Luke 10 - Do you exercise the authority given to you by Jesus Christ?

Good morning everyone.  God is good all the time, all the time God is good. TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!!!!

   Did you know you have authority over all around you?  The problem tends to be that we do not either believe it or exercise it.  Luke 10: 19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

     I recently listened to a man's witness about being "car-jacked" and held at gun point who exercised his authority in Jesus Christ.  He had been in Mexico and was returning home when he saw a man walking beside the road.  He stopped and offered the man a ride. Once in the car the man pulled a gun, stuck it in his ribs and started telling him what to do.

   This man, a powerful witness for Jesus Christ, told the man he had no authority over him and Jesus Christ gave him the authority.

   This man who was being held hostage showed no fear and was not afraid because he was standing on the word and promises of God.  Richard Lovelace says,  “The battles we fight against [demonic powers] should not be occasions of anxiety.  They force us back to reliance on Christ’s redemptive work and enhance our dignity and authority as redeemed saints who have the power to judge angels.”

  This man relied on the word.  The conversation between the car-jacker and the man always came back to the car-jacker being told he had no authority because Jesus Christ gave him the authority.  The man showed no fear.

   At one point the car-jacker had him stop the car, they got out and the jacker said he was going to kill the man.  Again, the man repeated the jacker had no authority over him.  The man fired his revolver 5 or 6 times, the man only remembers seeing something hit the ground, but he was unharmed.  He said he cannot explain why he was not killed except the power of God in his life.

  It was an amazing witness.  I would not readily recommend this if confronted with a gun, however, this man stood in the authority of God and asked if he was afraid his response was, "no" and he could not justify why he was not afraid except he stood firm in the power and authority which Jesus gave to us.

   Some of you will say this story is phony, some will have questions, but as the interviewer asked more questions I truly believed his story.

  Now I say all this to encourage you to step out in the authority that Jesus Christ gave you and meet people, confront people, and share the true gospel everywhere you go.  Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Finger pointing! Is it spiritually healthy? Matthew 7:1-6

Good morning friends.  God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  How awesome is our GOD?!?!?

   In America, in the nations, in the world it is so easy to finger point. If you had done xxxx then yyyy would not have happened.  You can fill this in most anywhere about most anything.  We have our democrats, our republicans, liberals, conservative, preppers, a survivalist, goof-balls, and idiots, and all kinds of others out there.

  Each group feels they are right, will argue all day long, yet change no ones mind, and deem the other wrong, stupid, or just illiterate of the situation.  So, what does our Bible say about this?

  Matthew 7:

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. ² For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

³ “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? ⁴ How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? ⁵ You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
⁶ “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
These passages speak clearly. One accuses another of wrong doing while the accuser hides his wrong doing.  As humans we tend to want to hide our short comings while pointing out the short comings of others.
  Where do you sit in this? Do you have a plank in your eye while telling another about the speck in his/her eye?  Guilty!  God has laid this on my heart and I pray I do better.  Where are you today?  Pointing fingers or not?  Love you all.
In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

Wide is the road to hell - Matthew 7:13-14

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good. TOO BLESSED TO COMPLAIN!!!

   We, you and me, -- We spend time thinking about God, studying God's word, sharing God's word and oft feel it is to no avail.  It is important to know and remember that we, you and I, cannot save a soul from hell.  We are only messengers who are to deliver the word.  Then that word will fall on fertile ground, stony ground, or on pathways.  The ground of that word is not in our hands.

   Sometimes it seems discouraging when we speak to people about God and they turn a deaf ear, but we have to remember we are just messengers.  Many will hear and turn away; some will hear, listen, and follow.  Matthew 7 tells it like it is.  

   Matthew 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

  Yes, the pathway to hell is wide but the way to salvation is narrow and FEW will find it.  Satan is alive and well searching hitherto and fro for souls to take and steal.  WE have to be on guard, diligent, and constantly sharing the word. 

   We are in a battle for souls and we must fight with the word.  Thanks for reading. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Do you think about how to pray? Jesus taught us!!

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  So, when you think things are bad, they could be worse.  Take time with God; share what is on your heart - HE already knows, but you may need to confess it.

