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"Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19

Category: Awaken (Page 1 of 5)

Getting UnStuck.

November 16, 2024 / / 0 Comments

MaryEllen Montville

“That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, ‘I have made you the father of many nations.’ This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing.” –Romans 4:17.

Today, I felt led to share this word of encouragement: We serve a God who brings dead things to life. Who creates new things out of nothing—out of those who feel like nothing.

If you are stuck, wanting to believe for more, question whether your life and faith will ever change and grow. Will God really do all He’s promised to do? Then I pray this encourages and gives you direction. The hope needed to keep believing in Jesus. I pray it reminds you of the power of the Living God you serve and how even the Fathers of the faith experienced feelings of being stuck. So don’t panic—Jesus does not condemn you for feeling stuck—even Father Abraham wondered if his situation could change. Still, God had a plan for Abraham, and He has one for your life.

 “God also said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah. I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.” Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, “Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?” –Genesis 17:15-17.

Remember, beloved, God alone has the power to change your life and circumstances.

God caused two dried-out old bodies to bring forth new life. He allows us, desires for us—sent His One and Only Son to us so that we might one day be partakers of every promise He made to and through Abraham—that dried-up old man. Who, by the way, felt stuck himself at times—as did his wife, Sarai. In Genesis Chapter Fifteen, we read about a conversation between God and Abraham. God promises this old, childless man he’ll be the Father of nations and have his own child with Sarai. But Abraham is stuck. To his thinking, their combined old age can’t add up to them having their own child.

But God said it would be so… and so it was.

So what do you think He, who is no respecter of persons, will do with your dead hope—your feeling stuck, that nothing—that you, dear Christian—will never change? I’ll remind you your feelings are just that, feelings; they’re fluid, changeable, and fickle, regardless of their weightiness. If you let them, they’ll sink you—robbing you of life, trust, and hope. Robbing you of your Isacc. They have attempted to hijack your mind, exalting themselves over Christ’s Sovereignty in your life, and now they must bow before Him—relinquishing their temporary grip over your heart. Instead, you must remind them of the Truth—it’s the only sure way to conquer them—taking them captive rather than allowing yourself to be held captive by them.

Something not easy to do when they’re screaming in your ear, doing their level best to extinguish all hope and belief—faith that anything in life can or will get better than it is right now—yourself included. Just give up. You’ll never be more than your past—or present because you’re inextricably locked in their grip.

But Truth says: “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you.” –Romans 8:11. You, child of God, possess so great a Power within you that, if you ever truly grab hold of this Living Truth—you’d never be the same. Though this verse speaks of our resurrected bodies, as written in a previous chapter, Paul doesn’t want you to miss this same Spirit that raised Jesus from the grave affords you unimaginable spiritual power right now.

It’s likely why Holy Spirit had Paul remind us of these following Truths:

“We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” –2 Corinthians 10:5. To become unstuck, we must partner with God’s Holy Spirit, remembering He will not force Himself upon us; we must open ourselves to Him, giving Him and the Truth of His Word our undivided attention.

We must remember our lives are no longer our own; they belong to Christ now.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” –2 Corinthians 5:17. Knowing we are weak creatures—sheep He calls us, God’s Holy Spirit, coupled with His Inerrant, Living Word, reminds us of who we truly are now—a new creation. Christ in us—His will, His plans, His timing, and Sovereignty in all things, His Truth ruling the throne of our lives, choices, and will. We must repent of allowing ourselves to believe we’re somehow entitled to some thing we feel is missing in our lives.

“Listen carefully: I have given you authority [that you now possess] to tread on serpents and scorpions, and [the ability to exercise authority] over all the power of the enemy (Satan); and nothing will [in any way] harm you.” –Luke 10:19. We must consciously turn away from every feeling that frightens and paralyzes us by intentionally and actively aiming our thoughts at Truth, God’s Living Word, our Source. Christ alone offers the Christian—life, hope, joy, and complete satisfaction.

Our fickle feelings don’t stand a chance against such Sovereign Power.

We are not God and have no idea what is best for us. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” –Philippians 4:6-8.

So, how does God’s Word get us unstuck?

“Set your mind and keep focused habitually on the things above [the heavenly things], not on things that are on the earth [which have only temporal value]. For you died [to this world], and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God.” –Colossians 3:2-3.

Choose to take God at His Word by believing the Truth, not the lie. Trusting in the power of His Holy Spirit alive in you—that same power that raised Jesus from the dead who can and will free you if you allow Him. Because perhaps, just perhaps, your feeling stuck is, in fact, God’s way of lovingly enabling you to come face to face with your own fleshly dissatisfactions so that He might once and for all rid you of them because, at their core, your dissatisfactions are you playing god. You’re telling Him you know better than He what you need right now—what is best for you. That your current state of life is, in fact, not good. It is you forgetting you are no longer your own and have said, claimed, and professed to trust Jesus—at all times.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” –Isaiah 55:8-9. You’re feeling stuck has not taken God by surprise—He saw this coming even if you didn’t. Dare I say God allowed it. To bring good from it. To restore and bless you somehow. God is being God. Using feelings, He permitted you to experience (being stuck, powerless to change, questioning if you can really change—is it really possible, or are you too old? Too far gone. Is it too late? Can it really happen still?) To redirect you, bring about hope and His perfect plan for you. To rid you of fleshly feelings and desires that in no way reflect His Son to this lost and dying world. The answer is a resounding yes, by the way, to each of the above questions.

“We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.” –Romans 8:28. Beloved, trust that God is at work in you now, amid your feelings. He has a good plan for you—for your life. Trust His timing. Trust that your Good Father knows best what’s best for you.

And dear friend, if you are feeling stuck in this world, longing to be finally free of its hold on you, there is a way out. It starts with you asking Jesus into the life you so desperately want to be changed. “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. –Romans 10:9-10.

Cousins & The Cornerstone.

November 2, 2024 / / 0 Comments

MaryEllen Montville

“When the owner of the vineyard returns,” Jesus asked, “what do you think he will do to those farmers?” The religious leaders replied, “He will put the wicked men to a horrible death and lease the vineyard to others who will give him his share of the crop after each harvest.” Then Jesus asked them, “Didn’t you ever read this in the Scriptures? ‘The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing, and it is wonderful to see.” –Matthew 12:40-43.

