Jesus and New Realities

Don Merritt's avatarLife Project Blog

Matthew 10:32-42

As Jesus wraps up His instructions to His disciples before sending them on their mission to bring in the harvest, He moves into some disturbing territory. Remember that He has just told them of the opposition they will face, and given them some comfort using the lowly sparrow as an example; now He sums up the point He has made:

Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven. (10:32-33)

I have a suspicion that these words were ringing in Peter’s head on that fateful night when He denied knowing Jesus not once, but three times, as they might ring in our minds from time to time. The disciples are being sent out to preach the Kingdom and Jesus; there will be pressure to keep quiet, and…

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Your Harvest in Due Season

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If you’re experiencing a problem that’s keeping you from sleep,

remember, then, God’s promises, so trustworthy and deep.

In following the Lord, if you faint not, in due season you’ll reap

from the seed of God’s Word planted in your heart, a harvest that’s steep.

P. A. Oltrogge

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.”  Galatians 6:9 KJV

“It is the blessing of the Lord that makes rich, and He adds no sorrow to it.” Proverbs 10:22 NASB

Biblical advice from Kenneth and Gloria Copeland…Let the Word enter your ears, keep your eyes upon it, let it go into your heart and out of your mouth.  www.kcm.org

Also:
http://www.jerrysavelle.org

I Was Wondering

The truth is…wondering is wavering…

Instead, God’s Word be favoring.

Then, when you’re no longer wavering,

your victory you’ll be savoring.

For in favoring God’s Word over wondering,

we prevent the enemy from plundering

that which God has already sent our way.

God is watching over His Word to perform it each day.

P. A. Oltrogge

“Then the Lord said to him, ‘You have seen well, for I am watching over My word to perform it.'” Jeremiah 1:12 NASB

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.” James 1:5-7 KJV

“But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples were saying to him, ‘We have seen the Lord!’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.'”

“After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then He said to Thomas, ‘Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believe.’ Thomas answered and said to Him, ‘My Lord and My God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.'” John 20:24-29 NASB

“Jesus said to him, ‘All things are possible to him who believes.’ Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, ‘Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!'” Mark 9:23-24 NKJV

“…But the just shall live by his faith.'” Habakkuk 2:4 NKJV

“For in it (the Gospel of Christ) the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, the just shall live by faith.'” Romans 1:17 NKJV

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23 NKJV

“…according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.” Ephesians 3:11-12

Encouraging teaching/testimonies at:
http://www.awmi.net

Count on Faith, Your Servant

As a Christian believer, faith is “at work” for me,
even if I don’t immediately feel or see it to be.
After issuing a prayer that is heartfelt and fervent,
I can always count on faith to be my “faithful” servant.

Jesus spoke to the fig tree, then went on His way,
knowing that poor fig tree had seen its final day.
Likewise, as disciples, in “speaking to” matters at hand,
we can expect things to respond to our authority and command.

So, when doubt tries to discredit the promises God has said,
remember that your active faith is “at work” instead.
Faith is our servant, the invisible working force;
and the finisher of it is Christ, its author and source.

P. A. Oltrogge

“…and immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?'” Matthew 14:31 NKJV

“…looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith….”
from Hebrews 12:2 NKJV

“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 means hurt you.”
Luke 10:19 NKJV

“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that overcomes the world–our faith.” 1 John 5:4

An Invitation from Jesus, the Good Shepherd

porchofthelord's avatarThe Porch of the Lord

“Again therefore Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life.'” John 8:12

I invite you to permit Me…to be your Good Shepherd,
I’ve seen your sometimes unsuccessful tries.
I know and see ahead the highest and best pathways
In answer to every one of My children’s cries.

When lives draw to a close, I’m surely there–
And the Way to enter heaven’s gate, for you, I’ll be.
But don’t simply think that is all that I have to give,
For your welfare here and now means so much to Me.

Just as an earthly parent wants to see that all goes well
For their beloved children as they learn and grow,
So I desire that to an even greater extent for you;
Therefore, look to Me for the goodness…

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Overcoming Life’s Trials, Relying on God’s Goodness Expectantly

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Thank You, Lord, for my answer to prayer–
Your faithfulness to Your Word, and to me.
I believe I received when I prayed,
so that proof, I’m expectant to see.

P. A. Oltrogge

“For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatsoever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” Words of Jesus in Mark 11:23-24

“And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”
Hebrews 6:11-13

Good Samaritans, through prayer

porchofthelord's avatarThe Porch of the Lord

Supporting financially or serving in various Christian outreaches in our world are important ways of acting as good Samaritans of today. Some things are occurring in hard to reach areas or situations, and we may not all be able to physically go to areas where aid is needed, so may this serve to remind that earnest prayer is a powerful and vital way of being a good Samaritan, too.

Jesus told the story of a man left half dead,
Having fallen among thieves, who stripped and beat him, Jesus said.
There was no one to help the man until a priest came by;
But he saw him and continued on, not caring if the man would die.
After that, another, called a Levite, came upon the site,
But he, too, hurried on, with no regard to this man’s plight.
Then came a certain Samaritan, who, despite his journey’s goal,
Forgot…

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Seated in the Heavenly Places

porchofthelord's avatarThe Porch of the Lord

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.  These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand, in the heavenly places, FAR ABOVE all rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come.  And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”  Ephesians 1:18-23

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Protection in These Times

“The horse is prepared against the day of battle; but safety is of the Lord.” Proverbs 21:31

an excerpt from “The Power of Jesus’ Blood” February, 2017

Surely, the blood of Jesus “applied” today protects against adverse things;
and every Christian can claim that blood covering for the safety and security it brings.

See also archived messages:

“God’s All-Encompassing Grace” June, 2014

“A Psalm of Security” February, 2015

“Under His Wings” May, 2017 (Consider the size of our God!)

“An Ark So Strong” February, 2015

“Heritage of Protection” July, 2017