Problem Purpose

Problem Purpose

Acts 8: ⁴ Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. ⁵ Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. ⁶ And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. ⁷ For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. ⁸ And there was great joy in that city.

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Running as fast as my out of shape body could go, I got to the gate too late. I missed the flight and was a bit frustrated. Fortunately, there was another flight so I asked to be placed on the list and got accepted. Parallel to this, my friends at home and I were going through a book, trying to grow in GOD. I read this on the flight.

The person next to me, on the rebooked flight, asked me about the book. We talked about GOD the whole flight and I was able to pray for her husband and son. I then told her about my quiet time with the LORD. She was retiring in another country and asked for the blog address. It is read quite heavily in that country to this day.

• Some problems I have faced have actually been a blessing.
• Some situations I have faced turned out to be exactly what I needed.
• Some trials I have faced happen for a great reason.

Because the people could not meet together, they spoke about JESUS where they were scattered to. Philip spoke so boldly in Samaria that many believed, were healed and unclean spirits fled. The city had great joy!

• GOD scatters me when I am complacent.
• GOD moves me when I am very comfortable.
• GOD send me when I am not expecting it.

“Be ready” is the term GOD wants me to carry. HE may send me out to speak about HIM, HIS SON and the HOLY SPIRIT at any moment. The responsibility is not on a church leader, rather it is on me. GOD wants me to preach HIS great news, especially during times of problems. I am grateful HE sends me during trials.

• Are you going through a large trial?
• Do you ask “Why is this happening?”
• Will you accept where you are and allow GOD to speak through you so you can be used to bless someone with encouraging words today?

Slander Reaction

Slander Reaction

Acts 6: ⁸ And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. ⁹ Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen. ¹⁰ And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. ¹¹ Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” ¹² And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; and they came upon him, seized him, and brought him to the council. ¹³ They also set up false witnesses who said, “This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law; ¹⁴ for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses delivered to us.” ¹⁵ And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel.

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Part of the fight of being a leader was protecting my reputation. For years, I made sure my decisions were not only sound, but heard. Things were going well, until I wanted to be “me” instead of who they wanted me to be.

I could no longer hide my faith just to get ahead. The slanderers made up their weird stories, but this time I did not care if those in charge wanted to believe lies.

• There came a time when I got tired of protecting what people thought of me.
• There came a time when I just wanted to be me instead of who everyone wanted me to be.
• There came a time when I realized I was not living by faith rather I was doing what was expected of me.

Stephen was doing great things for GOD. That’s what he was made for. Some jealous church leaders tried to fight his wisdom but found they could not beat him on that front. So they made up lies about him to capture him. Stephen’s reaction was simply to sit, peacefully.

• GOD wants me to know vengeance is HIS.
• GOD wants me to understand that I will be persecuted because of my relationship with JESUS.
• GOD wants me to expect a fight because of my service to the LORD.

Yelling at me, lying on me and hating me are actions I should expect from those who do not believe. It does not feel good. BUT GOD wants me to react different to the outbursts and slander. HE wants me to understand that HE is in control and humans are not.

HE knows the heart and is willing to clean it if I confess. HE also knows the hearts of those who try to harm me because of my service to HIM. HE protects the relationship I have with HIM. Humans my hurt my reputation or sometimes, my body. BUT GOD holds me everlasting. I am grateful GOD hold my reputation.

• Are you being lied about?
• Do you have someone talking negatively about you behind your back?
• Will you let what they are doing go so GOD will handle them in HIS time without you seeing HIS punishment on them?

Saying the Right Things

Saying the Right Things

John 12: ⁴ But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, ⁵ “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” ⁶ This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.

⁷ But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. ⁸ For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.”

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Laughing at what was said by another classmate, I was signaled by the Sunday school teacher to give the answer. “Um, JESUS?” I said, knowing it was a safe answer. I mean, it was either HIM, or Noah or Daniel. “JESUS was not Abraham’s wife, it was Sarah” was her reply. Okay, the reply was a joke, because I could not remember the actual question, but the situation was true.

