Tuesday, October 31, 2006

IT TAKES FAITH TO RECEIVE ANYTHING FROM GOD

FAITH IS BELIEVING WHAT GOD SAID AND TRUSTING AND RELYING ON THAT WORD NO MATTER WHAT WE SEE, SMELL, TOUCH, TASTE, OR HEAR.
HEBREWS 11:1 SAYS NOW FAITH IS THE SUBSTANCE(CONFIDENCE) OF THINGS HOPED FOR, THE EVIDENCE OF THINGS NOT SEEN.

HOW DO WE SHOW FORTH EVIDENCE THAT ISN'T SEEN. BY OUR TESTIMONY, THE WORDS WE SPEAK HOLDING THE CONFIDENCE OF THE THINGS WE HOPE FOR.

IN MARK THE ELEVENTH CHAPTER JESUS DEMONSTRATES FAITH IN ACTION, AND THEN TEACHES ON IT.
MARK 11:14-15
11And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.
12And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:
13And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.
14And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.

THERE ARE SOME REAL IMPORTANT THINGS WE NEED TO SEE IN THESE SCRIPTURES. WHY ? TO UNDERSTAND HOW FAITH WORKS?

JESUS WAS HUNGRY AND SAW A FIG TREE OFF IN THE DISTANCE. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTICE THIS TREE WAS WITH LEAVES. WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT. FIG TREES GROW THE FIGS THEN THE LEAVES. THAT TREE WAS SAYING I HAVE FIGS, BECAUSE OF THE LEAVES. THE TREE WAS LIVING A DECEPTIVE LIFE. IT HAD A FLAW THAT GAVE HOPE THEN TOOK IT AWAY. THE HOPE OF FOOD AND GAVE NOTHING BUT LEAVES. SOMETIMES PEOPLE PUT ON A CERTAIN LOOK THAT SAYS SOMETHING TOTALLY OPPOSITE OF HOW THEY REALLY ARE.

IN VERSE 14 IT SAYS JESUS ANSWERED AND SAID UNTO IT ( THE TREE)

SO LOOKS DO SPEAK THE TREES APPEARANCE SAID LOOK AT ME I HAVE FIGS. WHAT DID HE SAY TO THE TREE?

NO MAN EAT FRUIT OF THEE HEREAFTER FOR EVER.

JESUS RELEASED HIS FAITH IN THAT STATEMENT. HIS HOPE WAS FOR THAT TREE TO BE TAKEN OUT OF THE WAY SO THAT IT WOULD NO LONGER BE CONSIDERED AS A FOOD SOURCE BECAUSE OF IT'S DECEPTIVE GROWTH PATTERN AND APPEARANCE. THE EVIDENCE WASN'T SEEN IT WAS HELD IN HIS WORDS UNTIL IT WOULD BE MANIFESTED IN A PHYSICAL SEEN WAY. AFTER HE SPOKE HIS FAITH THE TREE STILL LOOKED THE SAME.

AFTER YOU SPEAK YOUR FAITH , YOUR HOPE, AND GIVE EVIDENCE, YOUR WORDS, YOU MAY NOT SEE A CHANGE BUT IT HAS STARTED.

ALSO IN VERSE 14 IT SAYS HIS DISCIPLES HEARD IT. SO FAITH IS SPOKEN AND OTHERS HEARD IT PROVES THAT POINT. JUST THINKING IT, WON'T GET THE JOB DONE. YOU MUST SPEAK IT OUT. IF YOU ARE AT WORK AND YOUR BOSS THINKS, I WISH THEY WOULD GO GET THE QUARTERLY REPORTS AND BRING THEM TO ME. WILL THAT GET THE JOB DONE? NO!! HE MUST SAY TO YOU GO GET THE QUARTERLY REPORTS AND BRING THEM TO ME BEFORE IT WILL HAPPEN. FAITH IS A SERVANT AND MUST BE TOLD WHAT TO DO.

1. JESUS USED HIS FAITH ON A FIG TREE HE SPOKE.
2. FAITH IS WORKING THE MOMENT HE SPOKE YOU JUST COULDN'T SEE IT'S EFFECT YET.
MARK 11:19-26
19And when even was come, he went out of the city.
20And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.
21And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.
22And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
23For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
24Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
25And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
26But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

THE NEXT DAY AS THEY LEFT THE CITY THEY SAW THE FIG TREE DRIED UP FROM THE ROOTS AND WITHERED AWAY. PETER RECALLS WHAT JESUS SAID TO THE TREE AS A CURSE. IT WAS SIMPLE FAITH NOT A CURSE. JESUS TOOK THE TIME TO TEACH THEM ABOUT HOW FAITH WORKS AFTER THEY HAD SEEN THE END RESULT OF THE TREE.

