believe | Revelations From The Road

He Loves You!

September 10, 2017 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given September 2017

This is a message that I hope will encourage someone today. I know some of you have messed up…AGAIN! We all do. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23). And you may be thinking, “Why does God even put up with me?” “I have loved you with an everlasting love;” (Jeremiah 31:3). Why, because He loves you! We can’t understand this kind of love. God said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6). Jesus replied to a question about forgiveness from Peter saying we should not just forgive someone seven times but seventy times seven, (Matthew 18: 21-22). He didn’t mean to forgive someone 490 times then stop, He meant there is no limit. And remember, God has already made a way for us to be forgiven for our sins and even for those sins we’ve not committed yet! That way was Jesus’ death on the cross where He took our sins on Himself! He loves you! God will never say when you mess up, “That’s it! I’m outta here!” No, He loves you!

So today, if you can identify with what you’ve read here, stop right now and pray: “God, I confess my sin to You, I’m sorry and repent of it and I ask for Your forgiveness. Amen.” Now, picture Him saying with a big smile on His face, “I forgive you child, come here and give me a hug.” (Look up at that picture.)

You are now forgiven, you are clean. So, take God’s hand and continue on with Him to the wonderful plan He has for you. HE LOVES YOU!

Be specific!

July 14, 2017 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given July 2, 2017

Each morning I rise, go into the kitchen to make coffee then sit in my favorite chair for my time with God. Part of this time, of course, is reading my Bible. At our church, Zion Family Ministries, we do the Project 345 Bible Reading Plan which takes us through the 260 New Testament chapters each year, five days a week, 260 days. There is also a plan which adds the Old Testament, I do that at night.

The other morning, I was reading in Mark 10: 46-52 about the healing of Blind Bartimaeus and something stood out to me. When the blind man heard that Jesus was passing by, he called out to Him and Jesus stopped. He waited for Bartimaeus to be brought to Him and then He asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” Now, we know that Jesus knew what the man needed but He asked him anyway. Bartimaeus replied, “Lord, that I might receive my sight.” (v. 51). And Jesus granted his request. In this case, it was important for Bartimaeus to be specific. I’m sure he had other needs but being able to see was his greatest need and that’s what he asked for.

So, I thought about us as Christians. Are we praying specific prayers? God already knows what we need. Or are all our prayers pretty general? Are we praying daily at all? This concept has changed my prayer life. When I’m praying for something I need, I think of the very specifics of my need and ask for that. If someone asks me to pray for them, I want to know specifically what they need. An example would be, “Lord, heal my body.”, very general and God could answer that prayer all at once. Or how about this, “Lord, I want these floaters to be gone from my eyes and my sight to return to 20/20.”? Sometimes if we are not specific, how will we know if God answered our prayer? Now, when we’re praying for, “our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11), it would be impossible to be specific for all the people in the world but this gives us something to think about as we pray. Be specific!

One more thought that came to me yesterday. As I was driving, praying and thinking about being specific, I thought, “What specifically do I need the most?” And then Matthew 6:33 came to my mind, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” That is specific. God wants me to put Him first in my life, give Him full control and trust Him to handle it. “Lord, help me to seek You and Your Kingdom first and I won’t have to be concerned about the rest of that stuff.”

Keep these things in mind the next time you pray and see what God speaks to you about.

Memory

June 22, 2017 by Bill 1 Comment

Given June 20, 2017

The human brain is an amazing organ. No computer can match its power, ability or memory. Humans have done wonderful things by using their brains and it is said that knowledge now doubles every twelve months. This is all done with the brain. God designed our brains.

As I got in my truck recently, a random phrase suddenly came into my mind, “buckle up”. I thought, “Why did that come to my mind?” I always buckle my seat belt. Then, into my mind, entered this jingle from years ago which had been a commercial encouraging people to use their seat belts. “Buckle up for safety, buckle up. Buckle up for safety, always buckle up. Show the world you care by the belt you wear, buckle up for safety, everybody buckle up.” Now, in my memory somewhere was stored that little song and the random phrase that I “heard” triggered my memory and I sang the jingle without a mistake. I remembered every word from years ago! I can’t remember the names of some of the people I go to church with, students I had in school years ago, things that happened at times in my life or what to pick up at the grocery store. But my memory recalled those crazy song lyrics. It came from my brain.