Scattered amongst a crowd, you’d be hard-pressed to distinguish one from the other. Stand them side by side; you’ll catch glimpses of familial similitudes. Vague, yet undeniably present. Inverse likenesses. Cousins, maybe? “When I look at you, I see my father’s eyes.” “And when I look at you, I see my father’s smile.”

Family. Often, its dynamics are complicated. Too often, families are fraught with some misgiving or another about a member or members that can quickly turn volatile when trying to unite divided factions—and when they do finally come together, they mostly disagree. It may be because one side incites the other by reminding them they’re the family favorites and that “your side” has only been invited because “well, family is family.”

Sounds harsh, right?

Even eerily familiar to some of you who’ve experienced firsthand the incisive sting of familial rejection?

And yet, there is sugar hidden within this severe, bitter truth. Sweet morsels of grace wrapped in inclusion, redemption, privilege, and forgiveness, making even this most sharp rejection palpable. Thus, at least, that’s the way it’s been between Jews and Christians for millennia. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” –Romans 1:16.

Yet soon and very soon, one family, invited by One Host, will sit at one table where there’ll be no favorites. “There is [now no distinction in regard to salvation] neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you [who believe] are all one in Christ Jesus [no one can claim a spiritual superiority].” –Galatians 3:28.

Meet the Cousins: The Jews and the Christians, and the Host: Cornerstone, Jesus.

Cousin One, the Jews: You’ve already met him—who he represents. Jesus was talking to them and their side of the family in today’s verses. They’re the ones Cornerstone first came to—He unveiled His plan and identity to them. They would be the first to receive an invitation to a future family gathering. But Cousin One had an issue with Cornerstone telling them and their side of the family that their blatant misuse of their God-given authority coupled with their disobedience and blindness would now result in the gift God had given them being handed over, for a time, to the other side of the family.

“Jesus said to them, “If you were blind [to spiritual things], you would have no sin [and would not be blamed for your unbelief]; but since you claim to have [spiritual] sight, [you have no excuse so] your sin and guilt remain.” John 9:41.

When the Apostle Paul explained to Cousin Two, the Christians, the reasons why Cornerstone had made this decision to remove, for a time, the gift He’d first given Cousin One, the Jews,  Paul explained Cornerstons decision using these very words: “So I say, have they stumbled so as to fall [to spiritual ruin]? Certainly not! But by their transgression [their rejection of the Messiah] salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make Israel jealous [when they realize what they have forfeited]. Now if Israel’s transgression means riches for the world [at large] and their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment and reinstatement be!” –Romans 11:11-12.

Cousin Two, to whom it’d been made clear that they’d only been invited to the family gathering because, “as family,” they had to be, now understood the whole Truth about why they’d been invited. They now understood that the invitation extended to them had a two-fold purpose uniquely their own. Using Olive trees as a metaphor, more specifically, the grafting of branches into the primary root system feeding the Olive tree, Paul makes clear to Cousin Two, the Christians, not to think more highly of themselves than they ought, that in fact, what Cousin One had been telling them all along, biting as it was, was the Truth.

“If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble.” –Romans 11:17-20.

Nevertheless, said Truth did not negate the weight of the ultralaborious responsibility momentarily placed on the newly grafted in shoulders of Cousin Two; yet as He had with Cousin One, the Jews, Cornerstone would give Cousin Two the same Helper who would enable them to fulfill this ultralaborious—impossible without God’s help, task. One Cornerstone—One Helper. “But you will receive power and ability when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be My witnesses [to tell people about Me] both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth.” –Acts 1:8.

A rife in this family had occurred—a family divided by unbelief and pride. Yet Cornerstone was—is, immovable in His desire—plan, really, for His family to be One.

He’d extended an invitation to both sides, wanting both to celebrate as one, and He would not, will not, allow His invitation to be thwarted by division.

Cornerstone had a plan and it was good—is good.

It brings into crystalline focus what He’s always had planned for His family—everyone in His family—Jew and Gentile alike. “This Jesus is the stone which was despised and rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief Cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among people by which we must be saved [for God has provided the world no alternative for salvation].” –Acts 4:11-12.

Whether you’re a Jew or a Gentile, the Chief Cornerstone, Jesus, has made His plan known today; He wants you to join Him. He gave His life for you so you could join Him, know Him, and accept His invitation to be part of the family gathering that will take place soon and very soon. Mindblowing, right? That The God who flung the stars in the sky and knows them by name, who created whole galaxies—and you—would even give you a choice. That’s Love! Your only response to such love? “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” –Matthew 3:2.

“You have been saved by God’s love and kindness because you believed. It was not because of anything you did, but it was a gift from God. You were not saved by trying to do what the law says. So no one can be proud about it. God has made us. In Jesus Christ God made us so that we can do good things. He planned that we should live that way.” –Ephesians 2:8-10.

Living Counter To The World’s Culture.

October 19, 2024 /

Matthew Botelho

“The gentle are blessed, for they will inherit the earth. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are blessed, for they will be filled.” –Matthew 5:5-6.

Scripture does not say that the aggressive will inherit the earth, but the gentle will inherit the earth. God uses the meek things of the world to confuse those who are in offices of authority and power. “Brothers, consider your calling: not many are wise from human perspective, not many powerful, not many noble birth. Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong.”– 1 Corinthians 1:26-27

According to most world standards, people are to step over one another and do whatever it takes to reach the front of the line.

I like to call this a “me first mentality.”

“Worry only about yourself,” the world says. Some people have told me that it’s always been around and that there is nothing new under the sun. I say yes to that; however, it is more apparent now than it was four years ago.

We encounter it daily out in the world.

When we are in traffic or even walking in the grocery store. This “me first mentality” has taken over in the world. Lawlessness, people celebrating the sin of selfishness, is now considered a normal thing, and it’s the Word of God that says considering others as more important than ourselves, they say, is backward.

What was once considered evil is now good, and what was considered good is now evil. “Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be delivered.” – Matthew 24:12-13.

Here is Biblical Truth, my friends. Jesus tells us that we will be delivered if we continue to endure these hard times. How? By abiding in Him. “Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me.” –John 15:4

My friends, Jesus is not addressing the people of the world in this scripture. He is addressing us—all who believe in Him.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we need to be aware and have our spiritual eyes opened to what is going on in our jobs, our children’s schools, within our families, and other matters that are going on in the world.

In Matthew 10, before Jesus sent out His disciples, He tells them this:

“Look, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as serpents and as harmless as doves.” –Matthew 10:16.

