Wonderful Jesus!

Tag: blessings

• A Thief, A Robber, A Destroyer!

  Posted at 9:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on July 18, 2020

  John 10:10- The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly! NKJV

  This blog is an updated version of a previous post. You can now read and/or listen to my blogs. I hope hearing the blog is a welcome addition!

  

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  The devil, known as Satan, the evil one, the accuser of the brethren, that old dragon, and the prince of this world, to name a few, is our adversary! Plain and simple. As I wrote previously, many people try not to think about or even acknowledge his interference in life, or his utter dislike for them! I can assure you, ignoring him doesn’t make him go away, it emboldens him! He’s like a scorned lover who yells, “I will not be ignored!”

  An adversary is one’s opponent in a contest, conflict, or dispute. That certainly describes the devil. He is our opponent. Plain and simple. He is a constant threat to us and all that we hold dear, because of the fact that we are special to God. Not just those of us who are born again, but mankind in general. He hates us all! It’s interesting to note how eagerly some people will align themselves to the devil, only to later find out, he has no loyalty or love for them!

  Jesus called Satan a liar, a thief, a robber, a murderer, a destroyer, and an accuser of the brethren! Since that is how Jesus identifies him, then we should know that he is never interested in anything but our demise. He and his demonic team has no good thing within them, and are incapable of good!

  Our adversary the liar. He tells us we’re sick, we’re dying, we’re never going to amount to anything, no one loves us, everyone is against us, God isn’t faithful, and the list goes on and on. When you hear this stuff, know it is coming from him! Don’t listen to that! Cast down those lying thoughts! (Check out my previous post to learn more).

  Our adversary the devil is a thief. “A thief is someone who steals something from an individual in secret.” He comes to steal the word of God that encourages us when we read the Bible, hear a great sermon, or read an inspiring blog! He comes to steal our joy, our peace, our reputation, our witness, our children, and everything else that God has given us to bless us, by any means necessary. He tries to wrap it up in other things like people and circumstances, but it is him and his team! Don’t let him do it!

  Our adversary the devil is a robber. “A robber is like a thief, in that he steals from you; but different in that he can be seen by the victim. A robber also employs the technique of using injuries or threats to take what he wants. That’s how he uses accidents, drug addiction, job loss, divorce, prolonged illness, and a host of other things. He’s bold when he does it and doesn’t care if you recognize he is the one behind it. Then he threatens you with fear, taunting and tormenting you, until you cave under the pressure! But it’s just an attack from the devil and you don’t have to give in to it!

  Our adversary is a murderer! Yes he is! Don’t ever think that pain or sickness is just to make you uncomfortable, or is just a process of living. He is trying to kill you! And if he can’t kill you, he will certainly put as much on you as he can get away with! Don’t accept anything he throws at you as no big deal. It is a big deal! Resist seeing everything through glasses that are covered with ignorance and unawareness!

  He’s a destroyer of all that is good! He wants to destroy your witness, your home, your family, your finances, your business, your name, your peace, your relationships, and your health. I’m telling you, there is nothing in your life that is off limits to him! He leaves chaos and destruction everywhere. Hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and fires have all been attributed to an act of God! That’s him lying and deflecting blame. It’s his nature to destroy, not God’s!

  And lastly, he’s the accuser of the brethren! That’s right! He stands before God, day and night, making accusations against us. Make sure he’s wasting his breath! Don’t give him anything to accuse you of! But whether there is a legitimate reason or not, he will find something to say against you! It’s what he does! This is a perfect picture of him in his role as adversary. And if he can get us accusing one another, well, he is even happier!

  So what is a person to do, knowing that the adversary is constantly on the prowl looking for a way to attack us physically, emotionally, financially, and spiritually? Especially when he can attack in ways that makes us feel like the full force of hell is upon us! Keep reading or listening, because that will be in my next post! Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Jesus, Satan, Spiritual warfare, the devil | 2 Comments | Tagged Believer, blessings, Christian, God, hard times, Jesus, protection, relationships, Satan, Spiritual warfare, supernatural, testimony, the devil, trust in God, Victorious Living, victory, word of God

• Happy Are the People!

  Posted at 9:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on July 2, 2020

  Psalm 144:15 – “Happy are the people who are in such a state; Happy are the people whose God is the Lord!” NKJV

  

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  Happy people are blessed people, and blessed people are happy people! I woke up with this passage of scripture on my heart and just thought I would share it!

  We are happy when our children are doing well! David wrote the following about children:

  • That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth! In today’s vernacular this means, that our sons are doing well. They are physically healthy, they are growing into fine young men. They are morally upright and are demonstrating a sense of responsibility.
  • That our daughters may be as pillars, sculptured in palace style. No figure heads for our daughters. But still applicable in the sense that we want daughters of grace and inner beauty. Young women who are confident, vibrant, and of course, morally upright and responsible.

