Category Archives: Jesus (hearing from God)

All Powerful / King of All, Faith / Trusting God, Faithful, Guide, Jesus (hearing from God), Miracles, Miracles, Obeying God, Strong in Our Weakness

When God Says “Go Do”, He Will Provide The “How To”

It is incredible sometimes how hard it is for us as followers of Christ to change the way we think. We are naturally drawn to think of how we solve problems and what our limitations are. When we try to do something or even when God tells us to do something, we often default to evaluating the request based on whether or not we can do it in our own power. We do not naturally think about God’s unlimited power and that if He asks us to do something, then He will provide the power needed to make it happen. It is hard for us to obey without thinking about our strategy to get it done. That is where faith needs to come in.

Luke 9:12-17

Five Thousand Fed

     12Now the day was ending, and the twelve came and said to Him, “Send the crowd away, that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside and find lodging and get something to eat; for here we are in a desolate place.” 13But He said to them, “You give them something to eat!” And they said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless perhaps we go and buy food for all these people.” 14(For there were about five thousand men.) And He said to His disciples, “Have them sit down to eat in groups of about fifty each.” 15They did so, and had them all sit down. 16Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed them, and broke them, and kept giving them to the disciples to set before the people. 17And they all ate and were satisfied; and the broken pieces which they had left over were picked up, twelve baskets full.

I certainly can identify in my life a strong tendency to plan out whatever I am trying to do. When I plan it out, I do not know how to figure in the power of God, so I tend to look for how I can make it happen on my own. Over the past years, however, the Spirit has really been working on me and helping me grow in this area. I am so grateful that our Lord, Creator of all, cares enough about each of us to get involved in our lives and help us. He loves us and is worthy of praise and obedience!

Now when He asks me to do something challenging, I am getting much better at praying for Him to show me how and when and relying less and less on my plans to make it happen. Sometimes the “ask” is so simple and within my own power it is easy to go make it happen. It just takes willingness to obey and put His desire over mine. Of course even giving us the willingness to submit to His will is something we can ask the Spirit to help us with.

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? Are you living today filled with the peace and joy of truly knowing and following Jesus Christ? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

All Powerful / King of All, Courage / Fear, Faith / Trusting God, Infinite / Without Limit, Jesus (hearing from God), Jesus Christ / Yeshua, Miracles, Miracles

Where Is Your Faith?

Just reflect on this one simple thought… there is nothing on Earth that is beyond the control of Jehovah. With this in mind, we need not be afraid. Faith conquers fear.

Luke 8:22-25 

Jesus Stills the Sea

     22Now on one of those days Jesus and His disciples got into a boat, and He said to them, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they launched out. 23But as they were sailing along He fell asleep; and a fierce gale of wind descended on the lake, and they began to be swamped and to be in danger. 24They came to Jesus and woke Him up, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And He got up and rebuked the wind and the surging waves, and they stopped, and it became calm. 25And He said to them, “Where is your faith?” They were fearful and amazed, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?”

I suppose one more perspective I should highlight… do not miss that Yeshua asks “Where is your faith?”, meaning that He expected the disciples to trust in Him even when the situation looked dire and the storm was raging. God was in control even while Yeshua slept.

We can trust our Father no matter the situation or the outcome. Let us put our faith totally and unreservedly in Him. When we do so, then we have nothing to fear.

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? Are you living today filled with the peace and joy of truly knowing and following Jesus Christ? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Am I on the path?, Blessed, His Ways Are Not Our Ways, Jesus (hearing from God), Money / Finances / Wealth, Seeking God, Suffering / Adversity

Whom Did Yeshua Teach Were Blessed? Whom Should Proceed With Caution?

Luke chapter 6 records some rich and deep teaching from our Lord, Yeshua. While we always want to read in context (e.g. read the whole chapter(s) rather than picking a verse here and there), I want to make sure we don’t breeze over some of this rich teaching by putting too much in one article. Sometimes we get distracted to read through the whole section of scripture for the day and lose the opportunity to pause and prayerfully reflect on what it means and how it applies to us. As such, I am breaking up the “beatitudes” into more than one section for us to digest over the next few days.

Luke 6:20-26

The Beatitudes

     20And turning His gaze toward His disciples, He began to say, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21“Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. 22“Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. 23“Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets. 24“But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full. 25“Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. 26“Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way.

Clearly this is an example where God’s ways are not our ways! The logic seems upside down by man’s values. Who wants to be poor? hungry? filled with sorrow? scorned and insulted? Who does not want to be rich and well liked?