Just as sheep are gentle, we must be gentle as well.

Being shrewd like a serpent means being wise in our decisions, not doormats, so we must speak the Truth in love instead of remaining silent. In a world of ravaging wolves, we must go boldly into our jobs and schools, declaring that Jesus is Lord and that salvation is found no other!

Some we will encounter there are the very ones who once believed in Jesus Christ, yet somehow, Satan got a hold of them, and now they are out there wandering, living like the world. They have been blinded to the Truth. The sad part is that when they had heard the truth, they did not receive it in their hearts!

In 1 John 2:19, the Apostle John writes: “They went out from us, but they did not belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. However, they went out so that it might be made clear that none of them belong to us.”

Still, there is time for those who have turned away my brothers and sisters—unless they have committed the unpardonable sin of blasphemy against God’s Holy Spirit—continually rejecting His calling them to repentance and into a relationship with Himself.“Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven” –Matthew 12:31.

So it’s the repentant heart, fully surrendered, having come back to God, asking Him to forgive their sins who are those who, having turned away, might be restored. “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.” –Luke 15:21-24.

It is not God’s will for anyone to miss out on His free gift of salvation, found only in His Son, Jesus. “The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.” –2 Peter 3:9.

My friends, we have been made righteous through Jesus Christ.

This means we can now stand in the presence of  God. The world may look dark and dry, but stay focused on the prize ahead: our eternal salvation with our Father in heaven. And if you have strayed from Him, return now. Don’t harden your heart; be gentle and submit to Him instead.

Believe in your heart, this day, that Jesus is the Son of God. Repent of your sins and be washed clean by Jesus’ Blood. “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.” –Romans 10:9-10.

Do you, brother or sister, thirst for more of Jesus?

In John 7:37,  Jesus reminds you, “If anyone is thirsty, he should come to Me and drink! The one who believes in Me, as the scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him.”

Come and be filled afresh with the love of our Lord Jesus Christ!

We are truly a blessed people. Amen.

True Protection Is In Christ Alone.

October 12, 2024 /

MaryEllen Montville

“But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” –2 Corinthians 11:14.

A recent online communication from a well-recognized U.S. bank warned their customers of a significant increase in phishing scams in the banking industry; this, they say, is due to the rise in both online and bank app usage. They said that in 2023 alone, a staggering $10 billion of Americans’ money was lost to phishing scams and online fraud. That’s an increase of 13.6% over 2022. Many of you, or someone you know, have either heard or fallen victim to one of these insidious schemes perpetrated at the hands of those on the dark web—who hide in the shadows. Their sole objective? To rob and deceive you.

Sound familiar?

I am not making light of these insidious schemes or their devastating monetary losses.

Still, it would be negligent of me not to point out that these dubious schemes are mere child’s play compared to the plans of a far more lethal, stealthy, and insidious foe—Satan.

The Father of lies himself, whose sole intent it is to rob us, saved and unsaved alike—here and now and, if possible, from an eternity worshipping God.

Much like the increase in these banking scams made possible by widespread online and app usage, so too is the level of spiritual deception being perpetrated on so many today by those who freely use their pulpits, social media, YouTube, and any other platform available to them to spread false doctrine—deceiving many. “Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people.” –Romans 16:18.

Christ Himself reveals Satan’s sole purpose, nature, and intentions toward us in using such people; We’d be wise to pay attention.

While speaking to the Jews and Pharisees in John 8:44, Jesus said this of Satan: “He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the Father of lies.”

In John 10:10, speaking of this insidious foe, Christ Himself makes Satan’s intentions so plain that even a child can understand them: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.” Period.

Friends don’t skip over “only” in the above verse.

This one-word packs a powerful punch.

Webster’s Dictionary defines ” only ” as exclusively, solely, or alone in a category.

If you are a child of God, Satan’s only delight comes from robbing your lives of joy, happiness, rest, peace, and communion with God. And if you are not, he desires to kill any possibility you may have of having a relationship with Jesus by keeping you bound and blind—by any means necessary.

He’ll use chains of religion, deception, false doctrine, fear, and anxiety as tools to keep you so distracted, so blinded to true Light. You’ll continually spin your tractionless wheels, chasing after anything that shines.

And he’ll use anyone he can to accomplish his sinister plan—those in the pulpits or that well-meaning brother or sister sitting next to you in Church—even your mom or dad. There’s a reason Jesus said: “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” –Matthew 10:37.

Is it any wonder, then, when asked by His disciples what would be the sign of the times and the end of the age, knowing how insidious, cunning, and manipulative, what a copycat and contortionist Satan is, how much he loathes God and God’s people, one of the very first things Jesus told His disciples weren’t words of comfort, he offered them no reassuring come back.

 Instead, Jesus warned them, and through them, us, to be mindful and not be deceived. “Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you.'” –Matthew 24:3-4.

And after Jesus, in writing to his beloved brothers and sisters at the Church in Corinth, the Apostle Paul cautions them of deception as well: “I promised you as a pure bride to one husband—Christ. But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent. You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of Gospel than the one you believed.” –2Corinthians 11:2-4.

Deception enters the individual or Church in numerous ways:

  1. It is tolerated. “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?” –Romans 6:15-16.
  2. It will go unrecognized: As with Jesus’ own family or that brother sitting beside you or even yourself, those who have seen and been with Jesus can, at times, be spiritually blinded by deception. They fail to accept the Truth by faith, the Truth of His Gospel message, making it almost impossible to believe what they cannot see until Christ’s Spirit alone opens their eyes—removing their blindness.
  3. It enters in via false religion/beliefs:  What better example of this Truth than the Apostle Paul himself?

Known as Saul then, the Apostle Paul once was deceived—spiritually blinded by a powerful false religious view. But thanks be to God, there is no spirit more powerful than God’s own Spirit. The Spirit of Truth. Saul had plenty of head knowledge but he did not have a genuine relationship with Jesus. Until that is, Christ caused this brother to see clearly. “So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” –Acts 9:17.

Within the email from the well-recognized U.S. bank I referenced earlier was a list of recommended steps their customers take to help safeguard themselves against becoming victims of phishing scams.

We will do all we can to safeguard our finances.

How much more should we do to safeguard our relationship with Jesus by ensuring we are both hearers and doers of the Gospel message? By measuring everything we think we know, hear, and see, all we claim to believe is truth, against the Truth of God’s Word. Safeguarding then our most valuable treasure, our relationship with Jesus. “I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” –Romans 619-23.

