Remove the stone of your grave.

 Meditation John 11:31-40

1. The Jews who were in the house with Mary saw her hastily rising up and going out followed her saying that she is going to the grave to weep there. (V31)
2. Mary came to the place where Jesus was and fell at his feet saying if he was there his brother would not have died. (V32)
3. When Jesus saw Mary weeping and the Jews who came with her weeping too he groaned in his Spirit and was troubled. (V33)
4. Jesus asked them where they have laid Lazarus and they said to him to come and see. (V34)
5. Jesus wept and the Jews said to themselves how much he loved Lazarus.  (V35,36)
6. Some people said if Christ can open the eyes of the blind He could have stopped Lazarus from dying too. (V37)
7. Jesus groaned again and he came to the grave. The grave was a cave and a stone was laid on it. (V38)
8. Jesus told them to remove the stone. Martha said to him that Lazarus will stink and he was dead four days ago. (V39)
9. Jesus said to her again that if she believes she will see the glory of God. (V40)

LIFE APPLICATION:

Moving the heart of Christ:

There is something very striking in this chapter about Mary that moved the very heart of God to do a miracle which was not there in Martha, that the spirit of God shed his light upon. Let us dig in a little deeper.

1. Be still:

Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.
John:11:20

I would like to compare this to the sower's parable. Some seeds sprout easily but faded fast, but some patiently gave fruits in its time.

Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
Matthew:13:5

And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
Matthew:13:6

But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
Luke:8:15

Are we able to bring forth fruit with patience? Are we able to be still and wait for God like Mary did ? Let's examine ourselves.

2.  Rising up and going out:

The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there.
John:11:31

Mary rose up and went out of the place of mourning. She refused to  identify herself with the mourners but rose above that level to find the one who can make things whole.

Are we willing to shake the shackles to meet our creator? Are we still seeking comforter among the mourners or are we willing to look up to the hills from where our help comes from?

3. Mary's eyes were opened:

Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
John:11:32

There is something very interesting in this verse.
Mary came to the place where Jesus was. She did not meet him on the way as Martha did.

Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.
John:11:20

So where was Jesus when Mary met him? Let me take you further into the deeper waters. The word of God says,

Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
Ephesians:1:20

Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
Ephesians:1:21

Yes! Halleluyah! Mary rose up to meet Christ in the heavenly places as the king of kings and Lord of Lords seated on the throne and her eyes was opened to see him as the King.

The  eyes of Martha was able to perceive Christ as a man. But the eyes of Mary was opened to see  Christ as God in all his glory, that she could not but bow down and fall at his feet and beg for mercy.

Dear Child of God!
 1. Are you willing to shake your shackles?
2. Are you willing to rise up to the heavenly places where Christ is seated through praise and prayer?
3. Are our eyes opened to see Christ as the King of kings and Lord of Lords and humble ourselves at his feet? Then our miracle is very close to us.

 4. The attitude:

Both Mary and Martha asks the same question to Christ. But let us probe into the attitude difference.

Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
John:11:21

Then when Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
John:11:32

Mary exhibits a high degree of humility as her eyes are opened to see Christ as God and falls at his feet.

Are we able to see Christ as the Lord of our situations? Let's examine ourselves.

5. Mary wept:

Nothing moves God's heart more than tears. He loves us so much that when Christ sees our tears he groans in his heart and he chooses to weep with us.

When Jesus, therefore, saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled.
John:11:33

Let us see some more examples from the scriptures as to how God's heart is moved with the tears of his people.

A. Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third-day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD.
2 Kings:20:5

God heals Hezekiah seeing his tears.

B. And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and beseeched him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews.
Esther:8:3

Esther be sought the king for mercy with tears.

C. Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?
Psalm:56:8

Our tears are collected in the bottle of God.

D. He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.
Isaiah:25:8

God himself will wipe away our tears.

E. And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;
Exodus:3:7

God remembers our very tears. He loves us. He weeps with us in our sorrow. He is not a distant God. He loves us intimately and passionately.

