John 6:16-24 DID YOU KNOW----??????

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

  Somethings just pass up by whether reading, watching, driving, or simply existing.  As I was reading the Bible this morning I noticed something.  A simple statement that so often we glaze over.  How many miracles did Jesus REALLY DO?  Yet, the disciples didn't get, we don't get, but Jesus did.

   Where am I rambling?  In the scriptures, John 6 Jesus fed 5,000 men with what?  Two fish and 5 barley loaves of bread.  We all know this story.  Then, right after that the disciples leave in a boat for the other side when a storm arises, Jesus walks on water, comes to the disciples and the raging water calms.

  But, read the scripture with me and note what I posted in blue.

John 6:  16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, 17 where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. 18 A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” 21 Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.

  Note, another miracle.  It does not say the continued rowing and reached the other shore. The Bible says IMMEDIATELY the boat reached the shore.  Do you think the disciples thought about this?  Have you thought about this?  

   Think about this for a moment.  You are in the middle of the lake, Jesus climbs into your boat and BAM - you are at shore.  Wowsers!!  This struck me and let me know how it strikes you.  JESUS IS THE MAN!!! Thank you for reading. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Matthew 24 - The Destruction of the Temple and Signs of the End Times

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

  There will be great signs in the heavens and fear across the nations - Rev. 6:12-17.   28 Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.29 “Immediately after the distress of those days

“‘the sun will be darkened,
    and the moon will not give its light;
the stars will fall from the sky,
    and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’

The preservation of the Tribes of Israel and fulfillment of the long promised salvation Rev. 7: 1-8   32 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it[e] is near, right at the door.

The Gospel going to the whole world and multitudes being saved. Rev 6:9-17.  24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

A time of intercessory prayer. Rev. 8:4  42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46 It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

The final woes Rev 8:7-9:21. WARNING:  15 “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand—

The sign of the SON OF MAN- 30 “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth[c] will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.

The Post-tribulation - the gathering of the elect-  31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

  Thank you for reading today and I do hope and pray this has been enlightening to you as it was to me.  Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Matthew 24 - The Destruction of the Temple and Signs of the End times

Good morning all!  God is good all the time, all the time God is good. TOO BLESSED TO COMPLAIN!!  TRULY, can you say BLESSED in all honesty?

  Matthew 24 the disciples came to Jesus as he left the temple and mentioned its buildings.  Jesus replied: “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” 

  Jesus went to the Mount of Olives and the disciples asked when this would happen?  Jesus spoke and said: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people

  This relates to Revelations 6:1-2

7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains. 9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.  This is endurance of believers Rev 6:9-11  There will be warfare (not welfare) on earth, no peace for the people Rev 6:3-4   Matthew 24:10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other,  12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 

  There will be famine and death by wild beasts Rev 6:5-8.  7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

  Jesus said all this which is told in the Old Testament and then again in Revelations by John on the Island of Patmos.  Here is the full Matthew 24 where Jesus is speaking to his disciples who truly did not understand completely.  

  Tomorrow I will finish up Matthew 24 and then we will see what comes next.  May the Holy Spirit move you in ways you never suspected, then rejoice in the move and be of abundant joy.  Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

 

The Croods -- Animate Movie

Hello Everyone!  I watched The Croods with my grandsons the other night and was impressed with it and the thoughts that it stimulated.  God is good all the time, all the time God is good.

   The Croods were a prehistoric family who hunted food by day and huddled together in a cave by night to protect themselves.

  When another character shows up, Guy, who is about the daughters age troubles begin to brew.  The daughter was adventurous and did not follow "THE RULES" set forth by the father, Grug.  Grug felt like he was to shoulder all the responsibility of the families safety and would not venture out of his "comfort" zone.

   Sound familiar?  Many of us are this way.  When the daughter, Eep, runs into Guy and he meets the family a conflict between Guy and Grug comes to light.  Guy is following "THE LIGHT" and Grug is stuck in hunt for food by day; huddle in the cave by night mode.

   As the show continues, the family begins to listen to Guy and want Grug too as well.  Grug resists.  As the show goes on eventually Grug comes around.  Please note that Guy was following "THE LIGHT" -- which, in our Christian walk we should be doing as well -- following "THE LIGHT" aka JESUS.

   Many are resistant to change and cling to what is comfortable. Look at Acts 2:44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common.

  Grug was living in what he understood. Proverbs 3:5  Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

  This is a lesson for us all.  We do need to TRUST in the LORD with ALL OUR HEART.

  What is your attitude today?  Are you reacting as Grug, OR, moving toward the light as was Guy?  The choice is yours and to spread the word sits in your hands.  Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Good morning everyone!  God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  God is an on-time God!
  Well, the first part of God's answer to Habakkuk was last time, let us see how far we travel this time.
  When we read Habakkuk it begins with gloom, Habakkuk is frustrated, distressed, and wonders what is going on with God.  Why are you, God, not doing anything?  The theme of Habakkuk is faith. He has been called the prophet of faith. The great statement of Habakkuk 2:4, “the just shall live by his faith,” has been quoted three times in the New Testament: Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; and Hebrews 10:38.
  As we move on in Habakkuk 2:6-20 you see God saying woe to those who steal, they take what is not rightfully theirs.  They plunder, kill, and take land unjustly, BUT, God says, woe to them who built their house with unjust means thinking they are above others and will ride high always.
  God says shame on those who do elicit, cruel, and ugly things to others. Getting them drunk, these verses say it better than I could ever paraphrase: verse 15 
“Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbors,
    pouring it from the wineskin till they are drunk,
    so that he can gaze on their naked bodies!
16 16 You will be filled with shame instead of glory.
    Now it is your turn! Drink and let your nakedness be exposed[a]!
The cup from the Lord’s right hand is coming around to you,
    and disgrace will cover your glory.