Are you safeguarding your heart and faith against those who will do their best to rob you of Truth?

Friends, your only protection from spiritual deception is found in Christ alone.

God’s Word tells us there is only one way to the Father: through His Son, Jesus. Don’t be deceived. Don’t let those who use darkness and perpetuate lies rob you of the Truth and a real relationship with Jesus. “So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.” –Matthew 24:42-44.

How the Poor Man Became Rich and Mourned No More.

September 21, 2024 /

Matthew Botelho

“The poor in spirit are blessed, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Those who mourn are blessed, for they will be comforted.” –Matthew 5:3-4.

If we are saved, we have a testimony of where we were when we met Jesus. That very place of despair, trapped. We were feeling like we were in a cage. Pacing back and forth, unable to set ourselves free. Our very souls were crying out, “Is there any hope for my suffering, my lust, my addiction!”

Think about this for a moment: The moment you said, “My suffering” or “My addiction,” you claimed something that is no longer your portion in this life. Because when you became Christ’s own, you were born again, washed clean of the sins that once held you captive and led you into states of depression and self-loathing. “Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat it’s fruit.” –Proverbs 18:21

Everything changed when we received revelation, and the Light of Christ pierced our hearts. Only then could we truly see.

Many of us did not see or understand what we were speaking over ourselves before we accepted Jesus because we were blind, walking in darkness. “There is nothing covered that won’t be uncovered, nothing hidden that won’t be made known. Therefore, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you whispered in an ear in private rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.” –Luke 12:2-3

Friends, we will not see the Kingdom of God as long as we stay in our sins. “Don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God’s Kingdom? Do not be deceived; No sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, or anyone practicing homosexuality, no thieves, greedy people, drunkards, verbally abusive people, or swindlers will inherit God’s Kingdom.” – 1 Corinthians 6:9-10

Reading the above scripture made me wonder how anyone can live a “carefree life.”

Have you ever heard someone say, “Oh, they are such a free spirit?” But they’re not really a free spirit if that freedom will cost them their soul. If any of the sins listed above are present in their “carefree” lifestyle, then I assure you they’re not living so carefree. Jesus is the only one who can bring life, not some “carefree” counterfeit spirit. “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”- John 14:6

The person’s life may look good from the outside, but looks are deceiving.

Such people are living a lie—just as we all once did before Christ. We all tried to fill a space within ourselves that made us feel good. That eased our pain or loneliness. But it was just a placebo. Something that made us think we felt better, at least for a while. The truth is, we were still sick.

In my last teaching, “Cleansing A Leprous Heart,” I said sin was a sickness. And I likened sin to leprosy. Sin is a spiritual sickness that starts on the inside and works its way out. “Summoning the crowd, He told them, “Listen and understand: It’s not what goes into the mouth that defiles a man, but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”– Matthew 15:10-11

Though only God knows a man’s heart, you can see how a person thinks, what they live by, and their morals and beliefs by observing their life. Be still and listen to them talk. You will know them by their words and how they speak to others. Watch their walk. Scripture says: “You will know them by their fruits…” –Matthew 7:16.

We all carried the sickness of unrepentant sin with us at one point.

Jesus is the great physician who cured our sickness by separating our sins from us as far as the East is from the West, never to remember it again. “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” –Psalm 103:12.

Listen to how Jesus explained why He’d come to the Pharisees. “When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that He was sitting with sinners and tax collectors, they asked His disciples, “Why does He eat with tax collectors and sinners?” When Jesus heard this, He told them, “Those who are well don’t need a doctor, but the sick do need one. I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.” – Mark 2:16-17

Jesus used the word “righteous” to make evident to the Scribes that their “righteousness” came only by knowing the law and then pointing out what other people cannot or should not do. The Scribes couldn’t see that these people were lost in their sins with no one to help them. They couldn’t understand that these people were the very reason Jesus came.

My friends, don’t fall into a place where you claim yourself to be so righteous you won’t help out a brother or sister when they are having a tough time, afraid you’ll dirty yourself. Instead, remember Who showed you mercy and love when you were at your lowest. Lest we forget what the apostle Paul wrote: “Carry one anothers burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone considers himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.” – Galatians 6:2-3

Jesus told the Pharisees, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You pay a tenth of mint, dill, and cumin, yet you have neglected the more important matters of the law–justice, mercy, and faith. These things should have been done without neglecting the others.” –Matthew 23:23.

Jesus came for sinners. The “Whosoever’s.”  “And then, whoever calls out to the Lord for help will be saved.” –Acts 2:21. He dined with them that night because He was about His Father’s business, to meet the poor in spirit and to show them the way into the Kingdom of heaven.

Friends, we no longer need to mourn our sins, but we can rejoice because Christ Jesus’ has clothed us in His Righteousness. He has comforted us in our time of need. “And when you were dead in trespasses and in uncircumcision of your flesh. He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespass. He erased the certificate of debt, with it’s obligations that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it out of the way by nailing it to the cross.” –Colossians 2:13-14

Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.”

 We were once poor in spirit, but God made us rich. We were prisoners of our sins, but God set us free. We mourned in our trespasses, but God filled our hearts with joy. Jesus died so that you and I will live for all eternity and be coheirs in the Kingdom of God. Jesus loves you so much.

We at the SonsoftheSea ministry are continually praying for every one of you. I invite all who feel the stirring of the Holy Spirit to open their heart and come to Jesus in complete repentance. Repent and accept Jesus as Savior and Lord. “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.” – Romans 10:9-10.

I pray you receive Him and His gift of salvation that cost Jesus His life. Be washed by His precious Blood, and your every sin will be washed away in Christ Jesus.

Amen.

A New Thing.

September 14, 2024 /

Pastor Maria Braga

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” –Isiah 43:19.

The Bible is filled with countless examples of God’s incredible changes in His people’s lives as He led them. He continues to change us and lead us today. The “new thing “the prophet Isaiah talks about in today’s Scripture is not a one-time event. It’s a continuous work of God in each generation. A work that is impossible for man to do—but not for God. This evidence of God’s ongoing work should reassure and fill us with hope.

The prophet Isaiah received this Word from the Lord and passed it onto us, believers, so we would know that Abba Father is creative and Omnipresent in every season of our lives and every generation. God Himself points to this Truth in Isaiah 43:19: “Behold, I will do a new thing.” 

