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

Tag: Obedience (Page 5 of 10)

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March 18, 2023 /
MaryEllen Montville

“Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah: “Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan.” –1 Kings 17:2-3.

As suddenly as summer rain, many of God’s children, myself included, are experiencing a season of change that fell upon us—seemingly unexpected. It’s like we’ve walked into an event already in progress and must catch up somehow—or so it feels. And yet, if truth be told, there were telltale signs that some-thing was coming. A shift in the atmosphere had occurred as with the suddenness of summer rain.

It was getting darker off in the distance if we were paying attention. But perhaps we were just too busy to have noticed? Maybe we were distracted? Or perhaps we thought we’d have more time before the sky opened and we got caught in a sudden downpour…

And yet, even with the rain causing everything to change on a dime, how thankful we are—or ought to be, that our Fixed, Un-Changing, Consistent and Loving God is at the epicenter of our suddenly. We ought to be grateful for God’s Sovereignty—that He reigns over every aspect of our lives. That no-thing is allowed to touch us which does not first pass through Jesus’ Providential Hands. “But He knows the way I take; When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” –Job 23:10.

And so it is in this epicenter of flux we find the Prophet Elijah—in God’s Providential will, nevertheless.

God was about to recalibrate Elijah’s trajectory, but He would not leave him directionless. Despite the changes he’ll soon experience, God gave Elijah clear directions for moving forward, pointing him toward provision, protection, rest, and safety. And God will do the same for you and me. Since God sent others, even the most unlikely of choices, to provide for Elijah, He’ll do it for us, Beloved. “You are to drink from the wadi. I have commanded the ravens to provide for you there. The ravens kept bringing him bread and meat in the morning and in the evening, and he drank from the wadi. –1 Kings 17:4;6.

When God gets ready to transition us, He already has our “next” mapped out, already prepared for us.

The question is, will we trust God and follow the directions He’s giving us?

“Do not remember the former things, Or ponder the things of the past. Listen carefully, I am about to do a new thing, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even put a road in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert.” –Isaiah 43:18-19.

A famine was about to strike the land. Chapter 17 of 1 Kings opens with Elijah telling King Ahab that it would not rain again until he, Elijah, said it would. “Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.” –1 Kings 17:1.

What do you do when everything you’ve come to rely on is switched up on you suddenly?

When God shifts your revenue stream, your daily routine? When His Divine Hand of safety or safeguarding your health, your children, parents, or spouses is suddenly removed? Elijah was about to learn the answer.

It wasn’t only those God had sent Elijah to who’d be affected by the coming famine. It would affect Elijah as well. Remember, God never promised to exempt His children from the troubles besetting this world. But He did tell us to remain strong and confident. That despite all that may be whirling around us, despite the changes, sudden or not, despite your pain and doubt, your questioning, God’s got you. All is well. “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.” –John 16:33.

Yet before God blessed Elijah, He had to reshape him—ridding him of anything that might take Elijah’s focus and reliance off God. Little did Elijah know he was being prepared for so much more than he could imagine. That God was about to blow his mind!

God was preparing Elijah for his next assignment. And part of his preparation was God’s removing everything Elijah had come to rely on. From his daily bread delivery to the safe haven God had guided him to, all of it was taken away! The Bible doesn’t tell us how long it took for all this to happen, but we can imagine that for Elijah, whether overnight or days later, the world as he’d come to know it felt suddenly upended. But God had a plan! “Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. Then the word of the Lord came to him: “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.” –1 Kings 17:7-9.

God closed the door behind Elijah so he couldn’t turn to the familiar, to what was. God was doing something new and needed Elijah not to miss it. So He stripped away the route, the comfortable, the familiar, anything that might distract Elijah from where He was leading him. “The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.” –Psalm 37:23.

God demands our undivided obedience. So when He says go, our only response ought to be, “yes, Abba.”

And Elijah said just that. He was obedient to God. And his obedience was rewarded with favor and provision. The widow did, in fact, supply him with food, just as God said she would. And all three of them ate and were filled. Oh, wait. I forgot to mention the widow had a son—he was the third person.

God used Elijah’s unwavering obedience and the unswerving faith of a widow who did not know Him to usher in the miracle that would save and sustain them each through their shared yet unique “suddenly.”

 “For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’ “She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah.” –1 Kings 17:14-16.

So for those who, like this widow, may not yet know God for themselves, would you consider following her example? Would you trust that as surely as God sent Elijah to her that she might receive her miracle and live, He has led you here today that you might receive yours? 2 Corinthians 6:2 says it this way: “For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”

God may change your season suddenly. You go to bed thinking you’ll wake up to life as you lived it yesterday, last week, only to find you are in the middle of an event already in progress and must catch up somehow—or so it feels. Yet how thankful we are—or ought to be, that our Fixed, Un-Changing, Consistent and Loving God is at the epicenter of every suddenly. We ought to be grateful for God’s Sovereignty—that He reigns over every aspect of our lives.

That no-thing is allowed to touch us which does not first pass through Jesus’ Providential Hands. “But He knows the way I take; When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” –Job 23:10.

In Between.

February 25, 2023 /
MaryEllen Montville

Listen carefully: I am sending the Promise of My Father [the Holy Spirit] upon you; but you are to remain in the city [of Jerusalem] until you are clothed (fully equipped) with power from on high. –Luke 24:49.

In-betweens, life is full of them, and so is the Bible. The in-betweens are times when God often births transformation, prunes, exacting newness, refining our faith. Father Abraham understood in-betweens. As did Moses, David, Joshua, and Esther. The Apostle Paul indeed did. It is fair to say all those listed in Hebrews, Chapter Eleven, understood the uncertainty and discomfort experienced while being in between. Days, months, sometimes years between what was— the familiar, comfortable, dare I say predictable, and God’s “what is to come.” An unfamiliar, new, and often uncomfortable season. Living in-between is where we find the disciples in today’s Scripture verse.

For now, we’ll call these in-betweens new shoe seasons.

Why new shoes? Because most people, whether believers or not, can relate to the discomfort felt when breaking in a pair of new shoes. And yet regardless of the pain, contrary to how they feel, you, dear brother, precious sister, must persevere in the oft-painful, awkward uncertainty new things bring with them. You must trust and have faith that the hesitancy and pain the in-between brings will one day cease. Said Scripturally: And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. –2 Corinthians 3:18.