Have you considered that those who are poor, hungry, and sorrowful are perhaps not “self sufficient”. They know they need help. They know they can not figure it all out on their own. This attitude can often help set them up to truly submit to the Lord or submit more fully. They “have nothing to lose” and recognize they need help from one who is wiser.

On the other hand, many who are rich and content may focus more and more on being self sufficient and less on relying on God. This increases risk of not having a deeply connected relationship with the Lord. Additionally, the Lord want to be first in their life. Many who are rich have at times gotten their wealth through pursuit and prioritization of money over other things (not always! money is not inherently bad, just the love of money). They would have to submit to the Lord and serve Him rather than money.

I wanted to close with what serves as both encouragement and rebuke. We should all ask ourselves… “are we scorned for Yeshua?” Do our co-workers, friends, and family even know we submit to Him. Do we put Him first? Do we choose His ways over even popular cultural and family traditions? Have we changed our lives based on our relationship with Him, even though it causes tension with others?

I pose that in most cases if we experience no conflict on behalf of our relationship with Christ, than perhaps we need to evaluate if we are truly representing Him and His teaching to the world. If people around us can’t tell we follow Yeshua, than perhaps we are not actually fully submitted to Him… or we are just hanging out with a small group of believers and not bringing the gospel to others… which again comes back to not being fully submitted to Him.  He commands us to share the gospel with the world. Don’t kid yourself about churches being perfect either. Even within a church, if you are living for Christ according to Biblical principles and willing to be different and change, you will find yourself being set apart in some ways from others who are in your church. When you change visibly in the name of God, it is amazing how others come forward to pull you back as if your choice to change your life for God has made them uncomfortable because you are living different from them. They don’t want to change or feel guilty, so they must convince themselves, sometimes others, maybe you that you are wrong.

Pray for the Spirit to lead you. Follow the Spirit and God’s written word in the Bible. Test everything against this. Do not just accept as fact the traditions of men or churches.

22“Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. 23“Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets.

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? Are you living today filled with the peace and joy of truly knowing and following Jesus Christ? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

False Prophets / Teachers, Help / Serve Others, His Ways Are Not Our Ways, Holy / Set Apart, Hypocrisy, Jesus (hearing from God), Lying / Deceiving, Obeying God

Appearances Can Be Deceiving

Often appearances can be deceiving. We may be impressed by someone’s outer appearance as they say long prayers or receive respectful greetings, but what are they really like? Not everyone who gives the appearance of following God and loving others truly does so. In fact, sometimes, they are complete hypocrites.

Mark 12:38-40

     38In His teaching He was saying: “Beware of the scribes who like to walk around in long robes, and like respectful greetings in the market places, 39and chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets, 40who devour widows’ houses, and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers; these will receive greater condemnation.”

Do not focus too much on the appearance someone may portray that makes them look important. Seek instead to judge them by their actions and motives. A pastor of a large church may seem impressive in his slick suit and big smile, but is he teaching scripture correctly or is he just tickling peoples ears with what they want to hear so he can feel important and popular and respected?

Not only should we pay attention to this scripture as we seek to identify genuine leaders from false ones, but also we must challenge ourselves to focus on what is important to God rather than just putting up good appearances before people… lest we be the ones who receive greater condemnation.

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

All Knowing, Faith / Trusting God, Heaven and Hell, His Ways Are Not Our Ways, Jesus (hearing from God), Marriage, Teachable

They Neither Marry Or Are Given In Marriage

Make no mistake about it… this was an attempt at a trap question for Jesus. The Sadducees do not believe in resurrection, yet they ask in Mark 12 a question with the premise of resurrection. They were trying to make up a scenario which Jesus would not be able to answer and then use it to discredit the concept of resurrection and Jesus, Himself.

We must study and prepare to give answers to others as well. Jesus was always prepared during His earthly ministry. Whether the question was a trap or a genuine inquiry, Jesus seized the opportunity to teach.

There is additional meaning in this scripture as well, Jesus gives us another brief glimpse of what heaven is like and how it is different than what we are used to on Earth.