  We are happy when we have money in the bank, the bills are paid, and we can enjoy life and giving:

  • That our barns may be full, supplying all kinds of produce.
  • That our sheep may bring forth thousands in our fields. Increase in our labors. Much fruit in our jobs!
  • That our oxen may be well laden;
  • That there be no breaking in our going out- I left all of these together because they speak of prosperity. Yes, prosperity. Our finances, our business, our homes, our possessions, growing, flourishing, and overflowing to the point of being a blessing to others. That they are protected from the thief and from waste.

  We are happy when we feel safe and secure where we live:

  • That there be no outcry in our streets. We are living in such a way, that there are no protests in the streets over injustice, lack, or unfair treatment. We can go back and forth in the city without fear of being hurt, harmed, or in danger!

  How can this be? David was praying that this would be the state of the people whose God is the Lord! When we are in the kingdom of God, we should expect that every area of our lives will be touched by His goodness, filled with His blessings! Our family, our livelihood, our cities! Nothing missing, nothing lacking! That’s actually what blessings are all about! And when we are blessed by God like this, aren’t we happy?

  Somebody is saying, just one area Lord, and I’ll be happy! That may be true, but trust Him to move in all areas; expand your heart to receive more from God! He’s not having an economic crisis, and He’s not rationing out blessings!

  I just thought I’d share what I woke up to! I pray blessings over your family, your home, your livelihood, your city, your country! As David did! So the next time someone say to you, “Be blessed,” think of all these ways in which David, and I prayed for you to be blessed! Because happy is the people whose God is the Lord! Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in blessings, God’s Blessings | 1 Comment | Tagged Attitude, blessings, children, David, goodness, material blessings, provision, psalm

• Jesus, the Seed of Abraham!

  Posted at 9:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on June 23, 2020

  Galatians 3:16 – Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ. NKJV

  

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  Genesis is the book of beginnings! It is in this book that God begins His redemptive plan for mankind. Actually, it was begun before the foundations of the world, but it is in the first book of the Bible that we see the plan begin to unfold. I am going to do a series about Jesus and how He was the spiritual fulfillment of types and shadows in the Old Testament.

  God told Abraham, when He called him out of Ur, that He was going to bless him. Abraham wanted a son more than anything else and God promises to deliver a son. Then when Isaac is deep in Abraham’s heart, God tells him to go and sacrifice Isaac, his only son, to the Lord. Abraham obeys the Lord and as he is about to take Isaac’s life, God stops him. The Lord then tells him:

  Genesis 22:17-18 – “blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” NKJV

  Now, we might say that this referred to Isaac. And you will be correct, because through Isaac, God multiplied Abraham’s seed and they now live all over the earth. But that wasn’t the only thing that God meant. Paul, being intentional, let us know that this seed God referred to was not “seeds” as in descendants, but to a particular seed, as in Jesus, singular.

  When Matthew begins his record of the genealogy of Jesus, he begins with Abraham letting us know that Jesus was the seed of Abraham. This is important because Jesus was a natural descendant of the father of faith, or the patriarch of Israel, Abraham!

  God’s promise, that the nations of the world would be blessed through Abraham’s Seed is therefore, not fulfilled in Isaac, but in Jesus! In the book of Revelation, John wrote, that we are called out of every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people. All because of the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the salvation that He bestows to all those who believe. Paul also let’s us know that the promise came to Abraham when he had stepped out in faith and obeyed God and that through faith we receive Jesus and have access to the same favor and blessings that Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the children of Israel had access to.

  Not only that, but the promise of the Holy Spirit, which Jesus said was the promise of the Father, was part of that promise made to Abraham. (Galatians 3:14) And Isaac was not capable of bestowing or being party to making that a reality. This promise to Abraham covered every aspect of our lives, natural blessings, salvation, the promise of the Holy Spirit, and access to the Father.

  Jesus, is a fulfillment of the covenant that God made with Abraham. Through Jesus all the nations have an opportunity to be blessed. Through Jesus, Abraham’s Seed, there have been an innumerable, increase in the Body of Christ. Surely we have increased to the point that we are more numerous than the sand in the sea or the stars in the sky. And contrary to polls and naysayers, we are continually growing.

  Also, we are possessing the gates of our enemy. Jesus has given us authority to trample over demons; authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out; and authority over all the works of the devil. Isaac was not able to bring us to the place where we could possess the gates of the enemy!

  So let’s look at what we have in Jesus because He is the seed of Abraham:

  • If we are of faith, we are blessed with believing Abraham
  • Jesus has redeemed us from the curse of the law of sin and death
  • Abraham’s blessings are to come upon us through Christ Jesus
  • We will receive the promise of the Spirit through faith
  • We are justified by faith
  • We are sons of God through faith
  • We are heirs according to the promise
  • We’re all one in Christ Jesus

  It was so important to our redemption, that Jesus fulfill the promise of God as the Seed of Abraham! When I read the Old Testament, I marvel at all God did for the children of Israel, but I don’t have to be jealous, for I also am an heir to the same blessings they experienced and so much more! I’m gonna get my blessings, right now! Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Blessing of Abraham, Jesus, Promises of God | 2 Comments | Tagged Abraham, Blessing of Abraham, blessings, Galatians, heirs, heirs with Christ, Holy Spirit, Jesus, redemption, Salvation, seed, sons of God

