Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today is Thursday November 5, 2009 and we are continuing our studies in the book of John, please read chapters 10-11 in your Bible or Click Here to read them http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-november-5

Today's Message: Yield to His Word
We often have beautiful visions of what God has promised, and we may even quote them, but these alone do not measure our faith in the power of God's Word. It depends greatly upon our surrender to Him as Lord of our lives. If we truly desire God's best, we must truly yield to His Word.

The "occasion of grief" introduces us to one of the few homes where Jesus was lovingly received while He was on earth. But, at this time, its occupants were grieving as Lazarus' two sisters watched helplessly as their brother lay dying. Mary and Martha searched for Jesus and asked Him for help. “Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.” - John 11:1-4. Jesus is telling Mary and Martha that although Lazarus was dying he will not be taken away from them, his sickness has come to prove the glory to God and to show the miracle that the Son of God would perform so that He will be glorified as truly the Son of God. Often God will use a sickness or death to prove that He truly is God and still has the power to produce miracles.

Jesus heads toward Mary and Martha's house, but Lazarus has already died, knowing this, Jesus continues, but even His disciples question Him. They just did not understand when Jesus was talking about Lazarus sleeping, so Jesus spelled it out for them, Lazarus is dead. “These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.” - John 11:11-15. It was important that He arrived when Lazarus had died, if Jesus was there and touched Lazarus, he would have been healed, but then the lesson that Jesus would be teaching would not be given. Raising Lazarus from the dead would show once and for all that Jesus was the Son of God, and all power from God was given to Him. No one had ever been raised from the dead after they had been dead four days. The body would even be decomposing, and rotting by that time. There would be no way that anyone could accuse Christ of putting on a side show, or pulling a trick on the people by this miracle. It would be through this miracle of bringing Lazarus to life that Jesus would show Lazarus as well as Himself resurrected and doing fine.

Martha, meets Jesus as He was nearing the home and informs Him that he died. Although a little disappointed that Jesus had not gotten there sooner she inform Him that she still has faith in God. “Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already. Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off: And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this” - John 11:17-26. Jesus’ statement that “I am the resurrection and the life” was meant to convey the idea that eternal life is real to Jesus as God. It is not something He gives as if it were real to Him, rather it is a part of His essence that we partake when we are brought in union with Him through belief.

“Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.” - John 11:39-44. Jesus lifted up his eyes, not as if he applied to his Father for assistance. There is not the least show of this. He wrought the miracle with an air of absolute sovereignty, as the Lord of life and death. But it was as if he had said, I thank thee, that by the disposal of thy providence, thou hast granted my desire, in this remarkable opportunity of exerting my power, and showing forth thy praise. Jesus called him out of the tomb as easily as if he had been not only alive, but awake also. In order to strengthen their faith that He was the Resurrection and the Life, Jesus had delayed His arrival until four days after Lazarus' death. At Christ's Word, death set free its prisoner and Lazarus came forth from the grave. It is time to truly trust in the Lord and wait for Him!

Have a wonderful and blessed day/night
God Bless You,
Christina

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Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today is Wednesday November 4, 2009 and we are continuing our studies in the book of John, please read chapters 9-10 in your Bible or Click Here to read them http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-november-4

Today's Message: Our Good Shepherd
Christians are not second class citizens, we carry the power and authority of God. Every person that seeks after Jesus Christ are one of Christ's sheep and need not fear because our Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ is with us.

People who live in the world often wonder if God is real or if He is such a loving God then why is there so much pain and suffering placed on people. At the same time, many Christian's will see someone suffering and wonder what sin this person committed to be in such pain. I had a child in my Sunday school class ask me, “Why does God let good people get hurt and not the bad people?” The truth is this, while we are all subject to judgment (conviction) of sins, those whom believe in and have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior are forgiven children of the One and Only Living God. Therefore, not everything we go through in life is happening because we have sinned or someone sinned against us. To prove this, Jesus answers His disciples whom were questioning why a man was born blind. “And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.” - John 9:1-3. God uses infirmities or suffering to strengthen us and show us that God is true and alive, not to convict us. His blindness was given so that the works of God may be illustrated through him. This man was predestined by God to be blind for the purpose of fulfilling this illustration given here by Jesus. His blindness happened so that we could have this lesson given by Jesus to help us understand that not all suffering is caused by sin and that God can do the impossible. Jesus Said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.” - Mark 10:27.

God has given us all the free will to decide whether or not we want Him in our lives. He will not cause anything to come upon a person or force a person into accepting Jesus Christ into their lives. He will not cause anything to come upon a person to force that person into His service, until that person has committed himself to the Father, through Jesus Christ. That person of free will volunteers into God's service, after receiving salvation through Jesus Christ, and then while in the service of the Lord, God will lead and protect. For those that have free will, God will not intercede in their lives until they do repent and come to Christ, for on judgment day when a soul stands before the Father there will be no excuse that God caused them to fall, and prohibited them from being saved. Every person on this earth will have the opportunity to know who Jesus is and accept Him into their lives and they will see where they lost that opportunity on judgment day. “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” - Matthew 24:13,14.

One of the distinguishing marks of a Christian is recognizing the need for guidance and a desire to follow the Good Shepherd. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.......Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.” - John 10:1,2,7-12. Christ is the door. If any person tries to enter into God's sheepfold by any other way other then going through the true Christ, he is a thief and a robber. The sheepfold is a holding place where the shepherd houses the sheep in for the night. It was a place of protection. When the Shepherd would open the gate, the shepherd would hold his rod out, and count the sheep as they passed under the rod. Then when all the sheep had entered in, the gate was shut, and the shepherd stood watch for the night.

Christians today are short changed by there lack of understanding of this. They are afraid to go "in and out", meaning you can have peace of mind anywhere in this world. You are safe not only inside the sheepfold, but outside the sheepfold. You can go out into the world, and you don't have to be afraid of someone taking away your salvation. You don't have to fear what will be said of you if you see the Word is not being taught and you voice your opinion. You don't have to be afraid of anything. When Jesus went to the cross, and died and rose again; He did that for each person that has the eyes to see and the ears to hear the voice of our Good Shepherd. Friend, every day is a good day when you are in the Lord. We should learn to know the discipline that the Lord might bring upon us and thank Him for that correction, and when the blessings come thank Him also for them. The Lord is pleased when you try to please Him.

Have a wonderful and blessed day/night
God Bless You,
Christina

Need More Inspiration?
Visit: I'm Following Jesus!
http://www.readytofollow.com/

Missed A Lesson?
Go to: Daily Bible Study
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Learn About Salvation Only Made Through Jesus Christ
Go to: I'm Ready to Get Saved
http://www.readytofollow.com/salvation