Month: February 2025

Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’ ¹⁶ And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them. Mark 10

¹⁵ Jesus once again rebuked the disciples, for turning away those who brought their little children to be blessed by Him. Many parents today don’t think of blessing, or of having their children blessed, but Jesus blessed little children. He made time to impart something to them and showed tenderness and care for the young. Obviously we need wisdom for this, but parents can certainly bless their own children.

Isaac was tricked into blessing Jacob in place of Esau, perhaps according to the will of God, but his words were significant when he discovered what he’d done.

³³ Isaac trembled violently and said, ‘Who was it, then, that hunted game and brought it to me? I ate it just before you came and I BLESSED HIM – AND INDEED HE SHALL BE BLESSED!’ Genesis 27

Isaac knew that the words he’d spoken had power to bless and they could never be withdrawn. He’d elevated Jacob above his brother and reversed the natural order of inheritance by the power of his blessing.

³⁷ Isaac answered Esau, ‘I have made him lord over you and have made all his relatives his servants, and I HAVE SUSTAINED HIM WITH GRAIN AND NEW WINE. So what can I possibly do for you, my son?’ Genesis 27

The next part of Mark chapter 10 deals with the visit of the Rich young man, seeking counsel from the Lord. He told Jesus, perhaps a bit self-righteously, that he’d obeyed the law since his youth. But then the Lord touched something very dear to this young man’s heart.

²¹ Jesus looked at him and loved him. ‘One thing you lack,’ he said. ‘Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. THEN COME, follow me.’

²² At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. Mark 10

Jesus sent some away, back to their homes, but He told this man to sell up and then come and follow Him. The sacrifice seems to have been too great for him because when he left Jesus he was sad. May the Lord give us grace in every situation to choose Him above the things of this life, which will all pass with time.

May the Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.

’He does all things well’. Mark 7:37

³⁰They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, ³¹ because he was teaching his disciples. Mark 9

We saw yesterday that the Lord consciously took time away from the crowds to be alone with His disciples and tell them what lay ahead for Him and them in Jerusalem. The Lord chose to reveal what would be a very sudden change of circumstance to His followers, He didn’t want them to be caught completely unaware of all that would soon occur. The Lord still wants to share His heart and open the eyes of those who walk with Him, especially concerning future events.

³⁵ Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, ‘Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.’ Mark 9

While the Lord was sharing about His future death and resurrection the disciples began to discuss who was the greatest among them, which I suppose is still typical of human nature. Jesus not only told them that the Kingdom of God was totally opposite to the thinking of this world, but demonstrated it by taking a little child in His arms.

³⁶ He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, ³⁷ ‘Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.’ Mark 9

Whoever welcomes the smallest and the least in the Name of the Lord welcomes the Lord Himself. Then He goes on to correct them regarding another man who was using His Name, but was not one of the disciples.

³⁸ ‘Teacher,’ said John, ‘we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.’ Mark 9

The beloved disciple, John, wanted to protect Jesus’ Name from being used by outsiders, but Jesus told John not to restrict anyone using His Name to help others in need. The Name of the Lord carries authority, even by those who may not be one of our group or our church. God wants that Name released all across the earth and the enemy wants to prevent this at all costs. God wants unity in His Name, while the enemy seeks to divide and keep us separated.

³⁹ ‘Do not stop him,’ Jesus said. ‘For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, ⁴⁰ for whoever is not against us is for us. ⁴¹ Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward. Mark 9

Jesus’ teaching regularly contradicted the disciples viewpoint, He wanted to shift their way of thinking and this still happened after His resurrection e.g. Peter’s reluctance to go to the house of Cornelius. Acts 10 The Lord still wants and needs to change our thinking in these days, His Kingdom is going to bring in a new day on this earth.

May the Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.

‘He does all things well’. Mark 7:37

⁹ THIS IS HOW GOD SHOWED HIS LOVE AMONG US: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 1 John 4

Jesus, the incarnate Son of God, LIVED AMONG US AND NOW HE LIVES IN EACH OF US BY HIS SPIRIT. Selah, consider this! God is not distant, nor uncaring, though that’s how this world often tries to paint Him.

Jesus only took the three disciples, Peter, James and John, with Him unto the Mount of Transfiguration and He told them not to tell anyone what had happened there. It must have been difficult for them to remain silent after such an encounter, to not tell their friends what they’d seen and heard. We may also be shown things that are not for public consumption, things that the Lord has entrusted to us for this time. Be blessed with the revelations and wait for God’s timing to release them.

⁹ As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. ¹⁰ They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what ‘rising from the dead’ meant. Mark 9

Jesus initially shared His coming death and resurrection with just the three disciples closest to Him on the mountain top. They had to climb up and be with Him, just like Moses, to have that revelation. He may be calling some of us to come apart and be alone with Him, to get understanding of what lies ahead.

