Archive for March, 2018

Jesus’ Disciples

Saturday, March 31st, 2018

In John chapter 8, Jesus spoke:

31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.

32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

To "abide" is to live from and stay in the very source of life and love which is Jesus Christ.  Those who hear and walk in accordance with His Word are His disciples.  In order to walk in accordance with His Word, we must keep His Word before us at all times.  We can know particular verses of Scripture in our head but those same verses need to be planted or replanted in our hearts in order to produce a harvest of good fruit.  A farmer does not plant seed in the field just once expecting a perpetual harvest, and in the same manner, we should not expect a continuous harvest from a singular focus of study years ago.  Wisdom brings forth this Truth in Proverbs chapter 4:

20 ​​My son, give attention to my words; ​​Incline your ear to my sayings.

21 ​​Do not let them depart from your eyes; ​​Keep them in the midst of your heart;

22 ​​For they are life to those who find them (salvation), ​​And health to all their flesh (healing).

23 ​​Keep your heart with all diligence, ​​For out of it spring the issues of life.

Contained within this passage is the key to an abundant life for the disciple and those to whom he or she ministers.  Think about it, the simplicity of the Gospel is found by those who simply hear, dwell, and act on the Word made flesh, Our Lord Jesus Christ.  When we focus on being His disciples, we can and should expect miracles to occur in our midst.  After all, it was a miracle when each of us was saved.  As we become “saturated” with His Word in our hearts, faith comes forth and is fully activated to bring forth miracles.  Our faith grows to the point of truly expecting miracles when we pray for ourselves and others.  Jesus called this “great” faith.

If I don’t expect a miracle from FATHER when I pray, then what is the point of praying?  FATHER is in the miracle-working business thus let us remove unbelief by abiding in HIS Word.

Jesus went on to further describe a disciple when He spoke in John chapter 13:

34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

This is a critical aspect and requirement of being a disciple- Love!  We must not only Love the brethren, but we must Love the ungodly.  Let us put away any and all criticisms and words of condemnation toward the ungodly for Jesus died for them as well as us.  We will not condone their acts but let us be a light to them and be prepared to minister life as the Holy Spirit draws them to us.  Jesus emphasized this in John chapter 15:

5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

9 As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.

10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.”

A disciple glorifies FATHER by bearing much fruit.  Let each of us inspect our fruitfulness for the Kingdom and ask ourselves if we have been lacking in this area.  If so, let us repent and commit ourselves to HIS Word and to walk in Agape Love toward others.  Let us refrain from speaking words which are not uplifting and encouraging.  Let us set aside those areas of study which have no impact on being a blessing toward others.  Head knowledge does not make a disciple but producing fruit motivated by Love does.

Are We Committed Disciples?

Friday, March 30th, 2018

By THE SPIRIT, it is written in Hebrews chapter 13:

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

This Truth is the basis of our salvation today for Our Savior is alive and sitting at FATHER’S right hand as our advocate.  His resurrection assured us of our ability to go before Our Heavenly Father once we were reconciled through His Blood.  In Matthew chapter 28, Jesus spoke to the disciples after His resurrection:

16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them.

17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.

18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

A disciple is a “follower,” someone who adheres completely to the teachings of another, making the teachings his rule of life and conduct.  In John chapter 9, Jesus healed a blind man who was then taken to the Pharisees.

24 So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, “Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner.”

25 He answered and said, “Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.”

26 Then they said to him again, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?”

27 He answered them, “I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?”

28 Then they reviled him and said, “You are His disciple, but we are Moses’ disciples.

29 We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from.”

The Pharisees prided themselves in being disciples of Moses because they knew FATHER spoke to Moses.  The miracles performed by Jesus confirmed to all that FATHER spoke to Him as well, in a much greater manner.  Jesus’ followers were called “disciples” long before they were ever called “Christians.” Their discipleship began with Jesus’ call and required them to exercise their will to follow Him.  In Matthew chapter 9, Jesus spoke to Matthew and asked him to become a disciple:

9 As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him.

Each of us must ask the question and be brutally honest in assessing our priorities, “Am I focused on doing what Jesus commanded me when He gave His disciples (including you and me) the Great Commission?”  “Am I fully equipped to carry out His command?”  I must confess that I have allowed myself to become lax in this area but have repented and recommitted myself to re-equip myself.  My focus had shifted to studying “advanced” topics within the Scriptures which have nothing to do with “making new disciples”.  There is nothing wrong with advanced study if we keep it in perspective and not allow ourselves to forget the Great Commission.

In the coming weeks, I will focus on topics to “re-equip” those of us who are committed to the Great Commission.  We must be able to minister the Gospel to the unsaved and at the same time minister healing to those in need.  After all, Jesus’ ministry is two-fold: salvation and healing.  Hopefully, you will join me in this recommitment to the Great Commission and become fully equipped to minister to those FATHER sends across our paths.  Now is the time!

Trusting FATHER’S Word

Thursday, March 29th, 2018

I hope those who took the time to read the Gospels and Epistles were refreshed and received additional revelation in their walk.  I assume that virtually all those who read this site are believers in Jesus Christ.  Each of us received salvation by believing the Scriptures presented to us as being the infallible Word of GOD and responding in faith to FATHER’S Word.  When we received Christ into our hearts, a change took place which no one can ever take from us.  This was the Word in action.