Transformation can be painful—the olive and grape understand this fully. At the hand of the One controlling the press, each endures the painful process necessary to exact their precious fluid.

From when Jesus called them to Himself, Christ’s disciples spent almost every waking moment with Him. Except, of course, those moments when a man, for obvious reasons, requires privacy. And when Jesus would slip away to be alone with the Father. But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray. –Luke 5:16. They’d eaten with, laughed, cried, and slept beside Jesus. And by the power of His Holy Spirit, He’d given each of them authority to heal the sick, cast out demons, and preach repentance.

But now, standing before His In disciples in His resurrected Body, in His final moments on earth, Jesus gave His disciples one last gift—and a promise. His parting gift to them? Jesus opened their minds to understand all Scripture. Finally, all that Jesus had shared concerning Himself—His birth, life, death, and resurrection, became clear to them. Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. –Luke 24:45.

Beloved, regardless of how long we’ve walked with the Lord. Irrespective of the hours spent in Bible study, quiet contemplation, or worship, we are still being perfected—sanctified. For as long as we draw breath, God will continue to take us from faith to faith. Stretching and refining us, God requires us to step out of the well-used shoes we’ve outgrown. They’ve served you well, don’t get it twisted, and yes, God gave them to you. But now it’s time for the new—your next assignment. And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven. –Luke 24:49.

God is teaching His children to walk on their own two feet and take the next step. To navigate and gain strength while in the in-between. Perseverance is being built. Character shaped—folded in, reshaped. And just as God did this with His disciples, so too with you and I, Beloved. God is equipping us for our moment. His “never-letting-go-letting-go moment.” Stay with me here…

Of course, God will always be with you—He’s promised you that. And God is not a man that He should lie. Still, there comes a time in the life of every believer when God will momentarily withdraw His hand so that you might stand, if you will,  on your own two feet. It’s a testing of sorts—a mirror. Allowing us to see what is or isn’t inside of us. Some of us needed coarse correction, perhaps. Or maybe encouragement to carry on, to keep going. Remember, in His Sovereignty, God sees and knows how you’ll respond when He withdraws His hand.

So it’s your faith—or lack thereof; God is allowing you to glimpse—your legs; God’s steadying.

How will we ever know, have confidence in, the strength of our faith, the certainty of our love and obedience to God, if our faith is never tested? If God never lets go of our hand? If He never places us in situations where we must dig deep to keep walking out our faith, to use the gifts He’s placed within us? Especially when we can’t sense His nearness and the ever-present, steadying Hand we’ve relied upon moves suddenly. Still, knowing God to be the Loving Father He is, our experiencing the in-between must be for our good—regardless of how we feel there. And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose. –Romans 8:28.

In closing, parents, siblings, aunty, or uncle, remember when you taught that child to ride a bike?

Their training wheels had been removed, and they were about to experience the exhilarating terror of riding solo firsthand. Remember how they kept looking back at you, their safety net? And how you kept reassuring them they wouldn’t fall? That you wouldn’t take your steading hand from their seat, yet knowing you’d have to? That’s where the disciples find themselves at the end of Luke, Chapter Twenty-Four. Jesus was about to remove His hand from the back of the proverbial seat. Christ, no longer with them but alive now, in them, empowering them to do all things. Just for a time, they’d be in between. But in this moment, and until Holy Spirit invaded the Upper Room, indwelling them, they were still working off training wheel memories of the temporary power given them in the past. Then Jesus called the Twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and power to cure diseases. –Luke 9:1.

Today, many of us are doing the same. We’re working off yesterday’s power. Whether in uncomfortable shoes or sitting on bikes, we are in between. Afraid, not wanting the One we trust to take their steadying hand from our seat. So how do we navigate the in-between? We take our direction or coarse correction when we’ve failed to listen from the only sure place there is—God’s Word.

Earlier, I spoke of two things Jesus left His disciples right before He returned to the Father: a gift and a promise. We read about His gift earlier, how Jesus opened the disciple’s minds to understand the Scriptures.

But what about His promise?

In a separate conversation with His disciples, while preparing them for His inevitable death and resurrection, Jesus promised them that no matter what happened to Him, He would not leave them alone. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. –John 14:16-18.

Jesus fulfilled this promise, first to His disciples and then to us.

You are not alone in your in-between, Beloved. Your feet may be weary. Sore from walking around in new shoes. You may feel a bit shaky thinking God has removed His steadying hand from the proverbial seat of your bike. I get that. I’m experiencing an in-between myself. But despite all that, let’s thank God we do not have to live as the world does by our fickle feelings. Instead, we have the Sure Foundation of God’s Word to guide us as we pass through the in-between. Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed; He answers him from His holy heaven with the saving power of His right hand. Some trust in chariots and others in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. –Psalm20:6-7.

Dear friend, why wait? If you have not asked Jesus into your life as Lord and Savior, call on Him now, He will answer you! He will walk with you, leading you with His strong, right hand through every in-between you’ll ever face. In my alarm I said, I am cut off from Your sight!” But You heard my plea for mercy when I called to You for help. –Psalm 31:22.

RSVP

February 18, 2023 /
Matthew Botelho

Hello to all my dear brothers and sisters in our Lord. I am praying that His mercies are covering you and that His peace comforts you in all situations you may be going through in this season. And to all those who have yet to accept Jesus as Lord, welcome, and I pray that you ask Jesus into your heart today. I do need to start this on a serious note, however. Today, in my city,  many parents received an email stating that the local public schools were in lockdown due to a threat of sorts. As it turns out, it was merely a hoax, a cruel joke played by someone lost in the dark. I hear these stories of public schools being raided by a gunman, and I think about how horrible this act truly is. These attacks are direct assaults from the pits of hell. My heart cries out for every student, parent, and teacher involved.

I praise our Lord that nothing came from this, and everyone is safe.

Yet I would never have thought this would happen so close to home. I am sure many of you reading this can relate on some level. Some of you may have similar stories, and if you do, please, know that I am standing in the gap for you. This twisted, nightmare-like fright results from God being banished from our schools. Other idols and gods have been allowed to set up residence. Baals, these false gods, have come for our children. And as this present darkness has settled in, people have become increasingly blind to it.

Now, any invitation or initiative to allow God’s Light into the many social systems and structures that once allowed Him free access, to be first and foremost in the classrooms and courthouses across this great land, has, for the most part, been rescinded.

