For Without HIM, We Can Do Nothing

You know, the ten lepers who came to Jesus Christ is one story that really strikes me. Jesus told them to go to the Priest, and they obeyed and were on their way to the Priest. The only reason why you go to the Priest, in the case of the lepers, is that you are cleansed. Thus, the leprosy is gone. But the lepers obeyed Jesus and were on their way to the Priest, even when they weren’t yet cleansed at that exact moment, wow! (ref.: Luke 17:11-19).

The Bible says in Hebrews 11:1 that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence not seen. Their focus wasn’t on their bodies being cleansed, when you come to think of it deeply, their focus was on the fact that it was Jesus who said it. They believed Jesus blindly. This is how we are meant to believe Jesus because He is perfect.

Do you know why we are to believe Jesus blindly? Jesus believed God blindly, if at all we want to put it in that light. This doesn’t mean we should not think, but for the fact that we know who spoke and we know His track record, using our minds to think this through then allows us to believe Jesus blindly. And for the lepers, their belief in Jesus brought about their healing.

Now, let me explain why grace is given to you. Have you ever questioned God on why He would give us certain things because we feel our life doesn’t merit it in any way, especially when it has to do with physical stuff? After all, we feel grace is more of the spiritual stuff? First of all, when the Jews after Jesus had fed the five thousand men, they came to Him the next day asking Him to give them food again. But Jesus told them not to labour for the food that spoils but for food that endures for eternal life, which only He can give. Then they asked Jesus what work they needed to do that would be the works of God. Jesus then answered that the work of God is that they believe in Him (Jesus) whom God had sent (ref.: John 6:26-29). This is what applies to everyone born again, and it is a serious thing to take note of.

As Sons and Daughters of God, we have the life of Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit to lead and direct us. Why is this very important? It is important because God didn’t give us anything! Health, wealth, new life etc. Shocking?

Romans 8:17 says we are now joint heirs with Christ Jesus, thus becoming one with Christ Jesus to whom the Father gave all things. The ‘you’ that you think exist died. You were bought with a price (ref.: 1 Corinthians 6:20; 7:23). Jesus has become your life, so when you see what your life has become, you then ask yourself what you did to gain all these things because you know that you didn’t do anything that warrants you inheriting all these things. Of course, you didn’t do anything; the only reason why you see all these things through inheritance is because you believe in Jesus, end of story.

Why should you believe in Jesus? The reason why you should believe in Jesus is because Galatians 2:20 says, those who are born again live by the faith OF Jesus. That means Jesus believes all that God gave Him, in other words, He accepted all that God gave Him. All the things that were said about Jesus in Philippians 2:8-11, and what Jesus told His disciples after His resurrection that all authorities in heaven and earth have been given unto Him (ref.: Matthew 28:18).

We are not to believe with our faith because our faith is filled with flaws, and thus is not stable. Instead, we are to believe in the faith of Jesus that is perfect and stable. And because He and not us received all that God gave to Him, and by faith we receive all that He received BY HIS FAITH. Thus, whatever Jesus believed that God gave to Him is what Jesus has, and Jesus believed all. And since we are now joint heirs with Jesus, we receive all Jesus received through His faith. You don’t have anything outside what Jesus believes.

Now, when God tells you that you are healed, technically speaking, it was not you God told, but Jesus. So, what is the faith of Jesus concerning that matter? If Jesus believes it, then believe Jesus because what He accepts is valid in your life. This was why Jesus told the Jews that the only work we are to do is to believe in the Lord Jesus, whom God our Father has sent.

If God asks us to do certain things, you cannot do these things if you don’t believe in Jesus. Allow me to elaborate. You cannot have a bounce of a ball without it being thrown, or something that caused it. Likewise, faith is seen through our actions. Belief comes first, and then our actions testify to what we believe. Thus, when God asks us to do a thing, we must first believe in Jesus concerning that thing, which then allows us to do that thing. If we do that thing out of hypocrisy, we stop in a very short time, because our belief in Jesus is the fuel to get whatever God asks us to do to be done. This is the answer to your questions as to why nothing seems to happen in your life because you didn’t do what God asked you to do. And this is due to unbelief.

