Remember that the One who gave us power over danger and the demonic, also has the power to give us eternal life. We are blessed to see the power of God displayed in such extraordinary ways. There are people of earthly power who lust after even more power. Jesus cautions his disciples that the kind of transforming power that He brings can never be seen by people who want power for their own advancement.

In our world we increasingly see the pursuit of power as a high profile goal. Corporations seek power to market their products more effectively. People seek power to influence others toward their perspective or opinion. All of us are experienced in the power struggles that cause tensions in relationships. The 21st century is no different than the time in which Jesus lived. Position and power are natural human goals that people strive to achieve.

Remember, the One who writes our name in heaven, is something to treasure and only God Himself can give that gift to us! That’s real power!

Read Luke 10

The Road to Pentecost

Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. 7 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands. 8 And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” 9 And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him.11 When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.” 12 When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.13 And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14 Recognizing Peter’s voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate. 15 They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is his angel!” 16 But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. 17 But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place.
Acts 12:6-17

This account is actually humorous and sobering at the same time. It’s humorous because this series of events shows believers who are simply shocked at the actual answer to their prayers showing up at the door. It is sobering in that people fervently praying, don’t have the capacity to acknowledge that God could answer their prayer for Peter’s release.

Would we be as surprised as the people Peter went to visit after his miraculous release from jail?

Pray like it already happened. The Spirit of the Lord is with you.

The Road to Pentecost

After more than three years with the disciples, they still seem to be rather unsure of what Jesus had really come to do. They ask him questions about when Israel would be rid of their invaders and finally experience the long anticipated promise of God’s Kingdom rule. Jesus is quite gracious in His response to them as He focuses on the next phase of the plan He has come to fulfill. Jesus promises His disciples that they will be given “power” to be “witnesses” to the Gospel wrapped up and fulfilled in His life. We make a huge mistake when we disconnect the power of this promise from the purposes of this promise. This is the promise of Pentecost.

We can not disconnect the power of Pentecost from its purpose (to be witnesses). Power not connected to its primary purpose inevitably turns destructive. 

The power of the Spirit is not to fulfill our personal vision but His vision. The empowerment of the Spirit is to do the work of the ministry. The work of the ministry is to spread the Good News and save souls. So let’s do what we have been empowered to do by way of the Holy Spirit.

Read Acts 2

The Road to Pentecost

Pentecost is the Greek name for the Feast of Weeks. This festival occurred 50 days (7 weeks) after the Passover. In the Old Testament, Pentecost (Feast of Weeks), along with the Passover and Feast of Tabernacles, was one of the 3 annual pilgrimages for God’s people. It was a harvest festival that marked the time that people brought offerings from their annual harvest. This rich Old Testament background serves as a foundation for the coming of the Holy Spirit. What was now emerging was the fulfillment of promises that the Old testament had foretold.

When Peter preached there was a broad spectrum of people who were in Jerusalem, specifically because this was one of the three annual festivals that was so central to their spiritual journey. Peter preaches and connects the promise of their spiritual heritage with its fulfillment.

As we approach our yearly recognition of the Day of Pentecost, I am reminded of the words of Peter’s sermon. Those words should still strengthen us today. No one is left out of the outpouring of God’s Spirit: men and women, young and old are all part of God’s plan to empower an army of witnesses. Since we are now part of God’s eternal purposes, we are given power from God Himself to continue His redemptive ministry. So continue to do ministry.

Read Acts 2

The Road to Pentecost

Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Holy Spirit and they died. I love when we can read scripture and apply it right away. It would seem that they lied to Peter. They were talking to Peter. But Peter says that they lied to the Holy Spirit. Our God is the same yesterday, today and forever more.

Following the tragic story of deceit by the husband and wife team of Ananias and Sapphira, there is a clear testimony of regular miraculous events done in the public ministry of the apostles. This ministry attracts people from the entire region who need the transformative power of God.  

There is no need to lie to the Holy Spirit. Never allow yourself to be arrogant enough to believe that when you lie it’s situational and for or towards a certain person. Peter makes it clear who we are offending. Allow the Holy Spirit to be alive and active. Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom and transformative power. Tell the truth.

Live as if Christ died yesterday, rose this morning, and is coming back again tomorrow.

