“This is my Son, marked by my love, focus of my delight. Listen to him.” God about Jesus

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Elijah, God's Word, James, Jesus, John, Matthew 17, Moses, Peter

Jesus takes Peter, James and John with him. They will be his witness to what happens and what God says.

They were about to be present at a stunning time in our history.

God spoke and is clear. Jesus is God’s son. Jesus bears the mark of God. That mark is love. Jesus is the focus of God’s delight.

My job is to listen to Jesus.

Why? God said so! God is God. God has spoken.

God’s word is true and can’t be broken.

Six days later, three of them saw that glory. Jesus took Peter and the brothers, James and John, and led them up a high mountain. His appearance changed from the inside out, right before their eyes. Sunlight poured from his face. His clothes were filled with light. Then they realized that Moses and Elijah were also there in deep conversation with him.

Peter broke in, “Master, this is a great moment! What would you think if I built three memorials here on the mountain—one for you, one for Moses, one for Elijah?”

While he was going on like this, babbling, a light-radiant cloud enveloped them, and sounding from deep in the cloud a voice: “This is my Son, marked by my love, focus of my delight. Listen to him.”

When the disciples heard it, they fell flat on their faces, scared to death. But Jesus came over and touched them. “Don’t be afraid.” When they opened their eyes and looked around all they saw was Jesus, only Jesus.

Source: Matthew 17:1-8

The one whom Jesus loved

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James, Jesus, John 13, Love, Messiah, Peter

Love of Jesus

There were the multitudes.

There were the 72.

There were the 12.

Peter, James and John made up the 3.

Then there was the one whom Jesus loved. He reclined next to Jesus at the last supper. He heard what He whispered.

May I recline next to Jesus.

May I hear what He whispers.

One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. John 13:23

He is the reason for the season. Don’t deny him (like Peter). Greet all with Merry Christmas!!

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Christmas, Deny, Jesus, Peter

Jesus is the reason for the season. Don’t deny him (like Peter). Greet all with Merry Christmas!!

This is the challenge from Jesus. Are we afraid to be a follower?

Jesus is the reason

What is Jesus saying to me today that requires supernatural courage?

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Courage, Obedience, Peter

Courage

There were two who walked on water. Jesus wasn’t the only one. Peter had supernatural courage. Jesus said one word. It was “come”. Peter did.

What is Jesus saying to me that requires supernatural courage? It could be just one word. God has a goal for me today. I must discover what it is. I must have courage to act on it. It is all about what God wants. It is nothing about what I want.

May I move at His word. May I have supernatural courage. May I live in the new plan.

“You can know that freedom and release will be given because of your continued concentration on Jesus the Messiah.” ~Oswald Chambers

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Focus, Jesus, Oswald Chambers, Peter

Jesus on the cross

Am I focused on Jesus?

When Peter was walking on the water, all was fine. When Peter took his eyes off Jesus, he started to sink.

Am I focused on Jesus?

When you are brought face to face with a difficult situation and nothing happens externally, you can still know that freedom and release will be given because of your continued concentration on Jesus the Messiah.

–Oswald Chambers

Feel like you are missing God’s blessings? Try stepping out in faith on what you have already heard Him say.

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Blessings, God, Jesus, Messiah, Peter

God is talking to us. Just like Jesus did with Peter when Jesus was walking on the water in the middle of a storm. They all saw Jesus but thought it was a ghost.  But Jesus was quick to comfort them. “Courage, it’s me. Don’t be afraid.” Peter, suddenly bold, said, “Master, if it’s really you, call me to come to you on the water.” Jesus said, “Come ahead.” Two words. “Come ahead.”

Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to Jesus. But when he looked down at the waves churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink.

He cried, “Master, save me!” Jesus didn’t hesitate. He reached down and grabbed his hand. Then he said, “Faint-heart, what got into you?”

Peter received the blessing. First doubt, then faith, then fear, then restoration and then the lesson that leads to maturity.

Water longs to be walked on again. Will you step out? Will you receive the blessing? Be bold!! Have courage!!

Feel like you are missing God’s blessings? Try stepping out in faith on what you have already heard Him say.

 

“Your faith has healed you. Go in peace.” ~Jesus

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Healing, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Luke 8, Messiah, Peter

12 years is a long time. She had tried everything. No one could help. They all tried but it was useless. Nothing else to be done so it seemed. She was without hope and condemned to a painful future.

That is until she heard about Jesus. She knew he could heal her. All she needed to do was to touch him and tap into the power of the Holy Spirit in Him to be healed That is what she did and that is what happened. End of the story.

She would now live in peace because of the healing power of Jesus the Messiah.

And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. ‘Who touched me?’ Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, ‘Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.’ But Jesus said, ‘Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.’ Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. Then he said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.’ Luke 8:43-48

Where does my identity come from?

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Betrayal, Competition, Holy Spirit, Jesus, John, Judas Iscariot, Love, Messiah, Peter, Resurrection, Thomas, Transforrmed

Jesus knew before he selected Judas that he would betray him. He wanted him as a part of the 12 regardless.

