Wonderful Jesus!

Tag: Holy Spirit

• His Mission in Life!

  Posted at 4:05 pm by wonderfuljesus8, on April 2, 2020

  Luke 19:9-10 – “And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” NKJV

  If you read my blog on yesterday, you know that Jesus had much to say about who He is: teacher, prophet, Messiah, Son of God, to name a few. But today I want to share why He came. According to our verse for today, one of His primary reasons for coming was to “seek and to save” the lost. It’s one of the church’s primary mission to do the same. But in His own words, He came for so much more and I would like to share the other reasons in this blog:

  Jesus said that He came:

  • To establish His kingdom- Mark 1:14
  • To fulfill the law-Matthew 5:17
  • To forgive sins-Matthew 9:6
  • To call sinners to repentance-Matthew 9:13
  • To die on the cross-Matthew 16:21
  • To rise from the dead-Matthew 16:21
  • To bear witness to the truth-John 18:37
  • To preach the gospel to the poor-Luke 4:18
  • To heal the broken-hearted -Luke 4:18
  • To set the captive free-Luke 4:18
  • To give sight to the blind -Luke 4:18
  • To send fire on the earth-Luke 12:49
  • To bring division-Luke 12:52
  • From God-John 8:42
  • That we might have life, and that more abundantly-John 10:10

  Again, this may not be an exhaustive list. There may be other places in the gospels where Jesus talks of all He came to accomplish while in His body, but these are the ones that I found in my search.

  Why am I even blogging on who Jesus is and what He came for? During these troubled times of the world’s focus on COVID-19, I thought it would be good to take the time and focus on Jesus. Who He is to you and what He came to do in your life. When looking at Him, everything else grows dim.

  My girlfriend, and talented psalmist, wrote a song years ago: “Focus on Jesus”. In the chorus she wrote: Focus on Jesus, He’s the One who cares! No one cares for us like Jesus does. No one loves us like Jesus does. None can provide like Him. Don’t let this pandemic overtake your every thought and activity, keep your focus on Jesus!

  Some of these statements Jesus made seem to be a little hard to swallow, but that’s out of context. In context, He demonstrates over and over again that He is a loving Savior, who expresses the heart of God, through the tenderness of the Holy Spirit in all that He does.

  Years ago, I was invited to share with a group of college students during their weekly Bible study. My prayer before I went there was to show them the heart of God, the love of Jesus. As I was teaching, all I wanted was for them to fall in love with my Jesus! All I want through my blogs is for you to fall madly in love with Jesus because He is madly in love with you.

  There’s no way I can blog almost every day and “hit the spot” every time. But if every time you click on, you see how much I love Jesus and I can convey to you how much He loves you, then my mission has been accomplished. It’s why I am blogging, it’s what I want my life to display.

  Last night, Don Lemon, interviewed a pastor out of Florida. I was a little nervous to hear what he would say, seeing that some of them are refusing to honor the stay at home order. This particular pastor shared that he was honoring the order because he felt the necessity of honor the civil law. He also expressed how he didn’t want to see his people get sick or to carry sickness to their families. But then he said an amazing thing: He said that this didn’t mean that he and his congregation was afraid of COVID-19, because they are not. He and his congregation stand ready to assist anyone in need at this time, even at the risk of contracting the virus and potentially dying. I sensed his love for the Savior, and his desire to demonstrate that love. God’s people can be pretty amazing when called upon.

  If during this time you are presented with an opportunity, yours truly included, to demonstrate His love in a practical way, do so! The world is waiting to see Jesus do what He came to do! And they will see it through us! Wonderful Jesus!!