³⁰ They left that place and passed through Galilee. JESUS DID NOT WANT ANYONE TO KNOW WHERE THEY WERE, ³¹ BECAUSE HE WAS TEACHING HIS DISCIPLES. He said to them, ‘The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.’ ³² But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it. Mark 9

The Lord withdrew from the crowds so that He could give His disciples understanding of what lay ahead for Him and them. God wants to impart personal things to all of us; this was the larger body of His followers. These words may vary in degrees of importance, but He still has important things to say to all of us, when we’re in His presence. I believe it’s significant and comforting that the Lord wanted His followers to know what was about to happen. He still wants to share future truths and personal encouragements with us, to help us in the days to come.

May the Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.

‘He does all things well.’ Mark 7:37

 

³ Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate.’ 1 Samuel 16

The Lord told Samuel to stop mourning for Saul, whom He had rejected and go to Jesse of Bethlehem and anoint one of his sons as the next king of Israel. Samuel wasn’t shown who the next king would be, he had to go and stand with Jesse and his family. There may well be times when we have to step out in obedience to the Lord and go to the place the Spirit directs us without knowing what’s going to happen next. There may be a safeguard in this, because we can’t tell others what the Lord’s going to do before we get there.

Samuel actually went in the guise of offering a sacrifice to do the Lord’s will, so that Saul wouldn’t try to stop him from anointing a new king. God may require us to be silent about what He’s told us to do, so that it will only be revealed in His time. The enemy always wants to prevent the plan of God, so there’s wisdom in keeping our own council until God releases us to share.

⁶ When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, ‘Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.’

⁷ But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’ 1 Samuel 16

What began next was a process of elimination, God rejected each brother in turn. God may choose to lead us by closing doors and options until only one possibility remains. This may seem bewildering but God eventually led Samuel through this process to the one He had chosen. The youngest son hadn’t even been invited to join the others, he was the least likely candidate, but He was God’s choice.

Samuel said, ‘Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.’

¹² So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features.

Then the Lord said, ‘Rise and anoint him; this is the one.’ 1 Samuel 16

David’s fine appearance was noted, his good points were highlighted for us. We may see some good points that attract us to move in a certain direction, they can be God’s confirmation that it’s the right option for us. But the clincher was that once David was anointed the Spirit of God came upon him.

¹³ So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.

If God is in something we should look for His confirmation that we’re on the right path. He came upon the young David in power, something noticeable occurred once Samuel chose him.

May the Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.

‘He does all things well.’ Mark 7:37

 

³⁷ People were overwhelmed with amazement. ‘HE HAS DONE EVERYTHING WELL,’ they said. ‘He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.’ Mark 7

³⁷ for they were overcome with utter amazement. Again and again they said, “EVERYTHING HE DOES IS WONDERFUL; he even corrects deafness and stammering!” Mark 7, The Living Bible, TLB

Jesus had just healed a deaf and mute man and the crowd were amazed and exclaimed, ‘HE DOES EVERYTHING WELL’. Excellence is a mark of God’s hand in any given situation and Christians should seek to be like their Lord to the best of our ability. Many people set the bar low and have an, ‘it will do’, approach. That wasn’t what people thought when they had encountered Jesus. No, they said, ‘HE DOES EVERYTHING WELL’. Jesus was a STAND OUT PERSON. Parents are always proud when their children do well as it reflects upon them and the whole family.

⁵ Then will the eyes of the blind be opened
    and THE EARS OF THE DEAF UNSTOPPED. 
⁶ Then will the lame leap like a deer,
    and THE MUTE TONGUE SHOUT FOR JOY.
Water will gush forth in the wilderness
    and streams in the desert. Isaiah 35

Jesus wasn’t just meeting a profound need in someone’s life, He was fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah, given centuries earlier. Sometimes we understand that we’re in a special moment when God’s Spirit gives us an unction to do certain things, but often we may only realise afterwards that God has led us there. Either way, when God’s Spirit urges us to move, we must step out and obey. God may be speaking to some people right now, encouraging us to step out in faith and trust Him to see His miraculous power manifest in and through our lives. BE BOLD, God has great things ahead for those who trust and obey Him.

³¹ God saw all that he had made, and IT WAS VERY GOOD. And there was evening, and there was morning – the sixth day. Genesis 1

³¹ Then God looked over all that he had made, and IT WAS EXCELLENT IN EVERY WAY. This ended the sixth day. Genesis 1, TLB

From the very beginning of God’s revelation to humanity, He is portrayed as THE GOD WHO DOES EVERYTHING WELL. (I love the Living Bible’s description of God’s workmanship in creation!) We can and should trust Him to do everything well in our own lives.