All God does in the life of the believer is for growth.

To bring His child closer to Him and to build His child up in the Spirit.

God, in His Omnipotence, knows what His plan is for each of us.

And He knows exactly how to execute the individual plan He created for each of His children.

Often, in our humanity, we can’t comprehend God’s plan because of our spiritual limitations, but in His Omniscience, God’s plan is so perfect. All we need to do is trust that the new thing He is doing is awesome! Because God is more than awesome! He is Powerfully All-Knowing, and He is always present. God is Spirit, and the things of the Spirit are not always clear to us. For the believer, we must accept spiritual Truths by faith. “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” –Hebrews 11:1.

God is in control.

In our humanity, we get thrown off because our timing does not align with God’s timing; we want it when we want it, and we want it now! But Abba Father teaches us to trust Him with all things. In His Omnipresence, He is always beside us, and things come to our understanding in His perfect timing! “God will provide your need at the right time. At the right time, God will deliver you. At the right time, God will rescue you.” –Psalm 31:15.

We must understand that the right time is God’s time, not ours.

“Now it springs up (forth); do you not perceive it? (Recognize it?)” –Isaiah 43:19.

God’smaking a way through the desert and providing water out of nowhere for the Israelites to drink is a miracle that transcends their passage through the Red Sea and many other miracles we see throughout Exodus; it lands at God’s faithfulness to His people today. God is still doing a “new thing” for and in His people. Maybe in the prophet’s mind, this may have been the “new thing” he saw—a symbol of Israel’s deliverance.  

Today, God continues doing this new thing in our personal lives, church community, and within the hearts of all those who call on Him.

God never stops working.

 In Numbers Ten, we learn that the people of Israel only moved when the Lord moved. They followed His lead and rested whenever the cloud rested. But today’s culture encourages us to move on our own, independent from the Lord.

God knows our weaknesses like He knew the weakness of His people then. He knows how far we can go without Him, so God gently realigns us when we persist on going it alone. God is always right and always knows what is best for us. We must train ourselves to obey Him quickly when He speaks, especially through His written Word.

” Do you not perceive it?”

God calls our attention to what is happening and what is passing us by, similar to how He called Isaiah’s attention to what was about to happen, yet we sometimes don’t see it. We may pay attention to natural things and quickly understand them, but not so much with spiritual matters. At times, our miracle is in God answering our prayer.

We cry out, ask, call intercessors, plead, and even lose hope in difficulties.

Then, suddenly, God answers our prayers and cries, yet when we receive them—receive our healing, we sometimes act as though we are entitled. We don’t even take the time to say, “Thank you, Lord, for answering my prayer. For healing my body.” This ungrateful attitude must hurt God’s heart! Things are well now; I am all set. Just like the Israelites, we quickly forget what God has done and does for us.

Let’s be attentive and grateful for all God does for us. Our gratitude for His answering our prayers should make us feel appreciative and humble before the One who helps us. There’s a story in the Bible about ten lepers that Jesus healed, but only one returned to say thank you. “One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.” –Luke 17:15-17.

We must not forget to bless God for healing us and answering our prayers. Our thanksgiving is giving God the glory He deserves!

Since 2022, I have been crying out to God to heal me of breast cancer. I have my church praying, my family, friends, and others. I could be in heaven today, but God did heal me and is allowing me an extended life. I am so joyful and thankful for all He’s done for me through answered prayer.

I look forward to the “new thing” He is about to do in the seasons that lay before me. I believe the best is yet to come because God always does what He says He’ll do.

Look at the last part of this verse in Isaiah 43:19: “I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

I never want to forget the wilderness that Abba has brought me through, as He’s taking me to the “new thing” He has for me. From now on, I choose to worship Him with greater devotion and a more thankful attitude. And I will wait for His lead. Going when He says go and stopping when He says stop. After all, He is opening streams in the deserts I know not of. It is His work, and I will follow Jesus to these streams to serve and bless His name.

Today, Father, we come before Your Throne with a grateful heart. We ask for faith to believe every Word You say. Forgive us for going our own way at times, and teach us to listen to Your voice as You lead us into the “new thing” You have for our futures. We are ready to receive Your salvation, healing, and the power needed to live for You and bring glory to You alone. We love You and praise You, Jesus. Amen.

If you are looking for a “new thing” to happen in your life, start by asking Jesus into your heart as Lord and Savior. The Word of God promises, “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.” –Romans 10:9-10.

“Cleansing A Leperous Heart”

September 7, 2024 /

Matthew Botelho

“While traveling to Jerusalem, He passed between Samaria and Galilee. As He entered a village, men with serious skin diseases met Him. They stood at a distance and raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” When He saw them, He told them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And while they were going they were healed. But one of them, seeing that he was healed, returned and with a loud voice, gave glory to God. He fell facedown at His feet, thanking Him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus said, “Were not cleansed? Where are the nine? Didn’t any return to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And He told him, “Get up and go on your way. Your faith has made you well.” –Luke 17:11-19.

As stated, these ten men had a severe skin disease, which Scripture hints at being leprosy, a chronic but now curable infectious disease mainly causing skin lesions and nerve damage. The Law of Moses stated: “The person afflicted with an infectious skin disease is to have his clothes torn and his hair hanging loose, and he must cover his mouth and cry out ‘unclean, unclean!’ He will remain unclean as long as he has the infection; he is unclean. He must live alone in a place outside the camp.” –Leviticus 13:45-46

To make a point, I’ll use this metaphor. Just as leprosy deteriorates the flesh, unrepented sin will deteriorate your soul, causing you to live removed from God. It may even cause your death.

Brothers and sisters, before we came to Christ, we were as unclean spiritually as these poor men were physically.

Our hearts were diseased and riddled with sin.

Our minds were saturated with the things of this world, the lusts of the eyes. “For the mindset of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit itself to God’s law, for it is unable to do so. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” –Romans 8:7-8

And we know that the longer a person chooses to live a sinful life, the more the evidence of their sins radiates outward. Their outward man becomes a reflection of their inward sins. “The heart is more deceitful than anything else, and incurable–who can understand it?” –Jeremiah 17:9.

As with the ten lepers in today’s Scripture, your sin will cause you to live apart from God.

Man cannot rid himself of sin, but God made a way for all men to be free and be cleansed of all inequities through His son, Jesus. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” –Romans 6:23.