But, my brothers and sisters, there is still hope for Christ to be restored to His rightful place in our land. As parents, pastors, leaders, and teachers, we must teach and raise the next generation of giant slayers to live full out for Christ.

Proverbs 22:6  instructs us, “Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not part from it.”

Psalm 33:12 tells us, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance. “ This passage of scripture speaks of the covenant God made not with the United States but with the nation of Israel. However, America was established, likened to a blueprint of Israel. How? Judeo-Christian values founded America. Yet as a nation, much like Israel, how far we have strayed from God, His Word, and statues. In his “City on a Hill” speech, John Winthrop said:  “But if our hearts shall turn away, so that we will not obey, but shall be seduced, and worship and serve other gods, our pleasure and profits, and serve them…we shall surely perish.”

But if we adhere to the promise God gives to the nation of Israel, we will see the fruit of that promise in our lives. When we as a people submit to God, He watches and leads His people. In Deuteronomy 7:12-13, God gives this amazing promise to Moses and the entire nation of Israel.

“Then it shall come to pass, because you listen to these judgments, and keep and do them, that the Lord your God will keep with you the covenant and the mercy which He swore to your fathers. And He will love you and bless you and multiply you; He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your land, your grain and your new wine and your oil, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flock, in the land of which He swore to your fathers to give you.”

Only through Jesus shall we share in that inheritance promised from the very beginning. Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law. And His Love sets us free from the Law. “For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” –Romans 8:2.

The blood of Jesus is the atonement for our sins. So to receive this forgiveness for our sins, we need to accept Jesus as Lord by acknowledging we are sinners, sincerely asking God for His forgiveness, and then living our lives submitted to Jesus. “Be fruitful,” says God. Live in abundance because Jesus has come to give you life and make it more abundant! “Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” –Genesis 1:28.

Take dominion of the land that God has given you. Take authority of your household and let the enemy know that the battle is the Lord’s and he, your enemy, is defeated! Raise up your children on the foundation of the gospel of Jesus Christ that they will go into these schools and proclaim that the Kingdom of God has come! Repent! and believe in the Good News!

The night that Jesus was betrayed, He spoke to His disciples and said, “I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me.” –John 14:30.

Satan has no authority over Jesus because He is God’s Son, meaning that all authority has been given to Jesus by God the Father. “All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.” –Matthew 11:27

So then, the invitations have been sent out, dear family. How will you respond? If you’ve already said yes to Jesus, continue to extend His invitation by sharing the Good News that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Remember, we are to deliver these invitations throughout the world. “I am the vine, you are the branches, He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” –John 15:5.

And if you are reading this, dear friend, and do not know Jesus as Lord, this is your invitation. Today is the day of salvation. Do not cast this moment away! This invitation is one you want to take advantage of. Ask Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins, then allow Him to wash them all away with His precious Blood. Ask Him to come into your heart and make His home in you. “As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” –Hebrews 3:15.

Welcome to the wedding feast! Now, your seat is ready. Amen

The Meditation of Your Heart.

February 11, 2023 /
Kendra Santilli

God is still speaking.

The daytime often proves itself a cluttered space for our souls. Identifying the voice of God in the midst of our mess becomes a challenge the busier our schedules get.

It was about three o’clock in the morning when a thought awoke me. I say “thought” because I am wary of labeling my ideas and thoughts as “the voice of God.” Our own thoughts and perceptions can often lead us to believe that they are the voice of God if we’re not cautious. This thought that woke me up was, “read Joshua 1:8.” In my tired haze, I said, “I already know what that verse says. I don’t need to read that right now; at three am. What I need now is sleep.” Although getting up at that moment was the last thing I wanted to do, it was as if that thought had awoken me with a megaphone.

No matter how hard I tried, I could not fall back asleep until I read Joshua 1:8. So, I got up and read the verse that I thought said, “be strong and courageous.”  My own arrogance had caught me. I realized right then that it wasn’t a mere thought that woke me up. It really was God trying to teach me something. He gently woke me up in the still of the night when I was void of distraction to tell me something that I otherwise would not have heard through the noise of a busy day.

Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. –Joshua 1:8

You see, I already knew what the surrounding verse said, “be strong and courageous,” but God was showing me the “how-to.” It was right there in the adjacent verse! It’s easy to declare, “do not fear,” “be brave,” and “be strong and courageous.” These phrases are much easier said than done and are not helpful in and of themselves. But thankfully, God is so gracious to give us direction and answers, the “how to’s” found in His Word.

Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips.

As the Lord of Armies (Isaiah 47:4), courage is in God’s nature. Studying and knowing His Word often bring with it the spirit of courage. We are confident in God’s abilities when we are secure in what He says. Surely we can all say that the more we study and become proficient in something, whether our jobs or roles at home, the more confidence we gain in that particular area. As a nurse, I become more confident in my practice as I study and learn about the human body and its healing processes. The same goes for the things of the spirit. When we are well acquainted with what Jesus says in His Word, we can live courageously and confidently, knowing that we abide by His instructions.

Meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.

What do you meditate on? In the middle of the night, are you kept awake by anxiety? Or do you choose to fix your thoughts on God’s goodness? The promises He has set in His Word?

Because what you meditate on will eventually lead to your actions. “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he….” –Proverbs 23:7. Simply put, if you meditate on worldly thoughts, and are guided by them, then you will begin to live as the world tells you. But, if you meditate on the Lord’s instructions, you will start to live as His Word teaches. Meditating on God’s Word will lead you to be obedient.

God wants our hearts. Jesus said, “if you love me, you’ll keep my commandments.” –John 14:15.

When our hearts delight in Jesus, obeying Him, His Word brings us joy. Although it may not always be easy, the believer knows that the reward is living with clean hands and a pure heart, and ultimately, the greatest reward is communion with God. His Word branded on our lips cultivates wisdom to live rightly before God. Living in obedience brings a far greater reward than surrendering to fear repeatedly. There is, after all, nothing to fear when we are living for the Lord because His perfect love casts out all fear. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. –1 John 4:18.

As we strive to do everything in love, there is no room for fear, only courage. Have faith. God will pave the way before you.

And this type of courage comes from abiding in Jesus. Obedience to God brings with it the blessing of prosperity and success, according to God’s will. Be it spiritual, physical, financial, or in our interpersonal goals. God will go before you, strengthening and guiding you as you prioritize His statutes.

