Thursday, June 29, 2023

2+2=4

John 1:12  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Does 2+2=4? You would say “sure” and yes you are right. But what if I changed it up a bit. What if I ask you “do you believe that 2+2=4? Again you would say yes! This is simple because we all know the answer or do we?  I looked on the internet about proof that 2+2=4 I was really confused with some of the answers I read. I’ll not take the time to confuse you with something so simple. But it reminds me of how confusing some make the salvation of the Bible. This Bible makes salvation simple to be understood. Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. All one has to do is know they are “lost.” Have you ever made the statement “I don’t understand the Bible?” What we don’t understand we stay away from. In John 1:12 we read 

Believe + Receive= Become! To them that BELIEVE, but there’s more; as many as RECEIVE

Jesus = BECOME the sons of God. History proves this. Those who believed then received were willing to spend the rest of their lives proclaiming Jesus as Savior. They did it without any payoff from a human point of view. They faced a life of hardship. They often went without food, slept exposed to the elements, were ridiculed, beaten, imprisoned. And finally, most of them were executed in torturous ways. For what? For good intentions? No, because they were convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that they had seen Jesus Christ alive from the dead.” These disciples were in the unique position to know for a fact whether Jesus had returned from the dead. They saw Him, they touched Him, they talked with Him, they ate with Him. They knew He wasn’t a hallucination or a legend. And knowing the truth, they were willing to die for Him. It’s simple, ask yourself do I believe? Then ask yourself, did I receive? If so then you became. The proof is in the life you live after you received.  

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new

Whoever is a believer in Christ is a new creation.  A new person. If you don’t go to Church, how will you grow? You may believe but if you have never received then that may be why! It’s and old illustration and has been used many times to explain the truth of receiving. Here is a $100 bill I want to give you. It is then handed to you, it’s yours, it’s free but if you never receive (take it from me) it never becomes yours. Believing is a nice thing but until one receives it never becomes yours “But as many as received him, to them gave he

Wednesday, June 28, 2023

Leading Others


Our sinful habits do hurt those who follow us.

In John 21 we read of the impact that Peter had on the other disciples. If you remember when Mary went and found the tomb where Jesus’s body had been laid, and saw that it was empty. Where did she run to? She ran to Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved. Mary went too Peter. Why? Because of the impact Peter had in her life. Now we read in John 21:2  There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.

John 21:3  Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. Here we read of 6 men that follow Peter without question. Including Peter that’s 7 men, there were only 4 other disciples that didn’t follow Peter that night. Later that night the Lord shows up on the shore. Peter jumps overboard and swims to shore and the others follow. John 21:7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.

John 21:8 And the other disciples came in a little ship;

Jesus tells them to bring the fish to where He’s at.   

John 21:10  Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.

Look who takes leadership  

John 21:11  Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes,

After they have eaten, watch what the Lord does.  

John 21:15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. Why is the Lord spending so much time with Peter? Because the Lord knows how much impact Peter has on the other disciples. Impact Peter, and the others will be impacted by Peter. The responsibility of spiritual growth of others is laid on Peter. The Lord charged Peter, feed my lambs verse 15 then the Lord charged Peter to feed my sheep verses 16&17. Now what is interesting is that the word “sheep” is not mentioned again in the Bible. The Lord's sheep are to be fed; RU being fed? Because you my friend are leading and feeding others in the right direction or either the wrong direction.  


Monday, June 26, 2023

Opportunity to See

 On June 24 I made this statement “seeing is believing.” If you Remember the two disciples ran to the tomb where Jesus had been buried. Mary had told them it was empty and they went to see for themselves. Well here’s Thomas in the same chapter and this is what he says. John 20:25 (KJV) The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he (Thomas) said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.

Well Thomas got the opportunity to see 

John 20:26 (KJV) And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the 

, and said, Peace be unto you.

John 20:27 (KJV) Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

John 20:28 (KJV)  And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

John 20:29 (KJV)   Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

So my question is, is seeing believing?

Opportunity

On June 24 I made this statement “seeing is believing.” If you Remember the two disciples ran to the tomb where Jesus had been buried. Mary had told them it was empty and they went to see for themselves. Well here’s Thomas in the same chapter and this is what he says. John 20:25 (KJV) The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he (Thomas) said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.

Well Thomas got the opportunity to see 

John 20:26 (KJV) And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the 

, and said, Peace be unto you.

John 20:27 (KJV) Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

John 20:28 (KJV)  And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

John 20:29 (KJV)   Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

So my question is, is seeing believing?