Read Acts 5

The Road to Pentecost

The healing of the lame man at the temple gate causes a big stir resulting in the arrest of Peter and John. They respond to the authorities arresting them by saying that, given what they had heard and seen of Jesus ministry, they were simply following His example. The arresting authorities are confounded by Peter and John’s response and release them from jail.

As they report to their friends what has occurred, Peter and John clearly see that they are facing some sturdy opposition. But their response is not fear but a fervent call upon God to give them boldness to face the approaching storm of opposition. Not only do they pray for boldness but a clear manifestation of signs and wonders. Their prayer results in a powerful outpouring of God’s presence with subsequent boldness in their preaching.

Are you facing sturdy opposition in your life? Your response does not have to be a response of fear but of faith. Confidently call on the name of the Lord. The Holy Spirit provides boldness to do the things you are called to do.

Live as if Christ died yesterday, rose this morning, and is coming back again tomorrow.

Read Acts 4:23-31

The Road to Pentecost

God’s presence in any situation results in an obvious shift in the way we look at the facts of the moment. The story of Peter and John at the temple gate is a clear indicator of what happens when we have encountered the power of the Holy Spirit. Having walked through this gate on many occasions, Peter and John have likely seen this beggar before in what was probably his regular spot to beg. Why did Peter and John choose this day to stop and respond to his plea for a “donation”? I think this encounter is a small glimpse into the simple fact that we see things with different eyes after our encounter with Jesus Christ.
 
Following the day of Pentecost, the empowering Holy Spirit gave them insight into the hope that was represented in the continuing ministry of Jesus through the Holy Spirit. So, they stop and look at the man and tell him they don’t have what he wants (money), but they do have what he needs (healing)! The day of Pentecost and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit gave them what I sometimes call “illumination.” They saw this situation, not for its obvious hopelessness represented in the man’s lameness, but with eyes of hope that came from the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit. They look at the lame man with confidence that Jesus will continue His healing work in that very moment!

Read Acts 3:1-10

The Road to Pentecost

Acts 1:1-3 tells us that from the time that Jesus rose again from the grave (Resurrection) to the time that He ascended into heaven (Ascension), it was a period of 40 days.  And while we do not have a detailed account of everything that Jesus did with His disciples over the course of those 40 days, we do know this time was significant.

We are on the road to Pentecost. A fifty day count to the release of Holy Spirit power!

Pentecost is a biblical event that all too often gets lost among the “biggies” like Easter and Christmas. The truth is that all three events are interwoven together in the Bible. While the birth of Jesus and His victorious resurrection from the dead (following His crucifixion) are central to the Gospel story, Pentecost is the guarantee that Jesus is doing the same ministry today as He did 2000 plus years ago.

We need the power of Pentecost to thrive in places where hope seems to be a commodity in short supply. The guarantee we have with Pentecost, is that Jesus is continuing His ministry to this very day, with signs and wonders. That guarantee provides us with eternal power to do the eternal business of saving the lost at any cost. We can do the work of the ministry of Jesus Christ by providing compassion, education and transformation with the power of Pentecost.

We are on the Road to Pentecost

The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him.
Psalm 24:1

 “When the Israelites escaped from Egypt— when the family of Jacob left that foreign land— the land of Judah became God’s sanctuary, and Israel became his kingdom. The Red Sea saw them coming and hurried out of their way! The water of the Jordan River turned away. The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs! What’s wrong, Red Sea, that made you hurry out of their way? What happened, Jordan River, that you turned away? Why, mountains, did you skip like rams? Why, hills, like lambs? Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob. He turned the rock into a pool of water; yes, a spring of water flowed from solid rock.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭114‬:‭1‬-‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Psalm 114 serves as a poetic recounting of Israel's liberation from slavery and the split of the Red Sea. It reinforces the transformation of Israel from slaves to "God's sanctuary”. We are reminded that his divine presence was among them.

His divine presence is among us. God the Creator came in the person of Jesus to live with his people and set his creation free.
When Jesus came to earth to save his people, all creation responded. At his birth, the heavens leapt for joy according to Luke 2:13-14. At his presence, chaotic seas turned into a calm pool according to Matthew 8:24-26. At his word, legions of demons retreated into the waters according to Mark 5:12-13. When Jesus visited his people in Jerusalem on Passover, he said the rocks could cry out in response to his coming to save his people according to Luke 19:40. And on the cross, the mountain Jesus was crucified on trembled as the waves of death swallowed up his life. But on the third day, an earthquake shook the ground once again. Jesus rose from the grave, bringing life out of the ultimate place of death according to Matthew 28:2-6.  This is Good News!!

