35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. ~ John 6:35
God makes no mistakes or does nothing without a reason. For instance, it’s not a coincidence that the Bread of Life was born in the city called the house of bread. God strategically planned every aspect from before the foundation of the world. We serve a great and mighty God.
Not only that, but God wanted to make sure there was no doubt in anybody’s mind about who He was talking about. Therefore, He said,
“But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah…”
God made sure that Bethlehem of Ephrathah was distinguished from the Bethlehem of the tribe of Zebulun. Why? Because Bethlehem Ephrathah, in Judea, is the birthplace of King David. The same Bethlehem that belonged to Judah. The ancestral tribe of Jesus. Thus, He is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. A descendant of Judah, the son of Jacob, the grandson of Isaac, and the great-grandson of the patriarch Abraham.
Everything God does has a purpose, which includes creating you. You weren’t a mistake. You weren’t an accident. You were hand formed by God Himself. He created you and created a plan for your life. Everything was intentional, down to where you were born, just like Christ Jesus. So, be encouraged today; you were not a mistake but divinely designed.
Peace. Love. Go Forth and Believe In Your Purpose.
9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. ~ Matthew 2:9
Everyone, at some point in time, lives in a world of darkness without Christ. Whether we’re born into that darkness or we choose to willingly leave the light for that darkness, it doesn’t matter because we’ve all been in that darkness. This includes the wise men.
But not all of us are like the wise men because the majority of mankind doesn’t know about the star of Jesus. We don’t know how to find it. We don’t know which star it is. We don’t recognize it when it rises.
The majority of us are like King Herod. We ask about the prophecies and the star, but we still don’t recognize them or understand them. So, we try to destroy the Messiah out of fear of losing what we have in the darkness, not realizing that what He has in store for us in the light is worth more than silver, frankincense, or even gold.
Christ has so much in store for you. Don’t miss out on Him. Do more than ask about the signs that lead to Him; seek Him. Because when you seek Him, you will find Him.
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. ~ 1 Peter 2:9–10
We are royal because God has adopted us as sons and daughters, just like Moses was adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter. We walk in power and anointing because we have been baptized with God’s Holy Spirit. Just like Moses came out of the palace, we, too, have been called out of darkness and into God’s marvelous light.
We are empowered to perform signs, wonders, miracles, healings, and even raise the dead. Signs and wonders are appearing in the Church in these last days. More and more reports of healings and deliverances are happening all over the place, especially in third-world countries such as Africa and some in South America, and even right here in America.
Although we are persecuted, although we are ridiculed, and all manner of evil is said about us, we believe that in the last days, God will stretch out His hand and strike Pharoah and Egypt, bringing judgment on them and delivering us out of Egypt. Egypt represents the unrepentant world. So, hold your head high; your deliverer will soon come.
12 Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. ~ Revelation 22:12–13NIV
He said that His reward is with Him, and He will give to each person according to what they have done. So, whether good or bad, there will be a reward for you according to your deeds. If you want a good reward, do good things. If you don’t really give a care, continue in your rebellious ways without Jesus.
It is a war they cannot win. Jesus will never be defeated. He is the Alpha, and He is the Omega. He is the first, and He is the last. He is the beginning, and He is the end. Nothing or no one will be able to stand against Him and the power of His word. Just by the blast of His breath, He slays the wicked. Do not get caught on the wrong side. Because no matter what the outcome is, Jesus’ reward will far outweigh the hardships. Nothing compares to it. Nothing compares to Jesus.
Peace. Love. Go Forth and Live According to His Rewards.
19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. ~ Luke 10:19
Jesus gave His people authority over sickness, oppression, anxiety, depression, fear, panic attacks, and any other power of the enemy. We don’t have to suffer from the blows and the attacks of the enemy. Why? Because all the power of the enemy has been placed under the feet of Jesus and at His name, every knee will bow and tongue confess that He is LORD. This is the name He has given to us. This is the name we run into. This is the name we are saved by. This is the name of authority.
Therefore, if we are followers of Christ and a new creation in Him, then all we have to do is believe that His name will change all things for us. We don’t live like the world, hopeless and afraid. We live in faith, love, and hope. If we live our lives according to these three key blocks, making love our foundational block, then we will see the power of the name of Jesus once again on this earth.
1 The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” ~ Psalms 110:1
The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. He has never lost one battle, and He has never been defeated in war. Jesus gave His life in battle, yes, but it was in order to save us, His brothers and sisters. He hung on the cross of Calvary on that dark and dreadful day when He became the sacrifice for our sins. It was the only way.
But, by giving His life, He actually won the war. Now He is seated at the right hand of power. Having won the war for our souls, Jesus sat down at the right hand of the Father, and now He is recruiting soldiers to fight this great spiritual war. He’s looking for men and women like you and like me, who will stand and fight, and after doing all to stand, that we therefore stand. When we conquer, we will be veterans as Christ is a veteran, and as a reward, we will live with God in eternity forever and ever. He will wipe every tear from our eyes, and pain will be no more.
31 When the words that David spoke were heard, they repeated them before Saul, and he sent for him. 32 And David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” 33 And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.” 34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, 35 I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. ~ 1 Samuel 17:31-35
They say there are five love languages: Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Receiving Gifts, Acts of Service, and Physical Touch. My love language is words of affirmation. I’m a big words person. In fact, my room is covered I my favorite quotes all over my walls. Words will either make or break me. But David didn’t care about other people’s words. He only cared about God’s words. See, David had just been given a promise by God. He had just been anointed king of Israel. This promise is probably a big part of David’s confidence and assurance because God Himself had called him by name, and that was all that mattered to David.
