Prayer for Today! Finish the Kingdom Work!

Father God, Lord Jesus Christ have mercy upon us today. In this frail mortal tabernacle, we strive to become the best that we can be. Possess this clay vessel and make it unto honor and glory for your Name sake. Fill us again and again with the nectar of heaven that we may be poured out, emptied in the perpetuation of the Gospel and building up of the Kingdom of God. Refresh us this day in the power of your Spirit that we may be strong, resilient, and victorious. Capture our minds, our hearts and our souls and hold us in reserve to your Divine purpose and will. Constrain us to entertain your presence and your voice until your revelation comes. May we be like Jacob of old, engaged in heavenly warfare until your deliverance comes to us. Pour into us your strength, your courage and your faith. Sustain us in this present conflict with the manna that only you can provide. Walk with us today instructing us and guiding each step we take. Open our eyes to what you are doing and where you are going. Anoint us that we may go with you to the consummation of all things and time without end. In Jesus' name! Amen!

Jesus Went with Them! part 3

The second emotion the disciples experienced at the death of Jesus was anger. It has been said that Jesus was who He said He was or He was the greatest con artist of all time. If Jesus was not the Messiah, how could He have been so cruel to perpetuate such a hoax? His disciples had loved Him with all their hearts. They had been loyal followers and it was unthinkable that He would betray them in such a fashion. If Jesus was not the Messiah, how could He have performed such miraculous feats as He did? By what power, or authority, or slight of hand, or human trickery could He have done such miracles. The disciples had seen Him stop funeral processions and raise the dead. He appeared to heal the sick, open blind eyes, heal the lame and all manner of diseases. They were with Him when He fed the multitudes (5000 and 4000) with only a few loaves and fishes. The disciples themselves collected the left overs which amounted to more than what they had at the beginning. How did He accomplish that if He was not who He said He was? How could He have performed such miraculous feats in such flawless fashion that they (the disciples) could be so completely fooled?

And if He was the Messiah, how could God have allowed Jesus to be taken from them? Jesus, who was the foundation and head of the Church. It was upon the understanding that He was the Son of God that this New Movement was established. Matt. 16:13, “...he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17And Jesus answered 

and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee but my Father which is in heaven. 18And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Jesus' promise was to build and establish His Church upon the revelation that He was the Son of God. Why would God taunt them with the promise of salvation and deliverance and then abandon them at the 11^th hour? How could God really love them and allow such a thing to happen? The disciples were looking at the circumstances. How could they understand the revelation that Jesus was the Son of God and miss the prophecy of His death, burial and resurrection?

We can apply the same principle to our relationship in Christ. How can we receive the revelation that Jesus is the Son of God, our Savior, our Messiah and fail to embrace other promises relative to our walk with Him? How do we deal with the significant losses and disappointments in our lives when the Word tells us, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” Romans 8:28? How then do we react to circumstances, crisis, persecution and the trying of our faith? 1 Peter 1:6, “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” We should take hold of the Hope of Glory and rejoice in the victory that He will bring upon our lives. The same revelation that opens our heart, mind and soul to the truth that Jesus is the Son of God will energize His Spirit within us to receive ALL His promises. Sometimes, however, we have to wait upon the interpretation.

As with the disciples in this passage it just isn't time for the resurrection revelation. However, it was soon to come because this was the third day. The season had arrived but the hour had not come. God's plan is always on schedule but as Jesus' disciples found out, we must move ourselves into the realm of faith to preserve our convictions until the revelation comes. They were so drawn to Christ as they walked with Him that their “hearts burned within them.” They were so compelled by this yearning that they urged Him to stay with them for “the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them” Luke 24:29.

The revelation of this passage is that as believers in Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross, we are presently walking with the answer to all our difficulties, tests and trials. The Body of Christ is suffering in a season of extreme trial and tribulation. “...though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:” 1 Peter 1:6. However, the hour of our deliverance is at hand. We must be so drawn to Him that when the circumstances say no to the revelation that His faith will arise in our hearts and preserve us until it is time for the revelation and the fulfillment of the promise. May God help us to see the season we live in and have the heart (spiritual fortitude) to walk with Him until the hour of His revelation. 1 Thess. 4:16, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

He Walks with Me!