So if you don’t know God, I invite you to ask Him to show Himself to you in a real way. Ask Him into your life today. He will make your crooked paths straight when you surrender your ways to Him. Start by first praying and asking God for understanding. Then, read the Bible and meditate on the Words written on the pages. Remember them and ask Jesus to help you apply them to your life. As you open your heart to Him, He will become faithful to you. He will prove Himself real in your life. The True and faithful God! Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. –John 14:6.

Until Then…

January 28, 2023 /
MaryEllen Montville

“So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” –Matthew 9:38.

God alone knows the hour He will say to Jesus, His Son, “It’s time for You to bring Your Bride home. Now go—the house has been readied to receive her. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. –John 14:2-3.

In Matthew 9:38, Jesus was speaking to His disciples. He asked them to pray for the physical solution to a great spiritual need. We would do well to imitate this principle.

Countless souls from every tribe and tongue, desperate for hope, healing, and deliverance. Lost and wandering, sheep in need of a Shephard. In need of those chosen by God to proclaim the Good News to “whosoever will.” You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. –John 15:16.

Jesus knew many were ready. “Ripe” to believe in Him, in the Good News of the radical Gospel of repentance and salvation He preached. From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” –Matthew 4:17. The problem, if it can be called that, is that there was only one of Him. Only One who could deliver, save, heal and set free. One God-man standing amidst a sea of need.

Within Matthew, Chapter Nine, we read that Jesus healed a man who, some say, had been paralyzed since birth. Jesus also raised a young girl from the dead. Then, He called a new disciple. He restored the sight of not one but two blind men. Jesus healed a woman who, the Bible tells us, had been bleeding for twelve years. And immediately following all of this, and knowing the work ahead, the sheer number of those that will come to believe in Him as a result of the miracles He has and will do. Jesus knows the time is at hand for more “harvesters”  to be deployed. Those He will call, just as He did these disciples, to join them in their labors. And so, Jesus instructs His disciples to pray for those who are coming. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is [indeed] plentiful, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.” –Matthew 9:37-38.

I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. –John 14:12. Jesus is not suggesting that anyone He had or, by the power of the Holy Spirit, will call to Himself, ever could or will “outdo what He has done.” No. When Jesus spoke these words, He was speaking of sheer numbers. Quantity, not quality.

In His Sovereignty, God knew there would be an ever-greater need for those who would do what He was doing—had come to do. The will of His Father. To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord to the captive—setting people free. The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. –Luke 4:18-19.

Today, Beloved, we are blessed to have been chosen by God to do just that. Join Jesus in doing the will of our Father by proclaiming the acceptable year of the Lord to the captive.

We get to spread the Good News of salvation worldwide with the click of our mouse. Via a single podcast or television program. Modern technology enables us to reach more people with the Gospel daily than perhaps Jesus did in His three-year earthly ministry. And, while some today, by the power of the Holy Spirit, have been given the power and authority to heal the sick, cast out demons, lay hands on, and deliver a soul from oppressive spirits, not everyone who professes to be a believer will do any of one these. There are spiritual seasons. Seasons of grace in which the Holy Spirit moves in power according to the will of the Father.

God chooses to use us according to His will—think Jesus’s mother, Mary, here. Or Moses, Noah, David, and the Apostle Paul. Or that one God used just today to lay hands on that soul bound by addiction one moment and was freed the next.

The Apostles had power bestowed upon them by the Holy Spirit per the season for which they’d been called. Remember, the Church was nascent. And God was moving differently than He did say, in David’s day or ours. Now that is not to say we will not or cannot experience such an anointing or outpouring in our time—that is for God alone to decide. We must watch and wait and be ready should it happen.

Yet even if it should, we will never outdo the One who created and endowed us with His power and authority.

Beloved, only God knows when He will send my Lord to bring us Home, ushering in then, the great and final harvest, the end of this age. How blessed are we to have been chosen to be a part of it at all! An answer to prayer? When Jesus and His disciples prayed to the Father for workers. They weren’t just praying for the one who showed up after the amen; they were also praying for us. That God would send us out to gather in those He had sealed in Christ Jesus from before the foundation of the world—so that not one soul be missed. God has made us what we are, and in our union with Christ Jesus he has created us for a life of good deeds, which he has already prepared for us to do. –Ephesians 2:10.

 And so, Beloved, when Jesus returns, may He find us doing the will of our Father.

Dear friend, if you’ve read this far and what you’ve read makes no sense to you, please, take a moment, and ask Jesus to reveal its Truth to you. Invite Him into your life as Lord, repenting of your sins, and ask Him to give you new hope, new sight, a new life in Him! We don’t know when Jesus will return, only that He will. Please, be found ready when He does. “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. –Matthew 25:1-13.

The Invite.

January 21, 2023 /
Matthew Botelho

“Come to the banquet!” dropped in my spirit Sunday during corporate worship. As the worship team played, a stillness came over the congregation when the Word came forth through a dear sister, “Be filled with His Word. Be hungry for the Word!” As those words were spoken with authority, I heard the Spirit say, “Come to the banquet! The invitations have been sent!”

It is so amazing how our Lord will speak in part through one person. Then another will say the same Truth, confirmation that the same spirit is flowing through both. For we each know in part, and we prophesy in part. But God is the God of order, and we are one Body.

My dear brothers and sisters, new friends, I pray this teaching speaks to you.

God is calling you, calling us all—deeper in this season. There are settings at His banquet table not yet seen and foods not yet tasted. Heavenly delicacies of favor and blessings. For His word is rich and filling. Crave the daily bread that is placed on the altar! The invitations have been sent out. The question is, will you accept it?

As the Lord spoke this to me, He led me to Matthew 22, The Parable of The Wedding Feast. Jesus is teaching the people what the kingdom of God is like. Now, if you don’t know what a parable is, that’s ok. Neither did I at the beginning of my walk. We are all at various stages in our walk with Jesus. A parable is a simple story that illustrates a moral or spiritual lesson. The people Jesus was teaching were babes in the faith, exactly how you and I started. Yet He met them where they were.

In Matthew 22: 1-3, Jesus teaches, “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding, and they were not willing to come.”

God has arranged a marriage for His Son. The people of Israel are His chosen people. The nation is the bride, and Jesus is the Groom.