Concerning the lepers: “He told them, Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And while they were going they were healed. But one of them, seeing that he was healed, returned and with a loud voice, gave glory to God. He fell facedown at His feet, thanking Him. And he was a Samaritan.” –Luke 17:14-15.

These lepers cried out to Jesus, “Have mercy on us!”  and a repentant heart is what God wants. You may have been cast out, friend, but know that God still sees you, even though your sin has distorted your heart. Jesus still knows you and loves you.

They cried out for mercy and acknowledged Jesus as Lord and Master over their sickness and hearts. God does not want you to remain in your sin. He wants you to be all He created you to be: holy and full of purpose. In Mark, Jesus reminds us of this: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe in the good news!” –Mark 1:15.

 When these ten lepers heard Jesus say, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” Something stirred inside them. Having lived as cast-outs, it must have been a while since they had felt this stirring of hope inside themselves.

Their disease had plagued them for so long they had forgotten what it felt like to have hope and faith. But because of Jesus, their faith had been stirred up, and, in obedience to His command, they ran to show themselves to the priests.

But why did they have to show themselves to the priests?

Showing yourself to the priest was written in the Law of Moses, and Jesus never contradicted His Father’s Word. “But if the raw flesh changes and turns white, the priest must pronounce the infected person clean; he is clean. “–Leviticus 13:16-17. Also, the local priests must have known about these ten men and their condition. Their all being healed together was Jesus’ way of sending a message to these priests that the Messiah had come. Surely, they would remember what the prophet Isaiah had said about Him: “He Himself bore our sicknesses, and carried out pains; but we in turn regarded Him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted.” –Isaiah 53:4.

Ten men received healing from something that had taken everything away from them, and then, each man was restored because of their encounter with Jesus—there must have been some head-scratching happening by those local priests.

Friends, instead of sorrow and living as cast out from God because of your sin, you too can come to Jesus in complete repentance and cry out, “Jesus, save me! Have mercy on me!” Because of His mercy and great love for you, Jesus will change your heart and heal your inner man. He’ll redeem you, making you holy and clean by forgiving your sins and giving you new life! “I assure you: Unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” –John 3:3.

Once restored, Jesus, our high priest, declares us clean and in right standing with the Father!

We read only one leper returned to Jesus and gave glory to God, a Samaritan, which the Jews hated. He was that one who needed a touch of God; the others got what they came for and then went their way. Then Jesus said, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Didn’t any return to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And He told him, “Get up and go on your way. Your faith has made you well.” –Luke 17:17-19.

We should not take God’s blessings for granted, especially His gift of grace. “Kiss his son, or he will be angry and your way will lead to your destruction, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.” –Psalm 2:12.

Friends don’t be like the nine who got what they came for and then forgot to thank Jesus for what He had done for them. Instead, raise your hands in joyous admiration and thank Jesus for His true gift of salvation! The Blood of our Lord Jesus has cleansed our leprous hearts.

Like the ten lepers, Jesus has made us new creations.

As I close this week’s teaching, know that we at Sonsofthesea are praying you know God’s love and the Truth that salvation is found in no one but in His Son, Jesus.

Do not harden your heart or turn away if you hear His voice calling you. Today is the day of salvation. Repent of your sins and ask Jesus to come into your heart. Believe His promise to you: “Listen! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and have dinner with him and he with Me.” –Revelation 3:20.

Amen.

Fragile Vessels

August 3, 2024 /

MaryEllen Montville

“But we have this precious treasure [the good news about salvation] in [unworthy] earthen vessels [of human frailty], so that the grandeur and surpassing greatness of the power will be [shown to be] from God [His sufficiency] and not from ourselves.” 2 Corinthians 4:7.

Chosen vessels, ministers of the gospel, as appointed to bear the glad news of salvation to others; called also earthen vessels, on account of their weakness and frailty. – Noah Webster.

Servant of the Living God, be reminded that we who carry within us His Spirit, called to proclaim His Gospel, are blessed yet unworthy vessels handpicked by our Father for such a weighty privilege. Yet compared to our Omnipotent God, we are infinitesimal creatures, like hummingbirds in a vast desert; we are small, fragile winged creatures called to carry the transplendent and incalculable weight of the Glory of God into inhospitable places on fragile, gossamer wings. “But God has selected [for His purpose] the foolish things of the world to shame the wise [revealing their ignorance], and God has selected [for His purpose] the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong [revealing their frailty].” –1Cor.1:27.

That God alone, not we, His earthen vessels, receive the glory. “But you are my witnesses, O Israel!” says the Lord. “You are my servant. You have been chosen to know me, believe in me, and understand that I alone am God. There is no other God— there never has been, and there never will be. I, yes I, am the Lord, and there is no other Savior. First I predicted your rescue, then I saved you and proclaimed it to the world. No foreign god has ever done this. –Isaiah 43:10-12.

We were not created to steal God’s proverbial thunder if you will. We are image bearers only—likenesses created to carry the thirst-quenching Presence of our Omnipresent God into a dried-up, arid world. “When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.” –Isaiah 41:17-18.

And again, concerning God’s reviving Presence, Jesus said of Himself: “But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a fount of water springing up to eternal life.” –John 4:14.

As Jesus’s disciples, we are called to lay down our lives as living sacrifices: our wants, desires, hopes, dreams, bodies, minds, wills, and emotions. Each surrendered fully at the feet of Jesus—each subject instead to His will, plans, and purposes. “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is within you, whom you have [received as a gift] from God, and that you are not your own [property]? 20 You were bought with a price [you were actually purchased with the precious blood of Jesus and made His own]. So then, honor and glorify God with your body.” –1 Cor. 6:19-20. Though Paul specifically references sexual sin in this passage, it contains a broader Truth that applies to Christians.

You and I will undoubtedly fall and fail the moment we allow ourselves to see what God has called us to do as separate, somehow, from “our lives”—as though each thing is not inextricably one. This fallacious notion is deadly to the Christian because: “I have been crucified with Christ [that is, in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body I live by faith [by adhering to, relying on, and completely trusting] in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” –Gal.2:20.

The second we fail to remember that we are not our own but have been called instead to be glory carriers for the Most High God, sin, as the Scriptures tell us, will have gained a toe hold in us.

By the power of this same Truth, that we are not our own but Christ’s, we mere earthen vessels, small, gossamer-winged, fragile creatures, are empowered to carry the weighty, life-saving Gospel of Jesus Christ into a parched, arid world. “You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.” –2 Corinthians 4:5-8.