Our study and meditation of the word of God is to know God and to know Jesus. To know what Jesus received after fulfilling all of the Law and the Prophets, as demonstrated in His death, burial and resurrection. This is because whatever Jesus has received is our inheritance of Grace through the faith of Jesus. So we must know Jesus’ take on whatever  God tells us, because whatever Jesus’ stand is, that becomes your stand, and if you believe that, then you receive it. If not, then nothing comes in. We only receive by the faith of Jesus.

 

 

Why not accept Jesus today if you haven’t? Pray out loud, “Jesus, I confess that You are my Lord and Saviour. I believe in my heart that God raised You from the dead. By faith in Your Word, I receive salvation now. Thank You for saving me!” Congratulations—you’re born again, and you are now brand new!

                                          

Log on next time.

 

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GOD BLESS YOU.

 

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Unless otherwise stated, the following scriptures are obtained from the New King James Version (NKJV) 

 

Unforgiveness and the Stagnation of Grace

Several times, we feel the works of the flesh, as stated in Galatians 5:19-21 are hindrances to our prayer being answered. Well, we forget that some other key issues stop the earth from moving in our lives even Jesus spoke about one of them severally in the gospels, and that one is unforgiveness.

Now, the works of the flesh could stand in our way, but not from God, but from ourselves. We may still be in the state of being transformed by the renewal of our minds. However, what happens is that we stopped fixing our eyes on Jesus, who is our source of faith. So, when you don’t rest on His faith, how can you get your prayers answered? This is why we unknowingly allow the devil to come in to disturb our peace because we have lost focus on Jesus, our faith.

Remember, you can’t rest on your faith because it is full of flaws; this is why we rest only on the faith of Jesus. But if you are not being focused on Jesus by being carried away by the works of the flesh, you deny your prayers being answered. Look unto Jesus, get strengthened and have your prayers answered.

But unforgiveness is a total ball game on its own. It is not the nature of God in any way. The works of the flesh, on the other hand, pop up mostly for those who are new in faith and for the unrenewed mind, which would eventually be overcome as long as we focus on Jesus. But unforgiveness is NOT the nature of God. It is a complete denial of what Jesus did for us on the cross.

Jesus gave a parable of the unforgiving servant. A servant owed his master a huge sum of money, and since he could not pay up, the master asked that he be sold along with his wife and children. But after pleading for his case, the master had compassion and mercy towards him and released and forgave his debt. But a fellow servant owed the forgiven servant a small amount of money when compared to the amount forgiven, and since his fellow servant couldn’t pay up and pleaded, he didn’t listen and put him in prison until he paid up.

Another servant saw what had happened and reported to the master. And the master asked the once forgiven servant to be brought to him. And being very angry, he asked that he be delivered to the torturers until he pays all that was due to him, since he could not forgive just as his master forgave him (ref.: Matthew 18:21-35).

We didn’t deserve to live, but while we were yet sinners, Jesus died for us by taking our place and giving us His life in exchange (ref.: Romans 5:8). This new life is His life and nature. We are expected to act as Him naturally. But to not forgive is to take what Jesus did on the cross for granted. In other words, it is to spit on His face and claim to be the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. The two can’t work together.

This is why unforgiveness will always be a stumbling block to your prayers, because God only listens to the heart of Christ Jesus which we received when we became born again. But when you block your spirit from acting as Him, even when the Holy Spirit must have come to guide us out of it, but being stubborn, you will hinder God’s grace from flowing through you.

Unforgiveness hinders healing; it hinders marital bliss, such as the fruit of the womb. It hinders peace of mind and anything that grace stands for. Isn’t that a serious issue? It is a serious issue that is demonic and can cause a person to denounce Christ as Lord because it is not the nature of Christ.

As we get transformed by the renewal of our minds, unforgiveness should be dealt with. But if the person refuses, I’m sorry, giving the devil a free road to life frustration is what happens. Mind you, this is not from God, but from you, because God knew we all needed help and a saviour; that is why He sent Jesus as our redeemer, our pardon for sin, our new life, our grace, and everything.

No matter what anyone might have done to you, unforgiveness is demonic; it is NOT of the Lord, and it hinders spiritual growth.