• Don’t Settle For Less

  Posted at 9:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on May 7, 2020

  Genesis 17:17-18 – “Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child? ” And Abraham said to God, “Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!” NKJV

  Everyone wants a word from the Lord! And when we get a word from the Lord we get so excited. I know Abram got excited when God told him that he would not only have a son, but that his seed would be as numerous as the stars in the sky! The Bible tells us that Abram believed God. And believed God. And believed God. Especially since he was 75 years old when the promise was made and 100 when it was fulfilled. I know that he had to have been excited when he told Sarai. They probably thought at first that the baby would be born within the year, but he wasn’t. And for years they kept believing that the baby would come, but it didn’t come. And so their faith began to wane.

  Many people know how Abram and Sarai felt. I know I do! God gives an exciting word to us which will give us the desire of our heart. You will be healed! Your debts will be forgiven! I’ve called you to preach the gospel. Go ahead, and put the word He has given you in the list. And you light upon that word, rehearse that word, confess that word and that word is yet to be fulfilled in your life. Well, Abram and Sarai took matters into their own hands to “help” God fulfill His promise to them.

  One day Sarai suggested to Abram that he take Hagar to have a baby with. And Abram did. And he had Ishmael. He was 86 years old! What a joy Ishmael was to Abram, but not to Sarai. Even though it was her suggestion, she and Hagar didn’t appear to be on the same page with Ishmael. I don’t know many women who would have handled the situation much better. But Abram was a dad! And he was so excited about it! He had what he wanted! A son!

  But Abram didn’t have what God wanted for him. In chapter 17, God visits Abram again and changes his name to Abraham and Sarai’s name to Sarah. Abraham would be the father of many nations and Sarah would be the mother of many nations, and out of her kings would come. Well, by now, Abraham is laughing at this word from God. It’s more impossible now than it was at 75. And since he wanted a son, and he had Ishmael, he felt God had kept His word and all was well. Except, all wasn’t well!

  Sometimes when we are believing God for something we don’t hold out for God’s best. We settle for anything that looks like what He said and go on through life as if it’s okay. You’re not healed, but you feel better, so much better and stop believing for complete and total healing in your body. Your house isn’t paid off yet, but you have the money to pay your mortgage, or whatever bill, and you are just happy that you have the money needed, and it’s ok that your debt isn’t forgiven because it’s manageable. And the list can go on and on…

  Abram wanted a baby with Sarai. He loved her and wanted their posterity to continue, but they got tired of waiting and decided to settle for the next best thing. Ishmael. As a matter of fact, when God told Abraham about Sarah having a baby he reminded God of how old they both were, said that it was okay that he had Ishmael, and asked God to allow Ishmael to live before Him. But that wasn’t what God had planned for Abraham when He spoke to him, and therefore, it was not His will for Abraham’s life!

  God wants us to feel better, but more importantly, He wants us whole! He wants us to pay our bills, but He wants us debt free. He wants us to work in ministry, and adopt kids, and be satisfied and single, but He often has so much more for us than we receive because we are often willing to settle for that which He doesn’t have planned for us.

  I remember years ago, when I was a single woman, I was often teased by my seemingly high standards for the man I wanted to married. Once I was told that I acted like I was waiting for Jesus to come back and marry me. I replied that if He came back and married me I would accept. I did get engaged to a nice young man, but I knew I was settling. Fortunately I got out of that before I had made a big mistake. He wasn’t God’s best for me. Then I was told I would have to change my personality because men would be put off by it. I responded that I wasn’t changing to get a man, because I was better off single if I had to be somebody other than myself. Well, I eventually met the man of my dreams who loved me the way I was. I’ve changed over the years, but I didn’t have to change to get him or to keep him. I changed because of the power of the Spirit working in my life while the word transformed it!

  Now I’m in that place where I am believing God for ministry opportunities. I am so excited about blogging. This blog is being read by people in 44 different countries of the world. That’s amazing to me and I am so grateful to God for that exposure. I’ve already surpassed last year’s totals in views. (Not that they were so numerous, but they were my best at that time). And I found myself getting into that settling mode. I was getting satisfied with the blog and thinking, okay, this may be what the Lord had in mind for me. But today I was challenged by the word to not settle. God has great things in store for me, for you! He isn’t calling us to settle. Yes, be thankful, be content! But don’t become satisfied with today’s success when tomorrow hasn’t even gotten here yet and you don’t know what it holds! It may be many tomorrows as it has already been, as Abraham and Sarah experienced, but if it was a word from God, you can bank on it! It will surely come to pass! Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in God’s Blessings, God’s faithfulness, Promises of God | 3 Comments | Tagged Abraham, blessings, encouragement, Faith, Healing, Sarah, trust in God, will of God, word from God

• Even When You Don’t See It!

