Tag Archives: Jesus

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As Oxygen Is to the Blood, so Is the Holy Ghost to Your Soul

What is the unique relationship between oxygen and blood? Oxygen is necessary for cell growth and energy. It enters a persons bloodstream through the lungs. The blood carries oxygen to the cells of the body. In the cells, oxygen combines with the chemicals obtained from food to produce energy needed for each cell to preform its function in the body.

In the book “The Blood Covenant,” it talks of a blood covenant or an agreement for life between two individuals that can not be broken by death. One can only reflect back over the Biblical past of how God required a sacrifice. It was always a blood sacrifice. In all of the atonement sacrifices or offering God requires, its one of blood. However, there was only one human by the name Jesus Christ who was sacrificed for all the sins of this world committed by humans. God would only accept a blood sacrifice, because there is life in the blood. You must remember we serve a God who is alive, not dead.

Recall when Cain slew Able, and how Able’s blood cried unto the Lord. Genesis 4:9-11 says, 9 And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper? 10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground. 11 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand;

As you can see there is life in the blood. Even in the dark world you never hear those involved with Satanic and Demonic practices say things like, “Let’s make a corpse sacrifice.” You can’t get anything from nothing, and you don’t go to sport arenas to see your favorite corpse running track or your favorite baseball player trying to strike someone out when all the players are out. You do realize Christ died for the living, not Timmy and the Grave Yard Crew. The God of god’s is not dead. How can He be when He created death to our understanding the concept of what death is. Realize this: God gave His only Son as a blood sacrifice for all of humanity.

Romans 3:23-25 reads, 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

Leviticus 17:13-14 says, 13 And whatsoever man there be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, which hunteth and catcheth any beast or fowl that may be eaten; he shall even pour out the blood thereof, and cover it with dust. 14 For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off.

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Mark 1

The Gospels aren’t just stories for you to read, but blueprints for you to follow. The Gospel of Mark has its own flavor that leads us into the understanding of the Son of God, Jesus the Anointed, promised Messiah.

Mark gives us a picture of the servant-hood of Jesus, doing the acts that were destined for Him from His Father who sent Him.

Throughout this first chapter, we see characteristics of what a servant should be, the importance of being obedient to God, the significance of walking in the authority of the One who sent you. A servant loves their master and the masters wish is their command although in a true and healthy master to servant relationship, the servant has free will.

The Wonderful News

Mark doesn’t start his gospel off with a lengthy introduction but rather goes straight to the heart of what Jesus came to do: bring salvation. This is the wonderful news about Jesus! Mark speaks immediately of John the Baptist who was prophesied to come by Isaiah. John was dressed very simply. He didn’t look like “a prophet,” dressed in the prestigious garb of the day. We can’t determine if someone is qualified by the way they look, and those who came to him to be baptized didn’t judge him as such, but listened with intention to his message and repented of their sins.

The Baptism and Testing of Jesus

Jesus was baptized by John, although not to remove sins, as He was sinless, but as a testament to the death of the flesh, to rely completely on the “Spirit-dove,” that fell upon Him. The Spirit compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness to fast for 40 days to be tested by Satan and He was met by wild beasts but Angels attended to Him. Its a reminder that we will endure trials just as the Son of God did. As soon as we get on the right path to God, Satan rears his head. Yet, God will surround us, even with angelic activity, to protect us.

Satan thought that the Son of God, perceived as a mere human, could easily have been tempted by human, fleshly weaknesses. The desperation of hunger and the desire for power Satan thought he could tempt Jesus on, but Jesus overcame by the Word of God.

Jesus Calls Four Fishermen to Follow Him

Jesus, immediately after His testing, went and taught about the Gospel in the region of Galilee, preaching repentance as access to the Kingdom of God. Jesus taught with authority. Think of a subject you’ve heard taught by two different people. One may have compelled you in a different way the other teacher did not, simply because of the authority and authenticity they carried.

Jesus also immediately called His disciples, Andrew, Simon, James and John. Immediately, they left their fishing endeavors and followed Jesus. How amazing that Jesus, unknown to them, by His very presence and authority would compel these perfect strangers to follow Him.

Jesus Casts out a Demon

Jesus authority was apparent when He taught. His words held such authority that as he spoke, unclean spirits within people listening to Him manifested in fear! It is sad because those who were suppose to fear Him didn’t, but those who you wouldn’t think to fear Him actually do. Jesus simply and shortly silenced these demons. There was no yelling or tarrying when He cast the demons out. They came out quickly. The people were astonished and instead of embracing this truth from Jesus, they constantly questioned it. They didn’t realize to what degree of a false reality they lived in.

Jesus Heals Many

Jesus healing Simon’s mother was very simple. He just touched her and she was healed. His fame spread because of His miracles, casting out demons and healing others. We need to see Jesus and take tips from Him. He was tempted, tried by Satan, over came, and was ministering to others with simple faith in His identity.

Jesus values the secret place of prayer with His Father, for he went away before the sun was even up to be alone. Jesus is always going against the grain of societal norms, having touched an untouchable leper. He had great compassion on his condition that He physically touched him to heal him. Jesus was discreet by telling the leaper not to tell anyone, but His ministry was nothing but discreet because many people flocked around Him.

Sickness is a part of the human condition which entered into our humanity because of the curse of sin. Jesus has come to break the curse of sin by healing everyone who was sick and oppressed by demons.

Jesus preached and healed and performed miracles in tandem. He didn’t do one without the other.