So let us humble ourselves and with a steadfast faith, We will cry out to God. He will definitely reward us and grant us our hearts desires.

 THE DEAD DREAMS :

All of us are born and grew up with lots of dreams. But in the meanwhile, most of our dreams and visions died because of various situations.

We get educated with dreams in our minds to do well. We get married with dreams of a beautiful home. We get children dreaming of someday they will be the best on Earth... We go to a job that someday we will be rich. ...

Our whole lives surround these dreams. But in reality when situations are not conducive our dreams slowly fall sick. They begin to fade and one day comes when they die.

We bury them thinking they can never be a part of us.
But then Christ comes to the cave where we buried our dreams as he went to meet Lazarus. He asks us,

And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.
John:11:34

Can we today call Christ to see the grave where we buried our dreams? Or are we going to say like Martha that Lord it has been four days there and it stinks?

Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
John:11:39

Today is the day! Christ wants to interfere in the very dead and decomposed dreams and situations of ours. All it needs is a simple formula.

HUMILITY+FAITH= MIRACLES.

Open thou mine eyes.... Lord

Meditation John chapter 9:24-34

1. Again they called the blind man and enquired of him telling him to give God the praise and they said that CHRIST was a sinner. ( V24)
2. The man answered them that he know not whether Christ is a sinner or not but he knows that his eyes were opened and he can see. (V25)
3. Again they asked him what Christ did to him and how he opened his eyes. (V26)
4. For this the man told them that he has told them before many times and then why they want to hear it Again? He asked them if they also want to become his disciples.
5. They said that he is a disciple of Christ but they are the disciples of Moses. V(28)
6. They said They know that God spoke to Moses but they do not know where Christ came from. (V29)
7. He replied to them why they are marvelling when Christ opened his eyes though no one knew where he is. (V30)
8. He said though God does not hear the sinners he will hear to the worshippers of God and the one that does his will. (V31)
9. Since the world began we have never heard of any man opening the eyes of the one born blind. (V32)
10. The man said if Christ is not of God he could not do anything.  (V33)
11. They answered to him that he is born of sin and is trying to teach then and cast him away. (V34)

 LIFE APPLICATION:

Today I am lead in my spirit to meditate on what happens when God opens our eyes. If our eyes are opened our lives are changed. Let us look into some scriptures for better understanding.

1. If our eyes are opened then we will able to comprehend who Christ is.

They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet.
John:9:17

2. If our eyes are opened we cannot stop testifying about Christ.

He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.
John:9:11

3. If our eyes are opened we will become a disciple of Christ waiting to follow him.

Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses' disciples.
John:9:28

4. If our eyes are opened we can never say that CHRIST is a sinner and we will be able to glorify him as Lord.

Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.
John:9:31

And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.
John:9:38

5. If our eyes are opened we will be able to see the good in people.

He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.
John:9:25

6. When our eyes are opened our eyes will see the well of water in the dry and thirsty land. Water here denotes the Spirit and the word of God.

And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.
Genesis:21:19

7. When our eyes are opened we can see the blessings God has for us and not the curse that follows us.

He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:
Numbers:24:4

How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel!
Numbers:24:5

8. When God opens our eyes we can see the mighty angelic protection God has kept for us. ... that we will not feel alone anymore.

And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
2 Kings:6:17

9. When God opens our eyes we will be able to behold the wondrous things from the law.

Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.
Psalm:119:18

10. Sometimes God wants to touch our eyes the second time. Or else we will not be able to see a man as a human... but when our eyes are opened we are able to see people as they are ought to be seen.

And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.
Mark:8:23

And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.
Mark:8:24

After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.
Mark:8:25.

Dear Child of God.... it is time for us to examine ourselves. Let us lay ourselves at the altar and  allow the spirit of God to purge our eyes a new.... Let the spirit of God minister unto our hearts furthermore. Amen.

The God of Sabbath

 Today's meditation John chapter 9:11-23.