• There were times when I mouthed the name “GOD” without any meaning.
• There were times when I said “JESUS” because it was the right thing to say.
• There were times when I prayed with others because they were praying and I just went along with it.

Judas the betrayer tried to show concern for the poor by saying the expensive oil used on JESUS’s feet could have been sold and given to them. JESUS did not expose Judas at that time, rather HE explained that her actions were SPIRIT led and would be used to prepare HIM for HIS death.

• GOD wants me to speak about HIM from my heart.
• GOD wants me to say the name of JESUS, knowing it has true power.
• GOD wants me to express HIS love without doubt or manipulative motives.

Saying GOD or JESUS may sound like the right thing, but if said without the heart believing in HIM, the words are worthless. GOD wants me to say what I believe. Whatever is in my heart will be exposed. I am grateful JESUS fills my heart with HIS SPIRIT.

• What are you saying?
• What do you truly believe when no one is looking?
• Can you ask GOD to fill your heart so HIS words will flow through you today?

Word Power

Word Power

John 11: ⁴⁹ And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, ⁵⁰ nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.” ⁵¹ Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, ⁵² and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.

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“Ooo, You gonna get married” I said to the kissing couple in a teasing fashion. Not knowing what marriage was, I thought this statement would embarrass the smiling duo. Weeks, later, the couple did get married. I was bored to tears at the wedding, because I was only in my single digits of age.

• There were times when I spoke the truth but did not know what I was saying.
• There were times when I said something off the top of my head that came true without thinking about what I said.
• There were times when I voiced the right answer, not knowing how I knew it.

Caiaphas, the high priest, said something off the top of his head, not knowing what he was predicting. He told all of the church leaders to be calm, because we are going to kill JESUS so the nation would not perish. He was thinking one way but his words had profound meaning.

• GOD wants my words to have profound meaning.
• GOD wants my words to be guided by HIS SPIRIT.
• GOD wants my words to be HIS words as I seek to speak to those HE sends me to.

Words are more powerful than most people think. Some can enrage, while others can encourage. GOD wants me to purposefully use words to get people to remember their true purpose, namely to be a child of GOD. JESUS would in fact die for the world, as predicted. I am glad HE is alive and sends me with HIS SPIRIT to speak the right words.

• What words are you saying the most?
• Do you hurl insults and speak poisonous, negative words as your primary source of communication?
• Will you stop trying to be negatively shocking and focus encouraging words, to those who you are sent to, by GOD today?

Not Alone

Not Alone

John 8: ¹³ The Pharisees therefore said to Him, “You bear witness of Yourself; Your witness is not true.”

¹⁴ Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from and where I am going. ¹⁵ You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. ¹⁶ And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me. ¹⁷ It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true.¹⁸ I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me.”

¹⁹ Then they said to Him, “Where is Your Father?”

Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also.”

²⁰ These words Jesus spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one laid hands on Him, for His hour had not yet come.

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Sitting in a room full of people, I felt alone. Everyone knew each other and no one knew me. I walked around for a while but that became tiresome. I decided to miss the evening festivities and dined in my room, alone.

• There were many times I felt alone.
• There were many times when I was around lots of people and still felt alone.
• There were many times when I had one viewpoint and the majority had another, so I felt alone.

JESUS was challenged by the church leaders stating “HE is bragging about HIMSELF and making up the story.” JESUS, being GOD, answered them back, letting them know how much they did not know about HIM. “You only see with the flesh and not the SPIRIT” JESUS implies. Then HE said “I AM not alone.”

• GOD wants me to live my life for HIS purpose.
• GOD wants me to stand firm even when it is not popular.
• GOD wants me to believe HE is with me and to help others do the same.

In the days of humans explaining away GOD, it seems quite illogical to believe in this higher being who controls everything. I mean there are explanations for human behavior, weather, volcano eruptions and why a building should remain standing. BUT GOD confounds those who think they are “wise.”

