No Doubt

No Doubt

Hebrews 8: The whole point of what we are saying is that we have such a High Priest, who sits at the right of the throne of the Divine Majesty in heaven. ² He serves as high priest in the Most Holy Place, that is, in the real tent which was put up by the Lord, not by human hands.

 

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Sitting on the trunk of my car, I just waited. I didn’t know where I was, but I knew I was very far from my apartment, so I couldn’t walk. My car had broke down and I did not have a phone. It was night. Not too long, a couple picked me up and took me to a rest area. They asked me if I knew CHRIST as my Savior.

 

• I was relieved to get some help.
• I was more relieved that someone who believed in CHRIST picked me up.
• I looked back at the situation and saw that the entire rescue was out of my hands.

 

Paul, the assumed writer, seems to address the fallibility of humans. As unreliable as a human can be, they are chosen as priests. But JESUS serves as the one and only High  Priest, who sits at the right hand of GOD. HIS authority is infallible.

 

My Observations:

• When I rely on my abilities I can get scared, BUT GOD has all the power I need.
• When I think there is no way out of a situation I get worried, BUT GOD is there to show HIS power.
• When I doubt that a solution will not come, GOD provides in ways I did not imagine.

 

Doubt is easy to fall into. I mean, when trouble arises and my abilities seem to be lacking, I worry about how the situation will clear itself up. I replay the trouble and try to come up with a plan, but reality hits and I see that my abilities to solve the situation are far away. BUT GOD steps in and provides.

 

HE places me in situations where only HIS power can solve them. HE then shows me that I can rely on HIS power to solve any problem, if I believe HE can and will do it HIS way. HE always comes through in HIS way and HIS time. I am glad I can place my full trust in HIM with no doubt.

 

Challenge

• What is the “point” the writer is trying to make?
• Have you ever needed something and felt it was impossible to get what you need?
• Will you place your full trust in GOD and know HE has your situation in mind so you can get rid of any doubt today?

Anytime, Anywhere

Anytime, Anywhere

2 Timothy 4: In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and because he is coming to rule as King, I solemnly urge you ² to preach the message, to insist upon proclaiming it (whether the time is right or not), to convince, reproach, and encourage, as you teach with all patience. 

 

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After hearing the message “Preach the Gospel of JESUS” I was excited as I sat in church. But the next day, it became difficult. I was at work so I talked about work stuff all day. Then when I left I went to the gym and we talked about body parts and ogled at the opposite sex. Soon it was the weekend and I had to have a minute to myself right? I went out with friends to bars.

 

• I did not see a time when it was right to speak about JESUS.
• I could not see a place where it was right to speak about JESUS.
• I felt awkward speaking about JESUS so I kept the message to myself.

 

Paul urges Timothy to “preach the message” and to “insist” that the message be preached by everyone. He then gave the value of preaching the Gospel. It can be used to convince, reproach and encourage. In other words, it is appropriate for all situations.

 

My Observations

• How I live my life will determine how much I speak about JESUS.
• GOD wants me ready to speak about JESUS, anytime, anywhere.
• The HOLY SPIRIT should determine whether it is appropriate to speak about JESUS.

 

Fear, shame and doubt cause me to shut my mouth when it comes to JESUS. I mean, when I am in the middle of sin, I feel I can’t speak about JESUS, so I wait. When I am scared and facing difficult times, I feel I can’t speak about JESUS, so I wait. When I face new people or I am at work or I am doing a business deal I fear messing up and I feel I can’t speak about JESUS, so I wait.

 

I then find myself never, ever speaking about JESUS. I then hope someone else will do it or maybe I can be “good” enough that my example will show JESUS without ever needing to say a word. But this is counter to this command “preach the message and insist upon proclaiming it. Satan wants me fearing, shamed and doubting so I will not speak about JESUS because he knows it is powerful. I gladly put aside my fear, shame and doubt to speak about JESUS, especially when I feel it is not the right time.

 

Challenge

• Do you feel the sense of urgency from the writer?
• Have you ever felt ill-equipped, shamed or inappropriate to speak about JESUS?
• When will you use actual words to “proclaim” HIS worthiness?
• Will you let GOD help you with your fear, shame and doubt so you can be used by HIM to preach the message of JESUS to many today?

Edge of Doubt

Edge of Doubt

1 Corinthians 1: ⁴ I always give thanks to my God for you because of the grace he has given you through Christ Jesus. ⁵ For in union with Christ you have become rich in all things, including all speech and all knowledge. ⁶ The message about Christ has become so firmly established in you ⁷ that you have not failed to receive a single blessing, as you wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. ⁸ He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be faultless on the Day of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ God is to be trusted, the God who called you to have fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ, our Lord.

 

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After the evaluation, I felt pretty beaten up. “You are average” I was told, but this time I had worked extra hard and other people said they loved the results. “Am I not as special as some people say?” I wondered.

