2012: Jesus Christ – “The Same Yesterday Today and Forever”

I am writing this and it is well into the New Year. However, this post will be considered a New Years letter to help offer encouragement and uplift the faith of the reader. Usually resolutions are made at the beginning of the year. They could be a resolution to lose weight, quit smoking, or even exercise more. As you can see, these resolutions have the common theme of improving an individual’s health and well being. The truth is without a plan, strategy, and most of all the power of prayer to strengthen the individual it will be very difficult to successfully achieve these goals. There are many people that use self determination and raw grit to try and overcome these obstacles.

I would like to suggest for each of us that we call on the Lord for His help and strength. Consider what the Bible says in 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 (KJV)”. You see Jesus has all the power that we need so that we can achieve these seemingly impossible resolutions. Many times, after a month or two around February, people just kind of give up on their resolutions. What is the reason that people give up? Maybe they think it is to hard or something like that. I think if we lean on the Lord and take the Word of God at face value then we will be successful.

Matthew 28:18 states, “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth (KJV)”. Jesus has the power and the ability to help us when we call upon His name. All we have to do is reach out to Him with faith and believe that He wants to help us. There is nothing to hard for the Lord. Let us believe that 2012 is going to be a year of success and victory for us and our loved ones….

God Bless,

More Than Enough Ministries!!!

Look Unto the Hills….Part I

  

 ¹I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. 

²My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. 

³He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. 

⁴Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. 

⁵The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. 

⁶The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. 

⁷The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. 

⁸The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore. 

(Psalms 121: KJV). 

Can you hear Him saying, “quit looking down, hold your head up.” Your heavenly Father is reminding us that down is out and up is in. I know it sounds silly and almost childlike. That is the point. We need to be more like a child. What has happened to that child-like faith that allowed us to initially choose the way of the Lord? 

Oh! Is the Lord wooing you back to Himself by allowing trials and tests? Jesus is concerned with perfecting our faith and developing our character. He wants His children to make it across the finish line. Remember, our faith walk is not a sprint it is a marathon. There are times when all of us need to re-tool and take a look at where we are spiritually. 

Consider the following scripture: 

EXAMINE yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

(2 Corinthians 13:5: KJV). 

Friends look unto the creator who is Lord of all. Our eyes represent our field of vision. Where are we looking? The direction that we are looking is the direction that we will eventually go…

The Lord is the Healer of the Brokenhearted !

      I would like to write today about the subject of grief. There are people that have experienced various types of loss in their lives. The way that we deal with loss is crucial to the health of our spirit. For example, if such an event is to painful to deal with we may become numb. We push it under the rug in a sense. Is that really what the Lord wants us to do? I am not trying to minimize the loss or even how an individual struggles and survives after the loss.

       The Lord wants us to be completely transparent with Him. He already knows our struggles. Consider the following scriptures:

 ”The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise” (Psalms 51:17).

The Lord knows just what you are going through. Don’t hide your problems or your hurts from Him. He wants to heal you….

Blessings

Everything Will be Alright….

I want to be led by the Spirit of the Lord throughout my life. That is the big picture. Every day I can allow the Lord to take control of my life or I can retain certain areas of my life. I think we all know that the best course of action is to surrender all to the God of the universe and trust that He knows what is best for us.

The Bible teaches that we are to wholeheartedly trust the Lord.

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

(Proverbs 3:5-7)

When we are going through a hard time in our life we want to get through it as fast as possible. We pray to God that He would deliver us out of the dilemma A.S.A.P. We think it is for our own good that we should get out of this hard place. Have we considered that maybe the Lord has a plan for us while we are going through the hard place? It is possible that He is trying to develop character within us.

 Remember the Lord has our back. He knows what is best for us. Scripture teaches that He will never leave us nor forsake us. He is trustworthy. Praise God, that is something to shout about. Everything will be alright…

He must needs go….

This is a New Year and with it comes many new opportunities. In 2011 the Bible still says the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few. Jesus said in the Gospel of John, “he must needs go”. Do you have a burden for the lost? why don’t we go for it in 2011 and see our loved ones and friends born again in Jesus name!

Saul to Paul

The Apostle Paul had a past, but the Lord saw destiny and purpose for this man formerly named Saul. He had to be knocked down and converted. There also had to be a humble servant named Ananias willing to reach out to him. Obedience was the catalyst that allowed all of this to occur. The Apostle had to repent and be baptized in Jesus name just like we do. He also needed the infilling of the Holy Ghost to guide and inspire him to write many New Testanebt books he was to write.

Conversion of Saul
Acts 9:1-22

¹ And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

² And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

³ And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

⁴ And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

⁵ And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: [it is] hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

⁶ And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord [said] unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

⁷ And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.

⁸ And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought [him] into Damascus.

⁹ And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

¹⁰ And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I [am here], Lord.

¹¹ And the Lord [said] unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for [one] called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,

¹² And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting [his] hand on him, that he might receive his sight.

¹³ Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:

¹⁴ And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

¹⁵ But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

¹⁶ For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.

¹⁷ And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, [even] Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

¹⁸ And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

¹⁹ And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.

²⁰ And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

²¹ But all that heard [him] were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?

²² But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.

Joy Bells are Ringing in my Ears….

 

“Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. And there was great joy in that city. (Acts 8:5-8).”

^{I don’t know about you, but there are times when I need more joy. The truth is “joy” is a great commodity to be gained within our society. For example, when an archeologist makes a rare find, it is documented and the individual is applauded for the rarity of the find. However rare and old this relic is it can do absolutely nothing for the individual. In contrast, a relic may be rare, but “joy” is something that is desperately needed in our day. Let us read the narrative in Acts that describes how Philip the evangelist went to the city of Samaria and preached Christ.}

Joy came to the city of Samaria because Philip preached Christ the joy giver. If you need joy today, call upon the name of Jesus. He is only a prayer away.  

 

I Must Forgive Like He Forgave !

(Acts 7:58b-60): “and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”

If you want to know forgiveness. Take a look at the Grace that was afforded to the people that stoned Stephen. Note, the young man Saul who later after his conversion wrote, ” Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14).

Saul / Paul had to reconcile his actions with the Lord, but he came to understand the greatness of God’s Grace.

Give Your All To Jesus!

Jesus gave His all for us so that we can be redeemed. Praise God, He is worthy of all Praise, Honor, and Glory.

“But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.” (Acts 6:4).

Give your all, because He gave His all. Let us strive after the Lord. The name of Jesus is more powerful than anything. Speak the Word when you are tempted. Jesus did it during His trial of temptation. He was victorious, and He was our example. We can be overcomers in all situations through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Are You Sold Out?

The following scripture provides us more evidence that in the name of Jesus there is power to heal, save and deliver.

Acts 4:30-37

By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.

And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any [of them] that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,

And laid [them] down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, [and] of the country of Cyprus,

Having land, sold [it], and brought the money, and laid [it] at the apostles’ feet.

Let the Word of God consume your whole being. You may be struggling right now. Maybe your marriage is on rocky ground. Maybe your finances are really bad. But never forget that there is nothing to hard for Jesus. He is always on-time….