1. When the neighbours asked the man how he got healed he said that a man called Jesus anointed his eyes with clay and asked him to go and wash it in the pool of Siloam and when he did so he was healed. (V11)
2. They asked him where
Christ was for which he said he knew not. (V12)
3. They brought him to the Pharisees (V13)
4. The day when Jesus healed the man was the Sabbath day . (V14)
5. The Pharisees asked the man again how he got healed and the man said that CHRIST put clay in his eyes and he washed and he saw. (V15)
6. Then there was confusion among the Pharisees that he is not God as he did not keep the Sabbath day while others said if he is a sinner how he can do such miracles and there was division among them. (V16)
7. They asked the blind man himself what he thinks about Christ for which he said he is a prophet.  (V17)
8. The Jews still did not believe him and called his parents of the man that received his sight. (V18)
9. They said that he is their son who was born blind, But they don't know how he got healed or who opened his eyes and that they can ask him themselves as he is of age. (V19, 21)
10. They said he is of age and to ask him about it because they feared the Jews as if anyone confess Christ, the Jews agreed that they will be put out of the synagogue.   (V22, 23)

 LIFE APPLICATION:

The Godly Sabbath:

Many of us struggle to find rest for our souls. We run and run and run... till we are drained... to the end. This is the reason God gave us the law of Sabbath that we will have a complete  day of rest and we make that day holy for the Lord.

And he said unto them, This is that which the LORD hath said, To morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the LORD: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.
Exodus:16:23

Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.
Exodus:31:15

This was given as a commandment through the law of Moses.

It is this law that the Pharisees felt offended with when Christ healed the blind on the Sabbath.

Now let us meditate on what it means by a Christ like Sabbath... that will give rest to our weary souls.

Why do we need rest?

Most of the time we get so weary of brokenness. We drench our bed with tears.

I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.
Psalm:6:6

2. Bitterness of soul makes our soul weary.

My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.
Job:10:1

3.  We become weary when we labour in vain.

Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The broad walls of Babylon shall be utterly broken, and her high gates shall be burned with fire; and the people shall labour in vain, and the folk in the fire, and they shall be weary.
Jeremiah:51:58

4. We weary ourselves for vanity.

Behold, is it not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labour in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity?
Habakkuk:2:13

5. We weary ourselves to commit iniquity.

And they will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity.
Jeremiah:9:5

Our God is a God of rest for every weary soul.

1. God said to Moses that he will give him rest.

And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.
Exodus:33:14

When God's presence go with us... he will give us rest.

2. Sabbath according to the commandment a way of giving us rest.

But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the LORD: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard.
Leviticus:25:4

3. God gives us rest amidst our enemies.


And the LORD gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand.
Joshua:21:44

4. We rest in hope

Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.
Psalm:16:9

5. We have rest in our Lord.

Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
Psalm:37:7

6. There is a rest for the people of God in Christ.

For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
Hebrews:4:8

There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
Hebrews:4:9

7. The yoke of Christ is much lighter and he gives rest to our souls.


Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Matthew:11:28


Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Matthew:11:29

This is why Christ said that he is also the Lord of the Sabbath day....

For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.
Matthew:12:8


And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:
Mark:2:27

This is why Paul writes to Colossians that we cannot be judged based on traditions.

Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
Colossians:2:16

Christ himself is our rest. May our souls find it's rest in the Lord of the Sabbath... Amen.

The great I AM

 Meditation John 8:51-59

1. Jesus said to them that if any man keeps his saying he shall not see death. (V51)
2. The Jews told him that he has a devil and that Abraham and other prophets died but he is telling that if any man shall keep his words they shall not die. (V52)
3. They asked what he is making of himself as Abraham and all the prophets died. (V53)
4. Jesus answered and said to them that if he honours himself his honour is nothing, but it is the Father who honours him, the one whom they say as God. (V54)
5. Jesus said that still they Don't know him but he knows him and that if Christ said he doesn't know the father then he is also a liar like them. Jesus said he knows the Father and keeps his sayings. (V55)
6. Jesus said even Abraham wanted to see his day and he saw it and was glad. (V56)
7. Then the Jews started murmuring that CHRIST was not even fifty years old and how had he seen him. (V57)
8. For this Christ verily verily said unto them that before Abraham, was he. (V58)
9. They took stones to stone him, but Christ went out of the temple and passed by through their midst. (V59)

LIFE APPLICATION:

The great I AM

Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
John:8:58

Today, God put in my heart to share a small thought on the great I AM.
As I am writing this, my heart shivers as I ponder the greatness of our Almighty God and King.

