Matthew 8:1-13: I Am Willing as You Believe

Matthew 8:1-13
Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)

8 When Jesus came down from the mountain, great throngs followed Him.

² And behold, a leper came up to Him and, prostrating himself, worshiped Him, saying, Lord, if You are willing, You are able to ^[a]cleanse me by curing me.

³ And He reached out His hand and touched him, saying, I am willing; be cleansed ^[b]by being cured. And instantly his leprosy was cured and cleansed.

⁴ And Jesus said to him, See that you tell nothing about this to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering that Moses commanded, for a testimony [to your healing] and as an evidence to the people.

⁵ As Jesus went into Capernaum, a centurion came up to Him, begging Him,

⁶ And saying, Lord, my servant boy is lying at the house paralyzed and ^[c]distressed with intense pains.

⁷ And Jesus said to him, I will come and restore him.

⁸ But the centurion replied to Him, Lord, I am not worthy or fit to have You come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant boy will be cured.

⁹ For I also am a man subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, Go, and he goes; and to another, Come, and he comes; and to my slave, Do this, and he does it.

¹⁰ When Jesus heard him, He marveled and said to those who followed Him [^[d]who adhered steadfastly to Him, conforming to His example in living and, if need be, in dying also], I tell you truly, I have not found so much faith as this ^[e]with anyone, even in Israel.

¹¹ I tell you, many will come from east and west, and will sit at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven,

¹² While the sons and heirs of the kingdom will be driven out into the darkness outside, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.

¹³ Then to the centurion Jesus said, Go; it shall be done for you as you have believed. And the servant boy was restored to health at that very ^[f]moment.

The Lord is willing to heal, physically, emotionally, relationally.  He speaks a word, and it is done just as we have believed.  It seems to me that we need to focus on believing Him.  

I understand.  I know what you're thinking.   

How do I do that? 

From personal experience, my faith, belief in Him is strengthened as I direct my thoughts towards Him in worship. It's amazing how all of a sudden fear takes flight replaced by bold confidence.  Doubts disintegrate as His glory shines upon me.  Yet earthly responsibilities distract from what is of primary importance.  

Lord, You know my heart.  You know my desires and requests.  You, better than anyone else knows my responsibilities.  Please, show me ways to express my love and soak in Your glory.  In the great name of Jesus, AMEN!

Matthew 7: Keep on Asking, Seeking, and Knocking

Matthew 7:7-8
Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)

⁷ Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you.

⁸ For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, [the door] will be opened.

The Lord has promised me that 2016 will be filled with "amazing surprises."  The year is not even halfway complete, and I already have been experiencing the promised "amazing surprises."  My older son is being blessed with new career opportunities, my younger son has returned home from living in Kansas since September, my husband is managing hypertension with diet and exercise, and I have been promoted at work to a position, which I did not seek.

All of these "amazing surprises" have been answers to prayers, and all have been the result of asking the Lord to intervene regarding issues touching my heart, seeking God's will regarding various situations, and then knocking reverently and persistently on the "door to the throne room."  

I look forward to the remainder of 2016 with faithful expectation, denying any doubt that attempts to stir anxiety while I await for the fulfillment of longstanding unanswered prayers.  Abba is a good, good Father.  He gives me the desires of my heart and blessings for which I hadn't even imagined asking. 

Matthew 6: Let It Go

Matthew 6:14-15
Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)

¹⁴ For if you forgive people their trespasses [their ^[a]reckless and willful sins, ^[b]leaving them, letting them go, and ^[c]giving up resentment], your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

¹⁵ But if you do not forgive others their trespasses [their ^[d]reckless and willful sins, ^[e]leaving them, letting them go, and ^[f]giving up resentment], neither will your Father forgive you your trespasses.

 

It hurts when someone betrays and mistreats us.  To the core, pain wracks in the deepest place of the heart.  Yet, what does our Father say about it?  He says, to let them go, forgive them.

 

Easy to type, not so easy to accomplish.  In my opinion, a damaged soul is so much worse than a damaged physical body.  But there is healing, and it comes by "letting them go."

 

The popular animated Disney movie, Frozen, contains the song, "Let It Go."  And, although I don't agree with all of the lyrics in it, there is an encouragement in them. 

 

 

 

"It's funny how some distance makes everything seem small
And the fears that once controlled me can't get to me at all
It's time to see what I can do
To test the limits and break through"

 

"I'm never going back, the past is in the past"

 

Elsa, the Disney Snow Queen, had been hiding her gifting for years, because she feared the negative reactions of others.  In the movie, she decided to use her gifting, to let it go.   

 

Let me suggest that there are people who are reading this post right now whose gifting was squelched by the wrong reactions of others.  You must forgive those who mistreated and betrayed you, and let it go!

 

Let it (unforgiveness) go!

 

Let it (suppressed gifting) go!

 

Let it (the past) go!

 

Healed souls result when forgiveness is chosen!

 

Let it go, friends.!  Let it go!!!  In the great and awesome Name of Jesus, AMEN!!!