Jesus’ disciples delivered the invitations, proclaiming that the kingdom of God had come! Some accepted and received the Good News. However, other people didn’t want to accept the Truth, even though miracles were being performed before their eyes! Many that were sick and possessed by demons were being healed and delivered! How could they not see this as Truth? That Jesus is the Christ, our Savior! Jesus gives us the answer in Matthew 13:15, ‘For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them.”

You are invited to this amazing, glorious wedding feast. A seat has been set for you at the table, yet you decide to remain where you are. Why friend?! What is taking such priority in your life that if the King, and I am talking about King Jesus, has personally invited you to come and sit with Him and enjoy the wedding banquet, where you will receive salvation, righteousness, peace, unspeakable joy. Why would you even think of saying no to that?! Still, God, who is rich in mercy, gives us a second chance by inviting us again.

As we read in the following few scriptures, we will see that man has not changed in the past 2,000 years.

God is calling His church back to Him. The Church is His Bride, and His Son, Jesus, is the Bride Groom. He has given humanity a second chance through repentance and salvation. Do you know that God will keep calling you until you answer and that not answering is an answer? God is calling you right now! Oh, how I pray that your answer is “yes, Lord. I receive you.”

Jesus says in John 14:23, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to Him and make Our home with him.” My brothers and sisters, friends, Jesus wants to be in a relationship with you. And a relationship requires love.

Matthew 22:4 “Again, he sent out other servants, saying, “Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and my fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.”

It is a big deal when God repeats something within the same chapter of scripture. Notice that He sent His servants out not once but twice. All things are ready! The menu has been prepared, and it looks like a giant BBQ is being served. God has spared no expense. All you need to do is accept the invitation and say yes. It sounds so simple, and yet we complicate things. “Sorry I cannot attend, I must………” (insert your reason here). “But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business.”—Matthew 22:5.

We make time in our daily lives for what’s important to us, our priorities, whether our jobs or hobbies. But is Jesus Lord over our priorities—not one of them, but Lord over them? Do we set aside time out of our day for Jesus? Let us ask this question: how often are we picking up our Bibles? What about Facebook? Are you being fed by what is happening in the world, in friends’ and strangers’ lives? Or are you being fed by the Word of God?

My brothers and sisters, friends, I am guilty of this too. Holy Spirit has convicted me. I am no better than those I’m posing these questions to. We all fall short. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”—Romans 3:23.

My point, my friends, is that we need to refocus and realign ourselves to God’s will and His Word. Allow Holy Spirit to minister to you. And do not harden your hearts if you hear His voice. And as we end our time together this week, I pray that this teaching, more God’s inerrant Word, has stirred something deep within you. God willing, I will be back again soon to continue the next part of this teaching.

Dear friends, the things of this world are failing, and the days grow darker.

But God has invited you to come to His wedding feast. Jesus has come into the world as a Redeeming Light. He is both the invitation and the only way to salvation. Come to the banquet and be satisfied. Ask Jesus to come into your heart and repent of your sins. He is faithful to forgive. Amen. “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.

All In God’s Timing.

January 7, 2023 /
MaryEllen Montville

In God’s timing, Majesty was born in a manger. Jesus’s Divinity, hidden behind milk rags, revealed now, Emmanuel, God with us. The Pure and Perfect Light of God’s Bright Morning Star has pierced men’s hearts – “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” –Revelation 22:16.

It was God the shepherds beheld, lying in His manger.

A revelation so overwhelming and weighty it created a chasm in their hearts, life-altering. The old seeped away from them as they glanced upon a reality too great for their finite minds to take in fully; Living water was poured in its place, filling them afresh—old things made new! “Do not be afraid!” That’s what the angel Gabriel spoke to those shepherds while they stood in the field—bewildered, transfixed. Wise counsel when you think how an ordinary man might respond when a messenger of the Lord is sent to him with a Word from God. Awe and holy fear—reverence, cementing their feet to the very earth on which they stood.

The Prophet Isaiah describes a similar moment. He once beheld the Bright Morning Star dawning in his own heart while angels at the ready surrounded the Living God. Not in a manger, but in heaven. Isaiah saw God seated on His Throne. And he plainly details the flood of awe and reverence, the overwhelming emotions which overtook him as he beheld the Lord of All Creation, the Great I Am, Majesty, seated on High. “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty. –Isaiah 6:5.

The shepherds keeping watch in the fields on the night Christ was born likely experienced comparable emotions. Holy awe and revelation running hand-in-hand through their hearts and minds when the angel Gabriel suddenly appeared to them from behind the night’s black curtain—brilliant, white light! And on his heels, a whole host of equally bright angels singing, Glory to God on high!

Shepherds, a man with a promise, and God’s divine timing. In other circles, this could be the opening line of a not-so-funny joke, but spoken here, it’s anything but. Instead, the shepherds and the man with a promise are recipients—central characters in today’s teaching.

If you open your Bible or bible app to the Gospel of Luke, Chapter Two, it will be far easier for you to follow their story. A story of revelation, of a long-awaited promise, fulfilled each in God’s perfect timing. A story stitched together with watchfulness, obedience, patience, and faithfulness – being at the right place at the right time.

What man calls coincidence are actual circumstances or details determined by God in eternity past being revealed now, in time as we understand it. Moments and events stitched together seamlessly, some needed piece of God’s way too big plan for our lives showing up just as God Himself does—right on time.

That’s how it was with the shepherds in the field the night God’s star appeared.

Those shepherds who tended the sheep and lambs used as living sacrifices and offered up for the people’s sins—the revelation from Gabriel, their having witnessed God’s Spotless Lamb as He lay wrapped in His manger, each, no coincidence. Each determined in eternity past, evidencing itself at the precise moment in time God had intended. And while these lowliest of men were tending these sheep, suddenly, that night sky was torn asunder, and a blazing heavenly light shone around them—the glory of the Lord arrested them. They would never be the same again. Sure, they may have remained lowly shepherds their whole lives, but now, because of this divine revelation. Because of this Babe, they’d leave their livelihoods behind to chase after something so much more valuable than sheep.

Now, in addition to whatever else they may have done or become, they’d spend their lives under the watchful care of the Great Shepherd Himself—Jesus, the Christ.

