Jesus is asking you!

SAUL,SAUL, WHY ARE YOU PERSECUTING ME?

5/6/2020

Jesus struck Saul on the road to Damascus with a bright light. Saul got papers from the Jewish authorities and was going to Damascus to persecute the Christians, he witnessed the stoning of Stephen and was guarding the cloths of the people who were stoning Stephen. Jesus intercepted Saul and asks this question " Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" and he said " who are you Lord?" Then the Lord said " I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads." Saul was a pharisee, learnt the old testament under the teachings of Gamaliael a highly respected teacher of old testament. Even though he was well versed in the word of God, he missed Jesus Christ' coming, He had a zeal for God but it was misplaced. We may be well learned, familiar with the word of God and if we are not careful, we may miss our destiny. Saul that he was protecting God's plan but in he was hurting it. If our zeal is misplaced, we will hurt God's plan for ourselves and others around us. Saul did not realize that he is hurting God's people. There are many today hurt God's people and don't even know it. Jesus said in John 16:2 They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. Yes that time is coming , people are beginning to dislike true gospel being preached and they only want to hear messages that are not convicting or correcting or rebuking. They like messages that tickle their ears like only love, grace and mercy not repentance, sin, hell or moral living. There are times when catholic church persecuted and even put to death who preached contrary to their way of belief, Even today many major denominations denounce nondenominational churches for their way of belief at the same time many new churches preach gospel contrary to the word of God. Christians need to be like the Bereans mentioned by Paul in his epistle , we need to examine preachers, churches and their message with the word of God. Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 1 Thessalonians 5:21 Test all things; hold fast what is good.
Saul was persecuting Christians but Jesus said that Saul was persecuting Him. So do not be sad or angry because we are persecuted for Christ' name. Jesus said in Matthew 5:10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. John 15:20 Remember the word that I said to you, " A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. 1 Peter 4:14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. So anyone who persecute you for Christ name is not persecuting you but they are persecuting the Lord Jesus Christ.
Remember: Matthew 5:12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad , for great is your reward in heaven, for they so persecuted the prophets who were before you.

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Why do you call Me'Lord, Lord and not do the things which I say?

5/1/2020

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In Luke 6:46 Jesus asks this question. Many modern Christians do religious rituals regularly. They go to church every Sunday, sing songs, they close their eyes, wave their hands, sway their bodies, even jump up and down and dance. They shout alleluia, praise the Lord, glory to God and so on. If anyone ask them about their welfare , they say 'oh, brother or sister I am blessed. But from Monday to Saturday, there is no difference between their life and that of an unbeliever, some times worse than that of an unbeliever. Jesus said in Matthew 7:21 " not every one who says to Me,' Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but who does the will of My Father in heaven.
John 14:15 , John 14:23-24 If you love Me, keep my commandments. John 15:10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. 1 John 2:3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.
1 John 2:6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
What did Jesus commanded us to do?
1) Matthew 5:16 let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
2) Do not swear Matthew 5:33 Tell the truth.
3) Do not lie Matthew 5:37
4)Do not commit adultery even in your heart. Matthew 5:27-28
5) Do not murder or even curse your brother Matthew 5:21-24
6) Do not divorce except for adultery Matthew 5:31-32
7) Give others double of what they asked for Matthew 5:38-42
8) Love your enemies Matthew 5:44
9)Do not do charitable deed before others Matthew 6:1-3
10) Do not pray like the hypocrites Matthew 6:5-13
11) Forgive as God forgave us Matthew 6:14-15, 18:22-35
12)Do not fast for the world to see Matthew 6:16-18
13) Do not serve God and the world Matthew 6:24
14) Do not worry Matthew 6:25-34
15) Deny ourselves and take up the cross
16) Have Faith Matthew 17:20-21,16:24,21-21-22, Mark 9:23
17) Serve others Matthew 20:25-28, 23: 11.
18) Do not be called 'Rabbi' or ' Father.' Matthew 23: 7-10
19) No idle words Matthew 12:36
20) Watch and Pray Matthew 26:41, Mark 13:33.
21) Pray in Jesus name. John 16:23, 26.
22) love others like Christ loves you. John 15:12.
23) do not exalt yourselves. Luke 18; 10-14
Jesus' commandments are harder than the old testament laws. It is far more easier to pay back evil for evil than to love your enemies.The advantage for us is that we have the Holy Spirit living inside of us and He enable us to do the impossible. Christians don't pay much attention to His commandments nowadays , as they claim that they are saved by grace and not by works and so they don't have to do anything and go on live their life as they please. There is more divorces in the church than in the world, Churches condoning adultery, fornication ( unmarried couple living together), Homosexuality and some churches even ordain them as pastors and bishops. There are cheating,lies, greed, pride arrogance and corrupt speeches in the church and every one wants to be in a leadership position and don't want to serve. There is no fear of God in the sanctuary during worship, prayer and sermon time.
We need to examine ourselves and repent from our wicked ways , so that God can hear our prayers and heal us and our land.
Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 7:24-25
Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

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Why do you think evil in your hearts?

