Month: April 2016

Have Centurion Like Faith

Every time I read this passage I am encouraged by the faith of the centurion.  He understood the authority of Jesus when most around Him did not.  I have to imagine each of us struggle to understand and believe His authority over all things.  Yet if we expect to see His hand and deliverance don’t we have to believe He has the authority.  Can’t we trust Him to do that which we think is impossible.  Whatever is troubling you, seek Him for He has the authority if we have faith.

Matthew 8:5
When he had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.” And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.” But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith

Psalms 107:18
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction. Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man

Mark 6:4
He went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief

Doers of the Word

What keeps us from being more than hearers of the word?  Do we treat our commitment to being doers like New Years resolutions? People are trying to find something to give purpose (light) to their lives.   We are to be the light, isn’t it a shame to let that light shine every day.  Will we fail some days, absolutely.  Each of our lives have to be more than a partial commitment (a light so dim that it has no effect in the darkness).   Our desire must be to know, live, honor and glorify God continually.

Matthew 7:21
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven

Romans 2:13
For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.

James 1:22
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves

Luke 6:46
“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you

Know God’s Word

How do we know when someone is speaking out of alignment with God’s word.  Some of them are very crafty and use parts of scripture to exploit for the single purpose of fulfilling their greed.  We are called to test what is being said by these false teachers.  How can we do that if we don’t know what scripture says?  How can we know His word if we only spend time in it on Sunday? How can we know what pleases God if His word is not cherished and stored in our heart?  The world gives us sales pitches, technology, coupons, advertising, flashy new stuff…… the best, one of a kind, latest developed technology that we absolutely can not live without.  God gave His son as a sacrifice for all who believe.  He wants to guide us through this life , blessing us with His presence, peace, joy, hope, love …… Don’t allow false teaching to enter your heart – KNOW GOD”S WORD – place in deep in your heart.

Matthew 7:15
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits

Deuteronomy 13:1
“If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, ‘Let us go after other gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the Lord your God is testing you, to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul

2 Peter 2:1
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words

1 John 4:1
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world

Narrow is the Gate

Do you ever wonder what path takes us to this narrow gate and allows us to pass through?  Is it by being good or giving generously, not lying, not cheating, not being as bad as the other person????  It is easy to think this way and think by our performance we can earn our way through this gate. Scripture is clear – It is by the grace and mercy of God by faith through the sacrifice and redemption found in Christ.  This is the narrow gate/door.  Many will miss this by not believing and others by trying or thinking it can be earned.  God wants you to come to Him just as you are.  He will make changes to your life after that step through the door of faith/salvation.

Matthew 7:13
“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few

Psalms 16:11
You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy

John 14:6
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me

Luke 13:23
And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from

Timothy 4:10
For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe

The Golden Rule

Many times we forget or are uncertain of just how do we Honor and Glorify God by our actions.  This is a very good reminder.  I know this for a fact, If we are receptive and willing, these opportunities are around us every day.  God, open our eyes and hearts to see what you see and then speak to our heart so that we will humbly obey your leading.

Matthew 7:12
“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets

Luke 6:32
“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful

Proverbs 19:17
Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord,
and he will repay him for his deed

Matthew 25:35
For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me