Summary

  1. The Holy Ghost will lead through the wilderness
  2. Preach and heal wherever you go
  3. Jesus is the blueprint
  4. Let Christ rewrite your life
  5. The light in you will uncover darkness
  6. Be alone with God in prayer
  7. Always be available to be used by God
  8. Walk in Holy Ghost authority
  9. Know where to get your healing
  10. Holy Ghost in you will always profess the truth
  11. Key characteristics of a servant
  12. Importance of obedience to God
  13. Walk in the authority you’ve been given
  14. Jesus as supreme authority over all things
  15. Apostleship and servant-hood go hand in hand
  16. Servitude carries not attitude
  17. Follow Christ without delay
  18. Servants must have compassion

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What Tool Are You Using in This Walk of Warfare?

Have you ever been in a situation or confrontation with someone or something that you felt so inadequate to handle, to the point that you got flustered enough that you were at the verge of giving up in hopelessness and despair? Maybe even in some cases you fell into a mental traffic jam?

An auto mechanic uses a set of sockets and wrenches and power air devices to assist in fixing cars. A baker needs pots and pans, cups, spoons and kitchen appliance to mix the ingredients to make delicious baked goods. A doctor needs scalpels, syringes and intricate machinery to look at and into the human body to properly diagnose. An electrician need meters and screwdrivers, pliers, electrical tape, and wire to preform the task at hand to it fullest. To resolve a problem in your life, you need the appropriate tool, device and instrumentation for the job, situation, or confrontation, whether physical or spiritual.

Here are six question you need to ask yourself, so that you can ascertain what type of steps that can be taken to be free and healed.

  1. What is the nature of the problem or situation
  2. Who or what is the cause of the situation
  3. Is it personal or an ongoing problem
  4. How long is it been going on
  5. What are your emotional attachments
  6. Do you understand what’s happening and do you truly want to be freed and delivered?

If we can answer these questions honestly and truthfully we can be on our way to restoration. If we understand who or what is the cause of our dilemma, then we will know what tools are needed to resolve that issue. As a son or daughters of Jesus Christ, the Word of God encourages us in Ephesians 6:10-13, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

Know this, before you can put on the whole armor, you first have to know what the armor is, where the armor is and how to use the armor.

As we look in the book of 2 Corinthians 10:3-7, it reads, “3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. 7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s. “

Philippians 1:20-24 says, “20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. 23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: 24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.”

Jesus needs as many of us to carry His love and will for all of mankind no matter who or what their lifestyle consists of, because we must remember we were all in sin and lived accordingly to its laws. But now those who are new creatures are no longer held captive to their sin nature, but are renewed into Jesus Christ’s Heart and into a new life in him.

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Who’s Keeps Setting You up for Defeat?

People always seem to wonder why they keep falling into the same trap or situation when they keep ending up in the same life. Some say that, “My past is holding me back from my future.” Why do we always blame our past for what we are doing in the present? We never look at our past and why we did what we did and who we did it for. In order to really get a grasp on why we act or think the way we do, we need to take the time out of our busy lives and make up in our heart and mind and listen closely to the words Michael Jordan said: Just Do It.

Romans 12:2-3 says “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”

We tend to blame others for our failure in this life when it all boils down to it. Sure people can contribute to the failures in your life, but everything you go through or every failure you have in this life ultimately comes down to you. Proverbs 23:7 says, ” For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.”

Sometimes people try so hard to love this world and what it has to offer, that they tend to forget that this life is only temporal. Their standing is contempt with God. Look at someone and say, “Are you setting me up?” Due to this life, they are trying to please oneself and this world has taken a heavy toll on the human psyche and soul to which, most people in this world are unstable in their life and in the way they think. Through the instabilities in their life, men and women, even children fail in the littlest demands on them and have become very unstable plus unpredictable. This has lead to crimes and an unrest in their neighborhoods, communities, towns, states and even their countries. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 says this, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 1 John 2:15-17 says, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”

The only enemy you really have to FaceTime with is yourself, as Michael Jackson said with the lyric, “I’m looking at the man in the mirror, and I’m asking him to change his ways.” Now if you are really ready to start a new life, that change begins the moment you give into Jesus’ call.

If you are ready to make that decision now, you can but ask and once you have made that decision, don’t be like the individual in Luke 9:57-62, “And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

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How Far Are You in This World or is the World in You?

One might ask, “When am I in the world or of the world?” The Bible states that so a man thinks in his heart so is he. How many people hear the sound of my word today with a stable mind and heart which is not controlled by their emotions? Have you ever begun speaking with someone and noticed that as you were speaking they looked to be preoccupied with something else on their mind? It’s almost as though the lights are on, but no one is home. Sometimes I believe the Lord looks at us this way as well. We are sometimes so preoccupied with self that we can not hear His voice or see Him moving in situations or in the atmosphere.

9 And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. 10 And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable. 11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: 12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them. 13 And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables? 14 The sower soweth the word. 15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. 16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended. 18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, 19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

Mark 4:9-19

In these verses when you’re preoccupied with things in your life, you may inadvertently tune out Christ. When He tries to talk to you with the simple things, if you’re preoccupied with your life, how will you ever hear Him in the deep things? You see, when you have locked yourself into this world, you won’t know how deeply rooted into the world you are.

What does it read in the 19th verse again of Mark 4? “And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.”

Not with standing you might want to ask yourself how far have you gone or how far are you willing to go in this world?

3 Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat. 4 Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. 5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven 6 Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats: 7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.

Proverbs 23:3-7

You have to remember Christ wasn’t of this world and neither should we be (John 17:16.) With the advent of so many things going on in our lives these days, where does your hope and treasure lie?

30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. 31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. 32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. 33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. 34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

Matthew 12:30-35

Always know an understand this, if your more preoccupied with this life and the cares of what going on around you, then ask how far am I in?