  Posted in Jesus, love of God | 2 Comments | Tagged Believer, Christian, coronavirus, encouragement, Forgiveness, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, love, provision

• A Special Occassion

  Posted at 7:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on March 21, 2020

  John 2:7-8,10-11 – “Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it…And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!” This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.”
  NKJV

  Have you ever stopped and wondered why Jesus’ first miracle was turning water to wine at a wedding? I remember when our children were younger they watched the Superbook cartoons. I believe in one of the episodes they portrayed Jesus and His disciples at the wedding in Cana; the bride and groom was upset about not having enough wine, and Mary went to Jesus. Then He turned the water to wine and the first miracle happened.

  I don’t know if any of that really happened, but I do know that since this was the first miracle that Jesus performed and that this miracle is a sign that points to Him being the Son of God, that something else was going on. As I was thinking about this miracle, I had a thought that I want to share.

  First, let’s begin with the miracle, water was turned to wine. Mary told Jesus of the need and He remarked that His time had not yet come, and what did this have to do with Him? (In my blog, “Faith is a Time Changer” I expound a little more on this). Mary responded by turning to the servants of the wedding and telling them to do whatever He tells them to do. This seems to be one of the first steps in getting a miracle. When you ask for a miracle, listen for instructions from Him, then obey them!

  We are told that there are 6 water pots, each capable of holding about 30 gallons of water. Jesus told the servants to fill the water pots with water. They obey Him, filling the pots to the brim. He then tells them to dip water and take it to the master of the feast. (By the way, they have been celebrating for about a week already). From the time the water is dipped out of the pot to the tasting of the water, it becomes wine. Not only the water in the dipper, but in all the pots. A miracle has happened. No one has duplicated this miracle. If you want wine, you need grapes, not water!

  However, I did hear a testimony of a missionary who was driving through some dangerous terrain when he ran out of gas. While praying about the situation he saw water nearby and the thought came to him that if God could turn water into wine, He could turn water into gasoline. He got out of the car, got the water and poured it into his tank! And voila! His car started and he made it safely to his destination! Please don’t do this without His instructions!!

  The success of this miracle was in the obedience of the servants. Jesus gave instructions and they were followed to the letter. We don’t know why they obeyed Him, but we do know that they didn’t add to or take from His instructions. Neither did they stop to figure out why Mary asked for wine, and why He was telling them to get water. (Like some of us would gripe and complain about)!

  Why a wedding for the first miracle? I was thinking about that when God reminded me of an assignment I had in Bible School. I was given an assignment to write about the motifs of the Bible. Of course, I was clueless to what a motif was and google was yet to be discovered. I waited until a few days before the assignment was due and approached my professor. (I am still a little put out with him for giving me a grade of a D, then writing on the assignment that it was because I procrastinated. Humm, my principal would have my head)!! Anyway, he explained to me that a motif is a theme or a pattern that is in the Bible.

  When the Holy Spirit reminded me that He works in motifs I saw where He was going with that. Jesus started with a wedding because all that He did will end with a wedding. The wedding of the Bride of Christ! I have absolutely never thought of this before, so I will have to say I received revelation on this last night as I was thinking about this blog! And when you think about new wine, it is symbolic of the Holy Spirit! He provided new wine in abundance as He would release His Spirit in abundance upon His Bride! And water is symbolic of the word, Jesus! He can be so deep! All of this beautiful imagery of God the Father in what seems to be a simple answer to a need in someone’s life! Amazing!

  This is why I believe that the first miracle, which points to Jesus as the Son of God happened at a wedding! Why did Mary have to say anything? I don’t know for sure, but I do know that she pondered every thing that she was told about her son! I believe that she recognized that it was His time and it was up to her to use her faith to help and push Him into His purpose.

  This coronavirus is a terrible pandemic. What is going on around the world is hard to take in. But I believe that this is also a time of destiny for the Body of Christ. I believe that God will use all that is happening to strengthen His Bride in these last days. I also believe that for some of us, it is our time to step into our destiny for the time is getting short. If not now, then when? When we will begin to dare to believe in the Savior who gave so much for us? When will we step out into the unknown realm and dare to believe that a miracle is waiting on the other side!

