Luke 10:20 - "Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven." NASU
Well, they went out like He said and they were actually able to accomplish what He had asked of them. They come back all fired up. I mean they are excited. The exuberance is overflowing from them. They inform Jesus that even the demons have to listen to them when they cast them out in His name.
Jesus says, "Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you. "Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven." If you have experienced some great accomplishment(s) in your life it is okay to be happy and excited, but don't forget Jesus said this, if you want to rejoice in something rejoice in this, "that your names are recorded in heaven."
It is easy for us to lose sight of our goal from time to time. So let me encourage you to never lose sight of the fact that if you are a Christian your name is recorded in heaven. This world is not our home we are just passing through. The best news we will ever hear is our name is recorded in heaven. When we think about that truth for 10-15 minutes it seems to make the troubles we face less stressful. In fact, I would say our troubles completely vanish when compared to the "good news" that our names are recorded in Heaven. I would like for you to say this to yourself numerous times today: Your Name, rejoice because your name is recorded in heaven. When I say it I will say it this way: Gary Serago, rejoice because your name is recorded in heaven. Now you say it using your name. Think About These: He who seldom thinks of heaven is not likely to get there. The road to heaven is never overcrowded. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word
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Ps 71:5 - "For You are my hope; O Lord GOD, You are my confidence from my youth." NASU
The best way to gain confidence in your abilities is put them into practice. In other words, execute your abilities in the areas you need to increase your confidence. The more you practice or execute your abilities the more your confidence will grow. If you ever have the opportunity to watch a high school or college wrestling team you will see them doing something known as "drilling". When the wrestlers are "drilling" they are doing the same move over and over again to the point that it becomes automatic.
When I became a believer I was a few months away from turning 24 years old and I must admit I didn't immediately have 100% confidence in God in all things. It took me quite a few years to be able to say I have 100% confidence in God in all things.
How will your confidence in God increase? It has been my experience your confidence in God will grow as you walk with Him through your trials of life. Life has a way of putting some enormous pressures on us. Some of these pressures may be financial, health or family and they are so extreme we believe they are going to kill us. It is when we are experiencing these difficult times that our confidence in God has an avenue for growth. Don't detest the trials of life that you experience. Instead, see them as a great opportunity for you to increase your confidence in what God is able to do. To be the best you can be you need confidence in yourself and in God. Think About These: The strength that comes from confidence can be quickly lost in conceit. A good leader inspires men to have confidence in him; a great leader inspires men to have confidence in themselves. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Matt 22:41 - Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question: NASU
Their trick question backfires on them when Jesus says, "You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God. 30 "For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven…." The Bible says, Acts 2:37-38 - Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?" 38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. When they heard this what is this? It is the gospel that Jesus had died for them. Once they believed that Jesus died for them what were they to do? They were to "repent and be baptized". Guess what? There are Sadducees still around today. I have had people come up to me and say a person doesn't have to be baptized. They generally want to give me some hypothetical situation (like the Sadducees above with their seven brother's scenario). In their story they have a person who starts to believe in Jesus but there is no water around and he dies. They state God is an all loving God and this person is a believer but there wasn't any water near for him to be baptized. So is God going to send him to hell?
God through the prophet Ezekiel informed us of God's love for sinners. When in Ezek. 33:11 - "Say to them, 'As I live!' declares the Lord GOD, 'I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. I believe if a man truly wanted to repent and be baptized God would see to it that it happened. Some would say but there is no water and I would say have you ever read Nehemiah 9:14-15 - Through Your servant Moses. 15 "You provided bread from heaven for them for their hunger, You brought forth water from a rock for them for their thirst,…" God is able to make bread fall down from heaven and water to come from a rock. I don't think we should short change His power and what He can do when a man is trying to obey His commands. What question would God ask you? Would He ask you why you haven't obeyed His commands? Or would He ask you what made you want to obey His commands? I believe it would be great to quote this passage of scripture to God: Acts 5:32 - "And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him." We all need the Holy Spirit in this life and God gives the Holy Spirit to those who obey Him. As it says in Acts 2 repent and be baptized and God will forgive you of your sins and give you the gift of the Holy Spirit. I hope you won't argue with God or try to make up hypothetical questions where you try and place God in a corner for when you do that you are displaying you really don't know the power of God. Think About These: God isn't asking you to figure it out. He's asking you to trust that He already has. Faith is trusting God even when you don't understand His plan. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Matt.10:1-4 - Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these…and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Him. NASU
Judas was a popular name in the first century. Judas means "he shall be praised." I guess it is fair to say he didn't live up to his name. His last name isn't "Iscariot" as many people seem to think. Iscariot means "man of Kerioth." Therefore, Judas Iscariot was actually Judas the man of Kerioth.
As any athlete can tell you having the right coach is very important. As any coach can tell you having an athlete who will not only listen but they will also apply what is being taught is vitally important. Judas was associating with the right teacher and students so where did he go wrong? He was given the same power and authority over unclean spirits as the other disciples. He was able to heal every kind of disease and sickness the text says. Imagine all the good he could have done. He could have totally eliminated every leper camp he approached because he was given the power to heal every sickness and disease. How many people do you know that have many God given talents, have associated with the right people and yet, they have wasted these talents?
WOW! Why wasn't the perfume sold and the money given to the poor? Those words sound spiritual. How noble of Judas to think of all the poor people in the world. This proves that what a person says doesn't always reveal the contents of their heart. A person's actions will tell you more about them than their words. I am pretty sure we are in contact with people on a daily basis who say one thing and do another.
He could have given the money to Matthew to watch over it since he was accustomed to collecting money, but He didn't. The only way you and I are going to get spiritually stronger is when we face our temptations and conquer them. If you are facing temptations today don't pray that the LORD remove them. Pray that He will strengthen you to overcome them, to defeat and destroy them once and for all. Judas started out traveling on the right road, but some where along the way he took a wrong turn. It doesn't matter how you start it is how you finish. Think About This: A hypocrite never intends to be what he pretends to be. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Luke 5:3-6 - And He got into one of the boats, which was Simon's,… And He sat down and began teaching the people from the boat. 4 When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, "Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch." 5 Simon answered and said, "Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets." 6 When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break;…" NASU
Then failure comes crashing through our life and we are bewildered. We are perplexed and we sit in unbelief that this has happened to us. How could this happen to me? I was prepared. I had all the answers. I like what R. C. Foster said, "Their fruitless toil through the night gave Jesus His opportunity." Did you hear that? Their "fruitless toil" gave Jesus His opportunity. Your fruitless toil will give Jesus an opportunity to work with you like never before. It is always easier to work with some one who believes he needs help. At first, Peter didn't believe he needed any help. After all he was the fisherman. Jesus was a carpenter in Peter's mind. After Jesus performs the miracle and their boats are loaded with fish Jesus goes from being "Master" which also could be interpreted "teacher" to LORD (vs.8). When we do things the Lord's way like Peter and his crew did there will be success.
Then why not try doing it the Lord's Way?
You ask for His blessing on your endeavors. You ask Him to keep you from all evil and to protect you. You read His Word and in so doing you are searching for answers to your life. You have to understand that some times He may even protect you from yourself by not allowing you to accomplish some things that would bring great harm into your life. When Jesus sees that you are able to handle the successes that can come in life He will give them to you.
Think About These: Most failures are experts at making excuses. Failure is a better teacher than success, but seldom finds an apple on her desk. Failures are divided into those who thought and never did, and those who did and never thought. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word |
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