By his grace and mercy, let me show you a glimpse of this great I AM from the scriptures as the way the spirit of God leads me to do.

This word "AM" is very interesting. It means it is a present tense always, and is not changed by the past or by the future.
Simply put, the word has no tense.

This is very difficult to explain with human words, with a small mind we can comprehend with.

Let me turn into the scriptures for better enlightening.

When God tried to explain who he is to Moses, all that he could say is I AM THAT I AM.

And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
Exodus:3:14

Dear Child of God! That is he... The great I AM.

 He can never be equated. He can never be duplicated. He can never have a rival; HE can never have a beginning and he does not have an end. He is eternal; HE is immortal;

1. HE IS THE BEGINNING AND THE END:

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
Revelation:1:8

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
Revelation:22:13

2. He is the Lord.

That the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, I am the LORD: speak thou unto Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say unto thee.
Exodus:6:29

3. He is the Lord that healeth us:

And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.
Exodus:15:26

4. He is a Gracious God.

and it shall come to pass, when he crieth unto me, that I will hear; for I am gracious.
Exodus:22:27

5. He is the Lord that sanctifies us.

And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the LORD which sanctify you.
Leviticus:20:8

6. He is a holy God.

Neither shall ye profane my holy name; but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel: I am the LORD which hallow you,
Leviticus:22:32

7. He is GOD.

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
Psalm:46:10

8. He is GOD that makes all things.

Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;
Isaiah:44:24

9. God created all alone and there was no other Gods besides him.

I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:
Isaiah:45:5

10. He is the Lord that teaches us.

Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.
Isaiah:48:17

11. He is GOD thy deliverer.

Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.
Jeremiah:1:8

12. He is GOD of all flesh and nothing is difficult for him.

Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me?
Jeremiah:32:27

13. He is understanding.

Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.
Proverbs:8:14

14. He is a great king:

But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the LORD a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen.
Malachi:1:14

15. He is a God who changes not.

For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
Malachi:3:6

Christ carried the same glory of the father

1. Jesus said he is with us always.

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Matthew:28:20

2. Jesus himself said " I AM"

And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
Mark:14:62

3. Jesus said that he is the way, the truth and the life.

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John:14:6

4. Jesus is the Light.

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
John:8:12

5. Jesus said that he is the door.

Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
John:10:7

6. Jesus said he is the vine and he is the shepherd.

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
John:15:5

I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
John:10:14

7. Jesus said he is in the Father and the Father God in him.

Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.
John:14:11
J
At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
John:14:20

8. Jesus is Master and Lord.

Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
John:13:13

9. Jesus is the resurrection and life.

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
John:11:25

10. Jesus is the Son of God.

Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?
John:10:36

11. It is CHRIST who lived, died and alive for evermore.

I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive forevermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
Revelation:1:18

Dear Child of God,
God is GOD. There can be none equal or more to him. This includes to the devil too.

Today let us know our Great God who is with us, that we will not be fooled by the enemy.

He is GOD the Emmanuel.

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Matthew:1:23

He is GOD with us. Know more about this great I AM. ... May God reveal to us more. Amen.

