Found 240 result(s).
Stone-throwing: Don't Join the Club
Thursday, August 29, 2024
They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? -- John 8:4, 5
"She should be stoned!" It takes more than one person to stone someone. The scribes and Pharisees demanded the stoning of the woman. Why so many in agreement? Because the "stone-throwing spirit" had been transferred from one to another. It is no fun to gossip, criticize, and grumble alone! It must spread to others before you can enjoy and get satisfaction from it! Many relationships, many workplaces, many churches have been destroyed because of the "stone-throwing spirit" spreading from one to another. The Bible says a root of bitterness "defiles the many." Do not jump on board with stone-throwing and accusation. It will cripple your faith and short-circuit your anointing. Be on guard against corrupt communication and become a pray-er rather than a wrong say-er.
Stone-throwing: What Do You See?
Wednesday, August 28, 2024
Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.” -- John 8:5, 6
"As though He heard them not." Jesus was good at tuning out what He did not need to hear. He would shut down the lies, gossip, and criticalness of the people. Jesus knew who He was and saw the potential in others, not their faults. He did not focus on where they were at that moment, but where they could be in the future! He did not see an adulterous woman, but a delivered, forgiven, changed person who would serve His Father in the Kingdom. See the potential in all the people around you, especially in your spouse, your children, your family, your friends. See them through God's eyes, not through the eyes of a stone-thrower. Then help them reach their potential in God with faith and love.
Stone-throwing: Draw from God's Grace for Yourself
Tuesday, August 27, 2024
...Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard
them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them,
He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. --John 8:6, 7
"He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone." I am sure that this is not the response they wanted or expected from Jesus. If they knew He was going to turn it back around and focus on their walk with God, they would never have brought this woman to Him. Many times putting others down is done just to bring you up. This is because, really deep inside, you are ashamed of your performance in the things of God, but you feel better if someone else is doing worse than you. Christianity is not a race or a competition. It is your personal relationship with the Father by the Holy Spirit. Focus on your relationship with God. Allow Him to finish the work He began in you. Out of that relationship you will be able to build others up rather than tear them down. The closer you get to Him, the farther away from stone-throwing you will get.
Living By Faith: Use What You've Been Given!
Tuesday, August 20, 2024
...according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
-- Romans 12:3b
For God to command you to live by faith and then to not give you faith would be an injustice. But God has dealt to every man the measure of faith. God has given to every one who is born again the measure of faith. He has given you what you need to live by, what you need to please Him, and what you need to live in victory. He has given you “the measure.” That measure which He freely gave you can be increased and used, or ignored and left dormant. Many Christians are fooled into thinking that they do not have faith, so they spend countless hours praying and asking God for faith. “Lord, give me faith; please, God, give me faith.” They do not realize that He has given them the measure of faith. Until you know that you already have faith, you will never attempt to use faith. You will not use something you do not believe you have! You have been given the measure of faith. When you use that measure, it will grow and increase. You can have little faith, great faith, common faith, shipwrecked faith. You can be full of faith or full of fear. All will depend on what you do with the measure that you have been given. Use your faith in every situation. Talk God’s Word, not the problem–-believe God’s Word in every circumstance. Sit under the teaching of the Word, listen to teachings on CD’s, MP3's, and podcasts, and your measure of faith will change to become great faith.
Raised and Seated: How's the View?
Monday, August 19, 2024
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
-- Ephesians 2:6
We have learned that when Jesus was crucified, our old man was crucified; when Jesus died, our old man died, and when Jesus was buried, our old man was buried. We are no longer the same person we used to be. The old man has passed away, and we must associate and identify with his death. But in this verse we discover that the burial of the old man was not the end; there was also a raising-up of a new you, a new spiritual species of being, when Christ was raised from the dead. When He was raised, you were raised, when He was seated at the right hand of the Father, you were seated at the right hand of the Father. Everything that Jesus did, He did for mankind–-He did for you! His life, death, and resurrection were to benefit fallen mankind, to bring us out of the bondage and up from under the curse that Adam had placed on us. God did not need the cross, the angels did not need it, but mankind had to be killed and then reborn spiritually into a place of dominion and rulership. God’s original plan of making us in His image and likeness has never changed. His plan of man having authority and dominion has never changed. It was man who sinned and fell out of God’s perfect will for him. So God sent Jesus to die, be buried–-but also to be raised and seated–-so you could be raised and seated with Him!