Show that you are my followers by producing much fruit. This will bring honor to my Father. – John 15:8 (ERV) REFERENCE John 15:1-8 (ERV) The above statement implies that one of the ways we show the world that we are Jesus’ disciples or followers is by producing fruits – It is tantamount to being fertile and yielding results that will benefit others. A fruitful Christian life manifests the fruits of the Spirit; it is impactful and exists to bless others. God’s first words to mankind at creation were: “Be fruitful and multiply” (Gen 1:28). This is literally a command – a...
So the Lord God took the man [He had made] and settled him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate and keep it. Genesis 2:15 (Amplified) REFERENCE Genesis 2:8-17 & 3:18 (Amplified) Since man fell in the Garden of Eden, the earth (soil) was put under a curse and it will always of itself yield thorns and thistles (Genesis 3:18). It follows therefore, that without any intervention or interference of man, the earth will always bring forth thorns. Vines in bible days were valuable plants; they were celebrated for both their luxuriant growth and for the immense clusters of grapes that they produced. If...
Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Stretch out the spear that is in your hand toward Ai, for I will give it into your hand.” And Joshua stretched out the spear that was in his hand toward the city. So those in ambush arose quickly out of their place; they ran as soon as he had stretched out his hand, and they entered the city and took it, and hurried to set the city on fire. - Joshua 8:18-19 REFERENCE Joshua 8:1-8 & 18-19 Joshua was a warrior leader who never slacked when it came to going after God’s promises;...
And the Lord visited Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as He had spoken. Genesis 21:1 REFERENCE Genesis 21:1-7 The Word of God (Bible) is not just a storybook; the promises there are not just written to fill us with false hope or make us ‘feel good’ in bad times. They are promises that God intends to keep, they are a covenant that He has cut with us and has bound Himself to fulfill. They are an oath that He has sworn and sealed by the blood of Jesus His Son. He said in Psalm 89:34-35, “My covenant I will...
Do not let the son of the foreigner, who has joined himself to the Lord speak, saying, “The Lord has utterly separated me from His people”; nor let the eunuch say, “Here I am, a dry tree.” Isaiah 56:3 REFERENCE Isaiah 56:1-8 Who you are connected to determines so much; your connections in school, business, family, neighborhood, community, marriage, etc., can make so much impact and change your life. Such connections will often give you access to what the other person has, knows and does. In some cases, it allows you to use their name, titles and position beneficially....
Now John answered and said, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow with us.” Luke 9:49 REFERENCE Luke 9:37-42 & 49-50 I personally wonder at and I’m impressed by this ‘SOMEONE.’ Here he is, doing with great ease what the disciples just recently failed at, exorcising demon spirits, yet, he is not in their group – the group of those chosen by Jesus, closest to Jesus, traveling with Jesus and being taught by Jesus. This ‘someone’ must have a great attitude, for he does not begrudge the fact...
So His disciples went out, and came into the city, and found it just as He had said to them; and they prepared the Passover. Mark 14:16 REFERENCE Mark 14:12-16 The state of knowing all things is ‘Omniscience.’ Our Lord Jesus Christ is Omniscient; He knows all things and nothing is hidden from Him, whether visible or invisible, all things are open and laid bare before His eyes. David said about Him, “O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize...
Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before unknown men. Proverbs 22:29 REFERENCE Proverbs 22:29 Being the best simply means being excellent, to stand out from the pack. I define excellence as, “An output that can hardly be improved upon.” Excellence is one concept that some Christians are not familiar with; we have excused mediocrity for too long under the guise of, ‘I’m moved by the Spirit,’ and that has put many people off Christianity. Out there, everything is good and excellent, but amongst many Christians, mediocrity is glorified and spiritualized. However, that is...
Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.’ Luke 10:17 REFERENCE Luke 10:1-9, & 17-19 There is unlimited and so much untapped power in the name of Jesus. The disciples discovered that as they went on their mission –sicknesses were healed and stubborn demonic entities heeded their words of command in the name of Jesus. Philippians 2:9-11 shows that the name of Jesus is above every other name, and when mentioned, things in heaven, on earth and beneath the earth bow and confess that Jesus is Lord over all. ‘Jesus’ is...
“Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.” Matthew 2:12. REFERENCE Matthew 2:1-15 …Herod pretended to share the same quest with the wise men: to seek and worship the newborn King. But he wanted to harm the new Babe. He cunningly pretended to be a fan and friend of the New Born, but inwardly meant evil for Him. He later revealed his true intentions by murdering all male children two years old and under in Bethlehem in his determination to kill the Son of God. It...