  Posted at 9:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on April 14, 2020

  Numbers 23:11 – Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies, but you have done nothing but bless them!” NIV

  If you read my blogs on a regular basis, then you know that I have started working on reading the Bible to see how fast I can read it. I heard one woman say that she took some time off to spend with the Lord and I believe she said she read it in a week. That’s amazing! I’m not quite that dedicated to getting through it, but I am making progress and in the last last two weeks I have been on a steady path and have just completed the book of Numbers.

  Another thing you might remember me mentioning is that I have started viewing the Bible project on YouTube which one of my followers suggested to me. I had seen it before, but had forgotten how much I enjoyed it and now I watch it before I begin every new book of the Bible. It really helps to set the tone and increases my understanding.

  The Bible project brought out a point about Balak’s attempt to curse Israel, and I decided to look at it again and then to blog about it.

  The song, “Waymaker” written and sung by Sinach, has become a favorite for many, especially me. Michael W. Smith also sings this song and he sings an additional part to the song:

  Even when I can’t see it, You’re working,
  Even when I don’t feel it, You’re working,
  You never stop, You never stop working!
  You never stop, You never stop working!

  If you have not heard either version, they are both wonderful. You should check the out!

  In Numbers chapter 22, we find Balak, king of Moab stirred up over the children of Israel passing through his land. He gets the bright idea to send for Balaam to curse the children of Israel that he might be able to overtake them in war and stop their progression to the promised land.

  What Moab didn’t know, or didn’t hold much credence to is that God had already blessed Israel and promised them the land. He had already given them instructions to wipe out the inhabitants of the land, so there was really nothing that Balak could do to stop it.

  Balak sent for Balaam. Balaam was obviously known to bless or curse people. In my readings, I have found comments stating Balaam was a prophet of God, wanting only to do his will, and other side, Balaam was crooked and kept saying he would only do His will to up the monetary gifts, thus his value. Balak, in the meanwhile, has allied himself with the Midianites with the goal of stopping the Israelites, and he doesn’t care about any of that, he just wants Israel cursed.

  As Balaam heads to meet with Balak, he encounters God. This has always been a little puzzling to me. God gives him permission to go, then God says He’s going to kill him for going. According to a commentator on the matter, it was to demonstrate that if he was such a one who could spiritually discern what God was doing, why did his donkey have to let him know that God was present to kill him? I’m not sure about this, but I do know that the donkey talks to him and reveals that God is there with a sword in his hand. According to the commentator, this is also God’s way of letting Balaam know that His word is law, and to say anything other than what he is told to say, will not end well for him. (My paraphrase!)

  Balak is so excited that Balaam has come to curse the people that he meets him at the Moabite border! He lets Balaam knows that he should’ve come at the beginning and that he will surely be rewarded if he curses this people; but Balaam reminds him that He can say no more than what he is told to say.

  When he gets started, he instructs Balak to prepare seven altars and he steps to the side to wait on God. God does speak to him and instructs him to bless the people, but when he does it, Balak is furious! Three times, Balak asks Balaam to curse them, and three times, Balaam blesses them! Now here’s the point:

  They were on the mountains overlooking the hundreds of thousands of Israelites who were in the valley just wanting to pass through. And as they were in the valley, they had absolutely no idea that there was someone overlooking them to curse them. They couldn’t see Balak, the Moabite officials, or Balaam overhead. They didn’t realize that anything was going on, but God was working on their behalf! The enemy was trying to curse them, to bring about their demise, and God was right in the middle of the situation, working things out for their good! And guess what else? The Moabites were worried about the Israelites, when God had already given them strict orders not to touch them! Worried for no reason whatsoever! Sounds like so many of us!

  I thought this was a beautiful picture of that statement, even when you don’t see Him, He’s working. Some times we forget that our Heavenly Father is looking out for us. That when He told Abraham, “I will bless those who bless my people. and I will curse those who curse them too,” that this promise is ours to accept. Even now in this pandemic, God is working! We can’t see it! It may not even feel like it! But He’s working!

  Hearing that this stay at home order is expected to last until summer may seem daunting at best, but we should not allow that to be our focus. If we do, it will overwhelm us and cause us unnecessary anxiety. That’s why it is important to know that even when things looks bad, God is working on the behalf of His people. We can’t see it! We can’t even imagine what it could be, or even how it can be, but He is! By faith I understand that is just how He works sometimes! Behind the scenes, in the midst of troubles, without us even knowing it, but before it is all over, we will know that He is still a Waymaker, Miracle Worker, Promise Keeper, Light in the darkness! Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Deliverance, God, God’s Blessings | 1 Comment | Tagged Balaam, Balak, Believer, blessings, hard times, protection, victory

• The Best Thing That Happened!

  Posted at 4:51 pm by wonderfuljesus8, on April 7, 2020

  Acts 4:12 – Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” NIV

  I wasn’t going to blog today. As I was going through my morning routine, listening to a playlist I found on YouTube, old gospel music began playing. I found myself reminiscing about some things, thanking God for some things, and worship began to flow out of my mouth, and out of my heart! Then I heard this song, rewritten by the Reverend James Cleveland, that Gladys Knight sang, “Jesus is the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me.” Then I began to weep, because He is still the best of the best that has happened to me.