Now, as I usually do, I started thinking of how this incident could be related to something spiritual; maybe it was God who put that phrase in my mind. Wouldn’t it be useful to have the Word of God stored away somewhere in our memories? Colossians 3:16 says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in us richly.” When someone near us is in need, the ability to recall scripture or teachings from the Bible can make a difference in their lives. What if someone comes to you and wants to get saved? Will you be able to use scripture to lead them into Heaven? “Therefore encourage one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:18)

When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness in Matthew 4, what did He use to fend off the devil? He used words. But not just any words, He used God’s words. Satan couldn’t compete with the Word. “Take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:10) By the way, this part of the Armor of God is the only offensive weapon mentioned. So when the devil comes at you roaring “like” a lion, with temptations will you have the offensive weapon to resist him and watch him flee from you? “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you”. (Psalms 119:11)

We want to live a good life, or should I say, a God life. The Bible is full of instructions for us to follow in order for that to happen. We want to be pleasing to God, to fulfill the mission He planned for us before we were born and to be a servant here on earth until we make our final stop on our journey. How do we do that? Joshua 1:8: “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”

If this has made you think about what’s in your memory from God’s word, I’m glad. I guess that was God’s intention when he put that phrase in my mind. If you need some scripture in your mind, read it, listen to it, meditate on it, memorize it and practice speaking it every day.

Five Steps To Receiving

May 31, 2017 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given July 11, 2011

Too many times we pray and don’t receive what we asked for. Of course, God is sovereign and knows what’s best for us so sometimes the answer is “No” or “Not now”. But there are conditions which we control that have an effect on our receiving. Let’s look at five of them.

1. We must believe that God has the ability and resources. Is God able to do what we ask? “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:19). He is able and He owns everything.
2. We must believe He will. A leprous man said to Jesus, “If you will, you can heal me?” Jesus replied, “I will, be clean.” (Matthew 8:2-3). Jesus is the same today as He was then, He will.
3. We must believe that we are the recipient. We are God’s children and He loves us. “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.” (Psalm 23:5). “That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Christ Jesus: that we may receive the promise of the Spirit by faith.” (Galatians 3:14). If we are Christians, we have been redeemed and are heirs to the promise.
4. We must believe this so much that we don’t doubt or worry but get excited. A double-minded man “should not think he will receive anything from the Lord.” (James 1:7). “But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt,” (James 1:6). If you really believe something good is going to happen, you will look for it expectantly and excitedly.
5. When we believe, we won’t sit back and wait for God to drop the answer on us but we do what’s necessary to take it. “What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. (Matthew 11:24). That word “receive” is an action word that could be translated “take”. Part of that is how we speak from our hearts. “God.. who calleth those things which be not as though they were.” (Romans 4:17). Aren’t we supposed to be like God? Let’s start putting these five principles into practice and begin receiving what God has in store for us.

When You Are Here

May 21, 2017 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given May 21, 2017

As happens frequently during praise and worship time at church, the words to a song captivated me and the Holy Spirit spoke to me about a Spiritual concept. The lyrics were from the song “When You Are Here” by Bread and Wine and this is the line that spoke to me: “When You are here, miracles are possible.” I looked around our congregation and saw the 250 or so people and thought about the word “possible”. If God is here, which He was, “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:20), why are miracles only possible? Why do miracles not just happen?

I was reminded of the story in Luke 5 about the man who was brought on a mat to Jesus and they had to lower him through a hole in the roof because of the crowd. All the big shots from the church were there and it says in verse 17, “and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.” When You are here, miracles are possible. The healing miracle was available to all but the leaders of the church didn’t believe so it was not possible for them. But Jesus saw the faith of this man’s friends and the healing was possible. We have to believe and not doubt, (James 1:6) and we have to show our faith. I’m reminded of the daughter of a co-worker who was interviewed for a job on Friday. On that Sunday, she tithed on the salary she would receive from that job. On Monday, she got the job!

Another answer I received was from James 4:2, “You have not because you ask not.” God and all His miracle working power is present but we have to ask, we have to pray to Him for our miracle. John Wesley once said, “God does nothing except in response to believing prayer.” As I think about our congregation and all the miracle needs that were represented there, the possibility for miracles, I wonder how many truly believed, would show their faith and ask for their miracle.

You don’t have to be in a congregation for God to be present either. “lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” (Matthew 28:20). “He will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6). He is here!

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