Jesus’ disciples asked Him who would be His betrayer (Matthew 26:22).
“Beware of posing as a profound person; God became a Baby.” November 22nd My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers.
Question yourself, is it I, Lord? Have I betrayed Him by failing to speak up when the opportunity rose and the Holy Spirit was burning inside you? To say I believe in the Lord God most high? To say God will never leave you nor forsake you?
Have I wrestled within myself & found explanations for Jesus’ miracle healings?
Job 32:21 (NIV), “I will show no partiality, nor will I flatter anyone; for if I were skilled in flattery, my Maker would soon take me away.”
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer..” David prayed in Psalm 19:14 (KJV).
Proverbs:
“The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out.” 20:5
“Flattery is deceitful” 26:28
“Those who flatter their neighbors are spreading nets for their feet.” 29:5
“Charm is deceitful” 31:30
“You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed–God is our witness.” 1 Thessalonians 2:5
Jude 16, 19 (KJV): “Murmerers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.”
Are we focused on our works & achievements and denying the work of the cross? making Christ’s cross of no effect (1 Corinthians 1:17)?
Be in the world, not of the world (John 17:11). “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” James 4:4 (KJV).
Have we surrendered to God and admitted our sin, so that He can heal us (James 5:16)?
“Jesus Christ hates the wrong in man, and Calvary is the estimate of His hatred.” Oswald Chambers, November 21st, My Utmost for His Hightest.
In your church, do they blaspheme the Lord by denying His ability to heal sickness? Or deny the truth of the Bible, the ultimate word of God? Is it black & white? The difference between sin & purity; the flesh & being born in the Spirit (John 3:6-7)? They can “repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” says Jesus in Matt 4:17.
Forgive us for our unbelief, O God (Mk 9:24)!
Matt 4:23 (NIV):
“Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.
Hebrews 13:8 (NIV):
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Jesus says in Matthew 18:15-17 (NIV):
If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.(Deut 19:15)‘ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
Luke 17:4 (NIV),
Even if he sins against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.
James 5:19-20 (KJV):
“Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.”
Jude 21-23 (KJV):
Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
“After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of Him to every town and place where He was about to go.He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field.” Luke 10:1-2 (NIV).
One day, I saw the number 72, on a building incongruent with the neighborhood, 72 came up in a Readers’ Digest story and was mentioned in an interview. That night, the inside temperature was 72 Farenheight! We looked up and read Psalm 72, looking for significance of the number.
The only verse 72, in the Bible is in Psalm 119:
The law from Your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.
Weeks later, the disciples in Luke 10, came up. All God’s word is life and good for teaching (2 Timothy 3:16-17). **If you have any wisdom regarding this, please share it!
The outdoor thermometer read 40 degrees Farenheight, but it really was much colder that day.
God loves numbers & speaks through them.
Moses lived in Midian 40 years. Until God spoke to him through the burning bush, to give him the assignment.
Israel wandered 40 years in the wilderness. Until they reached the promised land with Joshua as their leader.
Isaac married at age 40. 20 Years later, his sons were born.
Jesus fasted 40 days (Luke 4:2). Until He came in power to set the captives free and redeem His people.
Psalm 40:1-3 (NIV),
I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lordand put their trust in him.
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate anddifficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” said Jesus in Matthew 7:13-14 (NKJV).
“He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.” says the Lord in Psalm 91:15 (NKJV).
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27 (NIV).
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NIV).
Being the eldest son, he was going to inherit all his father’s idols.
One day, he heard a woman preaching the gospel & he said, “I need that Jesus.” She sent him to pray with her Pastor. He did and he was filled with the Holy Ghost, set free & shown the true way of life. He forsook his old beliefs and never looked back, his problems cleared up.
Today, he prays right away for someone, male or female. They have to be willing to be delivered into freedom. He is the son of Christ everyday, not one day on & one day off. Through & through, delivered, born again, saved: the Lord’s (1 John 4:4).
“Then He said to them all: “Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Me.” Luke 9:23 (NIV).
Dear Lord God, remove the veil from their eyes (2 Corinthians 3:16), bring Your Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth (John 16:13) to bring them to repentance leading to salvation (Matthew 4:17). You came to set the captives free, like in Luke 4:18. You are the truth, no one can stand to You & live unless we’re born from above of Your Spirit, O Lord, like in John 3:3.
You are the only way to life (John 14:6), all else is sinking sand (Matt 7:26). In You, I live & have my being I’m a Christ follower sun up to sundown & through the night. I rest in You.
We are set apart .. everyday, night & day, 100%, forsaking all else. We forsake the world’s way and cling to You.
“I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.” Isaiah 42:6-7 (NIV).
“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” reads Jesus in Luke 4:19 (NIV).
“The truth shall set you free” says Jesus in John 8:32. “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” Jesus says in John 8:36 (NKJV).
Galatians 2:20 (KJV), ” I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
James 1:25 (NIV), “But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.”
"He brought me to his banquet hall and raised the banner of love over me. Restore my strength with raisins and refresh me with apples! I am weak from passion... His left hand is under my head and his right hand caresses me" - Song of Solomon 2:4-6
