOUGHT that JESUS was dead and buried!  Of course, we BELIEVERS understand that HE was not confined by death, hell and the grave!!!  Although Scripture indicates that MOST people are NOT CHOSEN, so they will NOT and CANNOT believe.  But “THEY WILL NOT ESCAPE” the SUDDEN DESTRUCTION that is also coming!!!  Scripture says they won’t!!!

“ALL THINGS!”

 Matthew 19:26                    (ESV)

“[26] But JESUS looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with GOD “ALL THINGS” are possible.””

When you hear something from another human it needs to be validated by someone or something that is beyond fault.  The verse above was SPOKEN by JESUS, and HE is TRUTH (John 14:6)!!!

JESUS makes it VERY CLEAR that “With man this is IMPOSSIBLE”!!!  Basically, there are limitations to what humanity can accomplish.  

GOD HAS NO LIMITATIONS!  With HIM, “ALL THINGS” are possible!!!  Don’t attempt to put any LIMITATIONS on what HE can accomplish!  “ALL THINGS” means “ALL THINGS”!!!

“THE JEWS!”

 John 10:22-30                    (ESV)

I and the FATHER Are ONE

“[22] At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, [23] and JESUS was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. [24] So “THE JEWS” gathered around HIM and said to HIM, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the CHRIST, tell us plainly.” [25] JESUS answered them, “I TOLD YOU, and YOU DO NOT BELIEVE. The works that I do in MY FATHER’S NAME bear witness about ME, [26] but you do not believe because YOU ARE NOT AMONG MY SHEEP. [27] MY SHEEP HEAR MY VOICE, and I KNOW THEM, and THEY FOLLOW ME. [28] I give them eternal life, and THEY WILL NEVER PERISH, and no one will snatch them out of MY hand. [29] MY FATHER, WHO has given them to ME, IS GREATER THAN ALL, and NO ONE IS ABLE TO SNATCH THEM OUT OF THE FATHER’S HAND. [30] I AND THE FATHER ARE ONE.”

There are MANY points of emphasis in the verses of Scripture above?  But for this study I want to “plow around” the simplicity of the words “THE JEWS”!!!

In John 10:30 JESUS plainly says “I AND THE FATHER ARE ONE”!  Not because of any other reason, but we should accept the above statement as TRUTH because JESUS SAID IT!  However, there are many other sources that state that the DNA from BLOOD that JESUS shed on the cross of Calvary contains only 24 chromosomes, 23 from Mary (HIS mother) and ONE from HIS FATHER!  Humanity has 46 chromosomes, so there is PROOF if you CHOOSE TO BELIEVE (John 10:25-26)!!

That verse might be difficult to understand for some, but when YOUR EYES HAVE BEEN OPENED (Luke 24:31) your perspective TOTALLY changes!!  “THE JEWS”, written about in the above verses, eyes had not been opened!!  Apparently they weren’t CHOSEN BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD (Ephesians 1:4) and they could not SEE Divinity walking through their midst!!

There are times when there are TRUTHS that I am currently unable to SEE!  My EYES are able to SEE, but they are unable to precisely SEE what is occurring right before me?  But being able to SEE that JESUS IS THE CHRIST has been made abundantly clear to me, even though I am not apart of the sect of humanity known as “THE JEWS”!!!

“ARE YOU SO FOOLISH?”

 Galatians 3:1-9                    (ESV)

By FAITH, or by Works of the Law?

“[1] O FOOLISH GALATIANS! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that JESUS CHRIST was publicly portrayed as crucified. [2] Let me ask you only this: DID YOU RECEIVE THE SPIRIT BY WORKS OF THE LAW OR BY HEARING WITH FAITH? [3] “ARE YOU SO FOOLISH?” Having begun by the SPIRIT, are you now being PERFECTED BY THE FLESH??? [4] Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? [5] Does HE WHO the SPIRIT to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with FAITH —[6] just as Abraham “believed GOD, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?

[7] Know then that it is those of FAITH who are the sons of Abraham. [8] And the SCRIPTURE, foreseeing that GOD would justify the Gentiles by FAITH, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” [9] So then, those who are of FAITH are blessed along with Abraham, the man of FAITH.”

How many times does ALMIGHTY GOD have to laugh at me in my SPIRITUAL ignorance saying “ARE YOU SO FOOLISH?”  

GOD uses “the chief of sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15) to GLORIFY HIS NAME, just like HE used King David AFTER he had Uriah killed (2 Samuel 11)!  

Being SO sinful isn’t something that I glory in!  However, I DO NOT want to have THE LORD say to me “ARE YOU SO FOOLISH?” when I get to GLORY and lay my offerings at HIS FEET!!!

LET GOD DO IT!!

 

“THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS!”

 Philippians 4:8-9                    (ESV)

“[8] Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, “THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS”. [9] What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the GOD of peace will be with you.”

If we “THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS”, such as when we have been done wrong by others, we will tend to “work ourselves into” a bad place where “the enemy” can grow his harvest.  

Conversely, we we “THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS”, such as the salvation SOLELY purchased by JESUS, “whatever is TRUE, whatever is HONORABLE, whatever is JUST, whatever is PURE, whatever is LOVELY, whatever is COMMENDABLE, if there is any EXCELLENCE, if there is anything WORTHY OF PRAISE”, then we tend to NOT remember the bad things that have happened in our past!!

Which “THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS” drives your thoughts???

“FOLLOW ME!”

 Matthew 16:24-26                    (ESV)

Take Up Your Cross and Follow JESUS 

“[24] Then JESUS told HIS disciples, “If anyone would come after ME, LET HIM DENY HIMSELF AND TAKE UP HIS CROSS AND “FOLLOW ME”. [25] For whoever would save his life WILL LOSE IT, but WHOEVER LOSES HIS LIFE FOR MY SAKE WILL FIND IT. [26] For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?”

In the focal passage above, THE LORD HIMSELF is communicating to HIS Disciples a TRUTH that most modern day people seem to ignore, or maybe just can’t SEE before them???  Most people are so caught up with the cares of “this world” and they can’t seem to take the time to SEE what is right before their eyes!  

WAITING ON THE LORD (Psalms 27:14) is one of the most difficult lessons that I have ever been taught.  When you understand that when you “FOLLOW ME”, you are REQUIRED to WAIT ON THE LORD.  We tend to be so intent on “doing something” for THE LORD that we WILL NOT WAIT ON THE LORD at times!

One of the greatest miracles performed in my lifetime was of course in July of 2007.  GOD KNEW that HE had to remove me from the equation, so HE put me in a coma for SEVENTEEN DAYS!!!  I had NO CHOICE but to WAIT ON THE LORD because of “where I was”!!  It is AMAZING that I STILL want to continue “barreling through” life when HE is trying to TEACH me to “FOLLOW ME”!!!

FATHER IN HEAVEN, in only WAYS that YOU are capable of, TEACH me to become so dependent on YOU that I will succumb to “FOLLOW ME”, at ALL TIMES!!!