Why not accept Jesus today if you haven’t? Pray out loud, “Jesus, I confess that You are my Lord and Saviour. I believe in my heart that God raised You from the dead. By faith in Your Word, I receive salvation now. Thank You for saving me!” Congratulations—you’re born again, and you are now brand new!

                                          

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GOD BLESS YOU.

 

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Unless otherwise stated, the following scriptures are obtained from the New King James Version (NKJV)

The Precious Treasure

Have you ever wondered what the billionaires of this world do with their money, in other words, how do they stay billionaires? They invest in assets. They believe their money should give birth to more money, which is why they can spend a lot of money on assets, because assets multiply in value, thus keeping them billionaires. This is how Jesus likened the kingdom of heaven. A man finds a hidden treasure in a field; he goes to sell all that he has to purchase that field (ref.: Matthew 13:44-46). This is because the kingdom of heaven is an asset that cannot depreciate in value.

To have and experience the kingdom of heaven is something that has no end. The kingdom of heaven is within those who have received Jesus as their LORD and Saviour. There is no end in knowing God.

The Bible made us understand that the fullness of the Godhead dwells within us (ref.: Colossians 2:9-10). To have God living in us is a privilege. There is nothing you will want more. This is the reign of Jesus starting right here on earth through us.

There is no end to knowing God. He is an asset, and He covers everything we will ever think or imagine in our lives. We can talk to Him one-on-one; this is deep.

When the man sold all that he had to purchase the field, he let go of his former life and received Jesus or the fullness of God's head as his new life because he had seen that there is no life outside of Jesus. Jesus plus something is nothing, but Jesus plus nothing is everything. Take note of that.

Why not accept Jesus today if you haven’t? Pray out loud, “Jesus, I confess that You are my Lord and Saviour. I believe in my heart that God raised You from the dead. By faith in Your Word, I receive salvation now. Thank You for saving me!” Congratulations—you’re born again, and you are now brand new!

                                          

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GOD BLESS YOU.

 

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Unless otherwise stated, the following scriptures are obtained from the New King James Version (NKJV)

Believe and Grow

Have you poured a drop of colouring in a cup of water before and seen how that tiny drop spread so much and water became the colouring? This is the same with the word of God that Jesus likened it to a mustard seed.

A mustard seed is considered the smallest of all seeds on earth. But when it is sown, it grows to become a huge tree that birds build their nests on (ref.: Matthew 13:31-32; Mark 4:30-32; Luke 13:18-19). This is how the word of God is. The moment you accept the word of God by faith, it grows inside of you, as long as you don’t doubt what you believe.

The word of God is living and active and this is not a figure of speech (ref.: Hebrews 4:12). The moment we read what God has given to us by Grace, and we then receive it through faith, it grows so big that it takes root in our system, and it then manifests itself in our bodies or whatever circumstance or situation the word of God is directed at.

Do not underrate the word of God as something small because it is full of surprises as it takes over the situation in which it is directed. The moment you read in the word of God in 1 Peter 2:24 that by the stripes of Jesus, you were made healed. The moment you accept it, the word builds up in you and grows to physical manifestation. The same thing to those who are looking for the fruit of the womb, financial breakthrough, marital bliss, peace of mind from depression, and more; just take the word of God as a pill, believe in the word of God, and see the word of God grow to become your reality.

Don’t forget that the word of God is living and active. And the word of God is active in the name and authority of our Lord Jesus Christ. The name that is above every other name. Trust in the word of God always, even when the situation doesn’t look like it, because the devil will give you every reason to doubt the word of God, but don’t fall off its trick. Use the word of God to keep the devil away from you, and also to strengthen you through the Holy Spirit.

Believe and grow into what you believe.

Why not accept Jesus today if you haven’t? Pray out loud, “Jesus, I confess that You are my Lord and Saviour. I believe in my heart that God raised You from the dead. By faith in Your Word, I receive salvation now. Thank You for saving me!” Congratulations—you’re born again, and you are now brand new!

                                          

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GOD BLESS YOU.

 

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Unless otherwise stated, the following scriptures are obtained from the New King James Version (NKJV)

Don't Be Carried Away (Part 3)

When I was a child I saw a lot of cartoons. In fact, I still love them till now. Now, when you see a bad guy in a cartoon, you easily know, because it is quite obvious. But that’s in the cartoon world. In real life, you can’t easily point out the bad guy, because he or she has to blend in to not be caught. It is only the heart that can point out the bad guy, but we can’t read minds, right?