The shepherds are behind us now, their story told. Next in line is the man with a promise. His name, Simeon. Scripture gives us no historical details concerning Simeon—not his tribe, age, vocation, or marital status. But it does plainly inform us that the Holy Spirit led Simeon to the temple courts on the exact day of Jesus’s circumcision—just in time to see the Babe in the arms of His mother as she and her husband were leaving the temple. The simple fact that the Holy Spirit led Simeon there tells us that Simeon had a close relationship with God. He’d been watching, waiting, looking out for, desiring the arrival of Israel’s Messiah. We would do well to follow Simeon’s lead—watching, anticipating, longing for Jesus to return.

That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” –Matthew 24:40-42.

Scripture also tells us that Simeon was a righteous and devout man. He longed for the Lord, and he lived to please him. And God promised him he would not die before he saw—laid eyes on “the consolation of Israel” –its long-awaited Messiah. Scripture also suggests that Simeon was an old man when he’d finally laid eyes on Jesus, Mary, and Joseph—indicating that Simeon had been watching and waiting for most, if not all, of his life for his Messiah. So again, we would be wise to follow Simeon’s example of faithfulness, perseverance, patient endurance, and watchfulness. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. –Galatians 6:9.

And as far as we know, Simeon didn’t live long enough to hear Jesus speak prophetically of His second coming. Still, the Lord had fulfilled the promise He’d made Simeon. God ensured he was among the privileged few who, at Jesus’ first coming, recognized Him as Israel’s long-awaited Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” –Luke 2:27-32.

Not only did Simeon hear from the Lord more, Simeon was compliant with His leading. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple court. Many Christians profess to hear from the Lord. God has given them a specific Word or promise, yet if it does not happen within a particular time frame—theirs, not God’s, unlike Simeon, they give up on it. Tarrying, watching, waiting, believing God despite the wait—taking God at His Word—trusting Him, regardless. Simeon did this. So did David, Joseph, Mary, Moses, and Abraham. Paul and Peter as well. How about you, friend? How long will you watch and wait for the Lord?

Before I close, in addition to all Simeon’s faithfulness teaches us, I would be remiss if I did not highlight his unwavering obedience. Simeon trusted God, taking Him at His Word. He believed he’d see the Messiah in the land of the living—just as God promised. Coupled with his obedience, Simeon was also sensitive to the move of the Holy Spirit. Thus, he was in the right place at the exact time he needed to be to experience the fulfillment of the promise God had made him—Simeon did see Jesus, the Messiah, more; he held Jesus in his arms.

A promise fulfilled in God’s timing, one that originated in eternity past. What man calls coincidence are actual circumstances or details determined by God in eternity past being revealed now, in time as we understand it. Moments and events stitched together seamlessly, some needed piece of God’s way too big plan for our lives showing up just as God Himself does—right on time.

Dear friend, this Truth applies to you as well. It’s no coincidence you’re here. It’s been ordained by God, mind-blowing, right? Still, it’s true. Perhaps you’ve been questioning God? Whether He’s real? Does He hear you, know or care about you? Yes, yes, yes, and absolutely! God loves you. So much that He sent Jesus, that Babe in the manger, the One the shepherds worshiped, the One Simeon waited and prayed for, the same Jesus who will return, soon and very soon. But will you be ready when He does? Have you invited Jesus into your life as Lord? I promise if you do and you mean it, He’ll come. God always keeps His promises—Simeon is living proof. And so am I.

Those I love, I rebuke and discipline. Therefore be earnest and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me. –Revelation 3:20.

But That’s Impossible.

December 31, 2022 /
MaryEllen Montville

Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin. –Luke 1:35.

Christmas has passed. And as we prepare to walk into 2023, many of us will do so with expectations, doubts, with wondering. “What will this year bring? Will I have peace? Will my faith grow stronger, my service to God more steadfast? Will I lay aside, even for a season, what I know God is telling me to step away from, that I might pick up, make room for, what He’s calling me to take up? My obedience in exchange for my comfort—the familiar, the rote. The good even.

Many of us will come face to face with the seemingly impossible in this new season.

We’ll find ourselves asking the same question Mary asked. “How, Lord?” You know God is leading you in a new direction, asking something of you He’s not yet fully disclosed—and may never. And you know that only by faith and reliance on Jesus, trusting the leading and guidance of His Holy Spirit, will what God is asking of you be accomplished. So turn away from rebellion, put on discipline, and allow God to cut away the fat from around your heart—hardening it. Whatever the state you find yourself in these final hours of 2022, Beloved, repent if sin is present. Refocus, and follow hard after Jesus. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” –Isaiah 30:21.

The Holy Spirit has already brought some of you face-to-face with your Mary moment, whether good or seemingly bad. Your reading this is confirmation. As with Mary, the only question remaining is how you’ll respond to what you’ve been told. Will it be with a simple, humble, heartfelt, “Thy Will be done,” or will you proffer a litany of reasons why whatever God has or will ask of you is impossible? “How can this be, Lord? I don’t have the education, know-how, resources, the connections. I’m not gifted in that area. I haven’t the intelligence. I’m single, financially challenged, I can’t have children.”

Take heart, Beloved. You are not alone in your questioning. Others have also questioned how it is God accomplishes the seemingly impossible.

And as only God could arrange it, their question was directly connected to a seemingly impossible birth, the re-birth of man. His salvation. Being born again. That instantaneous regeneration occurring the very second Holy Spirit comes and makes His home in the life of the one God has called out of darkness into His glorious Light. Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” –Mark 10:27.

Brother, sister, as surely as God unconcealed His will and plan to Mary and His disciple, He’ll do the same with you—in His own time and timing. Still, as it was with them, so too with us; God does not need to comply with our desire to know the ABCs of a thing before He brings it about. We must trust Him. Exercise faith in Him—in His Word—just as Mary and the disciples did. We must believe and have faith that whatever it is, God is birthing, salvation, a new ministry, marriage, a move, a book, or business, you having a child. However seemingly impossible, the thing may appear. If it is truly from God, He will bring it about. Hebrews 11:6 says this: And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

So how will you respond to the Holy Spirit when He presents you with your “how will I ever take on such an undertaking” moment?

Mary asked, “How can this be” because she’d never known a man. Yet, for many of us, this same question will be asked in moments steeped in a lack of faith or fear of man, from coming face-to-face with our finite limitations or paralyzing unbelief. We will forget that the One who has overshadowed us, just as He did Mary—is calling into being that which has been in our belly from eternity past. Like so many before us, we’ll temporarily forget that the Sovereign Creator of this world is Omnipotent—He spoke, and it was finished. The world in a seed—perpetual. An orchard inside an apple—complete. We’ll fail to realize God is doing little more than manifesting an already-finished piece of His plan for our lives, some seed. That life-giving piece of the puzzle needed to make us complete in Christ Jesus is being birthed—bringing God glory. Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made. –John1:3.