Welcome to Holy Week!!
Happy Passover
Chag Sameach

Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them.” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.”
Exodus 3:13-14

This Psalm is all about Yahweh, the name God revealed to his covenant people as he saved them.

“Praise the Lord! Yes, give praise, O servants of the Lord. Praise the name of the Lord! Blessed be the name of the Lord now and forever. Everywhere—from east to west— praise the name of the Lord. For the Lord is high above the nations; his glory is higher than the heavens. Who can be compared with the Lord our God, who is enthroned on high? He stoops to look down on heaven and on earth. He lifts the poor from the dust and the needy from the garbage dump. He sets them among princes, even the princes of his own people! He gives the childless woman a family, making her a happy mother. Praise the Lord!”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭113‬:‭1‬-‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Psalm 113 serves as an introduction to the Exodus story by praising God's majesty and his work of raising the poor from the dust. This sets the stage for the detailed story in Psalm 114. Psalm 113 is traditionally sung before the Passover meal as it focuses on God’s love for the humble and his active role in saving them.

We can celebrate, rejoice and have peace that God is not “watching us from a distance,” curious and interested, but uninvolved. His hand is on our life. He has stooped low to help us through his mercy and grace. This is Good News!

Welcome to Holy Week!!
Happy Passover
Chag Sameach

For My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.
Jeremiah 2:13

We all wander, at times, looking for answers to whatever challenges we encounter. It can feel like an endless journey, as our temporary solutions never fully fix our problems. God identifies our problem in Jeremiah 2:13; His people have turned their backs on Him, the true source of life. Not only that, but God says His children have a second problem. We look for what we need for life, water, in places that regularly run dry. But Jeremiah 2:13 also gives us the solution: God Himself is “the fountain of living waters.” While
a tank for storing water may become empty, a fountain has its own source and continuously flows with fresh water. Seek out the source of life; his name is Jesus.

Welcome to Holy Week!!

Pray by using your own words that reflect your unique journey with God. This week is Holy Week! As we remember the journey of our Messiah reflect on your journey with our Messiah. Pray as He instructed us to pray.

“Our Father in heaven.” Pray to the Father who is in heaven. Remember that He is in control. This leads to peace and confidence.

“Hallowed be Your name.” Worship God for who He is. Thank God for His love, grace, forgiveness and sacrifice. Focusing on His attributes puts your circumstances into perspective and reminds you of why you can trust Him.

“Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Pray for God’s will
to be done by surrendering your plans to Him. Pray for His power, position and presence to be evident on earth.

“Give us today our daily bread.” Ask God for the things you need. Share with Him your deepest desires and longings. He is your provider, protector and sustainer. Trust Him with what you need today. Trust Him with your unmet desires. You don’t need to worry about tomorrow. He will be there to care for you.

“Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” Confess your sins to God, turn from them, and ask for forgiveness. Forgive others as God has forgiven you. Release your pain to Him for justice and experience the freedom of forgiveness.

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Pray for victory over temptation and protection from the attacks of Satan. God can break every addiction or sin in your life.

For yours is the kingdom of power and glory forever, Amen

Welcome to Holy Week!

How can we be aware of and replace negative thoughts with what is true about us, about God and about reality?

Paul reminds us:

“for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭2:16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Those who have accepted Christ “have
the mind of Christ.” With Christ’s Spirit, we have the ability to think like Him. We can begin to recognize lies we’ve believed
by comparing our thoughts and beliefs with God’s Word. Confess the things that cramp your mind. Bring them into the light of God’s Word, we can experience freedom; so pray.

This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’” Matthew 6:9-13

God longs for you to engage with and enjoy your relationship with Him. As you pray — and experience how He answers — your relationship with Him grows in trust, and you can have peace in whatever challenges you’re facing. There are six important steps to personalize your prayers, all found in Matthew 6:9-13. These steps include worshiping, surrendering, requesting, confessing and inviting protection. Communicate with your Heavenly Father; He wants to answer you.

