Let the Church Do What the Lord Jesus Christ Does

 “The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: The LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: The LORD loveth the righteous: The LORD preserveth the strangers; He relieveth the fatherless and widow: But the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭146‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This is the first of the Hallelujah psalms and is attributed to the prophets Haggai and Zechariah at the dedication of the second temple after the return from exile, completing the last five psalms of the book of psalms in Scripture.  “You open the eyes of the blind, and You fully restore those bent over with shame. You love those who love and honor You. You watch over strangers and immigrants and support the fatherless and widows. But You subvert the plans of the ungodly.”  The Lord Jesus had spoken this at the synagogue, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the Gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”  This is the mandate to the Church today to fulfil what the Lord Jesus spoke then and take the help of the Holy Spirit for this.  Let’s do it.  Amen!

Revelations in Our Quiet Time with Christ

 “but when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it. And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it. But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭4‬:‭32‬-‭34‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Mark wrote, “yet when it springs up and grows, it becomes the largest plant in the garden, with so many large spreading branches, even birds can nest in its shade.” Jesus used many parables such as these as He taught the people, and they learned according to their ability to understand. He never spoke to them without using parables, but would wait until He was alone with His  disciples to explain to them their meanings.”  This parable describes the growth of God’s Kingdom.  It may appear in the beginning as small and insignificant, but it will grow until it becomes the greatest Kingdom of all.  God’s Kingdom is growing on the earth and not diminishing.  God spoke through the prophet Ezekiel, “Lord Yahweh says: “I will take the highest branch from a cedar tree. I will break off from the very top a tender shoot and plant it Myself on a high and lofty mountain. I will plant it on the highest mountain in Israel, where it will put out branches and bear fruit and grow into a stately cedar tree. Every kind of bird will find a home in it. Yes, in the shade of its branches the birds will make their nests. And all the trees of the field will know that I, Yahweh, Am the One Who brings the tall tree low and raises the low tree high, Who withers the green tree and makes the withered tree sprout again. I, Yahweh, have spoken.”  Jesus still delights to mystify those who follow Him, but He waits until we are alone with Him, and then He reveals the wonders of His grace and truth to our hearts.  Let’s spend time alone with our Lord Jesus to receive the mysteries of His Kingdom.  Amen!

His Mighty Power to Raise Christ from the Dead

 “Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And thy dominion endureth throughout all generations. The LORD upholdeth all that fall, And raiseth up all those that be bowed down.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭145‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

David wrote on the greatness of God, “You are the Lord who reigns over your never-ending kingdom through all the ages of time and eternity! You are faithful to fulfill every promise you’ve made. You manifest yourself as kindness in all you do. Weak and feeble ones you will sustain. Those bent over with burdens of shame you will lift up.”  David lived centuries before the Gospel of grace was revealed yet he had a personal revelation of the greatness of God’s grace because of his relationship with Him.  Even though David was king, he knew that it was God Who ruled Israel through him.  When he made mistakes and fell, David repented and turned to God Who picked him up and raised him.  David recognised that it was only the greatness of God Who raised him up from a shepherd boy to being the king of Israel.  In the new covenant, Paul explains the greatness of God, “I pray that you will continually experience the immeasurable greatness of God’s power made available to you through faith. Then your lives will be an advertisement of this immense power as it works through you! This is the mighty power that was released when God raised Christ from the dead and exalted Him to the place of highest honor and supreme authority in the heavenly realm!”  May we never downgrade the greatness of God revealed to us believers through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen!

God’s Love Brings Purpose to Our Existence

 “and to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils: and Simon he surnamed Peter;”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭3‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Mark recorded, “and have authority to heal the sick and to cast out demons. He appointed his Twelve and gave Simon the nickname Peter the Rock.”  These twelve disciples served God’s Kingdom, became apostles or “sent ones” and the Jesus chose seventy more to preach the Gospel.  None of them were fully mature or equipped for the Holy Spirit had not yet come to empower them.  Disciples are raised that they may walk continuously with Jesus; preaching with the genuine love for others preaching the truth of God’s Word and walking in the power to heal and cast out demons.  Today, this is the same that the Lord Jesus requires from His disciples.   Leaders today need to raise up others and not centre their ministry around themselves. The legacy of a spiritual leader is made up of those whom he or she has released and sent forth to proclaim Christ.  Following Jesus means living out the purpose for which He created each one.  By giving Simon the new name “Peter”, Jesus gave him the purpose of his existence, having a strong, rock-like faith, even though He knew Peter would deny Him later!  Such is the love that Jesus has for each one of us that He puts His confidence in us.  Thank You, Lord!

God Always Leads Us Triumphantly in Christ

 “I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: Upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee. It is he that giveth salvation unto kings: Who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful sword. Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, Whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood:”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭144‬:‭9‬-‭11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

David sang this song as he came to face Goliath the giant.  “My God, I will sing You a brand-new song! The harp inside my heart will make music to You! I will sing of You, the One Who gives victory to kings— the One Who rescues David, Your loving servant, from the fatal sword. Deliver me and save me from these dark powers who speak nothing but lies. Their words are pure deceit, and you can’t trust anything they say.”  David had such confidence in God because of his relationship with Him and He remembered God’s deliverance with a thankful heart and declared it.  In the new covenant, the Lord Jesus has told us to be of good cheer because He has conquered through the Cross the evil that besets us and now thanks be to God, He always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.  This is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him Who fills all in all.  Thanks be to God, Who always gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Let’s defeat every evil giant in our life.  Hallelujah!