  If you don’t know the song, I’ll share the first part of it:

  I’ve had my share of life’s ups and downs
  God’s been good to me, and the downs have been few
  I would guess you can say, God has blessed me
  But there’s never been a time in my life, he didn’t bring me through

  If anyone should ever write, my life story
  For whatever reason there might be
  You’d be there, between each line of pain and glory

  Jesus is the best thing that ever happened
  Jesus is the best thing that ever happened
  Jesus is the best thing that ever happened to me

  I can’t call Jesus the best thing, because He’s a person, not a thing, although I can call His great salvation to me, the best thing that ever happened in my life. Even now, as I blog, thinking about how good He’s been to me, how good He is to me, how my life has absolutely changed because of Him, all I can say is Jesus is the best!

  Of course, I remember when this song actually came out. I was in college, living for God, being a witness, excited about Jesus! He kept me from so much of the “college” life and helped me to be a light to some many people. I’m grateful! When this song came out, it resonated with me then as it does now, reminding me that the very best decision that I ever made was accepting Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior. I remember sponsoring an event for the fraternities and sororities, and my pastor and church members came to the university, and they heard the gospel and many got saved. Wonderful memories!

  Over the years I’ve experienced many great things. I have a great home life! My husband and I have been married for over 30 years. During this time, we have developed a genuine friendship, a deep love, and loving home; and although marrying him was a great decision, choosing Jesus was a better decision. Our wedding song was, “Only God Could Love You More” and that was true then and is still true today; but we are where we are at today, doing what we are doing, because God’s been so good to us! And because He’s been in every facet of our lives!

  I heard on the news that people are fighting more in their homes because of this pandemic. People are getting on each other nerves. Suicide and depression is on the rise. And all I can think is, Jesus can work that out! He can bring peace in your storm and calm the raging seas. He can be the anchor of your soul, of your family, of your home!

  I must admit that in close quarters, people can get on your nerves. I recently heard a song by Jonathan McReynolds named, “People” that asked God if He can heal of us people? Yes, He can! There’s nothing too hard for Him! And He specializes in dealing with people. I’m a living testimony.

  At this time of year when we rejoice in the truth that our Savior is alive and well; that He was dead, but now He lives and is alive forevermore, remember how good He has been to you! I have always felt that this time of year should be filled with more rejoicing and celebration than Christmas. True, His birth was a marvelous, miraculous time, for God brought forth His Son! But His resurrection, the reason we believe, the reason we are changed, the reason we have fellowship with the Father, the reason we are blessed is Powerful! One couldn’t happen without the other, I get that! However, I love this time of the year because it is only about Jesus!

  Jesus, Jesus, Jesus! There’s something powerful, wonderful, freeing in that Name. I encourage you today to realize how amazing He is! He truly is the absolute best that ever happened to me. Not the best thing, just simply the Best! And I am eternally grateful today! What about you? Have you made the decision to accept Him today as your personal Lord and Savior? Have you opened your heart to Him? Have you received forgiveness for your sins, thinking that you could live without Him? I can tell you today, when He becomes real to you, you’ll be echoing along with us, that giving your life to Him is the best thing that could ever happen to you!!

  I am praying for all of you who read my blog. Truly! I am praying that you make it through this pandemic, and when you get on the other side, that you will not only know Him better, but that you will be the better for having experienced it. He causes all things to work together for our good! Wonderful Jesus!!

  Posted in Jesus, Salvation | 0 Comments | Tagged blessings, Christian, encouragement, Forgiveness, Jesus, Salvation, witness

• The Lord Has Need of It!

  Posted at 3:54 pm by wonderfuljesus8, on April 6, 2020

  Luke 19:30-31- “Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose it and bring it here. 31 And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you loosing it?’ thus you shall say to him, ‘Because the Lord has need of it.’ ”

  Palm Sunday, for centuries, has been considered by the church world, the beginning of Holy Week. Since “Holy Week” is predominantly a Catholic term, it’s not a phrase that I heard until I was a little older in life and the faith. However, having said that, many Christians the world over, celebrate Palm Sunday, as a precursor to the observance of Easter Sunday.

  The triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem is told in every gospel, just as the crucifixion is. Today, I would like to just point out some things that are interesting about Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem that we celebrate on Palm Sunday.

  Jesus, knowing that the Jewish authorities had plans to kill Him, knowing that His hour had come, did not go into Jerusalem through the back door. He made a grand entrance. Every student of the word knows that He was fulfilling Bible prophecy, but still He showed great strength and courage.

  Before entering Jerusalem, Jesus instructs two of His disciples to go into the village and get a donkey. Either He was operating in a word of knowledge, or He had a dream, or God just led Him by His Spirit, for He was able to tell them that the colt would be tied to the post and that it had never been ridden. He goes on to say that if anyone was to ask why they were loosing the colt that they were to respond that the Lord has need of it.