    Often we pray and do not think about what we are praying about - i.e. it becomes a ritual.  Guilty, yes, guilty! Don't babble on or pray where others will see you and say oh, what a man of God he/she must be. 

   Jesus gave us a way to pray, but change it up slightly.  Here is what Jesus said first:  Matthew 6: ⁵ “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ⁶ But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. ⁷ And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. ⁸ Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

  Here is where to change it slightly:  Matthew 6: ⁹ After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
¹⁰ Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
¹¹ Give me, Johnny, this day my daily bread.
¹² And forgive me my debts, as I forgive my debtors.
¹³ And lead me not into temptation, but deliver  me from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Make it personal to you and BELIEVE WHAT YOU ARE SAYING!!!
Thank you for reading today. God's blessings on you all. Love y'all!
In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

Seeking the LORD

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.

  Too often things happen in our lives that we see as major setbacks and we wonder why God was not helping us.  HE WAS AND IS!! 

  The problem lies in the fact we do not see what lies ahead and we deal with our own personal wishes at that particular moment in time.  There is a lining in the jacket we are being forced to wear, we just don't see it yet.

  It is important to open our mind and heart up to ask the LORD what lesson will I learn here. We cannot forsake the one who gave us life. 

 2 Chronicles 15:2b The Lord is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.

  The we come to a time when we scream out at God saying your word says if I ask you will give it to me.

Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

  God, I asked and you did not open the door.  If God were to respond HE would probably say it is not time nor my will as you know not what the future brings.

  But, in Hebrews 11:6  it says But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

   Lord, I did diligently seek you and I do have the faith.  Again, if God were to respond what would he say?  Jesus would probably ask a question such as: Do you truly have faith and believe?  Then why do you doubt?

  Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

  Some, maybe many of you are going through troubled times and you have to remember God is not near, GOD IS HERE, right beside you.  Just reach out, don't lash out!  Thank you for reading.  I ask for your prayers as I also pray for you. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Remember where you came from O Israel (& Christians) Jude 5-7

Good morning everyone.  God is good all the time, all the time God is good. 

   In Jude, he reminds us, the children of God, how God saved the people and took them out of the land of Egypt, then destroyed the enemy.

  Then he speaks to the angels who lived in heaven, BUT , left their place in heaven to take up a place in chains in darkness.

   Then Jude is talking to us, in America, but in these days it is called Sodom and Gomorrha.  They gave themselves over to fornification and going after STRANGE FLESH, as set forth for an example only to suffer the vengeance of eternal fire.

   You will find this in Jude verses 5-7.  Think about this in your life.  God saved us from spiritual death through HIS son JESUS CHRIST.  Then we can choose, as did the angels in verse 6, to follow God, accept salvation through Jesus, OR, turn the other way and tread in darkness with satan and the other misled "angels".

   Worry and fear can alter our sense of reality, however, this is focusing on the future usually.  If we focus on the present we will deal with what life presents us, take it in stride, with worry and fear standing afar.

  As Louisa May Alcott says, "I AM NOT AFRAID OF STORMS FOR I AM LEARNING HOW TO SAIL MY SHIP."

  Let you ships captain be Jesus Christ.  Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Jude - the brother of James V.3-4

Good morning everyone.  God is good all the time, all the time God is good. BLESSED!  What are you doing with the blessings of God?  Hmmm!

  Today I listened to T.D. Jakes from the Potters House; to Focus on the Family; and then when I sat down what came to mind?  It was not Jakes message, nor the message from Focus; but JUDE, the book of JUDE came to mind.  Why?  I don't know until I started reading.

  Verse 3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

   Jude see a problem arising and felt the need to write. He is saying we all came to salvation the same way, through Jesus Christ, BUT, he sees something disturbing.  He wants to "exhort"-meaning to strongly urge, to be bold in standing up for the faith that provided salvation to them.

  Then he begins with the warning in verse 4.  4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

  Jude is saying there are men who came in, who rejected the law of God and started inserting pagan beliefs and rituals.  They 'lusted' after the pagan ways and went as far as to deny our saviour - JESUS CHRIST.

  Yet, these wolves in sheep clothing are infiltrating the church, polluting the true salvation through Jesus, and moving people away from God.