 

 

 

Matthew 5: (be) Attitudes- Counter Culture Christians

Matthew 5:1-12
Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)

5 Seeing the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and when He was seated, His disciples came to Him.

2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:

3 Blessed (happy, [a]to be envied, and [b]spiritually prosperous—[c]with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the poor in spirit (the humble, who rate themselves insignificant), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!

4 Blessed and enviably happy [with a [d]happiness produced by the experience of God’s favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His matchless grace] are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted!

5 Blessed (happy, blithesome, joyous, [e]spiritually prosperous—[f]with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the meek (the mild, patient, long-suffering), for they shall inherit the earth!

6 Blessed and fortunate and happy and [g]spiritually prosperous (in that state in which the born-again child of God [h]enjoys His favor and salvation) are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God), for they shall be [i]completely satisfied!

7 Blessed (happy, [j]to be envied, and [k]spiritually prosperous—[l]with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy!

8 Blessed (happy, [m]enviably fortunate, and [n]spiritually prosperous—possessing the [o]happiness produced by the experience of God’s favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His grace, regardless of their outward conditions) are the pure in heart, for they shall see God!

9 Blessed (enjoying [p]enviable happiness, [q]spiritually prosperous—[r]with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the makers and [s] maintainers of peace, for they shall be called the sons of God!

10 Blessed and happy and [t]enviably fortunate and [u]spiritually prosperous [v](in the state in which the born-again child of God enjoys and finds satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of his outward conditions) are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake (for being and doing right), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!

11 Blessed (happy, [w]to be envied, and [x]spiritually prosperous—[y]with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of your outward conditions) are you when people revile you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things against you falsely on My account. 12 Be glad and supremely joyful, for your reward in heaven is great (strong and intense), for in this same way people persecuted the prophets who were before you.


As Christians, we have heard Jesus' beatitude teaching, but do we pause long enough to consider how to apply them to our lives?  

These attitudes are counter culture in today's American society, and may be seen as a sign of weakness rather than strength.  Society at large shouts, 

"You must promote yourself or you'll never advance."

"Don't feel bad about that sin.  Everybody is doing it.  That is an outdated notion, we have evolved past its restriction."

"Hunger and devote your time towards making your mark.  Righteousness gets in the way of advancement."

"Revenge is sweet."

"Did you know what was said about you?  I'd tell her a thing or two if I'd be you."

"She's a Christian.  She thinks she's too good for us.  She's a "holy roller" an extremist!"

"Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!  That's all he talks about." 


Friends, if we modify our (be) attitudes to fit into today's society, we forfeit the blessings, which Jesus intended for us.

 

• The Kingdom of heaven!
• Comfort!
• Our inheritance!
• Righteousness!
• Mercy! 
• Seeing God!
• Sonship!
• The Kingdom of heaven (again)!
• Reward! 

Holy Spirit, empower me to be counter culture with an attitude pleasing to Jesus!  AMEN!!! 
 

Luke 6: When the Torrent Burst

 Luke 6:47-49

Amplified Bible 
Classic Edition (AMPC)

47 For everyone who comes to Me and listens to My words [in order to heed their teaching] and does them, I will show you what he is like:

48 He is like a man building a house, who dug and went down deep and laid a foundation upon the rock; and when a flood arose, the torrent broke against that house and could not shake or move it, because it had been securely built or founded on a rock.

49 But he who merely hears and does not practice doing My words is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation, against which the torrent burst, and immediately it collapsed and fell, and the breaking and ruin of that house was great.


In order to fully appreciate this verse, the image it evokes, we must study the definitions of two words...torrent and burst.


Torrent

: a large amount of water that moves very quickly in one direction
: a large amount of something that is released suddenly 

1 : a tumultuous outpouring : rush
2 : a violent stream of a liquid (as water or lava)
3 : a channel of a mountain stream

 
Burst

1.
a. To come open or fly apart suddenly or violently, especially from internal pressure.
b. To explode.
2. To be or seem to be full to the point of breaking open: The sacks were bursting with grain.
3. To emerge, come forth, or arrive suddenly: burst out of the door.
4. To come apart or seem to come apart because of overwhelming emotion: thought his heart would burst with happiness.
5. To give sudden utterance or expression: burst out laughing; burst into tears.
v.tr.
1. To cause to burst: burst the balloon. See Synonyms at break.
2. To exert strong pressure in order to force (something) open.
3. To separate (a continuous form or printout) into individual sheets.
n.
1. A sudden outbreak or outburst; an explosion.
2. The result of bursting, especially the explosion of a projectile or bomb on impact or in the air.
3.
a. The number of bullets fired from an automatic weapon by one pull of the trigger.
b. A volley of bullets fired from an automatic weapon: The machine gunner fired a quick burst.
4. An abrupt, intense increase; a rush: a burst of speed; fitful bursts of wind.
5. A period of intense activity: "I write in very short bursts—10 or 15 minutes" (Zoe Heller).


Life happens.

There are instances when circumstances "exert strong pressure" against us.  Sometimes stressors feel like "bullets fired from an automatic weapon" violently piercing our heart.  