  How did the owners know? Quite possibly through a dream. The only important detail for me, is that the owners did know and that they were glad to release the colt to the disciples for Jesus’ use.

  The disciples place their garments on the colt, like one would place a saddle, and then they placed Jesus on the donkey. We know from reading the Bible, that Jesus was quite the walker, He and His disciples. But there’s something different about going to Jerusalem this time. Not only is Jesus riding a colt, but as He enters the city, people begin throwing their garments on the road, creating a “red carpet” effect for the donkey to walk on. They also begin throwing branches, (John’s gospel say they are palm branches) on the ground, all while rejoicing and praising God for His mighty works. (Quite possibly they have heard of the raising of Lazarus from the dead).

  Zechariah 9:9- “Rejoice greatly O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.” This could have easily been one of those situations where Jesus said that the scriptures were being fulfilled, for it happened just as Zechariah prophesied.

  Just some things to note: Kings usually rode on horses, but this King came on a colt, signifying that He is the Prince of peace and is not coming as a warrior. As He enters into the city in this prophetic manner, the citizens began to rejoice that they could now welcome Him as Messiah, as King. In Matthew and Mark, the crowd is noted as saying, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” But, in Luke and John’s gospels they add King. Whether they shouted it or not, their actions of throwing the garments down and throwing the branches down were actions acknowledging Him as King.

  Why palm branches? Palm branches were symbolic of a victory and of a king. In tossing palm branches before Jesus as He entered Jerusalem, they were acknowledging Him as their victorious King! He had come! The Messiah was here!

  They were also shouting Hosanna. We use it as a term of worship or praise, but it’s literal meaning is “save now”. It’s interesting to me, that this crowd was “caught up” in the Spirit and didn’t even know it. They were fulfilling or participating in the fulfillment of prophecy and yet they missed the very event they proclaimed. Their King had come!

  I want to return to my verse. Jesus was in need of the colt to fulfill His entry into Jerusalem. My thought today is “what do I have that Jesus is in need of to fulfill His kingdom plans today?” I know the things that I am willing to give to Him, but is there something that He is asking me for that I have not “loosed” into His capable hands of yet? I sincerely hope not!

  Jesus simply rode the colt of the owners, but once He reached His destination, He was finished with the colt. And yet, the colt was a vital part of the prophesy. What He is asking you for may seem insignificant from your lens and from mine, but this got me to thinking that from His perspective, it is needed and it is not insignificant.

  In today’s culture, people would have been fighting over that colt, offering thousands of dollars to the owners for the colt; just so they could say they owned the colt that carried Jesus. There’s no telling what benefits the owners received from having given the colt to Jesus that day. What we can be sure of is that when Jesus asks us for anything, it is not to bring loss into our lives, but to bring increase!

  What do you have that the Lord has need of? It could be your talents, your money, your home, your life, your all. What ever it is, if you give it to Him, you will be the better for doing so! Just loose it and trust it to the King! Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Jesus, Palm Sunday, Resurrection Sunday | 0 Comments | Tagged Believer, blessings, Easter, Jesus, king, Palm Sunday, Resurrection Sunday, Salvation, trust in God, victory

• Miraculous Provision

  Posted at 7:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on March 23, 2020

  Matthew 14:18-21 – “He said, “Bring them here to Me.” Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.” NKJV

  It’s really hard to give one verse and then to talk about a miracle. Especially since sometimes the details are the best part of the actual miracle!

  Many years ago, I sat in a service listening to a missionary. He spoke of the salvations and the many wonderful people he met and ministered to. But then he began talking about a miracle that he witnessed. He shared how they had prepared food for a certain number of people but as it came time to feed them, more than double showed up. So they began praying over the food and it turned out to be more than enough. He knew Jesus had multiplied food again! I knew I wanted to know that Jesus and was the first at the altar!

  By again, I’m referring to our passage for today! Jesus had a crowd following behind Him to be ministered to and He realized they were hungry. We know from other accounts that the disciples wanted them to go somewhere else and eat, but Jesus had a different plan. They saw a young lad with five loaves and two fish and Jesus said it was enough. The disciples had to have been thinking that there was no way that they could feed all of those people with so little. Yet, He did!

  Jesus took the meal and blessed it. Right here is a shouting moment! Anything that Jesus blesses is going to multiply! There’s no stopping that! Then He broke the loaves of bread and gave them to the disciples and they passed it out. But in the passing it out, they never ran out. They fed five thousand men, plus the women and children that was with the men. But even if they had only feed 5,000, that’s amazing. On top of that, there were twelve baskets of food remaining. The kid not only had more than enough for lunch, but quite a bit left over for his family and to share. That’s God! More than enough!

  So many people are out of work right now. We’re headed for some tough times if things don’t turn around quickly. But I just want to remind you that the One who performed this miracle in the book of Mark, is still capable of performing miracles of provision today!