40 Days of Purpose

“Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭3:4-6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Some things in life can’t be glued back together; at least, not easily. Sin violates God’s law, nature and ravages our soul.

“For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh,”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:3‬ ‭

Apart from Christ, in our sin, we’re lost in darkness and separated from God in ways that we can’t do anything about. Sin leads to death, as it fatally wounds the spirit and soul. But God has a plan for people broken by sin. He longs to heal us. Jesus took all of our wrongdoing on Himself at the cross. The purpose of Christ’s sacrificial death, His death in our place, was to deal with our sin. Christ’s wounds heal ours when we place our faith and hope in Him to forgive us.

40 Days of Purpose

“Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven. This shows that the Son is far greater than the angels, just as the name God gave him is greater than their names.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Jesus inherited: spiritual blessings, dominion over all things, and the promise of future glory.

Jesus inherited everything, which aligned with Jewish inheritance laws where the firstborn received the family's estate.

Jesus also inherited a name above all names. The power and authority behind the one walking in that name, the integrity of that person, the possessions of that person… basically everything that person stands for or represents is wrapped up in the name.

The only limitation on “all things” is our own sense of what we deserve. Your adoption into the family of God qualifies you to share in the same victory and joy as Jesus. You inherited salvation when you chose to believe on the name of Jesus. Enjoy your inheritance now!!

40 Days of Purpose

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by Him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs — heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.
Romans 8:14-17

The Greek word used in this passage for “adoption to sonship” refers to the full legal standing of an adopted heir in Roman society. Through adoption, you gain an inheritance but what do you inherit? Romans 8 says that you are God’s heir and a co-heir with Christ, meaning you share in Christ’s inheritance.

“Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven. This shows that the Son is far greater than the angels, just as the name God gave him is greater than their names.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Jesus inherited: spiritual blessings, dominion over all things, and the promise of future glory.

40 Days of Purpose 

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If any of you wants to be My follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow Me.”
Matthew 16:24

Fasting is not our way but it is the way of Christ. When we fast, we deny ourselves the necessity of food or the pleasures of this life and, for a time, we make feeding your spirit a higher priority than feeding our body and soul.

Fasting allows us to line up our heart and prayer life with God’s desires rather than pursuing our own agenda. You may fast for a specific time from food or from luxuries like Netflix, social media or even chocolate. Some people fast for a day, others for a week or two, and still others might fast as long as 40 days, the entire length of Lent. By denying yourself, you invite the Holy Spirit to examine your life and lead you into the plans He has for you.

We have one week of Lent before Palm Sunday!  Holy Week is almost here!! It’s been a wonderful 40 days! Continue to seek the face of God and thirst after His righteousness.

Restoring the Joy!

Brokenness comes in many ways. Most of the time it’s due to our own sin. We experience suffering due to the fallenness of the world and our own hand. The brokenness we need from Christ heals. It is the first step toward cleansing. Be cleansed by the Word. Let it wreck you.

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12

Allow the Word to wash you and make you new. This is the time to submit to God and resist the devil. Allow the Word to separate you from sin. Jesus Christ died and resurrected putting sin in its place. Sin has no power over us anymore. When sin is alive and active in our lives it’s because we allow it. Don’t allow it. Remember, the Word of God is alive and active. The Word of God is sharper than any two-edge sword. The Word of God separates soul from spirit. Allow Jesus to do a great work in you.

40 Days of Purpose

Restoring the Joy

“So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back. After that the end will come, when he will turn the Kingdom over to God the Father, having destroyed every ruler and authority and power. For Christ must reign until he humbles all his enemies beneath his feet. And the last enemy to be destroyed is death.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭21‬-‭26‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Risen Sunday represents the reality that though “in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive”. The last enemy to be destroyed is death and Jesus has done just that. The resurrection of Jesus Christ means that everything in God’s kingdom is alive; in every moment something is happening.

God is still working. He is resurrecting hearts that were once dead to him. He is bringing them back to life, both for today and the eternal life to come.

40 Days of Purpose

Restoring the Joy

As we get closer to Risen Sunday one of the things we remember is our need for repentance.