May the Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.

 

“I AM NOT A DRIVE-THROUGH GOD”

A Recent and a Rhema word of God, a word of Correction, (Corrective – means to counteract something undesirable or harmful) which I’m still pondering at this time . God always disciplines us for our own good.

Drive-through, definition, – a place where you can get some type of service by driving through it, without need to get out of your car. (In this context I would say it’s a place where we can get WHAT WE WANT WITH THE LEAST INCONVENIENCE TO OURSELVES)

From my own point of view I’m wondering if too much of what passes for prayer at the present time is our coming to God with a list of requests, expressing our wants or needs. This may resemble placing our orders at the Drive-through and then going OUR OWN WAY once we’ve told God what we want. I believe God is saying that this falls far short of what HE WANTS AND REQUIRES OF US.

¹⁸ Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, ‘I’ll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.’ Genesis 29

Jacob loved Rachel and he may never have chosen Leah, nor his wives two maids, Bilhah and Zilpah to bear his children, but God had other purposes in mind. God had chosen Abraham and his son Isaac, but now He began to expand His plan and raise up a community of people to fulfill His rescue plan for the earth.

33 Jacob looked up and there was Esau, coming with his four hundred men; so he divided the children among Leah, Rachel and the two female servants. ² He put the female servants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph in the rear. ³ He himself went on ahead and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother. Genesis 33

Jacob went out first to meet his brother Esau, not knowing if he’d forgive and receive him. He also positioned his family in different groups, with Rachel and Joseph in the rear, what he considered the safest place for those he loved most.

Now we come to David and his mighty men, named for us in 2 Samuel 23:8-29, 1 Chronicles 11:10-47. Once again we see that the Bible divides those who helped David to become King, into different groups.

²⁰ Abishai the brother of Joab was chief of the Three. He raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed, and so he became as famous as the Three. ²¹ He was doubly honoured above the Three and became their commander, even though he was not included among them. 1 Chronicles 11

Abishai, brother of Joab, the commander of David’s army, was honoured above the Three mighty warriors. The scriptures record detailed exploits of these men who were closest to David and helped him secure his kingdom. The chapter in 1 Chronicles 11 concludes with the individual names of the Thirty who also supported David’s kingship. All these men were recorded as heroes for their valour in helping establish David upon the throne of Israel.

Finally, we come to the Lord Himself and His followers when He walked upon the earth. In Luke 10 we read about the Lord sending out the seventy and how they returned to Him with joy, telling Him, ‘Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name’. Luke 10:17 Jesus told them rather to, ‘REJOICE THAT YOUR NAMES ARE WRITTEN IN HEAVEN’. Ministry and anointing are important, but not the primary thing, because all ministry will cease someday.

There are further distinctions made among Jesus’ disciples, the Twelve chosen by Him who would become apostles in the church. Then there were Peter, James and John, who accompanied Him on the mount at the Transfiguration. Finally, we know John was the beloved disciple, when he laid his head on Jesus’ breast at the Last Supper.

God brings people together in His Kingdom to fulfill certain roles at different times and with varying levels of influence, but Jesus reminds us that all our names are recorded in heaven. EVERY TRUE BELIEVER HAS A KINGDOM CALLING (WRITTEN ON OUR OWN SCROLLS), BEGINNING IN TIME AND CLIMAXING IN ETERNITY.

May the Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.

 

¹⁸ As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him.¹⁹ Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and HOW HE HAS HAD MERCY ON YOU.” Mark 5

This is the climax of the account of the fortunate man who was delivered from the ‘Legion’ of demons by the Galilee. The man wanted to join Jesus and His disciples and come with them in the boat, however, Jesus told him to go back to his own people and tell them about God’s mercy and goodness to him. We’re not told why the Lord didn’t allow him to accompany them, but this man had a powerful testimony of deliverance, from a whole gang of demons. Personal testimony is always passionate and compelling because of our experiences. Jesus urged this man to go tell the people he knew of God’s goodness in his life.

¹⁴ When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. ¹⁵ “Lord, HAVE MERCY on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. Matthew 17

Another example of a father coming to the Lord and begging for mercy for his young son, whom a demon was trying to destroy. Jesus was frustrated that His disciples had been unable to help the father and his son, but once again He showed MERCY and set the boy free.

Praise to God for a Living Hope

³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! IN HIS GREAT MERCY he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 1 Peter 1

Peter, the disciple who had fallen away at the resurrection and been fully restored by the Lord back at the Galilee, speaks of God’s GREAT MERCY in giving us new birth in Christ. Forgiveness and new birth in no way depend on our goodness, but on His Love. God never turns away those who come to Him in sincerity and truth.