And so, by dying to our bulky, sin-full, and heavy-laden flesh, we are, by God’s amazing grace, made free by Christ, in Christ, to carry within us His Spirit, to proclaim His Gospel.

To be used by God to pour the Life-giving Water of God’s Inerrant Word over that one He is calling to Himself—cleaning them of those sins that “so easily beset them.”

As was done for us, we, too, must bring this same hope of new life into the most inhospitable of places. “…Freely you have received; freely give.” –Mathew 10:8.

We, frail friends, get to be used by the Omnipotent God of the universe, in whose image and likeness we were created.

May we, by His grace, both never forget and be ever grateful for this extraordinary, weighty privilege.

May God, in His loving kindness and tender mercy, remain ever mindful of our hummingbird-like frailty as He causes us, His Glory-carriers, to thrive in this inhospitable place—a world in which we, which you, beloved of God, are merely passing through. “The same way a loving father feels toward his children—that’s but a sample of your tender feelings toward us, your beloved children, who live in awe of you. You know all about us, inside and out. You are mindful that we’re made from dust.” –Psa.103:13-14.

Dear friend, are you the one I have been called to? Are you feeling dry? Are you uncomfortable living in a world that no longer feels welcoming? That is God calling you to come out of this world. To live free. Free of the weight of sin you’ve been carrying around—free from the weight of its shame and guilt. You were created for so much more. Won’t you cry out to God today, asking Him to make you His child, allowing you to carry His Glory to your family and friends—into this inhospitable world? “I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances.” –Ezekiel 36:25-27.

Decision 2024: Who Is Jesus To You?

July 20, 2024 /

MaryEllen Montville

“The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” –John 1:29.

Good and evil both increase at compound interest. That is why the little decisions you and I make every day are of such importance. –C.S. Lewis

Friends, this post is not political. Though I pray your upcoming vote in November aligns with Godly principles and statutes. Still, in light of the horrific events that recently took place in Butler, Pennsylvania, my heart is nonetheless burdened for the nation and, indeed, for the families of the victims, living and deceased. Corey Comperatore—now in glory. In contrast, David Dutch and James Copenhaver are still fighting for life from the injuries they sustained. And though burdened for our nation, these victims, and their families, how much more my heart—our hearts, be burdened for all unsaved souls in light of just how quickly a person’s life can, without warning, be taken?

I’m sure if we asked the wife and daughter of Corey Comperatore, whose earthly life was ended by the sniper’s bullet, they would agree. Mr. Comperatore had given his life to Jesus, and so is far more alive now than he was that nanosecond before the bullet struck him. Though his being with the Lord is a great comfort to his family, I’m sure. We grieve with them nonetheless as they were maliciously thrown into learning to navigate the agonizing valley of loss. Thus, today, I felt led to share the Truth found only in God’s Inerrant Word.

A Word I pray that will help steady and realign our hearts and minds as we move forward individually and as a nation. “We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.” –1 John 5:20.

Jesus Christ is our only hope, Beloved.

Earthly leaders are powerless to save us. Only Jesus Christ has the Absolute Power to save.

John the Baptist knew this. So do I. And for the sake of your earthy life and your eternal destiny, I pray you do as well. No matter the outcome of “decision 2024”, the Lord Jesus Christ will remain forever on His Throne, Ruler over Life and death. And believe it or not, agree with it, or not, like it or not, your knee will bow before Him, and your tongue will confess that Jesus alone is Lord. “Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” –Philippians 2: 9-11.

I pray you’ll freely do that now while the choice is afforded you.

Because every man, from those whom God appoints to hold the highest office in the land to, as Jesus lovingly calls them, “the least of these,” must choose whom they’ll serve. King Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of Lords, or the little g god of this world, Satan. There is no other choice on man’s proverbial ballot. No “other” box for us to check.

The instant John the Baptist caught a glimpse of Jesus walking amongst the crowd who’d gathered to be baptized, to choose Jesus publically—we hear John boldly proclaim words that had been put in his belly back when God was knitting him together in his mother, Elizabeth’s womb. “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! He is the One who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” –John 1:29;27.

The words John spoke that day marked the beginning of the end of his life work —making ready the Way of the Lord.

John knew his place. He never pointed to himself but rather to Jesus only.

John knew he was never meant to be the Groom—but the groomsman. “He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands by and listens to him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this pleasure and joy of mine is now complete.” –John3: 29.

By the power of the Holy Spirit, John recognized Jesus as the Messiah through Divine revelation.

John knew Jesus to be God’s Passover Lamb, come to be sacrificed. To once and for all take away the sins of this world and so, destined to reveal Jesus to the world, John joyfully cries out: “Here he is, God’s Passover Lamb! He forgives the sins of the world!” 

Child of God, pause hereto remember that moment you first believed.

Close your eyes and feel the joy and excitement that flooded through you when it really sank in that Jesus was with you and had chosen you as His. That in an instant, He’d pulled you from eternal death to eternal life, lost to saved—creation to beloved child.

Let the memory of that pure joy wash over you—overtake you.

Might that same joy have been the feeling coursing through John? Unable to contain it, he just had to let fly that darkness-piercing, literal life-changing revelation God dropped in his belly. Why? Because the Inescapable, Supernatural Truth, which had always existed in John’s peripheral vision,  stood clearly before him now, in the flesh!

Now, in Jesus, the days of sacrificing goats and sheep, of spilling their blood as an offering to God to wash away Israel’s sins temporarily, were over. This Spotless Lamb—God’s Perfect Son, came to accomplish what no animal sacrifice ever could—save the lost, to save you, specifically, if you’ll but accept His free gift of salvation.

Jesus’ sacrifice and death, His resurrection, all of it, everything Jesus did while on the earth, and continues to do as He intercedes for us while seated at the right hand of God, is personal and intentional because Jesus has had you in mind specifically, from before the foundation of the world. “From everlasting I was established, from the beginning, before the earth began.” –Pro.8:23.

Friend, the question before you is:

Who is Jesus to you?

Remember, professing Jesus is your eternal choice. I pray you’re not passive in that choice, friend. Because to not choose is your choice; it’s either God or Satan. There is no “other” box available to any of us.

In both the Old and New Testaments, Scripture makes that abundantly clear.

There is no “other” box to check. “By Myself I have sworn; truth has gone out from My mouth, a word that will not be revoked: Every knee will bow before Me, every tongue will swear allegiance.” –Isaiah 45:23.