  Do you see this today?  What will you do?  Leave that church?  Confront the pastor? Bury your head in the sand?  We are to stand boldly for Jesus Christ and thus we need to do so.  Think about this today. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Don't call me Naomi - by Pastor Mark Jeske

Good morning all.  God is good all the time, all the time God is good. TOO BLESSED TO COMPLAIN!!!

  Today Pastor Mark Jeske's devotional was moving for me and I want to share. 

By Pastor Mark Jeske

Nobody is lonely his or her entire life. What creates inner bleakness, however, is when things you love are taken away from you. When people you trusted betray you. When people you depended on take advantage of you. When people you loved die on you. In a time of famine, an Israelite woman named Naomi, along with her husband and two grown sons, needed to emigrate temporarily to find food. They found food in the land of Moab, and the boys found Moabite wives. Then—in a ten-year span, all three men died. A sad widow told her daughters-in-law that she had decided to go back to Israel: “‘Don’t call me Naomi,’ she told them. ‘Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty’” (Ruth 1:20,21). The rest of the book tells the powerful story of how one of those daughters-in-law, Ruth, stayed with the older woman, who in time got to hold a grandson on her lap. Sometimes we are so full of our own troubles that we have no ears to hear the sighs of loneliness and pain from people around us. Ruth had her own sorrows—she was a widow too—but she spent some energy on the older woman. God loves it when broken people serve other broken people. That’s how he heals the broken. That’s how he fills the hearts of the lonely with joy. Today is National Cheer Up the Lonely Day. Who needs you to do just that?

Living in the OLD (ancient) days!

Hello friends, God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO COMPLAIN!!!

  Well, when we want to complain about the menu at home or at a restaurant we need to remember we are definitely "SPOILED!" 

  Why say ye we be spoiled?  Listen to what the Jews went through during Bible times.  First let us start our with the beverage to drink.  Water was the most common beverage. Was was also used in the form of new wine or fermented wine.  Milk from cows or goats was also available.

   How did they take lunches with them?  A worker often took his lunch in hollowed-out loaves of bread, filled with cheese or olives.  They ate sweets such as dried figs that had been boiled in a form of molasses.

   And their meals?  They often ate just two meals a day.  The first meal could be any time from morning until noon-after the morning work.  The evening meal came when the day's work ended.  It was usually the main meal of the Hebrews.

   Bread was a necessity at every meal.  Usually eaten warm and seldom by itself.  Since they did not use utensil (fork, spoon, knife) the bread was used to pick up the meat from a dish on the table.

   What would you usually find at the meals?  Probably grains, vegetables, fruits and meat.  The meat was usually chopped up and mixed with rice or served with gravy.

   So, what is your complaint about your diet?  Very limited in Bible times and you ate or starved.  Today we are so pampered, even to the point some moms may have 3 or 4 children and make 3 or 4 small separate meals so the children will eat.  Hmmm!  What is wrong with that picture.

   Any way........ I thought this would be fun to share.  If you are walking around with a troubled heart read Romans 1 - you are forgiven.  Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Who are you? Will you hear Matthew 25:21?

Good day my friends.  God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  BLESSED!!!

  As I sit, meditate, read and think I begin to wonder just who am I.  I know my name; I know where I was born and reared; I know what has happened in my life; yet, I can't help but wonder just who am I?

   What is your "CLAIM TO FAME", if you will, in life.  Oh, I was a good athlete in a small town.  Finished high school, went to and quit college, served in the military, got a college degree, taught school, married and raised daughters, but who am I really?

  When the end of my dash comes: 1948 - ?? what will be said.  Well, he was a really good ................what? Athlete, student, father, husband, teacher, what??

   Most of all I am a son, a child of someone.  The first father I knew was Burl Holcomb, who was a great father.  However, as I grew I realized I was not only Burl Holcomb's son, but I was much more than that. 

        No, never rich or famous.  Family and friends believe I am very tight ( they say cheap), however, I know from whence I get my materials things - money, clothes, food, autos, and on and on.  It all comes from the one to whom I say "Hallowed be thy name"; Yes, my father in heaven.