  I heard another time, that a young lady had taken a suitcase of clothes to an orphanage to distribute to the children. Only she saw more children then she had clothes in the suitcase. But guess what? The clothes never did run out. How’s is that possible? Jesus! And I think she took that same suitcase to other orphanages and did the same thing.

  When I was in Bible school I had a roommate. We had to pay rent and tuition, and we had to eat. I was working at Pizza Inn making minimum wages and tips. (I think it was about $1.15 at the time). So we didn’t have a lot of extra anything! It was announced that we would be having a work week at the church. Men from all over the States came to work on the headquarters. I didn’t think anything of it because I didn’t have any involvement with all of that. As I was leaving class, I waved to them and said hello to others, but then God spoke to me.

  God told me to take them something to eat for lunch. We didn’t have a lot, but I went to our apartment, found some bread and meat and made sandwiches and Kool-aid. It just happened to be enough for the men that were working. I hadn’t even stopped to count. It just was! For the rest of the week I took them lunch every day, at my expense, and met some really nice people. But the really special thing that happened was that God told me that I would never go hungry. And I never have, although I struggled to take care of myself for several years. He’s always provided!

  He may not multiply your fish and bread, but He can surely stretch your money. Or He can send you groceries. (I have heard several of those types of testimonies, also). Or someone can invite you over for dinner or pay for your food in the grocery line. He has so many creative ways of taking care of us. And I have experienced a few of them!

  Another time, after I got married, I wanted to give my daughter a birthday party. But I didn’t want to ask my husband for the money because he was the only one working and I thought it would be a good time to exercise my faith. So I asked God for the money. Not long after that, we went out for ice cream and my husband spotted a wallet near my feet. It was empty of everything but money. I told the workers there that they could have my number and if the person came back looking for the wallet they could call me and I would return it. But I made it perfectly clear that they would have to be able to tell me exactly how much was in the wallet. The call never came, and I had a party for my baby on Jesus!

  I am fortunate that although I am out of work, I am getting paid. (My pastor would say it is because I am a tither). I know this is nothing but God! I have experienced His goodness to me so many times that I would have just trusted Him to do some other wonderful thing in providing for us if I wasn’t getting paid. He hasn’t failed us yet, and He never will!

  If you are struggling at this time in your finances, because of the coronavirus, this is a good time to use your faith. Begin to talk to the miracle worker, who can turn a little into a lot or who can turn nothing into something. He sees it as His personal responsibility to provide for us, so ask Him today for what you need! Then trust Him to provide it! Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Believers, Christian, Faith, miracle, Victorious Living | 0 Comments | Tagged Believer, blessings, encouragement, Faith, feeding of five thousand, Jesus, miraculous, provision, testimony, trust in God

• His Ardent Desire!

  Posted at 3:50 am by wonderfuljesus8, on March 1, 2020

  Psalm 27:13 – I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. NIV

  In the church we have a saying, actually an echo: “The Lord is good, all the time! And all the time, the Lord is good!” Some of us have even taken to saying, “The Lord is good on purpose, and the Lord is good to me!” At least, that’s what I have begun to say!

  David had the right attitude about God! He wasn’t waiting for the time that he would die and be with God to experience God’s goodness! He was confident that God’s goodness would be a reality in his life on the earth. As a matter of fact, he said he would have given up on life if he couldn’t expect the goodness of God to be a part of his life. That’s’ how good God was to Him!

  David was so conscious of the goodness of God that he said that God’s goodness would follow him all the days of his life. (Psalm 23)! He knew that God’s goodness went far beyond a statement or a cliche. In Psalm 33, David stated that the earth was full of the goodness of the Lord and His goodness endures forever (Psalm 52). He not only knew of God’s personal goodness to Him, but he simply believed that God was just plain ole good to everybody and that He would never stop being good!

  So what is God’s goodness? God’s goodness is His mercy, His favor, or His kindness extended to us. The Hebrew word “chacad” literally means to “bow from the neck only in courtesy to an equal”. This renders the picture of God nodding in our direction, His favor, as if we are somehow on His level! Just His nodding in our favor is enough! And in the Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon it also is noted to have a meaning of being “an eager and ardent desire by which any one is led”. So not only is God’s goodness His nod in our direction, but His heart is one of eagerness and of an ardent (passionate) desire that leads Him in how He deals with us!

  We are so unaware of just how much God wants to bestow His goodness in our lives. We go through this life thinking that anything good that happens to us is miraculous or unexpected, but we serve an amazing God who loves us and passionately desires to favor us. Can you imagine that? All of our lives we may have been taught that we have to be good, read the Bible, beg God for things, or hope for the best in life, when David discovered long ago that God’s ardent desire is to nod towards us! It’s simply how He flows!

  Tonight as I am writing this blog, I have gotten excited myself. I know of God’s favor and have experienced it a lot in my life. Some call me blessed, some call me lucky, but God the Father favors me in ways that only He can fathom. And even in that, I can easily forget how willing He is to nod towards me.