YOU MAY NOT SEE THE END RESULT WHEN YOU PRAY RIGHT AT THAT MOMENT. LIKE THE TREE, TO THE EYE IT LOOKED THE SAME. HOWEVER IT HAD STARTED TO DRY UP FROM THE ROOTS. FAITH WAS WORKING AND FINALLY IT WAS SEEN IN THE PHYSICAL. YOUR REQUEST ARE BEING WORKED OUT THE MOMENT YOU PRAY, AND WILL COME TO PASS.

IF YOU DON'T KNOW A SPECIFIC SCRIPTURE FOR YOUR NEED THIS PASSAGE WILL COVER ANYTHING YOU CAN BELIEVE FOR.

1. IN VERSE 22 JESUS SAID HAVE FAITH( TRUST, AND LEAN ON AND, RELY UPON) IN GOD.

2. IN VERSES 23 -24 JESUS TELLS US HOW TO GET THE SAME RESULTS HE DID.

23. WHOSOEVER (ANYONE) CAN SAY TO THIS MOUNTAIN (ANY PROBLEM THAT SHOULDN'T BE) TELL IT TO BE REMOVED (GO) BE CAST INTO THE SEA ( GET AWAY FROM ME ) SHALL NOT DOUBT IN HIS HEART ( VERY IMPORTANT WE CAN NOT DOUBT WHAT WE ARE SAYING WILL HAPPEN OR IT WON'T) BUT BELIEVE THOSE THINGS WHICH WE SAY SHALL COME TO PASS WE WILL HAVE WHAT WE SAY.

24. THEREFORE (BECAUSE OF THAT) I SAY UNTO YOU. WHAT THINGS SOEVER YOU DESIRE(NEED , WANT) WHEN YOU PRAY( VERBALIZE, SPEAK, OR ASK OF THE LORD)

BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE THEM AND YOU SHALL HAVE THEM. VERSES 25-26 ARE IN THE SAME PASSAGE AND JUST AS IMPORTANT. IF YOU DON'T FOLLOW THEIR INSTRUCTIONS AS WELL YOUR FAITH WON'T WORK. YOU MUST FORGIVE ANY THAT YOU HAVE OUGHT AGAINST SO THAT THE HEAVENLY FATHER WILL FORGIVE YOU. IF YOU DON'T FORGIVE THEN YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER WON'T FORGIVE YOUR TRESPASSES.

THIS PASSAGE HAS BEEN TAUGHT SO WRONG IN THE PAST. IT IS TRUE YOUR CONFESSION IS IMPORTANT, BUT CONFESSION( TESTIMONY OR WORDS SPOKEN) ALONE WON'T BRING YOUR DESIRE TO PASS. SOME HAVE STARTED A BLAB IT AND GRAB IT RELIGION THAT JUST WON'T WORK. TRUE YOU MUST SAY OR SPEAK IT OUT,BUT YOU MUST TRUST GOD, AND ALSO BELIEVE IT IN YOUR HEART, AND DOUBT NOT, AND FORGIVE OTHERS. ALL OF THESE THINGS MUST BE PRESENT OR FAITH WILL NOT PRODUCE THE DESIRED RESULTS. IT WON'T BE GODS FAULT, IT WILL BE OUR FAULT. PEOPLE HAVE NOT ACCEPTED THE RESPONSIBILITY, AS HUMAN NATURE WANTS TO BLAME ANOTHER FOR OUR OWN SHORTCOMINGS, MAN HAS BLAMED GOD FOR MANS FAILURE.

SAYINGS LIKE GOD ALWAYS ANSWERS PRAYER SOMETIMES YES, SOMETIMES NO, SOMETIMES MAYBE, AND SOMETIMES LATER. TOTALLY UNTRUE.

IF YOU AS THE LORD AS IN CONSECRATION OR DEDICATION TO WHAT YOU ARE TO DO IN LIFE. LIKE SHOULD I GO HERE OR MOVE THERE, HE WILL TELL YOU YES OR NO, AND YOU MUST THEN SEEK MORE WISDOM AND DIRECTION FOR YOUR LIFE.

THERE IS A PLACE FOR YES AND NO, BUT CONCERNING THE PROMISES OF GOD PAUL SAID IN 2ND CORINTHIANS 1:20 THAT ALL THE PROMISES OF GOD ARE YES AND AMEN(SO BE IT) ALL OF GODS PROMISES ARE YES AND SO BE IT.

ARE YOU SERIOUS ABOUT WHAT YOU NEED?

Passage Matthew 9:27-29:
27And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou son of David, have mercy on us.
28And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.
29Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.

