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Where God Guides God Provides

~ servantone1

JESUS SPEAKING

Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. And He said, “Take nothing for the journey, neither staffs nor bag nor bread nor money; and do not have two tunics apiece. Whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. And whoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet as a testimony against them.” So they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.” (Luke 9: 1 – 6)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

Jesus sent His disciples out into the surrounding communities to preach the gospel message and to heal the sick. They were prohibited from carrying any provisions with them on their journey; no food, no money, and no additional clothing. Thus they were required to rely upon God for the fulfillment of their daily needs. As a consequence, none of them were in want for anything. The Christian principle established through this scripture can be condensed into one simple phrase; “Where God guides, God provides.”

There once lived an old testament prophet named Elijah, who was ordered by God to address King Ahab (an evil ruler.) Elijah spoke, saying, “As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word.” His pronouncement of an impending drought made Elijah a target. In anger, the King sought to murder him. In turn, we read, ‘Then the word of the Lord came to him (Elijah), saying, “Get away from here and turn eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” So he went and did according to the word of the Lord, for he went and stayed by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook.’ Thus, in seclusion his life was preserved.

Like Elijah and the disciples, those who are obedient to God’s calling needn’t worry about the fulfillment of their own needs. As we endeavor to spread the gospel and serve others, the Lord will provide us with everything we require. We need but ask and we will receive the blessings of God. Only He can be trusted; only He can be relied upon. And so in Him the expression is true, “wherever God guides, God provides.”

Lord Heavenly Father, give us the faith required to rely upon You completely. Guide and direct our thoughts and actions, as we minister to others and preach the gospel message. May we never fear, or lack any trust in Your provision. As we continue to walk in Spirit with You Lord, may we have confidence in knowing that wherever You guide, You also provide. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.” God bless all of you!

A New Family

~ servantone1

JESUS SPEAKING

“Then His mother and brothers came to Him, and could not approach Him because of the crowd. And it was told Him by some, who said, “Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see You.” But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.” (Luke 8: 19 – 21)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

As Jesus preached to the masses, His mother and brothers arrived. And yet the thick crowds prevented them from reaching Him. Upon being made aware of their presence, Jesus verbally dismantles the priority of traditional family affiliation. Thus, the importance of biological association is no longer a cause for preference. Instead, a new spiritual family has been established; a family comprised of individuals who not only profess a belief in Jesus Christ, but also implement His teachings into their daily lives. In turn, genuine faith is always accompanied by good works.

Since the beginning, authentic Christianity has consistently been very works oriented. We read in the book of James, “What does it profit my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works is dead.” (James 2: 14 – 17)

When we place our trust in Jesus Christ and receive the Holy Spirit we are reborn into a new family. We become children of the Living God; sons and daughters of the Most High. As brothers and sisters in Christ we are no longer affiliated merely by what we express verbally, but instead, by the works that accompany our confessions of faith. Odedience to God and the teachings of Jesus Christ are physical manifestations of true belief. May we continue to accomplish good works in our community and among the family of believers.

“Lord Heavenly Father, we are truly grateful for Your mercy and grace. As we walk in fellowship with You, may we obey the teachings of Your Son and love our new brothers and sisters. Permit our faithfulness and acts of affection to drive others to the foot of the cross. As we lay down our lives, may you arise in our place; that the gospel message might be preached to all those living in darkness. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.” God bless all of you!

The Most Powerful Witness

~ servantone1

JESUS SPEAKING

Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gaderenes. And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. And he cried out with a loud voice and said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me.” For He had said to him, “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!” Then He asked him, “What is your name?” And he answered, saying, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” Also he begged Him earnestly that he would not send them out of the country. Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. So all the demons begged Him, saying, “Send us to the swine that we may enter them. And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine […] and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea. So those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that had happened. Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine. Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region. And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled. (Mark 5: 1 – 20)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

In this passage we read about a demonically possessed man living an isolated life in a graveyard. No one could subdue him; thus enabling him to abandon his family and friends. The naked man cried out day and night, uttering strange and frightening things. He had also begun cutting his own flesh with sharp stones (a form of self-injury indicative of demonic possession.) Without warning, the suffering man stumbled out of the tombs and met Jesus, who cast out the evil spirits living within him. The man’s sanity was immediately restored. Those who came out from the city to investigate what had occurred saw him “sitting and clothed and in his right mind.” This simple observation was so powerful that they became frightened and begged Jesus to leave their area. Although the restored man yearned to follow the Lord, Jesus commanded him to return home and share his miraculous transformation with his family and friends. A transformed life is the most powerful testimony anyone can offer as evidence for God’s divine presence.

We read in John 12 that Jesus went to Bethany six days before the Passover to dine with Lazarus in his home. Lazarus was the man Jesus had previously raised from the dead; calling him out of the tomb where his body had been lying for many days. We read in verse 9 – 11, “Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He raised from the dead. But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.” A man who had been dead and brought back to life was a walking testament of God’s power and authority. His mere existence was drawing many to the Lord.

Like Lazarus and the demon possessed man, those who have been healed and reborn are living examples of God’s transformational power. He can heal the sick, raise the dead to life, and turn sinners into saints. For those of us who have been healed, the sanity, the purity, and the goodness of our new lives is the most powerful message we have to pass along to others. If we share about the miracle that God has performed in our lives, others will be drawn to Jesus Christ. Our testimony is beautiful, it is powerful, and it is productive.

“Lord Heavenly Father, we praise you for healing our hearts, our minds, and our bodies. You have taken what was dead and brought it back to life again. May we continue to live as committed Christians; reborn and transformed by the power of Your Holy Spirit. May we continue to share our testimony with others; that they might see a miracle in us and be drawn to You. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.” God bless all of you!