The Truth will set you free

Meditation John 8:31-40

1. Jesus said to those who believed in him that if we continue believing in the word of God then we are his disciples. (V31)
2. Christ said when we know the truth will make us free. (V32)
3. For this, the Jews said they were the seed of Abraham and they were not under bondage to any man. They asked him why they are telling them to become free. (V33)
4. Jesus said to them that whoever commits a sin they are servants of sin. (V34)
5. The servant cannot stay in the house forever but the son can. (V35)
6. Hence if the son shall make us free we are indeed free. (V36)
7. Jesus told the Jews that though they were of Abraham's seed, still they seek to kill Christ because his word has no place in them. (V37)
8. Jesus said he does things of his father but they are doing things of their father. (V38)
9. For this they said Abraham was their father. For this Christ said they will do the works of Abraham if they were his children. ( v39)
10. Christ told them then why do they seek to kill him who speak to them the words of God when Abraham never did so. (V40)

 LIFE APPLICATION 1:
FREEDOM IN CHRIST:
Today's meditation help us to realise how we are bound and how we are set free through the truth. (V34)

SIN and it's consequences:

Dear Child of God! Sin is a dangerous disease than cancer. It can make us its servant. It can get us bound... and make us to end up in eternal damnation. Do not play with sin. Sin has the potential to get you into a deep bondage.
SIN brings curse and curse brings death.

A. Sin does not give us rest. Our bones become restless because of sin.

There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin.
Psalm:38:3

B. If we sin against God we shall die.

Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling-block before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
Ezekiel:3:20

C. We are destroying our own soul when we sin.

But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.
Proverbs:6:32

Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul: he heareth cursing, and bewrayeth it not.
Proverbs:29:24

D. Sin is alluring; but at last it bites like a serpent.

Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
Proverbs:23:31

At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.
Proverbs:23:32

E. One sin can lead to many sins and end us up in a mess.

Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.
Proverbs:23:33

Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.
Proverbs:23:34

F. Sin is addictive. It will make you want it more till you are destroyed completely. 

They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.
Proverbs:23:35

G. Sin operates in darkness:

Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
Proverbs:9:17

But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.
Proverbs:9:18

The WORD of GOD says the man who sins is a slave to sin. The wages of sin is death. But Christ came to give us life and life in abundance.


For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans:6:23

The redemption work of Christ:

Dear Child of God! How much ever your life is a mess. Christ came to set the captives free.

He came down to heaven only to heal your broken heart and heal your aching wounds. He is concerned of you to build you up again.

The spirit of God filled Christ without measure that we that are captives and are bound are set free.

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
Isaiah:61:1

Christ has manifested that he can take away all our sins.
And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
1 John:3:5

This is what CHRIST said whom the son sets free they are free indeed. If we know the truth the truth will set us free.

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
John:8:36

LIFE APPLICATION: 2
BECOMING DISCIPLES of GOD:

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
John:8:31

Here below are some marks and traits of true disciples of God.

A. If we continue in the word of God we are the disciples of God.

If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
John:8:31

B. We are disciples of CHRIST when we love one another.

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
John:13:35

C. We become disciples of CHRIST when we give more fruits for his glory.

Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
John:15:8

D. How CHRIST is so will be his disciples.

It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
Matthew:10:25

E. Disciples carry their cross to follow Christ.

And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
Luke:14:27

Shortly, disciple is a person who sits at the feet of his master each day to learn from him and to follow him wherever he goes.

So once we are out of our sins through the power of the cross, God invites us to walk in the freedom as being disciples of Christ, taking his nature on us.


So this is how the series goes.

1. Allow the spirit of God to convict you of your sins.

2. Repent and ask the blood of Christ to cleanse you.

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
1 John:1:7

3. Believe and be immersion baptised as a symbol of your repentance and regeneration.

And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;
Luke:3:3

4. Be a part of a spirit-filled church which will nourish and help you sustain this new freedom you have found in Christ.

5. Continue in his word as CHRIST said being his disciple with a renewed mind.

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.
Romans:12:2

May the good Lord lead you through these stages as you work up the salvation of your souls.
Amen.