In Genesis chapter 1, it is written by THE SPIRIT:

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.

4 And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness.

5 God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.

“Then God said” established this earth and all that it contains.  HIS Word established the heavens as well and they continue to respond according to HIS Word and Divine Intent to this very day.  You and I responded to HIS Word when we were saved from our sinful nature.  The Beloved Disciple wrote by THE SPIRIT in John chapter 1:

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 He was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

We cannot separate The Word from Our Heavenly Father thus HIS Word is based on HIS integrity.  The Beloved Disciple further wrote:

14 And the Word became flesh (Jesus) and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

We fully trusted in FATHER’S Word, Jesus Christ, when we were born again and experienced the change in our hearts.  Why should we stop there?  Shouldn’t we treat each Word Jesus spoke with the same integrity and authority of the Word given to us at our time of conversion?  Has the Word lost its power and authority in any manner?  Hebrews chapter 13 given to us by THE SPIRIT emphatically states:

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

This can also be stated: FATHER’S Word to us is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

As we continue to mature in Christ, we must keep this primary Truth and reality before us.  Jesus (The Word) has instructed us concerning His priorities but many have chosen the world’s priorities instead.  Let us repent of our past failure to emphasize the mandate given to us by Jesus Christ Himself.  Let us reestablish the preeminence of HIS Word in our daily lives and change our priorities accordingly.  Let us no longer be moved by our five physical senses when they conflict with FATHER’S Word.  Let us approach HIS Word in a fresh, innocent manner and set aside what man has told us about HIS Word and let FATHER reveal HIS Word to each of us in a similar manner to the time when we first received salvation.  HIS power and authority has not changed and each Word continues to be true today just as it was when HE first spoke it.

Feedback Day 12

Wednesday, March 28th, 2018

I have been led by FATHER to invite our readers to share their insights & revelation with us.  We would like for you to read the Epistle to the Galatians today and share three important points that really witness to you.  Many of us have read these Gospels and Epistles in the past but I find when I reread them, FATHER points out something to consider for this time.

If you would like to share what FATHER is having you focus on, simply email us at unity153@gmail.com  It would be a blessing to me for you to share what FATHER is showing you.

Feedback Day 11 of 12

Tuesday, March 27th, 2018

I have been led by FATHER to invite our readers to share their insights & revelation with us.  We would like for you to read the Epistle to the Ephesians today and share three important points that really witness to you.  Many of us have read these Gospels and Epistles in the past but I find when I reread them, FATHER points out something to consider for this time.

If you would like to share what FATHER is having you focus on, simply email us at unity153@gmail.com  It would be a blessing to me for you to share what FATHER is showing you.

Feedback Day 10 of 12

Monday, March 26th, 2018

I have been led by FATHER to invite our readers to share their insights & revelation with us.  We would like for you to read the Epistle to the Philippians today and share three important points that really witness to you.  Many of us have read these Gospels and Epistles in the past but I find when I reread them, FATHER points out something to consider for this time.

If you would like to share what FATHER is having you focus on, simply email us at unity153@gmail.com  It would be a blessing to me for you to share what FATHER is showing you.

Feedback Day 9 of 12

Sunday, March 25th, 2018

I have been led by FATHER to invite our readers to share their insights & revelation with us.  We would like for you to read the Epistle to the Hebrews today and share three important points that really witnesstoh you.  Many of us have read these Gospels and Epistles in the past but I find when I reread them, FATHER points out something to consider for this time.

If you would like to share what FATHER is having you focus on, simply email us at unity153@gmail.com  It would be a blessing to me for you to share what FATHER is showing you.

Feedback Day 8 of 12

Saturday, March 24th, 2018

I have been led by FATHER to invite our readers to share their insights & revelation with us.  We would like for you to read the Book of Acts today and share three important points that really witness to you.  Many of us have read these Gospels and Epistles in the past but I find when I reread them, FATHER points out something to consider for this time.

If you would like to share what FATHER is having you focus on, simply email us at unity153@gmail.com  It would be a blessing to me for you to share what FATHER is showing you.

Feedback Day 7 of 12

Friday, March 23rd, 2018

We are halfway there!

I have been led by FATHER to invite our readers to share their insights & revelation with us.  We would like for you to read the Gospel of Luke today and share three important points that really witness to you.  Many of us have read these Gospels and Epistles in the past but I find when I reread them, FATHER points out something to consider for this time.

If you would like to share what FATHER is having you focus on, simply email us at unity153@gmail.com  It would be a blessing to me for you to share what FATHER is showing you.

Feedback Day 6 of 12

Thursday, March 22nd, 2018

I have been led by FATHER to invite our readers to share their insights & revelation with us.  We would like for you to read the Gospel of Mark today and share three important points that really witness to you.  Many of us have read these Gospels and Epistles in the past but I find when I reread them, FATHER points out something to consider for this time.

If you would like to share what FATHER is having you focus on, simply email us at unity153@gmail.com  It would be a blessing to me for you to share what FATHER is showing you.