  Who am I?  I am a child of God who has ventured out on many paths that were not the cherished road, but bumpy and rough trails.  It is my prayer and my goal to be as the men in Matthew 25 who the master entrusted with 5 bags of gold and the man with 2 bags of gold.

  When the master comes---- 21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

  This is my goal in my waning years to hear those words - WELL DONE, GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT!  Who are you?  Thanks for reading. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

The Elijah Paradigm (Part 2)

Good morning all, God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO COMPLAIN!!

   I have a Jonathan Cahn clip to share with you.  This clip is not politically correct, but it shows an alignment with the Bible and the windows of time, for the people of God to go forth boldly and begin a nationwide/worldwide revival.

   The clip is only about 28 minutes long.  I do hope you listen and understand what he is saying.  He relates the leaders/rulers of ancient Israel to the current events going on in America today.  Here is the clip - The Paradigm Part 2.

  

This is not political friends, it is parallel to the Bible and is REAL!  Please listen as it tells us of the times, even to the hour.  Amazing!  Thank you for reading and listening.  Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

The Elijah Paradigm - - Jonathan Cahn

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!!

   I listened to Jonathan about the Elijah Paradigm, of which there are 2 parts.  The link below is available to you.  Just click on it and listen - it is 27 minutes long so please have time.

    The ELIJAH PARADIGM

  It is not politically correct, but very accurate.  Please take time to listen.  He has written the book, the Harbinger, which is well worth the read.  

  Thank you for reading with me today.  Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Why is the CHURCH it's own ENEMY?

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  BLESSED EACH DAY!

  Going back to the message yesterday with more discussion, I would enjoy receiving your comments.  Screwtape is telling wormwood he was in error  but not to despair.  Why not despair?  Because --- and we see this today --- "hundreds of these adult converts have been reclaimed".  Now, why do you think this?  Probably because we, as Christians, are happy someone accepts Jesus Christ as their personal saviour, BUT, after congratulations we do nothing.  No discipleship, no regathering of saints to encourage, we all just go on our merry way.  Problem?  I believe so, and I am, as Paul said, the chief of this sin or oversight.

   If we don't follow up with discipleship or encouragement they, the new converts, still have all their HABITS, and return to the environment they left to accept Christ.  What I am saying is we congratulate them, don't see them or make contact with them until the next Sunday; so, what do they do?  They return to the drug, alcohol, abusive relationship, or whatever their habits were before and Christ is a side note to be eventually lost.

   So, what can we do?  We all have families, jobs, and just life.  If nothing else and if time does not permit, when you know someone accepted Christ or you prayed with someone get their contact information and make contact a few times during the week.

    Satan is alive and well and working 24/7.  Often we, as Christians, work 2/1 (2 hours 1 day a week - Sunday).  We are in a war and need to be aware and as the hymnal song goes:  Stand up Stand up for Jesus ye soldiers of the Cross!

   Oh, and by the way, when I say the Church, that is you, me, and all our fellow Christians.  Do people want to be a Christian once they see you and your walk?   Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

 

The Church is it's best enemy!

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time, God is good.  BLESSED!!

   In C. S. Lewis' book "Screwtape Letters" you will find that Screwtape, a highly placed assistant to "Our Father Below" (the devil) gives us a view from his vantage point.  Screwtape, a worldly-wise old devil give advice to his nephew, Wormwood, who is a novice demon in charge of securing the damnation of an ordinary young man.

  The excerpt below struck me, please read this and meditate briefly on what is said.

 " My Dear Wormwood,

    I note with grave displeasure that your patient has become a Christian.  Do not indulge the hope that you will escape the usually penalties, indeed, in your better moments, I trust you would hardly even wish to do so.  

   In the meantime we must make the best of the situation.  There is no need to despair; hundreds of these adult converts have been reclaimed after a brief sojourn in the Enemy's camp and are now with us.  All the HABITS of the patient, both mental and bodily, are still in our favour.

   One of our great allies at present is the Church itself."  from C.S. Lewis' book.

Okay, take a moment to view and meditate on what I have underlined.  More discussion tomorrow.  We are in a war and we continue on as if all if rainbows and unicorns.  Hmmm!  Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny