DO YOU SEE CLEARLY?

Ephesians 1:16-18 “I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you wisdom to see clearly and really understand who Christ is and all that he has done for you. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can see something of the future he has called you to share.”

Paul gave us many guidelines as to the real needs we should address in prayer. We usually address God with the basic essentials, “God bless Mommy & Daddy, these are my needs for today, please take care of them and also please make Grandmommy better too.” Maybe your prayers aren’t quite that simple, but the ideas and concepts behind them usually are.

We need to begin to pray for “wisdom to see clearly and really understand who Christ is and all that he has done for you.” 2 Peter 1:2 states the same principle. “Grace (The Divine Ability) and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord…”
Here’s the way it boils down…

The more you know God the more you will love Him!
The more you love God the more you’ll trust Him!
The more you trust God the more you’ll obey Him!
The more you obey Him, the more He can be Who He is in our lives!

This all begins with knowing who God is; What makes His Heart release His Love; What angers or hurts Him; What stirs up His power and releases it; What does it take to access Eternal life, etc.. It’s the same as any relationship. It’s impossible to fall in love with someone until you get to know them. Knowing them takes dedication, time and effort. It’s a process of gradual revelation of the true nature of the person you are getting to know.

“How can I know God?” you may ask. You can listen to what someone else has to say about Him. You can read books, or formulate your own thoughts about what you think He is like. You can investigate various religions and attend different spiritual forums. Or, you can go directly to the Manufacturer’s Handbook and read His Autobiography, inspired by His own Holy Spirit, filled with infallible truths that are proven and time tested Spiritual Laws.

When I first came into a personal relationship with Jesus, I decided to blow the dust off the family Bible and check it out. My wife and I decided to put pressure on the Principles, Truths and Promises contained within, and if they did not stand up, we were not going to waste any more time playing Church. Here we are some thirty plus years later, and the Principles, Truths and Promises still have never faded or faltered.
Given a chance, the Bible will prove itself to be the Living Word of God!

Read the Gospels looking at the Life of Jesus. He said “if you’ve seen Me, you’ve seen the Father…” John 14:9 Colossians 1:15 states that Jesus “…is the visible image of the invisible God.” Pray and read the New Testament looking for the Promises, Principles and truths about the Nature and Character of God. Now feast on this nugget…

Paul continues his prayer in Ephesians 1:18-23 “that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for Christians, 19oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength! All this energy issues from Christ: God raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the center of all this, Christ rules the church. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ’s body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.”

The Good news is....YOU BELONG TO HIM!

You need to read this over and over until He makes it real to you!

WHERE IS YOUR FAITH?

The disciples were in a tizzy. The storm was raging and the waves were crashing over the sides of the boat. Sometimes life seems that way. Things are happening all around and it seems like we’re about to go under. At least the disciples knew that Jesus needed to be involved in their crisis and they awakened Him. Then He came to their rescue! (By the way, HE IS NOT SLEEPING NOW!) If you come to Jesus in the midst of your storm, you will not go under!

There is a better way than coming to Jesus for help in the middle of your trials and tribulations. That is STAYING with Jesus. If you’re already with Him, you won’t need to come to Him in order to use HIS faith. If you are connected with Jesus and have been in intimate Fellowship with Him, your Faith will be sufficient. He asked the disciples and He asks us today the same question. “Where is your faith?” Luke 8:25

HIGH LEVEL FAITH IS A DIRECT RESULT OF HIGH LEVEL FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM! He said in John 15:7 “If you stay joined to Me, and My words remain in you, you may ask any request you like, and it will be granted.” In verse 5 He also stated that “apart from Me you can do nothing.”

After Jesus had calmed the storm and He turned to the disciples and asked them the question that implied that the Faith that they had, should have been sufficient to rebuke the storm and cause them to pass safely through the storm. Remember Shadrach, Mishak and Abednigo, that all the time they were in danger of being consumed by the fiery furnace (trials in your life), Jesus was right there with them. These boys spoke out in simple Faith and Jesus showed up in the middle of the fire. “…our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.” Daniel 3:25 They spoke directly to the source of the storm and the result …“I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” When Jesus goes through the fire with you, you will come out on the other side without a “hair of your head being singed…and not even the smell of smoke upon your garments.” Verse 27

“Where is your Faith?” The Bible says that “Faith comes by hearing…the Word of God.” Romans 10:17 This kind of “hearing” requires intimacy and fellowship with God. It requires time and effort in developing our relationship with Him. In James 4:8 the Word declares “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” Hebrews 11:6 tells us that God rewards those who work on developing Relationship with Him. “…He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” When you allow “…the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts (Putting other things first-idols..Matthew 6:33) of other things, to enter in, they choke the word (Faith building Word of God), and it becomes unfruitful.” Mark 4:19 Where are you spending your time? What things are you pondering; the worries of the world or the Promises and Power of God?

