What do you see when you look in the mirror? You see an image, a reflection of yourself. But if you confess Jesus as your Savior, you have been spiritually transformed into His image also. So when people look at you…they should see Jesus.
II Chronicles 35:3 ” He said to the Levites, who instructed all Israel and who had been consecrated to the Lord: ‘ Put the sacred Ark in the Temple that Solomon son of David King of Israel built’ “
King Josiah ordered the Ark of the Covenant to be placed in the newly restored Temple…interestingly enough, this is the very last time the Ark is mentioned in the Old Testament. Some think it was carried away by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon when he plundered the Temple. But an old Jewish tradition says that the priests hid the Ark, and when the Messiah returns, He will reveal the hiding place, thus asserting that He is in fact the true Messiah.
I Corinthians 14:3 ” But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement, and comfort.”
Speaking into someone’s life…building up, edifying, exhorting, and offering hope shouldn’t be scary or awkward. It should rather, flow naturally, as the Holy Spirit leads us when praying for others. Too many of us are intimidated and fearful of somehow sounding “weird”, or politically incorrect…but the Holy Spirit isn’t any of that, and we should boldly speak forth the Word when prompted to do so.
Psalm 107: 19-20 ” Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress. He sent forth His Word and healed them; He rescued them from the grave.”
In those times of bleakness…in those times of anguish, we call on the Lord to do seemly impossible things. And in His supreme wisdom, His Words fall like dew on us…renewing and refreshing our body and spirit. We are then able to walk before Him in the beautiful light of life. (Psalm 56:13)
John 5:17 ” Jesus said to them, ‘ My Father is always at His work to this very day, and I, too, am working.’ ”
God the Father, Creator of everything, is active, and at work this very moment in your life. Miracles…those amazing works of God, are still happening daily. Today, share how the Lord is working in your life…it will not only encourage someone else, but yourself also.
John 5:15 ” The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.”
Testifying about our miracle is one thing, but moving out in our healing may take a tremendous act of faith. I once prayed for a man who had just been diagnosed with cancerous polyps on his vocal cords. He had been a gifted singer who now could only whisper. When we were done praying he sat down, but suddenly got back up and walked to the platform. He grabbed a microphone and stood there…slowly, he took a deep breath and started to sing. Initially, his voice was scratchy and hoarse, but as he continued, that beautiful voice returned in all its power and resonance.
John 5: 13-14 ” The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there. Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, ‘See, you are well again…’ “
When this stranger walked up to him, the invalid didn’t recognize Jesus…for they had no relationship. But following the miracle, Jesus sought him out, again affirming his healing. It was during this conversation that the man became certain of who Jesus truly was…and now suddenly, he “knew” Jesus… for this stranger had become his Lord and Savior.
John 5:8 ” Then Jesus said to him, ‘ Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.’
Jesus literally said to the man…Rise up from the dead! Take up that old place you’ve made yourself comfortable in and live again! But the important next step was up to the man, not Jesus…for it says that,” at once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.” His active faith caused healing, and he walked in that healing…all the way home.
John 5:6 ” When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, He asked him, ‘Do you want to get well?’ “
Around the Pool of Bethesda the sick, infirmed and disabled gathered…this particular man had been there for over 30 years. So why did Jesus ask him such a silly question? On the surface, why wouldn’t he want to be healed…but Jesus wasn’t just asking him if he wanted to be well, He was asking if he had any hope left. The power of hope is amazing. While there is still hope, anything is possible, and God can move in miraculous ways. For it says in Ecclesiastes 9:4,” Anyone who is among the living has hope.” It’s only when hopelessness takes over that we become powerless and apathetic. There is tremendous, transforming power in hope…hang on to it.
Isaiah 45: 22 ” Turn to Me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.”
To be saved…the Hebrew word for this is Yasa. The name Jesus came from this root word…meaning He will save His people from their sins,(Matt.1:21). Jesus came to redeem and save the lost…and in no other name can we be saved.
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