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John 11:11-14, 40-44 -He said to them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I go, so that I may awaken him out of sleep." The disciples then said to Him, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover." Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was speaking of literal sleep. So Jesus then said to them plainly, "Lazarus is dead…
Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?" So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised His eyes, and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. "I knew that You always hear Me; but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me." When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth." The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go." NASU
How do you and I need to view death? We need to see it exactly as Jesus viewed it. He saw death exactly like you and I view someone who is sleeping. Have you ever been asked by someone to go and wake someone who is sleeping? Your mother may have asked you to go and wake your brother, sister, father or grandfather to come and eat dinner. You said okay and went in and woke them from their sleep. You didn't hesitate to accept this responsibility because you knew you could do it. Well, the same way you and I walked into where they were sleeping to awake them from sleeping, Jesus is able to wake someone with the same ease when they have died. Stop and think about that for a moment. Jesus can raise the dead as easily as you can wake someone from their sleep. A person who is sleeping and a person who has died is the same to Jesus. He can wake them both up so they can carry on with life.
It doesn't have the power to defeat me because I know Jesus. Lazarus died and was dead four days. Jesus went to where they had put him in a tomb and told him to come out of there. Now not everyone believes in Jesus, but I do. There is no doubt in my mind as Jesus resurrected Lazarus He will resurrect me. In Revelation, we are told Jesus has the keys to death and Hades. When death takes us Jesus will come and unlock death's door and free us. If you believe in Jesus He will likewise bring you into Eternal Life. The apostle Paul stated it this way in Romans 8:11 - But if the Spirit of Him(God) who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Acts 2:38- 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. I repented of my sinful way of life 45 years ago. I was baptized (immersed) into Jesus Christ and God forgave me of my sins and placed within me the Holy Spirit. This same Spirit that resurrected Jesus will resurrect all of those who believe in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the Living God, according to Romans 8:11 and that is a promise from God. I am thankful the Holy Spirit lives in me. I hope He lives in you. Think About This: When we die we leave behind all we have and take with us all we are. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word
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Exo. 3:11 - But Moses said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?"
God has informed Moses He has chosen him to lead the children of Israel out of the Egyptian bondage. Moses is stretched out of his comfort zone with God's plan.
Moses doubts that he was the one who could be used to help free the Israelites. He says to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh?" Moses doesn't realize it yet, but he is the one who God has chosen and there isn't any way God will change His plan. We probably all have been chosen by God to accomplish a task and we thought like Moses, "Who am I?" If God chooses you, God will help you to complete the task.
1. Stop Doubting Yourself. The way to accomplish this is by feeding your mind positive thoughts. You need to realize that you have been chosen by someone to complete this task. God, your boss, your close friend, your spouse or one of your children may have chosen you. The exciting thing is you have been chosen. You want to see this as an opportunity to achieve a project that you haven't done before. 2. Start Preparing Yourself. What can you do to prepare yourself to fulfill this project? Are there any books you can read, is there a website you can visit, or a YouTube to watch? Do you know someone who has done this type of job before that you can contact for some assistance?
One evening while we were working I asked him, "If he would teach me how to weld?" I grabbed a welder's hood and within a couple of hours, he had me welding. I continued to practice every day and on the next job site, I took the welder's test and passed. I was now a certified welder, thanks to Jack McAvoy. Find someone you can associate with who can teach you what it is you're trying to learn. Obtaining knowledge will help you in times when you're being stretched to accomplish a feat for which you don't feel qualified. Think on These: You must first be a believer if you would be an achiever. Today's preparation determines tomorrow's achievement. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Genesis 32:24-30 -Then Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until day-break. When he saw that he had not prevailed against him, he touched the socket of his thigh; so the socket of Jacob's thigh was dislocated while he wrestled with him. Then he said, "Let me go, for the dawn is breaking." But he said, " I will not let you go unless you bless me." So he said to him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Jacob." He said, "Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed." Then Jacob asked him and said, "Please tell me your name." But he said, "Why is it that you ask my name?" And he blessed him there. So Jacob named the place Peniel, for he said, " I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been preserved." NASU
Exodus 33:20 - But He said, "You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!"
