| Archive - May 2008 You Da Man!Posted May-30-08 06:00:53 PDT The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less.
John 3:29-30
Humility seems to be a rare quality in people these days. Everywhere we turn, we see people who are trying to promote themselves as the best and the brightest. John the Baptist's willingness to decrease in importance shows unusual humility. Pastors and other Christian leaders can be tempted to focus more on the success of their ministries than on Christ. Beware of those who put more emphasis on their own achievements than on God's kingdom. After all, it's not about us. John's followers would say, "You da man!" John would say, "No, I am only the man next to the Man." We must be able to step aside when necessary and let God take control of our lives. We must not think of ourselves more highly than we ought. That is humility.
God bless you,
JH Light Has Come Into the WorldPosted May-29-08 06:14:35 PDT This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come under the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.
John 3:19-21
Many people do not want their lives exposed to God's light because they are afraid of what will be revealed. They don't want to be changed. Don't be surprised when these same people are threatened by your desire to obey God and do what is right, because they are afraid that the light in you may expose some of the darkness in them. Rather than giving in to discouragement, keep praying that they will come to see how much better it is to live in light than darkness. Everyone has secrets that they would rather not have others know about. At some point, we need to be real with ourselves and admit our shortcomings and our need for God. At some point, we all need to humble ourselves and realize that we are not in this alone and that God is there for us at every step, at every turn. At some point, we will all enter our "Moment of Truth," except we will not be playing for money and humiliation, we will be joining the cast of thousands who have gone before us into God's holy temple.
God Bless you,
JH The One and OnlyPosted May-28-08 06:06:12 PDT For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.
John 3:17-18
People often tried to protect themselves from their fears by putting their faith in something they do or have: good deeds, skill or intelligence, money or possessions. But only God can save us from the one thing that we really need to fear - eternal condemnation. We believe in God by recognizing the insufficiency of our own efforts to find salvation in by asking him to do his work in us. When Jesus talks about unbelievers, he means those who reject or ignore him completely, not does who have momentary doubts. I think we all fall into that category at one time or another.
God bless you,
JH It Really Is That SimplePosted May-27-08 05:49:26 PDT For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
To "believe" is more than intellectual agreement that Jesus is God. It means to put our trust and confidence in him that he alone can save us. It is to put Christ in charge of our present plans and eternal destiny. Believing is both trusting his words as reliable, and relying on him for the power to change. If you have never trusted Christ, let this promise of everlasting life be yours. It does not get any more simple than that. God made salvation as easy for us as humanly possible; it is us who make it so extremely difficult.
God bless you,
JH The Gift of Eternal LifePosted May-23-08 05:50:43 PDT For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
John 3:16-17
Some people become repulsed by the idea of eternal life because they find their lives are quite miserable. They cannot imagine "prolonging the agony." But eternal life is not an extension of a person's miserable, mortal life; eternal life is God's life embodied in Christ given to all believers now as a guarantee that they will live forever. In eternal life there is no death, sickness, hate, pain, sadness, or sin. When we don't know Christ, we make choices as though this life is all we have. In reality, this life is just an introduction. When we receive this new life by faith, we begin to look at things differently and evaluate all that happens from an eternal perspective.
God bless you,
JH A Gospel of True LovePosted May-22-08 05:50:10 PDT Updated May-22-08 16:50:46 PDT For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
John 3:16-17
The entire Gospel comes to focus on this verse. God's love is not static or self-centered; it reaches out and draws others in. Here God sets the pattern of true love, the basis for all love relationships - when you love someone dearly, you are willing to give freely to the point of self-sacrifice. God paid dearly with the life of his Son, the highest price he could pay. Jesus accepted our punishment, paid the price for our sins, and then offered us the new life that he had bought for us. When we share the gospel with others, our love must be like Jesus' - willingly giving up our own comfort and security so that others might join us in receiving God's eternal love and grace.
God bless you,
JH What is your Testimony?Posted May-21-08 05:33:05 PDT Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, and everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.
John 3:14-15
When the Israelites were wandering in the desert, God sent a plague of snakes to punish the people for the rebellious attitudes. Those doomed to die from snakebite could be healed by simply obeying God's command to look up at the elevated bronze snake and by believing that God would heal them if they did (see Numbers 21:8,9). Similarly, our salvation happens when we look up to Jesus, believing that he will save us. God has provided this way for us to be healed of sin's deadly bite. If there are things that we are struggling with in this world (most of us struggle with something, if we are being completely honest), God has given us a way out of that struggle. By keeping our eyes on Him, the author and perfector of our faith, we can realize the purpose that He has set before us before the creation of the world. Our being here is no accident, no coincidence. There is something for each of us to do, however great, however small. We may all not be preachers or leaders or show up on TV, but we all can have a great impact for Christ right where he has placed us. We all have a dramatic testimony of His love in our lives and how He saved us from the muck and mire of our own misery.
God bless you,
JH Knowledge is Not SalvationPosted May-20-08 05:54:43 PDT Updated May-20-08 05:56:17 PDT "How can this be?" Nicodemus asked.