Know ye the father

 Meditation John 8:13-20

1. The Pharisees said that the record of CHRIST is not true as he is bearing record of himself. (V13)
2. Jesus replied unto them that his record is true though he bears it of himself as he knew where he came from and where he goes though others can never say where he comes from and where he goes. (V14)
3. He told them that they judge according to flesh and that he judges no man. (V15)
4. He said even if he judge his judgement is true because he is not alone but he and the father who sent him. (V16)
5. It is written in the law that the testimony of two men is true. ( V17)
6. Jesus said he and his father bears witness about him. (V18)
7. They asked him about his father for which Christ said they neither know him nor his father. For if they know him they will know the father too. (V19)
8. Jesus spoke about these words boldly but no man laid their hands on him as his time did not come yet. (V20)

 LIFE APPLICATION:

Today I was lead in my spirit to share something from the scriptures on who our heavenly father is.

Jesus said,
Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.
John:8:19

Most of don't have a good earthly father to compare and comprehend on how our heavenly father look and feel like.

This makes us have a hazy picture of how the heavenly father is.

John writes,

I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning.

I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one.

 I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.
1 John:2:13

There are stages of spiritual maturity as revealed by John...
1. A child knowing the warmth of a father.
2. Young men who abide in the word and overcome the enemy.
3. Fathers who have known the one that is from the beginning.

Today God put in my heart to share the attributes of our heavenly father.

1. God is a father to the fatherless:

A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.
Psalm:68:5

2. He pitieth for us as we fear him.

Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
Psalm:103:13

3. God as a father delights in us.

For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
Proverbs:3:12

4. He is our father who bought us, made us and established us when we were lost in the wilderness.

Do ye thus requite the LORD, O foolish people and unwise? is not he thy father that hath bought thee? hath he not made thee, and established thee?
Deuteronomy:32:6

5. This father God instructs us and keep us as the Apple of his eye.

He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye.
Deuteronomy:32:10

6. As the eagle stirred its nest to lead it's young to fly so does the Lord does for us that we will ride on high places.

As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings:
Deuteronomy:32:11

So the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him.
Deuteronomy:32:12


He made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and he made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock;
Deuteronomy:32:13

7. God himself says that he is a father to us.... whenever we go to him weeping and crying he hears us. He leads us by the way of rivers and we shall not stumble.

They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.
Jeremiah:31:9

8. Father God loves us.

For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.
John:16:27

9. He is a merciful father.

Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
Luke:6:36

10. Your Father in heaven is concerned of your needs.

For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
Luke:12:30

11. Father God loves us so much that we are called the sons of God.

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
1 John:3:1

12. God did not love us passively... He loves us passionately to give his only son Jesus Christ to die for us at the cross.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John:3:16

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
John:3:17

13. Father God has given all authority to his son Jesus CHRIST that we can reach the Father God through him.

The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
John:3:35

14. He is a giver of good gifts.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
James:1:17

15. He is a faithful God. He keeps his promises to generations.

Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;
Deuteronomy:7:9

 These verses are taken from the Holy Bible.  The WORD of GOD cannot lie. Dear Child of God, know the truth and the truth will set you free.

Do you feel,
1. You are not loved by God?
2. Does circumstances make you feel God does not care for You?
3. Do you think God is sitting on his throne somewhere and not concerned about You?
4. Do you think God is distant from You?
5. Do you feel your heavenly father is unjust to You?
6. Do you feel his love is conditional and you need to be more righteous to gain his love?

These are a few lies that are aimed at our hearts by the devil, arising straight from hell.

Dear Child of God.... one more secret I can tell you with great confidence. You can never be cast away from this father, when you go to him in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

Christ himself was forsaken by the father that we might not be forsaken. Christ himself had paid the price of being forsaken of the father, that we have access to the throne of grace.

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Matthew:27:46


Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews:4:16


Fight it with these scriptures... You are a CHOSEN GENERATION... whom God himself has chosen to be a FATHER...Enjoy the warmth of the father in GOD.....  dear Child and be filled with peace everlasting.
MAY GOD REVEAL HIMSELF to you more. God bless you all.