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John 20:28-29 - Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" 29 Jesus said to him, "Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed." NASU
Jesus told the disciples many times that He was going to die and resurrect but Thomas and the other disciples must not have been listening when Jesus taught those lessons (Mark 8:31, 9:31, 10:32-34). Well, actually they were listening but they didn't understand His lesson and they were afraid to ask for clarification. What runs through your mind when you think about being Blessed by God? When was the last time you sat down and did nothing but think about how blessed you are because of God or because of your faith in Jesus? It is easy to forget how blessed we are because of our faith in Jesus. When you consider the blessing you have because of your faith please don't equate them to everything you have physically on this earth. Our faith in Jesus has unlocked many spiritual blessings that we will receive upon our physical death and the beginning of our new life in Heaven.
Rev. 21:1-4 says, "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away… And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away." What have we learned? 1. There will be a New Heaven and New Earth because the previous ones have passed away. 2. We are going to be a part of the New Jerusalem, a holy city. 3. God is going to dwell in this city among His people. 4. We will never have to experience anything that would make us feel like we did when we mourned, cried or experienced death while on earth. Those things have all passed away with the destruction of the old earth. 5. We will never be separated from God which is what is meant by never experiencing death. Death is a separation and we will not ever be separated from God again. I hope that you have been encouraged today to realize you have been blessed by God because you're a believer in Jesus Christ. Your faith in Christ has brought you plenty of blessings and that is not me saying that, that is Jesus saying it. Let me close with this: Jesus said to him, "Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed." Go and share your blessing with someone today. Think About These: Feed your faith and doubt will starve to death. What is faith but to believe what you do not see? Faith builds a bridge from this world to the next. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word
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John 12:37 - Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. NIV
At first I would always say He did give you a sign or a miracle and it is called the "Resurrection of Jesus Christ" and all you have to do is believe in it. Later on in my ministry I would just say, "No, you wouldn't!" Then they would say something like "What do you mean I wouldn't?" Then I would say Jesus accomplished a lot of miracles and the people saw Him do them and John 12 says, "… they still would not believe in him." So excuse me but you might be exactly like them. You could see a miracle and still not believe in God.
Let me share a few that can be found in the book of John: In John 2 Jesus turns the water into wine, In John 4 He heals a royal official's son in Capernaum, In John 5 He heals a man who had been sick for 38 years and he complained he had no one to help him get in the water when it was stirred, In John 9 He heals the man blind from birth and In John 11 He resurrects Lazarus from the dead. These are just some of the miracles Jesus accomplished and yet there were people who didn't believe in Him knowing that He had the reputation of being a miracle worker. Would anyone of those miracles be enough to cause you to come to faith in Jesus as your Lord and Savior?
I want to challenge you to read the book of John and every time Jesus does a miracle put yourself right there with all those people and Jesus and ask yourself two questions: 1. Who can do this? 2. Who works a miracle right in front of all these people? The answer is your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He doesn't change. He is still a miracle worker. I challenge you not to be like those mentioned in John 12 - Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. Doesn't that verse make you feel sad? They were eyewitnesses to His miracles and they would not believe. I believe Jesus still works miracles in our world today but people aren't looking for them. Open your eyes you will be astonished what you might see. Don't be like them. Believe in the miracles that Jesus did and allow them to strengthen your faith. Think About These: Living without Faith is like driving in the fog. Hope is putting Faith to work when doubting would be easier. There are a thousand ways to please God but none without FAITH. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Matt 16:21-22 - From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day. 22 Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, " God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You." NASU
Sports fans will enjoy how he handled star Reggie Jackson. Weaver had a rule that no one could steal a base unless given the steal sign. This upset Jackson because he felt he knew the pitchers and catchers well enough to judge who he could and could not steal off of. So one game he decided to steal without a sign. He got a good jump off the pitcher and easily beat the throw to second base. As he shook the dirt off his uniform, Jackson smiled with delight, feeling he had vindicated his judgment to his manager. Later, Weaver took Jackson aside and explained why he hadn’t given the steal sign. First, the next batter was Lee May, his best power hitter other than Jackson. When Jackson stole second, first base was left open, so the other team walked Lee May intentionally, taking the bat out of his hands. Second, the following batter hadn’t been strong against that pitcher, so Weaver felt he had to send up a pinch hitter to try to drive in the men on base. That left Weaver without bench strength later in the game when he needed it. The problem was, Jackson saw only his relationship to the pitcher and catcher. Weaver was watching the whole game. We, too, see only so far, but God sees the bigger picture. When He sends us a signal, it’s wise to obey, no matter what we may think we know.