  I just made that leap of faith and have officially started a teaching ministry, Wonderful Jesus Ministries! The funny thing about the name is that I meant to put Ministry instead of Ministries. I had to laugh at myself and say to the Lord, “How did I make that mistake? I don’t have a ministry let alone, ministries!” Anyway, during this time off I am using it for good, to identify what I am being called to do with this ministry, to spend time in prayer and fasting about it, and to send out words of encouragement and teachings to those of you who read my blog. Thanks for your continued support and know that I covet your prayers for this ministry! Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Believers, Christian, Faith, Jesus, John 2, miracle | 4 Comments | Tagged Believer, Christian, coronavirus, encouragemnt, Faith, Holy Spirit, Jesus, miraculous, obedience, supernatural, water turned to wine

• Talk Back to the Enemy!

  Posted at 7:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on February 25, 2020

  Isaiah 36:7 – “But if you say to me, ‘We trust in the Lord our God,’ is it not He whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah has taken away, and said to Judah and Jerusalem, ‘You shall worship before this altar’?”’ NKJV

  I think I’ve mentioned before that this battle is one of the most detailed battles in the word, written in three different books of the Bible. The first thing I noticed, the first time I read this battle is that the Assyrians were nothing more than bullies! They spent the majority of their time throwing insults, hoping to intimidate the Israelites into submission. If there is one modus operandi of the devil, intimidation would get my vote as his specialty.

  Let’s look at a few of the insults hurled at the citizens of Judah:

  • What are you trusting in?
  • I heard you are making plans for a war, but they are mere words.
  • Are you trusting in the assistance of Egypt? He’s a broken reed and so are those who trust in him.
  • Are you trusting in God?
  • Didn’t Hezekiah take away His high places and altars and said you could only worship here in Jerusalem?
  • Come on, surrender and make a pledge and we will give you 2,000 horses, if you have men you can put on them!
  • Didn’t the Lord say to us, “Go up against this land, and destroy it!
  • Don’t let Hezekiah deceive you, he won’t be able to deliver you!

  And the insults continued on and on, with one intent, to intimidate the people of God. And the devil has been using this form of attack on the people of God for centuries; often times quite effectively.

  Today he would more likely say things like:

  • Do you really think God will heal you? He didn’t heal Brother So and So. As a matter of fact, he died.
  • Do you expect Jesus to come from heaven and marry you? You will be waiting until eternity.
  • Do you really think that by giving that church ten percent of your income, you are going to make it to the next paycheck and have more than enough? Are you stupid? You can’t pay your bills now!
  • Why would God want to use you? There is nothing special about you. Get real!
  • Don’t you dare go over and tell that person that! That wasn’t God. He is not talking to you. That’s you!
  • You think because you said that prayer that you are saved. That is so not true. If that’s all it took, everybody would be saved.
  • You are a worthless, low down, dirty, rotten sinner, and that’s all you will ever be. God can’t possibly love you!

  And the list can go on and on and on. And some nights, and some times in your head, it does! And it seems as if you can’t shut the lying, hateful words up and so you begin to feel tormented in your mind and in your spirit. And when you start thinking like that, he is being effective against you!

  Hezekiah’s advice to his people was not to respond. This makes sense, because this was not an individual battle, but a battle against the masses. And maybe, just maybe, it is good advice when the devil is using an actual person. But generally, I would say that now is the time to go on the attack!

  How? The same way Jesus went on the attack! With God’s word!