GOD laughs at those who think HE is not involved with everything and wants me to believe HE is. HE sends me to gather those who are in need of HIS love. HE lets me know I am not alone as HE sends me out with HIS purpose. I am grateful HE is with me always!

• Do you feel alone?
• Do you have a view of the love of GOD when no one around you speaks of HIM at all?
• Will you keep trusting in GOD and know HE loves you and is with you today?

Speak for Yourself

Speak for Yourself

John 7: ⁴⁵ Then the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why have you not brought Him?”

⁴⁶ The officers answered, “No man ever spoke like this Man!”

⁴⁷ Then the Pharisees answered them, “Are you also deceived? ⁴⁸ Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in Him? ⁴⁹ But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.”

⁵⁰ Nicodemus (he who came to Jesus by night, being one of them) said to them, ⁵¹ “Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?”

⁵² They answered and said to him, “Are you also from Galilee? Search and look, for no prophet has arisen out of Galilee.”

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While pledging an organization we were not supposed to be late, but we were. “Let’s get our story together” one person said as they were they primary culprit for our being late. As the lies came together, I was not convinced. When I was pulled to the side and asked what happened, I had a choice. “Should I go along with the lie?”

• There were times when I was scared to tell the truth.
• There were times when it seemed like I could not please anyone whit the answer I had.
• There were times when I told the truth and made those around me angry.

Losing their power quickly, the Pharisees had to protect their stance against JESUS. One of them spoke on behalf of the church leaders saying JESUS was a deceiver, like the devil, instead of considering HIM as GOD. But Nicodemus spoke for himself and used the heart of the law, just like JESUS.

• GOD wants me to believe in HIM for myself.
• GOD wants me to pursue HIM daily with just me and HIM.
• GOD wants me to spend time alone with HIM so HE can guide me through HIS word.

Going with the crowd to protect a lie is not the way GOD wants me to act. This is the wrong type of unity. GOD wants unity in the truth that does not exclude humans based on hate. HE wants me to observe what HE did by supplying grace based on HIS word. I give GOD my desires today.

• Do you desire something?
• Have you convinced yourself that your desires are admirable without checking to see if they are against GOD?
• Will you allow GOD to guide your desires so you can speak for HIM even when it is not popular?

Strange Confidence

Luke 21: ¹⁰ Then he said to them: ‘Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. ¹¹ There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.

¹² ‘But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name.¹³ And so you will bear testimony to me. ¹⁴ But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. ¹⁵ For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. ¹⁶ You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. ¹⁷ Everyone will hate you because of me. ¹⁸ But not a hair of your head will perish.¹⁹ Stand firm, and you will win life.

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“Let’s just have a discussion” the newscaster said to me in an effort to calm me down. She may have sensed that I was nervous so she randomly asked me questions before the show began. Fortunately for me, they recorded the practice discussion because I was relaxed. The answers seemed natural.

• Sometimes when I practice what I am going to say, I get nervous.
• Sometimes when I build up my answer in my mind, I get anxious.
• Sometimes when I play things over and over in my mind, I forget to live within the moment.

JESUS stirs many emotions when HE discuss the problems HIS followers would face. HE discusses huge, GOD sized problems that mere humans would face. Then HE says something strange. “Make up your minds not to worry beforehand” were HIS words of affirmation.

• GOD says to me “I will give you words of wisdom.”
• GOD says to me “I will protect you and not a hair on your head will perish.”
• GOD says to me “Stand firm and you will win life.”

“Relax and stop thinking about what you will say to your adversaries” is the gist of what GOD is telling me. HE knows humans are competitive and combative towards one another, especially towards those who believe in JESUS.

GOD wants me to drop my worries about what I will say to defend myself and rely on HIS power to give me the right words at the right time. HE is my sole protector (S O L E) and my soul protector (S O U L).

• Are you worried about something?
• Do you want an outcome to happen but are worried about it?
• Can you give your worries to GOD and allow HIM to give you words of peace rather than practicing what you will say to “that” person?