Remember Great faith stills the Greatest Storms! “…Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is your faith: be it done to you, even as you desire. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.” Mt 15:28

Your Faith will be developed and Increased only in the Presence of God. Spend time today in Fellowship with Him, so that when the next storm arises in your life, you are already connected to Jesus. You will then be given the exact words to speak and they will come forth out of your mouth filled with Great Faith and Great Power, and watch the Storms be stilled!

THE CHRISTMAS BELL

“The bottom edge of the ephod shall be embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet pomegranates, alternated with gold bells. Aaron shall wear the ephod whenever he goes in to minister to the Lord; the bells will tinkle as he goes in and out of the presence of the Lord in the Holy Place...” Exodus 28:34-35

The only place the word “Bell” is used in the Bible is in reference to the golden bells which were attached to the bottom of the robe the High Priest wore when he ventured into the Holy of Holies or the very Presence of God. The bells were doubtless intended to keep up the people's attention to the very solemn and important office which the priest was then performing, that they might all have their hearts engaged in the work; and at the same time to keep Aaron himself in remembrance that he ministered before Jehovah, and should not come into his presence without due reverence.

I would also remind you that if the bells were to stop ringing, the attendants would drag the High priest from the Holy of Holies by the rope attached to his foot. He had made the fatal mistake of attempting to enter the Presence of God improperly prepared or without reverential awe!

Sometimes it does us good to rehearse the Awesomeness of God and remember that the Presence of God now lives within us! You have become the Holy of Holies. Someone sent me the following “Christmas Bell” by email and the author remains anonymous. I wanted to share it with you this Christmas in order to remind you that you have a right to enter into the presence of God because of the Gift He gave us the first Christmas.

What better time than now to believe in your heart that Jesus was born in that manger to die on the Cross for you! As you believe then invite Him to be the Lord over your life; your Gift from God will be New Life this Christmas!

Now read and research every Scripture within your own “Christmas Bell!”

May the Peace of God and His Spirit of Eternal Life be your portion today!

THE BELL
I KNOW WHO I AM
I am God's child (John 1:12)
I am Christ's friend (John 15:15 )
I am united with the Lord (1 Cor 6:17)
I am bought with a price (1 Cor. 6:19-20)
I am a saint (set apart for God). (Eph. 1:1)
I am a personal witness of Christ. (Acts 1:8)
I am the salt & light of the earth (Matt 5:13-14)
I am a member of the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:27)
I am free forever from condemnation ( Rom. 8: 1-2)
I am a citizen of Heaven. I am significant (Phil 3 :20)
I am free from any charge against me (Rom. 8:31 -34)
I am a minister of reconciliation for God (2 Cor 5:17-21)
I have access to God through the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:18)
I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Eph. 2:6)
I cannot be separated from the love of God (Rom 8:35-39)
I am established, anointed, sealed by God (2 Cor 1:21-22 )
I am assured all things work together for good (Rom. 8:28 )
I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16 )
I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Eph. 3: 12 )
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13 )
I am the branch of the true vine, a channel of His life (John 15: 1-5)
I am God's temple (1 Cor. 3: 16). I am complete in Christ (Col10)
I am hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3).. I have been justified (Romans 5:1)
I am God's co-worker (1 Cor. 3:9; 2 Cor. 6:1). I am God's workmanship (Eph. 2:10)
I am confident that the good works God has begun in me will be perfected. (Phil. 1: 5)
I have been redeemed and forgiven ( Col 1:14). I have been adopted as God's child (Eph 1:5)
I belong to God
Do you know
Who you are?

ARE YOU CRAZY?

Gal 3:3 "Have you lost your senses? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?” NLT

Do you love the Lord but still find yourself involved in the same sin or sins over and over again? Do you find yourself full of resolve and good intentions on doing what is Godly but still keep on stumbling? The same old pattern repeats itself time after time. You stand strong for a period of time and when all seems to be going well…Wham…it hits you and you fall for the same old trap again.

We know that when we sin, we lose fellowship with the Lord. Notice I said fellowship; not salvation. When we fall, we are unable to stay intimate or connected with Him, abiding in the shadow of His protection and the fullness of His provision.