How will you respond in your Mary moment, Beloved? Will you display belief and humility, knowing anything is possible with God, or question the same plans and purposes God Himself implanted within you, seed-like, in eternity past? In essence, saying there’s no way. Just look at me! That’s impossible!

We’re in a new season of, no, a new era of birthing.

Holy Spirit is about to overshadow many who are reading this—and some who are not—pulling from their depths the seemingly impossible. Those seeds, gifts, talents, ministries, marriages, a new level of boldness, and hunger for the things of God. It’s already begun. If you still yourself before the Lord, you may already feel the tiny flutters, the shifting of sorts that has already taken place within you—making room for the new—stretching you, making you Holy uncomfortable. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’ –Isaiah 46:10.

You innately know this thing that’s about to happen—is happening, is going to cause you great discomfort, disrupting your status quo Christian walk in ways you would not have imagined just one short month ago. Welcome to the Mary club. The Apostles Peter, James, John, Paul, and even Gideon were members of the Mary club. The question walking into 2023 is, are you? Then Mary said: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done to me according to your word.” –Luke 1:38.

Friend, I can think of no more perfect way to ensure that you, like Mary, are open and welcoming of all that God has for you in 2023 and beyond than by asking God’s Son, Jesus, into your heart as your Lord and Savior. God has done His part. John 3:16 assures us of that. For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. And Mary did her part in partnering with God, scary as it may have been, by saying yes to God’s plan for her life. Won’t you ask Jesus into your heart today, now? Won’t you partner with God, allowing Him to birth all He has for you beginning in 2023?

The Promise Of Christmas

December 24, 2022 /
Maria Braga

Way back in (Genesis 3:15,) we learn the origin of God’s promise. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel. At the fall of Adam and Eve, God announced the need for a Savior. Being Omniscient, God knew that a Deliverer was the only way to redeem humanity, a perfect Lamb, Jesus, His only begotten Son. For to us, a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. –Isaiah 9:6.

Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14.

Isaiah wrote of the promise of a coming King the Israelites would know of hundreds of years before that promise came to pass. For centuries, there was anticipation among the people of God. They were looking for the royal arrival of this great King, the Son of God. Everyone imagined and expected Him to be much like the kings they had known. A powerful and possessive ruler, not a lowly baby found in a manger. 

Everyone knew that some young Israelite virgin would deliver the world’s Savior. I can only imagine living during that time! The questions, the anticipation, and even the competition among these young girls wondering who is the chosen one! Who will deliver this King? Is it me? Mary was a young Jewish girl. Many scholars believe she was around fifteen years old. She was not formally educated but most likely well-instructed in the Torah (the first five books of the Bible.) Her parents, grandparents, and family who attended the Synagogue had likely taught her the Scriptures. They all almost certainly followed the religious laws of that day. Every Jewish girl knew about the prophecies. They knew the books of the law, the Pentateuch.

History tells us that Mary lived a simple life in a small home with no running water, toilets, heat, electricity, or any of the modern-day conveniences we have today. She lived an everyday life as all the other girls her age. 

God had already given His promise, the stage was set, and the time came for the significant historical event. The people of Israel awaited a triumphant king on a mighty horse. A king who possessed all the trappings of royalty. But God had a different plan. He chose to do it another way. And so, He sent the angel to deliver the message to Mary.

The angel Gabriel shows up and speaks to Mary, a young girl who had never known a man. The angel came to her and said; You are honored very much. You are a favored woman. The Lord is with you. *You are chosen from among many women. When she saw the angel, she was troubled by his words. She thought about what had been said. The angel said to her; Mary, do not be afraid. You have found favor with God. See, you are to become a mother and have a Son. You are to give Him the name Jesus. He will be great. He will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the place where His early Father David sat. 33 He will be King over the family of Jacob forever and His nation will have no end. Mary said to the angel, How will this happen? I have never had a man. The angel said to her, The Holy Spirit will come on you. The power of the Most High will cover you. The holy Child you give birth to will be called the Son of God. –Luke 1: 28-35.

Mary’s response is phenomenal! She didn’t run, and she didn’t pass out before this powerful being. She was filled with faith, a little troubled sure, but without fright. She stood tall before the angel and took in the message the angel had brought her from God. Her servant’s heart amazes me! How will this happen? I have never had a man. Could this pivotal moment have been the very second Mary conceived? As the angel spoke the Word, did the Word instantly become flesh inside her womb? Mary’s faith moved heaven and earth when she said: Let it be done unto me according to your will.Luke 1:38 Behold the handmaid of the Lord; let it be it unto me according to thy Word. And the angel departed from her.

Mary was blessed among women, chosen, and filled with faith.

Mary lived a life that was pleasing to God. She focused on God’s promise when the battle began to rage around her. Those days were not easy for a woman. Her culture did not accept this kind of situation. It was considered disgraceful. And a young unmarried girl or woman in this condition would be stoned to death. Mary knew all about the troubles that lay before her. She knew her culture well! So Mary decided to visit her older cousin Elizabeth who was six months pregnant with John the Baptist! Upon her arrival at Elizabeth’s house, Mary greeted her cousin, and the baby leaped inside Elizabeth’s womb.

Perhaps, this was the first praise service!

Elizabeth blessed her cousin, saying, You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what He said He’d do. – Luke 1:45.

What an example for us to follow. As believers, we live assured that God will do what He promises. He never changes. When we face the impossible, like Mary, we might ask, “How can this happen?” But like Mary, we must believe, and trust that God is still fulfilling His promises. We must remember that what is impossible for man is possible for God. Mary was chosen to fulfill a promise given some 4000 years prior. We, too, must ready ourselves to have our faith stretched big enough to believe and trust the One who never fails to complete what He begins!

You and I are still chosen today to accomplish whatever God calls us to do.

Mary faced separate groups of people in her process. Some totally missed Jesus, like the innkeeper. Because of the census, business was booming. So he had no room for the King of kings to be born in his inn. Another was Herod, who represented King and government, and the others were the high priests of the day, meaning the religious sect. 

