Who Do People Say I Am?

Oct22

Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way He asked them, Who do people say I am? 28 The replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” 29 “But what about you? He asked. “Who do you say I am? Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.” 30 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him. Mark 8:27-30

I often wonder why the Lord want to know who people thought He was! He asked thrice within 3 verses technically! Jesus wanted a feed back. He wanted to know if the people can discern the things of the Spirit.

You and I also should have one or two people that can give us feedback as to “Who we are perceived to be!” We know who Christ says we are in the scriptures, however, are we conducting ourselves as such? Do we come out as loving and compassionate as we ought to be? “Who do people say I am?”

For some of us, we are different as per the different sources depending on the different bus stops of encounters. “Who do you say I am?” Jesus asked his disciples. He heard all that the people said he was, but wanted to know who his closest people, his friends, and disciples thinks he is!

I don’t know how the Lord would have taken it if none of His disciples knew who he was. I for one would have been devastated!

For the believers of today, “Who are you?” And Who does people say you are? Is your life, conduct, attitude reflective of the Christ you profess? Father!!! Help us and guide us to genuine people who will give us constructive feedback. People that will tell us how we come off and not what we want to hear so we can make amends should need be.

Caution: Don’t take yourself seriously should a feedback rub on you ….ishly! Whatever wisdom you can garner from every feed back should be applied towards an improvement. There is always room for growth, so don’t sweat it.

Shalom! Shalom! Shalom!

Sight! Village! Past!

Oct18

Mark 8:22-25 I often wonder why Jesus acted the way he acted many times in the Scriptures! Why take a blind man out of the most familiar place he knows?

To see afresh? Maybe see differently! Or, probably Christ took him out of the village because it was the “village” that clouded his eyes?

Jesus also warned the blind man not to go back to the “village”! Jesus did not want him to broadcast him that I understand, but I also think it means more.

I don’t know what village means to you, but for me, it means, don’t go back to being blind to your status in Christ Jesus, acting small to fit in, staying in that box, devaluing yourself, doubting the power at work in you and much more!

Some of us have been delivered from Spiritual blindness, this is a warning not to go back into ignorance. Don’t look back at the past longingly friends, there is nothing back there for you!

Move forward in the capability of the Most High God! You can see now, don’t pretend you can’t! Shine your light and let the world see that great things Christ has done!

Shalom! Shalom! Shalom!

Proof! Sign! Fruit Of The Spirit!

Oct17

The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat and so when Jesus said, 15″Be careful,” warning them to “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.’ They assumed it had to do with the bread. Mark 8:14-21. Please read!

These days the religious ask for signs and false teachers knows this too well. They will go to any lenght to provide sign, should I say “magic”, and all kinds of gimmicks to deceive the ignorant.

Jesus Christ did not indulge the Pharisees and Herod of his days by doing anything special to prove to them that He is the Messiah. They had asked for a sign from the unbelief in their hearts though they had seen healings done, thousands fed with little, the dead raised and so on, yet they asked for a display specifically! They had wanted Jesus to show off in the language , of today. This is what has brought the world into the Church of today!

I do not think there is any need for me also to prove to anyone either that I am a believer, that in the name of Jesus I can drive out demons, speak in new tongues, pick up serpents with my hands, and that if I drink deadly poison, it will not hurt me at all, that when I lay hands on sick people they will get well – Mark 16:17.

I do not have to prove to anyone that I am empowered to see beyond the physical, hear the in audible, and see through lies and deception by the help of the Holy Spirit that lives within me.

The only sign anyone should be looking for should be the fruit of the spirit, which are characteristics of Jesus Christ that can be seen in all those that believes in Christ. The Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness faithfulness, gentleness and self control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22

Hungry? Abide Still!

Oct16

Mark 8:2 Jesus called his disciples and told them, ” I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.”

You may have been a believer for a long time. You have given up all to be with the Lord you may think. You have been waiting on the Lord for your souls to be nourished, yet your body is famished. You may have needs that have not yet been met and you are exhausted.

Do not faint, do not be discouraged for we have a compassionate Savior. He will not send you away from His presence. He will bid you sit down to rest, relax, get comfortable, and then he will meet your needs beyond what you can ask or think! He will meet all the needs in the core of your being!

He shall supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus – Philippians 4:19

Shalom! Shalom! Shalom!

Taken Aside!

Oct15

Mark 7:32 -37 A deaf and dumb man was brought to Jesus to be healed. Jesus then took the man aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his finger into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. He looked up to heaven and commanded the ears to open and it opened and the man’s tongue loosened and he began to speak plainly.