Re-read the beginning Scripture above. It wasn’t our good works that brought us into His Kingdom and it won’t be our self empowered efforts or willpower that causes us to overcome the temptations we encounter. As long as we continue to try and “become perfect by our own human effort,” we will continue to fail miserably. Paul felt this same way when he cried out in Romans 7:24 “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” He knew that his own ability was severely lacking. Fortunately, he was given the answer and he responds in the next verse. “Thanks be unto God! Jesus can and Jesus will!”

You are attempting to obey God in your flesh. The verse says that the same way you got saved, by believing in Him, is the same way you walk in the spirit. Romans 8:12 "So, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation whatsoever to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you keep on following it, you will perish. But if through the power of the Holy Spirit you turn from it and its evil deeds, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.”

It's through the power of the Holy Spirit alone that you can obey! Start turning even your ability to obey over to Him. Ask Him to give you His willpower and ability to walk in obedience. Phillipians 2:13 “For it is God who works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

Tell Him you can't do it and you need His Willpower and ability...He will gladly take over. If you think about it, when you give it all to Him...He moves...when you take some back into your own ability...you hinder His ability!

Paul knew this secret...2 Cor 12: 9 "And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. "

He knew that if he boasted in his inability...the Power of Christ would be his ability!
Get back up on your horse...shake the dust off and get back at it! You are on the verge of a permanent breakthrough as long as you trust Him for His willpower and His ability.

Tell Him today that you recognize your inability to be a wife, husband, father, mother, Christian, businessman, Church leader, employee. Tell Him “I can’t do it!” Tell Him you can’t pray, worship, read you Bible, witness or minister without Him. Then simply ask Him to give you His willpower (To do His will) and His ability in all that you do. Phillipians 4:13 states that “I can do all things through Christ, Who strengthens me!”

Insanity is defined as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Isn’t it time to defeat sin God’s way? Stop trying to win with your own willpower and ability. If you’ve “lost your senses” then begin to experience victorious living God’s way right now! Give it all to Jesus!

No go back to the picture above from the NASA space telescope and see God's hand reaching out to help you!

THE PRICE OF FORGIVENESS

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!” Phillipians 4:13 Christians have an advantage that all others fail to access unless they become reunited with God! It is a Gift that God wishes to impart to all people, however only those who respond to His gracious gift are able to receive His Divine ability to face the challenges of this world.

Jesus said in John 14:6 that He is “the way, the truth and the life” and that “no man comes to the Father” God unless it is through Jesus and the mercies of His sacrifice on Calvary’s Cross. So many people claim that that’s not fair, or that’s not the only way, but that’s exactly what Jesus claimed. If you have sinned just once and we all have, then the Bible declares us guilty before a Holy, Righteous God. He can not and will not have any part of fellowshipping with sin.

He has provided out of the essence of His being, which is love, (1 John 4:8) the ability to rebuild all that sin has destroyed on our lives. Through His free gift, He has re-opened the way back into His Love, His Presence, Provision, Healing and His ability.

You must understand that this is the real miracle of Christmas. It’s not a Holiday…it’s CHRISTmas. The Eternally existing Son of Almighty God, divested Himself of all His heavenly power and authority and came to experience life in this sin sickened world. Phillipians 2: 6-7 “Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form.” NLT Verse 7 is translated in this manner in the Message translation. “When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, and became human.”

He was born with three missions in His heart and on His mind; The Cross at Calvary, Resurrection Day (being seated next to the Father), and You! He knew that at Calvary all of the Penalty of Sin would be His to bear. The Prophet Isaiah says it this way. Isaiah 53: 3-6 “But the fact is, it was our pains he carried—our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us. We thought he brought it on himself, that God was punishing him for his own failures. But it was our sins that did that to him, that ripped and tore and crushed him—our sins! He took the punishment, and that made us whole. Through his bruises we get healed…And GOD has piled all our sins, everything we’ve done wrong, on him.”

1) The Cross at Calvary: “and by him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of his blood on the cross. This includes you who were once so far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions, yet now he has brought you back as his friends. He has done this through his death on the cross in his own human body. As a result, he has brought you into the very presence of God, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.” Colossians 1:20-22 NLT

2) Resurrection Day: “He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterward. Now he is seated in the place of highest honor beside God’s throne in heaven.” Hebrews 12:2 NLT

3) You: "But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Romans 5:8 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life John 3:16.