Mark 12:18-27

      18Some Sadducees (who say that there is no resurrection) came to Jesus, and began questioning Him, saying, 19“Teacher, Moses wrote for us that IF A MAN’S BROTHER DIES and leaves behind a wife AND LEAVES NO CHILD, HIS BROTHER SHOULD MARRY THE WIFE AND RAISE UP CHILDREN TO HIS BROTHER. 20“There were seven brothers; and the first took a wife, and died leaving no children. 21“The second one married her, and died leaving behind no children; and the third likewise; 22and so all seven left no children. Last of all the woman died also. 23“In the resurrection, when they rise again, which one’s wife will she be? For all seven had married her.” 24Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are mistaken, that you do not understand the Scriptures or the power of God? 25“For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 26“But regarding the fact that the dead rise again, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the burning bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I AM THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, AND THE GOD OF ISAAC, and the God of Jacob’? 27“He is not the God of the dead, but of the living; you are greatly mistaken.”

I admit, this scripture is challenging for me. I love my wife. She is a core part of who I am in this life. I find it hard to get my mind around that in heaven, there is no marriage. When we rise from the dead and join the angels in heaven, there is no marriage. Whether or not I “like” that or feel “comfortable” with that… it appears to be so by reading what Jesus told us about heaven in this passage.

With all things, we must remember to accept God’s word as truth even for those parts we don’t fully understand and feel comfortable with. Gravity works and is true whether I like it or not. So, too, the truth about the universe and about life and life after death do not change because I may not be comfortable with them. The truth is what it is and it is not relative… it is absolute. There is one truth.

Instead of dwelling in confusion, I seek two paths… further Bible study and prayer to continue to increase my understanding of God’s word and also relying on God in faith. If I don’t understand or “agree” with His design… that makes me wrong rather than Him. I choose to trust Him. I ask Him to help me in my faith and He will.

I believe heaven will be wonderful, even if there are aspects I struggle to get my mind around while I am yet in this life.

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Father / Yahweh, Guide, Holy Spirit / Ruach HaKodesh, Jesus (hearing from God), Jesus Christ / Yeshua, Love, Obeying God

Who Is God And What Does He Want From Me?

Trying to fully understand our Creator is a challenging and rewarding task. He is infinite. We are finite. We may never fully understand all aspects about Him or what His will may be for us and those around us in this life. It is important to accept that and be comfortable with it. However, as our loving Father, He did make quite an effort to help us to know Him and to know His will.

Jesus provides a powerful summary of the Trinity, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, in John 14. In doing so He also shares a very simple summary about the will of God and how we show whether or not we believe in and love God, truly.

John 14

Jesus Comforts His Disciples

      1“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2“In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3“If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. 4“And you know the way where I am going.” 5Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” 6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

Oneness with the Father

      7“If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”

      8Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10“Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. 11“Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves. 12“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. 13“Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14“If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.

      15“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

Role of the Spirit

      16“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; 17that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.

      18“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19“After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also. 20“In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. 21“He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.” 22Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world?” 23Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. 24“He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me.

      25“These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. 26“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. 27“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. 28“You heard that I said to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29“Now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe. 30“I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me; 31but so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. Get up, let us go from here.

There is only one way to the Father and that through Jesus Christ. He is not one of many ways. All religions are not equally correct and do not deserve equal consideration. There is one way… one truth.

Jesus is one with the Father and points to the Father. To know Jesus is to know the Father. At the same time Jesus demonstrated how we are to relate to the Father and how we are to do the will of the Father. We are to obey the Father and all His commandments to do His will and show we love Him. We do not pick and choose what we accept from Him anymore than we pick and choose whether we want to acknowledge that there are birds in the sky and fish in the sea. The truth exists, whether or not we choose to believe in it and follow it.

The Holy Spirit is God in the form of a helper, who dwells inside true believers. He is teacher and guide. The Spirit points to Jesus Christ.

As God saw fit to repeat it in scripture above, I will repeat it here as we close… if we are to believe in Jesus, then we are to follow His example. If we are to follow His example, we are to do as the Father commands, not as we desire. That requires submission and faith and the will to choose His way instead of our own.

31but so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. Get up, let us go from here.

 There have been many times in my life now where I have learned to choose God’s ways for major life decisions about career or family or where we should live. I now have a beautiful record where I can look back and see His hand at work in my life and the lives of others around me. Inevitably the most meaningful choices which led me closer to Him and allowed me to serve others more effectively in His name were not my choices, but rather built upon a foundation He laid. I look back and see Him active in my life, often reflecting to myself, “I would never have chosen that based on my desire or preference.”

Spend time in prayer considering if you are submitting to and doing the will of God in your life. It starts with laying down your plans and desires and focusing on His.

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.