 

• I have wondered if something was wrong with me after working for certain people.
• I have questioned my capabilities even when others have confirmed them.
• I have doubted GOD’s love for me after working for certain people and being in certain churches.

 

Paul gives a huge word of encouragement to the people of Corinth. He expresses his gratefulness for them and lets them know the message of CHRIST has been “firmly established” in them. This is great news!

 

• GOD wants me to know that my wealth comes from knowing about JESUS.
• GOD wants me to know that HE is pleased when I speak about JESUS.
• GOD wants me to know that it is HIS power that keeps me firm in the faith, not mine.

 

Doubt can be corrosive. I mean, when people express their doubt to me, it can corrode the promises GOD made to me. BUT GOD took care of that too. HE does not make a promise HE cannot and will not keep. GOD knows me inside and out and yet, HE still called me to have fellowship with HIS SON JESUS CHRIST.

 

GOD is to be trusted, unlike those who plant the seeds of doubt. The enemy wants me to doubt GOD so I will stay confined under HIS socially accepted addictions. Instead, GOD wants me to place my full trust in HIM. I am grateful it is GOD who keeps me firm to the end and will find me faultless on the day of our LORD JESUS CHRIST.

 

• Has doubt crept into your system because of the reaction of people around you?
• Did GOD make a promise to you and it has not come to fruition yet?
• Will you rest assured that GOD is the one who will keep you firm so you do not have to be concerned about messing up or need to try harder to please HIM?

All In

All In

John 20: ²⁴ Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. ²⁵ The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”

So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”

²⁶ And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” ²⁷ Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”

²⁸ And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

²⁹ Jesus said to him,  “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

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“Your turn” they said to me as they handed me the skateboard. I had barely been on one, let alone attempted what I was about to try. The makeshift ramp consisted of wobbly bricks, precariously placed under a board found in a field somewhere. I saw the others make it over the ramp, but I had doubts. I reserved energy by not skating fast to soften the fall. I did fall.

• Sometimes I get so scared that my solutions cause me to fail.
• Sometimes I think about my safety instead of thinking about the leap I need to take.
• Sometimes I remember getting hurt more than I remember being protected.

Thomas had doubts that everyone had seen the LORD. He may have been fooled before by others who claimed to be CHRIST and wasn’t going to fall for it again. BUT JESUS was merciful and returned specifically for Thomas. JESUS gave him the proof he needed and also gave a word on belief.

• GOD wants me to believe with my whole heart.
• GOD wants me to believe without doubt.
• GOD wants me to believe as a child but grow as a spiritual adult.

“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” are the words I get excited over. I mean believing in JESUS without having seen HIS miracles HE performed thousands of years ago is amazing. Only the HOLY SPIRIT can enable someone to believe in this day and age.

JESUS says to those who believe without seeing, “Your faith is something special.” That’s the “Blessed” part of HIS statement. When I believe JESUS will do exactly as HE said HE would do, without doubt, I am blessed. I am excited for GOD’s amazing plan HE has for me to reach others.

• Do you doubt GOD’s amazing plan HE has for you?
• Do you think you should hold back so you can protect yourself?
• Will you jump all the way in and thoroughly believe that GOD is excited about you today?

Shame Line

Mark 15: ²⁷ With Him they also crucified two robbers, one on His right and the other on His left. ²⁸ So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And He was numbered with the transgressors.”

²⁹ And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, ³⁰ save Yourself, and come down from the cross!”

³¹ Likewise the chief priests also, mocking among themselves with the scribes, said, “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. ³² Let the Christ, the King of Israel, descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe.”

Even those who were crucified with Him reviled Him.

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“You must attend the meeting” said my employment lawyer as she coached me through maximizing the exit package. During the meeting I could hear overt conversations. “Why is he presenting? He won’t be here anyway.” Another said “Maybe he is trying to do a last ditch effort to save his job.”

• There have been times when I have been shamed.
• There have been times when people who once were “with” me, said plenty of words against me.
• There have been times when I could hear the insults and could not even respond.

Powerful people tried to add insult to injury as they looked at JESUS in disgust. GOD was lumped in with the bad guys even though HE committed no sin. Known felons were not insulted, but JESUS was. Even one of the criminals, who was dying right next to JESUS,  hurled insults at HIM.

• JESUS says to me “They will hate you because of ME.”
• JESUS says to me “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
• JESUS says to me “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Insults never feel good and I have dished out many. Looking back I have joined in on the shame line to hurl insults at people, maybe not at their face, but in smaller gossipy places. GOD has forgiven so much from me. HE took the shame without cursing as HE said “FATHER forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” I am grateful for HIS shame.

• Are you full of shame right now?
• Have you joined in to shame someone even if it was done in gossip?
• Will you give your shame to GOD, whether you received it or dished it out, today?

