Phenomenal Jesus

“That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.”
Matthew 8:17 KJV

Is your goal to be like Jesus? Then you must have the same goal in mind that He had. It appears from this scripture, that He was aware that He had made promises that He needed to fulfill.

Are are you good at keeping your word? If you are like most of us, you will say something like, “well, it depends,”.. Those three words we use as an excuse for breaking our word were never used by The Lord. He fulfilled every prophecy that He spoke about Himself. Was he persecuted? Reviled? Threatened? Blasphemed against? Betrayed? Ignored? Despised? Rejected? Yes. All of the above, yet he kept His word to His Father and humanity. He found a way. Jesus’ ability to keep His word depended on keeping His relationship with the Father God who is the source of all strength and favor.

This is all we need to keep our word. We need to be close to the Father. We need to know His heart, His expectations and love and want to please Him. He becomes the force behind our actions and obedience becomes a joy not a burden.

Jesus healed all to keep His word and prophecy would be fulfilled. What have you done to fulfill prophecy spoken about you? That you are faithful, kind, loving and giving. Do you still say, “well, it depends” or are you willing to trust the Father to empower you as Jesus did. He is our example and our strength.

That’s our phenomenal Jesus.

Weekly Encouragement (Psalm 107)

We need healing continually. Daily we are influenced by the sinful world around us, or we are drawn away from The Lord by our own lusts or weaknesses.

This word will bring gladness to your heart. God always answers and delivers us when we cry out to Him. Lets spend some time meditating on His great goodness to us.

“O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;

For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness. Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron; Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High: Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.

Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses. He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!”
Psalms 107:1, 2, 9-13, 19-21 KJV

Okay. You got it! Lets finish strong. Pass it on

Weekly Encouragement (1 Chronicles 29:10-14)

No wonder they called David the “Sweet Psalmist of Israel.” I’m sure these humble words were sweet in God’s ear as well as in ours.

Today remember the greatness of our God. There is none like Him.

“David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying, “Praise be to you, Lord, the God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.”
1 Chronicles 29:10-14 NIV

Let this be your prayer today. Lets finish strong! Pass it on!

Weekly Encouragement (Colossians 2:6-10)

God is wonderful! This passage is full of power! It’s awesome to think that this letter to believers became a permanent part of Gods written word throughout all ages. Lets be mindful to honor God by giving His word our full attention. Let this sink in. It’ll do you good!

 Colossians 2:6-10 KJV

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:”

Since we are complete in Him, Lets finish strong. Pass it on!

Weekly Encouragement (Mark 3:1-6)

Wow! Talk about pressure. As believers we are faced with many pressures; from within and from without. Thank God our phenomenal Jesus has already faced these pressures and overcome them, paving the way to victory for us. We should never fear what the enemy’s threats, stares or words.

Every day we hear reports of lawsuits against Christians preaching the gospel. This is not new and will always be. But the phenomenal Jesus has given us the power to overcome every enemy! Make fear bow! Step out in faith and do the works of God! Our Phenomenal Jesus is with you, cheering you on!

“And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand. And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him. And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth. And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace. And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other. And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.” Mark 3:1-6 KJV

Lets finish strong!  pass it on!

The City Rejoices!

“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 KJV

Well saints, we have our work cut out for us. That’s a good thing. Our assignment never changes: Preach the gospel in demonstration and power of the Holy Spirit. We all want our cities to rejoice. The answer is not in another movement, electronic device or government bill. The answer is in our mouths and in our hearts.

Ask The Lord to put you in the presence of someone who needs His help. Every day. Your city will rejoice and miracles that God will do!

Lets finish strong. Pass it on!

Midweek Encouragement (Psalm 66)

Just took this loaf out of the oven!  Boy, the aroma it sends up is indescribable! I challenge you to make the word of God your best friend.  Start today!

Psalm 66:1-12, 16-20 MSG

“All together now—applause for God!
Sing songs to the tune of his glory,
set glory to the rhythms of his praise.
Say of God, “We’ve never seen anything like him!”
When your enemies see you in action,
they slink off like scolded dogs.
The whole earth falls to its knees—
it worships you, sings to you,
can’t stop enjoying your name and fame.

Take a good look at God’s wonders—
they’ll take your breath away.
He converted sea to dry land;
travelers crossed the river on foot.
Now isn’t that cause for a song?

Ever sovereign in his high tower, he keeps
his eye on the godless nations.
Rebels don’t dare
raise a finger against him.

Bless our God, O peoples!
Give him a thunderous welcome!
Didn’t he set us on the road to life?
Didn’t he keep us out of the ditch?
He trained us first,
passed us like silver through refining fires,
Brought us into hardscrabble country,
pushed us to our very limit,
Road-tested us inside and out,
took us to hell and back;
Finally he brought us
to this well-watered place…

All believers, come here and listen,
let me tell you what God did for me.
I called out to him with my mouth,
my tongue shaped the sounds of music.
If I had been cozy with evil,
the Lord would never have listened.
But he most surely did listen,
he came on the double when he heard my prayer.
Blessed be God: he didn’t turn a deaf ear,
he stayed with me, loyal in his love.

We started out strong; lets finish strong!