So, many of us today, myself included, depend on others to fulfill and satisfy our love language so that we can have a good uplifting day. The problem is that the only person we should seek to fulfill and satisfy this need in us is God. He will never disregard or disappoint you. He is the very essence of love. He is love itself. So, when someone rejects you, tears you down, overlooks you, or makes you feel invisible, insignificant, or small, remind yourself that God has chosen you by name to be His child, and no one can remove you from His hand nor His love.
Don’t count on others to satisfy and fulfill your love language. Count on God and God alone who made you. No one will ever truly be able to satisfy your love language except for God because no one else is perfect like God. Therefore, seek Him. Spend time with Him. Worship Him. And follow Him.
21 And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, 22 and who has also put His seal on us and given us His Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. ~ 2 Corinthians 1:21-22
One of my favorite movies is A Knight’s Tale. The whole plot of the movie is about a young man, the son of a thatcher, who fakes papers of nobility so that he can joust and his friends and he will not starve because they’re poor. The more he wins, the more one of the nobles becomes angry and envious.
During this time period, it was a crime to endanger the royal family, and the prince was in disguise so he could compete in the joust. Everyone who found out that it was the prince withdrew, except for this one pauper pretending to be a knight. It made the prince smile that he wouldn’t withdraw even though he knew that he was the prince.
At the final joust, the young pauper was exposed and placed in the stocks as a punishment. The same people that were once cheering his name were now throwing food at him as he lay there in bondage, helpless. His friends tried their best to get the people to stop, but the people wouldn’t listen to them. Then the prince shows up. He has the young man released, and he says,
He may appear to be of humble origins, but my personal historians have discovered that he descends from an ancient royal line. This is my word. And as such, is beyond contestation.
Prince Edward, A Knight’s Tale
After this, he knights this peasant, the son of a thatcher, and from then on, he is known as Sir William. Many of us have a similar story. We start going to church, reading our Bible and even begin to seek God through prayer. And just when we think things are going good, the Devil comes in and shows us all that we’ve ever done, said, and thought. Then he binds us up in the stocks of shame and regret. But just like the prince came looking for the young man that had shown him kindness, so does Jesus come looking for the one that sought Him out. The prince freed and knighted the peasant man on his word alone; Jesus frees and makes us heirs with Him based on much more than just His word. He frees us, washes us clean, and makes us sons and daughters of His Father in Heaven by His blood that He shed for us.
If, during medieval times, the word of royalty could not be contested, how much more would the word of our God who created those royals and all else not be contested when He said, ‘you are mine’ to all who believe? Don’t allow the Devil to come in and steal your name, for your name is ‘Child of The King.’ And the King Himself has spoken these words to you, so don’t let a noble steal your inheritance.
Get up from the stocks of shame and guilt. You are redeemed. Your past has been washed clean. Don’t return to it. Move forward. Live your life as the child of God you were created to be. Dwell in freedom.
26b …for I am the Lord, your healer. ~ Exodus 15:26b
The LORD declares that He sent His Word and healed our disease. Many of us, including myself, missed what God was really saying. The Word of God isn’t just words God spoke thousands of years ago; the Word of God is Jesus. Jesus was, is, and always will be the Word of God, which is why there is healing in His hands. This is why there is still healing in His hands today. Jesus is not dead. He is alive and well, seated at the right hand of the Father, full of glory and honor and power.
God didn’t say He is the God that healed you. No. God proclaimed He is the God that heals you. Healing is the children’s bread. Healing was purchased with every stripe on His back. Did that price Jesus paid only pay for those of the early Church? No. It paid for all who come to Him. All from every generation. So, claim your healing. Proclaim your healing over your body. Don’t allow those who want to water down the Word of God to cause you to doubt what Jesus purchased for you 2,000 years ago. The Word of God dwells in us today. He is working through us still today. Therefore, claim your healing with confidence in the great almighty healer. Claim your healing in Jesus Christ, our LORD, our savior, and our God.
8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. ~ 2 Corinthians 4:8-18
Today we are awarded a day of rest for all of our hard work throughout the year. So, Happy Labor Day to all of you. Christ is famous for promising a similar reward for our hard work as Christians. In Matthew 11:28, Jesus promises that He will give rest to all that come to Him, but what most of us don’t realize is that Jesus isn’t talking about in this life. Both the author of the book of Hebrews and Paul refer to this life as a race that has been set before us.
In a race, there are no breaks. There are no rests. We have to run with endurance, as the author of the book of Hebrews puts it in Hebrews 12:1-3. But don’t be discouraged. We are promised that the LORD will renew us on wings of eagles, and we will run, yet we won’t grow weary (Isaiah 40:30-31). Paul says that even though his body may be getting older and starting to fail, his spirit was renewed each day (2 Corinthians 4:16).
We aren’t running a physical race but a spiritual race. And when we’ve finished the race set before us, the LORD Jesus Himself will give us rest. Our Labor Day may not be here on the earth physically yet, but it’s coming. One day we will receive a new body that will never grow weary again, and we will become imperishable. We will receive rest that will last longer than one day. We’ll receive an eternity of rest and peace as a reward for running the race set before us.