Today is a dreary, overcast day with a forecast of storms later today and tonight but they should be ending by tomorrow morning. As I write these words, I am reminded of the conditions in our world. The storms of life are raging and will become more intense before they are concluded. But, tomorrow is coming when they will all pass away. The clouds will be dispersed and the Son will rise and shine at the beginning of a perfect day. The Day Star will rise casting all imperfection into yesterday and will lead us into our pure, unspoiled future.

John 14:1, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

At this very moment as we battle the storms in our life, Jesus is making provision for us. He is providing the spiritual fortitude to bring us through the storms and also preparing our final destination to be with Him. We must place our hand in His and let Him lead us there. There is no storm, no trial, no test or battle that He cannot navigate. In fact, He allows the storms to come to help us grow and mature as His disciples. He is teaching us to recognize the best path. He is teaching us that He is always with us and we are learning to recognize Him in our storm. God uses the storms to fashion His faith, His trust and His assurance in us. Faith that His promises are sure, trust that He speaks to us and that it is His voice we hear and assurance that no matter where the storms of life may carry us, He is always there. Matt. 28:20, “...and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world...”

Christ has promised to go with us, sustain us and deliver us. What we must to do is walk with Him. The words of an old song says, “and he walks with me, and he talks with me and he tells me I am his own...” We belong to Him and He says, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:” John 10:27. He has paid a great price for our deliverance and nothing can take us out of His hand if we will only trust and obey Him.

No Time to be Discouraged!!! by Myra Boozer

The days are evil and the storms of life are raging .... The enemy has come in like a flood , as it rips through our land trying to wash away every grain of truth and justice that has prevailed in our Country since the beginning of her exitance ... Turmoil has found a landing on the steps of every home and the heart of every man, woman and child... The wind whispers, you are alone and no one is interested in your sorrows... just forget about being the one that will find refuge in the soul of another human being... Trust only in your might and none other.. for no one cares or is able to lift you above the muddy waters of this terrible swift and raging current....

But wait, I hear the chirping of the sparrow and see the Eagle on the highest bough... and listen to the breeze as it sings the sweetest song... Redeemed, You are redeemed... you have been purchased , bought with a price... counted worthy to be forgiven and you are FREE...This is no time to be discouraged.... God is allowing us to build strong faith in HIM and not our circumstances.....MB

Prayer for Today! No One Like You!

Father God, Lord Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit of God, when I survey the awesomeness of who you are, I stand in wonder of your person. You are the Creator of all things yet you are my Father. You are the Life and Sustainer of all things created yet you are my Life and more abundantly. You are my Way, my Truth and my Life. In you I live and move and have the entirety of my being. You are the power of the Almighty God inhabited within the person of the Holy Spirit as witnessed in the book of Acts. Yet you are my Strength, my Power, my Comforter, my Teacher, my Paraclete. You are the Divine and Magnanimous Person who inhabits all of eternity yet you are my Friend, my Companion, my Heart and my Soul. There is no one like you! Thank you for loving me! Amen!

Jesus Went With Them! part 2

 (part 2)

The disciples were dejected and depressed because they had believed that Jesus was the one to “have redeemed” Israel but this “is the third day since these things were done,” Luke 24:21. I think it is noteworthy that this conversation took place on the third day. Jesus had taught them that He would go to Jerusalem and there He would be killed. But He also taught them that He would be raised on the third day. Jesus had revealed the plan of God to them. However, they were so consumed with the dying part of the revelation that the enemy had stolen the most important part, the resurrection. This was the day of their salvation, redemption and victory but they could not see it...yet!

This principle runs parallel to our Christian journey. How many times in our struggle to discern the leadership of the Spirit are we overwhelmed by circumstances which obscure our vision of the Truth and interferes with our perception of God's revelation for us? We cannot afford to be so consumed with circumstances that we allow the enemy to steal the promise that God has given us.