"You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things? I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?
John 3:9-12
Nicodemus was a Jewish teacher of the Bible and he knew the Old Testament thoroughly, but he did not understand what it said about the Messiah. Knowledge is not salvation. You should know the Bible, but even more importantly, you should understand the God whom the Bible reveals and the salvation that God offers. It is that revelation knowledge regarding who God is that people are seeking. Your Christian witness is of paramount importance to the lost as you share your testimony with those around you.
God bless you,
JH The Work of the Holy SpiritPosted May-19-08 05:52:13 PDT "The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from a where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."
John 3:8
Jesus explained that we cannot control the work of the Holy Spirit. He works in ways we cannot predict or understand. Just as you did not control your physical birth, so you cannot control your spiritual birth. It is a gift from God through the Holy Spirit. Contrary to popular belief, one's decision to accept Christ is not the moment of their spiritual birth. To be sure, the decision to accept Christ makes the spiritual birth possible by way of invitation. But it is ultimately the Holy Spirit who revives, regenerates, renews, invigorates the spirit within us to become more like Him. It is that Spirit within us that strengthens and encourages us to do His will. It is that same Spirit that provides the Peace that surpasses all understanding in the trials and tribulations that we will face day by day.
God bless you,
JH By The Power of the Holy SpiritPosted May-16-08 05:49:47 PDT Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised that my saying, 'You must be born again.'"
John 3:5-7
Who exactly is the Holy Spirit? God is three persons in one - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God became a man in Jesus so that Jesus could die for our sins. Jesus rose from the dead to offer salvation to all people through spiritual renewal and rebirth. When Jesus ascended into heaven, his physical presence left the earth, but he promised to send the Holy Spirit so that his spiritual presence would still be among mankind. The Holy Spirit first became available to all believers at Pentecost (Acts 2). Whereas in Old Testament days the holy Scripture empowered specific individuals for specific purposes, now all believers have the power of the Holy Spirit available to them. It is through that power that we live, breathe and fulfill our purpose in Him. By Grace, through faith, we receive our salvation. The biggest obstacle for many people is admitting they are in need of a Savior in the first place.
God Bless you,
JH By His GracePosted May-15-08 07:11:58 PDT "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"
Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit."
John 3:4-6
"Of water and the Spirit" could refer a couple of different things in this passage. It could refer to the contrast between physical birth (water) and spiritual birth (Spirit), or it could also refer to being regenerated by the Spirit and signifying that rebirth by Christian baptism. The water may also represent the cleansing action of God's Holy Spirit. Nicodemus undoubtedly would have been familiar with God's promise in Ezekiel 36:25-26. Jesus was explaining the importance of a spiritual rebirth, saying that people don't enter the kingdom of God by living a better life, but by being spiritually reborn. It is not a question of how "good" we are, how many charities we donate to, how many old ladies we help across the street, how many times we stop and buy lemonade from a kids' lemonade stand. None of that matters. What matters is Christ. He and he alone, by His Grace and sacrifice on the cross, can give us entrance into His Kingdom. It is a gift, pure and simple. The only thing left for us to do is to accept it. The work has already been done at Calvary.
God Bless you,
JH What does it mean to be born again?Posted May-14-08 05:53:38 PDT He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
John 3:2-3
What did Nicodemus know about the kingdom? From the Bible, he knew it would be ruled by God, it would be restored on earth, and it would incorporate God's people. Jesus revealed to Nicodemus that the kingdom would come to the whole world, not just the Jews, and that Nicodemus would not be a part of it unless he was personally born again. This was a revolutionary concept: the kingdom is personal, not national or ethnic, and its entrance requirements are repentance and spiritual rebirth. Jesus later taught that God's kingdom has already begun in the hearts of believers (see Luke 17:21). Many people go to church and call themselves Christians. But only they and God truly know if they are born again. As we are born physically as infants and continue to grow throughout our life here on earth, so too, are we reborn spiritually and continue to grow as the kingdom of God finds its root and foundation in our hearts and continues to grow stronger as we grow in God's Word.
God bless you,
JH Who Is He Really?Posted May-13-08 07:16:24 PDT Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him."
John 3:1-2
Nicodemus came to Jesus personally, although he could have sent one of his assistants instead. He wanted to examine Jesus for himself to separate what was real from what was rumor, fact from fiction. Perhaps Nicodemus was afraid of what his peers, the Pharisees, would say about his visit, so he came to Jesus after dark. Later, when he understood that Jesus was truly the Messiah, he spoke up boldly in his defense (see Chapter 7, verse 50 and 51). Like Nicodemus, we must examine Jesus for ourselves - others cannot do it for us. Then, if we truly believe he is who he says he is, we will find the strength and courage to speak up for him as well. Who he is becomes part of the essence of our testimony.
God bless you,
JH Keeping an Open MindPosted May-12-08 05:43:27 PDT Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him."