God or Satan. Those are the choices before you today. Who will you choose in 2024?

Take a stand for Jesus now.

Choose Him to be the Lord and Savior of your Life.

Friend, what recently happened in Pennsylvania is a sure reminder that no man is promised tomorrow. Jesus is the only sure hope you have of eternal life. Repent of your sins and welcome His Pure, sinless Blood to wash away your every sin because only Jesus is able to cleanse you. He freely laid down His life so that you might have life eternal. Won’t you accept His free gift of salvation today? “Because if you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord [recognizing His power, authority, and majesty as God], and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart a person believes [in Christ as Savior] resulting in his justification [that is, being made righteous—being freed of the guilt of sin and made acceptable to God]; and with the mouth he acknowledges and confesses [his faith openly], resulting in and confirming [his] salvation.” –Romans 10:9-10.

Clean Your Lenses.

July 6, 2024 /

MaryEllen Montville

“And he looked up and said, “I see people, but [they look] like trees, walking around.” 25 Then again Jesus laid His hands on his eyes; and the man stared intently and [his sight] was [completely] restored, and he began to see everything clearly.” –Mark 8: 24-25.

Have you ever felt like this blind man, perplexed by God’s actions or lack thereof, disoriented, unclear, questioning, even? Not questioning God, precisely—instead,  asking why something you’re positive God’s given you just doesn’t seem to be shaping up into all you thought or hoped it would be. You’re operating in it, walking by faith, using every drop of this God-given gift, and yet, there’s this inescapable thing in your belly telling you there’s so much more available to you. “I see people, but I can’t see them very clearly. They look like trees walking around.”

Maybe, like the blind man in today’s Scripture, that incomplete feeling concerns your healing or that of a loved one—that ailment, insecurity, or spiritual affliction, that addiction you’ve been praying God would remove altogether, deliver you or them from. But still, it lingers—it’s 50% gone, just not 100%.

Friends, I’ve come to remind you that God’s plan is always perfect and complete—even when we perceive it to be otherwise. God’s Word promises He is faithful in finishing what He has started in us. “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” –Philippians 1:6.

It is we who must remember we operate on God’s time. He doesn’t operate on ours.

In studying today’s verses, various commentators and theologians weighed in as to why, based on Scripture, this man did not straightaway receive his sight. After all, throughout the Gospels, Jesus’ other healings were immediate—except for this lone, unnamed blind man.

Why did he require a second touch? Jesus undoubtedly intended to restore his sight fully, lest he continue to see men who “look like trees walking around.”

Those of us who know Jesus as Lord believe God is unchanging. That with only one touch from Him, this man’s sight could have been restored immediately. In fact, Scripture teaches Jesus didn’t even need to be in the same room with the one He was healing. He need only speak a Word and the person was healed. “When he (Jesus) was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well.” –Luke 7:6-7;10.

But in this instance, offering us only brief glimpses of clarity, the encounter between Jesus and this unnamed blind man is shrouded and unclear, much like this blind man’s first glimpse of the world.

But was it his first glimpse of things?

I ask this to point us toward the oft-overlooked obvious.

Our blind friend instantly recognized and knew the difference between a person and a tree.

Scripture doesn’t come right out and say it; rather, it eludes to the obvious: our unnamed blind man was not born blind.

So why the double touch from Jesus?

Why didn’t this blind man’s miracle result in instantaneous healing? After all, every other healing Jesus performed did.

What is Jesus trying to teach us? Get us to see?

This is where, within the context of this seemingly brief encounter and, much like the coming together of our blind man and Jesus, the details of why Jesus chose to heal this man in the location and manner He did is shrouded in the unspoken and seemingly unfinished.

One potential answer backed by Scripture that some commentators offer up is:

  1. Jesus chose to perform this miracle for the benefit of His disciples—for us.

In Mark 8, Jesus had just fed the masses—some four thousand men, besides women and children, with a few pieces of bread and a few fish. After this, Jesus and His disciples get into a boat and head to Dalmanutha, where they go ashore only for Jesus to encounter the Pharisees, who immediately demand He show them a sign from heaven.

He assures them He will by no means perform such a sign. He returns to the boat with His disciples and heads toward Bethsaida, where a conversation between the disciples almost immediately catches Jesus’ attention. The topic? Lack of provisions—the disciples had only brought a single left-over loaf of bread. After watching Jesus take a few loaves and as many fish and feed some 10,000 men, women, and children, His disciples saw only their lack of bread! Like the blind man, they, too, saw only in part. While unbeknownst to them, it appears Jesus had been ruminating on the Pharisee’s demand for a sign from heaven because, seemingly randomly, Jesus warns them to “Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.”

Why? Because at this point in their relationship with Jesus, His disciples still saw Jesus much as our blind friend’s first glimpse of the world—kind of, in part, “like trees walking around.”

 They believed, yet did not fully possess a clear understanding of Jesus. That would come later. “Jesus, aware of this [discussion], said to them, “Why are you discussing [the fact] that you have no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Though you have eyes, do you not see? And though you have ears, do you not hear and listen [to what I have said]? And do you not remember,  when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces you picked up?” They answered, “Twelve.” “And [when I broke] the seven [loaves] for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of broken pieces did you pick up?” And they answered, “Seven.” And He was saying to them, “Do you still not understand?”—Mark 8:17-21.

Bewildered and thinking only in the natural, the disciples immediately do what so many of us do: lean on their own understanding. And as a result, they miss entirely the more significant spiritual implications our Lord is trying to get them to see.

The deeper Truth Jesus wanted them—and us, to see clearly. The dangers of unbelief. How just a little can blind us to the whole Truth. In time—God’s time, each man would see clearly. So clearly, whether by martyrdom or natural causes, each would give his life for Jesus: “We [who were with Him in person] have seen and testify [as eye-witnesses] that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.” –1 John 4:14.

So be encouraged, brothers and sisters, if what you thought would happen has yet to happen, God is not finished with you. Clean your lenses by asking God to touch you—again. Trust His timing and plan for your life until all is clear and you are at peace with who God is—Lord of all.

Friend, if you want to see Jesus clearly, your first step is to ask Him into your life as Lord and Savior. Ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins and give you eyes to see so much more than what surrounds you in the natural. None of us deserves to be forgiven of our sins; such forgiveness is a free gift from a loving and mercy-full God. “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” –Titus 3:5.

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