Show Me The Power!

 Happy Sunday!

"For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s POWER."(1 Corinthians 4:20 NLT).

We Christians are expected to walk by Faith, while the world walks by sight and by the flesh. Signs and Wonders are given by God to get the attention of the world.  John 6:2 says, "A huge crowd kept following him wherever he went, because they saw his miraculous signs as he healed the sick."(NLT).  Don't miss this!  When Jesus healed them ALL, word got out and multitudes came!  Don't think this ended with Jesus either!  Acts 8:5-6 says, "Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, HEARING, and SEEING the MIRACLES which he did."(KJV).

In Acts 1:7-9, "Jesus said, "It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.  But ye shall receive POWER, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth". And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight."(KJV).

"Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows NO Favoritism.  In every nation he ACCEPTS those who fear him and DO what is RIGHT. This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel—that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You know what happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee, after John began preaching his message of baptism. And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with POWER. Then Jesus went around DOING GOOD and HEALING all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him."(Acts 10:34-38 NLT).

What has this got to do with us?  Great question!  I'm so glad you asked!  The early Believer's were called Christians because they went about doing what Jesus had done.  He has given us His Power and Authority and He expects us to be His agents in the world!  Just as he told the Disciples, He tells us through His Word, "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give."(Matthew 10:8 KJV).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

No BOTOX Needed

 Happy Sunday!

"How wonderful to be WISE, to analyze and interpret things. Wisdom lights up a person’s face, softening its harshness."(Ecclesiastes 8:1 NLT).

Have you ever seen someone and thought, "They've had a hard life"?  Have you ever seen a person who is happy now, but used to be sad?  Sure you have.  You may have even said, "Something is different about you! You look younger!"  The Voice Translation says it like this, "Wisdom brightens the countenance of the face, and SOFTENS hard lines etched in the face."(Ecclesiastes 8:1).  No need for BOTOX when Wisdom is available! LOL!

Wisdom is "the right use or exercise of knowledge".(Websters Dictionary 1828).  Don't miss this!  Wisdom is knowing how to properly use the knowledge you have.  Hosea 4:6 says, "My people are being destroyed because they don’t know me."(NLT).  Knowing God is the most important thing.  Ecclesiastes 12:13 says, "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man."(KJV).

Dr. Bill Winston has a prayer on his web site that includes these phrases, "always in the right place at the right time, with the right information and the right understanding".  Read that again if you need to!  That's Wisdom!  That should be our prayer.  We want to be open to learn, and capable of using what we learn!  We should be the BEST in everything we do!  Daniel is a great Biblical example.  The Word says, "And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them TEN TIMES BETTER than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm."(Daniel 1:20 KJV).

Proverbs 4:7 says, "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding."(KJV).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Fighting to Keep Your Healing

 Happy Sunday!

"This is what the Lord says: “Bad things will happen to those who put their trust in people. Bad things will happen to those who depend on human strength. That is because they have stopped trusting the Lord."(Jeremiah 17:5 Easy-to-Read Version).

The Gospel is always Good News!  There comes a time when we need a reminder that there are some bad things in the world!  The old saints used to say we won't always walk around on "flower beds of ease"!  Brother Kenneth Hagin used to say, "Blessings and Good Things weren't just going to fall on us like ripe cherries falling from a tree!  We have our part to play in the grand scheme of things.  We are in a battle.  The Apostle Paul encouraged us, "Take your share of suffering as a good soldier of Jesus Christ, just as I do; and as Christ’s soldier, do not let yourself become tied up in worldly affairs, for then you cannot SATISFY the one who has enlisted you in his army.  Follow the Lord’s rules for doing his work, just as an athlete either follows the Rules or is DISQUALIFIED and wins no prize. Work hard like a farmer who gets paid well if he raises a large crop. Think over these three illustrations, and may the Lord help you to understand how they apply to you."(2 Timothy 2:3-7 Living Bible).

Don't miss this!  Suffering for the Gospel doesn't mean we have to accept everything that comes our way!  Acts 10:38 says, "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing GOOD, and Healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him."(KJV).  Jesus healed everyone, and the Bible tells us those that were sick were oppressed by the Devil!  God didn't put sickness on people to teach them anything!  The Devil puts sickness on people to "steal, kill, and destroy" them.(John 10:10). We are not the sick trying to get healed, we are the well fighting to keep our healing!  Jesus already paid the price for our Healing!

Isaiah 53:4-5 says, "He suffered and endured great pain for us, but we thought his suffering was punishment from God. He was wounded and crushed because of our sins; by taking our punishment, he made us COMPLETELY WELL."(CEV).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

No Waste

 Happy Sunday!

"So, my dear brothers, since future Victory is SURE, be strong and steady, always abounding in the Lord’s work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever wasted as it would be if there were no resurrection."(1 Corinthians 15:58 Living Bible).

Have you ever felt like your time has been wasted?  Sure you have!  A contractor didn't show up or complete a job.  A co-worker or teammate didn't do their portion of the assignment.  It's happened to most of us!  You may even feel you wasted time in some relationships.  BUT the Apostle Paul gives us GOOD News!  Nothing we ever do for the Lord is wasted!  

Hebrews 6:10 says, "God doesn’t miss anything. He knows perfectly well all the love you’ve shown him by helping needy Christians, and that you keep at it."(Message).  Galatians 6:7 says, "Make no mistake: God can’t be mocked. What you give is what you get. What you sow, you harvest."(Voice).  Don't miss this!  We tend to think of this in the negative, but let's be positive. ALL the GOOD that you have sown into the lives of others you will harvest.  Bishop Otis A. Eanes of the Illinois Southeast Jurisdiction of the Church of God in Christ used to say, "People don't have to do anything for you!"  If someone is kind to you and shares what they have with you, that's a Blessing!  

Matthew 6:2-4 says, "So, when you do good to other people, don’t hire a trumpeter to go in front of you—like those play-actors in the synagogues and streets who make sure that men admire them. Believe me, they have had all the reward they are going to get! No, when you give to charity, don’t even let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be secret. Your Father who knows all secrets will REWARD you."(Phillips).

Love and prayers, Cynthia