There was a story Jesus gave of a man who sowed wheat in his field, but when he slept, his enemy came and sowed tares amongst the wheat and went away. When the wheat sprouted, the tares appeared. His servants were so surprised to see tares that they told their master they had seen tares amongst the wheat despite planting only wheat. The master said an enemy had done it.

So, the servants wanted to pull out the tares but the master asked them not to, so as not to pull out the wheat by accident. He said they will grow together until harvest. When it is harvested, they should gather the tares, bind them into bundles, and burn them. Then, they should put the wheat and put it in his barn (ref.: Matthew 13:24-30).

Jesus said the master who sowed the seed is Himself; the field is the world; the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom; the tares are the sons of the devil; the enemy that sowed the tares is the devil; the harvest the end of the age; and the reapers are the angels.

Now, this is quite clear. But one thing we need to get is that the wheat and the tares grew together. We must be careful here. Jesus said the tares should not be pulled out, they should grow until harvest. So, we need to understand that the evil ones are among us. And just as I said at the beginning, they never appear as the bad guys; they can appear as the nice guys, very dedicated and hard-working. Portraying the character of emulation just to get your vote of confidence.

Don’t forget, the devil is the master deceiver. He may not be able to create, but he has lived long enough to study the psychology of man and behaviour to know where to strike. So, the only hope we have in Christ Jesus is by being sound in the word of God, which exposes it. When it uses trickery emotionally or rationally, depending on the person it is attacking, the word of God exposes it with the help of the Holy Spirit, who alerts us.

Don’t be carried away by the evil one. Not all successes are of the Lord even though it looks legit. Be like the Bereans who went home to search the scriptures (ref.: Acts 17:11-12). They didn’t say, “Oh, it’s Paul or Silas, they will always be right.” They trusted the word of God over the person speaking.

Jesus wasn’t carried away when the devil spoke through Peter (ref.: Matthew 16:21-23). Jesus didn’t say, “My Father just spoke through Peter, so definitely Peter has a point.” No, He said, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offence to Me, for you are not mindful of things of God, but the things of men.” (ref.: Matthew 16:13-20; 16:23).

We don’t like or love a person, it is Christ we love, and we must see the one we love through that person. The moment we don’t see Christ Jesus through the person, it is not Jesus speaking.

Why not accept Jesus today if you haven’t? Pray out loud, “Jesus, I confess that You are my Lord and Saviour. I believe in my heart that God raised You from the dead. By faith in Your Word, I receive salvation now. Thank You for saving me!” Congratulations—you’re born again, and you are now brand new!

                                          

Log on next time.

 

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GOD BLESS YOU.

 

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Unless otherwise stated, the following scriptures are obtained from the New King James Version (NKJV)

This Is Why You Must Be Fruitful

There are stages of growth for every human. From baby to toddlerhood, to childhood, to adolescence, and to adulthood. Each of these has its characteristics, right? So, imagine a boy you know who grew and became an adolescent, maybe at age sixteen. The last you saw him was age eight, but you noticed something strange about him. Although he grew, he still sounded exactly like his eight-year-old self. His voice hasn’t broken, and the external features of development, except for height, haven’t occurred. You will be quick to conclude that he has some developmental issues, right?

The same can be said for a tree that has grown but is yet to bring out any fruit; anyone who is conversant with agriculture will know that something is wrong somewhere. So, the owner of the tree then asked the gardener to cut the tree down because it had not brought fruit for three years. However, the gardener asked the owner to give the tree one more year because he would dig around the tree and apply fertilizers to it to help the tree grow better. And if there isn’t any change after a year then the tree would be cut down. Sounds like a state of emergency right?

Jesus gave the story of the tree as a parable to refer to the spiritual growth of some Sons and Daughters of God. God is the owner, and Jesus is the gardener. It is normal for us to bear fruit as we grow in the Lord Jesus. We all received His Holiness and righteousness as an inheritance. And as we continue in Him, the fruit of the spirit is seen. But it is unusual not to see any fruit after a certain period, thus understanding the spiritual growth pattern of the Son or Daughter of God. It means the person isn’t feeding well.