  • Every lying thought needs to be cast down! You need to open your mouth and declare that “by His stripes you are healed!” That you will live and not die and continue to declare the works of the Lord! He is your healer!
  • You need to take a firm grip on the word that says, “It is not good that man is alone!” God’s idea, not mine! So He will work it out! And until He brings you together, you will use you time and talents to promote His kingdom and trust that your future spouse is waging war on him also!
  • Bring all the tithes into my storehouse, God said, and He will rebuke the devourer. So devil, you are rebuked in Jesus’ Name! Wealth and riches are in your house and you are blessed!
  • God has plans, a purpose, an expected end for you to get to, and God will bring it to pass! Therefore you can trust in Him to direct you, lead you, guide you. And you can become the enemy’s worst nightmare.
  • God manifests Himself, by His Spirit, to His people that they might be encouraged. A word of knowledge is a gift of God. And at the very least, you will encourage your brother, or your sister, so you will share what has dropped in your spirit and trust God with the rest!
  • All those who call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved! You called! You are saved! You are redeemed of the Lord and are saying so, because He told you to!
  • You are loved by God! You are fearfully and wonderfully made. And equally as importantly, you are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, not a low down dirty sinner. Satan is a liar, and the Father of lies and you are to resist every negative thought and comment and hide under the shadow of the Almighty God! You are His sheep and you only listen to your Shepherd, now put the devil behind you!

  You cannot be silent when the taunting, tormenting, intimidating spirits of the enemy come knocking at the door of your mind or your heart! You must make a decision to attack him with the only think that works! God’s word! It worked for Jesus in the wilderness and it will work for you! This is your time for talking back! Get sassy with it! And let him know that you are not taking this mess anymore! Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Battle plans, Believers, Christian, Spiritual warfare, Victorious Living | 2 Comments | Tagged Attitude, Believer, Christian, encouragement, Healing, Holy Spirit, Jesus, righteousness, Sinner, Spiritual warfare, Tithing, Victorious Living, victory, word of God

• Torn Between Two Worlds?

  Posted at 6:15 pm by wonderfuljesus8, on January 25, 2020

  Romans 7:15 – I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.

  I’ve been contemplating this chapter for years, as have many. And for some reason, when I read chapter 7, I walk away with an entirely different point of view than many Christians. As a matter of fact, I have often heard people use this passage (verses 14-25) to justify their inability to live the Christian life.

  These individuals explain, quite passionately, that if Paul, the great Apostle, struggled in his flesh, well, all the more reason they should struggle! Well, I don’t believe this is what Paul was saying at all! And it’s impossible to go into depth about all he did say with a blog, but I will do my best!

  Let me remind you that Paul was indeed writing a letter to the Roman believers, actually to the church in Rome. When I looked up the history of the book of Romans, (bible.org) I read these words and liked what the author had to say:

  “Romans is placed first among Paul’s letters in the New Testament not only because it is his longest work, but because it also furnishes a massive and basic theological frame-work for the whole collection of the apostle’s writings.”

  Therefore, it is absolutely necessary that we understand the theological principles set forth in the book of Romans and especially, in my opinion, in Romans 7. It lays a real groundwork for our belief system. And this book, one of my personal favorites, is where Paul takes time to break down the theology of Christianity.

  Keeping Romans 7 in context, when chapters 6 and 8 are read along with it, there’s no way to walk away thinking that Paul was saying that he was struggling in his flesh as a Christian, and that it was simply the way of life. If you read the entire New Testament, there is no other place where you can find scripture and verse to show Paul as such, a struggling believer. As a matter of fact, after reading the New Testament, most people I know walk away feeling that Paul was over the top in his faith and relationship with Jesus, and in a league of his own! So not a struggler!

  Romans 6 ends with Paul making a foundational point about redemption. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” And in making this point, he continues in chapter 7 to express the power of sin, and our inability outside of Christ to get the victory over sin. Furthermore, in the outline on Bible.org, this chapter is listed under the section of sanctification and titled, “Freedom in the New Life.” Now that doesn’t sound like an individual who can’t live for Jesus because his flesh is too strong. God forbid! Then in chapter 8 he writes of the power of walking after the Spirit! Paul is talking, not about a defeated life of dealing with the weaknesses of our flesh, but the Spirit’s ability to deliver us and to lead us in a life of victory!