  On our wedding day, it rained cats and dogs. But God gently told me that is was just symbolic of how He would bless our marriage. And after 33 years of marriage, there is no denying that He followed through. I had to quit college for a lack of funds and it nearly broke my heart, but He spoke to me and said that I would have several degrees, and I do. He worked it out! I was upset one day because I felt like I was working hard, but I wasn’t getting a lot of money for my effort. He spoke to me and said, your check will become your tithe. And that has happened, and more than that!

  But He isn’t just good to me. He’s good to us all. Every day is a day He favors us. He wakes us in our right mind, He keeps watch over us in the night, He protects us so much we take our safety for granted, and He provides for us so well, we think we are doing it. He is passionate with His goodness to mankind, but more especially to His people. So today, or tomorrow (depending on when you read this blog), remember to thank Him for His goodness and then begin to live like you know the King of kings has nodded in your direction and the blessings are going to flow in your life like never before! He’s good on purpose and He is good to you! Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Believers, Christian, God’s Blessings, Psalm 27:13 | 4 Comments | Tagged Believer, blessings, David, encouragemnt, God’s goodness, Psalm 27:13, testimony

• The Inexhaustible God!

  Posted at 2:57 am by wonderfuljesus8, on October 20, 2019

  Ephesians 3:20 – Now glory be to God, who by his mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of—infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes.

  Inexhaustible means “incapable of being used up, of being wearied or worn out! That’s our God! He has an unlimited supply source of everything we stand in need of. And when I think of Him as the inexhaustible God, for some reason, I think of Abraham!

  In the book of Genesis, Abraham is chosen by God to be the father of His people. But the problem is that Abraham and his wife Sarah are childless. God calls Abraham away from his family and all that is familiar to him and Abraham leaves. Yet every time God spoke to Abraham He talked of Abraham’s descendants, of the land Abraham would receive, of the blessings that would be his, but Abraham was still childless.

  Then one day after God shared all that He had in mind for Abraham, Abraham stopped Him and asked, “What good are all your blessings if I don’t have a son to leave it to?” Isn’t that amazing that Abraham would stop God in the midst of His proclamation over him and point out that he didn’t have a son? I would think that he would just keep nodding his head in agreement with God. But no! He wanted to know what good was all this wealth and this land, and all these promises if there was no one to leave it to! But you know what? I think God was waiting for that question, for He already had an answer! Isaac! And although Abraham produced an Ishmael, God still produced His Isaac. And then He did the unthinkable for Abraham and gave Him many more sons and daughters. In the United States Abraham has over 5 million descendants who are alive and well. That’s abundance!!

  How about when Abraham was told about Sodom and Gomorrah’s upcoming destruction. Abraham asked God if he would destroy the city if there were fifty righteous there. God said He wouldn’t! Then Abraham continued, asking about forty-five, then forty, then thirty, until he got to ten. You would think that God would have been tired of the conversation by the third or fourth time, but He didn’t get tired of Abraham, or his requests. He patiently answered him until Abraham was at peace that he had done all he could to save the citizens of Sodom and Gomorrah. He wasn’t successful, but he had successfully tried to save them. And in the process, God wasn’t worn out or weary with him.

  These accounts in Genesis are just a tip of the iceberg of the abundant faithfulness of our loving God to His people. When we consider how He dealt with them in “biblical” times, how can we even doubt the goodness that He has in store for us.

  Paul wrote, “that He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we could ask or think!” Paul was in essence letting us know that we serve the God with no limit to His power; even if there is a limit to what we could think or ask for, God’s abundance, His supply, His power has no end!

  Recently I heard someone say, in probably true humility, “God if you never do another thing for us, You’ve already been so good!” This is so true! Rather we acknowledge it or not, it is a genuine truth that He has been so good to us. But guess what, no matter how good He has been to you, to that individual, to me, He still has more good in store for us! He doesn’t give us a few blessings and say, “that’s enough for her, for him!” Not our God. As a matter of fact, “eye has not seen, nor has ear heard, all that He has planned for us” so we can be sure that there is so much more to come!

  To the Romans Paul wrote that God had given us Jesus! Glory Hallelujah! And Paul wrote that if God did not withhold His Son from us, how will He not with Him also freely give us all things? (Romans 8:32) Not some things, not a few things, but all things. It sounds to me like He’s going out of His way to bless us and He’s not holding anything back! All of heaven, (can you imagine it), at our disposal? I know it’s hard for me to imagine, also. But it’s true! He’s really working for our good and there is so much proof to confirm that!

  Does your heart sing praise for His goodness to you? It should! But it’s not over! He’s only just begun to pour out His blessings upon you. Look for it! It’s coming, because He is the inexhaustible God, and He is your God! You haven’t worn Him out with your requests. You can’t! He isn’t tired of you, and He never will be. A powerful love for you keeps Him in the thick of things with you. Learn to trust Him and His love for you and you will experience His abundance like never before. I know I am. Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Believers, Christian, Ephesians 3:20, Ephesians study, Victorious Living | 4 Comments | Tagged blessings, encouragemnt, Jesus, trust in God

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