Hostile Takeover

Mark 12: Then He began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a place for the wine vat and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. ² Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that he might receive some of the fruit of the vineyard from the vinedressers. ³ And they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed. ⁴ Again he sent them another servant, and at him they threw stones, wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated. ⁵ And again he sent another, and him they killed; and many others, beating some and killing some. ⁶ Therefore still having one son, his beloved, he also sent him to them last, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ ⁷ But those vinedressers said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ ⁸ So they took him and killed him and cast him out of the vineyard.

⁹ “Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vinedressers, and give the vineyard to others. ¹⁰ Have you not even read this Scripture:

‘The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone.

¹¹ This was the Lord’s doing,
And it is marvelous in our eyes’?”

¹² And they sought to lay hands on Him, but feared the multitude, for they knew He had spoken the parable against them. So they left Him and went away.

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Seeing a crowded bus, I noticed a group of people who hung around the back door waiting for people to exit so they could slip on. A free ride was the goal. Wow! I thought to myself. I shimmied onto the bus and it worked. I tried it on the next bus and the driver stopped the bus and made me come to the front and pay. That cured my bus hopping in a single trip.

• There were times when I tried to force my way in.
• There were timed when I tried to sneak my way in.
• Three were times when I tried to get in places I did not belong.

The church leaders thought they had exclusive rights to heaven. They lorded their positions to the point of hating JESUS for exposing their sinfulness. This parable solidified their hatred as JESUS said they would kill HIM.

• JESUS wants me to confess my sins or HE will one day point them out.
• JESUS wants me to tell people my sins so the sin will lose its power over me.
• JESUS wants me to focus on HIS love instead of hating HIS methods.

GOD’s love requires that I believe in HIS SON. I can become a church leader and still rot in a place of eternal separation fro GOD if I do not truly believe in HIS SON. JESUS is the focus of the parable. HE was sent for my salvation.

• Are you trying to force your way into heaven?
• Do you think you goodness deserves a heavenly seat?
• Can you stop thinking you are good enough for heaven because of your title and start believing in JESUS?

Doubt Repellent

Mark 11: ²⁰ Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. ²¹ And Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.”

²² So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. ²³ For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.²⁴ Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

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“I’m going to make it” I thought to myself. Immediately after thinking this marvelous thought another thought crossed my mind. “But what if you don’t make it? You may get hurt.” I tried anyway. I threw one leg over the fence, as I saw everyone else do, but hesitated with the other. My pant leg got caught in the link fence, slamming my face into the links.

• Sometimes I doubt.
• Sometimes I fear.
• Sometimes I hold back because there is a part of me that just does not believe.

JESUS pointed out special power that is available to everyone. HE had to get Peter to see that it wasn’t about the fig tree at all. But what am I supposed to do?

• JESUS says to me “Ask me for anything when you pray to MY.”
• JESUS says to me “Believe that you will receive them and you will have them.”
• JESUS says to me “Nothing is possible with humans, but with GOD all things are possible.”

By placing every request at JESUS’s feet enables HIM to be LORD of my life. HE has the right to say “No” to my request, yet I should believe that HE can grant the request if HE desired to. This, however, sometimes creates a conflict. “Am I praying for the right things?”

JESUS wants me to cut it out and move forward. Pray, believe and receive. That is my only concern.

• Are you dreaming of something but have doubts?
• Do you think you want something large but feel so small that you think you dream cannot be reached?
• Will you place your doubt in JESUS hands along with your dream and ask to be filled with faith?

Greatness out of Small Places

Micah 5: ² “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
    though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
    one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
    from ancient times.”

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⁴ He will stand and shepherd his flock
    in the strength of the Lord,
    in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they will live securely, for then his greatness
    will reach to the ends of the earth.

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Eloquent was his speech and solid was his direction. I watched this person rise from nothing to become the CEO of one of the largest companies in the world. I asked him where he lived when he grew up. Surprisingly he answered “the projects” or “slums” or “ghetto” to others. I thought to myself, “Someone this fantastic can come out of a place that is looked down upon by the masses?”

• Sometimes I underestimate the people in small places.
• Sometimes I overlook the people in places that are categorized as off limits.
• Sometimes I protect myself by labeling places and people instead of searching for bright spots.

When I went to serve in a neighborhood that was classified as dangerous, I found people who had aspirations of becoming a doctor, lawyer, and famous musician. These individuals had something in common, they all followed GOD.

• JESUS chose to become a human in a town that was overlooked.
• JESUS chose to be born in a place where people would classify it as a slum or a ghetto.
• JESUS chose to provide HIS redemption through a small place called Bethlehem.

GOD told me to teach these people about HIM and as they sat in my class I could see them grasping onto HIS message in their own way. They were hungry for the LORD and HE did enable them to become what they sought out to be! GOD raised them to their place and they have not forgotten HIM. I learned a lesson, never label a place or person that GOD has a plan for, including myself!

• Are you labeling people in order to protect yourself?
• Have you labeled people so much that you refuse to serve them?
• Will you remove your label and serve people who do not look or act like you?
• Can you realize that you may serve a person who will be used by GOD to bring millions to HIM?