  So for now, I just want to say to you, if you have been struggling in your walk with the Lord, and you have been using this chapter as your crutch, in the next couple of blogs I am snatching that crutch away! God’s heart for us is not that we live life between two worlds. He has not redeemed us from sin that sin may still reign in our mortal bodies. Paul mentions this in chapter 6, “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.” Proof positive that we are not to continually struggle over sin. The battle over sin was won at Calvary, and the Holy Spirit is at work in us to maintain that victory! But we have to stop seeing ourselves as wretched, struggling sinners, and begin to see ourselves as Christ sees us!

  Join me for the next few blogs as I endeavor to explain some of what is being addressed in this chapter. I believe the devil likes it when we think that sin is more power than the cross of Calvary. And that’s just not true! Jesus defeated Satan and the power of sin, once and for all, and it was that we might live life free of the power of sin! Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Believers, Christian, freedom, Romans 7:15, Sin | 4 Comments | Tagged Believer, Christian, encouragement, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Romans 7:15, Salvation, Sin, Sinner, Victorious Living, victory

• Under the Influence!

  Posted at 3:15 am by wonderfuljesus8, on January 24, 2020

  Luke 4:1 – “And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,”

  Today, we are influenced by many things. When someone is stopped by the police and that individual has been drinking, we say they are under the influence of the alcohol. When people are flying high and acting out of character, we say that they are under the influence of a drug, or a demon.

  Unfortunately, we can be under the influence of so much more! Influence is the capacity or power of persons or things to be a compelling force on or produce effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc. of others. Every where you look and everywhere you go, someone is trying to influence you.

  Whether that influence is for good or for evil; or whether that influence is direct or indirect, make no mistake, we are affected by the people and things around us. Other powerful influences on mankind include the music we listen to, the movies and shows we watch, the books we read. For example, when a young man wants to propose to his love, he sets the mood with music, flowers, and a meal to influence her decision positively. When in the store, different types of music is played to influence your spending. When you read the word of God your faith in Him grows. When you are in a church service, soft quiet music is played to put you in a reverential mood, and so forth and so on.

  But in our verse for today, Jesus is influenced by the Spirit of God and led to a destination. Luke wrote that Jesus was so full of the Holy Ghost that He led Jesus from Jordan and to the wilderness (Luke 4). The devil thought He had Jesus over a barrel. After all, He had been fasting for quite some time. But the Spirit of God led Him to fast and led Him to the wilderness to meet up with the devil, when the devil thought he was setting up the meeting. And because He was led of the Spirit, He whipped up on the devil with the Word of God!

  Jesus’ victory was assured because of the leading of the Holy Spirit. We can learn a very important lesson from this verse: If God leads us to a place or in a situation, our victory is guaranteed! And if He doesn’t lead us, and we find ourselves in a tough spot, we can turn to Him for direction to come out victorious! Hallelujah!

  Let’s return to the definition of the word influence and put the Holy Ghost in strategic places. When the Holy Spirit’s influence is upon your life, He is a compelling force on your behavior, your actions, your opinions, your words, and even your thoughts. His influence produces the desired effects upon every area of your life that you can name. He governs where you go, or don’t go; what you do or don’t do, what you say or don’t say, because you are under the influence. People worry about how to obey God’s rules. I like to say if we trust His leading, the rules will be taken care of! He will never lead us astray!

  Under the influence of the Holy Spirit we are able to live by faith as the word declares. Under the influence we are able to forgive others! Under the influence we can live a life free of sin! Under the influence we can operate in the supernatural. Under the influence we can do what God says we can do, we can have what He says we can have, and we can be all that He calls us to be! Under the influence!

  Don’t settle for a cheap imitation of influence when you can be influenced by the Spirit of God! Make up your mind today that His influence will have the greatest impact on your life, on your behavior, on your conversation, on your walk. The word tells us that those who are led by His Spirit are the children of God! Looking for proof that you belong to the Lord? Well, are you under His influence? Wonderful Jesus!!