Even though we’ve placed our trust in Christ, it is good for us to remember why we love Him.  We needed forgiveness and there was nothing we could do to accomplish it. The Bible uses the statement “dead in sin” to describe our condition. And so, Jesus accomplished a rescue mission. A mission to bring us back to life.

This is something to celebrate! This is something to share with the people we love! This is something to share with the world. The restoration power, the redeeming power of Jesus Christ is alive.

40 Days of Purpose

Restoring the Joy

Here is what Paul said about Communion:

“But in the following instructions, I cannot praise you. For it sounds as if more harm than good is done when you meet together. First, I hear that there are divisions among you when you meet as a church, and to some extent I believe it. But, of course, there must be divisions among you so that you who have God’s approval will be recognized! When you meet together, you are not really interested in the Lord’s Supper. For some of you hurry to eat your own meal without sharing with others. As a result, some go hungry while others get drunk. What? Don’t you have your own homes for eating and drinking? Or do you really want to disgrace God’s church and shame the poor? What am I supposed to say? Do you want me to praise you? Well, I certainly will not praise you for this! For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself.

On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people; an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.”

For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again. So anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup. For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself. That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died. But if we would examine ourselves, we would not be judged by God in this way. Yet when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned along with the world. So, my dear brothers and sisters, when you gather for the Lord’s Supper, wait for each other. If you are really hungry, eat at home so you won’t bring judgment upon yourselves when you meet together. I’ll give you instructions about the other matters after I arrive.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭11‬:‭17‬-‭34‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Like Communion, Risen Sunday is a time of remembrance. It causes reflection. “Do this in remembrance of me,” Jesus said. Just like pausing in a service to drink the cup and eat the bread, we are pausing during the year to focus specifically on Jesus and His sacrifice.

Invite your family and friends to Risen Sunday! See you there!

40 Days of Purpose

The explicit claims Jesus made about His authority, Him as Messiah, and His God-ness, ultimately did him in. It was not His expansive love shown for every person he encountered. Now, this is not an excuse for our own hard-heartedness or a reason to distance ourselves from sinners and tax collectors. We need Jesus’s example of love. People will know us by our love.

Jesus was not killed for being too inclusive and too nice. The Jewish leaders may have objected to Jesus’s far reaching compassion, but they wanted him dead because he thought himself the Christ, the Son of the living God; God. If Jesus simply loved people too much he might have been ridiculed by some. But without his claims to deity, authority, and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, he likely would not have been executed.

So as we approach another Risen Sunday, let’s certainly talk about the compassion and love of Jesus; but if we don’t talk about his unique identity as God, we have not explained the reason for his death, and we have not given people a reason to worship Him.

No one took His life!! He Gave His Life!!

40 Days of Purpose

The Jewish leaders were increasingly hostile toward Jesus. Their most intense, murderous fury was directed toward him because he believes “I am” (the Christ, the Son of God), and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.

As Jesus’s reputation as a healer and miracle worker spreads, the crowds come to him in larger and larger numbers, which made the elites despise him more and more.  As a general rule, Jesus was popular with the masses (the exception being in his hometown of Nazareth), and as his popularity increased with the crowds, so did the opposition from the Jewish leaders.

The Jewish leaders disliked, and eventually grew to hate, Jesus for many reasons. They were angry with him for upsetting their traditions and the law. They looked down on him for eating with sinners and associating with those deemed unclean or unworthy. But most of all, they hated Jesus because he claimed to be from God, and as time went on, dared to make himself equal to God.

Are people mad at you for identifying with Christ? Are they mad at you for sharing in His authority? Are they mad at you for truly believing that you’ve been grafted into the Beloved? Keep moving forward with God!!

Focus Your Focus!! It’s by Christ Alone!!

40 Days of Purpose

Martin Luther said that religion is the default mode of the human heart. He knew that we are constantly tempted to rely on what we do for God, instead of relying what he has done for us in Christ.  This is why Paul said,

“You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”? Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭2:20-23‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Without focusing on the grace of God, which is the strength of God, all fasting is just self-made religious tradition aimed at making us feel righteous because of something we do. But it doesn't have to be that way. We must remember that fasting does not make us more righteous than those who do not fast. True fasting increases faith and faith produces power. That’s the difference.

40 Days of Purpose

Restoring the Joy!

”Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship. And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect
 [in His plan and purpose for you].“