5/16/2019

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Mathew 9:4 But Jesus knowing their thoughts said,
Matthew 12:25 But Jesus knew their thoughts
Luke 5:22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts
Luke 6:8 But He knew their thoughts,
Luke 9:47 And Jesus, Perceiving the thought of their heart
Jesus came to earth as man and He was still God and He knew what was in the minds of men. Few times when the pharisees plotted against Him, because it was not God's determined time He disappeared from the crowd. Matthew 12: 14-15 Then the pharisees went out and plotted against Him, How they might destroy Him. But when Jesus knew it , He withdrew from there.
John 6:61 But there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. Jesus knew peter will deny Him , Judas will betray Him and He will die for the sins of the world. Hebrews 4:13 And there is no creature hidden from His, sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. God knows what we need, what we want and even our thoughts. we may have vile thoughts and may hid it from the world but knows them all So no need to hide it from God and think that we can fool Him. Zephaniah 1:12 " And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and punish the men who are settled in complacency, who say in their heart , ' The Lord will not do good, nor will He do evil.'
2 Chronicles 6:30 then hear from heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive, and give to everyone according to all his ways, whose heart you know( for You alone know the hearts of the sons of men) Jeremiah 17:10 I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to ways , according to the fruit of his doings. Luke 16:15 And He said to them, " You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
Psalms 44:21 Would not God search this out? for He knows the secrets of the heart. Jesus said if you think adulterous thought in your mind, you have committed adultery. If you have evil thoughts, confess to God and repent of it and He'll clean it. Unconfessed and continuing in sin is a hindrance to your prayer and your blessings.

Remember "For from within out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornication, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man."

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Who do you say that I am?

1/26/2019

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Mark 8:27-29 & Matthew 16:15
Jesus asked His disciples these two questions. First who do the people say that I am? The disciples answered Him, " John the Baptist, but some say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets." People today say different things about Jesus, people say that he is one of the prophets, he is one of the many gods, he is one of the wise men lived on this planet,some don't believe that Jesus ever existed, some say he is a fraud, some he is a false prophet and so on. We Christians believe that He is God came as a human to die for the sins of the world.The people were calling Him Rabbi or teacher, The Pharisees called Him a man costing out by the ruler of demons( Matthew 9:34), Pharisees called Him a glutton, and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners(Matthew 11:19, Luke 7:34). Then Jesus asked His disciples Mark 8:29 " But who do you say that I am? Peter answered and said to Him, " you are the Christ." Christ means "The Anointed One" "The Messiah". Jesus is asking us today the same question. As believers and followers of Christ , who do we think Jesus is? Do we really believe that He is God, part of Trinity, The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit? Do we believe that He created everything, came from heaven and became a man born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, persecuted, suffered, crucified, died , buried and on the third day rose from the dead and went back to heaven , seated on the right hand of The Father and will come back again to judge the living and the dead? or we think like the unbelievers that Jesus is a wise man, a rabbi lived a good life and taught good way of life. Jesus said I came to seek and save the lost. There is only one way to God, that is through Jesus. Jesus said i John 14:6 " I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me".
We have decide what we believe, and ask the question ourselves.

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Do you believe that I am able to do this?

1/26/2019

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Matthew 9:28 " do you believe that I am able to do this?
Two blind men followed Jesus and cried out to Him, crying out and saying, " son of David, have mercy on us!" The Jesus asked them the question. Jesus knew what was in their hearts and still asked them, he wanted to hear them say the words. They said to Him, " yes, Lord." He touched their eyes , saying " According to your faith let it be to you." They were healed. God expects us to speak the words of affirmation, even though He is all powerful, all knowing and He is every where, He wants us to believe, have faith in what He has already determined by His providence. The word of God says without faith it is impossible to please Him. Jesus has restored the authority that Adam lost to Satan in the garden of Eden. Satan did not gain power at the garden, but gained authority to rule the earth. Adam was given authority over the earth but surrendered it to Satan when he listened to him and sinned. Jesus restored the authority back to us. Jesus said in Luke 10:20 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any shall by any means hurt you. Authority is the permission to use power, The policeman uses his authority given by the Government, which has the power. Satan was using the authority given to him by Adam to crush the humans. Now he lost his authority and as believers, we have authority given back to us by Jesus Christ.Jesus said in Matthew 16:19 "And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." We need to speak the words of God, because they have power and must have faith to believe in Jesus. The word of God says in Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessings and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;
It is our choice we can choose life or death and speak faith and life.

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What do you want Me to do?

1/26/2019

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What do you want me to do? Matthew 20:32 Mark 10:51.
A blind man heard Jesus and cried out to Him. Jesus who being the very God knew what the blind man wants, but He asked this question " what do you want me to do?. Jesus wants the blind man to say what he wanted. Even today people ask God everyday for many things but God wants them to be specific. God knows everything even before we ask Him, but still He wants us to keep on asking, keep on knocking and keep on seeking. The answer from God may come immediately, or delayed or may be no. we must know what we are asking God for, Why we are asking a particular request, we must know whether it is the will of God. In this case we know it is the will of God for that man to see.The blind man expressed his wish to see and Jesus healed him. The blind man had these qualities that enabled him to receive answer to his prayer. The blind man was persistent, he did not care about the people who were discouraging him from reaching Jesus, His focus was on Jesus and his request was to Jesus,He had faith in Jesus and believed that Jesus can heal him. Bible says in Hebrews !!:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
Today Jesus is asking you the same question, " What do you want me to do?'. What are you expecting Jesus to do for you? Are you focused on Jesus? Are you persistently asking Jesus? DO you have the faith that is necessary to receive anything from God?
Meditate on this.

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