The tsunami of a serious medical diagnosis precedes "an abrupt, intense increase of "overwhelming emotion: [as though]  his heart would burst."

Unpredictable relationships, unstable employment, an unfaithful spouse, overwhelming debts, uprising unrighteousness.

All these are the "Torrent Burst."

Just how do we stand on a strong foundation during these stormy times?

Friends, being a Christian means that we are Christ followers.  That means we listen to His words and do them.  Then when life happens, we will stand on a strong foundation.

Holy Spirit, fill us to overflowing.  Cause us to hear Your voice clearly and obey You fully!  In the great Name of Jesus, AMEN!!!

"Sudden Spring Miracles" by Jo Ellen Stevens

 I received this word today from the Elijah List.  It spoke to my heart.  My hope is that you are blessed too.

With Love,

Beautiful Grace

Sudden Spring Miracles, and Lost Things Recovered

The Lord has spoken to me that March is a month of miracles to those who have been waiting. I am believing for mine, and I am expecting it. Many in March will receive what they have been believing for, and this March will be the beginning of an outpouring for hard cases that cannot be healed any other way but by God!

Suddenly, Things that were Gone Forever, Coming Home!

Some will also step out of hard issues that have seemed like a mountain to you, but there are suddenlies coming to many in March. 

I just saw lightning, and the Lord says that, "As the lightning strikes, so shall it be with the healing and recovery of lost things!" 

I believe that the Lord is also saying, "Some of the things that you had lost in the past and you thought that you never would recover will begin to show up!" I heard Him say, "Diamonds that some lost will SUDDENLY show up, and some will say...'Where has that been and how did it get there?'" but I feel the Lord is saying that He is going to return these things to you suddenly!

Lost Loved Ones Coming Home

Lost children will suddenly show up! Lost loved ones are coming back to the Lord! Yes, things lost in seasons past are coming back to you, and by this you will know that there have been angels sent to help you recover all that the enemy has stolen! 

You are going into spring entering a season of the recovery of the years that the locust has eaten! 

There are people in your lives that have literally disappeared, and God says, "There will be those that will return and be discovered alive, for I will bring them home.”

Ministries that Have Been Put on Hold Will Begin to Get the Red Flag to Go Again

"There are people who have had to put their ministry on hold because of family situations and sickness that came to destroy you, but you stood and became the one who was the caretaker in many cases, and now," God said, "you will begin to get new vision for the next season, and you will see why the delay had to take place!" 

He said, "I have been saving you for such a time as this, to go into the harvest with the knowledge you have gained in this pain, and what seemed like delay will only be a display of My glory as you are catapulted into the new thing that I am about to do!

"Don't try and reenact what you did in seasons past, for I will do something brand new, and your capacity to go into this new season has been enlarged through what you have been through in this season! Break into it with no false expectations, but let me give you new ones!

"Yes, get ready, for this is the season of lost things regained, loved ones returned, miracles suddenly coming, and ministries restored! Glory to God!

Joel 2:25-26 (NIV) "I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten – the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm – My great army that I sent among you. You will have plenty to eat, until you are full, and you will praise the name of the Lord your God, who has worked wonders for you..."

Arise, shine!

Jo Ellen Stevens
TCIC Ministries

Mark 3: Who Are My Mother and My Brothers?

Mark 3:31-35 

Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)

   ³¹ Then His mother and His brothers came and, standing outside, they sent word to Him, calling [for] Him.

   ³² And a crowd was sitting around Him, and they said to Him, Your mother and Your brothers and Your sisters are outside asking for You.

   ³³ And He replied, Who are My mother and My brothers?

   ³⁴ And looking around on those who sat in a circle about Him, He said, See! Here are My mother and My brothers;

   ³⁵ For whoever does the things God wills is My brother and sister and mother!

Jesus' ministry was out of the religious box.  His compassion for those who were hurting emotionally, physically, and spiritually trumped the law of men.  

Imagine living in a system when God's prescribed day of rest (the Sabbath) was enclosed in a box, which constricted the peoples' heart of compassion in such a way that the "rest" (doing nothing) was more important then healing hurting people.

How dare He?  

Cast out demons. verse 11

Restore a withered hand. verse 5

Heal all who had distressing bodily diseases. verse 10

Jesus was so counter culture, that he was accused of being "possessed by Beelzebub." verse 22

Even Jesus' kinsmen (His family) tried to stop Him from doing good by ministering to others.  They even labeled Him as "deranged." verse 21

It was in this setting that Jesus asked, "Who are My mother and My brothers?" I used to think Jesus was disrespecting His family with that question, but He was trying to teach everyone a better way.  

Listen to what God says to do and then do it no matter what others who are caught in the religious system of do' s and don't s says.  

Jesus says that those who do the things that God wills are His mother and His brothers!

Holy Spirit of the Living God, empower us to hear and to obey by doing.  Whether physically resting or physically acting to touch others, guide and empower us.  In the great and awesome name of Jesus, AMEN!