This Christmas take the time to rehearse this fact: God is not mad at you; He loves you! Even though our rebellious, independent, thankless hearts continue to struggle against His Ways and His Will, He still loves us! God gave up His only Son, Jesus, Who gave up all of His heavenly power, privileges and authority to come down to this earth to live and die for our transgressions of His Law. It is ONLY through God’s provision that we are able to re-enter into His Presence, Provision and Power in this life and live eternally with Him in the hereafter.

Mohammed can not pay the price. Buddha can not pay the price. Mary can not pay the price. Mother Nature can not pay the price. Money can not buy it. Sacrifice can not secure it. Being good falls way short of it. Effort and good works are laughable in their attempts to attain it. Doctors and Psychiatrists can not prescribe it. Counselors can not talk you into it. Philosophers can not illuminate the path to it.

The only answer is an impartation of God’s own life into yours! John 1:4 says it this way: “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” Only Jesus can boldly proclaim: “I am the way, the truth and the life; No man comes to the Father but by Me.” John 14:6

Right now if, you don’t know Him, drop to your knees and Invite Jesus to be the Lord over your life and believe in your heart that He paid the price for your sins on that Cross. Only through this you can obtain eternal life and it begins right here and now; not only when you die and go to Heaven! Romans 10:9-10
Merry Christmas and pass it on!

SETTING THE HOOK!

Jesus said to His disciples “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19 Avid fishermen and sportsmen follow every passing season with an expert eye, and they readily discern the most productive seasons for the hunt. I want to tell you something direct from the Lord. We are in a very fruitful season right now as the whole world is fastened on the Christmas season, whether they like it or not. Jesus said in John 4:35 to “Look around you! Vast fields are ripening all around us and are ready now for the harvest.”

Like it or not, if you have chosen to be a fisher of men for Jesus, than at one point or another you must sink the hook and reel them in! Real Fishermen don’t just leave their bait dangling in the water. They supply a scrumptious, tasty meal, chosen specifically for their desired prey. Once the bait has been carefully chosen, (The choice is usually determined as they chat at the local Bait and tackle shop and hear what’s been working.) the bait is cast right into the middle of the suspected hot spot. A good Fisherman does not let his bait do all the work. The real work does not begin until the bait has been set.

This is where the men are separated from the boys, so to speak; the catchers separated from the fishers. At this point the catcher is waiting, focused on the line attached to the bait, awaiting the slightest tug. He waits as the fish goes for more of the bait and then… he sets the hook with a tug on the line, and reels in the catch of the day.

Soul winning, or being fishers of men is done much in the same fashion. First the bait is chosen and cast

into the populated areas where the hurting, crushed, oppressed, lonely, empty and lost have congregated.

Psalm 40:9-10 describes the heavenly bait. “I have told all your people about your justice. I have

not been afraid to speak out, as you, O LORD, well know. I have not kept this good news

hidden in my heart; I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power. I have told

everyone in the great assembly of your unfailing love and. faithfulness."

The bait is simply telling those in your circle of influence what Jesus has done for you

personally!

Sad to say this is where most believers stop short. We simply leave the bait dangling in the water without

ever attempting to set the hook. Whether it’s fear, apprehension, insecurity, lack of knowledge, or

ignorance, we never extend the invitation for CHOICE! Romans 10:9 states it in this manner; “…if you

will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and will believe in your heart that God has raised

him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Someone must extend the personal invitation for those who are lost, to accept His Lordship!

That someone in this Christmas Season is YOU!

Go to your loved ones who are lost in this Season and tell them what Jesus has done for you.

The Holy Spirit will give you the right words to say. When you are done…SET THE HOOK!

Tell them that you love them so much you can not pass on this opportunity. Because of your

love, you must tell them, “I want you to pray with me to invite Jesus and His Lordship into your

life right now. Will you pray with me right now?” Then be quiet and let the Holy Spirit do His

work. That my friend is setting the hook!

Don’t wait for others to do your job. Tomorrow is never guaranteed, and your loved ones, coworkers, neighbors and friends are waiting on you. What a Christmas present for Jesus and for you to be able to enable access into Eternal Life with the King of Glory, this Holy Season. There are many souls waiting to be hooked and reeled in this time and season! Will you do
your part?

At the age of eighty eight my Dad was hooked and reeled into the Kingdom of God in just this

manner. As I continued to pray for my Dad, I kept asking the Lord to send someone to bring

him into the Kingdom. Finally He said, "I have already sent them! Now go and ASK THE

QUESTION!" I did and he responded. Today my dad is Home with his Lord and Savior!

Good Fishing! I want to hear your fishing tales and it will not be about the “One that

Got away, ” but about the huge one that you landed!