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I AM AN 80 YEAR OLD MALE, BORN AGAIN, CHRISTIAN WITH A LOVE FOR JESUS. I DO NOT GET OUT MUCH ANYMORE BUT FIND THAT TELLING PEOPLE ABOUT THE LOVE JESUS HAS FOR THEM IS NOT ONLY WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DO BUT SOMETHING THAT THE WORLD NEEDS.
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Self Seeking Not God Seeking
John 6:26, 'Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.'
MATTHEW 14:34-36; MARK 6:53-56; JOHN 6:22-39
Jesus knew the hearts of all men and therefore, He did not commit Himself to this crowd. Just the day before, these same people tried to take Him by force and make Him their king, but He withdrew and spent the night in prayer.
This crowd looked like they were seeking Jesus, but they were actually trying to use Jesus to seek their own end. It is true that there are many personal benefits to be reaped through serving the Lord, but the benefits are never to become our object. In all...
HAVE EVER WONDERED WHY I AM ALWAYS TRYING TO GET EVERYONE TO STUDY THEIR BIBLE? DO YOU OR DO YOU EVEN READ IT. WE ALL SHOULD BECAUSE IT IS GOD'S HOLY WORD AND IT SHOWS US HIS LOVE FOR US AND HOW TO LIVE OUR LIVES. IF YOU HAVE NEVER READ THE HISTORY OF THE BIBLE, YOU SHOULD. IT WILL GIVE YOU AN INSIGHT ON HOW HARD PEOPLE WORKED AND WHAT THEY HAD TO SACRIFICE TO GET IT TO US. IT IS VERY INTERESTING AND SHOCKING AT THE SAME TIME.
Salvation: A Relationship
Mark 6:54, 'And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew him,'
MARK 6:53-56
The word 'know' can mean many things from as little as 'to perceive with the senses or the mind' to a much deeper meaning of 'a thorough experience with.'
This knowing, then, is not just intellectual, but a personal, intimate understanding. Jesus defines eternal life as knowing God the Father and Jesus Christ. Eternal life is having an intimate, personal relationship with God the Father and Jesus the Son. This intimacy with God is what salvation is all about. Forgiveness of our sins is not the point of salvation. This intimacy with the Father is. Of course, Jesus did die to purchase forgiveness for our sins...
DO YOU REMEMBER THE STORY IN LUKE 5 ABOUT JESUS TELLING PETER TO GO OUT INTO THE DEEP WATER AND DROP HIS NETS? JESUS HAD SEEN THE TWO SHIPS FLOATING IN LAKE GENNESARET AND THE FISHERMEN WERE OUT OF THE SHIPS, WASHING THEIR NETS. JESUS ENTERED PETER'S SHIP AND ASK HIM TO TAKE IT OUT A LITTLE FROM THE BANK SO HE COULD TEACH THE MULTITUDE. WHEN HE HAD FINISHED TEACHING IS WHEN HE TOLD PETER TO GO INTO THE DEEP WATER AND DROP HIS NETS. PETER COMPLAINED THAT THEY HAD BEEN OUT ALL NIGHT AND HADN'T CAUGHT ANYTHING. HOWEVER, PETER WAS OBEDIENT AND DID WHAT JESUS SAID. HE CAUGHT SO MANY FISH THAT THEIR NETS BROKE AND THEY HAD TO CALL THE OTHER SHIP TO COME AND HELP. THEY FILLED BOTH SHIPS SO MUCH THAT THEY STARTED TO SINK.
Sensitivity To The Right Things
Mark 6:52, 'For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for theirheart was hardened.'
MARK 6:45-52; JOHN 6:15-21
Most of the time, we think of a person with a hard heart as being someone who is in terrible rebellion to God. While it is true that a rebellious person does have a hardened heart, in this instance, the Word is referring to the disciples' hearts being hardened. They were, 'sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered' at Jesus walking on the water.
The word 'hardened' as used here, means 'to make calloused, unyielding or cold in spirit, or insensitive to.' The disciples were not God haters, but rather they had become so sensitive to the natural world and its...
HOW IS YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING? I AM IN FLORIDA AND IT IS 73 DEGREES HERE WITH A CHANCE OF RAIN. NOW LET ME ASK YOU HOW YOUR SPIRITUAL WEATHER IS. WHAT I AM GETTING AT IS WHEN WE HAVE COLD WEATHER WE DRESS IN SOMETHING WARM AND WHEN IT IS RAINING WE PUT ON SOMETHING THAT WILL KEEP US DRY. WELL, SPIRITUAL WEATHER CAN BE GOOD OR BAD ACCORDING TO YOUR WALK WITH THE LORD BUT WE NEVER KNOW WHEN SATAN IS GOING TO THROW SOMETHING AT US AND THAT WEATHER MIGHT CHANGE. I HOPE I AM MAKING SENSE AND I WILL EXPLAIN.
Enter Doubt, Exit Faith
Matthew 14:30, 'But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.'
MATTHEW 14:30-31
The reason Peter began to sink was because of his fear. In verse 31 Jesus used the word 'doubt' in reference to Peter's fear. Fear is simply negative faith or faith in reverse. Where did this fear come from? Second Timothy 1:7 says, 'For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power and of love, and of a sound mind.' It didn't come from God. This fear was able to come upon Peter because he took his attention off of Jesus and put it on his situation.
Fear or doubt cannot 'just overcome' us. We have to let it in. If Peter had kept his attention on Jesus,...