I wonder what would be going through my mind as a deaf and dumb that was brought to Jesus to be healed. Why is He taking me aside from those that are or want to help me? My companion, my parents, my friends, neighbors and well wishers! Just lay hand on me here I would have uttered if I was able to speak! If only Lord!

But then God’s way is not our ways. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55

Some of us have been taken aside, moved away, separated from all things familiar and desired so that Christ may work in us, to enable us see, hear, and speak eloquently.

Many a time we will not understand; some of us are resisting, and some are complying with the direction the Spirit is leading us. May God help us all to flow with the Holy Spirit.

Lord, I know you have taken me aside, you have put your hands in my ears, your spit unclogged my arteries flushing out every deposit that is not of you, and you have touched my tongue with your fire loosening and purging me as in Isaiah 6:6-10

I have not heard you lately though Lord, speak to my heart Savior! My hope is in your saving grace, draw me close to you. Let me hear and see you clearly, let my heart be receptive, and let your words find a fertile ground in me, and let my lips speak of your wondrous wonder to the glory of your Holy name I pray in Jesus mighty name. Amen

All you need to do for Christ to take you aside is to acknowledge your need for His help friends. Ask the Lord to save your soul this day. He will give sight to your eyes, hearing to your ears, give you a receptive heart, and anoint your lips with words that sustain the weary. You will become Christ mouthpiece bringing comfort to the comfortless. Be born again friends! I bid you in Jesus mighty name!

Shalom! Shalom! Shalom!

What Defiles! The Heart!

Oct11

Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. 18 Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.” Mark 7:14

My first thought when reading this was a question, “What about sex, alcohol and drugs?”

But then I got my answer in verse 18 ‘Are you so dull?” he asked.. “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them? 19 For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body. 20 He went on:

“What comes out of a person is what defiles them. 21 For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come – sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and defile a person.” Mark 7:20-23

This is where most of us are caught, our thought life, not seen, secret, but very potent! This is where we plan to kill, steal, murder, manipulate, commit sexual sins and all. The sin that easily beset us occurs here, in our hearts. I have caught myself many a time and I must say, very disappointed that such thought could even come to me. The battlefield of our minds!

This is why King Solomon said in Proverbs 4:23 Keep your heart with all diligence for out of it flows the issues of life.

Premeditated murder, adultery, fornication, covetousness, manipulation – sorcery, envy, jealousy and all kinds of evil stem from that little seed sown, watered, pruned and nursed to fruition – this is what defiles.

I don’t know about you but I am asking for mercy here. I have had some very bad thoughts and the Holy Spirit does check me and I will be like, “Where does that even come from?” I mean, I am holy, righteous, redeemed, speaking in tongues, why would such thought come up within me?

This is where I demolish every arguments and every pretensions that sets itself up against the knowledge of God for my life and destiny, and I bring every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ. And then I am ready to punish every act of disobedience, because my obedience is complete in Christ Jesus. 2 Corinthians 10:5-6 personified.

Father, I know that there are at least one other person with me saying I don’t know why, but often than I want to acknowledge, I have entertained bad thoughts, passed lewd comments, acted in certain ways that does not befit me as an ambassador of The Gospel, I ask for mercy today Lord, forgive me and help me by your Holy Spirit to nip evil thought in the bud.

Almighty God, let evil not fester in my heart, saturate my being with your presence, Holy Spirit I ask in Jesus name.

Thank you Father for pruning and molding us to be Christlike! We are open Lord for your correction, and thank you for a receptive heart.

Shalom! Shalom! Shalom!

The Elderly!

Oct10

I wonder how success is truly measured in God’s sight!! Hmmmmm. Can anyone be regarded as successful, though they have all the similitude of success, cars, houses, huge funds investment, savings etcetera if they have or are not taking care of their parents? Mark 7:5-13

The religious always hold unto the mundane, neglecting the weightier and most important law of the Lord. Loving God, our neighbors, and ourselves is more important than any other for upon this is all established.

Many parents are in nursing homes with no visitation, many are there in abject poverty while their kids are swimming in everything money can buy! Friends, if you are too busy to visit, employ someone to visit on your behalf for crying out loud!

Seriously, take time out to visit your parents, they cared for you and you should care for them now! Let them crossover knowing they were and are loved and that you are proud of who they are!

In some cultures, a parent that died in penury is buried in coffins worth $50,000 with the elaborate ceremonies of another $50,000. Can such children be termed successful? No! That child is but a failure!

Jesus when he was leaving the earth made provision for His mother even though he was not the only child of Mary. He said in John 19:26 ” When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.”

Please friends, there is no excuse to neglect our parents! This is the first commandments with a promise of longevity!

Go show some love please!

Shalom! Shalom! Shalom!