...of his body. He ran into fires and waters, trying to kill himself. Distraught and helpless, his father brought him to the Apostles. Their prayers for similar types of problems had been answered, but this demon was too much for them. Nothing happened. He took him to Jesus.
Mark 9:23 Jesus said unto him, if thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
"If you can -- if you will," the desperate father said. This dad wanted his son healed, but there was doubt. We doubt, too. Just because Christ is your Savior doesn't mean you never doubt. Remember Thomas? And Peter walked on water until he doubted.
His father cried out with tears. "Lord, I believe. Help thou my unbelief." In his heart -- the flesh -- there was some doubt. This has a happy ending. Jesus cast out the demons. The boy was made whole.
Have you ever been at your wit's end? You can't take any more? Jesus wants you to bring your problems to Him. He can handle them. If He doesn't clear it up, He'll walk you through them. Cast all your cares upon Him for He cares for you.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
God chooses the foolish, the weak, and the base,
...(lowly birth) to confound the world. The wise of the world can't understand how God changes sinners into saints.
1 Corinthians 1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty:
The lost world admires elite births, social status, financial success, power, and recognition. But none of these things can guarantee eternal life.
Psychologists can't understand transformed lives, such as delinquent teenagers becoming successful students and useful citizens. Courts have been amazed at marriages restored and homes reclaimed. Years ago I heard of a spirit-filled preacher who couldn't read. A friend read scripture to him and to his congregation.
Why does God use these kind of people?
1 Corinthians 1:29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
The foolish and weak aren't as apt to glory in themselves but in God.
1 Corinthians 1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty:
The lost world admires elite births, social status, financial success, power, and recognition. But none of these things can guarantee eternal life.
Psychologists can't understand transformed lives, such as delinquent teenagers becoming successful students and useful citizens. Courts have been amazed at marriages restored and homes reclaimed. Years ago I heard of a spirit-filled preacher who couldn't read. A friend read scripture to him and to his congregation.
Why does God use these kind of people?
1 Corinthians 1:29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
The foolish and weak aren't as apt to glory in themselves but in God.
Why does God want your body?
...To begin with, the believer's body is God's temple, and He wants to use it for His glory. But Paul wrote that the body is also God's tool and weapon.
Romans 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
God wants to use the members of the body as tools for building His kingdom and weapons for fighting His enemies.
God used the rod in Moses' hand and conquered Egypt. He used the sling in David's hand to defeat the Philistines. He used the mouths and tongues of the prophets. Paul's dedicated feet carried him from city to city as he proclaimed the Gospel. The Apostle John's eyes saw visions of the future, his ears heard God's message, and his fingers wrote it all down in a book that we can read.
Why should we yield to God? A three word summary: Favor -- Freedom -- Fruit.
Romans 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
God wants to use the members of the body as tools for building His kingdom and weapons for fighting His enemies.
God used the rod in Moses' hand and conquered Egypt. He used the sling in David's hand to defeat the Philistines. He used the mouths and tongues of the prophets. Paul's dedicated feet carried him from city to city as he proclaimed the Gospel. The Apostle John's eyes saw visions of the future, his ears heard God's message, and his fingers wrote it all down in a book that we can read.
Why should we yield to God? A three word summary: Favor -- Freedom -- Fruit.
We don't know what was Paul's thorn in the flesh,
...but he asked the Lord three times to remove it. God gave him a message of grace that stayed with him.
2 Corinthians 12:9 And He said unto me, "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, will I rather glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
If God's grace is sufficient to save us and strengthen us in our times of suffering, He permits us to become weak so that we might receive His strength.
Paul learned that his thorn in the flesh was a gift from God. What a strange gift.
He had to accept that gift and allow God to accomplish His purpose. God wanted to keep him from being exalted above measure, and this was His way of accomplishing it.
Whenever you are going through suffering, spend extra time in the Word of God, and you can be sure that He will speak to you. He always has a special message for His children when they are afflicted.
2 Corinthians 12:9 And He said unto me, "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, will I rather glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
If God's grace is sufficient to save us and strengthen us in our times of suffering, He permits us to become weak so that we might receive His strength.
Paul learned that his thorn in the flesh was a gift from God. What a strange gift.
He had to accept that gift and allow God to accomplish His purpose. God wanted to keep him from being exalted above measure, and this was His way of accomplishing it.
Whenever you are going through suffering, spend extra time in the Word of God, and you can be sure that He will speak to you. He always has a special message for His children when they are afflicted.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Ben Franklin to the Constitutional Congress 1787
In the beginning of the contest with Great Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayers in this room for divine protection. Our prayers were heard, and they were graciously answered... Have we now forgotten this powerful friend? Or do we no longer need his assistance?
I have lived a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth: "that God governs the affairs of man." And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid?
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God made America the greatest nation in the world. May I never take it for granted. Our country needs prayers more than ever. Happy birthday, America. God bless the USA
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