  Posted in Attitude, Christian, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Luke 4:1, Victorious Living | 2 Comments | Tagged Believer, Christian, Faith, Forgiveness, Holy Spirit, Jesus, led by the Spirit, Luke 4, obedience, victory, word of God

• The Spirit of Truth

  Posted at 11:33 pm by wonderfuljesus8, on April 6, 2019

  The Spirit of Truth

  John 16: 12-13- “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”

  I recently taught on the Spirit of Truth and thought I would share a little on my blog today.

  If you are familiar with this portion of John, then you know that Jesus is about to be crucified. As a matter of fact, He has engaged in the Passover with His disciples and are giving them final instructions.

  In verse 12, He actually tells the disciples that He had some more things that He wanted to share with them but they were not able to hear it yet. Why? I can well imagine that they are on overload. Jesus has already revealed the betrayer to them, He’s told them of His soon crucifixion and therefore, departure. He has told them of some things that would even happen to them after He left; therefore, He senses that they can’t handle anything more at the moment.

  But then He tells them that He will send the Spirit of Truth!

  Now the interesting point about the Spirit of Truth is that this is the third time in this long discourse with the disciples that Jesus mentions the Spirit of Truth. And every time He mentions the Spirit of Truth, He tells them a little more about Him. He really wants them to recognize Him when He comes.

  In John 14:17-18, Jesus states the following in regards to the Spirit of Truth: “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever-the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you And will be in you.”

  So Jesus starts His description of the Spirit with this simple truth:

  • The Spirit of Truth is another Helper
  • He will abide with us forever
  • He cannot be received by the world
  • He dwells with us and will be with us

  In chapter 15, at the end of the chapter He mentions the Spirit of Truth again:

  “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.”

  • Jesus tells them the Spirit of Truth proceeds from the Father
  • The Spirit of Truth will testify of Him (Jesus)
  • And that we will also testify of Him

  In Acts 1:8- Jesus told the disciples that the Holy Spirit would enable them to be witnesses! So the Spirit of Truth has a lot He will be doing on behalf of the disciples or in assistance to the disciples.

  In our key text, the Spirit of Truth will:

  • Guide us into all truth
  • Speak what He hears
  • And reveal things to come!

  We can certainly understand why at this time Jesus would mention that the Spirit of Truth would guide the disciples into all truth! He is truth, and therefore, will guide us into all truth! Some things are crystal clear in the logos (written word) of God; but some things we need the Spirit of Truth to guide us in. And Jesus didn’t have time to tell it all to us, or help us through it, so the Spirit of Truth used Paul and others to write some things out for our learning.

  People are still arguing today, if there be any Holy Spirit! And does He still operate as He did in Jesus’ day! Yes and yes!! But those of us who understand this truth had it revealed to us; and those who don’t, yet have a need!

  People are still arguing about tithing! Do we tithe or not? How much is the tithe? For me, and so many others who have had this truth revealed to our hearts, this is a silly argument. But the Spirit of Truth has assisted us in understanding the truth!

  What questions do you have? Does the logos make sense to you? Are you still arguing about the Word of God? Well, I have some great news for you! You can stop arguing! The Spirit of Truth has come to guide you into all truth! Jesus has much to say to you and to me, but He isn’t talking to us -as a rule – one on one. He’s talking through His Word by His Spirit! It’s time to open our hearts to hear what the Spirit of Truth hears as He reveals to us “things to come!” Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Holy Spirit, Jesus, Victorious Living | 0 Comments | Tagged Holy Spirit, Jesus

• Search for:

• Recent Posts

  • Sometimes It’s Hard!
  • His Mission in Life!
  • What Does Jesus Say About Himself?
  • What Will You Say?
  • An Amazing Opportunity!

• Categories

  • Victorious Living (97)
  • Christian (65)
  • Believers (56)
  • Faith (32)
  • encouragement (28)
  • Jesus (26)
  • testimony (20)
  • Healing (17)
  • Uncategorized (16)
  • Prayer (12)