John 3:1-2
Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a member of the ruling council (called the Sanhedrin). The Pharisees were a group of religious leaders whom Jesus often criticized for being hypocrites. Most Pharisees were intensely jealous of Jesus because he undermined their authority among the people and challenged their views. But Nicodemus was searching, and he believed that Jesus had some answers. A learned teacher himself, he came to Jesus to be taught. No matter how intelligent and well educated we become, we also must come to Jesus with an open mind and an open heart so that he can teach us the truth. It is that simple. Those people who think they know everything already, actually have the most to learn.
God Bless you,
JH Faith Through AdversityPosted May-09-08 05:48:23 PDT Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name. But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. He did not need man's testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.
John 2:23-25
The Son of God knows all about human nature. Jesus who was well aware of the truth of Jeremiah 17:9 which states, "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" Jesus was discerning, and he knew that the faith of some followers was superficial at best. Some of the same people claiming to believe in Jesus at this time would later call loudly to crucify him. It's easy to believe in something or someone when it is exciting to do so and everyone else believes the same thing. The challenge is to keep your faith firm even when it is not popular. The challenge is to maintain your faith through suffering and adversity.
God Bless you,
JH Destroy This TemplePosted May-08-08 05:57:48 PDT Then the Jews demanded of him, "What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?"
Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days."
The Jews replied, "It has taken 46 years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?"
But the temple he had spoken of was his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.
John 2:18-22
The Jews understood Jesus to mean the temple out of which he had just driven the merchants and moneychangers. This was the temple Zerubbabel had built over 500 years earlier, but Herod the Great had begun remodeling it, making it much larger and far more beautiful. It had been 46 years since this remodeling had started (20 B.C.) and it still wasn't completely finished. They understood Jesus' words to mean that this imposing building could be torn down and rebuilt in three days, and they were startled at this claim. But Jesus was not talking about the temple made of stones, he was talking about his own body. His listeners did not realize it, but Jesus was greater than the temple. His words would take on meaning for his disciples after his resurrection. That Christ so perfectly fulfilled his prediction became the strongest proof for his claims to be God. As believers, many of us today are looking for that same proof that Jesus is who He says He is. We need look no further than the Word of God. Pray for guidance, and He will reveal himself for who He truly is.
God bless you,
JH Is He In You?Posted May-07-08 05:50:48 PDT When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold the doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!"
John 2:13-16
God's temple was being misused by people who had turned it into a marketplace. They had forgotten, or simply didn't care, that God's house is a place of worship, not a place for turning a profit. Our attitude toward the church is also skewed if we see it as a place for personal contacts or business advantage. Our purpose there should be the same as everyone else: to worship God in one accord.
Jesus was obviously angry at the merchants who exploited those who had come to God's house to worship. There is a difference between uncontrolled rage and righteous indignation - yet both are called anger. We must be very careful how we use the powerful emotion of anger. It is right to be angry about injustice and sin; but it is wrong to be angry over trivial personal offenses. It is important to know the difference. As adults, many of us still throw fits much akin to the way we did when we were small children. We need to be careful how we act at all times, because we never know who is watching and our actions speak very loudly as they pertain to our witness and testimony of Jesus Christ in our lives.
God bless you,
JH Jesus in a BottlePosted May-06-08 05:53:03 PDT "Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied. "My time has not yet come."
His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."
John 2:4-5
Mary submitted to Jesus' way of doing things. She recognized that Jesus was much more than her human son - he was the Son of God. When we bring our problems to Christ, we usually think we know how he should take care of them. We pray and ask him not only to help and fix the problem, but we tell him HOW to fix the problem. We attempt to keep Jesus in a box and we pull him out like a genie from a bottle in order to make requests of him and bark orders. That is not the God we serve. He generally has a completely different plan; a much better plan. Like Mary, we should submit and allow him to deal with the problem as he sees best.
God bless you,
JH He Will Work It Out!Posted May-05-08 05:38:05 PDT On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the winw was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine."
"Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied. "My time has not yet come."
John 2:4
Mary was probably not asking Jesus to do a miracle; she was simply hoping that her son would help solve this major problem and find some wine. Tradition says that Joseph, Mary's husband, had passed away, so she probably was used to asking for her son's help in certain situations. Jesus' answer to Mary is difficult to understand, but maybe that is the point. Although Mary did not understand what Jesus was going to do, she trusted him to do what was right. Those who believe in Jesus but run into situations they cannot understand must continue to trust that he will work in the best way through his Holy power. Continue to look to him in all situations, especially when things seem to be their darkest.
God bless you,
Pray for me,
JH Only One Question RemainsPosted May-02-08 05:49:30 PDT When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, "Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false."
"How do you know me?" Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, "I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you."
Then Nathanael declared, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel."
John 1:47-49
Jesus knew about Nathanael before the two ever even met. Jesus also knows who we are and what we are really like. An honest person will feel comfortable with the thought that Jesus knows him or her through and through. Jesus knows us better than we know ourselves. A dishonest person will feel uncomfortable with the fact that Jesus knows him or her as well as he does. You simply cannot pretend to be something you're not in the presence of Jesus. God knows the real you, he knows your true purpose and destiny, he knows your great potential, and he wants you to follow him. Only one question remains: will you?
God bless you,
Pray for me,
JH |
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