⁸ He has shown you, O man, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
TO ACT JUSTLY AND TO LOVE MERCY
    AND TO WALK HUMBLY WITH YOUR GOD. Micah 6

The God who loves to  show mercy, desires that we follow His ways in our own lives. The prophet Micah spoke these beautiful words before the Lord came upon the earth, God always intended that we live this way before Him.

May the Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.

¹¹ He told them, ‘THE SECRET OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD HAS BEEN GIVEN TO YOU. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables’ … Mark 4

After preaching and teaching the crowd, Jesus was then questioned in private by His own followers about the meaning of the parables He had spoken. He made a clear distinction between His followers and those outside who heard Him. The crowd were drawn to His ministry in great numbers and saw many miracles and healings, however, THOSE WHO FOLLOWED JESUS gained a greater depth of understanding. He explained to His followers the, ‘Secrets of God’s Kingdom’. God still has hidden or secret things to share with us today, but they may only come to those who intentionally seek them.

At the end of the Parable of the Sower, which Jesus spoke to the crowd, He concluded with a challenge;

⁹ Then Jesus said, ‘WHOEVER has ears to hear, let them hear.’ Mark 4

He’d spoken the parable, but the people needed to take His message to heart for themselves. They needed to really hear and let it become part of their lives, part of their thinking.

Further on in the chapter He repeats the same statement, but then He expands what He’s said;

²³ If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear.’

²⁴ ‘Consider carefully WHAT YOU HEAR,’ he continued. ‘With the measure you use, it will be measured to you – and even more. ²⁵ Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.’

We must be careful what we Listen To, because the more we Listen to the truth the more truth we’ll receive. Casual listening will not take us very far in the things of this world, nor will we benefit much by such listening concerning the Kingdom of God. Jesus urged His followers to Listen attentively to the truths of the Kingdom and promised that they would then receive more. Our listening will determine the measure of our receiving!

In the Parable of the Sower, the third example was the seed sown among thorns. The seed was always good and multiplied in the right conditions, but the thorns, other things wanted to grow up and CHOKE the crop. Jesus explained what the thorns represented;

¹⁸ Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; ¹⁹ but the WORRIES of this life, the deceitfulness of WEALTH and the DESIRES FOR OTHER THINGS come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Mark 4

The things that can CHOKE the fruit of Kingdom of God in our lives are Worries, Wealth and Wants or Wishes for other things. The world will try to distract us into its path for our lives and bankrupt our faith. We must be careful what we’re giving our attention to and hold fast to the Lord.

WE MUST STREAMLINE OUR LIVES AND RID OURSELVES OF ALL THE THINGS THAT SEEK TO CHOKE THE HARVEST GOD WANTS FOR US! DON’T DELAY, REMOVE THE ‘THORNS’.

May the Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.

 

Do you know that you were Chosen by the Lord Himself?

16 You did not choose me, but I CHOSE YOU AND APPOINTED YOU so that you might go and bear fruit – fruit that will last – and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: love each other. John 15

A well known BBC Radio host was interviewing the late Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher and he asked her a question about Christianity. Something along the lines of ‘What she thought was the essence of the Christian Faith?’ She gave a single word answer(unusual for any politician), Choice! Her answer completely stymied him. He thought she’d say something like Love and he would attack her for not caring for people. We all make Choices in our lives and ultimately they decide our destiny, but thank God, He also Chose and rescued many of us from dangerous paths.

27 But God CHOSE the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God CHOSE the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God CHOSE the lowly things of this world and the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, …31 Therefore, as it is written: ‘Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.’ 1 Corinthians 1

When we look at sports teams today, they pay huge sums of money for the best players. They’ll go to extreme lengths and offer many perks to get the people with the talent on their team. Today they’re called ‘Elite Athletes’. God thankfully is not looking for the elite people to join Him, instead He’s chosen the ordinary people like us. That was the start of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, God chose the weak, not the elite, because He would get the glory.

Moses was raised in the palace as the adopted son of Pharaoh’s daughter, but had to spend forty years in the desert to unlearn all he knew. Paul the apostle, studied under the rabbi Gamaliel in Jerusalem, but also spent three years in the desert. ‘He counted all things garbage that he might know Christ’. Philippians 3:8 We too may need to give up some things in order for the Lord’s plans to be fulfilled in our own lives.  

Many are called but few are Chosen. Matthew 22:14, parable of the wedding banquet.

We’ve been CHOSEN AND APPOINTED FOR A PURPOSE that goes all the way into eternity. What a privilege, let’s honour the Lord and pursue His calling on our lives.

May the Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.

Wishing everyone a blessed and peaceful weekend.