Peter is not real crazy about Jesus' plan so he takes Jesus aside and begins to rebuke Him. He tells Jesus that His plan is all wrong and that He is not going to die. Wow! The audacity of Peter to rebuke Jesus. Jesus then calls Peter His "adversary" which is the translation of the word "satan" and tells Pete to get behind Him. An adversary is one who opposes you or your plan and that is exactly what Peter was doing. Jesus even tells Peter why he is opposing Him "…for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's."
What type of Bozo would think such a thing? I have to admit I have more in common with Peter than Jesus. On more than one occasion I have thought my plan for my life was the best one. Maybe just maybe you likewise have followed in the footsteps of Peter and Gary and thought God's plans for you were all wrong. Well, go ahead and get a good laugh out of it, shake your head in bewilderment of how you could be so stupid to ever think God would be wrong and then tell God you are now willing to follow His plan for you.
IF those plans would have come to fruition I am sure that Proverbs 14 would have been speaking about me. Prov. 14:12 - There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. I think we could all agree that what God says in Jeremiah has a much better sound and promise to it. Jere. 29:11 - For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. When you accept God's plans for your life you will be able to find contentment with whatever is happening because you know this will all work out for the good just like Paul says in Romans 8. Think About These: It is better to appreciate something you have than to have something you can't appreciate. Happiness will never come to those who fail to appreciate what they already have. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word 1. Copied - https://bible.org/illustration/baltimore-orioles-manager Two Interesting Facts About Jesus' Birth Place
Luke 2:15 -16 - When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us. So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger." NASU I send this Pump Up out every year at this time for all my new subscribers. I have made some updates to it this year. May you have a very Merry Christmas.
What some may not know is the meaning of Bethlehem. It means "house of bread." Jesus was the Bread of Life or the Bread of God that came from the "house of bread" to give spiritual life to the world. John 6:33 - "For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world." John 6:35 - Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. John 6:41 - So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” John 6:48 - "I am the bread of life." John 6:51 - "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” Jesus was and is the Bread of Life. If you are spiritually hungry Jesus is the One who can take away all of your hunger pains. If you have been wondering "What is my purpose?" Then look to Jesus for your answers.
The sheep were offered on the altar were special as they were sheep without a blemish. When John the Baptist saw Jesus he said this about Him. John 1:29 - The next day he *saw Jesus coming to him and *said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! John saw Jesus as the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world and this Lamb was born in Bethlehem where a lot of other lambs were born and would sacrifice their blood. But only the blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus, could totally atone for the sins of mankind. I hope and pray you have allowed the blood of Jesus to wash away your sins.
Please don't forget many years ago the Bread of Life, Jesus, and the Lamb of God, Jesus, was born in Bethlehem. This all happened so that we could be fed spiritually and our sins could be atoned for by the Blood of the Lamb, which is Jesus. What greater gift could anyone receive? Truly, Jesus is the Gift that keeps on giving. Think About These: Blessed are those who can give without remembering, and receive without forgetting. The Christmas season is only as meaningful as we make it. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word John 1:4-5 - In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. NASB
The people in this world who will accept Jesus as the Light of the world will receive spiritual Light. Jesus will also give them spiritual Life. John 8:12 - Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life." John 12:36 - "While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light." It is Christmas time and for many this is known as a time to give gifts. I would like to encourage all of my readers if you have not given yourself the gift of Life through Jesus Christ the Light of the world now is the time. (Contact me and I will be happy to share how you can accept the gift of eternal life from Jesus the Light of the world.) If you already have given yourself the gift of Life then by all means please share this gift with others and as you share remember this one thing.
One of the saddest things I have experienced in my life time is sharing the gospel with people and they would not allow the Light to shine into their life. I can remember equating this event to the lyrics of a song sung by the rock band known as the Eagles. The song was entitled "Already Gone" the lyrics are as follows: "Just remember this my girl when you look up in the sky You can see the stars and still not see the light, that's right." I have told numerous people about Jesus the Light but they were not able to comprehend what I was saying. In other words, I was not able to lead them out of the darkness and into the Light. They could see the stars but they couldn't see the Light, Jesus Christ the One who made the stars.
Also, it is my prayer that anyone you shine the Light on will be led out of the darkness and truly see the Light of the world, Jesus Christ. Think About These: We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. Life is 10% what you make it and 90% how you take it. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word |
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