These disciples had gone through all the emotions of loosing someone near and dear to their heart. The first emotion was denial, the absolute disbelief that this could be happening to them. All the signs appeared to point to Jesus as the Messiah. How could they have been so wrong about Him? They had experienced the intrusion of life altering doubt, a crippling doubt that would cause them to question all things previously discerned to be settled. How could they ever trust their emotions and discernment after suffering such a debilitating loss? They had dared to love and trust so deeply that their lives would be forever changed by this experience. God's plan was proceeding on schedule just as Jesus had prophesied. It just wasn't time for the resurrection revelation.

How often do we find ourselves in the position of denial and to question, “why are these harsh circumstances developing around us or affecting someone close to us?” We are susceptible to cry out in absolute disbelief, I can't believe this is happening to me! This position opens the door for the enemy to rush in and steal our faith. In extreme cases, just like the disciples, our soul can be seized with such life altering doubt our Christian service is totally paralyzed and we cannot proceed further. In that moment, we should go to God in intimate communion through prayer and His Word. God will throw off the chains of dejection and depression as we heed the burning desire of the Holy Spirit that lives within us. We are never alone. Heb. 13:5, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” We can place our total confidence in the promises the Lord has given us. The fulfilling of the resurrection revelation will come according to God's timing. (continued part 3)

Does Not Wisdom Call?

Does not wisdom call, And understanding lift up her voice? But who is listening?
 Only the wise will hear the call from" the top of the heights beside the way,
Where the paths meet, she takes her stand. At the entrance of the doors, she cries out ...To you , O men, I call.... For wisdom is better than jewels"...Proverbs 8:1-4 Wisdom is calling to everyone of us... but some, just will not listen... they are to busy making plans and settling deals with whomever they chose... They chose to walk right on by Wisdom and gave her no attention as though she wasn't even there.. To many today are so hasty and determined that they have forgotten to seek God for wisdom.... Wisdom is a choice, you see, we don't have to keep making the same mistakes over and over again ... Wisdom is there ,"beside the gate"... every decision one makes has an entrance... but before we go any further we can seek wisdom... She (wisdom) is not overbearing , or rude but she is there standing strong and firm. She is at the entrance of every door... she is on the face of every decision , she is available ... We can embrace her or we can ignore her ....No, she is not without price... for she is only for those who will lay down their ideas, their plans , their desires and seek after the righteousness of God.. No, she is not instant, for it takes time to rid oneself of the earthly, carnal selfish desires and lean fully on the heart of God .. Knowing that He is the Master Planner of our lives... He is the One who knows everything from front to back... He knows us and the plans He has for us.. He made us creatures of choice... He gives wisdom to all who will choose her....(by Myra Boozer)

Jesus Went With Them!

Luke 24:13, “And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. 14And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them”

In this passage of scriptures, Jesus is talking to two of His disciples as they journey on the road to Emmaus. They are expressing their concerns of the events surrounding Jesus' crucifixion and burial. They had expected that He would be the one who would deliver Israel from the demeaning suppression of Roman domination and become the new King of Israel. Luke 24:21, “But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.” Their hopes and dreams of a redeemed Israel had been destroyed when Jesus was taken and ultimately killed. Now, to add insult to injury, someone had stolen His body.

Luke 24:25, “Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” The prophets had written in specific detail about the coming Messiah, His suffering and His sacrifice. But, the loss that these disciples had experienced blotted out their vision of God's promise. Jesus would have left them but they “constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them” V29. As they sat together to partake of the evening meal, Jesus brake the bread and blessed it. Immediately their eyes were opened and they realized that it had been Jesus walking with them. Then, He vanished from their presence.

They had been entertaining the HOPE of their lives, their deliverer, their salvation, their miracle restored to life. However, they did not realize that they were walking with the risen Christ until He opened their spiritual eyes.

Could it be possible that we stand in the presence of our HOPE for life's journey without realizing it. Could it be that our SALVATION, our DELIVERANCE, our MIRACLE is presently walking with us but we do not see. The WAY out, the DOOR is open but our spiritual vision is obscured by the circumstances. We see only what is visible to the natural eyes when Jesus is orchestrating His plan in the spiritual realm. Lord, open the eyes of our HEART that we may see what you are doing in us. Help us to know that we do not walk this path alone, that You are with us in each and every step we take. Thank you Jesus that You are our faithful companion. (to be continued).