Mary also experienced the love, warmth, and care of other groups, like, the shepherds and the Maggi. There were also the animals, who kept them warm! Jesus, the Promised One, arrived unexpectedly because His ways are not like ours. From the beginning, God planned to save His creation, all humanity! The purpose of the coming of Jesus is to open the Way back into a right relationship with the Father. Everyone who receives Jesus as Lord and Savior become a child of God.

Becoming a new creation is called the miracle of salvation. 

The Promise of salvation born at Christmas is for every person living on the face of the earth. Mary clearly shows us how to have this kind of faith. She demonstrates servanthood. “Here I am. May it be done unto me according to your will.” 

This is a spiritual concept. The Holy Spirit comes into us upon receiving salvation, living within, and He begins to change us. We experience the fruit of the Holy Spirit and begin to understand spiritual things and grow and serve as Mary did. We must believe and trust what God says He will do!

If you have not asked Jesus to become your Lord and Savior, what better time than now, at Christmas? Please pray this simple prayer with a sincere heart, and you will be saved. “Father, in the name of Jesus, fill my heart. Change me and make me new. I repent of my sins; forgive me. Guide me in this new way of life and surround me with a spiritual family that will help me grow and advance in my new spiritual walk. In the name of Jesus, amen.

” 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.

Level Up!

November 26, 2022 /
Matthew Botelho

Hello, my dear brothers and sisters. I’m praying that this finds you well and filled with hope in our Lord Jesus. I hope that whatever it is we are crying out for, He hears us. I am also praying that this teaching will come as an encouragement for many. We are coming close to the end of the year. There has been much shifting and sifting in the body of Christ. Holy Spirit is replacing what was good in one season with something greater. With the refining of your faith, room is being made for the new.

 “You are being protected by God’s power through faith for salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last days. You rejoice in this, though now for a short time you have had to struggle in various trials so that the genuineness of your faith-more valuable than gold, which perishes though, refined by fire- may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” –1 Peter 1:5-7.

My brothers and sisters, there is promotion coming for the Body of Christ, for the Body that wants to move forward. Who has an ear inclined to God’s Word. We must not harden our hearts to His voice or instructions. Let us be the Church that comes alive in the Word and Spirit; let there be unification in both, as Christ is not divided.

Dear friends, I am excited about what is taking place! Promotion is coming, or as the title states, the Church is about to Level Up! So many times, I have heard my kids yell that phrase while they play their video games. They get all excited and are blown away by what their character can do and how much stronger they are. This leveling up did not just happen, however. It took hours or even days to make this progress. Have you ever felt like that? You have been in faith, walking it out with our Lord for days. Then those days turn to months. The months to years. “When will this happen for me?” or better yet, “when will it happen for the Church?” Matthew 23:12 (Jesus’ speaking) “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

Our posture should be one of submission to God and His Holy Spirit, for He is the head of the Body, The capital “C” Church. The body that keeps its eyes on Jesus will experience an outpouring from heaven. “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.” How can we, as an individual or a Church Body expect anything from God if we don’t seek Him first, more than anything else? Remember, God resists the proud and boastful. Let me remind you of what happened to king Saul. He was given specific instructions on battling the Amalekites, but Saul thought differently. Full of pride, Saul believed he knew better. His presumed knowing better would prove troublesome for Esther and her people later down the road.

“Then the Word of the Lord came to Samuel,” I regret that I made Saul king, for he has turned away from following Me and has not carried out My instructions.” So Samuel became angry and cried out to the Lord all night.” –1 Samuel 15:10-11.

In the same chapter, the prophet Samuel rebukes Saul for not following instructions and delivers a blow to his ego from the One who made him king, God! “Then Samuel said: Does the Lord take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? Look: to obey is better than sacrifice, to pay attention is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and defiance is like wickedness and idolatry. Because you have rejected the Word of the Lord, He has rejected you as king.” –1 Samuel 15:22-23.

Some of you might be thinking, “we live under grace, not under the law. God is not vengeful towards those who do not obey. He will still love us regardless.” To this, I say yes, absolutely, I agree, but. Yes, God does love you! He loves you WITHOUT A DOUBT! Jesus went to the Cross for you and gave His life so you might have an abundance of life! However, God is the same yesterday, today, and forever! He does not change. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” –Hebrews 13:8.

But our lifestyle needs to imitate that of our Lord. The kind of relationship we have with Jesus matters, and commitment and obedience are a large part of that relationship. Like every great marriage, you must work at it equally, 100/100. No marriage will last with 100/50. Where is that other 50 going? Look, my marriage would not work if I saw my wife one or two days out of the week. I am not meeting her needs or committing my time to her. The same with our Lord Jesus. How do we draw closer to our Lord when we only visit Him once or twice a week? He is always there, 100 percent in, but you’re walking in the world. Yet you complain that nothing is happening in your Christian walk. Where is that promotion that I was promised?!

My dear brother and sister, my friends, please, heed this scripture! “Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord! Will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the One who does the will of My Father in heaven. On that day many will say to Me, Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in Your name, and do many miracles in Your name? Then I will announce to them, I never knew you! Depart from Me, you lawbreakers!” –Matthew 7:21-23.

 God does not want to keep anything good from you, but if you are keeping yourself from Him, He will not exalt you and bring you to those moments of leveling up in the Kingdom. And if a particular Body is not remaining in His Word or preaching a different gospel, it will be like He never knew them. “Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.” –Revelation 2:5.

Jesus knows His flock. They are the ones that hear His voice and come running to him like sheep after their shepherd. They recognize the voice of the One who cares for them, feeds them, and has healed them. As we end this teaching, please know that you are all very dear to me. We have never met, but I pray you are on fire for our Lord Jesus. The blood spilled on the Cross was done out of love for you. God’s love is immeasurable. It has no end, my dear friends. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you this day and receive the fullness of the Kingdom only found in Jesus our Lord. Amen. “Will not God grant justice to His elect who cry out to Him day and night? Will He delay to help them? I tell you that he will swiftly grant them justice. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man come, will He find that faith on earth?” –Luke 18:8.

Brothers and sisters, let this be the day you have declared Jesus as Lord over your life, and every circumstance is brought to its knees. Run to Jesus, friend. Let this be the day Jesus makes His home in you by your confession of faith in Him. Ask Jesus into your heart as Lord, and He will answer. “Jesus, wash away my sins with Your precious Blood and forgive me of my sins. Today I surrender all of me to you. Amen.”

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