The violence, destroying of animals, land and cities have been their purpose, and they believe in themselves, that they can do all.  God tells them they are fools to believe in carving they created, but in the end GOD does rule.  Let's close with the final verses.

  

18 “Of what value is an idol carved by a craftsman?
    Or an image that teaches lies?
For the one who makes it trusts in his own creation;
    he makes idols that cannot speak.
19 Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Come to life!’
    Or to lifeless stone, ‘Wake up!’
Can it give guidance?
    It is covered with gold and silver;    there is no breath in it.”

20 The Lord is in his holy temple;
    let all the earth be silent before him.

Habakkuk was asking God why he does not do something about evil.  This is God's answer and we also must trust the LORD is in his holy temple and HE is in control.  The theme here is faith, we must have faith and wait on the LORD.  Thanks for reading. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

God answers Habakkuk's second complaint (part 1)

Good morning everyone.  Sorry, I have not be attentive to my Bible study lesson in Habakkuk.  Still alive but being some what of a sloth.  I do apologize and will do better, God willing.

  Habakkuk complained that God was silent, not doing anything and yet the wicked seem to do well in all their ventures.  God's reply is rather long so we will do this in a couple of days.  Here is Habakkuk 2 - the end of his complaint, then the reply:

2 I will stand at my watch
    and station myself on the ramparts;
I will look to see what he will say to me,
    and what answer I am to give to this complaint. (this is Habakkuk speaking; now to God's reply)

The Lord’s Answer

2 Then the Lord replied:

“Write down the revelation
    and make it plain on tablets
    so that a herald may run with it.3 For the revelation awaits an appointed time;
    it speaks of the end
    and will not prove false.
Though it linger, wait for it;
    it will certainly come    and will not delay.

4 “See, the enemy is puffed up;
    his desires are not upright—
    but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness—
5 indeed, wine betrays him;
    he is arrogant and never at rest.
Because he is as greedy as the grave
    and like death is never satisfied,
he gathers to himself all the nations and 

takes captive all the peoples. 

God tells Habakkuk to write this down, plainly, and let a messenger take it. V3 the divine truth awaits and it will come.  It may be a while but just wait on it.  The day will certainly come.

   V4 God says yes see the enemy, the evil ones, they are all about themselves and their motive are not of good but of evil. BUT, the righteous needs to continue by faith.

  V5.  Wine betrays him - ever notice how someone who has had too much alcohol, many times becomes arrogant and knows everything?  Well here it is.  They are not at rest, always searching for more; very greedy and notice the next phrase.  " like death is never satisfied" - Hmmm.  This is spoken of in Proverbs 27:20 (KJV) Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.

  He wants to control the whole world.  Hmmm-does this sound like what we read and study concerning Revelations?  One ruler, one rule government, the prince of this world - satan - wishes to take over and win.

  Very interesting and will begin with verse 6 tomorrow.  Thank you for reading. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Habakkuk's second complaint

Hello Friends.  May the LORD bless you today.  God is good all the time, all the time God is good.
   So, Habakkuk is not happy and is questioning the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY.  Here is what he is saying:      Habakkuk’s Second Complaint (my 2 bits in blue)
  Habakkuk 1:

12 Lord, are you not from everlasting?
    My God, my Holy One, you[c] will never die.  Aren't you the One who lives forever, the great one, creator of all.
You, Lord, have appointed them to execute judgment;
    you, my Rock, have ordained them to punish.
13 Your eyes are too pure to look on evil;
    you cannot tolerate wrongdoing.
Why then do you tolerate the treacherous?  You are letting these "people" judge and do evil.  What are you thinking? What are you doing?
    Why are you silent while the wicked
    swallow up those more righteous than themselves?
14 You have made people like the fish in the sea,
    like the sea creatures that have no ruler.
15 The wicked foe pulls all of them up with hooks,
    he catches them in his net,
he gathers them up in his dragnet;
    and so he rejoices and is glad.  You say nothing, do nothing, while this vile and ugly evils catches the people whom you have made.  This evil one catches your people like fishes from the sea. What are you doing?
16 Therefore he sacrifices to his net
    and burns incense to his dragnet,
for by his net he lives in luxury
    and enjoys the choicest food.  Then after 'his' judgment he worships his net and burns incense to his dragnet and even worse, HE LIVES IN LUXURY eating the finest food.
17 Is he to keep on emptying his net,
    destroying nations without mercy?  Are you going to continue to allow this?  He destroys nations with no feelings of regret. He does constant evil.  What is going on here?  You are the creator, why don't you slam dunk him and his junk?

   Please note, these are the words of mine, and not from any commentary, higher source, or from any great authority.  Comments welcome. Thanks for reading. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny