Posts Tagged ‘Jesus’

When You Fast

Monday, 10 January, 2011 11:23 Written by Pastor Bruce 0 Comments

Jesus said WHEN you fast, not IF you fast.

“Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. – Matthew 6:16-18 NKJV

Fasting should be as common as giving and praying according to Jesus. Just study Matthew 6. He wants His body to fast. He fasted and it was a part of His lifestyle!

Fasting can be a tough subject for Christians who have never fasted because it deals with the flesh and sacrifice. There are many wrong ideas about fasting that have evolved from many wrong teachings on the subject. The bottom line in fasting is to say NO to your flesh in order to say YES to your spirit and hear from God.

We should be so accustomed to fasting that we are consistently asking the Lord, “do you want me to fast something right now?”. It should be a lifestyle with us. We should live so connected to the Lord that we are willing to give up anything at anytime in order to spend more time in fellowship with Him.

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World Class Worriers

Saturday, 04 September, 2010 08:54 Written by Pastor Bruce 0 Comments

Some folks worry with every fiber of their being. “If I don’t worry, who else will?” is their thinking.

Therefore I tell you, stop being perpetually uneasy (anxious and worried) about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink; or about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life greater [in quality] than food, and the body [far above and more excellent] than clothing? – Matthew 6:25 AMP

The words of Jesus about worry were powerful! STOP WORRYING! This was not just a suggestion, this was a “order” from our Commander in Chief.

If you are in the Army, do you have an option to obey orders? NO. Failure to obey a general order or command in the military will result in punishment by courts-martial according to Section 892 article 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). There is no excuse to disobey orders, period.

For far too long we have approached worry as a “character flaw” to be proud of. It is not a “character flaw” and nothing to be proud of. It is sin! …and has to be dealt with as such. A Christian is to run from sin. Identify it and run the other way.

The answer for worry is to get so full of the Word of God that there is no room at all for worry. Trust God, fill your heart with the Word, watch your words, say what the Word says and worry will be a thing of the past!…at last!

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Got Your Ears On?

Tuesday, 31 August, 2010 08:10 Written by Pastor Bruce 0 Comments

The phrase in CB land (many moons ago) “Got your ears on?” meant “are you listening?”

“The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me.” – John 10:27 AMP

Hearing and listening are two different things. We can hear but at the same time not listen. This is why Jesus said many times, “Verily, verily, I say unto you He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” In modern language He would have been saying, “Hey, you guys listen up, pay attention, because what I am about to tell you is extremely important!” I believe that it was very necessary for Jesus to incite the disciples to listen because we all have mastered the ability to “tune things out”. We become very good at hearing what we want to hear. Teenagers have a problem hearing things like, “Clean your room” and “Do your homework”. Adults often have a problem with instructions such as, “Pick up some milk on the way home” and “please pay the insurance premium by next week.” We hear what we want to hear.

Jesus was saying in the above scripture that in order to follow Him we must first, be His sheep, second, hear what He is saying and lastly, listen to His voice.

Are you listening? and are you following?

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Moved With Compassion

Thursday, 10 June, 2010 16:23 Written by Pastor Bruce 0 Comments

We are called to move toward the unlovely! (not run from them to a place of protection and security)

Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. (Mar 1:40-42 NKJV)

Jesus was MOVED with COMPASSION (the love of God in action) toward a leper!

The untouchable man was touched by the Healer! In that instance Jesus displayed for us all that it is God’s will that ALL be healed and whole. He also showed us how we should respond to the untouchable and unlovable…move with the love of God TOWARD them.

If God is going to use us we must go out to where there are hurting people that need a touch. Jesus did not come to earth to be secluded in a cave somewhere only to come out and be crucified when the time was right. The Great Physician came to the wounded ones in order to heal them. We have got to do more moving! Moving toward those who want deliverance and help!

Begin to pray, “Thank you Lord that I am moving with compassion as Jesus did! I see people that are reaching out in faith and move toward them so that you can move through me to meet their need! The love of God moves me to speak to people about their eternal destination. Thank you Lord for using me to bring help, hope and healing to all those around me.”

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Trust and Obey

Thursday, 03 June, 2010 09:36 Written by Pastor Bruce 0 Comments

Obeying on command is our goal as Christians. To obey all that the Lord (Our Master) orders us to do.

He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” (John 14:21 NKJV)

Our obedience to the Word of God is a direct reflection of how much we love and trust Jesus. There is no other way to “be happy in Jesus” but to trust and obey.

Obedience is almost non-existent in the day that we are living because there is very little submission to God. No submission, no honor, no respect and in turn no obedience. God expects us to obey not because we “have to”, but because He wants to manifest Himself to us and through us.

The way to experience a greater manifestation of God in your life is to find out what the Word of God says and obey it immediately…without hesitation. Obedience is not optional in the Kingdom of God. The Lord requires it and rewards it! Find out what the Lord wants you to do and do it, OBEY! There is no other way.

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