He knew Peter would deny Him. He wanted him as a part of the 12 regardless.

He knew Thomas would, at his core, doubt Him. He wanted him as a part of the 12  regardless.

He knew John was way too competitive. He wanted him as a part of the 12  regardless.

Would I do that? Probably not. Betrayal hurts.  Denial hurts. Doubt hurts. Competition hurts. It hurts to the core. But Jesus also knew that his Holy Spirit would fill them. He knew they would perform greater signs and wonders than He did. He knew that day would come, when, after His resurrection, they would be transformed and fill with Power.

Jesus’ identity did not come from anyone but His Father. And he knew how much His Father loved Him. He knew it in his core. So he could select a bunch of men who would betray Him, deny Him, doubt Him, be way too competitive with each other and yet be open to Him. They would leave Him alone at the most important moment. He knew it. He was grounded in His Father’s love and pleasing Him. Jesus, the Messiah, loved them no matter what.

May I do the same. May my identity come from my Father who is so perfectly good all the time. May my love come from my Father who is always in a good mood and has my best interest in mind. May my heart be grounded in Him!!

So be it!!! Whoo Hoo!!!

“Give your servants fearless confidence in preaching your Message.” ~Apostle Peter

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Acts 4, Apostle Peter Sayings, Boldness, Courage, Faith, Jesus, Peter

Bold Faith

The apostles had already received the power of the Holy Spirit after Jesus was raised from the dead and ascended to Heaven to rule with His Father. The were arrested when a crippled man was healed. They were released from jail and warned not to talk about Jesus. The were bold beyond believe already.

Yet, they prayed for more boldness and fearless courage. And God gave it to them.

God’s goal for us is to have fearless confidence. Jesus has given us the power of the Holy Spirit.

We may think we have enough. We don’t. May God give us more. May God give it to us now.

“And now they’re at it again! Take care of their threats and give your servants fearless confidence in preaching your Message, as you stretch out your hand to us in healings and miracles and wonders done in the name of your holy servant Jesus.” (Acts 4:29 MSG)

“As for us, there’s no question—we can’t keep quiet about what we’ve seen and heard.” ~Apostle Peter

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Acts 4, Apostle Peter Sayings, Bold, Faith, John, Peter

Bold in God

God is speaking. He is moving. Will I keep quiet about what I have seen and heard?

God had used Peter and John to heal a lame man. The story is stunning. They were arrested for it. After spending the night in jail, they were bold beyond belief.  They drew the line in the sand with the religious leaders. Do we listen to you or to God?  They chose God.

God’s goal for me is to go BIG and be bold. Bold in God!

May I not keep quiet about what I see God doing.

They (the religious leaders) called them back and warned them that they (Peter and John) were on no account ever again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John spoke right back, “Whether it’s right in God’s eyes to listen to you rather than to God, you decide. As for us, there’s no question—we can’t keep quiet about what we’ve seen and heard.” Acts 4:18-20

More boldness and fearless confidence!!! Peter walked on the water to Jesus.

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Bold, Courage, Faith, Fearless, Matthew 14, Miracle, Peter, Prayer

Bold Faith

We marvel that Jesus walked on water. What He did was stunning. Afterwards the disciples worshiped Him.

We need to remember Peter as well. If Peter was anything, he was nothing but bold. But it seems that he was also asking for more. This boldness came upon him suddenly and he didn’t ignore it. At Jesus command, Peter walked on water as well.

When I have my eyes on our Master Jesus, He gives me boldness and confidence.

Jesus had boldness and confidence. This incident came after he spent the entire evening alone praying with God.

Jesus didn’t do anything but what he saw His Father doing. AND we serve a bold God.

God’s goal for us is for us to trust Him and be bold. God wants us to have confidence in Him.

May I have more boldness and fearless confidence.

Water longs to be walked on again!!

As soon as the meal was finished, he insisted that the disciples get in the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he dismissed the people. With the crowd dispersed, he climbed the mountain so he could be by himself and pray. He stayed there alone, late into the night. Meanwhile, the boat was far out to sea when the wind came up against them and they were battered by the waves. At about four o’clock in the morning, Jesus came toward them walking on the water. They were scared out of their wits. “A ghost!” they said, crying out in terror. But Jesus was quick to comfort them. “Courage, it’s me. Don’t be afraid.” Peter, suddenly bold, said, “Master, if it’s really you, call me to come to you on the water.”He said, “Come ahead.” Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to Jesus. But when he looked down at the waves churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink. He cried, “Master, save me!” Jesus didn’t hesitate. He reached down and grabbed his hand. Then he said, “Faint-heart, what got into you?” The two of them climbed into the boat, and the wind died down. The disciples in the boat, having watched the whole thing, worshiped Jesus, saying, “This is it! You are God’s Son for sure!” Matthew 14