Jacob was the God-wrestler. We likewise need to be God-wrestlers. There is only one catch it is going to hurt. You don't wrestle with God without learning something of great importance and suffering comes along with this match. What I have found and generally not immediately but sometimes weeks, months or years later while remembering this wrestling match with God you will be able to recall some very valuable life lessons.
It might surprise you how much pain you can endure before you receive a blessing.
His name was changed from Jacob, which means supplanter, to Israel, which means he will rule as God. Jacob reaped what he sowed as his Uncle Laban will teach him all about taking what doesn't belong to you. If you recall the story 20 years earlier Jacob had deceived his father, Isaac, and stole Esau's birthright. Esau said he was going to kill Jacob. So Jacob fled to his uncle Laban's house and had been there for 20 years. He is now on his way back home and he is going to meet his brother Esau. The night before they meet God meets with Jacob and they have their famous all-night wrestling match. The mistake he made 20 years ago is now just that in the past. He will have a fresh start with a new name, a new relationship with his brother, Esau and with his God.
Well, you might have to wrestle Him all-night long. Please remember this, Jacob endured the pain before he received the blessing. Stay in there! Don't Give Up! Wait On The Blessing! Always remember we are under construction and God isn't finished with us yet. He has a blessing for you. All you have to do is be like Jacob and don't let go until God gives you the blessing. Think About This: God Still Speaks To Those Who Will Take Time To Listen. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Numbers 11:23 - The LORD answered Moses, "Is the LORD'S arm too short? You will now see whether or not what I say will come true for you." NIV
Num. 11:23 - And the LORD said to Moses, "Is the LORD'S power limited? Now you shall see whether My word will come true for you or not." NASB Num. 11:23 - God answered Moses, "So, do you think I can't take care of you? You'll see soon enough whether what I say happens for you or not." (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)
"Is the LORD'S arm too short?" or in other words, "Is the Lord's power limited?" God asks Moses this question after He says, He will give the Israelites meat to eat and Moses informs God in Num. 11:21-22 - "There are 600,000 foot soldiers here with me, and yet you promise them meat for a whole month! 22 Even if we butchered all our flocks and herds, would that satisfy them? Even if we caught all the fish in the sea, would that be enough?" NLT Moses has thought about his dilemma "no meat for the Israelites" and the Israelites are complaining to Moses about their situation. Moses is at the end of his rope when he asks God, "Why have you been so hard on me? What did I do to deserve the burden of a people like this?" Then God informs Moses He will feed the people with meat and Moses tells God how big of a task this really is. I can see God looking at the Logos, the Holy Spirit and laughing. Then I picture God saying to them, "He really doesn't know our power."
Do you believe in God or not? Is God's power unlimited? Is God still able to work miracles? Well, then all we have to do is believe in God and His power and watch Him work. Sometimes He will use us, sometimes He will use others and sometimes He will accomplish the miracle all by Himself. What difficult situation are you facing today? Remember it is very important how you view the LORD because this represents your faith in Him. So let me ask you is God's arm too short? Think About These: We may not know what the future holds, but we know who holds the future. God promises us a safe landing but not a calm voyage. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Luke 8:23-24 - But as they were sailing along He fell asleep; and a fierce gale of wind descended on the lake, and they began to be swamped and to be in danger. They came to Jesus and woke Him up, saying, "Master, Master, we are perishing!" And He got up and rebuked the wind and the surging waves, and they stopped, and it became calm.
They go to Him and say, "Master, Master, we are perishing!" In other words, they are telling Him, we are all going to die. They were frightened by this storm. They were in a panic.
When Jesus is in your life you must never forget that storms are going to come and threaten you. Some storms may be so severe your thought process says, "Jesus has abandoned you." There isn't anything further from the truth. Once you accept Jesus into your life the devil declares war against you. He is now determined to destroy your faith. One way he does this is by trying to make you believe Jesus doesn't care about you. Jesus not only cares about you. He died for you.
If He wants your cancer to be gone, it will be gone. The doctors may say, "We can't explain it. This x-ray shows cancer very clearly and this one shows no cancer." Jesus can calm the storms in your life if you will let Him.
As a Christian, it will be your faith in Jesus that will get you through the storms of life. As a Christian, don't forget Jesus is the One who can rebuke any storm in your life. Think About These: Feed your faith and doubt will starve to death. All men need a faith that will not shrink when washed in the waters of affliction and adversity. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Go To www.SeragosPumpUps.com |
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