IT ALL HANGS ON YOUR FAITH. YOU MUST BELIEVE AND DOUBT NOT AND SPEAK IT OUT AND KNOW WITHOUT A SHADOW OF A DOUBT THAT GOD WILL DO WHAT HE SAID HE WOULD DO AND YOUR FAITH WILL DO FOR YOU EXACTLY WHAT GOD SAID IT WOULD DO. AND DOUBT WILL DO EXACTLY WHAT GOD SAID IT WOULD DO, STOP YOUR REQUEST DEAD IN IT'S TRACKS. GET RID OF DOUBT AND ONLY BELIEVE, AND YOU SHALL HAVE WHATSOEVER YOU DESIRE.

TILL NEXT TIME REMEMBER GOD IS LIGHT AND IN HIM IS NO DARKNESS AT ALL

Monday, October 30, 2006

Miracles Do You Need One? Part 2

The Second Miracle that Jesus worked must follow the (Precedent) set by the first miracle. Let's look at the second miracle Jesus worked. It is found in John 4:43-54

Passage John 4:43-54:
43Now after two days he departed thence, and went into Galilee.
44For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honour in his own country.
45Then when he was come into Galilee, the Galilaeans received him, having seen all the things that he did at Jerusalem at the feast: for they also went unto the feast.
46So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum.
47When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death.
48Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.
49The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die.
50Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.
51And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth.
52Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.
53So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.
54This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee.


LET'S LOOK AT WHAT WAS PRESENT. DID THIS SECOND MIRACLE FOLLOW THE PRECEDENT SET BY THE FIRST MIRACLE.

1. IN VERSE 46-47 A NEED WAS PRESENT THAT MANKIND COULD NOT FIX OR CURE. IT WAS BEYOND MANS ABILITY TO CHANGE. THE NOBLEMAN'S SON WAS SICK TO THE POINT OF DEATH.

2. IN VERSE 47 IT ALSO STATES THAT THE NOBLEMAN WENT TO JESUS ( THE WORD ) MADE HIS REQUEST KNOWN ( THAT HE COME AND HEAL HIS SON ) BECAUSE OF A NEED ( HIS SON WAS AT THE POINT OF DEATH ). THIS WAS A NEED THAT MAN COULD NOT FIX OR CURE.

3. VERSE 49 THE NOBLEMAN RELATED HIS REQUEST AGAIN.

4. VERSE 50 JESUS SAID WHAT TO DO.. IT WAS A SIMPLE THING JESUS TOLD HIM. JESUS SAID, "GO THY WAY ; THY SON LIVETH. "

5. VERSE 50 ALSO STATED THE MAN DID WHAT JESUS SAID. THE MAN BELIEVED THE WORD THAT JESUS HAD SPOKEN TO HIM, AND WENT HIS WAY.

6. VERSES 51-53 THE MIRACLE WAS PREFORMED AND REVEALED AS THE MAN WENT HIS WAY.
HE COULDN'T SEE THE MIRACLE, BUT HAD TO BELIEVE AND GO. FAITH IN ACTION
DID YOU NOTICE THAT THIS SECOND MIRACLE WAS DIFFERENT FROM THE FIRST ONE IN THAT IT WAS A LIFE AND DEATH SITUATION.
JESUS ( THE WORD ) IN THE FIRST TWO MIRACLES TURNED WATER INTO WINE ( NO ONE WAS GOING TO DIE WITHOUT THAT WINE ) AND HE HEALED AND RESTORED A BOY THAT WAS AT THE POINT OF DEATH. THIS SHOWS THAT ANYTHING FROM NON LIFE THREATENING TO LIFE THREATENING, THIS JESUS ( THE WORD ) IS THERE TO MEET THE NEED IF YOU WILL DO WHAT THE WORD SAYS TO DO.
GOD IS NOT MOVED BY THE NEED. HE IS MOVED BY YOUR OBEDIENCE TO HIS WORD THAT HE INSTRUCTS YOU TO DO CONCERNING THE REQUEST.
IT IS TOTAL TRUST AND FAITH IN HIS WORD AND ACTING ON IT THAT BRINGS THE RESULTS.

1. HOW DO I RECEIVE A MIRACLE?
2. WHAT DOES JESUS SAY CONCERNING MY NEED?
3 HOW DO I DO WHAT JESUS SAYS FOR ME TO DO?

LET'S EXPLORE THAT FOR A MOMENT. JESUS IS THE WORD...THE WORD IS JESUS. FIND SCRIPTURE TO BACK UP YOUR NEED. IF YOU CAN NOT FIND A SCRIPTURE FOR A SPECIFIC NEED THERE ARE SOME SCRIPTURES THAT COVER EVERYTHING.
IN PART THREE WE WILL GO INTO A SET OF SCRIPTURES THAT WILL SHOW YOU HOW TO CHANGE YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES AND TO RECEIVE EXACTLY WHAT YOU NEED.





Saturday, October 28, 2006

MIRACLES DO YOU NEED ONE?