Jesus said in John 15:5, that he who abides in Him, and He in the person bears much fruit. For without Him, we can do nothing. If this is so, it implies, the Son or Daughter of God who isn’t bearing fruit isn’t focused on Christ Jesus. Colossians 2:6-7 says “[6]  As you have therefore received Christ, [even] Jesus the Lord, [so] walk (regulate your lives and conduct yourselves) in union with and conformity to Him. [7]  Have the roots [of your being] firmly and deeply planted [in Him, fixed and founded in Him], being continually built up in Him, becoming increasingly more confirmed and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and abounding and overflowing in it with thanksgiving.” AMPC.

We must continue in Christ Jesus by allowing Him to regulate our lives and not the world, or else we remain a baby that has refused to grow. This is why the gardener said he would dig around the tree and place fertilizer in the dug area around the tree. This implies guiding the Son or Daughter of God through a proper orientation in Christ Jesus, knowing who He is, having Bible studies and intentional meditation on the word for the person to be without excuse for not knowing the Lord. With this, he or she will choose the life he or she wants to live. This is seen by the fruit a year later. As the gardener said, if there is no fruit after this, then you can cut the tree down because the person deliberately chose not to abide in the Lord Jesus.

To be a Son or Daughter of God is not just in the name but in the action. Are you meditating on the word of God daily? What do you allow to shape your life, because out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks? (ref.: Matthew 12:34). Also, we are to guard our hearts with all diligence, for out it flows the issues of life. (ref.: Proverbs 4:23). Whatever goes into our hearts grows and shapes our lives, and this has to be what we signed up for-- the life of Jesus.

Why not accept Jesus today if you haven’t? Pray out loud, “Jesus, I confess that You are my Lord and Saviour. I believe in my heart that God raised You from the dead. By faith in Your Word, I receive salvation now. Thank You for saving me!” Congratulations—you’re born again, and you are now brand new!

                                          

Log on next time.

 

For prayers and comments, send them to the comment section below.

 

GOD BLESS YOU.

 

PLEASE LIKE AND FOLLOW MY BLOG

 

                                                                                                                 

Unless otherwise stated, the following scriptures are obtained from the New King James Version (NKJV)

Are You Awake?

There was a big-time businessman who had servants and was in charge of them. The businessman wanted to travel, so before he left, he put his servants in charge, each with his own particular task. Then he ordered the doorkeeper to watch at all times because he could come back at any time, and he wouldn’t meet them asleep or idle when he returned. This was a parable Jesus gave of the Watchful Servant (ref.: Mark 13:35-37; Luke 12:35-40).

Jesus said no one knows the day and hour of His return. And to His Sons and Daughters, we all have been given a task, and we must always keep on doing the task the Lord asked us to do. Not only are we expected to work, but we are expected to be watchful also for His second coming.

We all have a generic assignment, which is the great commission, and we also have particular assignments specific to every individual given to us by the Holy Spirit, which still points to the generic assignment that points to Christ Jesus. So, no matter what, we should not relax thinking He won’t come because He comes when no one expects.

If you don’t know the assignment God has given you, pray about it, and the Holy Spirit will reveal it to you. The moment anyone becomes a Son or Daughter of God, the first question is to ask the specific assignment He wants you to accomplish. Whatever we do must point to Jesus Christ and the expansion of His kingdom. And as you do this, you must be alert, allowing the Holy Spirit to lead you, and not being carried away by the things of the world.

Be alert, don’t laze about, and be a watchful servant because no one knows the day and hour Our Lord Jesus Christ will return.

Why not accept Jesus today if you haven’t? Pray out loud, “Jesus, I confess that You are my Lord and Saviour. I believe in my heart that God raised You from the dead. By faith in Your Word, I receive salvation now. Thank You for saving me!” Congratulations—you’re born again, and you are now brand new!

                                          

Log on next time.

 

For prayers and comments, send them to the comment section below.

 

GOD BLESS YOU.

 

PLEASE LIKE AND FOLLOW MY BLOG

 

                                                                                                                 

Unless otherwise stated, the following scriptures are obtained from the New King James Version (NKJV)