WHAT IS A MIRACLE? MIR-A-CLE: A wonder,A marvel : an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs. SOMETHING THAT TAKES PLACE THAT IS BEYOND HUMAN ABILITY
IF YOU NEED SOMETHING THAT IS BEYOND HUMAN ABILITY THEN YOU NEED A MIRACLE.
IS THERE A PRECEDENT THAT HAS BEEN SET CONCERNING MIRACLES.
WHAT IS A PRECEDENT?
WE HEAR THAT WORD A LOT IN COURT CASES.
DICTIONARY DEFINITION
PREC·E·DENT noun1 : an earlier occurrence of something similar2 a : something done or said that may serve as an example or rule to authorize or justify a subsequent act of the same or an analogous kind b : the convention established by such a precedent or by long practice3 : a person or thing that serves as a model

A PRECEDENT IS A JUDGEMENT OR DECISION ON A MATTER THAT SETS A STANDARD OF RULE CONCERNING ALL OTHER CASES OF A SIMILAR NATURE THAT COME ALONG AFTER IT.

WE MUST FIND OUT WHAT PRECEDENT HAS BEEN SET CONCERNING MIRACLES BY GOING BACK TO THE FIRST MIRACLE AND EXAMINING IT.
IF EVER THERE WAS A FIRST MIRACLE IT SET THE PRECEDENT FOR ALL MIRACLES THAT FOLLOW.

IN JOHN CHAPTER 2:1-11 WE FIND THAT FIRST MIRACLE
Passage John 2:1-11:
John 2
1And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:
2And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.
3And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.
4Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.
5His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.
6And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.
7Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.
8And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.
9When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,
10And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.
11This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him

NOTICE THIS WAS NOT A LIFE OR DEATH MIRACLE. THIS FIRST MIRACLE SHOWS US THAT ANYTHING WE NEED AND CAN'T DO IT OURSELVES, JESUS IS THERE TO DO IT FOR US.
WHAT IS THE PRECEDENT SET HERE IN THIS FIRST MIRACLE.
1. THERE MUST BE A NEED THAT YOU OR OTHERS CAN NOT MAKE HAPPEN.
2. YOU MUST GO TO THE ONE WHO CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN. (JESUS)
THE WORD
3. AS JESUS MOTHER SAID YOU MUST DO WHAT SO EVER HE SAYS.
DO WHAT THE WORD SAYS.

IN THIS FIRST MIRACLE LET'S SEE HOW THAT WORKED.

1. THE NEED: VERSE 3 NO WINE, THEY RAN OUT OF DRINK FOR THE WEDDING FEAST.

2. THE NEED WAS BROUGHT TO JESUS: ALSO VERSE 3 THE MOTHER OF JESUS SAID TO HIM,THEY HAVE NO WINE.

3. WHATSOEVER HE SAYS (JESUS, THE WORD )VERSE 5 FIND OUT WHAT THE WORD SAYS

4. DO IT (VERSE 5) DO WHAT THE WORD SAYS

5. THEY DID IT (VERSES 6-7) THERE WERE WATER POTS. JESUS SAID FILL THEM WITH WATER.

6. THEY DID IT.

(AS WE WILL SEE THIS FIRST MIRACLE SHOWS US THAT THERE MAY BE MORE THAN ONE INSTRUCTION TO DO. ALWAYS LISTEN FOR ANYTHING ELSE THAT HE MAY SAY TO DO.)

7. JESUS GAVE A SECOND INSTRUCTION (VERSE 8) JESUS SAID DRAW OUT AND BEAR.. DIP OUT AND TAKE IN OTHER WORDS.

8. (VERSE 8 ) AND THE BEAR (TOOK) IT.

9. (VERSES 9-10) THE WATER HAD BECOME WINE.. THE MIRACLE HAD BEEN COMPLETED.

THAT IS THE PRECEDENT FOR MIRACLES AND ALL OTHER MIRACLES WILL FOLLOW IN THIS SAME MANNER.

OBEDIENCE TO WHAT JESUS (THE WORD) SAYS CONCERNING THE NEED.

JOHN RECORDS THE SECOND MIRACLE IN JOHN 4:43-54

THE PRECEDENT SET IN THE FIRST MIRACLE MUST BE FOLLOWED IN ORDER FOR THE SECOND TO HAPPEN. WE WILL LOOK AT THIS SECOND MIRACLE IN THE NEXT POSTING. AFTER THAT YOU CAN SEE WHAT YOU MUST DO IN ORDER TO RECEIVE YOUR MIRACLE.

YOU DON'T NEED TO GO TO A SPECIAL MEETING AND HAVE A SPECIAL PERSON PRAY OR LAY HANDS ON YOU. YOU CAN RECEIVE YOUR MIRACLE RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE , IF YOU DO IT GODS WAY.

YOUR BROTHER IN CHRIST..................MICHAEL